The king and Voltaire soon became involved in a very serious quarrel. Voltaire had employed a Jew, by the name of Hirsch, to engage fraudulently in speculating in the funds. The transaction was so complicated that few of our readers would have the patience to follow an attempt at its disentanglement. Voltaire and his agent quarreled. The contention4 rang through all the court circles, as other conspicuous5 names were involved in the meshes6 of the intrigue7. A lawsuit8 ensued, which created excitement almost inconceivable. The recent law reform caused the process to be pushed very rapidly to its conclusion. Voltaire emerged from the suit with his character sadly maimed. He was clearly convicted of both falsehood and forgery9. The king, annoyed by the clamor, retired10 from Berlin to Sans Souci. Voltaire was not invited to accompany him, but was left in the Berlin palace. In a letter which Frederick wrote to D’Arget, dated April, 1752, he says:
“Voltaire has conducted himself like a blackguard and a consummate11 rascal12. I have talked to him as he deserved. He is a sad fellow. I am quite ashamed for human abilities that a man who has so much of them should be so full of wickedness. I am not surprised that people talk at Paris of the quarrel of our beaux esprits. Voltaire is the most mischievous13 madman I ever knew. He is only good to read. It is impossible for you to388 imagine the duplicities, the impositions, the infamies14 he practiced here. I am quite indignant that so much talent and acquirement do not make men better. I took the part of Maupertuis because he is a good sort of man, and the other had determined15 upon ruining him. A little too much vanity had rendered him too sensitive to the man?uvres of this monkey, whom he ought to have despised after having castigated16 him.”95
Frederick wrote to Wilhelmina: “Voltaire picks Jews’ pockets, but he will get out of it by some somersault.”
Voltaire fell sick. He had already quarreled with many persons, and had constrained17 the king in many cases, very reluctantly, to take his part. He now wrote to Frederick, begging permission to join him in the quietude of Sans Souci. The following extracts from the reply of his majesty18 will be read with interest:
“Potsdam, February 24, 1751.
“I was glad to receive you in my house. I esteemed19 your genius, your talents, and your acquirements. I had reason to think that a man of your age, weary of fencing against authors, and exposing himself to the storm, came hither to take refuge, as in a safe harbor.”
After briefly21 alluding22 to the many quarrels in which Voltaire had been involved, the king adds:
“You have had the most villainous affair with a Jew. It has made a frightful23 scandal all over town. For my own part, I have preserved peace in my house until your arrival; and I warn you that, if you have the passion of intriguing24 and cabaling, you have applied25 to the wrong person. I like peaceable, quiet people, who do not put into their conduct the violent passions of tragedy. In case you can resolve to live like a philosopher, I shall be glad to see you. But if you abandon yourself to all the violence of your passions, and get into quarrels with all the world, you will do me no good by coming hither, and you may as well stay in Berlin.”
Four days after this Frederick wrote again, in answer to additional applications from Voltaire.
“If you wish to come hither you can. I hear nothing of lawsuits27, not even of yours. Since you have gained it I congratulate389 you, and I am glad that this scurvy28 affair is done.96 I hope you will have no more quarrels, either with the Old or the New Testament29. Such contentions30 leave their mark upon a man. Even with the talents of the finest genius in France, you will not cover the stains which this conduct will fasten on your reputation in the long run. I write this letter with the rough common sense of a German, without employing equivocal terms which disfigure the truth. It is for you to profit by it.”
Voltaire’s visit lasted about thirty-two months. He was, however, during all this time, fast losing favor with the king. Instead of being received as an inmate31 at Sans Souci, he was assigned to a small country house in the vicinity, called the Marquisat. His wants were, however, all abundantly provided for at the expense of the king. It is evident from his letters that he was a very unhappy man. He was infirm in health, irascible, discontented, crabbed32; suspecting every one of being his enemy, jealous of his companions, and with a diseased mind, crowded with superstitious33 fears.
On one occasion, when the king had sent him a manuscript to revise, he sarcastically34 exclaimed to the royal messenger, “When will his majesty be done with sending me his dirty linen35 to wash?” This speech was repeated to the king. He did not lose his revenge.
Frederick was endowed with brilliant powers of conversation. He was fond of society, where he could exercise and display these gifts and accomplishments36. Frequent suppers were given at Sans Souci, which lasted from half past eight till midnight. Gentlemen only—learned men—were invited to these entertainments. Frederick was not an amiable37 man. He took pleasure in inflicting38 the keenest pain possible with his satirical tongue. No friend was spared. The more deeply he could strike the lash39 into the quivering nerves of sensibility, the better he seemed pleased with himself.
He could not but respect his wife. Her character was beyond all possible reproach. She never uttered a complaint, was cheerful and faithful in every duty. She had rooms assigned her on the second floor of the Berlin palace, where she was comfortably390 lodged40 and fed, and had modest receptions every Thursday, which were always closed at nine o’clock. A gentleman writes from Berlin at this time:
“The king esteems41 his wife, and can not endure her. It was but a few days ago she handed him a letter petitioning for some things of which she had the most pressing want. Frederick took the letter with that most smiling, gracious air, which he assumes at pleasure, and, without breaking the seal, tore it up before her face, made her a profound bow, and turned his back on her.”
