登陆注册
4699200000412

第412章

In late months Friedrich had conceived one notable project; which demands a word in this place. Did modern readers ever hear of "John Pine, the celebrated English Engraver"? John Pine, a man of good scholarship, good skill with his burin, did "Tapestries of the House of Lords," and other things of a celebrated nature, famous at home and abroad: but his peculiar feat, which had commended him at Reinsberg, was an Edition of HORACE: exquisite old FLACCUS brought to perfection, as it were; all done with vignettes, classical borderings, symbolic marginal ornaments, in fine taste and accuracy, the Text itself engraved; all by the exquisite burin of Pine. ["London, 1737" ( Biographie Universelle, xxxiv. 465).] This Edition had come out last year, famous over the world; and was by and by, as rumor bore, to be followed by a VIRGIL done in the like exquisite manner.

The Pine HORACE, part of the Pine VIRGIL too, still exist in the libraries of the curious; and are doubtless known to the proper parties, though much forgotten by others of us. To Friedrich, scanning the Pine phenomenon with interest then brand-new, it seemed an admirable tribute to classical genius; and the idea occurred to him, "Is not there, by Heaven's blessing, a living genius, classical like those antique Romans, and worthy of a like tribute?" Friedrich's idea was, That Voltaire being clearly the supreme of Poets, the HENRIADE, his supreme of Poems, ought to be engraved like FLACCUS; text and all, with vignettes, tail-pieces, classical borderings beautifully symbolic and exact; by the exquisite burin of Pine. Which idea the young hero-worshipper, in spite of his finance-difficulties, had resolved to realize;and was even now busy with it, since his return from Loo.

"Such beautiful enthusiasm," say some readers; "and in behalf of that particular demi-god!" Alas, yes; to Friedrich he was the best demi-god then going; and Friedrich never had any doubt about him.

For the rest, this heroic idea could not realize itself; and we are happy to have nothing more to do with Pine or the HENRIADE.

Correspondences were entered into with Pine, aud some pains taken:

Pine's high prices were as nothing; but Pine was busy with his VIRGIL; probably, in fact, had little stomach for the HENRIADE;"could not for seven years to come enter upon it:" so that the matter had to die away; and nothing came of it but a small DISSERTATION, or Introductory Essay, which the Prince had got ready,--which is still to be found printed in Voltaire's Works [ OEuvres, xiii. 393-402.] and in Friedrich's, if anybody now cared much to read it. Preuss says it was finished, "the 10th August, 1739;" and that minute fact in Chronology, with the above tale of Hero-worship hanging to it, will suffice my readers and me.

But there is another literary project on hand, which did take effect;--much worthy of mention, this year; the whole world having risen into such a Chorus of TE DEUM at sight of it next year.

In this year falls, what at any rate was a great event to Friedrich, as literary man: the printing of his first Book,--assiduous writing of it with an eye to print. The Book is that "celebrated ANTI-MACHIAVEL," ever-praiseworthy Refutation of Machiavel's PRINCE; concerning which there are such immensities of Voltaire Correspondence, now become, like the Book itself, inane to all readers. This was the chosen soul's employment of Friedrich, the flower of life to him, at Reinsberg, through the yea? 1739. It did not actually get to press till Spring 1740;nor actually come out till Autumn,--by which time a great change had occurred in Friedrich's title and circumstances: but we may as well say here what little is to be said of it for modern readers.

"The Crown-Prince, reading this bad Book of Machiavel's, years ago, had been struck, as all honest souls, especially governors or apprentices to governing, must be, if they thought of reading such a thing, with its badness, its falsity, detestability; and came by degrees, obliquely fishing out Voltaire's opinion as he went along, on the notion of refuting Machiavel; and did refute him, the best he could. Set down, namely, his own earnest contradiction to such ungrounded noxious doctrines; elaborating the same more and more into clear logical utterance; till it swelled into a little Volume; which, so excellent was it, so important to mankind, Voltaire and friends were clear for publishing.

Published accordingly it was; goes through the press next Summer (1740), under Voltaire's anxious superintendence: [Here, gathered from Friedrich's Letters to Voltaire, is the Chronology of the little Enterprise:--1738, MARCH 21, JUNE 17, "Machiavel a baneful man," thinks Friedrich. "Ought to be refuted by somebody?" thinks he (date not known).

1739, MARCH 22, Friedrich thinks of doing it himself. Has done it, DECEMBER 4;--"a Book which ought to be printed," say Voltaire and the literary visitors.

1740, APRIL 26, Book given up to Voltaire for printing. Printing finished; Book appears, "end of SEPTEMBER," when a great change had occurred in Friedrich's title and position.] for the Prince has at length consented; and Voltaire hands the Manuscript, with mystery yet with hints, to a Dutch Bookseller, one Van Duren at the Hague, who is eager enough to print such an article.

