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第39章

history of friedrich ii of prussia v 16-第39章

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; made Leyden also too hot for him。 His Books gained a kind of celebrity in the world; awoke laughter and attention; among the adventurous of readers; astonishment at the blazing madcap (a BON DIABLE; too; as one could see); and are still known to Catalogue… makers;though; with one exception; L'HOMME MACHINE; not otherwise; nor read at all。 L'HOMME MACHINE (Man a Machine) is the exceptional Book; smallest of Duodecimos to have so much wildfire in it; This MAN A MACHINE; though tumultuous La Mettrie meant nothing but open…mouthed Wisdom by it; gave scandal in abundance; so that even the Leyden Magistrates were scandalized; and had to burn the afflicting little Duodecimo by the common hangman; and order La Mettrie to disappear instantly from their City。

Which he had to do;towards King Friedrich; usual refuge of the persecuted; seldom inexorable; where there was worth; even under bad forms; recognizable; and not a friend to burning poor men or their books; if it could be helped。 La Mettrie got some post; like D'Arget's; or still more nominal; 〃readership;〃 some small pension to live upon; and shelter to shoot forth his wildfire; when he could hold it no longer: fire; not of a malignant incendiary kind; but pleasantly lambent; though maddish; as Friedrich perceived。 Thus had La Mettrie found a Goshen;and stood in considerable favor; at Court and in Berlin Society in the years now current。 According to Nicolai; Friedrich never esteemed La Mettrie; which is easy to believe; but found him a jester and ingenious madcap; out of whom a great deal of merriment could be had; over wine or the like。 To judge by Nicolai's authentic specimen; their Colloquies ran sometimes pretty deep into the cynical; under showers of wildfire playing about; and the high…jinks must have been highish。 ' Anekdoten;  vi。 197…227。' When there had been enough of this; Friedrich would lend his La Mettrie to the French Excellency; Milord Tyrconnel; to oblige his Excellency; and get La Mettrie out of the way for a while。 Milord is at Berlin; a Jacobite Irishman; of blusterous Irish qualities; though with plenty of sagacity and rough sense; likes La Mettrie; and is not much a favorite with Friedrich。

Tyrconnel had said; at first;when Rothenburg; privately from Friedrich; came to consult him; 〃What are; in practical form; those 'assistances from the Most Christian Majesty;' should we MAKE Alliance with him; as your Excellency proposes; and chance to be attacked?〃〃MORBLEU; assistance enough 'enumerating several': MAIS MORBLEU; SI VOUS NOUS TROMPEX; VOUS SEREZ ECRASES (if you deceive us; you will be squelched)!〃 'Valori; ii。 130; &c。' 〃He had been chosen for his rough tongue;〃 says Valori; our French Court being piqued at Friedrich and his sarcasms。 Tyrconnel gives splendid dinners: Voltaire often of them; does not love Potsdam; nor is loved by it。 Nay; I sometimes think a certain DEMON NEWSWRITER (of whom by and by); but do not know; may be some hungry Attache of Tyrconnel's。 Hungry Attache; shut out from the divine Suppers and upper planetary movements; and reduced to look on them from his cold hutch; in a dog…like angry and hungry manner? His flying allusions to Voltaire; 〃SON (Friedrich's) SQUELETTE D'APOLLON; skeleton of an Apollo;〃 and the like; are barkings almost rabid。

