louisa of prussia and her times-第26部分

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without　deterring。　They　instigate　those　against　whom　they　are
directed　to　offer　a　resistance　which　frequently　not　only　remains
successful；　but　moreover　becomes　glorious　and　honorable。　The　most
wretched　productions；　whose　real　value　would　not　secure　a　life　of
two　hours；　obtain　general　circulation　because　it　seems　to　have
required　some　degree　of　courage　to　write　them。　The　most
insignificant　scribblers　will　be　looked　upon　as　men　of　mind；　and　the
most　venal　writers　suddenly　become　'martyrs　of　truth。'　A　thousand
noxious　insects；　whom　a　sunbeam　of　truth　and　real　sagacity　would
have　dispersed；　favored　by　the　darkness　created　for　them　with
deplorable　short…sightedness；　insinuate　themselves　into　the　unarmed
minds　of　the　people；　and　instil　their　poison　to　the　last　drop；　as
though　it　were　a　forbidden　delicacy　of　the　most　exquisite　character。
The　only　antidote；　the　productions　of　better　writers；　loses　its
strength　because　the　uninformed　only　too　easily　mistake　the
advocates　of　salutary　restrictions　for　the　defenders　of　such　as　are
manifestly　unjust　and　oppressive。〃

〃Let　freedom　of　the　press；　therefore；　be　the　immovable　principle　of
your　government；　not　as　though　the　state　or　mankind；　in　this　age　so
prolific　in　books；　were　interested　in　the　publication　of　a　thousand
works　more　or　less；　but　because　your　majesty　is　too　great　to
maintain　an　unsuccessful；　and　therefore　disastrous　struggle；　with
petty　adversaries。　Every　one　should　be　held　responsible；　strictly
responsible　for　unlawful　acts　and　writings　assuming　such　a
character；　but　mere　opinion　should　meet　with　no　other　adversary　than
its　opposite；　and　if　it　be　erroneous；　with　the　truth。　Never　will
such　a　system　prove　dangerous　to　a　well…regulated　state；　and　never
has　it　injured　such　a　one。　Where　it　apparently　became　pernicious；
destruction　had　preceded　it　already；　and　mortification　and
putrefaction　had　set　in。〃　＇Footnote：　Memorial　respectfully　presented
to　his　majesty　Frederick　William　III。；　on　his　accession　to　the
throne；　November　16；　1797；　by　Frederick　Gentz。＇

〃Well？〃　asked　Gentz；　with　glowing　cheeks　and　flashing　eyes；　when　he
had　ceased　reading；　〃what　do　you　think　of　my　exposition　of　the
freedom　of　the　press？　Is　it　not　clear；　convincing；　and　unanswerable？
Will　not　the　king　see　that　my　words　contain　the　truth；　and　hence
follow　them？〃

Gualtieri　looked　at　his　friend　with　an　air　of　compassionate
tenderness。

〃Oh；　you　are　a　full…grown　child；〃　he　said；　〃you　still　believe　in　the
possibility　of　realizing　Utopian　dreams；　and　your　faith　is　so
honest；　so　manly！　You　want　to　force　a　scourge　upon　a　timid　young
king；　who　most　ardently　desires　to　maintain　peace；　and　to　remain
unnoticed；　and　tell　him；　'With　this　scourge　drive　out　the　evil
spirits　and　expel　the　lies；　so　as　to　cause　daylight　to　dawn；　and
darkness　to　disappear！'as　though　that　daylight　would　not　be　sure
to　lay　bare　all　the　injuries　and　ulcers　of　which　our　own　poor
Prussia　is　suffering；　and　for　which　she　greatly　needs　darkness　and
silence。〃

〃What！　you　think　the　king　will　take　no　notice　of　my　demands？〃

〃I　believe；〃　said　Gualtieri；　shrugging　his　shoulders；　〃that　you　are
a　highly…gifted　visionary；　and　that　the　king　is　a　tolerably
intelligent　and　tolerably　sober　young　gentleman；　who；　whenever　he
wants　to　skate；　does　not　allow　himself　to　be　dazzled　and　enticed　by
the　smooth　and　glittering　surface；　but　first　repeatedly　examines　the
ice　in　order　to　find　out　whether　it　is　firm　enough　to　bear　him。　And
now　good…by；　my　poor　friend。　I　came　here　to　congratulate　you　for
having　regained　your　liberty；　and　for　belonging　again　to　the　noble
and　only　happy　order　of　bachelors；　but　instead　of　hearing　you
rejoice；　I　find　in　you　a　philanthropic　fanatic；　and　an　enthusiastic
advocate　of　a　free　press。〃

