Posthumous Works of Frederic II, King of Prussia (Volume 10); Memoirs from the Peace of Hubertsburg, to the Partition of Poland, and of the Bavarian War. Correspondence Between the Emperor, the Empress Queen, and the King of Prussia, Relative to the Bava (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1789 Excerpt: ... well-beloved, not to the lord of the twenty manors in Swisserland, but to the author of the Henriade, the Maid of Orleans, Brutus, Merope, &c FREDERIC. LETTER CCLXXIV. From M. de Voltaire. May, 1759. OUR verses flow with so much ease, You rival those who most can please, Chapelle, Chaulieu, and Sarrasin You've studied, thus our hearts to win. Yet sure Petronius, good and gay, What though impure, you pardon may. I know you well; though coy you seem, You blush not at the wanton theme, But rather love luxurious tale, When cover'd by transparent veil. For Maupertuis, pack'd up in pitch, Should he perchance drop down the niche Which he to old earth's center bor'd, And safely there his body hoard, I should be sorry for his fate: I feel no unrelenting hate; I kill him not, but well may fay He shut me from the light of day; Expell'd me heav'n, which was my due: Yes--drove me from the fight of you. This is all I have to answer, feeble and muffled up as I am, with a cold in my eyes, to the most malignant of monarchs, and the most amiable of men, who is continually giving me gashes in the face, and w ho calls out that he is scratched. Deal your gashes on marshals Daun and Fermor, but spare your old and meagre victim. Your majesty says you do not fear our money; the little we have is truly not very formidable; and, with respect to our swords, you have given them a trifling lesson. May God grant you peace, sire; and may every sword be returned to the scabbard Such are the good prayers of a Swiss philosopher in behalf of all Europe, the various kingdoms of which individually feel the horrors of war. We have lately suffered a bankruptcy at Lyons, of one million eight hundred thousand livres (seventy-five thousand pounds sterling) thanks to this fine war. With respect to...