at genius like
yours finds resources even when all is lost; and it is impossible this
frenzy can continue. My heart bleeds to think of the poor souls in
Preussen [Apraxin and his Christian Cossacks there,--who, it is noted,
far excel the Calmuck worshippers of the Dalai-Lama]. What horrid
barbarity, the detail of cruelties that go on there! I feel all that you
feel on it, my dear Brother. I know your heart, and your sensibility for
your subjects.

"I suffer a thousand times more than I can tell you; nevertheless hope
does not abandon me. I received your Letter of the 14th by W. [who W.
is, no mortal knows]. What kindness to think of me, who have nothing to
give you but a useless affection, which is so richly repaid by yours!
I am obliged to finish; but I shall never cease to be, with the most
profound respect (TRES-PROFOND RESPECT,"--that, and something still
better, if my poor pen were not embarrassed),

"your"--WILHELMINA.

5. FRIEDRICH'S RESPONSE TO THE DISSUASIVES OF VOLTAIRE (Last of the
Lamentation-Psalms: "Buttstadt, October 9th").--Voltaire's Dissuasive
Letter is a poor Piece; [_OEuvres de Voltaire, _ lxxvii. 80-85 (LES
DELICES, early in September, 1757: no date given).] not worth giving
here. Remarkable only by Friedrich's quiet reception of it; which
readers shall now see, as Finis to those Lamentation-Psalms. There
is another of them, widely known, which we will omit: the EPITRE
TO D'ARGENS; [In _ OEuvres de Frederic,_ xii. 50-56 ("Erfurt, 23d
September, 1757 ").] passionate enough, wandering wildly over human
life, and sincere almost to shrillness, in parts; which Voltaire has
also got hold of. Omissible here; the fixity of purpose being plain
otherwise to Voltaire and us. Voltaire's counter-arguments are weak, or
worse: "That Roman death is not now expected of the Philosopher; that
your Majesty will, in the worst event, still have considerable Dominions
left, all that your Great-Grandfather had; still plenty of resources;
that, in Paris Society, an estimable minority even now thinks highly
of you; that in Paris itself your Majesty [does not say expressly, as
dethroned and going on your travels] would have resources!" To which
beautiful considerations Friedrich answers, not with fire and brimstone,
as one might have dreaded, but in this quiet manner (REPONSE AU SIEUR
VOLTAIRE):--

"Je suis homme, il suffit, et ne pour la souffrance;
Aux rigueurs du destin j'oppose ma constance.

["I