history of friedrich ii of prussia v 16-第31章
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ept in the succinct form。 Let all readers note them； however；at least the first of them； that of December 19th； especially the words we mark in Italics； which have merited a sad place for IT in the history of human sin and misery。 Klein has given both Documents in engraved fac…simile； we must help ourselves by simpler methods。 Berlin； December 19th； 1750； Voltaire writes； Hirsch signs；and the Italics are believed to be words foisted in by M。 de Voltaire； weeks after； while the Hirsch pleadings were getting stringent！ Read；a very sad memorial of M。 de Voltaire；
DOCUMENT FIFTH （in Voltaire's hand； written at two times； and the old writing MENDED in parts； to suit the new！）。〃FOR PAYMENT OF 3；000 THALERS BY ME DUE； I have sold to M。 de Voltaire； at the price costing by estimation and tax； with 2 per cent for my commission ＇〃OR GRATIFICATION；〃 written above＇； the following Diamonds； taxed ＇blotted into 〃TAXABLE〃＇； as here adjoined； viz。〃 seven pieces of jewelry； pendeloques； &c。； with price affixed； among which is the violated Topaz；〃the whole estimated by him ＇〃him〃 crossed out； and 〃ME〃 written over it＇； being 3；640 thalers。 Whereupon； received from Monsieur de Voltaire ＇what is very strange； not intelligible without study！＇ the sum of 2；940 thalers； and he has given me back the Topaz； with 60 crowns for my trouble。 Berlin； 19th December； 1750。〃 （Hitherto in Voltaire's hand； after which Hirsch writes：） 〃APROUVE； A。 Hirschel。〃 ＇Sic： that is always his SIGNATURE； 〃Abraham HirschEL；〃 so given by Klein； while Klein and everybody CALL him Hirsch （STAG）； as we have done；if only to save a syllable on the bad bargain。＇ And between these two lines （〃。。。 1750〃 and 〃APPROVED 。。。〃）； there is crushed in； as afterthought； 〃VALUED BY MYSELF ＇Hirsch's self＇； 2；940； ADD 60； IS 3；000。〃 And； in fine； below the Hirsch signature； on what may be called the bottom margin； there is；I think； avowedly Voltaire's and subsequent；this： 〃N。B。 that Hirsch's valuing of all the jewels ＇present lot and former lot＇ is； by real estimation； between twice and thrice too high；〃 of which； it is hoped； your Lordships will take notice！
Was there ever seen such a Paper； one end of it contradicting the other？ Payment TO M。 de Voltaire； and payment BY M。 de Voltaire； with other blottings and foistings； which print and italics will not represent！ Hirsch denies he ever signed this Paper。 Is not that your writing； then： 〃APROUVE； A。 Hirschel〃？〃No！〃 and they convict him of falsity in that respect： the signature IS his； but the Paper has been altered since he signed it。 That is what the poor dark mortal meant to express； and in his mulish way； he has expressed into a falsity what was in itself a truth。 There is not； on candid examination of Klein's Fac…similes and the other evidence； the smallest doubt but Voltaire altered； added and intercalated； in his own privacy； those words which we have printed in italics； TAXES changed into TAXABLES （〃estimated at〃 into 〃estimable at〃）； HIM for ME； and so on； and above all； the now first line of the Paper； FOR PAYMENT OF 3；000 THALERS BY ME DUE； and in last line the words VALUED BY MYSELF； &c。； are palpable interpolations； sheer falsifications； which Hirsch is made to continue signing after his back is turned！
No fact is more certain； and few are sadder in the history of M。 de Voltaire。 To that length has he been driven by stress of Fortune。 Nay； when the Judges； not hiding their surprise at the form of this Document； asked； Will you swear it is all genuine？ Voltaire answered； 〃Yes； certainly！〃for what will a poor man not do in extreme stress of Fortune？ Hirsch； as a Jew； is not permitted to make oath； where a Quasi…Christian will swear to the contrary； or he gladly would； and might justly。 The Judges； willing to prevent chance of perjury； did not bring Voltaire to swearing； but contrived a way to justice without that。
