It will be observed that these records of this verse fail to mention the immediate author. Was he unknown at the time? or did the fact that he was recently a Cabinet Minister induce him to hide behind a mask? Turgot was a master of epigram,--as witness the terrible lines on Frederick of Prussia;[252] but he was very prudent in conduct. “Nobody,” said Voltaire, “so skilful to launch the shaft without showing the hand.” There is a letter from no less a person than D’Alembert, which reveals something of the “filing” which the verse underwent, and something of the persons consulted. Unhappily, the letter is without date; nor does it appear to whom it was addressed, except that the “_cher confrère_” seems to imply that it was to a brother of the Academy. This letter is found in a work now known to have been the compilation of the Marquis Gaëtan de la Rochefoucauld,[253] entitled “Mémoires de Condorcet sur la Révolution Française, extraits de sa Correspondance et de celles de ses Amis,” and is introduced by the following words from the Marquis:-- “It is known how Franklin was fêted when he came to Paris, because he was the representative of a republic. The philosophers, especially, received him with enthusiasm. It may be said, among other things, that D’Alembert lost his sleep; and we are going to prove it by a letter which he wrote, while racking his brain to versify in honor of Franklin.” The letter is then given as follows:-- “FRIDAY MORNING. “MY DEAR COLLEAGUE,-- … You are acquainted with the Franklin verse,-- ‘Eripuit cœlo fulmen, _mox sceptra_ tyrannis.’ You should surely cause it to be put in the Paris paper, if it is not there already. “I am inclined to agree with La Harpe that _sceptrumque_ is better: first, because _mox sceptra_ is a little hard, and then because _mox_, according to the dictionary of Gesner, who adduces examples, signifies equally _statim_ or _deinde_, which makes an ambiguity, _mox eripuit_ or _mox eripiet_. “Be that as it may, here is how I have attempted to translate this verse for the portrait of Franklin:-- ‘Tu vois le sage courageux Dont l’heureux et mâle génie Arracha le tonnerre aux dieux Et le sceptre à la tyrannie.’ If you find these verses sufficiently tolerable, so that people will not laugh at me, you can have them put into the Paris paper, even with my name. I shall honor myself in rendering this homage to Franklin, but on condition once more that you find the verses _printable_. As I make little pretension on account of them, I shall be perfectly content, if you reject them as bad. “The third verse might be put, _A ravi le tonnerre aux cieux_ or _aux dieux_. I should prefer the other; but you shall choose.”[254]