〃But　that　does　not　prevent　you　from　wishing　me　joy　at　my　return　to　a
bachelor's　life；〃　exclaimed　Gentz；　laughing。　〃Yes；　my　friend；　I　am
free；　life　is　mine　again；　and　now　let　the　flames　of　pleasure　close
again　over　my　headlet　enjoyment　surround　me　again　in　fiery
torrents；　I　shall　exultingly　plunge　into　the　whirlpool　and　feel　as
happy　as　a　god！　We　must　celebrate　the　day　of　my　regeneration　in　a
becoming　manner；　we　must　celebrate　it　with　foaming　champagne；　pates
de　foie　gras；　and　oysters；　and　if　we　want　to　devote　a　last　tear　to
the　memory　of　my　wife；　why；　we　shall　drink　a　glass　of　Lacrymce
Christi　in　her　honor。　You　must　come　and　see　me　to…night；　Gualtieri。
I　shall　invite　a　few　other　friends；　and　if　you　will　afford　us　a　rare
pleasure；　you　will　read　to　us　some　of　La　Fontaine's　Fables；　which　no
one　understands　to　recite　so　well　as　you。〃

〃I　shall　do　so；〃　said　Gualtieri；　extending　his　hand　to　Gentz。　〃I
shall　read　to　you　one　of　La　Fontaine's　Fables；　the　first　two　lines
of　which　eloquently　express　the　whole　history　of　your　past。〃

〃Let　me　hear　those　two　lines。〃

Gualtieri　covered　his　head；　and　standing　in　the　door　he　had　opened；
he　said　with　a　deep　pathos　and　in　a　profoundly　melancholy　voice：

　　　　〃Deux　coqs　vivaient　en　paix；　une　poule　survint；
　　　　　Et　voila　la　guerreallumec〃

and　nodding　a　last　adieu；　he　disappeared。　Gentz　laughed。　〃Indeed；　he
is　right；〃　he　exclaimed；　〃that　is　the　end　of　wedded　life。　But；　thank
God；　mine　is　over；　and；　I　swear　by　all　my　hopes；　never　will　I　be
such　a　fool　as　to　marry　again！　I　shall　remain　a　bachelor　as　long　as
I　live；　for　he　who　belongs　to　no　woman　owns　all　women。　It　is　time；
however；　to　think　of　to…night's　banquet。　But　in　order　to　give　a
banquet；　I　must　first　procure　new　furniture　for　my　rooms；　and　this
time　I　won't　have　any　but　beautiful　and　costly　furniture。　And　how
shall　I　get　it？　Ah；　parbleu；　I　forgot　the　six　hundred　dollars　I
received　from　the　minister。　I　shall　buy　furniture　for　that　sum。　No；
that　would　be　very　foolish；　inasmuch　as　I　greatly　need　it　for　other
purposes。　The　furniture　dealers；　I　have　no　doubt；　will　willingly
trust　me；　for　I　never　yet　purchased　any　thing　of　them。
Unfortunately；　I　cannot　say　so　much　in　regard　to　him　who　is　to
furnish　me　the　wines　and　delicacies　for　the　supper；　and　I　have　only
one　hundred　dollars　in　my　pocket。　The　other　five　hundred　dollars　I
must　send　to　that　bloodsucker；　that　heartless　creditor　Werner。　But
must　I　do　so？　Ah！　really；　I　believe　it　would　be　rank　folly。　The
fellow　would　think　he　had　frightened　me；　and　as　soon　as　I　should　owe
him　another　bill；　he　would　again　besiege　my　door；　and　raise　a　fresh
disturbance　here。　No；　I　will　show　him　that　I　am　not　afraid　of　him；
and　that　his　impudent　conduct　deserves　punishment。　Oh；　John！　John！〃

