Safer, however, to do it in the oblique or reflex way,--by Ambassador Cumas, for example:-- "I will tell you boldly, Sir [you M.de Camas], I put more value on this Book (ANTI-MACHIAVEL) than on the Emperor Julian's CAESAR, or on the MAXIMS of Marcus Aurelius,"-- I do indeed, having a kind of property in it withal! [Voltaire, _OEuvres,_ lxxii.

280 (to Camas, 18th October, 1740).] In fact, Voltaire too is beautiful, in this part of the Correspondence; but much in a twitter,--the Queen of Sheba, not the sedate Solomon, in prospect of what is coming.

He plumes himself a little, we perceive, to his d'Argentals and French Correspondents, on this sublime intercourse he has got into with a Crowned Head, the cynosure of mankind:---Perhaps even you, my best friend, did not quite know me, and what merits I had! Plumes himself a little; but studies to be modest withal; has not much of the peacock, and of the turkey has nothing, to his old friends.

All which is very naive and transparent; natural and even pretty, on the part of M.de Voltaire as the weaker vessel .-- For the rest, it is certain Maupertuis is getting under way at Paris towards the Cleve rendezvous.

Brussels, too, is so near these Cleve Countries; within two days' good driving:--if only the times and routes would rightly intersect?
Friedrich's intention is by no means for a straight journey towards Cleve: he intends for Baireuth first, then back from Baireuth to Cleve,--making a huge southward elbow on the map, with Baireuth for apex or turning-point:--in this manner he will make the times suit, and have a convergence at Cleve.