saying that he got caught up in the same events of 1730 as those already mentioned (extremely allusively!) in the "Du Han" (Formey's spelling) eulogy
Yeah, extremely allusively = "the storm that came over the Crown Prince and almost everyone close to him". In his own eulogy, Fritz describes Duhan's exile and its reasons as follows: Constant and lasting happiness is not the prerogative of humanity. Mr. Duhan was relegated to Prussia. But the cause for which he suffered, far from robbing him of public esteem or causing him remorse, could on the contrary have excited his vanity and animated his hopes. He loved the cause of his sorrows too much to complain about it, and he always retained the tranquility inseparable from good conduct, which, in the different situations of life, can be regarded as the touchstone of true philosophy.
I remember it because one biographer gives him a hard time about talking money with Duhan
Aw, that's quite the bad faith interpretation. He wants to make sure that Duhan is cared for during the rest of his days, how is that not endearing?
By the way, German translator has a very different issue at this point, his footnote in paraphrase: "It's always been strange to me that people are so interested in the king's bad spelling, but here we are, so let me show you what was deemed "finished education" and who's therefore to fault for said spelling. Original letter: Mon cher Duhan, Je vous promais que, quand j'aurez mon propre argent en main, je vous donnerez enuelement 2400 ecu par an, et je vous aimerais toujour encor un peu plus qu'asteure sil me l'est posible. Frideric Pr.R. (L.S.)" All phonetic, and I admit, asteure would have stumped me. Oh, and Translator also mentions the difference in Fritz' handwriting.
Googling suggests maybe "locus sigilli": place for the seal.
Makes sense, though strange that it was worth transcribing.
I found the "widower (that again!) and orphan" bit, which I had seen quoted elsewhere, very touching.
Yeah, same.
The 1730s letters are very affectionate, with lots of promises to do more for Duhan once he's able to, full of encouragement (it sounds like Duhan was struggling a bit in exile, possibly with depression)
:/
Indeed. And I actually left out the letter that was clearest on this, from August 14th, 1738: [...] Make the situation your destiny has placed you in bearable, as much as possible. Erase my memory from your mind, if it is an obstacle to your rest, and think only of making yourself as happy as you can imagine; it is the choice of wisdom, and it must be yours. Ban, for this purpose, any idea of exile, of fatherland and of penate[?] gods; talk a lot with books, and not with people of the world. As you can find this ancient company anywhere, you won't notice the change of location so much as you would without their help. Finally, lift your thoughts above anything that can make them melancholy or hypochondriac. [...] Also has the "calm yourself to calm me" figure at the end - which, as you pointed out before, seems to have been the family's go-to for encouragement - despite the "erase me" here. :)
MacDonogh's exact translation: 'You know that my situation has greatly improved, but what you possibly don’t realise is that they have cut deeply into the marble, and that stays for ever.'
Looks like he changed pronoun and tense of the original "que l'on grave", which directs the interpretation a bit to make it clearer.
Aww, good job with the condolence letter, Fritz.
Heh, I thought about saying that, but decided to add a little suspense. ;) But yeah, it's much better than some others. Also, in the light of his own recent history, I found his thoughts on death and grief quite poignant.
Because Wilhelmine, in her memoirs, says that once Duhan left, Fritz started leading a dissipated life, which wouldn't have happened if Duhan was there.
Interesting! And possibly on point - here's the relevant part of the poem: Ah! if, always following your scholarly lessons, I had been able to get away from my distractions! But this monster, rival of a wise intention, To make it fail, endlessly disguises itself. In a siren's voice and an impostor's tone, It fills our minds with a flattering lie; And when, without knowing it, its bait sweeps us away, Foolishly, our care is wasted, and our study is in vain. Therefore, my dear Duhan, in the age of pleasures I was the vile toy of impetuous desires. In the summer of my days, grown stronger, Minerva should be the guide of my steps; But unfortunately! wisdom is seldom the fruit Of an overwhelming competition of tumult and noise. That's why, withdrawn in the shadow of silence, I seek, albeit late, virtue and science.
let's not forget Duhan was appointed by FW who thought he would be a good role model
Weeell. FW's judgement and all that. Also, it's fascinating to me that Duhan quite deliberately went against FW's clear instructions when it came to teaching Fritz things. But this reminds me, I think some of FW's ire (and subsequently the danger in Fritz writing to Duhan) was probably due to predestination again? I remember reading that FW might have ended up blaming Duhan for Fritz' knowledge of it in 1730, even though Fritz tried to exonerate him on that front.
MacDonogh tells me not only Fritz but his younger brothers got to see Duhan one last time before he died,
Yeah, Fritz, in his eulogy, mentions that he went to him as soon as he returned from war, though not that his brothers were there as well, so the source for that must be something different.
