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 protectors; M。 le marechal duc de Richelieu and their majesties the king of Prussia and the czarina of Russia!

〃I could excuse them for making war upon strangers in my name; altho' that would be a pirate's method; but to attack; under my banner; my master; my sovereign lord; this I can never pardon; and I will raise against them even a dying voice; particularly when they strike you with the same blows; you; who love literature; you; who do me the honor to charge your memory with my feeble productions。 It is an infamy to pretend that I fire on my own troops。

〃Under any circumstances; madame; I am before you in a very delicate situation。  There is in Versailles a family which overwhelms me with marks of their friendship。  Mine ought to appertain to it to perpetuity; yet I learn that it is so unfortunate as to have no conception of your merit; and that envious talebearers place themselves between you and it。  I am told that there is a kind of declared war; it is added; that I have furnished supplies to this camp; the chiefs of which I love and esteem。  More wise; more submissive; I keep myself out of the way of blows; and my reverence for the supreme master is such; that I turn away my very eyes that they may not be spectators of the fight。

〃Do not then; madame; think that any sentiment of affection has compelled; or can compel me to take arms against you。  I would refuse any proposition which should rank me as hostile to you; if the natural generosity of your enemies could so far forget it。  In reality they are as incapable of ordering a bad action as I am of listening to those who should show themselves so devoid of sense as to propose such a thing to me。

〃I am persuaded that you have understood me; and I am fully cleared in your eyes。  It would be delightful to me to ascertain this with certainty。  I charge M。 le marechal duc de Richelieu to explain to you my disquietude on this head; and the favor I seek at your hands; from you who command France; whilst I; I ought to die in peace; not to displease any person; and live wisely with all。  I conclude; madame la comtesse; this long and stupid epistle; which is; in fact; less a letter than a real case for consideration; by begging you to believe me; etc。;                 〃VOLTAIRE

〃; April 28; 1769。  Gentleman in ordinary to the king。

〃P。  S。  My enemies say everywhere that I am not a Christian。  I have just given them the lie direct; by performing my Easter devotions () publicly; thus proving to all my lively desire to terminate my long career in the religion in which I was born; and I have fulfilled this important act after a dozen consecutive attacks of fever; which made me fear I should die before I could assure you of my respect and my devotion。〃

This apology gave me real pleasure。  I pretended to believe the sincerity of him who addressed me; altho' he had not convinced me of his innocence; and I wrote the following reply to M。 de Voltaire; which a silly pride dictates to me to communicate to you; in conjunction with the letter of the philosopher:

〃MONSIEUR:Even were you culpable from too much friendship towards those you cherish; I would pardon you as a recompense for the letter you address to me。  This ought the more to charm me; as it gives me the certainty that you had been unworthily calumniated。 Could you have said; under the veil of secrecy; things disagreeable to a great king; for whom; in common with all France; you profess sincere love?  It is impossible。  Could you; with gaiety of heart; wound a female who never did you harm; and who admires your splendid genius?  In fact; could those you call your friends have stooped so low as not to have feared to compromise you; by making you play a part unworthy of your elevated reputation?  All these suppositions were unreasonable: I could not for a moment admit them; and your two letters have entirely justified you。  I can now give myself up without regret to my enthusiasm for you and your works。 It would have been too cruel for me to have learnt with certainty that he whom I regarded as the first writer of the age had become my detractor without motive; without provocation。  That it is not so I give thanks to Providence。

〃M。 the duc d'Aiguillon did not deceive you when he told you that I fed on your sublime poetry。  I am in literature a perfect novice; and yet am sensible of the true beauties which abound in your works。  I am to be included amongst the stones which were animated by Amphion: this is one of your triumphs; but to this you must be accustomed。

〃Believe also that all your friends are not in the enemy's camp。 There are those about me who love you sincerely; M。 de Chauvelin; for instance; MM。 de Richelieu and d'Aiguillon: this latter eulogizes you incessantly; and if all the world thought as he does; you would be here in your place。  But there are terrible prejudices which my candor will not allow me to dissemble; which you have to overcome。 There is  who complains of you; and this one must be won over to your interests。  He wishes you to testify more veneration for what he venerates himself; that your attacks should not be so vehement nor so constant。  Is it then impossible for you to comply his wishes in this particular?  Be sure that you only; in setting no bounds in your attacks on religion; do yourself a vast mischief with the person in question。

〃It will appear strange that I should hold such language to you: I only do it to serve you: do not take my statements unkindly。  I have now a favor to ask of you; which is; to include me in the list of those to whom you send the first fruits of the brilliant productions of your pen。  There is none who is more devoted to you; and who has a more ardent desire to convince you of this。

〃I am; ; with real attachment; etc。〃

I showed this letter to M。 de Richelieu。

〃Why;〃 he inquired; 'have you not assured him as to your indiscretion; which he fears?〃


〃Because his fear seemed to me unjust; and I leave you to represent me to him as I am; and now;〃 I added; 〃it does not appear to me necessary for the king to know anything of this。〃

〃You think wisely; madame; what most displeased him was to see madame de Pompadour in regular correspondence with M。 de Voltaire。〃

I have related to you this episode of my history; that it may recompense you for the tiresome details of my presentation。  I resume my recital。  I told you that M。 de Maupeou had told me that he would endeavor to bring madame la marechale de Mirepoix; and introduce her to me; trusting to the friendship she had evinced for madame de Pompadour during; the whole time of the favor and life of her who preceded me in the affections of Louis XV。  I found; to my surprise; that he said nothing to me concerning it for several days; when suddenly madame la marechale de Mirepoix was announced。

At this name and this title I rose quite in a fluster; without clearly knowing what could be the object of this visit; for which I was unprepared。  The marechale; who followed closely on the valet's heels; did not give me time for much reflection。  She took me really 

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