Berlin and Sans-Souci; Or, Frederick the Great and His Friends

worked for an hour with his minister of state, and, after fulfilling these public duties, w

Potsdam, where he would rest and refresh himself for

Souci had been the warm desire of Frederick's heart for many years, and yet, as the time for its fulfilment drew near, the king almost trembled. What did this mean? How was i

e king felt that he was not pleased. A cold blast seeme

y intercourse would fall like a cold dew upon this rare blossom of friendship between a king and a poet; this tender plant which, during so many years of separation, they had nourished and kept warm by glowing as

oud and the morning dew. In these "cloud-capped towers and gorgeous palaces," the two great freethinkers and genial philosophers of their century intended to cultivate and enjoy their f

nd eternity. Each one thought to himself, "I will enjoy and profit by the fruit of this friendship, I will yield up the blossoms onl

s Frederick had never forgiven him; he should have guarded it as a holy and dangerous secret in the innermost shrine of his heart. Voltaire was angry with the king because he had lately addressed some verses to the young poet D'Arnau

dvanced eagerly to meet Voltaire, but reaching the threshold of the door ho stood still and considered. "No," said he, "I will not go to meet him-he would mock at me, perhaps boast of it." He turned bac

o one could decide if it was the face of a satyr or a demi- god; whose eyes flashed with heavenly inspiration at one moment, and in the next glo

age, the genius of the world, and he hastened to meet him, opened his arms wide, and pressed him tenderly to his heart. "Welcome, welcome, my lord and master," s

hich you have conquered; upon the throne of knowledge and learning, crowned with the laurels which the gods consecrate to heroes and poets. Alas! my eyes are dazzled by the lustre which surrounds me. I bow in h

c of letters, and I have a right republican heart, striving after liberty, equality, and brotherly love. Remember this, friend, and let us forget at Sans-Souci that your comrade is sometim

y journey. My friends in Paris thought it absurd and ridiculous for me, in my miserable condition, to attempt so fatiguing a journey. But, sire, I was not willing to die before I had once more sat at the feet of this great and yet simple man, this exalted yet genial philosopher. I wished to revi

a bad penny: in place of the true metal of friendship I should have suspected you of palming off plated lead upon me. It is well for you that you are here. You are like the white elephant for whom the Shah of Persia and the Great Mogul are continually at war. The one who is so

essary to conquer or to hold me. I declare myself your majesty's most willing subject joyfully. Let me th

upon the countenance of the king, his smile disa

t so," said he, gayly; "I will not conceal

deprive me of my title of 'Historian of the King of France,' they only took from me my pension. They knew I must travel by post, and that a tit

ow fell upon his brow, and the expression of his face was troubled. He wished to worship Voltai

the displeasure of my brothe

I am, indeed, honored with a most agreeable and nattering commis

s may waft you into the heaven of heavens while at Sans-Souci. You have b

r majesty with her most obedient and submissive greetings,

uff, he fixed his burning eyes upon Voltaire's smiling and expectant face; then said, with

the king astonish

ave you no other greetings for me? Have none of the gr

he so- called great spirits appear so small in the presence o

at is really great and worthy of renown. Voltaire wi

ich I will lay upon my breast, lacerat

been giving you tro

ful, that I seem to myself miserable and pitiful as their victim, and in all humility I will ask your majesty, if such hounds are allowed to howl unpunished, would it not be be

tion;' do not make the public of our day, and of the next century, suffer for the crimes of a few pitiful critics. The persecutions and slanders of the envious are the tribute great merit must always pay to the world at large. Let them rail on, but do not believe that the nations and the future will be duped by them. Utterly disregarding the criticisms of the so-called masters of art, we of this century admire and wonder at the chefs- d'oeuvre of Greece and Rome. The mad cry of Aeschin

you to madness! There was never a weaker, frailer body than mine, but my soul is strong! I dare to say I love you as much as I admire you! [Footnote: Voltaire's own words.] Verily, I hold this to be as great a conquest as the five other victories your majesty has achieved, and for which the world worships you. From this day

hope to provide you with a more durable dwelling. I promise you shall not be

, and his countenance once more beamed with joy. He suppressed his satisfaction, however, instantly. He did not wis

I trust fully to the magic power of your hand. Was not your marvellous touch sufficient to place beautiful Silesia, a gem of the first water, in the crown of Prussia?-to awaken spirits, sleeping almost the sleep of de

is sacred. I fear that here, as elsewhere, you will find provocations. But now, before all other things, what have you brought me? What gift has your m

have written a Roman Catiline! You shall see, sire, and you shall admire! In one of my most wretched, sleepless nights, the devil overcame me, and said: 'Revenge Cicero and France! Crebillon has disgraced both. Wash out this stain from France.' This was a good devil; and even you, sire, could not have driven me to work more eagerly than he did. Day and night he chained me to my writing-desk! I feared I should die of excitement, but the devil held on to me, and the spirits of the great Romans stood by my table

e tragedy?" said the king. "You mean only that you h

e, remembering my province as an historian. Rome is my heroine; she is the mistress for whom I would interest all Europe. I have no other intrigue than Rome's danger; no other material than the mad craft of Catiline, the vehemence and heroic virtue of Cicero, the jealousy of the Roman Senate, the development of the character of Caesar; no other women than that unfortunate who was seduced by Catiline because of her gentleness and amiability. I know not, sire, if you will shudde

