Voltaire to Jeanne Antoinette Pompadour - 1750 August 20
a few days after his arrival at Potsdam
1 In these sites little known long ago,
2 And which today have become beautiful places
3 Worthy of eternal remembrance,
4 To victory’s favorite
5 Your compliments have been delivered.
6 Your myrtles are in this sanctuary
7 With laurels combined.
8 I have the honor, on behalf of Achilles,
9 To express his gratitude to Venus.
10 If he were to thank you himself, Madame,
11 You would have much more appealing verses, because he writes them
12 As easily as another king, and they win him battles.
13 Of two kings that one must worship
14 In war and in danger,
15 The first deserves to yearn
16 For your virtues and for your charms,
17 And the second to celebrate them.
[In pencil] Potsdam, around 10 August 1750
Footnotes and comments coming soon.