louisa of prussia and her times-第97部分

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always　been　strictly　observed。　When　Russia；　now　that　she　is　going　to
send　her　troops　for　the　second　time　to　Germany　for　the　purpose　of
assisting　the　Austrians；　informed　the　king　that　she　would　march
these　troops　through　Southern　Prussia　and　Silesia；　the　king　deemed
this　information　equivalent　to　a　declaration　of　war；　and　his　majesty
immediately　ordered　the　whole　army　to　be　placed　on　the　war　footing。
We　should　now　be　at　war　with　Russia；　if　the　Emperor　Alexander　had
not　sent　on　the　day　after　the　first　dispatch　had　arrived　here；
another　dispatch　to　the　king；　in　which　he　apologized；　and　declared
that　he　had　been　too　rash　in　making　the　above…named　demand。
＇Footnote：　Vide　Hausser's　〃History　of　Germany；〃　vol。　11。；　p。　635。
〃Memoires　d'un　Homme　d'Etat；〃　vol。　viii。；　p。　474。＇　But　this　step　of
Russia；　this　mere　threat　of　violation　of　our　neutrality；　had
sufficed　to　induce　Prussia　to　place　her　army　on　the　war　footing；　and
to　do　so　AGAINST　the　coalition　of　Austria；　Russia；　and　England。　A
cry　of　horror　resounded　throughout　Germany　when　the　people　heard　of
this　first　step　by　which　Prussia　seemed　to　declare　publicly　FOR
France　and　AGAINST　the　coalition；　and　this　cry　was　reechoed　abroad；
of　which　the　conduct　of　the　King　of　Sweden　gave　us　a　striking　proof。
Your　majesty　is　aware　that　this　king；　through　his　ambassador；　M。　de
Bernstorf；　returned　to　his　majesty　the　King　of　Prussia　the　order　of
the　Black　Eagle　which　he　had　received　from　the　late　lamented　king；
accompanying　it　by　an　insulting　letter　in　which　he　stated；　that　'he
could　not　wear　an　order　which　the　king　had　recently　also　sent　to
Monsieur　Bonaparte。'〃

〃And　on　the　same　day　that　this　offensive　return　of　the　highest
Prussian　order　took　place；〃　exclaimed　Prince　Louis　Ferdinand；　with　a
harsh；　angry　laugh；　〃on　the　same　day　the　King　of　Prussia　received
from　the　Emperor　of　France　the　grand　cordon　and　seven　other　grand
crosses　of　the　Legion　of　Honor　to　be　distributed　among　the　princes
and　ministers。　And　not　only　did　we　receive　these　seven　orders；　but
in　return　for　them　we　sent　seven　orders　of　the　Black　Eagle　to
Paris。〃　＇Footnote：　Hausser's　〃History　of　Germany；〃　vol。　ii。；　p。　76。＇

〃But　you　forget　to　add　that　the　king　returned　on　the　same　day　the
Scraphine　order　to　the　King　of　Sweden；　and　recalled　his　ambassador；
so　that　we　are　now　in　a　state　of　war　with　Sweden；〃　said　the　queen；
eagerly。

〃Oh；　my　royal　cousin；　you　betray　your　secrets；〃　exclaimed　the
prince；　joyfully；　〃you　wanted　us　to　believe　that　your　majesty　did
not　care　at　all　for　politics；　and　now　you　know　the　most　minute
details　so　accurately。〃

〃I　take　a　lively　interest　in　every　occurrence　which　grieves　the
heart　of　my　husband；〃　said　the　queen；　〃and　that　event　made　a　very
painful　impression　upon　him。〃

〃Oh；　your　majesty；　it　was　only　a　prelude　to　other　mortifications　and
insults　which　we　shall　have　to　suffer　if　the　king　will　not　avenge
them；〃　said　Hardenberg；　energetically。　〃It　has　been　said　that
Prussia　was　siding　with　France　merely　because　she　would　not　grant
Russia　a　passage　through　her　neutral　territory；　and　because　she
placed　her　army　in　a　menacing　position　against　Russia。　But　what
would　the　world　say　if　it　should　learn　what　has　now　occurred？〃

