In the manuscript, the poem is titled: ‘Quatrains par Voltaire sur le malheur d’avoir près de 50 ans’.

Jaucourt sent the manuscript to Théodore Tronchin on 4 November 1743.

Voltaire tells Bordes to put the little book that he has the honour of sending him in his library, adding that it is by Mathieu. He then asks how he can send this lady everything that will be said, and tell her it is time to talk, before going on to say that he was very happy with Mr le comte de Cogni as their are few people of his sort and age that are so kind and educated. He ends by saying that he, the poor patient, only has time to tell Bordes how much he loves him.

A biographical account of Voltaire, detailing his appearance and his devotion to his works.

The verse references Voltaire’s advanced age and was intended to be placed beneath a portrait of him.

The poem concerns Voltaire’s relationship with religion.

Jacobi says that Goethe, like Voltaire and Sophocles, writes his best works between the seventieth and eightieth years. He adds that he borrowed Goethe’s biography from a passing traveler, as the Munich booksellers could not yet get it. He then provides a report on friends and family before going on to discuss Goethe’s writings.

Voltaire begins by saying that he is an old, sick man who is surprised to still be alive, adding that he is an admirer of true merit and therefore of Tronchin. He concludes by saying that he is 84 and has 84 diseases, but that he is consoled because there is a Théodore Tronchin in the world.

Marie-Louise Denis then adds her own message to the letter, asking Tronchin to come to their rescue. She concludes by noting that Tronchin is loved and respected as he deserves from the uncle and niece.

Voltaire notes that he, the old patient, has a fever and that his legs are swollen and covered in red spots. He adds that this morning he wants to got to the temple d’Esculape but cannot.