Reinhard apologies for his delayed response and thanks Goethe for sending some of his writings. He praises Goethe’s biography and talks of having devoured it, before reflecting on the past. He suggests that today’s youth have it harder in the face of the destroyed values, if they want to settle at home on the barrier-free realm full of rubble, on desecrated ground. Reinhard goes on to speak of his literary studies in youth, noting that he read Voltaire’s writings as well as the excerpt from the general world history; his mother forbade him to read novels and other “bad” books. He then turns to German readers, who for some time, he remarks, have become such a shasty, grumpy, attitudeless and shapeless monster. He goes on to discuss literary and political matters, and especially about the growing tensions between England and France.

The poem concerns vengeance and love.

Voltaire writes that he is currently hosting the recipient’s son at Ferney and that he would be failing his duty if he did not write to de Plessis to tell him how much his son seemed to be imbued with a respectful tenderness that he owes to his father, the recipient. Voltaire adds that he was charmed to find all the honest feelings in his heart with the merit and graces of his mind, but that he may have abused the privilege of old age by informing the son of a fault he may have committed, assuring de Plessis that the more the son feels his mistake, the less de Plessis should feel it. He continues by saying that the son tells himself enough that de Plessis’ kindness to him, his place, and his adventure demand of him the wisest conduct, and assures de Plessis that it is sometimes a ‘great happiness’ to make a few mistakes in one’s youth.