old fritz and the new era-第13部分

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〃I　pray；　sir；　grant　my　request；　and　respect　our　incognito；〃　begged
the　other；　gently　but　firmly。

〃Well；　well；　you　shall　have　your　way；〃　laughed　the　other；　good…
naturedly；　and　turning　to　the　pale　young　man；　who　still　kept　his
eyes　fixed　on　Herr　Wolff　in　a　sort　of　ecstacy；　he　said：　〃Let　the
authors　and　poets　stay　in　Berlin；　we　will　persuade　the　disguised
Apollo　to　meet　them　there；　and　read　them　a　lecture；　for　among　the
Berlin　poets　and　critics　there　are　wicked　heretics；　who；　if　the
Deity　Himself　wrote　tragedies　and　verses；　would　find　some　fault　to
object　to。〃

〃Pray　tell　me；　sir；　do　you　think　Prince　Henry　a　great　man？〃

〃Did　not　the　king　call　him　so　in　his　'History　of　the　Seven　Years'
War？'〃　said　the　stranger。　〃Did　he　not　publicly；　in　the　presence　of
all　his　generals；　say；　'that　Prince　Henry　was　the　only　general　who
had　not　made　a　mistake　during　the　whole　war？'〃

〃Do　you　believe　the　king　will　say　that　of　the　prince　just　riding　in
with　his　suite；　after　the　present　war？〃　asked　the　young　man；　with
earnestness。

〃You　mean　the　Prince　of　Prussia；〃　answered　the　other；　shaking　his
head。　〃There　are　men　who　call　this　prince　the　'hope　of　Prussia；'　and
regard　him　as　a　new　Aurora　in　the　clouded　sky。〃

〃And　you；　sir；　do　you　regard　him　so？〃　cried　Herr　Wolff。

〃Do　you　mean　that　the　Prince　of　Prussia　will　usher　in　a　brighter　day
for　Germany？〃

〃No；〃　answered　the　other。　〃I　believe　that　day　expires　with　Frederick
the　Great；　and　that　a　long　night　of　darkness　will　succeed。〃

〃Why　do　you　think　so？〃

〃Because　it　is　the　course　of　nature　that　darkness　succeeds　light。
Look　at　the　prince；　gentlementhe　divine　light　of　genius　is　not
stamped　upon　his　brow；　as　formerly；　and　care　will　be　taken　that　it
is　soon　extinguished　altogether。〃

〃Who　will　take　care？〃

〃Those　who　are　the　enemies　of　light；　civilization；　and　freedom。〃

〃Who　are　they？〃　asked　Herr　Wolff。

The　other　smiled；　and　answered：　〃Sir；　so　far　as　I；　in　all　humility；
call　myself　a　scholar；　I　also　owe　to　the　god　Apollo　obedience；　and
must　answer　him；　though　it　may　endanger　me。　I　answer；　then；　the
enemies　of　light　and　civilization　are　the　disguised　Jesuits。〃

〃Oh；　it　is　easy　to　perceive　that　you　do　not　belong　to　them；　or　you
would　not　thus　characterize　them；　and〃

A　mighty　flourish　of　drums；　and　shrill　blasts　of　horns　and　trumpets；
drowned　the　youth's　words；　and　made　all　further　conversation
impossible。　The　king；　followed　by　a　brilliant　suite；　had　just
arrived　at　the　parade。　The　regiments　greeted　their　sovereign　with
loud　blasts　of　trumpets；　and　the　people　shouted　their　farewell。
Frederick　lifted　lightly　his　hat；　and　rode　along　the　ranks　of　the
well…ordered　troops。　He　listened　to　the　shouts　with　calm；　composed
manner；　the　Jupiter…flashes　from　his　great　eyes　seemed　to　be　spent
forever。　Mounted　upon　Caesar；　his　favorite　horse；　he　looked　today
more　bent；　his　back　more　bowed　with　the　burden　of　years；　and　it　was
plainly　visible　that　the　hand　which　held　the　staff　crosswise　over
the　horse's　neck；　holding　at　the　same　time　the　bridle；　trembled　from
very　weakness。

〃That　is　Frederick；〃　said　Herr　Wolff　to　himself。　〃That　is　the　hero
before　whom　Europe　has　trembled；　the　daring　prince　who　caused　the
sun　to　rise　upon　his　country；　and　awaken　the　spirits　to　cheerful
life。　Oh；　how　lamentable；　how　much　to　be　regretted；　that　a　hero；
too；　can　grow　feeble　and　old！　Oh；　cruel　fate；　that　the　noblest
spirits　embodied　in　this　fragile　humanity；　and〃