FEBRUARY 18th； 1751； the Court arrives at a conclusion。 Hirsch's Diamonds； whatever may have been written or forged； are not； nor were； worth more than their value； think the Judges。 The Paris Bill is admitted to be Voltaire's； not Hirsch's； continue they；and if Hirsch can prove that Voltaire has changed the Diamonds； not a likely fact； let him do so。 The rest does not concern us。 And to that effect； on the above day； runs their Sentence： 〃You； Hirsch； shall restore the Paris Bill； mutual Papers to be all restored； or legally annihilated。 Jewels to be valued by sworn Experts； and paid for at that price。 Hirsch； if he can prove that the Jewels were changed； has liberty to try it； in a new Action。 Hirsch； for falsely denying his Signature； is fined ten thalers （thirty shillings）； such lie being a contempt of court； whatever more。〃
〃Ha； fined； you Jew Villain！〃 hysterically shrieks Voltaire： 〃in the wrong； weren't you； then； and fined thirty shillings？〃 hysterically trying to believe； and make others believe； that he has come off triumphant。 〃Beaten my Jew； haven't I？〃 says he to everybody； though inwardly well enough aware how it stands； and that he is a Phoenix douched； and has a tremor in the bones！ Chancellor Cocceji was far from thinking it triumphant to him。 Here is a small Note of Cocceji's； addressed to his two colleagues； Jarriges and Loper； which has been found among the Law Papers：
〃BERLIN； 20th FEBRUARY； 1751。 The Herr President von Jarriges and Privy…Councillor Loper are hereby officially requested to bring the remainder of the Voltaire Sentence to its fulfilment： I am myself not well； and can employ my time much better。 The Herr von Voltaire has given in a desperate Memorial （EIN DESPERATES MEMORIAL） to this purport： 'I swear that what is charged to me ＇believed of me＇ in the Sentence is true； and now request to have the Jewels valued。' I have returned him this Paper； with notice that it must be signed by an Advocate。COCCEJI。〃 ＇Klein； 256。＇
So wrote Chancellor Cocceji； on the Saturday； washing his hands of this sorry business。 Voltaire is ready to make desperate oath； if needful。 We said once； M。 de Voltaire was not given to lying； far the reverse。 But yet； see； if you drive him into a corner with a sword at his throat；alas； yes； he will lie a little！ Forgery lay still less in his habits； but he can do a stroke that way； too （one stroke； unique in his life； I do believe）； if a wild boar； with frothy tusks； is upon him。 Tell it not in Gath；except for scientific purposes！ And be judicial； arithmetical； in passing sentence on it； not shrieky； mobbish； and flying off into the Infinite！
Berlin； of course； is loud on these matters。 〃The man whom the King delighted to honor； this is he； then！〃 King Friedrich has quitted Town； some while ago； returned to Potsdam 〃January 30th。〃 Glad enough； I suppose； to be out of all this unmusical blowing of catcalls and indecent exposure。 To Voltaire he has taken no notice； silently leaves Voltaire； in his nook of the Berlin Schloss； till the foul business get done。 〃VOLTAIRE FILOUTE LES JUIFS （picks Jew pockets）；〃 writes he once to Wilhelmina： 〃will get out of it by some GAMBADE （summerset）；〃 writes he another time； 〃but〃 ＇〃31st December； 1750〃 （ OEuvres de Frederic； xxvii； i。 198）； 〃3d February； 1751〃 （ib。 201）。＇ And takes the matter with boundless contempt； doubtless with some vexation； but with the minimum of noise； as a Royal gentleman might。 Jew Hirsch is busy preparing for his new desperate Action； getting together proof that the Jewels have been changed。 In proof Jew Hirsch will be weak； but in pleading； in public pamphlets； and keeping a winged Apollo fluttering disastrously in such a mud…bath； Jew Hirsch will be strong。 Voltaire； 〃out of magnanimous pity to him；〃 consents next week to an Agreement。 Agreement is signed on Thursday； 26th February； 1751：Papers all to be returned； Jewels nearly all； except one or two； paid at Hirsch's own price。 Whereby； on the whole； as Klein computes； Voltaire lost about 150 pounds； elsewhere I have seen it computed at 187 pounds： not the least matter which。 Old Hirsch has died in the interim （〃Of broken heart！〃 blubbers the Son）； day not known。
And； on these terms； Voltaire gets out of the business； glad to close the intolerable rumor； at some cost of money。 For all tongues were wagging； and； in defec