The　door　was　opened　immediately；　and　the　footman　entered。

〃John；〃　said　Gentz；　gravely；　〃go　at　once　to　Mr。　Werner。　Tell　him
some　friends　are　coming　to　see　me　to…night。　I　therefore　want　him　to
send　me　this　evening　twenty…four　bottles　of　champagne；　three　large
pates　de　foie　gras；　two　hundred　oysters；　and　whatever　is　necessary
for　a　supper。　If　he　should　fill　my　order　promptly　and　carefully；　he
can　send　me　to…morrow　a　receipt　for　two　hundred　dollars；　and　I　will
pay　him　the　money。　But　if　a　single　oyster　should　be　bad；　if　a　single
bottle　of　champagne　should　prove　of　poor　quality；　or　if　he　should
dare　to　decline　furnishing　me　with　the　supper；　he　will　not　get　a
single　groschen。　Go　and　tell　him　that；　and　be　back　as　soon　as
possible。〃

〃Meantime；　I　will　write　a　few　invitations；〃　said　Gentz；　as　soon　as
he　was　alone。　〃But　I　shall　invite　none　but　unmarried　men。　In　the
first　place；　the　Austrian　minister；　Prince　von　Reuss。　This　gentleman
contents　himself　with　one　mistress；　and　as　he　fortunately　does　not
suspect　that　the　beautiful　Marianne　Meier　is　at　the　same　time　my
mistress；　he　is　a　great　friend　of　mine。　Yes；　if　he　knew　thatah！〃
he　interrupted　himself；　laughing；　〃that　would　be　another
illustration　of　La　Fontaine's　fable　of　the　two　cocks　and　the　hen。
Well；　I　will　now　write　the　invitations。〃

He　had　just　finished　the　last　note　when　the　door　opened；　and　John
entered；　perfectly　out　of　breath。

〃Well；　did　you　see　Mr。　Werner？〃　asked　Gentz；　folding　the　last　note。

〃Yes；　sir。　Mr。　Werner　sends　word　that　he　will　furnish　the　supper
promptly　and　satisfactorily；　and　will　deliver　here　to…night　twenty…
four　bottles　of　his　best　champagne；　three　large　pates　de　foie　gras；
two　hundred　oysters；　etc。；　but　only　on　one　condition。〃

〃What！　the　fellow　actually　dares　to　impose　conditions？〃　exclaimed
Gentz；　indignantly。　〃What　is　it　he　asks？〃

〃He　asks　you；　sir；　when　he　has　delivered　every　thing　you　have
ordered；　and　before　going　to　supper；　to　be　kind　enough　to　step　out
for　a　moment　into　the　anteroom；　where　Mr。　Werner　will　wait　for　you
in　order　to　receive　there　his　two　hundred　dollars。　I　am　to　notify
him　if　you　accept　this　condition；　and　if　so；　he　will　furnish　the
supper。〃

〃Ah；　that　is　driving　me　to　the　wall；〃　exclaimed　Gentz；　laughing。
〃Well；　go　back；　to　the　shrewd　fellow　and　tell　him　that　I　accept　his
conditions。　He　is　to　await　me　in　the　anteroom；　and　as　he　would；　of
course；　make　a　tremendous　noise　in　case　I　should　disappoint　him；　he
may　be　sure　that　I　shall　come。　So　go　to　him；　John。〃

〃As　for　myself；〃　said　Gentz；　putting　on　his　cloak；　〃I　shall　go　and
purchase　several　thousand　dollars'　worth　of　furniture；　my　rooms
shall　hereafter　be　as　gorgeous　as　those　of　a　prince。　By　the　by；　I
believe　I　have　been　too　generous。　If　I　had　offered　Werner　one
hundred　dollars；　he　would　have　contented　himself　with　that　sum。〃




CHAPTER　XV。

THE　WEDDING。


At　the　house　of　the　wealthy　banker　Itzig　a　rare　festival　took　place
to…day；　a　festival　which　all　Berlin　had　been　talking　of　for　the　last
few　days；　and　which　had　formed　the　topic　of　conversation；　no　less
among　the　people　on　the　streets；　than　among　the　aristocratic　classes
in　their　palatial　mansions。　To…day　the　wedding　of　three　of　his
beautiful　young　daughters　was　to　take　place；　and　the　rich；
ostentatious；　and　generous　gentleman　had　left　nothing　undone　in
order　to　celebrate　this　gala…day　in　as　brilliant　and　imposing　a
manner　as　possible。　All　the　manufacturers　of　Berlin　had　been
employed　for　months　to　get　up　the　trousseaux　of　his　daughters；　for
he　had　declared　that　they　should　wear　exclusively　the　productions　of
German　industry；　and　that　not　a　single　piece　of　their　new　household
goods　should　be　of　French　manufac