history of friedrich ii of prussia v 16-第23节
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in fact it is； like Descartes's old key or general door； worth little or nothing； as Leibnitz long ago seems to have transiently recognized。 Konig has put his strictures on paper： but will not dream of publishing； till the Perpetual President have examined them and satisfied himself； and that is Konig's business at present； as he knocks on Maupertuis； while Sol is crossing the Line。 Maupertuis has a House of the due style： Wife a daughter of Minister Borck's （high Borcks； 'old as the DIUVEL'）； no children；his back courts always a good deal dirty with pelicans； bustards； perhaps snakes and other zoological wretches； which sometimes intrude into the drawing…rooms； otherwise very fine。 A man of some whims； some habits； arbitrary by nature； but really honest； though rather sublimish in his interior； with red Wig and yellow bottom。
〃Konig； all filial gladness； is received gladly；though； by degrees； with some surprise； on the paternal part； to find Konig ripened out of son； client and pupil； into independent posture of a grown man。 Frankly certain enough about himself； and about the axioms of mathematics。 Standing； evidently； on his own legs； kindly as ever； but on these new terms；in fact rather an outspoken free…and…easy fellow （I should guess）； not thinking that offence can be taken among friends。 Formey confesses； this was uncomfortable to Maupertuis； in fact； a shock which he could not recover from。 They had various meetings； over dinner aud otherwise； at the Perpetual President's； for perhaps two weeks at this time （dates all to be had in Formey's Note…book； if anybody would consult）； in the whole course of which the shock to the Perpetual President increased； instead of diminishing。 Republican freedom and equality is evidently Konig's method； Konig heeds not a whit the oracular talent or majestic position of Maupertuis； argues with the frankest logic； when he feels dissent；drives a majestic Perpetual President； especially in the presence of third parties； much out of patience。 Thus； one evening； replying to some argument of the Perpetual President's； he begins： 'My poor friend； MON PAUVRE AMI； don't you perceive； then' Upon which Maupertuis sprang from his chair； violently stamping； and pirouetted round the room； 'Poor friend； poor friend？ are you so rich： then！' frank Konig merely grinning till the paroxysm passed。 ＇Formey； i。 177。＇ Konig went home again； RE INFECTA about the end of the month。〃
Such a Konighad better not have come！ As to his strictures on the LAW OF THRIFT； the arguings on them； alone together； or with friends by； merely set Maupertuis pirouetting： and as to the Konig Manuscripts on them 〃to be published in the Leipzig ACTA； after your remarks and permission；〃 Maupertuis absolutely refused to look at said Manuscripts： 〃Publish them there； here； everywhere； in the Devil and his Grandmother's name； and then there is an end； Monsieur！〃 Konig went his ways therefore； finding nothing else for it； published his strictures； in the Leipzig ACTA in March next； and never saw Maupertuis again； for one result； out of several that followed！ I have no doubt he was out to Voltaire； more than once； in this fortnight； and eat 〃the King's roast〃 pleasantly with that eminent old friend。 Voltaire always thought him a BON GARCON （justly； by all the evidence I have）； and finds his talk agreeable； and his Berlin newsespecially that of Maupertuis and his explosive pirouettings。 Adieu； Herr Professor； you know not； with your Leipzig ACTA and Fragment of Leibnitz； what an explosion you are preparing！
Chapter VII。
M。 DE VOLTAIRE HAS A PAINFUL JEW…LAWSUIT。
Voltaire's Terrestrial Paradise at Berlin did not long continue perfect。 Scarcely had that grand Carrousel vanished in the azure firmaments； when little clouds began rising in its stead； and before long； black thunder…storms of a very strange and even dangerous character。
