Thank you so much! Even a first glance at the first few pages shows me there are letters not in Trier right from the start, some of which I recognize from my audio ut haven't in in written form, and some at least in part new, including one praising Franzl after FS had left, which is a great contrast to Fritz telling Lucchesini decades later he hadn't been impressed back then because FS struck him as avarage right from the start. More about this in a moment, but first, looks like Preuss for all his Fritz adoration edited out some poetry from the early Wihelmine letters. Yes, naturally Fritz rhymes in his Küstrin letters as well. Including the one where he's just heard Wilhelmine has gotten engaged, which Volz dates middle of June 1731. Wheras in the prose text of the letter - which already was known to me - Fritz says he hopes the Heriditary Prince of Bayreuth is amiable, his verses sound a bit differently on the subject of Wilhelmine's impending marriage:
I'd easy bear all fate throws at me if only I could save you from this marriage! But now I accept it with bravery because your friendship gives me the power to. But you, my dearest, you are willing to offer your life to the blind devastation of fate out of love for my foolish self whom misfortune is using as a monument. You sacrificed your peace, your heart and your hand, as proof for the friendship you feel for me. Oh, I'll never doubt your loyalty, never! My life would otherwise be bitter remorse. (*cough* *cough*) Oh doomed madness! You know, for me, you are the only happiness on earth! But will you be happy in this marriage?
(Grumbkow: shows up about a month later with BOUNDARIES! advice.)
Also, there's a letter direclty after their awkward and brief reunion during her wedding in December, which he wrote when back in Küstrin:
Most beloved Sister! When the heriditary prince visited me on Tuesday, I unfortunately could not write a farewell letter to you. But, my dearest liberator, there really was no time? I was very sad to have to leave you so soon after our brief reunion without knowing whether we would see each other again. I very well did notice that you were doubting my love, but I swear to you, it has not lessened. Unfortunately, I was lacking any opportunity to prove this to you. But be assured that I feel no less than you do. How could I, and should I not gratefully recognize how good you were to me after I made my entire family miserable through my foolish action and especially you? You should have despised my foolish unfortunate self as the origin of your pains and instead, you sacrificed yourself in order to allow me to escape this labyrinth. No, my dearest sister, I will never be worth the kindness which you have shown to me! (...)No, incomparable sister, don't do me the insult of doubting me! My heart is yours, yours and the Queen's alone. (...) I worship you and love you a thousand times more than I love myself, but never as much as you deserve, for no one can. Farewell! I am, until my death, utterly and completely yours. (...) P.S. Principessa lies at your feet and kisses the hands of her Principe.
(Remember, they had named their flute and lute Principessa and Principe respectively, and according to Wilhelmine's memoirs Fritz had said "I will never love another princess" and she "Then this (prince) shall be your only rival".)
(Volz: the early letters of the Crown Prince sound like those of a troubadour writing to his lady. This is in the Rokoko style.)
And now we come to the following fascinating characterisation of FS. Looks like Franzl wasn't the only one charmed, and I don't see why Fritz would pretend to be to Wilhelmine, who is living in Bayreuth and thus out of parental control re: the letters. (Given he never pretends to be charmed by EC in those same letters, and instead is still growsing about the impending marriage, it can't be that he still fears his own outgoing mail gets read.) Berlin, March 15th 1732. (...) The Duke of Lorraine has departed today. He is the most charming prince I ever met. He has so much wit, and a noble, free bearing. We have become very good friends, and when people see us together, they must believe us to be idiots because we can't stop laughing and joking with each other. The Duke shows so much ésprit that it is impossible to ever tire of him. He is a wonderful raconteur, and always high spirited. He is very vivacious and yet knows how to control his vivacity in a way that enable him to charm both more sedate people and those like him and me, the foolish ones. I'll tell you some of his zingers when we meet; they will delight you! (...) The Duchess as Bevern will leave soon with her daughter. We're spending our time making presents to each other. THe King is very satisfied with his daughter-in-law, and gracious towards me. I have hinted to her she should tell me to reccommend herself to you, but she has left her mind and capacity to talk in Braunschweig. I'm enclosing a little souvenir which I hope will be useful to you in your current situation. At least you can see from it that I love my dearest Mine still faithfully and and truly, and that one could hack me to pieces before claiming I don't adore you. Farewell. P.S. My regards to your husband. If you love me, send me a ribbon you have worn for fourteen days. Don't forget my best to Sonsine. Lolotte (Charlotte) has grown very pretty, and so has Sophie.