“The king respects his mother,” the same writer adds. “She is the only female to whom he pays any sort of attention. She is a good, fat woman, who moves about in her own way.”
It was a peculiarity43 quite inexplicable44 which led Frederick to exclude females from his court. His favorites were all men—men of some peculiar42 intellectual ability. He sought their society only. With the exception of his sister, and occasionally some foreign princess, ladies were seldom admitted to companionship with him. He was a cold, solitary45 man, so self-reliant that he seldom asked or took advice.
Voltaire hated M. Maupertuis. He was the president of the Berlin Academy, and was regarded by Voltaire as a formidable rival. This hatred46 gave rise to a quarrel between Frederick and Voltaire, which was so virulent47 that Europe was filled with the noise of their bickerings. M. Maupertuis had published a pamphlet, in which he assumed to have made some important discovery upon the law of action. M. K?nig, a member of the Academy, reviewed the pamphlet, asserting not only that the proclaimed law was false, but that it had been promulgated48 half a century before. In support of his position he quoted from a letter of Leibnitz. The original of the letter could not be produced. M. K?nig was accused of having forged the extract. M. Maupertuis, a very jealous, irritable49 man, by his powerful influence as president, caused M. K?nig to be expelled from the Academy.
Frederick regarded the Academy as his pet institution, and was very jealous of the illustrious philosopher, whom he had invited to Berlin to preside over its deliberations. Voltaire, knowing this very well, and fully50 aware that to strike the Academy391 in the person of its president was to strike Frederick, wrote an anonymous51 communication to a review published in Paris, in which he accused M. Maupertuis—first, of plagiarism52, in appropriating to himself a discovery made by another; secondly53, of a ridiculous blunder in assuming that said discovery was a philosophical54 principle, and not an absurdity55; and thirdly, that he had abused his position as president of the Academy in suppressing free discussion, by expelling from the institution a member merely for not agreeing with him in opinion. These statements were probably true, and on that account the more damaging.
The authorship of the article could not be concealed56. Frederick was indignant. He angrily seized his pen, and wrote a reply, which, though anonymous, was known by all to have been written by the king. In this reply he accused the writer of the article, whom he well knew to be Voltaire, of being a “manifest retailer57 of lies,” “a concocter58 of stupid libels,” and as “guilty of conduct more malicious59, more dastardly, more infamous60” than he had ever known before.
This roused Voltaire. He did not venture to attack the king, but he assailed61 M. Maupertuis again, anonymously62, but with greatly increased venom63. A brief pamphlet appeared, entitled, “The Diatribe64 of Doctor Akakia, Physician to the Pope.” It was a merciless satire65 against M. Maupertuis. Voltaire was entirely66 unscrupulous, and was perfect master of the language of sarcasm67. No moral principle restrained him from exaggerating, misrepresenting, or fabricating any falsehoods which would subserve his purpose. M. Maupertuis was utterly68 overwhelmed with ridicule69. The satire was so keen that few could read it without roars of laughter. Voltaire, the king’s guest, was thus exposing to the contempt of all Europe the president of the Berlin Academy, the reputation of which Academy was dear to the king above almost every thing else. An edition of the pamphlet was printed in Holland, and copies were scattered70 all over Berlin. Another edition was published in Paris, where thirty thousand copies were eagerly purchased.
Frederick was in a towering passion. Voltaire was alarmed at the commotion71 he had created. He wrote a letter to the king, in which he declared most solemnly that he had not intended to392 have the pamphlet published; that a copy had been obtained by treachery, and had been printed without his consent or knowledge. But the king wrote back:
“Your effrontery72 astonishes me. What you have done is clear as the day; and yet, instead of confessing your culpability73, you persist in denying it. Do you think you can make people believe that black is white? All shall be made public. Then it will be seen whether, if your words deserve statues, your conduct does not deserve chains.”
The king, in his anger, ordered all the pamphlets in Berlin to be collected and burned by the common hangman, in front of Voltaire’s windows. Three months passed away, during which the parties remained in this deplorable state of antagonism74. Voltaire was wretched, often confined to his bed, and looked like a skeleton. He was anxious to leave Berlin, but feared that the king would not grant him leave. He wrote to Frederick, stating that he was very sick, and wished to retire to the springs of Plombières for his health. The king curtly75 replied,
“There was no need of that pretext76 about the waters of Plombières in demanding your leave. You can quit my service when you like. But, before going, be so good as to return me the key, the cross, and the volume of verses which I confided77 to you.
“I wish that my works, and only they, had been what K?nig attacked. I could sacrifice them with a great deal of willingness to persons who think of increasing their own reputation by lessening78 that of others. I have not the folly79 nor vanity of certain authors. The cabals80 of literary people seem to me the disgrace of literature. I do not the less esteem20 the honorable cultivators of literature. It is the cabalers and their leaders that are degraded in my eyes.”
For some unexplained reason, soon after this, the king partially81 relented, and invited Voltaire to Potsdam. He allowed him to retain his cross and key, and said nothing about the return of the volume of poetry. This was a volume of which twelve copies only had been printed. On the 25th of March, 1753, Voltaire left Potsdam for Dresden.