It must have been a painful surprise to Friedrich to hear from his Voltaire； some few weeks after those munificences； That he； Voltaire； was in very considerable distress of mind； from the bad； not to call it the felonious and traitorous； conduct of M。 D'Arnaud；once Friedrich's shoeing…horn and 〃rising…sun〃 for Voltaire's behoof； now a vague flaunting creature； without significance to Friedrich or anybody！ That D'Arnaud had done this and done that； of an Anti…Voltairian； treasonous nature；and that； in short； life was impossible in the neighborhood of such a D'Arnaud！ 〃D'Arnaud has corrupted my Clerk （Prince Henri hungering in vain for LA PUCELLE； has got sight of it； in this way）； ＇Clerk was dismissed accordingly （one Tinois； an ingenious creature）；and COLLINI appointed in his stead。＇ D'Arnaud has been gossiping to Freron and the Paris Newspapers； D'Arnaud has〃 ＇Voltaire to Friedrich （ OEuvres de Frederic； xxii。 257）； undated； 〃November； 1750。〃＇ Has； in effect； been a flaunting young fool； of dissolute； esurient； slightly profligate turn； occasionally helping in the Theatricals； and much studious to make himself notable； and useful to the Princely kind。 A D'Arnaud of nearly no significance； to Friedrich or to anybody。 A D'Arnaud whose bits of fooleries and struttings about； in the peacock or jackdaw way； might surely have been below the notice of a Trismegistus！
Friedrich； painfully made sensible what a skinless explosive Trismegistus he has got on hand； answers； I suppose； in words little or nothing；in Letters； I observe； answers absolutely nothing； to Voltaire repeating and re…repeating；does simply dismiss D'Arnaud （a 〃BON DIABLE；〃 as Voltaire； to impartial people； calls him）； or accept D'Arnaud's demission； and cut the poor fool adrift。 Who sallies out into infinite space； to Paris latterly （〃alive there in 1805〃）； and claims henceforth perpetual oblivion from us and mankind。 And now there will be peace in our garden of the gods； and perpetual azure will return？
Alas； D'Arnaud is not well gone； when there has begun brewing in threefold secrecy a mass of galvanic matter； which； in few weeks more； filled the Heavens with miraculous foul gases and the blackness of darkness；which； in short； exploded about New…year's time； as the world…famous VOLTAIRE…HIRSCH LAWSUIT； still remembered； though only as a portent and mystery； by observant on…lookers。 Of which it is now our sad duty to say something； though nowhere； in the Annals of Jurisprudence； is there a more despicable thing； or a deeper involved in lies and deliriums by current reporters of it； about which the sane mind can be called upon accidentally to speak a word。 Beaten； riddled； shovelled； washed in many waters； by a patient though disgusted Predecessor in this field； there lies by me a copious but wearisome Narrative of this matter；the more vivid portions of which； if rightly disengaged； and shown in sequence； may satisfy the curious。
Duvernet （who； I can guess； had talked with D'Arget on the subject） has； alone of the French Biographers； some glimmer of knowledge about it； Duvernet admits that it was a thing of Illegal Stock… jobbing； that 1。 〃That M。 de Voltaire had agreed with a Jew named Hirsch to go to Dresden and； illegally； PURCHASE a good lot of STEUER…SCHEINE ＇Saxon Exchequer Bills； which are payable in gold to a BONA FIDE PRUSSIAN holding them； but are much in discount otherwise； as readers may remember＇； and given Hirsch a Draft on Paris； due after some weeks； for payment of the same； Hirsch leaving him a stock of jewels in pledge till the STEUER…SCHEINE themselves come to hand。 2。 〃That Hirsch； having things of his own in view with the money； sent no STEUER…SCHEINE from Dresden； nothing but vague lying talk instead of STEUER： so that Voltaire's suspicions naturally kindling； he stopped payment of the Paris Draft； and ordered Hirsch to come home at once。 3。 〃That Hirsch coming； a settlement was tried： 'Give me back my Draft on Paris； you objectionable blockhead of a Hirsch； there are your Diamonds； there is something even for your expenses （some fair moiety； I think）； and let me never see your unpleasant face again！' To which Hirsch； examining the diamonds； answered ＇says Duvernet； not substantially incorrect hitherto； though stepping along in total darkness； and very partial on Voltaire's behalf＇；Hirsch； examining the diamonds； answered； 'But you have changed some of them！ I cannot take these！'and drove Voltaire quite to despair； and into the Law…Courts； which imprisoned Hirsch； and made him do justice。〃 ＇Duvernet （T。J。D。V。）； 170； 173； 175：vague utterly； dateless （tries one date； and is mistaken even in the Year）； wrong in nearly every detail； 〃the 'STAIRE or STEUER was a BANK？〃 &c。 &c。＇
In which last clause； still more in the conclusion； that it was 〃to the triumph of Voltaire；〃 Duvernet does substantially mistake！ And indeed； except as the best Parisian reflex of this matter； his Account is worth nothing：though it may serve as Introduction to the following irrefragable Documents and more explicit featurings。 We learn from him； and it is the one thing we learn of credible； That 〃Voltaire； when it came to Law Procedures； begged Maupertuis to speak for him to M。 Jarriges；〃 a Prussian Frenchman； 〃one of the Judges； and that Maupertuis answered； 'I cannot interfere i
