frederick the great and his family-第94部分
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
t he will be a dangerous neighbor to France and Austria。 This is the plan and the intention of my king。 Upon these points turn the proposals I will make in Turin； for the furtherance of which； I pray your assistance。 The King of Sardinia has well… grounded claim to Milan； to Mantua； and to Bologna； by the treaty of Aix…la…Chapelle； why not make himself King of Lombardy？ Unhappy Italy is like unhappy Germanytorn to pieces。 In place of obeying one master； they must submit to the yoke of many。 The dwellers in Italy； instead of being Italians； call themselves Milanese； Venetians； Sardinians； Tuscans； Romans； Neapolitans； and I know not what。 All this weakens the national pride； and takes from the people the joyful consciousness of their greatness。 Italy must be one in herself； in order to be once more great and powerful。 Let the King of Sardinia take possession of Upper Italy； and he will； with his rightful inheritance； and as King of Lombardy； be a powerful prince… …feared by his enemies； and welcomed by his allies。〃
〃And do you think that Naples would look quietly on and witness this rapid growth of Sardinia？〃 said the prior； laughing。
〃We will give to Naples an opportunity at the same time to enlarge her borders the young King of Naples has energy； he has proved it。 When his father； Don Carlos； was called by right of succession to the Spanish throne； he had himself declared King of Naples； not regarding the right of the Duke of Parma； to whom； according to the treaty of Aix…la…Chapelle； the Neapolitan throne rightly belonged。 King Ferdinand is already a usurper！ Let him go on； even as successfully in the same pathhe has taken Napleslet him take Tuscany and the States of the Church； and； as King of Lower Italy； he will be as powerful as the King of Sardinia。 In order that both may obtain possession of these lands uninterrupted and uninjured； will the King of Prussia so completely occupy the attention of Austria and France in Germany and Flanders as to make it impossible for them to interfere with Naples and Sardinia？〃 ＇Footnote： Preuss； 〃History of Frederick the Great。〃＇
〃By Heaven！ a great and bold idea； altogether in harmony with the energetic spirit of Frederick；〃 cried the prior。 〃If the two Italian kings resemble the great Frederick； they will adopt this plan with enthusiasm。〃
He had risen； and stepped hastily backward and forward； now and then murmuring a few disconnected words； he then drew near the table and stood earnestly regarding the maps。
Cocceji did not dare to interrupt him by word or sound； he watched him； however； closely。 At last； however； the inward struggle seemed to be over； he stood quietly before the baron； and； fixing his dark； earnest eyes with a thoughtful expression upon him； he said； softly： 〃You have confided to me a great and dangerous enterprise。 If I did my duty as the unconditional subject of the Pope； and as a priest of the holy Church； of which Frederick is the bitter antagonist； I should arrest you here； as a dangerous negotiator and enemy； and above all； I should give speedy notice of this conspiracy； which not only threatens Clement as head of the Church； but as sovereign of the States of the Church。 Butwhat would you have？I was not born a priest； and my heart and my spirit have never been able to accommodate themselves fully to the discipline of my order。 I have always remained； I fear；〃 said he； with a graceful smile； 〃the true brother of the free…thinking Abbe Bastiani； and it appears to me； it lies in our blood to love and pay homage to the great and intellectual King of Prussia。 I will； therefore； listen to and follow the voice of my blood and of my heart； and forget a little that I am a priest of the only church in which salvation can be found。 As far as it lies in my power； I will promote your object。 I will give you letters to Turin； not only to my brother Giovanni； but to Father Tomaseo； the king's confessor。 He is my most faithful friend； and sympathizes fully with me。 If you can win him and my brother Giovanni； you have won the king； and he will lend a willing ear to your proposals。 Your plans are bold； but my brother and Father Tomaseo are daring； undaunted men； the progress of Italy and the greatness of their king lies nearest their hearts。 They are both influenced by my judgment； and when you hand them my letters； you will at least be a most welcome guest。〃
He gave the baron his hand； and listened with a kindly smile to the enthusiastic thanks of the over…happy soldier； whose first diplomatic mission seemed to promise so favorably。
〃Be； however； always prudent and discreet； signor；〃 said the prior； laughing。 〃Play your role as merchant； do not lay it aside for one moment while in Turin。 Leave Venice as quickly as possible； no doubt the brother guardian； who was sent from Rome as a spy； who watches not only all my actions； but my words and thoughts； has remarked our long interview； and is already suspicious。 As he has a fine nose； he may soon discover a part of your secret！ Do not return to the cloister。 During the day I will send you the promised letters by a faithful brother。 As soon as you receive them； be off！ My best wishes and my prayers accompany you。 Without doubt； you are； like your great king； a heretic。 I cannot； therefore commend you to Mary Mother； and the saints； but I will pray to God to watch over you。〃