Voltaire himself--such his magnanimous friendship, especially if one have Dutch Lawsuits, or business of one's own, in those parts --takes charge of correcting; lodges himself in the 'Old Court'

同类推荐
  • 十地经论

    十地经论

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 净土必求

    净土必求

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 州县须知

    州县须知

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 神气养形论

    神气养形论

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 律要后集

    律要后集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 大乘三聚忏悔经

    大乘三聚忏悔经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 重生之千金暖妻

    重生之千金暖妻

    订婚宴上,本该是主角的她成为了可有可无的人。本该是她的未婚夫却对另一个女人宠溺有加。本该是她的家人言语间却是对她的指责对另一个女人的维护。而那个女人——是她的表姐。当被人特意安排的车撞死在马路上,她恨,恨那个女人,恨那个男人,也恨,她所谓的家人。重活一世——人后她是为复仇而活的沈碧落,冷漠无情双手血腥。人前她是S市第一千金,人人称赞的天使碧落。皇权心里默念:就算是天使,也是堕落的。然后――她浅笑的眸子里是摄人的光:“要么从,要么死!”毫不犹豫:“从!”【她对他们】“亲爱的表姐,送你的礼物,喜欢吗?”她眉眼尽是温暖的笑意。“沈碧落!”她目呲欲裂:“我诅咒你不得好死!”不得好死阿,这样的滋味,我尝过了呢,那么接下来,就是你咯!我…。最亲爱的表姐。“落落,我爱你,嫁给我吧!”瞩目之下,他单膝跪地,一脸虔诚。她轻轻弯腰,在男人的耳边轻声开口:“你……配吗?”随后在男人不可置信的眼神中,转身却是一个温暖的怀抱。【他爱她,她亦是】“皇权,从现在开始,你就是我的人!”她如同女王高高在上。“我一直都是你的人阿!”他眼里尽是温暖的笑意,十足的忠犬。
  • 相伴路程

    相伴路程

    一个人富贵到平凡,慢慢的走向成功。在需要人相伴的时候有你相伴,一切辉煌!!!
  • 梦幻中的天地

    梦幻中的天地

    传说在世间,有两种生灵,可以达到修行的至高境界。一种生灵有如祖龙:资质逆天,勇往直前,镇压当代,逆天而上,俯视万古;另一种生灵有如鲲鹏:在无意间看到更高的天地,于是奋起直追,梦想成为天空的王者,在苦难中前行,于绝望中崛起,终达彼岸成为天地霸主。当上古传说涌现地球,他们看到长生的希望,可在异界的大地上,他们沦为妖族的食物,好不容易看到同族,却被当成低贱的奴隶对待…命运是什么?命运是众生对原有世界的认知,打破原有世界的认知,才能打破思维的局限性和轮回,进而才能影响命运,改变命运。
  • Swan Song

    Swan Song

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • Wyoming

    Wyoming

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 午后薰衣茶

    午后薰衣茶

    冷酷帅气的偶像巨星夏夜薰和新近崛起的天才娱记“火焰小魔女”小园,他们本属于两个势同水火的群体,却因为一次“偶然”,成为亲密的好友。小园的可爱融化了少年冰冷的外壳,薰的温柔逐渐动摇了她的心。是无情无义地曝光超级巨星的独家资料,还是维持那份令人心动莫名的友谊,残酷的现实只能让小园选择其一。当红偶像夏夜薰的绝密私人档案首次曝光,曝光资料的居然是他的好朋友——天才娱记“火焰小魔女”小园!生气的薰毅然决定和小园断绝朋友关系,小园为如何挽回二人的友谊苦恼不已。这时,妄图东山再起的黑帮组织海兴帮竟将魔爪伸向了薰!小园在保护薰的瞬间,明白了自己的心意。
  • 美容营养学教程

    美容营养学教程

    每一个人都希望自己皮肤光滑润泽,富有朝气,体形矫健优美,渴望延缓衰老,而要做到这些,只有从改善营养,改良肌肤赖以生长发育的内环境着手,才能彻底地美化肌肤,健美形体,焕发青春的活力。食物中的蛋白质、脂肪、糖类、无机盐、维生素、水和膳食纤维等是人体健康和颜面美容所必需的营养素。这些营养素的主要来源是食物。因此,全面合理地从食物中摄取平衡的营养,是美容健体最重要的物质基础。
  • 义演法师西斋

    义演法师西斋

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 蜜爱萌妻:总裁大人深度宠

    蜜爱萌妻:总裁大人深度宠

    她是叶家大小姐,却在二十岁被曝出不是父亲亲生,她被送上手术台,将心脏移植给患有心脏病的妹妹。后来,陆景深出现,他是她名义上的三叔,神秘莫测的陆家三少。陆二少说让陆三少娶叶久久,陆三少就娶了。婚后的叶久久被陆三少宠的无法无天,弄垮了渣爸的公司,让继母坐牢,让同父异母的妹妹和未婚夫声名狼藉,叶久久踩着渣渣的肩膀走上了人生小巅峰。