History of Friedrich II of Prussia — Volume 14Carlyle, Thomas
History
History of Friedrich II of Prussia — Volume 14
Carlyle, Thomas
Frederick II, King of Prussia, 1712-1786; Prussia (Germany) -- History -- Frederick II, 1740-1786; Social problems
Barberina, though a dancer, did not want for more essential graces.
Very sprightly, very pretty and intelligent; not without piquancy and
pungency: the King himself has been known to take tea with her in mixed
society, though nothing more; and with passionate young gentlemen she
was very successful. Not long after her coming to Berlin, she made
conquest of Cocceji, the celebrated Chancellor's Son; who finding no
other resource, at length privately married her. Voltaire's Collini,
when he came to Berlin, in 1750, recommended by a Signora Sister of the
Barberina's, found the Barberina and her Mother dining daily with this
Cocceji as their guest: [Collini, _Mon Sejour aupres de Voltaire_ (a
Paris, 1807), pp. 13-19.] Signora Barberina privately informed Collini
how the matter was; Signorina still dancing all the same,--though
she had money in the English funds withal; and Friedrich had been so
generous as give her the fixing of her own salary, when she came to
him, this-side-uppermost, in the way we described. She had fixed, too
modestly thinks Collini, on 5,000 thalers (about 750 pounds) a year;
having heart and head as well as heels, poor little soul. Perhaps her
notablest feat in History, after all, was her leading this Collini, as
she now did, into the service of Voltaire, to be Voltaire's Secretary.
As will be seen. Whereby we have obtained a loyal little Book, more
credible than most others, about that notable man.
At a subsequent period, Barberina decided on declaring her marriage with
Cocceji; she drew her money from the English funds, purchased a fine
mansion, and went to live with the said Cocceji there, giving up the
Opera and public pirouettes. But this did not answer either. Cocceji's
Mother scorned irreconcilably the Opera alliance; Friedrich, who did not
himself like it in his Chancellor's Son, promoted the young man to
some higher post in the distant Silesian region. But there, alas, they
themselves quarrelled; divorced one another; and rumor again was busy.
"You, Cocceji yourself, are but a schoolmaster's grandson [Barberina,
one easily supposes, might have a temper withal]; and it is I, if you
will recollect, that drew money from the English funds!" Barberina
married again; and to a nobleman of sixteen quarters this time, and
with whom at least there was no divorce. Successful with passionate
gentlemen; having money from the English funds. Her last name was
Grafinn--I really know not what. Her descendants probably still
live, with sixteen quarters, in those parts. It was thus she did her
life-journey, waltzing and walking; successfully holding her own against
the world. History declares itself ashamed of spending so many words on
such a subject. But the Dancer of Friedrich, and the authoress, prime
or proximate, of _Collini's Voltaire,_ claims a passing remembrance. Let
us, if we can easily help it, never speak of her more.
CONQUEST SECOND IS OST-FRIESLAND, OF A SOLID NATURE.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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