louisa of prussia and her times-第96部分

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incumbent　upon　him　to　preserve　at　least　Prussia　from　this　noxious
influence　and　to　push　her　over　to　the　other　side；　to　the　side　of　the
coalition；　than　to　allow　her　to　be　devoured；　like　a　poor　little
bird；　by　the　French　basilisk。　These　endeavors；　which　kept　up　a
continual　conflict　between　him　and　the　special　favorites　and
confidants　of　the　king；　Haugwitz　and　Kockeritz；　had　gained　him　the
love　and　esteem　of　all　Prussian　patriots；　and　secured　him　an
extraordinary　popularity。　These　two　favorites　of　the　Prussian　people
now　entered　the　queen's　cabinet。

Louisa　replied　to　the　familiar　and　friendlyrather　than　respectful…
…greeting　of　the　prince　with　a　smile　and　a　nod；　and　received　the
respectful　bow　of　the　minister　with　the　calm　and　proud　dignity　of　a
queen。

〃Well；　my　merry　and　reckless　cousin；〃　she　said；　turning　to　the
prince；　〃are　there　again　some　sins　to　be　confessed；　some　neglects　of
discipline　to　be　hushed　up；　some　tears　to　be　dried；　and　the　mercy　of
the　king　to　be　implored　for　the　extravagant　freaks　of　our　genius？
And　is　it　for　that　reason　that　you　have　brought　along　so　eloquent　an
advocate　and　attorney？〃

〃No；　your　majesty；〃　said　the　prince；　heaving　a　sigh；　〃this　time；
unfortunately；　I　have　to　confess　to　you　no　merry　freaks　and
agreeable　sins；　and　I　am　afraid　I　am　about　to　become　a　steady　man；
and　to　turn　my　back　on　all　extravagant　pranks。　Hence；　the　minister
has　not　accompanied　me　this　time　in　order　to　defend　me　and　to
implore　the　gracious　intercession　of　my　royal　cousin；　but　we　have
come　for　the　purpose　of　repeating　to　your　majesty　Prussia's　cry　of
anguish　and　distress；　and　of　beseeching　you　to　assist　us　in　saving
her　from　the　ruin　on　the　verge　of　which　she　is　tottering　at　the
present　time！〃

The　queen　looked　alternately　at　the　prince　and　at　the　minister　with
grave；　wondering　eyes。　〃It　is　a　political　conference；　then；　you　wish
to　hold　with　me？〃　she　asked；　and　when　the　two　gentlemen　made　no
reply；　she　continued　more　rapidly　and　in　a　slightly　agitated　voice
〃in　that　case；　gentlemen；　I　must　request　you　to　leave　me；　for　I　am
no　politician；　and　I　do　not　aspire　to　the　role　of　a　political
intriguer。　I　am　the　wife　of　the　reigning　king；　but　not　a　reigning
queen；　my　sole　endeavor　is　to　render　the　king　a　happy　husband　at
home；　and　to　cause　him　to　forget　at　my　side　politics　and　the
vexations　of　his　official　position。〃

〃I　am　afraid；　your　majesty；〃　said　Minister　von　Hardenberg；　solemnly…
…〃I　am　afraid　the　time　for　such　an　idol　on　the　throne　is　past；　and
instead　of　causing　the　king　to　forget　the　vexations　of　his　position；
it　will　now　be　the　great　task　of　your　majesty　to　bear　them　with
him。〃

〃And　we　have　come　to　beg　my　noble　and　magnanimous　cousin　to　do　so；〃
exclaimed　the　prince；　enthusiastically。　〃We　have　come　to　implore
your　assistance　and　cooperation　in　the　name　of　Prussia；　in　the　name
of　all　German　patriots；　and　in　the　name　of　your　children！〃

〃In　the　name　of　my　children？〃　ejaculated　the　queen；　turning　pale。
〃Speak！　speak！　what　has　happened？　what　calamity　threatens　my
children？　I　decline　listening　to　you　as　a　queen；　but　I　will　do　so　as
a　mother；　who　anxiously　desires　to　secure　the　happiness　of　her
children。　What　evils；　what　calamities　do　you　refer　to？〃

