History of Friedrich II of Prussia V 11 [67]
Voltaire does go;
is actually on visit to his royal Friend; "six days with him at
Reinsberg;" perhaps near a fortnight in all (20 November-
2 December or so), hanging about those Berlin regions, on the
survey. Here is an unexpected pleasure to the parties;--but in
regard to penetrating of secrets, an unproductive one!
Voltaire's ostensible errand was, To report progress about the
ANTI-MACHIAVEL, the Van Duren nonsense; and, at any rate, to
settle the Money-accounts on these and other scores; and to
discourse Philosophies, for a day or two, with the First of Men.
The real errand, it is pretty clear, was as above. Voltaire has
always a wistful eye towards political employment, and would fain
make himself useful in high quarters. Fleury and he have their
touches of direct Correspondence now and then; and obliquely there
are always intermediates and channels. Small hint, the slightest
twinkle of Fleury's eyelashes, would be duly speeded to Voltaire,
and set him going. We shall see him expressly missioned hither,
on similar errand, by and by; though with as bad success as
at present.
Of this his First Visit to Berlin, his Second to Friedrich,
Voltaire in the VIE PRIVEE says nothing. But in his SIECLE DE
LOUIS XV. he drops, with proud modesty, a little foot-note upon
it: "The Author was with the King of Prussia at that time; and can
affirm that Cardinal de Fleury was totally astray in regard to the
Prince he had now to do with." To which a DATE slightly wrong is
added; the rest being perfectly correct. [ OEuvres italic> (Siecle de Louis XV., c. 6), xxviii. 74.] No other details
are to be got anywhere, if they were of importance; the very dates
of it in the best Prussian Books are all slightly awry. Here, by
accident, are two poor flint-sparks caught from the dust
whirlwind, which yield a certain sufficing twilight, when put in
their place; and show us both sides of the matter, the smooth side
and the seamy:--
1. FRIEDRICH TO ALGAROTTI, AT BERLIN. From "Reinsberg,
21st Nov.," showing the smooth side.
"MY DEAR SWAN OF PADUA,--Voltaire has arrived; all sparkling with
new beauties, and far more sociable than at Cleve. He is in very
good humor; and makes less complaining about his ailments than
usual. Nothing can be more frivolous than our occupations here:"
mere verse-making, dancing, philosophizing, then card-playing,
dining, flirting; merry as birds on the bough (and Silesia
invisible, except to oneself and two others). [ OEuvres de
Frederic, xviii. 25.]
2. FRIEDRICH TO JORDAN, AT BERLIN.
"RUPPIN, 28th November.
"... Thy Miser [Voltaire, now gone to Berlin, of whom Jordan is to
send news, as of all things else], thy Miser shall drink to the
lees of his insatiable desire (SIC) to enrich himself: he shall
have the 3,000 thalers (450 pounds). He was with me six days:
that will be at the rate of 500 thalers (75 pounds) a day. That is
paying dear for one's merry-andrew (C'EST BIEN PAYER UN FOU);
never had court-fool such wages before." [Ib. xvii. 72.
Particulars of the money-payment (travelling expenses chiefly,
rather exorbitant, and THIS journey added to the list; and no
whisper of the considerable Van-Duren moneys, and copyright of
ANTI-MACHIAVEL, in abatement) are in Rodenbeck, i. 27. Exact sum
paid is 3,300 thalers; 2,000 a good while ago, 1,300 at this time,
which settles the greedy bill.]
Which latter, also at first hand, shows us the seamy side.
And here, finally, with date happily appended, is a poetic snatch,
in Voltaire's exquisite style, which with the response gives us
the medium view:--
VOLTAIRE'S ADIEU ( "Billet de Conge,
2 December, 1740").
"Non, malgre vos vertus, non, malgre vos appas,
Mon ame n'est point satisfaite;
Non, vous n'etes qu'une coquette,
Qui subjuguez les coeurs, et ne rous donnez pas."
FRIEDRICH'S RESPONSE.
