history of friedrich ii of prussia v 16-第30章
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ys: 〃Next morning 'December 25th; morrow after that jumbly Account; with probable slamming of the door; and still worse!'; Voltaire went to a Lieutenant…Colonel in the King's service; and ask him to send for me。〃 'Duvernet (Second); p。 172; Hirsch's Narrative (in Tantale; p。 344)。' This is Chasot; who knows these jewels well。 Duvernet;who had talked a good deal with D'Arget; in latter years; and alone of Frenchmen sometimes yields a true particle of feature in things Prussian;Duvernet tells us; these Jewels were once Chasot's own: given him by a fond Duchess of Mecklenburg;musical old Duchess; verging towards sixty; HONI SOIT; my friend! What Hirsch gave Chasot for these Jewels is not a doubtful quantity; and may throw conviction into Hirsch; hopes Voltaire。
DECEMBER 25th; 1750。 The interview at Chasot's was not lengthy; but it was decisive。 Hirsch never brings that Paris Bill; privately fixed; on that point。 Hirsch's claims; as we gradually unravel the intricate mule…mind of him; rise very high indeed。 〃And as to the value of those Jewels; and what I allowed YOU for them; Monsieur Chasot; that is no rule: trade…profits; you know〃Nay; the mule intimates; as a last shift; That perhaps they are not the same Jewels; that perhaps M。 de Voltaire has changed some of them! Whereupon the matter catches fire; irretrievably explodes。 M。 de Voltaire's patience flies quite done; and; fire…eyed fury now guiding; he springs upon the throat of Hirsch like a cat…o'… mountain; clutches Hirsch by the windpipe; tumbles him about the room: 〃Infamous canaille; do you know whom you have got to do with? That it is in my power to stick you into a hole underground for the rest of your life? Sirrah; I will ruin and annihilate you!〃and 〃tossed me about the room with his fist on my throat;〃 says Hirsch; 〃offering to have pity nevertheless; if I would take back the Jewels; and return all writings。〃 'Narrative (in Tantale )。' Eyes glancing like a rattlesnake's; as we perceive; and such a phenomenon as Hirsch had not expected; this Christmas! In short; the matter has here fairly exploded; and is blazing aloft; as a mass of intricate fuliginous ruin; not to be deciphered henceforth。 Such a scene for Chasot on the Christmas…day at Berlin! And we have got to
PART II。 THE LAWSUIT ITSELF (30th December; 1750…18th and 26th February; 1751)。
Hirsch slunk hurriedly home; uncertain whether dead or alive。 Old Hirsch; hearing of such explosion; considered his house and family ruined; and; being old and feeble; took to bed upon it; threatening to break his heart。 Voltaire writes to Niece Denis; on the morrow; not hinting at the Hirsch matter; far from that; but in uncommonly dreary humor: 〃My splendor here; my glory; never was the like of it; MAIS; MAIS;〃 BUT; and ever again BUT; at each new item;in fact; the humor of a glorious Phoenix…Peacock suddenly douched and drenched in dirty water; and feeling frost at hand! '〃To Madame Denis〃 (lxxiv。 279; 〃Berlin Palace; 26th December; 1750;〃and ib。 249; 257; &c。 of other dates)。' Humor intelligible enough; when dates are compared。
Better than that; Voltaire is applying; on all points of the compass; to Legal and Influential Persons; for help in a Court of Law。 To Chancellor Cocceji; to Jarriges (eminent Prussian Frenchman); President of Court; to Maupertuis; who knows Jarriges; but 〃will not meddle in a bad business;〃at last; even to dull reverend Formey; whom he had not called on hitherto。 Cocceji seems to have answered; to the effect; 〃Most certainly: the Courts are wide open;〃but as to 〃help〃! December 30th; the Suit; Voltaire VERSUS Hirsch; 〃comes to Protocol;〃that is; Cocceji; Jarriges; Loper; three eminent men; have been named to try it; and Herr Hofrath Bell; Advocate for Voltaire Plaintiff; hands in his First Statement that day。 Berlin resounds; we may fancy how! Rumor; laughter and wonder are in all polite quarters; and continue; more or less vivid; for above two months coming。 