[History of Friedrich II. of Prussia Vol. XVI. (of XXI.) by Thomas Carlyle]@TWC D-Link bookHistory of Friedrich II. of Prussia Vol. XVI. (of XXI.) CHAPTER VI 6/27
'JAMAIS, Never,' murmured one high Gentleman, of the Impromptu kind, at the Palace Supper-table:-- -- 'Jamais dans Athene et dans Rome On n'eut de plus beaux jours, ni de plus digne prix. J'ai vu le fils de Mars sous les traits de Paris, Et Venus qui donnait la pomme.'"-- ["Never in Athens or Rome were there braver sights or a worthier prize: I have seen the son of Mars [King Friedrich] with Paris's features, and Venus [Amelia] crowning the victorious." (-- OEuvres de Voltaire,--xviii. 320.)] And Amphitheatre and Lamps lapse wholly into darkness, and the thing has finished, for the time being.
August 27th, it was repeated by daylight: if possible, more charming than ever; but not to be spoken of farther, under penalties.
To be mildly forgotten again, every jot and tittle of it,--except one small insignificant iota, which, by accident, still makes it remarkable.
Namely, that Collini and the Barberinas were there; and that not only was Voltaire again there, among the Princes and Princesses; but that Collini saw Voltaire, and gives us transient sight of him,--thanks to Collini.
Thursday, 27th August, 1750, was the Daylight version of the Carrousel; which Collini, if it were of any moment, takes to have PRECEDED that of the 40,000 Lamps.
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