In the following terms Thiebault describes their parting: The final interview between Frederick and Voltaire took place on the parade at Potsdam, where the king was then occupied with393 his soldiers. One of the attendants announced Voltaire to his majesty with these words:
“Sire, here is Monsieur De Voltaire, who is come to receive the orders of your majesty.”
Frederick turned to Voltaire and said, “Monsieur De Voltaire, are you still determined upon going?”
“Sire, affairs which I can not neglect, and, above all, the state of my health, oblige me to it.”
“In that case, sir,” replied the king, “I wish you a good journey.”
Thus parted these remarkable82 men, who were never destined83 to meet again.
Voltaire, being safe out of Prussia, in the territory of the King of Poland, instead of hastening to Plombières, tarried in Dresden, and then in Leipsic. From those places he began shooting, through magazines, newspapers, and various other instrumentalities, his poisoned darts84 at M. Maupertuis. Though these malignant85 assaults, rapidly following each other, were anonymous, no one could doubt their authorship. M. Maupertuis, exasperated86, wrote to him from Berlin on the 7th of April:
“If it be true that you design to attack me again, I declare to you that I have still health enough to find you, wherever you are, and to take the most signal vengeance87 upon you. Thank the respect and obedience88 which have hitherto restrained my arm, and saved you from the worst adventure you have ever had.
Maupertuis.”
Voltaire replied from Leipsic:
“M. le President,—I have had the honor to receive your letter. You inform me that you are well, and that, if I publish La Beaumelle’s letter,97 you will come and assassinate89 me. What ingratitude90 to your poor Doctor Akakia! If you exalt91 your soul so as to discern futurity, you will see that, if you come on that errand to Leipsic, where you are no better liked than in other places, you will run some risk of being hanged. Poor me, indeed, you will find in bed. But, as soon as I have gained a little strength, I will have my pistols charged, and, multiplying the394 mass by the square of velocity92, so as to reduce the action and you to zero, I will put some lead into your head. It appears that you have need of it. Adieu, my president.
Akakia.”
There were some gross vulgarities in Voltaire’s letter which we refrain from quoting. Both of these communications were printed and widely circulated, exciting throughout Europe contempt and derision. Voltaire had still the copy of the king’s private poems. Frederick, quite irritated, and not knowing what infamous use Voltaire might make of the volume, which contained some very severe satires93 against prominent persons, and particularly against his uncle, the King of England, determined, at all hazards, to recover the book. He knew it would be of no avail to write to Voltaire to return it.
Voltaire, on his journey to Paris, would pass through Frankfort. Frederick secretly employed a Prussian officer to obtain from the authorities there the necessary powers, and to arrest him, and take from him the cross of Merit, the gold key of the chamberlain, and especially the volume of poems. The officer, M. Freytag, kept himself minutely informed of Voltaire’s movements. At eight o’clock in the evening of the 31st of May the illustrious philosopher arrived, with a small suite95, traveling in considerable state, and stopped at the “Golden Lion.” M. Freytag was on the spot. He was a man of distinction. He called upon Voltaire, and, after the interchange of the customary civilities, informed the poet that he was under the necessity of arresting him in the name of the King of Prussia, and detaining him until he should surrender the cross, the key, and the volume of poems. Voltaire was greatly annoyed. He professed96 warm friendship for the King of Prussia. Very reluctantly, and not until after several hours of altercation97, he surrendered the key and the cross. The volume of poems he was very anxious indeed to retain, and affirmed that they were, he knew not where, with luggage he had left behind him in Leipsic or Dresden. He was informed that he would be detained as a prisoner until the volume was produced.
In a state of great exasperation98, Voltaire wrote for a large trunk to be sent to him which contained the book. To save himself from the humiliation99 of being guarded as a prisoner, he gave his395 parole d’honneur that he would not go beyond the garden of the inn. After a delay of three weeks, Voltaire decided100, notwithstanding his parole, to attempt his escape. His reputation was such that M. Freytag had no confidence in his word, and employed spies to watch his every movement.
On the 20th of June, Voltaire dressed himself in disguise, and, with a companion, M. Coligny, entered a hackney-coach, and ordered the driver to leave the city by the main gate. M. Freytag was immediately informed of this by his spies. With mounted men he commenced the pursuit, overtook the carriage as it was delayed a moment at the gate, and arrested the fugitive101 in the king’s name. Voltaire’s eyes sparkled with fury, and he raved102 insanely. The scene gathered a crowd, and Voltaire was taken by a guard of soldiers to another inn, “The Billy-Goat,” as the landlord of the “Golden Lion” refused any longer to entertain so troublesome a guest.
All Frankfort was excited by these events. The renown103 of Voltaire as a philosopher, a poet, and as the friend of Frederick, filled Europe. His eccentricities104 were the subject of general remark. The most distinguished105 men, by birth and culture, had paid him marked attention during his brief compulsory106 sojourn107 in Frankfort. Having arrived at “The Billy-Goat,” his conduct, according to the report of M. Freytag, was that of a madman, in which attempted flight, feigned108 vomitings, and a cocked pistol took part. The account which Voltaire gave of these events is now universally pronounced to be grossly inaccurate109.
