History of Friedrich II of Prussia V 11 [34]
was my fated term. A deserter from our troops got eye on me,
recognised me and denounced me.
This wretched gallows-bird got eye on me;
Such is the lot of all earthly things;
And so of our fine mystery
The whole secret came to light."
Ce malheureux pendard me vit,
C'est le sort de toutes les choses;
Ainsi de motre pot aux roses
Tout le secret se decouvrit.
Well; we must take this glimpse, such as it is, into the interior
of the young man,--fine buoyant, pungent German spirit, roadways
for it very bad, and universal rain-torrents falling, yet with
coruscations from a higher quarter;--and you can forget, if need
be, the "Literature" of this young Majesty, as you would a
staccato on the flute by him! In after months, on new occasion
rising, "there was no end to his gibings and bitter pleasantries
on the ridiculous reception Broglio had given him at Strasburg,"
says Valori, [ Memoires, i. 88.]--of which
this Doggerel itself offers specimen.
"Probably the weakest Piece I ever translated?" exclaims one, who
has translated several such. Nevertheless there is a straggle of
pungent sense in it,--like the outskirts of lightning, seen in
that dismally wet weather, which the Royal Party had. Its wit is
very copious, but slashy, bantery, and proceeds mainly by
exaggeration and turning topsy-turvy; a rather barren species of
wit. Of humor, in the fine poetic sense, no vestige. But there is
surprising veracity,--truthfulness unimpeachable, if you will read
well. What promptitude, too;--what funds for conversation, when
needed! This scraggy Piece, which is better than the things people
often talk to one another, was evidently written as fast as the
pen could go.--"It is done, if such a Hand could have DONE it, in
the manner of Bachaumont and La Chapelle," says Voltaire
scornfully, in that scandalous VIE PRIVEE;--of which phrase this
is the commentary, if readers need one:--
"Some seventy or eighty years before that date, a M. Bachaumont
and a M. la Chapelle, his intimate, published, in Prose skipping
off into dancings of Verse every now and then, 'a charming
RELATION of a certain VOYAGE or Home Tour' (whence or whither, or
correctly when, this Editor forgets), ["First printed in 1665,"
say the Bibliographies; "but known to La Fontaine some time
before." Good!--Bachaumont, practically an important and
distinguished person, not literary by trade, or indeed otherwise
than by ennui, was he that had given (some fifteen years before)
the Nickname FRONDE (Bickering of Schoolboys) to the wretched
Historical Object which is still so designated in French annals.]
which they had made in partnership. 'RELATION' capable still of
being read, if one were tolerably idle;--it was found then to be
charming, by all the world; and gave rise to a new fashion in
writing; which Voltaire often adopts, and is supremely good at;
and in which Friedrich, who is also fond of it, by no means
succeeds so well."
Enough, Friedrich got to Wesel, back to his business, in a day or
two; and had done, as we forever have, with the Strasburg Escapade
and its Doggerel.
FRIEDRICH FINDS M. DE MAUPERTUIS; NOT YET M. DE VOLTAIRE.
Friedrich got to Wesel on the 29th; found Maupertuis waiting
there, according to appointment: an elaborately polite, somewhat
sublime scientific gentleman; ready to "engraft on the Berlin
crab-tree," and produce real apples and Academics there, so soon
as the King, the proprietor, may have leisure for such a thing.
Algarotti has already the honor of some acquaintance with
Maupertuis. Maupertuis has been at Brussels, on the road hither;
saw Voltaire and even Madame,--which latter was rather a ticklish
operation, owing to grudges and tiffs of quarrel that had risen,
but it proved successful under the delicate guidance of Voltaire.
Voltaire is up to oiling the wheels: "There you are, Monsieur,
like the [don't name What, though profane Voltaire does, writing
to Maupertuis a month ago]--Three Kings running after you!" A new
Pension
recognised me and denounced me.
This wretched gallows-bird got eye on me;
Such is the lot of all earthly things;
And so of our fine mystery
The whole secret came to light."
Ce malheureux pendard me vit,
C'est le sort de toutes les choses;
Ainsi de motre pot aux roses
Tout le secret se decouvrit.
Well; we must take this glimpse, such as it is, into the interior
of the young man,--fine buoyant, pungent German spirit, roadways
for it very bad, and universal rain-torrents falling, yet with
coruscations from a higher quarter;--and you can forget, if need
be, the "Literature" of this young Majesty, as you would a
staccato on the flute by him! In after months, on new occasion
rising, "there was no end to his gibings and bitter pleasantries
on the ridiculous reception Broglio had given him at Strasburg,"
says Valori, [
this Doggerel itself offers specimen.
"Probably the weakest Piece I ever translated?" exclaims one, who
has translated several such. Nevertheless there is a straggle of
pungent sense in it,--like the outskirts of lightning, seen in
that dismally wet weather, which the Royal Party had. Its wit is
very copious, but slashy, bantery, and proceeds mainly by
exaggeration and turning topsy-turvy; a rather barren species of
wit. Of humor, in the fine poetic sense, no vestige. But there is
surprising veracity,--truthfulness unimpeachable, if you will read
well. What promptitude, too;--what funds for conversation, when
needed! This scraggy Piece, which is better than the things people
often talk to one another, was evidently written as fast as the
pen could go.--"It is done, if such a Hand could have DONE it, in
the manner of Bachaumont and La Chapelle," says Voltaire
scornfully, in that scandalous VIE PRIVEE;--of which phrase this
is the commentary, if readers need one:--
"Some seventy or eighty years before that date, a M. Bachaumont
and a M. la Chapelle, his intimate, published, in Prose skipping
off into dancings of Verse every now and then, 'a charming
RELATION of a certain VOYAGE or Home Tour' (whence or whither, or
correctly when, this Editor forgets), ["First printed in 1665,"
say the Bibliographies; "but known to La Fontaine some time
before." Good!--Bachaumont, practically an important and
distinguished person, not literary by trade, or indeed otherwise
than by ennui, was he that had given (some fifteen years before)
the Nickname FRONDE (Bickering of Schoolboys) to the wretched
Historical Object which is still so designated in French annals.]
which they had made in partnership. 'RELATION' capable still of
being read, if one were tolerably idle;--it was found then to be
charming, by all the world; and gave rise to a new fashion in
writing; which Voltaire often adopts, and is supremely good at;
and in which Friedrich, who is also fond of it, by no means
succeeds so well."
Enough, Friedrich got to Wesel, back to his business, in a day or
two; and had done, as we forever have, with the Strasburg Escapade
and its Doggerel.
FRIEDRICH FINDS M. DE MAUPERTUIS; NOT YET M. DE VOLTAIRE.
Friedrich got to Wesel on the 29th; found Maupertuis waiting
there, according to appointment: an elaborately polite, somewhat
sublime scientific gentleman; ready to "engraft on the Berlin
crab-tree," and produce real apples and Academics there, so soon
as the King, the proprietor, may have leisure for such a thing.
Algarotti has already the honor of some acquaintance with
Maupertuis. Maupertuis has been at Brussels, on the road hither;
saw Voltaire and even Madame,--which latter was rather a ticklish
operation, owing to grudges and tiffs of quarrel that had risen,
but it proved successful under the delicate guidance of Voltaire.
Voltaire is up to oiling the wheels: "There you are, Monsieur,
like the [don't name What, though profane Voltaire does, writing
to Maupertuis a month ago]--Three Kings running after you!" A new
Pension