history of friedrich ii of prussia v 16-第8章
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altogether unheard of in this place; and was endured;〃 on the part of Serene Highness; 〃with a moderation not less surprising。 But what is unendurable is my babble〃 And herewith our nimble little woman hops off again into the general field of things; and gossips largely; How are you; my queen; Whither are you going; Whither we; That the Maillebois people are away; and also the Villeneuves; if anybody knew them now; then how the Estillacs; to the number of four; are coming to…morrow; and Cousin Soquence; for all his hunting; can catch nothing; and it is a continual coming and going; and how Boursoufle is to be played; and a Dame Dufour is just come; who will do a character。 Rubrics; vanished Shadows; nearly all those high Dames and Gentlemen; LA PAUVRE Saint…Pierre; 〃eaten with gout;〃 who is she? 〃Still drags herself about; as well as she can; but not with me; for I never go by land; and she seems to have the hydrophobia; when I take to the water。 'Thread of date is gone! I almost think we must have got to Saturday by this time:or perhaps it is only Thursday; and Maillebois off prematurely; to be out of the way of the Farce? Little De Staal takes no notice; but continues gossiping rapidly:'
〃Yesterday Madame du Chatelet got into her third lodging: she could not any longer endure the one she had chosen。 There was noise in it; smoke without fire:privately meseems; a little the emblem of herself! As to noise; it was not by night that it incommoded her; she told me; but by day; when she was in the thick of her work: it deranges her ideas。 She is busy reviewing her PRINCIPLES〃 NEWTON'S PRINCIPIA; no doubt; but De Staal will understand it only as PRINCIPES; Principles in general:〃it is an exercise she repeats every year; without which the Principles might get away; and perhaps go so far she would never find them again 'You satirical little gypsy!'。 Her head; like enough; is a kind of lock…up for them; rather than a birthplace; or natural home: and that is a case for watching carefully lest they get away。 She prefers the high air of this occupation to every kind of amusement; and persists in not showing herself till after dark。 Voltaire has produced some gallant verses 'unknown to Editors' which help off a little the bad effect of such unusual behavior。
〃SUNDAY; 27th。 I told you on Thursday 'no; you did n't; you only meant to tell' that our Spectres were going on the morrow; and that the Piece was to be played that evening: all this has been done。 I cannot give you much of Boursoufle 'done by one Vanture'。 Mademoiselle Piggery 'DE LA COCHONNIERE; Madame du Chatelet herself' executed so perfectly the extravagance of her part; that I own it gave me real pleasure。 But Vanture only put his own fatuity into the character of Boursoufle; which wanted more: he played naturally in a Piece where all requires to be forced; like the subject of it。〃What a pity none of us has read this fine Farce! 〃One Paris did the part of MUSCADIN (Little Coxcomb); which name represents his character: in short; it can be said the Farce was well given。 The Author ennobled it by a Prologue for the Occasion; which he acted very well; along with Madame Dufour as BARBE (Governess Barbara);who; but for this brilliant action; could not have put up with merely being Governess to Piggery。 And; in fact; she disdained the simplicity of dress which her part required;as did the chief actress;〃 Du Chatelet herself (age now forty…one); 〃who; in playing PIGGERY; preferred the interests of her own face to those of the Piece; and made her entry in all the splendor and elegant equipments of a Court Lady;〃her 〃PRINCIPLES;〃 though the key is turned upon them; not unlike jumping out of window; one would say! 〃She had a crow to pluck 'MAILLE A PARTIR; 〃clasp to open;〃 which is better' with Voltaire on this point: but she is sovereign; and he is slave。 I am very sorry at their going; though I was worn out with doing her multifarious errands all the time she was here。
〃WEDNESDAY; 30th。 M。 le President 'Henault' has been asked hither; and he is to bring you; my Queen! Tried all I could to hinder; but they would not be put off。 If your health and disposition do suit; it will be charming。 In any case; I have got you a good apartment: it is the one that Madame du Chatelet had seized upon; after an exact review of all the Mansion。 There will be a little less furniture than she had put in it; Madame had pillaged all her previous apartments to equip this one。 We found about seven tables in it; for one item: she needs them of all sizes; immense; to spread out her papers upon; solid; to support her NECESSAIRE; slighter; for her nicknacks (POMPONS); for her jewels。 And this fine arrangement did not save her from an accident like that of Philip II。; when; after spending all the night in writing; he got his despatches drowned by the oversetting of an ink…bottle。 The Lady did not pretend to imitate the moderation of that Prince; at any rate; he was only writing on affairs of state; and the thing they blotted; on this occasion; was Algebra; much more difficult to clean up again。
〃This subject ought to be exhausted: one word more; and then it does end。 The day after their departure; I receive a Letter of four pages; and a Note enclosed; which announces dreadful burly…burly: M。 de Voltaire has mislaid his Farce; forgotten to get back the parts; and lost his Prologue: I am to find all that again 'excessively tremulous about his Manuscripts; M。 de Voltaire; of such value are they; of such danger to him; there is LA PUCELLE; for example;enough to hang a man; were it surreptitiously launched forth in print!'I am to send him the Prologue instantly; not by post; because they would copy it; to keep the parts for fear of the same accident; and to lock up the Piece 'under a hundred keys。' I should have thought one padlock sufficient for this treasure! I have duly executed his orders。〃 ' Madame de Graffigny (Paris; 1820); pp。 283…291。'
And herewith EXPLICIT DE STAAL。 Scene closes: EXEUNT OMNES; are off to Paris or Versailles again; to Luneville and the Court of Stanislaus again;where also adventures await them; which will be heard of!
〃Figure to yourself;〃 says some other Eye…witness; 〃a lean Lady; with big arms and long legs; small head; and countenance losing itself in a cloudery of head…dress; cocked nose 'RETROUSSE; say you? Very slightly; then; quite an unobjectionable nose!' and pair of small greenish eyes; complexion tawny; and mouth too big: this was the divine Emilie; whom Voltaire celebrates to the stars。 Loaded to extravagance with ribbons; laces; face…patches; jewels and female ornaments; determined to be sumptuous in spite of Economics; and pretty in spite of Nature:〃 Pooh; it is an enemy's hand that paints! 〃And then by her side;〃 continues he; 〃the thin long figure of Voltaire; that Anatomy of an Apollo; affecting worship of her;〃 'From Rodenbeck (quoting somebody; whom I have surely seen in French; whom Rodenbeck tries to name; as he could have done; but curiously without success); i。 179。'yes; that thin long Gentleman; with high red…heeled shoes; and the daintiest polite attitudes and paces; in superfine coat; laced hat under arm; nose and under…lip ever more like coalescing (owing to decay of teeth); but two eyes shining on you like carbuncles; and in the ringing voice; such touches of speech when you apply for it! Thus they at Sceaux and elsewhere; walking their Life…minuet; making their entrances and exits。
One thing is lamentable: the relation with Madame is not now a flourishing one; or capable again of being: 〃Does not love me as he did; the wretch!〃 thinks Madame always;yet sticks by him; were it but in the form of blister。 They had been to Luneville; Spring; 1747; happy dull place; within reach of Cirey; far from Versailles and its cabals。 They went again; 1748; in a kind of permanent way; Titular Stanislaus; an opulent dawdling creature; much liking to have them; and Father Menou; his Jesuit;who is always in quarrel with the Titular Mistress;thinking to displace HER (as you; gradually discover); and promote the Du Chatelet to that improper dignity! In which he had not the least success; says Voltaire; but got 〃two women on his ears instead of one。〃 It was not to be