On the 6th of July, the trunk having arrived, the volume of poems was recovered and Voltaire was allowed to go on his way. His pen, dipped in gall110, was an instrument which even a monarch111 might fear. It inflicted112 wounds upon the reputation of Frederick which will probably never be healed. Four years passed away, during which Voltaire and Frederick were almost entirely strangers to each other.
The merciless satires of Voltaire, exposing Maupertuis to the ridicule of all Europe, proved death-blows to the sensitive philosopher. He was thrown into a state of great dejection, which induced disease, of which he died in 1759. Maupertuis needed this discipline. In the proud days of prosperity he had rejected Christianity. In these hours of adversity, oppressed by humiliation396 and pain, and with the grave opening before him, he felt the need of the consolations114 of religion. Christian113 faith cheered the sadness of his dying hours.98
The Marquis D’Argens, another of Frederick’s infidel companions, one whom Voltaire described as “the most frank atheist115 in Europe,” after a very ignoble116 life of sin and shame, having quarreled with the king, found himself aged26, poor, friendless, and infirm. He then, experiencing need of different support from any which infidelity could give, became penitent117 and prayerful. Renouncing118 his unbelief, he became an openly avowed119 disciple120 of Jesus.99
What effect was produced upon the mind of Frederick as he saw one after another of his boon121 companions in infidelity, in their hours of sickness and approaching death, seeking the consolations of religion, we do not know. The proud king kept his lips hermetically sealed upon that subject. Voltaire, describing the suppers of the gay revelers at Sans Souci, writes:
“Never was there a place in the world where liberty of speech was so fully indulged, or where the various superstitions122 of men were treated with so much ridicule and contempt. God was respected. But those who, in His name, had imposed on mankind, were not spared. Neither women nor priests ever entered the palace. In a word, Frederick lived without a court, without a council, and without a religion.”
Prussia had enjoyed eight years of peace. But Frederick was not a popular man excepting with his own subjects. They idolized him. Innumerable are the anecdotes123 related illustrative of his kindness to them. He seemed to be earnestly seeking their welfare. But foreign courts feared him. Many hated him. He was unscrupulous and grasping, and had but very little sense of moral integrity. He was ambitious of literary renown; of reputation as a keen satirist124. With both pen and tongue he was prone125 to lash without mercy his brother sovereigns, and even the courtiers who surrounded him. There were no ties of friendship which could exempt126 any one from his sarcasm. Other sovereigns felt that he was continually on the watch to enlarge his realms, by invading their territories, as he had robbed Maria Theresa of the province of Silesia.
397 Some years before this time Frederick had taken possession of East Friesland, and had made Emden a port of entry. It was a very important acquisition, as it opened to Prussia a convenient avenue for maritime127 commerce. With great vigor128 and sagacity Frederick was encouraging this commerce, thus strengthening his kingdom and enriching his subjects. England, mistress of the seas, and then, as usual, at war with France, was covering all the adjacent waters with her war-ships and privateers. Frederick had inquired of the English court, through his embassador at London, whether hemp129, flax, or timber were deemed contraband130. “No,” was the official response. Freighted with such merchandise, the Prussian ships freely sailed in all directions. But soon an English privateer seized several of them, upon the assumption that the planks131 with which they were loaded were contraband.
It was an outrage132 to which Frederick was not disposed to submit. He entered his remonstrances133. The question was referred to the British Court of Admiralty. Month after month the decision was delayed. Frederick lost all patience. English capitalists held Silesian bonds to the amount of about one million two hundred and fifty thousand dollars.
“I must have my ships back again,” said Frederick to the British court. “The law’s delay in England is, I perceive, very considerable. My people, who have had their property thus wrested134 from them, can not conveniently wait. I shall indemnify them from the money due on the Silesian bonds, and shall give England credit for the same. Until restitution135 is made, I shall not pay either principle or interest on those bonds.”
The British court was frantic136 with rage. Frederick had a strong army on the frontiers of Hanover. The first hostile gun fired would be the signal for the invasion of that province, and it would inevitably137 be wrested from the British crown. The lion roared, but did not venture to use either teeth or claws. England was promptly138 brought to terms. It was grandly done of Frederick. There was something truly sublime139 in the quiet, noiseless, apparently140 almost indifferent air with which Frederick accomplished141 his purpose.
Maria Theresa was more and more unreconciled to the loss of Silesia. Never for an hour did she relinquish142 the idea of eventually398 regaining144 the province. The various treaties into which she had been compelled to enter she regarded as merely temporary arrangements. Between the years 1752 and 1755 the energetic and persistent145 queen was making secret arrangements for the renewal146 of the Silesian war.
