Going back to what the book claims Asprey says Valory says - this sounds really unlike both Fritz and Keyslerlingk, who was very much talked about (as was his daughter) in any case. I mean, we're talking about the same guy who writes orgasm poems for Algarotti and the Marwitz letters to torment his younger brother, right? With this idea of discretion? And "don't go near the window" - how would that even work?
ETA: Checking Volz "FtG im Spiegel seiner Zeitgenossen", I found this Keyserlingk relevant quote in a letter from Hille to Grumbkow, Küstrin. 30. September 1731. I had a longer confidential conversation with the Crown Prince. He told me that your excellency has touched on the matter of the marriage with the Princess of Bevern in a letter to Herr von Wolden. (Fritz) would agree to it, despite the Princess being ugly and stupid, as long as the mediation of the Empress would assure him of good conditions. Among other things, I wishes to have Herr von Keyserlingk as a companion, and aske me to write to your Exellency about this. I asked him: "If the Princess is ugly and stupid, will you be able to live with her and love her then?" "No, certainly not," he replied. "And what will you do then?“ "I'll ditch her as soon as I am my own master," he answered. "One has to forgive me for getting out of a tight spot as best I can." To this, I replied that he should be certain neither your Excellency nor another man of honor would go along with something like this. There could be only misfortune as a result if he truly believed that a miserable marriage had no consequences and that it was okay to break one's marital vows. Moreover, he would only cause new distress for himself if he as much as hinted on wanting Herr von Keyserlingk as a companion. I don't know the gentleman in question, but I heard that his character is such that the King will not consider interaction with to improve one's moral character.
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Re: Keyserlingk, sensational gossip, and Royal Reader request
Date: 2021-07-01 03:43 pm (UTC)ETA: Checking Volz "FtG im Spiegel seiner Zeitgenossen", I found this Keyserlingk relevant quote in a letter from Hille to Grumbkow, Küstrin. 30. September 1731.
I had a longer confidential conversation with the Crown Prince. He told me that your excellency has touched on the matter of the marriage with the Princess of Bevern in a letter to Herr von Wolden. (Fritz) would agree to it, despite the Princess being ugly and stupid, as long as the mediation of the Empress would assure him of good conditions. Among other things, I wishes to have Herr von Keyserlingk as a companion, and aske me to write to your Exellency about this. I asked him: "If the Princess is ugly and stupid, will you be able to live with her and love her then?"
"No, certainly not," he replied.
"And what will you do then?“
"I'll ditch her as soon as I am my own master," he answered. "One has to forgive me for getting out of a tight spot as best I can."
To this, I replied that he should be certain neither your Excellency nor another man of honor would go along with something like this. There could be only misfortune as a result if he truly believed that a miserable marriage had no consequences and that it was okay to break one's marital vows. Moreover, he would only cause new distress for himself if he as much as hinted on wanting Herr von Keyserlingk as a companion. I don't know the gentleman in question, but I heard that his character is such that the King will not consider interaction with to improve one's moral character.