history of friedrich ii of prussia v 16-第50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！
observed 'that； in the modifications of motion； the Action usually becomes either a Maximum or else a Minimum。'
〃M。 Moreau de Maupertuis imagined that； by producing this Fragment； it had been intended to snatch from him the glory of his pretended discovery；though Leibnitz says precisely the contrary of what he advances。 He forced some pensioned members of the Academy； who are dependent on him； to summon M。 Koinig〃 As we know too well； and cannot bear to have repeated to us； even in the briefest and spiciest form！ 〃Sentence （JUGEMENT） on M。 Konig； which declares him guilty of having assaulted the glory of the Sieur Moreau Maupertuis by FORGING a Leibnitz Letter。Wrote then； and made write； to her Serene Highness the Princess of Orange； who was indignant at so insolent〃 。。。 and in fine；
〃Thus the Sieur Moreau Maupertuis has been convicted； in the face of Scientific Europe； not only of plagiarism and blunder； but of having abused his place to suppress free discussion； and to persecute an honest man who had no crime but that of not being of his opinion。 Several members of our Academy have protested against so crying a procedure； and would leave the Academy； were it not for fear of displeasing the King； who is protector of it。〃 ＇ OEuvres de Voltaire； lxiii。 227 （in Maupertuisiana； No。 xvi）。＇
King Friedrich's position； in the middle of all this； was becoming uncomfortable。 Of the controversy he understood； or cared to understand； nothing； had to believe steadily that his Academy must be right； that Konig was some loose bird； envious of an eagle Maupertuis； sitting aloft on his high Academic perch： this Friedrich took for the truth of the matter；and could not let himself imagine that his sublime Perpetual President； who was usually very prudent and Jove…like； had been led； by his truculent vanity （which Friedrich knew to be immense in the man； though kept well out of sight）； into such playing of fantastic tricks before high Heaven and other on…lookers。 This view of the matter had hitherto been Friedrich's； nor do I know that he ever inwardly departed from it；as outwardly he； for certain； never did； standing； King…like； clear always for his Perpetual President； till this hurricane of Pamphlets blew by。 Voltaire's little Piece； therefore； was the unwelcomest possible。
This new bolt of electric fire； launched upon the storm…tost President from Berlin itself； and even from the King's House itself；by whom； too clearly recognizable；what an irritating thing！ Unseemly； in fact； on Voltaire's part； but could not be helped by a Voltaire charged with electricity。 Friedrich evidently in considerable indignation； finding that public measures would but worsen the uproar； took pen in hand； wrote rapidly the indignant LETTER FROM AN ACADEMICIAN OF BERLIN TO AN ACADEMICIAN OF PARIS： ＇ OEuvres de Frederic； xv。 59…64 （not dated； datable 〃October； 1752〃）。＇ which Piece； of some length； we cannot give here； but will briefly describe as manifesting no real knowledge of the LAW…OF…THRIFT Controversy； but as taking the above loose view of it； and as directed principally against 〃the pretended Member of our Academy〃 （mischievous Voltaire； to wit）； whom it characterizes as 〃such a manifest retailer of lies；〃 a 〃concocter of stupid libels：〃 〃have you ever seen an action more malicious； more dastardly； more infamous？〃and other hard terms； the hardest he can find。 This is the privilege of anonymity； on both sides of it。
But imagine now a King and his Voltaire doing witty discourse over their Supper of the gods （as； on the set days； is duly the case）； with such a consciousness； burning like Bude light； though close veiled； on the part of Host and Guest！ The Friedrich…Voltaire relation is evidently under sore stress of weather； in those winter…autumn months of 1752；brown leaves； splashy rains and winds moaning outwardly withal。 And； alas； the irrepressibly electric Voltaire； still far from having ended； still only just beginning his Anti…Maupertuis discharges； has； in the interim； privately got his DOCTOR AKAKIA ready。 Compared to which； the former missile is as a popgun to a park of artillery shotted with old nails and broken glass！Such a constraint； at the Royal dinner…table； amid wine and wit； could not continue。 The credible account is； it soon cracked asunder； and； after the conceivable sputterings； sparklings and flashings of various complexion； issued in lambent airs of 〃tacit mutual understanding； and in reading of AKAKIA together；with peals of laughter from the King；〃 as the common French Biographers assert。