Suddenly　he　ceased；　and　looked　at　the　king　amazed　and　with
admiration。　The　old　man　had　become　the　hero　again。　The　bowed　form
was　erect；　the　face　beamed　with　energy　and　conscious　power；　the　eyes
flashed　with　bold　daring；　strong　and　sonorous　was　the　voice。　The
king　had　turned　to　his　generals；　who　were　drawn　up　around　him　in　a
large　circle；　saying：　〃Gentlemen；　I　come　to　take　leave　of　you。　We
shall　meet　again　upon　the　battle…field；　where　laurels　bloom　for　the
brave。　I　hope　that　we　may　all　return；　crowned　with　fresh　laurels。
Tell　my　soldiers　that　I　count　upon　themthat　I　know　they　will　prove
the　glory　of　the　Prussian　troops　anew；　and　that　on　the　day　of　battle
they　will　see　me　at　their　head。Farewell！〃

〃Long　live　the　king！〃　cried　the　generals　and　staff　officers；　in　one
voice。　The　people　and　the　soldiers　joined　the　shout；　the　ladies
waved　their　handkerchiefs。　Herr　Wolff　and　his　companions　tore　off
their　hats　with　enthusiasm；　and　swung　them　high　in　the　air。

The　great　eyes　of　the　king；　who　passed　at　this　moment；　rested　upon
Herr　Wolff。　〃My　heart　quaked　as　if　I　were　the　pillar　of　Memnon；　and
had　been　touched　by　the　sun's　rays；〃　sighed　he；　as　he　followed　the
king　with　his　fiery　glance。

〃The　ceremony　is　now　finished；〃　said　the　young　man　near　him；　〃and　we
must　leave；　in　order　to　be　punctual　to　dinner　at　Prince　Henry's。〃

〃I　wish　the　king　had　remained　an　hour　longer；〃　sighed　Herr　Wolff
again。　〃As　I　looked　at　him；　it　seemed　as　if　I　were　listening　to　a
song　from　Homer；　and　all　my　faculties　were　in　unison　in　delight　and
enthusiasm。　Happy　those　who　dare　approach　him；　and　remain　near　him！〃

〃Then；　according　to　your　opinion；　his　servants　must　be　very
fortunate；〃　said　the　stranger；　〃and　yet　they　say　that　he　is　not　very
kind　to　them。〃

〃Because　the　servant　is　a　little　man；〃　cried　Herr　Wolff；　〃and　every
one　looks　little　to　his　belittling　eyes。〃

〃Yes；　there　are　many　others　no　more　elevated　than　servants　in　the
king's　surroundings；〃　said　the　other。　The　youth　reminded　him　that
they　must　leave。

〃Only　wait　a　moment；　friend；〃　begged　Herr　Wolff；　as　he　turned　to　the
stranger；　saying；　〃I　would　like　to　continue　our　conversation　of
today。　You　live　in　Berlin。　I　will　find　you　out　if　you　will　give　me
your　name。〃

〃I　pray　you　to　visit　me；　my　name　is　Moritz。　I　live　in　Kloster
Strasse；　near　the　gray　convent。〃

〃Your　name　is　Moritz？〃；　asked　Herr　Wolff；　earnestly。　〃Then　you　are
the　author　of　the　'Journey　to　England？'〃

〃Yes；　the　same；　and　my　highest　encomium　is；　that　the　work　is　not
unknown　to　you；　or　the　name　of　the　author。〃

〃All　Germany　knows　it；　and　do　you　think　I　could　possibly　remain　a
stranger　to　it？〃

〃But　your　name；　sir；〃　said　the　stranger；　with　anxious　curiosity。
〃Will　you　not　give　me　your　name？〃

〃I　will　tell　you　when　we　are　in　your　own　room；〃　said　Herr　Wolff；
smiling。

〃The　air　is　yet　enchanted　and　intoxicated　with　the　breath　of　the
Great　Frederick；　it　should　not　be　desecrated　with　another　name。
Farewell；　we　will　meet　in　Berlin。〃

Not　far　from　these　gentlemen　stood　two　others；　wrapped　in　long
military　cloaks；　both　of　striking　and　foreign　appearance；　the　one；
of　slight　delicate　figure；　of　dark　complexion；　noble　and　handsome
face；　must　be　an　Italian；　as　his　very　black　hair　and　eyes　betrayed；
the　other；　tall；　broad…shouldered；　of　Herculean　stature；　belonged　to
North　Germany；　as　the　blond　hair；　light　blue　eyes；　and　features
indicated。　A　pleasing　smile　played　around　his　thick；　curled　lips；
and　only　when　he　glanced　at　his　companion　did　it　die　away；　and
change　to　one　of　respectful　devotion。　At　this　instant　the　king
passed。　The　Italian　pressed　the　arm　of　his　companion。