Here is one direct glimpse of Plaintiff; in this interim; which we will give; though the eyes are none of the best: 〃The first visit I;〃 Formey; 〃had from Voltaire was in the afternoon of January 8th) 1751 'Suit begun ten days ago'。 I had; at the time; a large party of friends。 Voltaire walked across the Apartment; without looking at anybody; and; taking me by the hand; made me lead him to a cabinet adjoining。 His Lawsuit with a Jew was the matter on hand。 He talked to me at large about his Lawsuit; and with the greatest vehemence; he wound up by asking me to speak to Law…President M。 de Jarriges (since Chancellor): I answered what was suitable;〃 probably did speak to Jarriges; but might as well have held my tongue。 〃Voltaire then took his leave: stepping athwart the former Apartment with some precipitation; he noticed my eldest little girl; then in her fourth year; who was gazing at the diamonds on his Cross of the Order of Merit。 'Bagatelles; bagatelles; MON ENFANT!' said he; and disappeared。〃 'Formey; i。 232。'
On New…Year's day; Friday; 1st January; 1751; Voltaire had legally applied to Herr Minister von Bismark; for Warrant to arrest Hirsch; as a person that will not give up Papers not belonging to him。 Warrant was granted; and Hirsch lodged in Limbo。 Which worsens the state of poor old Father Hirsch; threatening now really to die; of heart…break and other causes。 Hirsch Son; from the interior of Limbo; appeals to Bismark; 〃Lord Chancellor Cocceji is seized of my Plea; your gracious Lordship!〃〃All the same;〃 answers Bismark; 〃produce CAUTION; or you can't get out。〃 Hirsch produces caution; and gets out; after a day or two;and has been 〃brought to Protocol January 4th。〃 No delay in this Court: both parties; through their Advocates; are now brought to book; the points they agree in will be sifted out; and laid on this side as truth; what they differ in; left lying on that side; as a mixture of lies to be operated on by farther processes and protocols。
We will not detail the Lawsuit;what I chiefly admire in it is its brevity。 Cocceji has not reformed in vain。 Good Advocates; none other allowed; and no Advocate talks; he merely endeavors to think; see and discover; holds his tongue if he can discover nothing: that doubtless is one source of the brevity!Many lies are stated by Hirsch; many by Voltaire: but the Judges; without difficulty; shovel these aside; and come step by step upon the truth。 Hirsch says plainly; He was sent to buy STEUER…SCHEINE at 35 per cent discount; Voltaire entirely denies the Steuer…Notes; says; It was an affair of Peltries and Jewelries; originating in loans of money to this ungrateful Jew。 Which necessitates much wriggling on the part of M。 de Voltaire;but he has himself written in a Lawyer's Office; in his young days; and knows how to twist a turn of expression。 The Judges are not there to judge about Steuer… Notes; but they give you to understand that Voltaire's Peltry…and… Jewelry story is moonshine。 Hirsch produces the Voltaire Scraps of Writing; already known to our readers; Voltaire says; 〃Mere extinct jottings; which Hirsch has furtively picked out of the grate;〃or may be said to have picked; Papers annihilated by our Bargain of December 16th; and which should have been in the grate; if they were not; this felon never having kept his word in that respect。 Peltries and Jewelries; I say: he will not give me back that Paris Bill which was protested; pays me the other 3;000 crowns (Draft of 650 pounds) in Jewels overvalued by half。〃Jewels furtively changed since Plaintiff had them of me!〃 answers Hirsch;and the steady Judges keep their sieves going。
The only Documents produced by Voltaire are Two; of 19th DECEMBER and of 24th DECEMBER;which the reader has not yet seen; but ought now to gain some notion of; if possible。 They affect once more; as that of December 16th had done; to be 〃Final Settlements〃 (or Final Settlement of 19th; with CODICIL of 24th); and turn on confused Lists of Jewels; bought; returned; re…bought (that 〃Topaz ring〃 torn from one's hand; a conspicuous item); which no reader would have patience to understand; except in the succinct form。 Let all readers note them; however;at least the first of them; that of Dec