Cradock seems subsequently to have sent a copy of 'Zobeide'
to Voltaire, who replied in English as follows:--
9e. 8bre. 1773. a ferney.
Sr.
Thanks to yr muse a foreign copper shines
Turn'd in to gold, and coin'd in sterling lines.
You have done to much honour to an old sick man of eighty.
I am with the most sincere esteem and gratitude
Sr.
Yr. obdt. Servt. Voltaire.
A Monsieur Monsieur J. Cradock.
The text of the prologue is here given as printed in Cradock's
'Memoirs', 1828, iii. 8-9. It is unnecessary to specify the variations
between this and the earlier issue of 1771.
l. 1. -----
"In these bold times, etc." The reference is to Cook,
who, on June 12, 1771, had returned to England in the
'Endeavour', after three years' absence, having gone to Otaheite
to observe the transit of Venus (l. 4).
l. 5. -----
"Botanists". Mr. (afterward Sir Joseph) Banks and Dr.
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