〃Well；　what　has　occurred？〃　asked　the　queen；　breathlessly。

〃The　Emperor　of　France　has　carried　out　what　Russia　only　threatened
to　do。　The　Emperor　of　France；　without　applying　for　permission；　has
marched　a　portion　of　his　army；　commanded　by　Bernadotte；　through
Prussian　territory。　He　has　marched　his　troops；　contrary　to　treaties
and　to　international　law；　through　Prussian　Franconia；　Anspach；　and
Baireuth。〃

The　queen　uttered　a　cry　of　surprise；　and　her　cheeks　turned　pale。
〃Does　the　king　already　know　it？〃　she　asked。

〃He　has　known　it　since　yesterday；〃　said　Hardenberg；　gravely。　〃We
kept　the　matter　secret；　because　we　would　only　lay　it　before　the
public　together　with　the　decision　of　his　majesty。〃

〃And　has　the　king　come　already　to　a　decision？〃　asked　the　queen。

〃He　has；　your　majesty；〃　said　Hardenberg；　solemnly。　〃When　Russia
threatened　to　violate　our　territory；　we　placed　our　army　on　the　war
footing；　and　it　is　still　in　arms。　Now　that　France　dares　to　do　what
Russia　only　threatened　to　do；　we　do　not　turn　our　arms　against　her　in
order　to　avenge　the　insult；　but　we　take　our　pen　and　write　and　ask
France　to　explain　her　startling　proceedings。　It　is　true　we　threaten；
but　do　not　strike！〃

〃No；　we　do　not　strike！〃　exclaimed　the　prince；　laughing　scornfully；
〃we　mobilize　our　army　against　our　natural　friends　and　allies；　but　we
do　not　draw　the　sword　against　our　natural　enemies　and　adversaries。
The　army　of　Frederick　the　Great　is　ready　for　war；　and　yet　it　remains
idle　and　looks　on　quietly　while　the　insatiable　conqueror　is
penetrating　farther　and　farther　into　the　heart　of　Germany；　while　he
is　scattering　broadcast　the　seeds　of　treachery；　discord；　and
mischief；　while　he　is　persuading　the　German　princes　to　turn　traitors
to　Germany；　while　he　is　poisoning　and　corrupting　the　hearts　of　the
people　and　degrading　their　characters　to　such　an　extent；　that　the
sense　of　fidelity；　honesty；　and　constancy　will　soon　become　extinct
in　Germany；　and　all　the　Germans　will　be　nothing　but　a　horde　of
slaves；　who　will　be　happy　if　this　tyrant　does　not　apply　the　lash　too
often　to　their　backs；　and　who　will　kiss　his　feet；　so　that　he　may
step　at　least　mildly　and　gently　on　their　necks！　If　the　tyrant　should
succeed　now　in　humiliating　Austria；　who　alone　has　been　courageous
enough　to　oppose　him；　if　Napoleon　should　defeat　the　Austrian　army；
Germany　would　be　lost　and　become　nothing　but　a　French　province　like
Italy　and　Holland：　all　the　German　princes　would　lay　their　crowns　at
the　feet　of　Napoleon；　and　be　glad　if　he　should　suffer　them　only　as
governors　in　their　former　states；　or　leave　them　at　least　their　empty
titles　after　depriving　them　of　their　possessions！〃

〃No；　no；〃　exclaimed　the　queen；　〃we　must　not；　we　shall　not　permit
that！　Prussia　is　ready　to　maintain　the　honor　of　Germany；　Prussia
will　rise　like　a　hero　accustomed　to　victory；　she　will　drive　the
invader　from　her　territory；　and　compel　him；　with　arms　in　her　hands；
to　keep　the　peace；　if　she　is　unable　to　obtain　it　with　her　pen。　You
are　right；　the　time　of　neutrality　and　hesitation　is　past；　and
henceforth　we　must　act。　I　shall　no　longer　remain　neutral；　I　shall
act　too。　You　have　appealed　to　the　mother　and　wife　and　shown　her　the
danger　threatening　her　children　and　her　husband；　you　have　reminded
the　daughter　of　Germany　of　the　horrors　menacing　her　fatherland；　you
have　pointed　out　to　the　Queen　of　Prussia　the　evils　impending　over
her　people；　the　mother；　the　wife；　and　the　queen　has　heard　and
understood　you。　The　time　of　neutrality　is　past；　we　must　move　the
heart　of　the　best　and　most　magnanimous　king　by　our　prayers　and
remonstrances；　in　order　that　he　may　listen　to　us；　and　no　longer　to
the　insinuations　and　flatteries　of　his　enemies；　so　that　he　may
discern　his　friends　as　well　as　his　enemies。　The　king　is　hesitating
only　because；　in　generous　self…abnegation；　he　prefers　the　happiness
of　his　people　to　his　own　wishes　and　to　the　gratification　of　his　own
desires。　A　soldier　by　nature　and　predilection；　he　compels　himself　to
be　a　peaceable　ruler；　because　he　believes　it　is　necessary　for　the
happiness　of　his　people。　Let　us　prove　to　him　that　his　subjects
refuse　to　accept　this　generous　sacrifice；　and　that　they　are　joyfully
ready　to　remove　the　stains　from　their　honor　with　their　heart's
blood。　Let　public　opinion　speak　out　and　come　to　our　assistance。　I
say；　'to　OUR　assistance；'　for　henceforth　I　shall　side　with　you；　I
shall　be　a　member　of　your　party；　and　a　determined　and　outspoken
enemy　of　France！〃

