Okay, my eyes are starting to glaze over and I need to go to bed, so will read and reply the remaining comments properly next time, but
ZOMG, mes amies, could he have been afraid she'd stay in Italy and he wouldn't see her again?
ZOMG. He had *just* lost Algarotti to Italy for health or "health" reasons. He couldn't know this, but he'd never see Algarotti again, and he was clearly starting to worry. The language he uses to her is much the same as he uses to Algarotti. "J'aimerais mieux que vous fussiez à Pise pour autre chose que pour y soigner votre santé, comme dit la chanson du pape. Vous obligera-t-elle de renoncer à l'Allemagne et aux climats hyperboréens?"
It makes so much sense if he's worrying about losing Wilhelmine there forever.
Omg, *hugs all of them*. You don't know how often I fantasize about giving them proper medical care to go with their therapists. Fritz has already gotten gene therapy in my head!
I went !! at the bit where Fritz actually had the self-awareness to pick up that he might be sour-graping :D
Same here, when I first read it. I was also struck by the second image he uses, of the galley slave.
Same! He has his moments of self-awareness, but then his behavior is such that you're always surprised when you see one.
The galley slave analogy is telling, agreed. He has another one (I think in that physical bio I flip through once in a while, but can't find quotes on demand) saying that he would go to Italy, but he's tethered like a goat (iirc?) to Prussia.
Okay, bed now, really. If you see me commenting again in the next 10 hours, tell me sternly to go away. :P
Re: Sibling Correspondance
ZOMG, mes amies, could he have been afraid she'd stay in Italy and he wouldn't see her again?
ZOMG. He had *just* lost Algarotti to Italy for health or "health" reasons. He couldn't know this, but he'd never see Algarotti again, and he was clearly starting to worry. The language he uses to her is much the same as he uses to Algarotti. "J'aimerais mieux que vous fussiez à Pise pour autre chose que pour y soigner votre santé, comme dit la chanson du pape. Vous obligera-t-elle de renoncer à l'Allemagne et aux climats hyperboréens?"
It makes so much sense if he's worrying about losing Wilhelmine there forever.
Omg, *hugs all of them*. You don't know how often I fantasize about giving them proper medical care to go with their therapists. Fritz has already gotten gene therapy in my head!
I went !! at the bit where Fritz actually had the self-awareness to pick up that he might be sour-graping :D
Same here, when I first read it. I was also struck by the second image he uses, of the galley slave.
Same! He has his moments of self-awareness, but then his behavior is such that you're always surprised when you see one.
The galley slave analogy is telling, agreed. He has another one (I think in that physical bio I flip through once in a while, but can't find quotes on demand) saying that he would go to Italy, but he's tethered like a goat (iirc?) to Prussia.
Okay, bed now, really. If you see me commenting again in the next 10 hours, tell me sternly to go away. :P