Turgenev has copied out a quatrain from the larger work reading:

“S’occuper c’est savoir jouir
L’oisiveté pèse et tourmente;
L’âme est un feu, qu’il faut nourrir
Et qui s’éteint, s’il ne s’augmente”.

In this letter, the writer expresses deep gratitude for the rare and truthful work sent by the King and acknowledges the philosophical insights it contains. He contrasts his own suffering and old age with the King’s past adversities, admiring how the King rose above them with courage and dignity. The writer laments his dire personal circumstances and lack of financial support, which may affect his burial, and subtly requests the King’s protection, though he hesitates to make a direct appeal. He concludes by acknowledging a young Saxon noble whom he believes the King has taken an interest in, and ends with a humble plea for the King’s grace.