g verses,
in times when another could not write a line of prose; he deserves to
be happy: but will he be so? And if not, what becomes of you? For my own
part, I will not die between two Capuchins. Hardly worth while, exalting
one's soul for such a future as that. What a stupid and detestable farce
this world is!" [Ib. lxxviii. 348 (from SOUVENIRS D'UN CITOYEN, i. 302),
"11th January 1760."]

TO D'ARGENTAL ("Peace" Negotiations still at their briskest),... "But,
my dear Angel, you will see on Tuesday the great man who has turned my
head (DONT JE SUIS FOU), M. le Duc de Choiseul. The Letters he honors
me with enchant me. God will bless him, don't doubt it,"--after all! "We
have at Pondicherry a Lally, a devil of an Irish spirit,--who will cost
me, sooner or later, above 20,000 livres annually [have rents in our
INDIA COMPANY, say 1,000 pounds a year, as my Angels know], which used
to be the readiest item of my Pittance. But M. le Duc de Choiseul will
triumph over Luc in one way or other; then what joy! I suppose he shows
you my impertinent reveries. Do you know, Luc is so mad, that I don't
despair of bringing him to reason [persuading him to give up Cleve, and
knuckle as he should, in this Peace Affair]. That were what I should
call the true Comedy! I should like to have your advices on the
conduct of that Dramatic Piece." [_OEuvres de Voltaire,_ lxxviii. 375
("Delices, 15th February, 1760").]

The late "mouse" gnawing its mesh of net, what a subtle and mighty
hunter has it grown! This of Cleve, however, and of knuckling, would
not do. Hear the stiff Answer that comes: "'Conditions of Peace,' do you
call them? The people that propose such can have no wish to see Peace.
What a logic theirs! 'I might yield the Country of Cleve, because the
inhabitants are stupid'! What would your Ministers say if one required
the Province of Champagne from them, because the Proverb says,
Ninety-nine sheep and one Champagner make a Hundred head of cattle?"
[Friedrich to Voltaire, "Freyberg, 3d April, 1760:" _OEuvres de
Frederic,_ xxiii. 73, 74.]

AGAIN TO D'ARGENTAL (three or four months after; Luc having proved
obstinate, and still unsuccessful).... "I conjure you make use of all
your eloquence to tell him [the supreme Duc de Choiseul], that if Luc
misgo, it will be no misfortune to France. That Brandenburg will always
remain an Electorate; that it is good there be no Elector in it strong
enough to do without the protection of our King;