m at is hard, long-continued, cruel, nay
barbarous. I have not been able to escape my lot: all that human
foresight could suggest has been employed, and nothing has succeeded. If
Fortune continues to pursue me, doubtless I shall sink; it is only she
that can extricate me from the situation I am in. I escape out of it by
looking at the Universe on the great scale, like an observer from some
distant Planet; all then seems to me so infinitely small, and I could
almost pity my enemies for giving themselves such trouble about so
very little. What would become of us without philosophy, without this
reasonable contempt of things frivolous, transient and fugitive, about
which the greedy and ambitious make such a pother, fancying them to be
solid! This is to become wise by stripes, you will tell me; well, if one
do become wise, what matters it how?--I read a great deal; I devour my
Books, and that brings me useful alleviation. But for my Books, I think
hypochondria would have had me in bedlam before now. In fine, dear
Marquis, we live in troublous times and in desperate situations:--I
have all the properties of a Stage-Hero; always in danger, always on the
point of perishing. One must hope the conclusion will come; and if the
end of the piece be lucky, we will forget the rest. Patience then,
MON CHER, till February 20th [By which time, what far other veritable
star-of-day will have risen on me!]. ADIEU, MON CHER.--F." [_OEuvres de
Frederic,_ xix. 282, 283.]

TIFF OF QUARREL BETWEEN KING AND HENRI (March-April, 1762).

In the Spring months Prince Henri is at Hof in Voigtland, on the extreme
right of his long line of "Quarters behind the Mulda;" busy enough,
watching the Austrians and Reich; levying the severe contributions;
speeding all he can the manifold preparatives;--conscious to himself of
the greatest vigilance and diligence, but wrapt in despondency and black
acidulent humors; a "Doctor SO MUCH THE WORSE," who is not a comforting
Correspondent. From Hof, towards the middle of March, he becomes
specially gloomy and acidulous; sends a series of Complaints; also of
News, not important, but all rather in YOUR favor, my dearest Brother,
than in mine, if you will please to observe! As thus:--

HENRI (at Hof, 10th-13th March).... "Sadly off here, my dearest
Brother.! Of our '1,284 head of commissariat horses,' only 180 are come
in; of our '287 drivers,' not one. Will be impossible to open Campaign
at that rate."--"Grenadi