This is in 1740, right? The slash porn is from December 1740.
The letter is from December 6th, so I guess he was on a roll? Or did he sent the poem at the same time? It's all in verse, the original French starts here (quote on the next page) and a rough translation of the relevant passage would be:
[Berlin] Make[s] you forget the fate of Italy and France. Of Italy! Algarotti, How do you find this language? I see you, struck with outrage, Look at me as an enemy. Moderate this boiling courage, And respond to us as a friend. [... insults: smelly lagoons, whores, a useless doge, etc] A soft, weak, infatuated people Of ignorance and deceit, Buttocks often chipped[/tattered], Due to the efforts of the old sin Which is called sodomy: Voilá, the sketched portrait Of the very noble lordship. Now is this worth, please, Our adorable Frédéric, His virtues, his tastes, his homeland? I make the whole public judge.
Re: Reading more Fritz/Voltaire letters (1740-42)
The letter is from December 6th, so I guess he was on a roll? Or did he sent the poem at the same time? It's all in verse, the original French starts here (quote on the next page) and a rough translation of the relevant passage would be:
[Berlin]
Make[s] you forget the fate
of Italy and France.
Of Italy! Algarotti,
How do you find this language?
I see you, struck with outrage,
Look at me as an enemy.
Moderate this boiling courage,
And respond to us as a friend.
[... insults: smelly lagoons, whores, a useless doge, etc]
A soft, weak, infatuated people
Of ignorance and deceit,
Buttocks often chipped[/tattered],
Due to the efforts of the old sin
Which is called sodomy:
Voilá, the sketched portrait
Of the very noble lordship.
Now is this worth, please,
Our adorable Frédéric,
His virtues, his tastes, his homeland?
I make the whole public judge.