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Re: Fritz-Duhan Follow-Up
Date: 2020-11-15 01:51 pm (UTC)Yeah, extremely allusively = "the storm that came over the Crown Prince and almost everyone close to him". In his own eulogy, Fritz describes Duhan's exile and its reasons as follows: Constant and lasting happiness is not the prerogative of humanity. Mr. Duhan was relegated to Prussia. But the cause for which he suffered, far from robbing him of public esteem or causing him remorse, could on the contrary have excited his vanity and animated his hopes. He loved the cause of his sorrows too much to complain about it, and he always retained the tranquility inseparable from good conduct, which, in the different situations of life, can be regarded as the touchstone of true philosophy.
I remember it because one biographer gives him a hard time about talking money with Duhan
Aw, that's quite the bad faith interpretation. He wants to make sure that Duhan is cared for during the rest of his days, how is that not endearing?
By the way, German translator has a very different issue at this point, his footnote in paraphrase: "It's always been strange to me that people are so interested in the king's bad spelling, but here we are, so let me show you what was deemed "finished education" and who's therefore to fault for said spelling. Original letter: Mon cher Duhan, Je vous promais que, quand j'aurez mon propre argent en main, je vous donnerez enuelement 2400 ecu par an, et je vous aimerais toujour encor un peu plus qu'asteure sil me l'est posible. Frideric Pr.R. (L.S.)"
All phonetic, and I admit, asteure would have stumped me. Oh, and Translator also mentions the difference in Fritz' handwriting.
Googling suggests maybe "locus sigilli": place for the seal.
Makes sense, though strange that it was worth transcribing.
I found the "widower (that again!) and orphan" bit, which I had seen quoted elsewhere, very touching.
Yeah, same.
The 1730s letters are very affectionate, with lots of promises to do more for Duhan once he's able to, full of encouragement (it sounds like Duhan was struggling a bit in exile, possibly with depression)
:/
Indeed. And I actually left out the letter that was clearest on this, from August 14th, 1738:
[...] Make the situation your destiny has placed you in bearable, as much as possible. Erase my memory from your mind, if it is an obstacle to your rest, and think only of making yourself as happy as you can imagine; it is the choice of wisdom, and it must be yours. Ban, for this purpose, any idea of exile, of fatherland and of penate[?] gods; talk a lot with books, and not with people of the world. As you can find this ancient company anywhere, you won't notice the change of location so much as you would without their help. Finally, lift your thoughts above anything that can make them melancholy or hypochondriac. [...]
Also has the "calm yourself to calm me" figure at the end - which, as you pointed out before, seems to have been the family's go-to for encouragement - despite the "erase me" here. :)
MacDonogh's exact translation: 'You know that my situation has greatly improved, but what you possibly don’t realise is that they have cut deeply into the marble, and that stays for ever.'
Looks like he changed pronoun and tense of the original "que l'on grave", which directs the interpretation a bit to make it clearer.
Aww, good job with the condolence letter, Fritz.
Heh, I thought about saying that, but decided to add a little suspense. ;) But yeah, it's much better than some others. Also, in the light of his own recent history, I found his thoughts on death and grief quite poignant.
Because Wilhelmine, in her memoirs, says that once Duhan left, Fritz started leading a dissipated life, which wouldn't have happened if Duhan was there.
Interesting! And possibly on point - here's the relevant part of the poem:
Ah! if, always following your scholarly lessons,
I had been able to get away from my distractions!
But this monster, rival of a wise intention,
To make it fail, endlessly disguises itself.
In a siren's voice and an impostor's tone,
It fills our minds with a flattering lie;
And when, without knowing it, its bait sweeps us away,
Foolishly, our care is wasted, and our study is in vain.
Therefore, my dear Duhan, in the age of pleasures
I was the vile toy of impetuous desires.
In the summer of my days, grown stronger,
Minerva should be the guide of my steps;
But unfortunately! wisdom is seldom the fruit
Of an overwhelming competition of tumult and noise.
That's why, withdrawn in the shadow of silence,
I seek, albeit late, virtue and science.
let's not forget Duhan was appointed by FW who thought he would be a good role model
Weeell. FW's judgement and all that. Also, it's fascinating to me that Duhan quite deliberately went against FW's clear instructions when it came to teaching Fritz things.
But this reminds me, I think some of FW's ire (and subsequently the danger in Fritz writing to Duhan) was probably due to predestination again? I remember reading that FW might have ended up blaming Duhan for Fritz' knowledge of it in 1730, even though Fritz tried to exonerate him on that front.
MacDonogh tells me not only Fritz but his younger brothers got to see Duhan one last time before he died,
Yeah, Fritz, in his eulogy, mentions that he went to him as soon as he returned from war, though not that his brothers were there as well, so the source for that must be something different.