The King of Poland, who was also Elector of Saxony, had strong feelings of personal hostility147 to Frederick. His prime minister, Count Von Brühl, even surpassed his royal master in the bitter antagonism with which he regarded the Prussian monarch. Frederick, whose eagle eye was ever open, and whose restless mind was always on the alert, suspected that a coalition148 was about to be formed against him. He had false keys made to the royal archives at Dresden; bribed149 one of the officials there, M. Menzel, stealthily to enter the chamber94 of the archives, and copy for him such extracts as would throw any light upon the designs of the court. Among other items of intelligence, he found that Austria, Russia, and Poland were deliberating upon the terms of a coalition against him.
On the 15th of May, 1753, the Russian Senate had passed the resolution that it should henceforth be the policy of Russia not only to resist all further encroachments on the part of Prussia, but to seize the first opportunity to force the Prussian monarch back to the possession of simply his original boundary of Brandenburg. It was also agreed that, should Prussia attack any of the allies of Russia, or be attacked by any of them, the armies of the czar should immediately array themselves against the armies of Frederick. There were many other papers, more or less obscure, which rendered it very certain that Maria Theresa would ere long make a new attempt to regain143 Silesia, and that in that attempt she would be aided both by Russia and Poland. Frederick also knew full well that nothing would better please his uncle George II. of England than to see Prussia crowded back to her smallest limits. To add to Frederick’s embarrassment150, France was hopelessly alienated151 from him.
Many bitter words had already passed between Louis XV. and Frederick. But recently a new element of discord152 had appeared. The Duchess of Pompadour, the guilty favorite of Louis XV., beautiful, fascinating, and wicked, had become a power in Europe, notwithstanding the ignoble position she occupied.399 This artful and enchanting153 woman, having the weak king completely under her control, was in reality the ruler of France. The proudest nobles and the highest ecclesiastics154 bowed submissively at her shrine155. Even the immaculate Maria Theresa, constrained by state policy, wrote flattering notes to her, addressing her as “my cousin,” “princess and cousin,” “madame, my dearest sister.”
The pampered156 duchess sent by the French minister to Berlin a complimentary157 message to Frederick. He disdainfully replied: “The Duchess of Pompadour! who is she? I do not know her.” This was an offense158 never to be forgiven.
Frederick was now in imminent159 danger of being assailed by a coalition of Austria, Russia, Poland, and England. Indeed, it was by no means certain that France might not also join the alliance. All this was the result of Frederick’s great crime in wresting160 Silesia from Austria. Such was the posture161 of affairs when, in the summer of 1755, Frederick decided to take a trip into Holland incognito162. He disguised himself with a black wig163, and assumed the character of a musician of the King of Poland. At Amsterdam he embarked164 for Utrecht in the common passage-boat. The king mingled165 with the other passengers without any one suspecting his rank. There chanced to be in the boat a young Swiss gentleman, Henry de Catt, twenty-seven years of age. He was a teacher, taking a short tour for recreation. He gives the following account of his interview with the king, whom, at the time, he had no reason to suppose was other than an ordinary passenger. We give the narrative166 in his own words:
“As I could not get into the cabin, because it was all engaged, I staid with the other passengers in the steerage, and the weather being fine, came upon deck. After some time there stepped out of the cabin a man in cinnamon-colored coat with gold buttons; in black wig; face and coat considerably167 dusted with Spanish snuff. He looked at me fixedly168 for a while, and then said, without farther preface, ‘Who are you, sir?’ This cavalier tone from an unknown person, whose exterior169 indicated nothing very important, did not please me, and I declined satisfying his curiosity. He was silent. But some time after he assumed a more courteous170 tone, and said, ‘Come in here to me, sir. You will be better here than in the steerage amidst the tobacco-smoke.’
400 “This polite address put an end to all anger; and, as the singular manner of the man excited my curiosity, I took advantage of the invitation. We sat down and began to speak confidentially171 with one another.
“‘Do you see the man in the garden yonder, sitting, smoking his pipe?’ said he to me. ‘That man, you may depend upon it, is not happy.’
“‘I know not,’ I answered; ‘but it seems to me, until one knows a man, and is completely acquainted with his situation and his way of thought, one can not possibly determine whether he is happy or unhappy.’
“My gentleman admitted this, and led the conversation on to the Dutch government. He criticised it—probably to bring me to speak. I did speak, and gave him frankly173 to know that he was not perfectly174 instructed in the thing he was criticising.
“‘You are right,’ answered he; ‘one can only criticise172 what one is thoroughly175 acquainted with.’
“He now began to speak of religion; and, with eloquent176 tongue, to recount what mischiefs177 scholastic178 philosophy had brought upon the world; then tried to prove that creation was impossible.
“At this last point I stood out in opposition179. ‘But how can one create something out of nothing?’ said he.
“‘That is not the question,’ I answered. ‘The question is, whether such a being as God can, or can not, give existence to what, as yet, has none.’
“He seemed embarrassed, and added, ‘But the universe is eternal.’
“‘You are in a circle,’ said I. ‘How will you get out of it?’
“‘I skip over it,’ he replied, laughing; and then began to talk of other things. He inquired,
“‘What form of government do you reckon the best?’
“‘The monarchic180, if the king is just and enlightened.’