Re: Volz
I'd easy bear all fate throws at me
if only I could save you from this marriage!
But now I accept it with bravery
because your friendship gives me the power to.
But you, my dearest, you are willing
to offer your life to the blind devastation of fate
out of love for my foolish self
whom misfortune is using as a monument.
You sacrificed your peace, your heart and your hand,
as proof for the friendship you feel for me.
Oh, I'll never doubt your loyalty, never!
My life would otherwise be bitter remorse. (*cough* *cough*)
Oh doomed madness! You know, for me,
you are the only happiness on earth!
But will you be happy in this marriage?
(Grumbkow: shows up about a month later with BOUNDARIES! advice.)
Also, there's a letter direclty after their awkward and brief reunion during her wedding in December, which he wrote when back in Küstrin:
Most beloved Sister! When the heriditary prince visited me on Tuesday, I unfortunately could not write a farewell letter to you. But, my dearest liberator, there really was no time? I was very sad to have to leave you so soon after our brief reunion without knowing whether we would see each other again. I very well did notice that you were doubting my love, but I swear to you, it has not lessened. Unfortunately, I was lacking any opportunity to prove this to you. But be assured that I feel no less than you do. How could I, and should I not gratefully recognize how good you were to me after I made my entire family miserable through my foolish action and especially you? You should have despised my foolish unfortunate self as the origin of your pains and instead, you sacrificed yourself in order to allow me to escape this labyrinth. No, my dearest sister, I will never be worth the kindness which you have shown to me! (...)No, incomparable sister, don't do me the insult of doubting me! My heart is yours, yours and the Queen's alone. (...) I worship you and love you a thousand times more than I love myself, but never as much as you deserve, for no one can. Farewell! I am, until my death, utterly and completely yours. (...) P.S. Principessa lies at your feet and kisses the hands of her Principe.
(Remember, they had named their flute and lute Principessa and Principe respectively, and according to Wilhelmine's memoirs Fritz had said "I will never love another princess" and she "Then this (prince) shall be your only rival".)
(Volz: the early letters of the Crown Prince sound like those of a troubadour writing to his lady. This is in the Rokoko style.)
And now we come to the following fascinating characterisation of FS. Looks like Franzl wasn't the only one charmed, and I don't see why Fritz would pretend to be to Wilhelmine, who is living in Bayreuth and thus out of parental control re: the letters. (Given he never pretends to be charmed by EC in those same letters, and instead is still growsing about the impending marriage, it can't be that he still fears his own outgoing mail gets read.)
Berlin, March 15th 1732. (...) The Duke of Lorraine has departed today. He is the most charming prince I ever met. He has so much wit, and a noble, free bearing. We have become very good friends, and when people see us together, they must believe us to be idiots because we can't stop laughing and joking with each other. The Duke shows so much ésprit that it is impossible to ever tire of him. He is a wonderful raconteur, and always high spirited. He is very vivacious and yet knows how to control his vivacity in a way that enable him to charm both more sedate people and those like him and me, the foolish ones. I'll tell you some of his zingers when we meet; they will delight you! (...)
The Duchess as Bevern will leave soon with her daughter. We're spending our time making presents to each other. THe King is very satisfied with his daughter-in-law, and gracious towards me. I have hinted to her she should tell me to reccommend herself to you, but she has left her mind and capacity to talk in Braunschweig.
I'm enclosing a little souvenir which I hope will be useful to you in your current situation. At least you can see from it that I love my dearest Mine still faithfully and and truly, and that one could hack me to pieces before claiming I don't adore you. Farewell. P.S. My regards to your husband. If you love me, send me a ribbon you have worn for fourteen days. Don't forget my best to Sonsine. Lolotte (Charlotte) has grown very pretty, and so has Sophie.
Grumbkow: Oh for God's sake.