〃The　independence；　nay；　perhaps　the　whole　existence　of　Prussia；　is
menaced；〃　said　Minister　von　Hardenberg；　solemnly。　〃We　have　to　choose
whether　Prussia　is　to　be　an　isolated　state；　shunned　by　everybody；
and　despised　by　everybodya　state　which　France　will　be　able　to
devour　with　impunity　and　amid　the　jeers　of　the　whole　world；　as　she
has　devoured　Italy；　Holland；　and　the　left　bank　of　the　Rhineor
whether　Prussia　will　preserve　her　power；　her　independence；　and　her
honor；　by　not　staving　off　a　division　any　longer；　but　meeting　her
friends　as　well　as　her　enemies　with　open　visor；　and　by　assuming　at
length　an　active　and　resolute　attitude　instead　of　the　vacillating
and　hesitating　course　she　has　so　long　pursued！〃

〃We　ought　to　oppose　the　Emperor　of　France　in　a　manly　manner；〃
exclaimed　the　prince；　energetically。　〃If　we　do　not　interfere　with
his　proceedings；　he　will　soon　be　our　master　as　he　is　of　all　those
who　call　themselves　his　allies；　and　who　are　really　nothing　but　his
slaves。　My　heart　kindles　with　rage　when　I　now　see　all　Germany
trembling　with　fear　before　this　son　of　a　Corsican　lawyer；　this
tyrant　who　assassinated　the　noble　and　innocent　Duke　d'Enghien；　and
who；　not　contenting　himself　with　chaining　France；　would　like　to
catch　the　whole　world　in　his　imperial　mantle　so　as　to　fatten　its
golden　bees　on　it。　And　he　will　succeed　in　doing　so；　unless　we　resist
him；　for　his　word　is　now　already　the　law　of　half　the　world；　and　this
emperor　carries　out　whatever　he　wants　to　do。　Truly；　if　he　should
feel　some　day　a　hankering　for　a　dish　of　princes'　ears；　I　should　no
longer　deem　my　own　ears　safe；　nor　those　of　your　young　princes
either！〃　＇Footnote：　Prince　Louis　Ferdinand　said　this　to　the　queen。
Vide　〃Rahel　and　her　Friends；〃　vol。　i。＇

The　queen　did　not　smile　at　this　jest　which　the　prince　had　uttered　in
an　angry　voice；　but　she　turned　once　more　with　a　grave　and　anxious
air　to　the　minister。

〃Tell　me；　has　any　thing　occurred？〃　she　asked。　〃Has　there　been　a
change　in　the　political　situation？〃

〃Yes；　your　majesty；〃　replied　the　minister；　〃there　has　been　a　change
in　the　political　situation；　the　Emperor　Napoleon　has　dared　to
violate　our　neutrality；　and　if　Prussia　should　not　now　demand
satisfaction　she　either　loses　her　honor；　or　she　places　herself
before　the　whole　world　as　the　ally　of　France；　and　defies　thereby　the
open　hostility　of　Austria；　Russia；　and　England。〃

〃You　dare　to　say　that　Prussia's　honor　has　been　attacked；　and　to
doubt　that　the　king　will　hold　the　offender　responsible　for　such　an
outrage？〃　exclaimed　the　queen；　with　flashing　eyes。　〃The　king；　who　is
the　incarnation　of　honor；　will　not　permit　even　the　shadow　of　a　stain
to　fall　on　Prussia's　honor；　in　generous　anger　he　will　hurl　back　the
insolent　hand　that　will　dare　to　shake　the　palladium　of　our　honor。〃

〃Oh；　if　you　think　and　speak　thus；〃　said　the　prince；
enthusiastically；　〃I　have　no　longer　any　fears；　but　consider　Prussia
as　saved　already　from　the　dangers　now　menacing　her。　As　I　see　your
majesty　now；　in　your　wondrous　beauty；　with　those　eyes　reflecting
your　inward　heaven；　with　this　face　so　radiant　with　enthusiasm；　you
seem　to　be　the　genius　whom　Providence　has　sent　to　Prussia　to　guard
and　protect　her；　and　to　guide　her　on　the　right　path　and　to　the　right
goal。　O；　queen！　fulfil　the　mission　which　Providence　has　intrusted　to
you；　follow　your　noble　and　sacred　vocation；　be　the　genius　of
Prussia；　and　impart　to　the　vacillating　and　timid；　firm；　manly
courage　and　energetic　resolution！　Queen；　I　implore　you；　on　my　knees；
have　pity　on　Prussia；　have　pity　on　your　children：　be　the　genius　of
Prussia！〃