“‘Very well,’ said he; ‘but where will you find kings of that sort?’ And thereupon went into such a sally as could not in the least lead me to suppose that he was one. In the end, he expressed pity for them, that they could not know the sweets of friendship, and cited on the occasion these verses—his own, I suppose:
401
“‘Amitié, plaisir des grandes ames; Amitié, que les rois, ces illustres ingrats Sont assez malheureux de ne conna?tre pas!’
“‘I have not the honor to be acquainted with kings,’ said I; ‘but, to judge from what one has read in history of several of them, I should believe, sir, on the whole, that you are right.’
“‘Ah! yes, yes,’ he added, ‘I’m right. I know the gentlemen.’
“A droll181 incident happened during our dialogue. My gentleman wanted to let down a little sash window, and could not manage it. ‘You do not understand that,’ said I; ‘let me do it.’ I tried to get it down, but succeeded no better than he.
“‘Sir,’ said he, ‘allow me to remark, on my side, that you understand as little of it as I.’
“‘That is true,’ I replied, ‘and I beg your pardon. I was too rash in accusing you of a want of expertness.’
“‘Were you ever in Germany?’ he now asked me.
“‘No,’ I answered; ‘but I should like to make that journey. I am very curious to see the Prussian states and their king, of whom one hears so much.’ And now I began to launch out on Frederick’s actions.
“But he interrupted me hastily with the word, ‘Nothing more of kings, sir—nothing more. What have we to do with them? We will spend the rest of our voyage on more agreeable and cheering objects.’ And now he spoke182 of the best of all possible worlds, and maintained that in our planet, earth, there was more evil than good. I maintained the contrary, and this discussion brought us to the end of the voyage.
“On quitting me he said, ‘I hope, sir, you will leave me your name. I am very glad to have made your acquaintance. Perhaps we shall see one another again.’ I replied as was fitting to the compliment, and begged him to excuse me for having contradicted him a little. I then told him my name, and we parted.”
How soon Henry learned that he had been conversing183 with the King of Prussia we do not know. It is evident that Frederick was pleased with the interview. He soon after invited Henry de Catt to his court, and appointed him reader to the king. In this capacity he served his Prussian majesty for about twenty years. He left a note-book in the royal archives of Berlin from which the above extracts are taken.
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1
reconciliation
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| n.和解，和谐，一致 | |
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conversational
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| adj.对话的，会话的 | |
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malignity
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| n.极度的恶意，恶毒；（病的）恶性 | |
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contention
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| n.争论，争辩，论战；论点，主张 | |
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conspicuous
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| adj.明眼的，惹人注目的；炫耀的，摆阔气的 | |
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meshes
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| 网孔( mesh的名词复数 )； 网状物； 陷阱； 困境 | |
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intrigue
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| vt.激起兴趣，迷住；vi.耍阴谋；n.阴谋，密谋 | |
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lawsuit
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| n.诉讼，控诉 | |
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forgery
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| n.伪造的文件等，赝品，伪造（行为） | |
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10
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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11
consummate
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| adj.完美的；v.成婚；使完美 [反]baffle | |
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12
rascal
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| n.流氓；不诚实的人 | |
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13
mischievous
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| adj.调皮的，恶作剧的，有害的，伤人的 | |
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14
infamies
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| n.声名狼藉( infamy的名词复数 )；臭名；丑恶；恶行 | |
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15
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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16
castigated
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| v.严厉责骂、批评或惩罚（某人）( castigate的过去式 ) | |
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17
constrained
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| adj.束缚的,节制的 | |
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18
majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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19
esteemed
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| adj.受人尊敬的v.尊敬( esteem的过去式和过去分词 )；敬重；认为；以为 | |
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20
esteem
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| n.尊敬，尊重；vt.尊重，敬重；把…看作 | |
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21
briefly
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| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
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22
alluding
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| 提及，暗指( allude的现在分词 ) | |
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23
frightful
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| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
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24
intriguing
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|
| adj.有趣的；迷人的v.搞阴谋诡计(intrigue的现在分词)；激起…的好奇心 | |
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25
applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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26
aged
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| adj.年老的，陈年的 | |
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27
lawsuits
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| n.诉讼( lawsuit的名词复数 ) | |
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28
scurvy
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| adj.下流的，卑鄙的，无礼的；n.坏血病 | |
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29
testament
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| n.遗嘱；证明 | |
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30
contentions
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| n.竞争( contention的名词复数 )；争夺；争论；论点 | |
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31
inmate
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| n.被收容者；(房屋等的)居住人；住院人 | |
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32
crabbed
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|
| adj.脾气坏的；易怒的；（指字迹）难辨认的；（字迹等）难辨认的v.捕蟹( crab的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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33
superstitious
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| adj.迷信的 | |
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34
sarcastically
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|
| adv.挖苦地，讽刺地 | |
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35
linen
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|
| n.亚麻布，亚麻线，亚麻制品；adj.亚麻布制的，亚麻的 | |
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36
accomplishments
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| n.造诣；完成( accomplishment的名词复数 )；技能；成绩；成就 | |
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37
amiable
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|
| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
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38
inflicting
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|
| 把…强加给，使承受，遭受( inflict的现在分词 ) | |
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39
lash
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|
| v.系牢；鞭打；猛烈抨击；n.鞭打；眼睫毛 | |
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40
lodged
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|
| v.存放( lodge的过去式和过去分词 )；暂住；埋入；（权利、权威等）归属 | |
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41
esteems
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|
| n.尊敬，好评( esteem的名词复数 )v.尊敬( esteem的第三人称单数 )；敬重；认为；以为 | |
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42
peculiar
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|
| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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43
peculiarity
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|
| n.独特性，特色；特殊的东西；怪癖 | |
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44
inexplicable
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|
| adj.无法解释的，难理解的 | |
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45
solitary
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|
| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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46
hatred
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|
| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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47
virulent
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|
| adj.有毒的，有恶意的，充满敌意的 | |
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48
promulgated
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|
| v.宣扬（某事物）( promulgate的过去式和过去分词 )；传播；公布；颁布（法令、新法律等） | |