〃Readers know AKAKIA；〃 ＇DIATRIBE DU DOCTEUR AKAKIA （in Voltaire； OEuvres； lxi。 19…62）。＇ says Smelfungus： 〃it is one of the famous feats of Satirical Pyrotechny； only too pleasant to the corrupt Race of Adam！ There is not much； or indeed anything； of true poetic humor in it： but there is a gayety of malice； a dexterity； felicity； inexhaustibility of laughing mockery and light banter； capable of driving a Perpetual President delirious。 What an Explosion of glass…crackers； fire…balls； flaming…serpents；generally； of sleeping gunpowder； in its most artistic forms；flaming out sky…high over all the Parish； on a sudden！ The almost…sublime of Maupertuis； which exists in large quantities； here is a new artist who knows how to treat it。 The engineer of the Sublime （always painfully engineering thitherward without effect）；an engineer of the Comic steps in on him； blows him up with his own petards in a most unexampled manner。 Not an owlery has that poor Maupertuis； in the struggle to be sublime （often nearly successful； but never once quite）； happened to drop from him； but Voltaire picks it up； manipulates it； reduces it to the sublimely ridiculous； lodges it； in the form of burning dust； about the head of MON PRESIDENT。 Needless to say of the Comic engineer that he is unfair； perversely exaggerative； reiterative； on the owleries of poor Maupertuis；it is his function to BE all that。 Clever； but wrong； do you say？ Well； yes：and yet the ridiculous does require ridicule； wise Nature has silently so ordered。 And if ever truculent President in red wig； with his absurd truculences； tyrannies and perpetual struggles after the sublime； did deserve to be exploded in laughter； it could not have been more consummately done；though perversely always； as must be owned。
〃'The hole bored through the Earth；' for instance： really； one sometimes reflects on such a thing； How you would see daylight； and the antipodal gentleman （if he bent a little over） foot to foot； how a little stone flung into it would exactly （but for air and friction） reach the other side of the world； would then； in a computable few moments； come back quiescent to your hand； and so continue forevermore；with other the like uncriminal fancies。
〃'The Latin Town；' again： truly； if learning the Ancient Languages be human Education； it might； with a Greek Ditto； supersede the Universities； and prove excellently serviceable in our struggle Heavenward by that particular route。 I can assure M。 de Voltaire； it was once practically proposed to this King's Great…grandfather； the Grosse Kurfurst；who looked into it； with face puckered to the intensest； in his great care for furtherance of the Terrestrial Sciences and Wisdoms； but forbore for that time。 ＇Minute details about it in Stenzel； ii。 234…238； who quotes 〃Erman〃 （a poor old friend of ours） 〃SUR LE PROJET D'UNE VILLE SAVANTE DANS LE BRANDEBOURG （Berlin； 1792）：〃 date of the Project was 1667。＇ Then as to 'Dissecting the Brains of Patagonians；' what harm； if you can get them gross enough？ And as to that of （exalting your mind to predict the future；' does not； in fact； man look BEFORE and AFTER； are not Memory and （in a small degree） Prophecy the Two Faculties he has？
〃These thingswhich are mostly to be found in the 'LETTRES DE MAUPERTUIS' （Dresden； 1752； then a brand…new Book）； but are now clipt out from the Maupertuis Treatiseswe can fancy to be almost sublimities。Almost； unfortunately not altogether。 And then there is such a Sisyphus…effort visible in dragging them aloft so far： and the nimble wicked Voltaire so seizes his moment； trips poor Sisyphus； and sends him d
