History of Friedrich II of Prussia V 11 [36]
passed on this occasion. As for Konig,
who had studied in some Dutch university, he went by and by to be
Librarian to the Prince of Orange; and we shall not fail to hear
of him again,--once more upon the infinitely little.
[From OEuvres de Voltaire, ii. 126, lxxii.
(20, 216, 230), lxiii. (229-239), &c. &c.]
Voltaire too, in his way, is fond of these mathematical people;
eager enough to fish for knowledge, here as in all elements, when
he has the chance offered: this is much an interest of his at
present. And he does attain sound ideas, outlines of ideas, in
this province,--though privately defective in the due
transcendency of admiration for it;--was wont to discuss cheerily
with Konig, about VIS VIVA, monads, gravitation and the infinitely
little; above all, bows to the ground before the red-wigged
Bashaw, Flattener of the Earth, whom for Madame's sake and his own
he is anxious to be well with. "Fall on your face nine times, ye
esoteric of only Impure Science!"--intimates Maupertuis to
mankind. "By all means!" answers M. de Voltaire, doing it with
alacrity; with a kind of loyalty, one can perceive, and also with
a hypocrisy grounded on love of peace. If that is the nature of
the Bashaw, and one's sole mode of fishing knowledge from him,
why not? thinks M. de Voltaire. His patience with M. de
Maupertuis, first and last, was very great. But we shall
find it explode at length, a dozen years hence, in a
conspicuous manner!--
"Maupertuis had come to us to Cirey, with Jean Bernouilli," says
Voltaire; "and thenceforth Maupertuis, who was born the most
jealous of men, took me for the object of this passion, which has
always been very dear to him." [VIE PRIVEE.] Husht, Monsieur!--
Here is a poor rheumatic kind of Letter, which illustrates the
interim condition, after that varnish of reconcilement
at Brussels:--
VOLTAIRE TO M. DE MAUPERTUIS (at Wesel, waiting for the King,
or with him rather).
"BRUSSELS, 29th August (1740), 3d year since
the world flattened.
"How the Devil, great Philosopher, would you have had me write to
you at Wesel? I fancied you gone from Wesel, to seek the King of
Sages on his Journey somewhere. I had understood, too, they were
so delighted to have you in that fortified lodge (BOUGE FORTIFIE)
that you must be taking pleasure there, for he that gives pleasure
gets it.
"You have already seen the jolly Ambassador of the amiablest
Monarch in the world,"--Camas, a fattish man, on his road to
Versailles (who called at Brussels here, with fine compliments,
and a keg of Hungary Wine, as YOU may have heard whispered).
"No doubt M. de Camas is with you. For my own share, I think it is
after you that he is running at present. But in truth, at the hour
while I say this, you are with the King;"--a lucky guess; King did
return to Wesel this very day. "The Philosopher and the Prince
perceive already that they are made for each other. You and
M. Algarotti will say, FACIAMUS HIC TRIA TABERNACULA: as to me,
I can only make DUO TABERNACULA,"--profane Voltaire!
"Without doubt I would be with you if I were not at Brussels;
but my heart is with you all the same; and is the subject, all the
same, of a King who is, formed to reign over every thinking and
feeling being. I do not despair that Madame du Chatelet will find
herself somewhere on your route: it will be a scene in a fairy
tale;--she will arrive with a SUFFICIENT REASON [as your Leibnitz
says] and with MONADS. She does not love you the less though she
now believes the universe a PLENUM, and has renounced the notion
of VOID. Over her you have an ascendant which you will never lose.
In fine, my dear Monsieur, I wish as ardently as she to embrace
you the soonest possible. I recommend myself to your friendship in
the Court, worthy of you, where you now are."--TOUT A VOUS,
somewhat rheumatic! [Voltaire, lxxii. p. 243.]
Always an anxious almost tremulous desire to conciliate this big
glaring geometrical bully
who had studied in some Dutch university, he went by and by to be
Librarian to the Prince of Orange; and we shall not fail to hear
of him again,--once more upon the infinitely little.
[From
(20, 216, 230), lxiii. (229-239), &c. &c.]
Voltaire too, in his way, is fond of these mathematical people;
eager enough to fish for knowledge, here as in all elements, when
he has the chance offered: this is much an interest of his at
present. And he does attain sound ideas, outlines of ideas, in
this province,--though privately defective in the due
transcendency of admiration for it;--was wont to discuss cheerily
with Konig, about VIS VIVA, monads, gravitation and the infinitely
little; above all, bows to the ground before the red-wigged
Bashaw, Flattener of the Earth, whom for Madame's sake and his own
he is anxious to be well with. "Fall on your face nine times, ye
esoteric of only Impure Science!"--intimates Maupertuis to
mankind. "By all means!" answers M. de Voltaire, doing it with
alacrity; with a kind of loyalty, one can perceive, and also with
a hypocrisy grounded on love of peace. If that is the nature of
the Bashaw, and one's sole mode of fishing knowledge from him,
why not? thinks M. de Voltaire. His patience with M. de
Maupertuis, first and last, was very great. But we shall
find it explode at length, a dozen years hence, in a
conspicuous manner!--
"Maupertuis had come to us to Cirey, with Jean Bernouilli," says
Voltaire; "and thenceforth Maupertuis, who was born the most
jealous of men, took me for the object of this passion, which has
always been very dear to him." [VIE PRIVEE.] Husht, Monsieur!--
Here is a poor rheumatic kind of Letter, which illustrates the
interim condition, after that varnish of reconcilement
at Brussels:--
VOLTAIRE TO M. DE MAUPERTUIS (at Wesel, waiting for the King,
or with him rather).
"BRUSSELS, 29th August (1740),
the world flattened.
"How the Devil, great Philosopher, would you have had me write to
you at Wesel? I fancied you gone from Wesel, to seek the King of
Sages on his Journey somewhere. I had understood, too, they were
so delighted to have you in that fortified lodge (BOUGE FORTIFIE)
that you must be taking pleasure there, for he that gives pleasure
gets it.
"You have already seen the jolly Ambassador of the amiablest
Monarch in the world,"--Camas, a fattish man, on his road to
Versailles (who called at Brussels here, with fine compliments,
and a keg of Hungary Wine, as YOU may have heard whispered).
"No doubt M. de Camas is with you. For my own share, I think it is
after you that he is running at present. But in truth, at the hour
while I say this, you are with the King;"--a lucky guess; King did
return to Wesel this very day. "The Philosopher and the Prince
perceive already that they are made for each other. You and
M. Algarotti will say, FACIAMUS HIC TRIA TABERNACULA: as to me,
I can only make DUO TABERNACULA,"--profane Voltaire!
"Without doubt I would be with you if I were not at Brussels;
but my heart is with you all the same; and is the subject, all the
same, of a King who is, formed to reign over every thinking and
feeling being. I do not despair that Madame du Chatelet will find
herself somewhere on your route: it will be a scene in a fairy
tale;--she will arrive with a SUFFICIENT REASON [as your Leibnitz
says] and with MONADS. She does not love you the less though she
now believes the universe a PLENUM, and has renounced the notion
of VOID. Over her you have an ascendant which you will never lose.
In fine, my dear Monsieur, I wish as ardently as she to embrace
you the soonest possible. I recommend myself to your friendship in
the Court, worthy of you, where you now are."--TOUT A VOUS,
somewhat rheumatic! [Voltaire, lxxii. p. 243.]
Always an anxious almost tremulous desire to conciliate this big
glaring geometrical bully