〃May　God　bless　your　majesty　for　these　words！〃　said　Hardenberg；
deeply　moved；　〃I　am　once　again　in　hopes　that　Prussia　will　be　saved；
for　she　has　now　won　an　ally　who　brings　more　to　her　than　armies　and
arms；　and　who　places　the　enthusiasm　and　indomitable　determination　of
a　great　chieftain　at　the　head　of　our　people。〃

〃And　with　this　chieftain　at　our　head　we　shall　vanquish　every　French
army；〃　exclaimed　Prince　Louis；　enthusiastically；　〃with　this
chieftain　at　our　head　we　shall　triumphantly　march　against　the　enemy；
and　one　idea；　one　sentiment　will　animate　all　of　us：　Queen　Louisa　is
watching　and　praying　for　us！　Oh；　my　queen；　would　that　that　blessed
day　of　battle　could　dawn　for　us！　Command　the　sun　of　that　day　to　rise
and　to　shine　into　all　Prussian　hearts；　and　to　fire　them　with
patriotism　so　as　to　shrink　back　no　longer　from　death　and　wounds；　but
only　from　dishonor　and　degradation！　Oh；　my　blood　burns　like　fire　in
my　veins；　it　would　like　to　burst　forth　in　a　fiery　torrent　and　drown
and　burn　every　Frenchman。　Queen；　have　mercy　on　melet　the　solemn
day　when　I　may　shed　my　blood　for　the　fatherland　dawn　without　delay！〃

〃Live　and　labor　for　the　fatherland！〃　said　the　queen；　with　flaming
eyes；　and　her　face　radiant　with　enthusiasm。　〃It　is　not　the　most
exalted　and　difficult　task　to　die　an　heroic　death　for　a　great　idea；
but　it　is　even　more　noble　and　difficult　to　nourish　and　preserve　this
idea　in　the　gloomy　days　of　adversity；　and　not　to　abandon　it　and　give
it　up　in　a　period　of　affliction；　but　to　remain　its　guardian　and
priest；　even　though　fate　may　seem　to　reject　it　and　to　humiliate　us
with　it。　Now　that　I　am　entering　a　new　life…path；　I　say　to　you；　from
the　bottom　of　my　heart；　we　will　struggle　for　the　honor；　liberty；　and
independence　of　Prussia　and　Germany；　but　we　will　be　determined；　too；
not　only　to　die　for　these　ideas；　but　also　to　suffer　and　bear
affliction　for　them。　Oh；　it　seems　to　me　as　though　I　were　looking　at
this　moment　into　the　future；　and　as　though　I　did　see　there　much
misery　and　distress　in　store　for　us；　many　storms　and　thunder…
clouds！〃

〃But　the　sun　is　hidden　behind　the　thunder…clouds；　and　when　the
thunder　has　died　away　it　will　shine　again；〃　said　Hardenberg。

〃And　it　will　then　shine　on　the　heads　of　my　husband　and　of　my
children！〃　exclaimed　the　queen；　raising　her　radiant　eyes　to　heaven。
〃Above　all；　it　will　shine　on　the　Prussian　people　from　the　face　of
their　adored　Queen　Louisa；〃　said　the　prince。

The　queen　smiled　sadly。　〃Let　us　not　speak　of　the　sun；　but　of　the
thunder…clouds　preceding　it。　They　are　gathering　around　us