th the fire of inspiration, an enchanting smile played upon his lips, and his bowed and contracted form was proudly erect and commanding. The king gazed upon him with admiration. At len

er, and in place of pitiful, pliant, humble words, I hear again the melodious, flashing, eloquent speech of my royal poet! Welcome, Voltaire, welcome to Sans-Souci, whose poor philosopher i

his wonder; it is a far loftier drama than mine, and will be surely more nobly represented. [Footnote: Voltaire's own words.] Your majesty represents what you truly are, but where shall I find actors to fill the role of Caesar, Cicero, and

t, Voltaire's arrival in Berlin. At the same moment in which the Berlinese see that you are at last amongst them, shall they ack

h company, and such a one as may

rs ago I wished to have your 'Death of Caesar' given at Rheinsberg, and I had selected a role; just then the Emperor of Germany died, and fate called me out upon the great theatre of the world, where I have since then tried to play my part worthily, and I must consecrate to this all my strength and ability. I can play no other part! The two roles might make a rare confusion, and strange results might follow should the King of Prussia of thi

poor tragedy lies in my writing-desk, seeming

n two months, and yo

e disappeared, and lines of selfishness and c

"I fear I shall not be here. I have only come to

d Frederick, in

o to Italy, to the holy city of Rome, and kneel upon the graves of Cicer

ou will remain in Berlin; if you do not yield willingly, I must compel you to yield. I will make you my subject; I will bind you with orders and titles; I will c

power or chains will be necessary to bind me he

ays have a rope around you, and make you completely my prisoner, I give you an apartment in my palace at Potsdam; and that you may not feel yourself a hermit, you will have every day six covers laid for your friends; and to mock you with

ce. This did not, escape the king; he understood the cause, but he said nothing. Voltaire exhausted himself in words o

"Can your greatness pardon a poor earthworm, if he dare speak

subject of conversation did

all earthly considerations, but our fleshy existence has its rights. So long as you are with me, you shall not be troubled by even a shadow of privation. Y

joy, but he forced himself

You have named lodging and food, but you say nothing of ligh

have twelve pounds of wax-lights every month; I think this will be sufficient for your purposes. As for the other little necessities of life, have the good

u. My heart offers up to you the dream of my life, my journey to Italy. Oh, I wish I could make great

on Voltaire's shoulder, and

reat poet. That is the most beau

annot destroy Voltaire the poet, they seize upon Voltaire the man, and slander his character because they cannot obscure his fame. I will advance to meet them with an open visor an

e is planting potatoes, you do not believe him-you convince yourself he is sowing dragons' teeth to raise an army to contend against you. If you meet one of your fellows with a particularly quiet aspect, you are sure you can read curses against you upon his lip. When one

jesty. You are as cruel with me as a beautiful and ravishing coquette. So soon as by a love-glance you have made me the happiest of men, you turn away with cold contempt, and smile al

said the king, gravely. "Let

o the worth of Freron as a writer. No, sire, Freron is not worthy of your favor; he is an openly dishonored scoundrel, who has committed more than one common fraud. You may imagine what an excitement it produced in Paris when it was known that you had honored this scamp with a position which should be filled by a man of wisdom and integrity. Freron is only my

ackward and forward several times, then stood quietly

othing on this, the day of your arrival; but I repeat to you wha

your eyes I am not a great poet, only un soleil cou

hing, "you have, then, read

ch my loving heart forced my weak and shrinking body; I felt that I must see you once more before I d

ns etre

re vol jusq

ez egaler

Virgile e

vos succe

ollon de

ne a sa

ller a vo

s s'il bri

uchant d'un

plus bell

lement des Oeuv

mes. My only intention was to give to the little Arnaud a few roses which he might weave into a wreath of fame. It seems I fulfilled my purpose poorly; it was high time that Voltaire should com

romise me this littl

s soon as it is ready; it shall be

ear it now. [Footnote

tai

ble de Mar

malice est

atinez d

s caressez

at a beautiful quatrain M

id Voltaire,

ng, pitiful rhyme, was written by the great Voltaire. No, no! this is the w

of the king, then bowed his head and looked down thoughtfully. There was a

ten strikes the poet Voltaire slyly in the back. But you, sire, who have already won five battles, and who find a few morning hours sufficient to govern a great kingdom with wi

I will spare you all eulogy," cried Fred

ber returned to Potsdam, adorned with the order "Pour le merite," and a writt

wax-lights were burning. Voltaire leaned, exhausted and groaning, upon the arm of the other, who almost carried him into h

fectly exhausted, in the arm-chair, sprang up actively and hastened to the table upon w

month. I will be very economical, and out of the proceeds of this self-denial I can real

; the dull light illuminated his malicious but smiling face; here and there as he advanced it flashed upon the gil

I do not know. I could no longer postpone the decisive yes. After coquetting for so many years, a wedding was the necessary consequence. How my heart beat at the altar! How could I have supposed, se

hat so base a soul should be united to so exalted a genius. Of all this, however, I shall take no notice; he is necessary to me in my study of the French language. One can learn beautiful things from an evil-doe