"Mon ame sent le prix de vos divins appas;
Mais ne presumez point qu'elle soit satisfaite.
Traitre, vous me quittez pour suivre une coquette;
is actually on visit to his royal Friend; "six days with him at
Reinsberg;" perhaps near a fortnight in all (20 November-
2 December or so), hanging about those Berlin regions, on the
survey. Here is an unexpected pleasure to the parties;--but in
regard to penetrating of secrets, an unproductive one!
Voltaire's ostensible errand was, To report progress about the
ANTI-MACHIAVEL, the Van Duren nonsense; and, at any rate, to
settle the Money-accounts on these and other scores; and to
discourse Philosophies, for a day or two, with the First of Men.
The real errand, it is pretty clear, was as above. Voltaire has
always a wistful eye towards political employment, and would fain
make himself useful in high quarters. Fleury and he have their
touches of direct Correspondence now and then; and obliquely there
are always intermediates and channels. Small hint, the slightest
twinkle of Fleury's eyelashes, would be duly speeded to Voltaire,
and set him going. We shall see him expressly missioned hither,
on similar errand, by and by; though with as bad success as
at present.
Of this his First Visit to Berlin, his Second to Friedrich,
Voltaire in the VIE PRIVEE says nothing. But in his SIECLE DE
LOUIS XV. he drops, with proud modesty, a little foot-note upon
it: "The Author was with the King of Prussia at that time; and can
affirm that Cardinal de Fleury was totally astray in regard to the
Prince he had now to do with." To which a DATE slightly wrong is
added; the rest being perfectly correct. [
are to be got anywhere, if they were of importance; the very dates
of it in the best Prussian Books are all slightly awry. Here, by
accident, are two poor flint-sparks caught from the dust
whirlwind, which yield a certain sufficing twilight, when put in
their place; and show us both sides of the matter, the smooth side
and the seamy:--
1. FRIEDRICH TO ALGAROTTI, AT BERLIN. From "Reinsberg,
21st Nov.," showing the smooth side.
"MY DEAR SWAN OF PADUA,--Voltaire has arrived; all sparkling with
new beauties, and far more sociable than at Cleve. He is in very
good humor; and makes less complaining about his ailments than
usual. Nothing can be more frivolous than our occupations here:"
mere verse-making, dancing, philosophizing, then card-playing,
dining, flirting; merry as birds on the bough (and Silesia
invisible, except to oneself and two others). [
Frederic,
2. FRIEDRICH TO JORDAN, AT BERLIN.
"RUPPIN, 28th November.
"... Thy Miser [Voltaire, now gone to Berlin, of whom Jordan is to
send news, as of all things else], thy Miser shall drink to the
lees of his insatiable desire (SIC) to enrich himself: he shall
have the 3,000 thalers (450 pounds). He was with me six days:
that will be at the rate of 500 thalers (75 pounds) a day. That is
paying dear for one's merry-andrew (C'EST BIEN PAYER UN FOU);
never had court-fool such wages before." [Ib. xvii. 72.
Particulars of the money-payment (travelling expenses chiefly,
rather exorbitant, and THIS journey added to the list; and no
whisper of the considerable Van-Duren moneys, and copyright of
ANTI-MACHIAVEL, in abatement) are in Rodenbeck, i. 27. Exact sum
paid is 3,300 thalers; 2,000 a good while ago, 1,300 at this time,
which settles the greedy bill.]
Which latter, also at first hand, shows us the seamy side.
And here, finally, with date happily appended, is a poetic snatch,
in Voltaire's exquisite style, which with the response gives us
the medium view:--
VOLTAIRE'S ADIEU (
2 December, 1740").
"Non, malgre vos vertus, non, malgre vos appas,
Mon ame n'est point satisfaite;
Non, vous n'etes qu'une coquette,
Qui subjuguez les coeurs, et ne rous donnez pas."
FRIEDRICH'S RESPONSE.
"Mon ame sent le prix de vos divins appas;
Mais ne presumez point qu'elle soit satisfaite.
Traitre, vous me quittez pour suivre une coquette;