〃The　arch　fiend　himself；〃　he　murmured　softly；　〃the　demon　of
unbelief；　to　whom　nothing　is　sacred；　and　nothing　intimidates。　The
contemptuously　smiling　spirit　of　negation；　which　is　called
enlightenment；　and　is　but　darkness；　to　whom　belief　is　superstition；
and　enlightening　only　deception。　Woe　to　him！〃

〃Woe　to　him！〃　repeated　the　other。

The　king　was　followed　by　his　brilliant　and　select　staff　in　motley
confusion。　First；　Prince　Henry；　and　then　the　Prince　of　Prussia。　As
the　latter　passed　the　two　gentlemen；　the　Italian　pressed　the　arm　of
his　companion　still　harder。　〃Look　at　him　attentively；　my　son；〃　said
he；　〃that　is　our　future　and　our　hope　in　this　country。〃

The　Hercules　turned　hastily；　with　a　look　of　astonishment；　to　the
Italian。　〃The　Prince　of　Prussia？〃　asked　he；　with　amazement。

The　Italian　nodded。　〃Do　you　doubt　it？〃　he　added；　reproachfully。
〃Would　you　doubt　your　lord　and　master；　because　he　reveals　to　you
what　you　cannot　seize　with　your　clouded　spirit？〃

〃No；　no；　master；　I　am　only　surprised　that　you　hope　for　good　from
this　lost…in…sin　successor　to　the　throne。〃

〃Yes；　you　are　poor；　human　children；〃　sighed　the　Italian；
compassionately　smiling；　〃prompt　to　judge；　mistaking　light　for
darkness；　and　darkness　for　light。　I　have　already　remarked　that　to
the　celebrated　and　austere　Minister　Sully；　as　he　complained　to　me　of
the　levity　and　immorality　of　the　French　king；　Henry　IV。　I　told　him
that　austere　morals　and　moral　laws　suffered　exceptions；　and　that
those　through　whom　the　welfare　of　humanity　should　be　furthered；　had
to　transfer　their　heavenly　bliss　of　love　to　the　earthly　sphere。
Sully　would　contest　the　question　with　me；　but　I　defeated　him；　while
I　repeated　to　him　what　the　beautiful　and　unhappy　Queen　of　Scotland；
Mary　Stuart；　once　said　to　me。〃

〃Mary　Stuart！〃　cried　the　other；　vehemently。

〃Yes；　Mary　Stuart；〃　answered　the　Italian；　earnestly。　〃Come；　my　son；
let　us　go。　We　have　seen　what　we　wished　to　see；　and　that　is
sufficient。　Give　me　thy　arm；　and　let　us　depart。〃

They　departed　arm　in　arm；　withdrawing　from　the　crowd；　and　taking　the
broad　walk　which　crossed　to　the　park。

〃You　were　about　to　relate　to　me　the　answer　which　Mary　Stuart　gave　to
you；　sir；〃　said　the　Hercules；　timidly。

〃True；　I　will　now　relate　it　to　you；〃　he　answered；　with　sadness。　〃It
was　in　Edinburgh　I　had　surprised　Mary　（as　I　was　admitted　without
ceremony）；　in　her　boudoir；　as　the　handsome　Rizzio　sat　at　her　feet；
and　sang　love…songs　to　her。　She　was　resting　upon　a　gold…embroidered
divan；　and　her　figure　appeared　to　great　advantage　in　the　heavenly
blue；　silver…embroidered　gauze　robe；　which　covered　her　beautiful
limbs　like　a　cloud。　In　her　hair　sparkled　two　diamonds；　like　two
stars　fallen　from　heaven；　and　more　glowing　still　were　her　eyes；
which　tenderly　rested　upon　Rizzio。　Leaning　upon　her　elbow；　she
inclined　toward　Rizzio；　who；　lute　in　hand；　was　looking　up　to　her
with　a　countenance　expressive　of　the　deepest　love。　It　was　a　glorious
picture；　this　young　and　charming　couple；　in　their　bliss　of　love；　and
never；　in　the　course　of　this　century；　have　I　forgotten　this
exquisite　picturenever　have　its　bright　tints　faded　from　m