82 VOLTAIRE. 



been enchanted with this intercourse, seasoned as it 

 was with boundless admiration of his own genius never 

 very coldly expressed, though always cleverly and 

 variously, more especially when we bear in mind the 

 fundamental fact that this host and master, who chose 

 to make himself the poet's playfellow, was a powerful 

 monarch, and covered with the laurels of a conqueror, 

 as well as sustained by the troops and treasures of a 

 prince. 



Twelve months glided away in this pleasing dream ; 

 for dream after all it proved to be. That which his 

 philosophers never forgot, it appeared that he himself, 

 the philosopher king, forgot as little, his kingly station ; 

 and the freaks of the royal temperament, suppressed for 

 a while, broke out on the first convenient opportunity, 

 changing at once the whole aspect of Voltaire's position, 

 and reducing his relation with his " royal friend" to 

 the ordinary standard, which retains the " royal" and 

 converts "friend" into master. 



Immediately after his arrival an incident had 

 occurred which might have opened his eyes to the 

 claw that lurked beneath its velvet covering. Madame 

 de Pompadour had, as has been mentioned, with many 

 roundabout phrases, and with many humble and 

 trembling apologies for such a liberty, ventured to 

 offer her dutiful respects to his Majesty through 

 Voltaire. The very unexpected answer, from one, 

 too, whom oily words cost so little, was " / dont 

 /mow her." The unfortunate messenger would have 

 done better to revolve this in his mind rather than 

 very falsely write a report to the lady, in which 

 Achilles was represented as receiving courteously the 



