USC Digital Voltaire

Frederick the Great to Voltaire - 1758 January 16


In Breslau[1], January 16, 1758

Letter from the King of
Prussia to Mr. de
Voltaire
E/
1.                  I received your letters of 22 November and of
2.                  2 January at the same time. I barely have time
3.                  to write prose, much less verse,
4.                  in answer to yours. I thank you for the interest
5.                  that you take in the fortunate accidents which came to my aid
6.                  at the end of a campaign where all seemed lost[2].
7.                  Live happy and tranquil in Geneva; it is the only one good thing
8.                  in the world; and pray for Europe
9.                  to be cured soon of its violent heroic brain fever[3],
10.               for the destruction of the triumvirate, and for the tyrants
11.               of this universe to fail in placing the world in
12.               the chains that they are preparing for it.
13.                                                                                                       F
14.                                 I'm sick neither in body nor in mind,
15.               but I am taking some rest in my room. This is what
16.               gave rise to rumors that my enemies have sown. 
17.               But I can say to them as Demosthenes said to the
18.               Athenians: 'Well, if Philippe were dead,
19.               what then? Oh Athenians! you would soon produce
                                                                                                             another
 
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20.               another Philip!”[4] Oh Austrians! Your ambition,
21.               your desire to dominate all, would soon give you
22.               other enemies; and the freedoms of Germany and
23.               of Europe will never lack defenders.
 

[1] Wroclaw (German name: Breslau) is the largest city in Western Poland. It lies on the banks of the river Oder in the Silesian Lowlands of Central Europe, roughly 350 kilometres (220 mi) from the Baltic Sea to the North, and 40 kilometres (25 mi) from the Sudeten Mountains to the South. For information about this city, see: Wroclaw (Breslau).
 
[2] Frederick refers to the Battle of Leuthen (5 December 1757) which he won decisively despite a much larger Austrian force.  For information about this battle see The Battle of Leuthen.
 
[3] CHAUD, AUD, adj.  “On appelle Fièvre chaude, une sorte de fièvre violente qui attaque ordinairement le cerveau.” Dictionnaire de l’Académie Françoise, Nouvelle Édition.  Tome Premier - A-K.  Nismes: Gaude, 1777, p. 188.
 
[4] Editorial note No. 1 in EE: “Demosthenes, Philippics, 1.vi.” (D7589)

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