Oooooh, this is really interesting to me. Go Algarotti! But also it is interesting given that I'd had this idea of Algarotti as the kind of person who was always saying "sure, whatever," to slither out of conflict, which this isn't really
That was my reaction, too, including having had the impression Algarotti was conflict-avoidant by all means otherwise. I think one reason why he risks it on this occasion might indeed have been that Émilie wasn't just a name to him, he'd known her in person and also, he'd witnessed her and Voltaire together at the time of their greatest closeness (while missing out on their more critical years), so for Fritz to be that dismissive about the death and the genuineness of Voltaire's grief about it might have actually angered him, or at least irritated him a lot.
By contrast, Algarotti's first Fritz impression:
Okay, this is adorable :P :)
The "oh me beato!" in between the French is what makes it for me. :) As for the classical comparisons: well, Trajan was an expansionist, so clearly Algarotti saw Silesia coming. :) (Kidding. Trajan at this point was regarded as the best of the Roman Emperors, and Marcus Aurelius of course has the philospher emperor reputation, so Algarotti just came up with the highest accolades he could think of.
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Re: All About Algarotti
Date: 2020-10-12 08:04 am (UTC)That was my reaction, too, including having had the impression Algarotti was conflict-avoidant by all means otherwise. I think one reason why he risks it on this occasion might indeed have been that Émilie wasn't just a name to him, he'd known her in person and also, he'd witnessed her and Voltaire together at the time of their greatest closeness (while missing out on their more critical years), so for Fritz to be that dismissive about the death and the genuineness of Voltaire's grief about it might have actually angered him, or at least irritated him a lot.
By contrast, Algarotti's first Fritz impression:
Okay, this is adorable :P :)
The "oh me beato!" in between the French is what makes it for me. :) As for the classical comparisons: well, Trajan was an expansionist, so clearly Algarotti saw Silesia coming. :) (Kidding. Trajan at this point was regarded as the best of the Roman Emperors, and Marcus Aurelius of course has the philospher emperor reputation, so Algarotti just came up with the highest accolades he could think of.