These are great quotes, no matter the lack of pulse feeling, also, they definitely establish Fritz was visibly sick when Voltaire saw first saw him, which is why I think that gesture would have in ic.
Finally with people of his kind you must not be sick, you must even be very well, and be better than usual if you can. He has the eloquence of Cicero, the sweetness of Pliny, and the wisdom of Agrippa. In a word, he brings together what it takes to combine the virtues and talents of three of the greatest men of antiquity. His mind is constantly working, each drop of ink is a stroke of esprit from his pen.
Fritz feeling he’s been at less than his best on that longed for occasion: how much of that is true, and how much a preemptive disclaimer just in case Voltaire was less than impressed, I wonder? Also: „sweetness of Pliny“? Pliny the elder, the naturalist who died while evacuating people from Pompeji, never struck me as „sweet“ in any fashion (I haven‘t read all, but I did read some; very informative, very matter of factly, utterly unsentimental). Pliny the younger, the nephew, I know only via some of his letters - one about how his uncle died, which is famous for its description of Pompeiji, and one about his country villa, which is also famous because it‘s one of the most detailed descriptions of how a Roman villa looked that we have. But „sweet“, he‘s also not. I dare say Fritz is a) employing a popular figure of speech, same way as „the eloquence of Cicero“ is an established trope , and b) getting his Romans confused. The one referred to as „sweet“ is usually Ovid. (Wouldn‘t call Ovid that, either, but it is a popular description among the humanists.)
I saw two things that have always been very close to my heart, namely Voltaire, and French troops.
LOL. I‘m reminded again of Voltaire‘s Roßbach-caused „now he‘s fulfilled his life goals: impress the French, mock the French, beat the French“ oneliner.
The Émilie snark: and he won‘t be over this jealousy even years after she‘s dead....
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Re: Lucchessini, Catt and Fredersdorf, oh, my
Date: 2020-03-07 09:41 am (UTC)Finally with people of his kind you must not be sick, you must even be very well, and be better than usual if you can. He has the eloquence of Cicero, the sweetness of Pliny, and the wisdom of Agrippa. In a word, he brings together what it takes to combine the virtues and talents of three of the greatest men of antiquity. His mind is constantly working, each drop of ink is a stroke of esprit from his pen.
Fritz feeling he’s been at less than his best on that longed for occasion: how much of that is true, and how much a preemptive disclaimer just in case Voltaire was less than impressed, I wonder? Also: „sweetness of Pliny“? Pliny the elder, the naturalist who died while evacuating people from Pompeji, never struck me as „sweet“ in any fashion (I haven‘t read all, but I did read some; very informative, very matter of factly, utterly unsentimental). Pliny the younger, the nephew, I know only via some of his letters - one about how his uncle died, which is famous for its description of Pompeiji, and one about his country villa, which is also famous because it‘s one of the most detailed descriptions of how a Roman villa looked that we have. But „sweet“, he‘s also not. I dare say Fritz is a) employing a popular figure of speech, same way as „the eloquence of Cicero“ is an established trope , and b) getting his Romans confused. The one referred to as „sweet“ is usually Ovid. (Wouldn‘t call Ovid that, either, but it is a popular description among the humanists.)
I saw two things that have always been very close to my heart, namely Voltaire, and French troops.
LOL. I‘m reminded again of Voltaire‘s Roßbach-caused „now he‘s fulfilled his life goals: impress the French, mock the French, beat the French“ oneliner.
The Émilie snark: and he won‘t be over this jealousy even years after she‘s dead....