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TO THE DUKE OF RICHELIEU, MARSHAL OF FRANCE, IN WHOSE HONOR THE SENATE OF GENOA HAD JUST BEFORE CAUSED A STATUE TO BE ERECTED. * - The Works of Voltaire, Vol. X The Dramatic Works Part 1 (Zaire, Caesar, The Prodigal, Prefaces) and Part II (The Lisbon Earthquake and Other Poems).

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TO THE DUKE OF RICHELIEU, MARSHAL OF FRANCE, IN WHOSE HONOR THE SENATE OF GENOA HAD JUST BEFORE CAUSED A STATUE TO BE ERECTED. * - Voltaire, The Works of Voltaire, Vol. X The Dramatic Works Part 1 (Zaire, Caesar, The Prodigal, Prefaces) and Part II (The Lisbon Earthquake and Other Poems). [1901]

Edition used:

From The Works of Voltaire, A Contemporary Version, (New York: E.R. DuMont, 1901), A Critique and Biography by John Morley, notes by Tobias Smollett, trans. William F. Fleming. Vol. X The Dramatic Works Part 1 (Zaire, Caesar, The Prodigal, Prefaces) and Part II (The Lisbon Earthquake and Other Poems).

Author: Voltaire
Translator: William F. Fleming
Notes: Tobias Smollett

Part of: The Works of Voltaire. A Contemporary Version, in 21 vols.

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TO THE DUKE OF RICHELIEU, MARSHAL OF FRANCE, IN WHOSE HONOR THE SENATE OF GENOA HAD JUST BEFORE CAUSED A STATUE TO BE ERECTED.*

To thee as her deliverer praised,
A statue Genoa has raised;
Your uncle with less lustre shone,
His glory was not so far known;
He doubtless would have jealous been,
If he that monument had seen,
Which you in youthful days acquired,
When universally admired,
And thought the wonder of your age,
For talents which all hearts engage.
To take a model of that face,
The court of Venus formed to grace;
Of love he had made choice alone,
That God to changing ever prone;
Less soft had he the features made,
Vertumnus’ face he had displayed,
The graces of the young and gay
Courtier at length must pass away;
Your glory will increase with age,
Your air will then appear more sage:
At this you’re not at all content,
You wish life could in love be spent,
But pleasures were not made to last,
They hurry to their period fast;
But still your influence you’ll maintain,
By wit and valor still you’ll reign.
The features of Richelieu the rover,
The gallant, gay, and favored lover,
In miniature shall oft be found,
In boxes which shall much abound;
With skill by famous Macé wrought,
For Richelieu’s sake by many bought:
But those of Richelieu, the victorious,
Support of armies, hero glorious;
Richelieu, who could protect by arms
A commonwealth in dire alarms;
These are more pleasing to my sight,
They give me more sincere delight.
I ask your pardon, you are not quite
So sage, though still prepared to fight;
Although you can a city save,
You’re not a patriot stern and grave.
I would not have the world be told
That you are grown austere and old;
Who did at Fontenoy display
Such courage on that glorious day;
Against the foe your thunder lance,
And crown with victory flying France.
Lavish of life you in the field
With terror made the allies yield;
When England, Austria, envy lay
Vanquished, you came without delay;
To Paris Cyprian wars to wage,
Subdue by love, not hostile rage.
Love’s wings and times you have curtailed,
In love and war alike prevailed;
For ladies you can break a lance,
Just as for Genoa and France.

[* ] Written at Lunéville, the 18th of November, 1748.