The prior stopped suddenly and listened！ Loud cries of wild alarm forced themselves upon his ear； the sounds appeared to come from directly under his feet； and waxed louder and fiercer every moment。
〃It is in the dining…room；〃 said the prior； 〃follow me； sir； I beg you； we may need your helpsome one is murdering my monks！〃 They hastened from the room with flying feet； they passed through the long corridors and down the steps； the cries and roars and howls and curses became ever clearer。
〃I was not mistaken；〃 said the prior； 〃this comes from the refectory。〃 He rushed to the door and threw it hastily open； then stood； as if chained to the threshold； and stared with horror at the mad spectacle before him。
There were no murderous strangers there playing wild havoc amongst his monks： but the worthy fathers themselves were making the fierce tumult which filled the prior with alarm。 The saloon no longer resembled the ascetic； peaceful refectory of cloister brothers。 It was changed into a battle…field； upon which the two hosts thirsting for blood stood opposed。
The table upon which the glasses； plates； and dishes seemed to have been thrown together in wild disorder； was shoved to one side； and in the open space the monks stood with flashing eyes； uttering curses and imprecations； not one of them remarked that the prior and Cocceji stood at the door； astonished spectators of this unheard…of combat。
〃Silence！〃 said the father guardian； making frantic gesticulations toward the monks who stood opposed to him and his adherents 〃silence！ no one shall dare within these sacred walls to speak of the Prussian heretical king in any other way than with imprecations。 Whoever wishes success to his arms is an apostate； a traitor； and heretic。 God has raised the sword of His wrath against him； and He will crush him utterly； He has blessed the weapons of his adversaries as Clement has also done。 Long live Maria Theresa； her apostolic majesty！〃
The monks by his side roared out； 〃Long live Maria Theresa； her apostolic majesty！〃
〃She will not be victorious over Frederick of Prussia；〃 cried Father Anselmo； the leader of the opposite party。 〃The Pope has blessed the arms of Daun； but God himself has blessed the weapons of Frederick。 Long live the King of Prussia！ Long live the great Frederick！〃
〃Long live the great Frederick！〃 cried the monks by the side of Father Anselmo。
The party of the father guardian rushed upon them with doubled fists； the adversaries followed their example。 〃Long live Theresa！〃 cried the one。 〃Long live Frederick！〃 cried the otherand the blows and kicks fell thickly right and left； with the most lavish prodigality。
It was in vain that the prior advanced among them and commanded peaceno one regarded him。 In their wild and indiscriminate rage they pressed him and shoved him from side to side； and in the heat of the battle several powerful blows fell upon his breast； so the poor prior took refuge again at the door near Cocceji； who was laughing merrily at the wild disorder。
The cries of 〃Long live Theresa！〃
〃Long live Frederick！〃 were mingling lustily in the bloody strife。
The father guardian was enraged beyond bearing； and his flashing eye looked around for some sharp weapon with which to demolish Father Anselmo； who had just exclaimed； 〃Long live Frederick； the victor of Leuthen and Zorndorf！〃 He seized a large tin cup； which was near him upon the table； and with a fierce curse he dashed it in the face of Father Anselmo； and the blood burst from his nose。 This was the signal for a new order of attack。 Both parties rushed to the table to arm themselves； the cups whizzed through the air and wounded severely the heads against which they were well aimed。 Here and there might be heard whimperings and piteous complaints； mixed with curses and frantic battle…cries〃 Long live Theresa！〃
〃Long live Frederick！〃 Some of the warriors crept from the contest into the corners to wipe the blood from their wounds and return with renewed courage to the contest。 A few cowards had crept under the table to escape the cups and kicks which were falling in every direction。
Father Anselmo remarked them； and with loud； derisive laughter he pointed them out。
〃The Teresiani live under the table； no Prussiano has crept there。 All the Teresiani would gladly hide as they have often done before。〃
The Prussiani accompanied these words of their leader with joyous shouts。
The father guardian trembled with rage； he seized a large dish from the table and dashed it at Anselmo； who dodged in time； and then with a powerful arm returned the compliment。 It was a well…directed javelin。 The tin dish struck the father guardian exactly in the backhe lost his balance； and fell to the earth。 The Prussiani greeted this heroic deed of their chief with shouts of triumph。 〃So shall all the Teresiani perish！〃
The battle waxed hotter and fiercer； the air was th