Of the military sort; about this time; Keith and Rothenburg appear most frequently as guests or companions。 Rothenburg had a great deal of Friedrich's regard: Winterfeld is more a practical Counseller; and does not shine in learned circles; as Rothenburg may。 A fiery soldier too; this Rothenburg; withal;a man probably of many talents and qualities; though of distinctly decipherable there is next to no record of him or them。 He had a Parisian Wife; who is sometimes on the point of coming with Niece Denis to Berlin; and of setting up their two French households there; but never did it; either of them; to make an Uncle or a Husband happy。 Rothenburg was bred a Catholic: 〃he headed the subscription for the famous 'KATHOLISCHE KIRCHE;'〃 so delightful to the Pope and liberal Christians in those years; 〃but never gave a sixpence of money;〃 says Voltaire once: Catholic KIRK was got completed with difficulty; stands there yet; like a large washbowl set; bottom uppermost; on the top of a narrowish tub; but none of Rothenburg's money is in it。 In Voltaire's Correspondence there is frequent mention of him; not with any love; but with a certain secret respect; rather inclined to be disrespectful; if it durst or could: the eloquent vocal individual not quite at ease beside the more silent thinking and acting one。 What we know is; Friedrich greatly loved the man。 There is some straggle of CORRESPONDENCE between Friedrich and him left; but it is worth nothing; gives no testimony of that; or of anything else noticeable:and that is the one fact now almost alone significant of Rothenburg。 Much loved and esteemed by the King; employed diplomatically; now and then; perhaps talked  with on such subjects; which was the highest distinction。 Poor man; he is in very bad health in these months; has never rightly recovered of his wounds; and dies in the last days of 1751;to the bitter sorrow of the King; as is still on record。 A highly respectable dim figure; far more important in Friedrich's History than he looks。 As King's guest; he can in these months play no part。 

Highly respectable too; and well worth talking to; though left very dim to us in the Books; is Marshal Keith; who has been growing gradually with the King; and with everybody; ever since he came to these parts in 1747。 A man of Scotch type; the broad accent; with its sagacities; veracities; with its steadfastly fixed moderation; and its sly twinkles of defensive humor; is still audible to us through the foreign wrappages。 Not given to talk; unless there is something to be said; but well capable of it then。 Friedrich; the more he knows him; likes him the better。 On all manner of subjects he can talk knowingly; and with insight of his own。 On Russian matters Friedrich likes especially to hear him;though they differ in regard to the worth of Russian troops。 〃Very considerable military qualities in those Russians;〃 thinks Keith: 〃imperturbably obedient; patient; of a tough fibre; and are beautifully strict to your order; on the parade…ground or off。〃 〃Pooh; mere rubbish; MON CHER;〃 thinks Friedrich always。 To which Keith; unwilling to argue too long; will answer: 〃Well; it is possible enough your Majesty may try them; some day; if I am wrong; it will be all the better for us!〃 Which Friedrich had occasion to remember by and by。 Friedrich greatly respects this sagacious gentleman with the broad accent: his Brother; the Lord Marischal; is now in France: Ambassador at Paris; since September; 1751: '〃Left Potsdam 28th August〃 (Rodenbeck; i。 220)。' 〃Lord Marischal; a Jacobite; for Prussian Ambassador in Paris; Tyrconnel; a Jacobite; for French Ambassador in Berlin!〃 grumble the English。  


    FRACTIONS OF EVENTS AND INDICATIONS; FROM VOLTAIRE HIMSELF;        IN THIS TIME; MORE OR LESS ILLUMINATIVE WHEN REDUCED                             TO ORDER。

Here; selected from more; are a few 〃fire…flies;〃not dancing or distracted; but authentic all; and stuck each on its spit; shedding a feeble glimmer over the physiognomy of those Fifteen caliginous Months; to an imagination that is diligent。 Fractional utterances of Voltaire to Friedrich and others (in abridged form; abridgment indicated): the exact dates are oftenest irretrievably gone; but the glimmer of light is indisputable; all the more as; on Voltaire's part; it is mostly involuntary。 Grouping and sequence must be other than that of Time。

POTSDAM; 5th JUNE; 1751。King is off on that Ost…Friesland jaunt; Voltaire at Potsdam; 〃at what they call the Marquisat;〃 in complete solitude;preparing to die before long;sends his Majesty some poor trifles of Scribbling; proofs of my love; Sire: 〃since I live solitary; when you are not at Potsdam; it would seem I came for you only〃 (note that; your Majesty)! 。。。 〃But in return for the rags here sent; I expect the Sixth Canto of your ART 'ART DE LA GUERRE; one of the Two pupil…and…schoolmaster 〃Specimens〃 mentioned above'; I expect the ROOF to the Te

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