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49
irritable
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|
| adj.急躁的；过敏的；易怒的 | |
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50
fully
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|
| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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51
anonymous
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|
| adj.无名的；匿名的；无特色的 | |
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52
plagiarism
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| n.剽窃，抄袭 | |
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53
secondly
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|
| adv.第二，其次 | |
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54
philosophical
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|
| adj.哲学家的，哲学上的，达观的 | |
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55
absurdity
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|
| n.荒谬，愚蠢；谬论 | |
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56
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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57
retailer
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| n.零售商(人) | |
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58
concocter
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| n.调制者，策划者 | |
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59
malicious
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| adj.有恶意的，心怀恶意的 | |
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60
infamous
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| adj.声名狼藉的，臭名昭著的，邪恶的 | |
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61
assailed
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| v.攻击( assail的过去式和过去分词 )；困扰；质问；毅然应对 | |
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62
anonymously
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| ad.用匿名的方式 | |
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63
venom
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|
| n.毒液，恶毒，痛恨 | |
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64
diatribe
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| n.抨击，抨击性演说 | |
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65
satire
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|
| n.讽刺，讽刺文学，讽刺作品 | |
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66
entirely
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|
| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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67
sarcasm
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| n.讥讽，讽刺，嘲弄，反话 （adj.sarcastic） | |
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68
utterly
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|
| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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69
ridicule
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|
| v.讥讽，挖苦；n.嘲弄 | |
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70
scattered
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|
| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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71
commotion
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|
| n.骚动，动乱 | |
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72
effrontery
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|
| n.厚颜无耻 | |
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73
culpability
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|
| n.苛责，有罪 | |
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74
antagonism
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|
| n.对抗，敌对，对立 | |
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75
curtly
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|
| adv.简短地 | |
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76
pretext
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|
| n.借口，托词 | |
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77
confided
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|
| v.吐露（秘密，心事等）( confide的过去式和过去分词 )；（向某人）吐露（隐私、秘密等） | |
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78
lessening
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| 减轻，减少，变小 | |
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79
folly
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|
| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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80
cabals
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|
| n.（政治）阴谋小集团，（尤指政治上的）阴谋( cabal的名词复数 ) | |
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81
partially
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|
| adv.部分地，从某些方面讲 | |
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82
remarkable
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|
| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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83
destined
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|
| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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84
darts
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|
| n.掷飞镖游戏；飞镖( dart的名词复数 )；急驰，飞奔v.投掷，投射( dart的第三人称单数 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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85
malignant
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|
| adj.恶性的，致命的；恶意的，恶毒的 | |
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86
exasperated
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|
| adj.恼怒的 | |
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87
vengeance
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|
| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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88
obedience
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|
| n.服从，顺从 | |
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89
assassinate
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| vt.暗杀，行刺，中伤 | |
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90
ingratitude
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| n.忘恩负义 | |
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91
exalt
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| v.赞扬，歌颂，晋升，提升 | |
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92
velocity
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| n.速度，速率 | |
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93
satires
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| 讽刺，讥讽( satire的名词复数 )； 讽刺作品 | |
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94
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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95
suite
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| n.一套(家具)；套房；随从人员 | |
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96
professed
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| 公开声称的，伪称的，已立誓信教的 | |
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97
altercation
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| n.争吵，争论 | |
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98
exasperation
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| n.愤慨 | |
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99
humiliation
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| n.羞辱 | |
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100
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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101
fugitive
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| adj.逃亡的，易逝的；n.逃犯，逃亡者 | |
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102
raved
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| v.胡言乱语( rave的过去式和过去分词 )；愤怒地说；咆哮；痴心地说 | |
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103
renown
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| n.声誉，名望 | |
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104
eccentricities
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| n.古怪行为( eccentricity的名词复数 )；反常；怪癖 | |
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105
distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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106
compulsory
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| n.强制的，必修的；规定的，义务的 | |
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107
sojourn
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| v./n.旅居，寄居；逗留 | |
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108
feigned
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| a.假装的，不真诚的 | |
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109
inaccurate
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|
| adj.错误的，不正确的，不准确的 | |
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110
gall
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| v.使烦恼，使焦躁，难堪；n.磨难 | |
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111
monarch
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| n.帝王，君主，最高统治者 | |
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112
inflicted
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| 把…强加给，使承受，遭受( inflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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113
Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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114
consolations
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| n.安慰，慰问( consolation的名词复数 )；起安慰作用的人（或事物） | |
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115
atheist
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| n.无神论者 | |