And　quite　beside　himself；　his　eyes　filled　with　tears；　his　lips
quivering　with　emotion；　the　prince　knelt　down　before　the　queen　and
raised　his　folded　hands　imploringly　to　her。

〃Your　majesty；　permit　me　also　to　bend　my　knees　before　you；〃　said
Minister　von　Hardenberg；　solemnly；　〃to　adore　and　worship　you　as　the
genius　of　Prussia；　from　whom　we　expect　our　salvation；　our　peace；　and
our　honor！　Oh；　queen；　you　alone　have　the　power　to　touch　the　heart　of
the　king　and　to　remove　the　doubts　of　his　noble　and　honorable　mind；
you　alone　will　be　able　to　accomplish　what　neither　our　arguments　nor
our　supplications　could　bring　about；　you　alone　will　be　able　to
elevate　the　vacillation　of　your　husband　to　the　strength　of　high…
spirited　and　courageous　resolution！〃

〃No；　not　a　word　against　the　king！〃　exclaimed　the　queen；　almost
sternly。　〃Let　no　one　dare　to　assert　that　the　king　lacks　manly
determination　and　vigorous　courage。　If　he　is　hesitating　when　you
would　wish　to　act；　it　is　because　he　looks　into　the　future　more
prudently　and　sagaciously　than　you；　while　you　only　think　of　the
present　time；　it　is　because　he　weighs　and　calculates　the
consequences；　while　you　only　care　for　the　action　of　the　moment。　But
arise；　gentlemen：　let　us　not　perform　a　sentimental　scene　at　a　time
when　it　is　of　the　highest　importance　to　be　prudent　and　to　reflect。
Let　us　converse；　therefore；　gravely　and　soberly；　explain　to　me　what
has　happened；　and　what　danger　is　menacing　Prussia　and　my　children。　I
comply　now　with　your　wish；　let　us　hold　a　political　conference。　Let
us　sit　down；　then；　and　commence。〃

She　took　a　seat　on　the　sofa；　and　invited　the　gentlemen　to　sit　down
on　the　two　chairs　opposite　her。

〃Now　tell　me　what　has　occurred；　and　what　has　changed　the　political
situation。　Minister　von　Hardenberg；　pray　give　me　a　full　and　plain
account　of　the　state　of　our　political　affairs；　for　I　have　already
told　you　that　I　never　meddle　with　politics；　and　do　not　know　much
about　them；　indeed　I　have　been　too　happy；　and　my　life　too　much
absorbed　by　my　happiness；　to　have　made　it　necessary　for　me　to　think
of　politics。　But　I　see　very　well　that　the　time　of　quiet　happiness　is
over　now！　Let　us；　then；　speak　of　politics。　You　said；　a　few　minutes
ago；　Prussia　had　been　insulted　by　France？〃

〃Yes；　your　majesty；　Prussia　has　been　insulted。　Her　most　sacred
right；　her　neutrality；　has　been　violated；〃　replied　Hardenberg。　〃The
king；　in　his　generous　endeavor　to　preserve　the　blessings　of　peace　to
his　people；　intended　to　maintain　a　strict　neutrality　amid　all　these
wars　and　storms　agitating　the　world；　and　the　friend　and　ally　of　no
party　and　no　power；　to　rely　exclusively　on　his　own　strength。　He
wanted　to　wait；　to　mediate；　and　conciliate；　but　not　to　attack；　act；
and　decide。　There　may　be　times　when　such　a　role　is　a　weighty　and
dignified　onemay　secure　the　peace　of　the　world；　but　it　always
depends　on　those　between　whom　one　wishes　to　act　as　a　neutral
mediator。　One　may　remain　neutral　between　men　of　honor；　between
princes；　to　whom　their　word　is　sacred；　and　who　do　not　dare　to
violate　treaties；　but　not　between　those　to　whom　their　word　is　sacred
only　so　long　as　their　own　advantage　requires　it；　and　who　do　not
violate　treaties　only　so　long　as　they　do　not　interfere　with　their
selfish　plans。　It　is　a　principle　of　neutrality　not　to　open　one's
territory　to　either　of　the　contending　powers；　and　this　principle　has
always　been　strictly　observed。　When　Russia；　no