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that Voltaire would read his tragedy of ' Merope .’When hi came, she took it into her head that he shouldchange lis coat. He objected, on the score that hemight citch cold, but at last had the complaisance tosend for lis valet to get another coat. The servant couldnot be f>und. Voltaire thought himself let off. Notat all: she recommenced her persecution till Voltaire got angry. He said a few words in English , and leftthe room. He was sent for ; hut replied he was takenill. Adieu to ‘ Merope ! ’ — I was furious. Presently avisitor came, and I said I would go to see Voltaire ,and the lady told me to try to bring him back. Ifound hem in excellent humour, quite forgetful of hisillness ; but it returned when we were sent for, and hewas verj sullen.” Another time she writes: “ I pitypoor Voltaire , since he and his friend cannot agree.Ah, dear friend ! where is there happiness on earth formortals 1 We are always deceived by appearances : ata distance, we thought them the happiest people inthe world; but, now that I am with them, I discern thetruth."
Nor vas the lady always the peccant person. On oneoccasionmadame de Graffigny writes: “ Voltaire is ina state resembling madness. He torments his friendtill I am forced to pity her. She has made me herconfidant. Voltaire is really mad. One day we wereabout to act a comedy—every one was ready, when thepost cane in ; he received unpleasant letters : he burstforth into exclamations of anguish, and fell into a spe-cies of convulsions. Madame du Chatelet came to mewith tors in her eyes, and begged me to put off theplay. Vesterday he had an interval of quiet, and weacted. How strange that, with all his genius, he shouldbe so absurd ! ”
VolUire’s disquiet arose from some defamatory attacksmade or him by J. B. Rousseau and the abbe Desfon-taines. We have seen the history of his intercourse withthe former ; it was unworthy the poet to revenge him-self by libels. Voltaire had exerted his influence to save