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116
ignoble
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| adj.不光彩的，卑鄙的；可耻的 | |
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117
penitent
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| adj.后悔的；n.后悔者；忏悔者 | |
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118
renouncing
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| v.声明放弃( renounce的现在分词 )；宣布放弃；宣布与…决裂；宣布摒弃 | |
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119
avowed
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| adj.公开声明的，承认的v.公开声明，承认( avow的过去式和过去分词) | |
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120
disciple
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| n.信徒，门徒，追随者 | |
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121
boon
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| n.恩赐，恩物，恩惠 | |
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122
superstitions
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| 迷信，迷信行为( superstition的名词复数 ) | |
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123
anecdotes
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| n.掌故，趣闻，轶事( anecdote的名词复数 ) | |
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124
satirist
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| n.讽刺诗作者，讽刺家，爱挖苦别人的人 | |
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125
prone
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| adj.(to)易于…的，很可能…的；俯卧的 | |
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126
exempt
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| adj.免除的；v.使免除；n.免税者，被免除义务者 | |
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127
maritime
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| adj.海的，海事的，航海的，近海的，沿海的 | |
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128
vigor
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| n.活力，精力，元气 | |
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129
hemp
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| n.大麻；纤维 | |
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130
contraband
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| n.违禁品，走私品 | |
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131
planks
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| （厚）木板( plank的名词复数 )； 政纲条目，政策要点 | |
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132
outrage
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| n.暴行，侮辱，愤怒；vt.凌辱，激怒 | |
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133
remonstrances
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| n.抱怨，抗议( remonstrance的名词复数 ) | |
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134
wrested
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| （用力）拧( wrest的过去式和过去分词 )； 费力取得； （从…）攫取； （ 从… ） 强行取去… | |
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135
restitution
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| n.赔偿；恢复原状 | |
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136
frantic
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| adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的 | |
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137
inevitably
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| adv.不可避免地；必然发生地 | |
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138
promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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139
sublime
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| adj.崇高的，伟大的；极度的，不顾后果的 | |
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140
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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141
accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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142
relinquish
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| v.放弃，撤回，让与，放手 | |
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143
regain
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| vt.重新获得，收复，恢复 | |
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regaining
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| 复得( regain的现在分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地 | |
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persistent
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| adj.坚持不懈的，执意的；持续的 | |
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renewal
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| adj.(契约)延期，续订，更新，复活，重来 | |
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hostility
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| n.敌对，敌意；抵制［pl.］交战，战争 | |
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coalition
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| n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合 | |
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bribed
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| v.贿赂( bribe的过去式和过去分词 )；向（某人）行贿，贿赂 | |
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embarrassment
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| n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫 | |
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alienated
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| adj.感到孤独的，不合群的v.使疏远( alienate的过去式和过去分词 )；使不友好；转让；让渡（财产等） | |
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152
discord
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| n.不和，意见不合，争论，（音乐）不和谐 | |
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enchanting
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| a.讨人喜欢的 | |
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154
ecclesiastics
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| n.神职者，教会，牧师( ecclesiastic的名词复数 ) | |
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shrine
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| n.圣地，神龛，庙；v.将...置于神龛内，把...奉为神圣 | |
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156
pampered
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| adj.饮食过量的，饮食奢侈的v.纵容，宠，娇养( pamper的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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complimentary
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| adj.赠送的，免费的，赞美的，恭维的 | |
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offense
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| n.犯规，违法行为；冒犯，得罪 | |
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imminent
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| adj.即将发生的，临近的，逼近的 | |
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wresting
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| 动词wrest的现在进行式 | |
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161
posture
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| n.姿势，姿态，心态，态度；v.作出某种姿势 | |
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incognito
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| adv.匿名地；n.隐姓埋名；adj.化装的，用假名的，隐匿姓名身份的 | |
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wig
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| n.假发 | |
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embarked
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| 乘船( embark的过去式和过去分词 )； 装载； 从事 | |
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mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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166
narrative
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| n.叙述，故事；adj.叙事的，故事体的 | |
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167
considerably
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| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
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fixedly
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| adv.固定地；不屈地，坚定不移地 | |
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169
exterior
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| adj.外部的，外在的；表面的 | |
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170
courteous
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| adj.彬彬有礼的，客气的 | |
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171
confidentially
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| ad.秘密地，悄悄地 | |
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172
criticise
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| v.批评，评论；非难 | |
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frankly
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| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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eloquent
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| adj.雄辩的，口才流利的；明白显示出的 | |
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177
mischiefs
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| 损害( mischief的名词复数 )； 危害； 胡闹； 调皮捣蛋的人 | |
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scholastic
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| adj.学校的，学院的，学术上的 | |
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179
opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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180
monarchic
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| 国王的，君主政体的 | |
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181
droll
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| adj.古怪的，好笑的 | |
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182
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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conversing
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| v.交谈，谈话( converse的现在分词 ) | |
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