[unless, indeed,
your Highness were driven into Financial or other straits?] You know if
I love France;--if my design is not to pass the rest of my days there,
so soon as my Son comes to majority!' Ohone, ohoo!

"In fine, the quarrel was appeased. The King of Prussia told me he would
be gentler with the Mother; would restore the Son if they absolutely
wished it; but that he hoped the young Prince would of himself like
better to stay where he was."...--"I trust your Lordship will allow me
to draw for those 300 ducats, for a new carriage. I have spent all I
had, running about these four months. I leave this for Brunswick and
homewards, on the evening of the 12th." [Voltaire, lxxiii. 105-109.]...

And so the curtain drops on the Baireuth Journey, on the Berlin Visit;
and indeed, if that were anything, on Voltaire's Diplomatic career
altogether. The insignificant Accidents, the dull Powers that be, say
No. Curious to reflect, had they happened to say Yes:--"Go into the
Diplomatic line, then, you sharp climbing creature, and become great by
that method; WRITE no more, you; write only Despatches and Spy-Letters
henceforth!"--how different a world for us, and for all mortals that
read and that do not read, there had now been!

Voltaire fancies he has done his Diplomacy well, not without fruit;
and, at Brunswick,--cheered by the grand welcome he found there,--has
delightful outlooks (might I dare to suggest them, Monseigneur?) of
touring about in the German Courts, with some Circular HORTATORIUM, or
sublime Begging-Letter from the Kaiser, in his hand; and, by witchery
of tongue, urging Wurtemberg, Brunswick, Baireuth, Anspach, Berlin,
to compliance with the Imperial Majesty and France. [Ib. lxxiii. 133.]
Would not that be sublime! But that, like the rest, in spite of one's
talent, came to nothing. Talent? Success? Madame de Chateauroux had,
in the interim, taken a dislike to M. Amelot; "could not bear
his stammering," the fastidious Improper Female; flung Amelot
overboard,--Amelot, and his luggage after him, Voltaire's diplomatic
hopes included; and there was an end.

How ravishing the thing had been while it lasted, judge by these
other stray symptoms; hastily picked up, partly at Berlin, partly at
Brunswick; which show us the bright meridian, and also the blaze, almost
still more radiant, which proved to be sunset. Readers have heard of
Voltaire's Madrigals to certain Princesses; and must read these Three
again,--which a