history of friedrich ii of prussia v 16-第38章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
judgment） anywhere before or since；nor worth rivalling； if we knew it well。〃
Another fine circumstance is； that Voltaire has frequent leave of absence； and in effect passes a great deal of his time altogether by himself； or in his own way otherwise。 What with Friedrich's Review Journeys and Business Circuits； considerable separations do occur of themselves； and at any time； Voltaire has but to plead illness； which he often does； with ground and without； and get away for weeks； safe into the distance more or less remote。 He is at the Marquisat （as we laboriously make out）； at Berlin； in the empty Palace； perhaps in Lodgings of his own （though one would prefer the GRATIS method）； nursing his maladies； which are many； writing his LOUIS QUATORZE； 〃lonely altogether； your Majesty； and sad of humor；〃yet giving his cosy little dinners； and running out； pretty often； if well invited； into the brilliancies and gayeties。 No want of brilliant social life here； which can shine； more or less； and appreciate one's shining。 The King's Supper…parties Yes； and these； though the brightest； are not the only bright things in our Potsdam…Berlin world。 Take with you； reader； one or two of the then and there Chief Figures； Voltaire's fellow…players； strutting and fretting their hour on that Stage of Life。 They are mostly not quite strangers to you。
We know the sublime Perpetual President in his red wig； and sublime supremacy of Pure Science。 A gloomy set figure； affecting the sententious； the emphatic and a composed impregnability；like the Jove of Science。 With immensities of gloomy vanity； not compressible at all times。 Friedrich always strove to honor his Perpetual President； and duly adore the Pure Sciences in him； but inwardly could not quite manage it； though outwardly he failed in nothing。 Impartial witnesses confess； the King had a great deal of trouble with his gloomings and him。 〃Who is this Voltaire？〃 gloomily thinks the Perpetual President to himself。 〃A fellow with a nimble tongue； that is all。 Knows nothing whatever of Pure Sciences； except what fraction or tincture he has begged or stolen from myself。 And here is the King of the world in raptures with him！〃
Voltaire from of old had faithfully done his kowtows to this King of the Sciences； and； with a sort of terror； had suffered with incredible patience a great deal from him。 But there comes an end to all things； Voltaire's patience not excepted。 It lay in the fates that Maupertuis should steadily accumulate； day after day； and now more than ever heretofore； upon the sensitive Voltaire。 Till； as will be seen； the sensitive Voltaire could endure it no longer； but had to explode upon this big Bully （accident lending a spark）； to go off like a Vesuvius of crackers； fire…serpents and sky…rockets； envelop the red wig； and much else； in delirious conflagration；and produce the catastrophe of this Berlin Drama。
D'Argens； poor dissolute creature； is the best of the French lot。 He has married； after so many temporary marriages with Actresses； one Actress in permanence； Mamsell Cochois； a patient kind being； and settled now； at Potsdam here； into perfectly composed household life。 Really loves Friedrich； they say； the only Frenchman of them that does。 Has abundance of light sputtery wit； and Provencal fire and ingenuity； no ill…nature against any man。 Never injures anybody； nor lies at all about anything。 A great friend of fine weather； regrets； of his inheritances in Provence； chiefly one item； and this not overmuch；the bright southern sun。 Sits shivering in winter…time； wrapping himself in more and more flannel； two dressing…gowns； two nightcaps：loyal to this King； in good times and in evil。
Was the King's friend for thirty years； helped several meritorious people to his Majesty's notice； and never did any man a mischief in that quarter。 An erect； guileless figure； very tall； with vivid countenance； chaotically vivid mind： full of bright sallies； irregular ingenuities； had a hot temper too； which did not often run away with him； but sometimes did。 He thrice made a visit to Provence；in fact ran away from the King； feeling bantered and roasted to a merciless degree；but thrice came back。 〃At the end of the first stage； he had always privately forgiven the King； and determined that the pretended visit should really be a visit only。〃 〃Reads the King's Letters；〃 which are many to him； 〃always bare… headed； in spite of the draughts！〃 ＇Nicolai； Anekdoten； i。 11…75； &c。 &c。＇
Algarotti is too prudent； politely egoistic and self…contained； to take the trouble of hurting anybody； or get himself into trouble for love or hatred。 He fell into disfavor not long after that unsuccessful little mission in the first Silesian War； of which the reader has lost remembrance。 Good for nothing in diplomacy； thought Friedrich； but agreeable as company。 〃Company in tents； in the seat of War； has its unpleasantness；〃 thought Algarotti；and began very privately sounding the waters at Dresden for an eligible situation； so that there has ensued a quarrel since； then humble apologies followed by profound silence；till now there is reconcilement。 It is admitted Friedrich had some real love for Algarotti； Algarotti； as we gather； none at all for him； but only for his greatness。 They parted again （February； 1753） without quarrel； but for the last time； ＇Algarotti…Correspondence （ OEuvres de Frederic； xviii。 86）。＇and I confess to a relief on the occasion。
Friedrich； readers know by this time； had a great appetite for conversation： he talked well； listened well； one of his chief enjoyments was； to give and receive from his fellow…creatures in that way。 I hope； and indeed have evidence； that he required good sense as the staple； but in the form； he allowed great latitude。 He by no means affected solemnity； rather the reverse； goes much upon the bantering vein； far too much； according to the complaining parties。 Took pleasure （cruel mortal！） in stirring up his company by the whip； and even by the whip applied to RAWS； for we find he had 〃established；〃 like the Dublin Hackney…Coachman； 〃raws for himself；〃 and habitually plied his implement there； when desirous to get into the gallop。 In an inhuman manner； said the suffering Cattle； who used to rebel against it； and go off in the sulks from time to time。 It is certain he could； especially in his younger years； put up with a great deal of zanyism； ingenious foolery and rough tumbling； if it had any basis to tumble on； though with years he became more saturnine。
By far his chief Artist in this kind； indeed properly the only one； was La Mettrie； whom we once saw transiently as Army…Surgeon at Fontenoy： he is now out of all that （flung out； with the dogs at his heels）； has been safe in Berlin for three years past。 Friedrich not only tolerates the poor madcap； but takes some pleasure in him： madcap we say； though poor La Mettrie had remarkable gifts； exuberant laughter one of them； and was far from intending to be mad。 Not Zanyism； but Wisdom of the highest nature； was what he drove at；unluckily； with open mouth； and mind all in tumult。 La Mettrie had left the Army； soon after that busy Fontenoy evening： Chivalrous Grammont； his patron and protector； who had saved him from many scrapes； lay shot on the field。 La Mettrie； rushing on with mouth open and mind in tumult； had； from of old； been continually getting into scrapes。 Unorthodox to a degree； the Sorbonne greedy for him long since； such his audacities in print； his heavy hits； boisterous； quizzical； logical。 And now he had set to attacking the Medical Faculty； to quizzing Medicine in his wild way； Doctor Astruc； Doctor This and That； of the first celebrity； taking it very ill。 So that La Mettrie had to demit； to get out of France rather in a hurry； lest worse befell。
He had studied at Leyden； under Boerhaave。 He had in fact considerable medical and other talent； had he not been so tumultuous and open…mouthed。 He fled to Leyden； and shot forth； in safety there； his fiery darts upon Sorbonne and Faculty； at his own discretion；which was always a MINIMUM quantity：he had； before long； made Leyden also too hot for him。 His Books gained a kind of celebrity in the world； awoke laughte
