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for　the　balance　of　power。　I　cannot　yield；　therefore；　as　a　German
prince；　that　Austria　increase　her　power　in　an　illegitimate　manner；
but　I　will　cast　my　good　sword　in　the　scales；　that　the　balance　is
heavier　on　the　side　upon　which　depends　the　existence　of　Germany；
that　she　may　not　be　tossed　in　the　air　by　Austria's　weight。　These　are
my　views　and　reasons　for　the　war　upon　which　I　now　enter　with
reluctance。　When　the　greatness　and　equilibrium　of　Germany　are　at
stake；　no　German　prince　should　dare　hesitate。　Austria　has　already
cost　Germany　much　blood；　and　will　cause　her　to　shed　still　more。
Believe　it；　my　nephew；　and　guard　yourself　against　Austria's　ambition
for　territorial　aggrandizement。　You　see；　I　am　like　all　old　people；
always　teaching　youth；　while　we　have　much　to　learn　ourselves。　We　are
all　pupils；　and　our　deeds　are　ever　imperfect。〃

〃Your　majesty　cannot　believe　that　of　himself。　The　sage　of　Sans…Souci
is　the　type；　the　master；　and　teacher　of　all　Europe。〃

〃My　son；〃　replied　the　king；　〃the　great　men　of　antiquity　recognized
it　as　the　acme　of　wisdom；　that　they　must　be　mindful　that　'in　the
midst　of　life　we　are　in　death。'　At　the　gay　festivities　and　the
luxurious　feasts　they　were　interrupted　in　the　merry　song　and
voluptuous　dance；　with　the　warning：　'Remember；　O　man；　that　thou　must
die！'　Let　us　profit　by　their　wisdom！　I　have　startled　you　from　the
banquet　of　life；　and　I　doubt　not　that　many　singers　and　dancers　will
be　enraged　that　I　should　put　an　end　to　the　feasts　of　roses　and　the
merry　dance　in　such　an　abominable　manner。　It　would　be　an　evil　omen
in　our　warlike　undertaking；　if　the　rosy　lips　of　the　beauties　should
breathe　curses　to　follow　us；　therefore；　we　must　try　to　conciliate
them；　and　leave　a　good　souvenir　in　their　hearts。　You　smile；　my
prince；　and　you　think　it　vain　trouble　for　an　old　fellow；　that　I
cannot　win　the　favor　of　the　ladies　under　any　pretension；　so　you　must
undertake　for　me　the　reconciliation　and　the　hush…money。〃

〃I　am　prepared　for　any　thing　which　your　majesty　imposes　upon　me；
only　I　would　defend　myself　against　the　interpretation　which　you　give
my　smileand〃

〃Which　was　very　near　the　truth；〃　interrupted　the　king。　〃I　have
called　you　from　the　banquet　of　life；　and　I　have　interrupted　the
dancers；　crowned　with　roses　in　the　midst　of　their　dance；　which　they
would　finish　before　you。　I　pray　you；　then；　indemnify　the　enraged
beauties；　and　let　us　go　forth　with　a　quiet　conscience；　that　we　in　no
respect　are　indebted　to　any　one。〃

〃Oh；　sire；　it　will　be　impossible　for　me　to　go　to　the　field　with　a
quiet　conscience　upon　this　point。〃

〃Permit　me　to　extend　to　you　the　means　to　do　so；〃　replied　the　king；
graciously　smiling。　〃Take　this　little　box；　it　contains　a　wonderful
elixir；　proof　against　all　the　infirmities　and　weaknesses　of
humanity；　of　one　of　the　greatest　philosophers　of　human　nature。　By
the　right　use　of　it；　tears　of　sorrow　are　changed　to　tears　of　joy；
and　a　Megerea　into　a　smiling　angel；　as　by　enchantment。　Before　going
to　the　war；　I　pray　you　to　prove　the　miraculous　elixir　upon　one　of
the　angry　beauties。　For；　I　repeat；　we　must　put　our　house　in　order；
and　leave　no　debts　behind　us。　The　debts　of　gratitude　must　not　be
forgotten。　Let　us　say　'Gesegnete　Mahlzeit'　when　we　have　been　well
feasted。〃

The　king　handed　the　prince　a　little　box；　of　beautiful　workmanship；
and　smiled　as　he　rather　vehemently　thanked　him；　and　at　the　same　time
tried　to　open　it。

〃I　remark　with　pleasure　that　you　have　a　tolerably　innocent　heart；　as
you　betray　curiosity　about　the　wonderful　elixir。　I　supposed　men；　to
say　nothing　of　beautiful　women；　had　long　since　instructed　you　that
it　was　the　only　balsam　for　all　the　evils　of　life。　My　minister
Herzberg　will　give　you　the　key　of　the　little　box；　and　advise　you　as
to　the　right　use　of　the　elixir。　Farewell；　with　the　hope　of　soon
seeing　you　again；　my　nephew。　I　start　for　Silesia　to…morrow；　as　I
must　travel　slower　than　you　young　people。　You　will　follow　me　in　a
few　days。　Again　farewell！〃

Extending　his　meagre　white　hand　to　the　prince；　he　withdrew　it
quickly；　as　the　latter　was　about　to　press　it　to　his　lips；　and
motioned　to　the　door　kindly。




CHAPTER　VIII。

THE　GOLDEN　RAIN。


Prince　Frederick　William　betook　himself；　with　painful　curiosity；　to
the　audience…room；　where　the　Minister　von　Herzberg　awaited　him。

〃Your　excellency；〃　said　he；　〃his　majesty　refers　me　to　you；　for　the
true　explanation　of　the　miraculous　elixir　contained　in　this　little
box；　and　about　which　I　am　naturally　very　curious；　and　beg　of　you　the
key　to　open　it。〃

〃Will　your　royal　highness；〃　said　the　minister；　smiling；　〃have　the
grace　to　grant　me　a　few　moments'　conversation；　which　may　serve　as　an
explanation；　for　his　majesty　has　not　in　reality　given　me　a　key？〃

〃I　pray　you；　my　dear　excellency；　to　explain　it；〃　cried　the　prince；
impatiently。

〃Pardon　me　if　I　probe　the　tenderest　feelings　of　your　heart；　my
prince。　The　command　of　the　king　imposes　this　duty　upon　me。　He　has
known　for　a　long　time　of　your　connection　with　a　certain　person；　to
whom　you　are　more　devoted　than　to　your　wife。〃

〃Say；　rather；　his　majesty　has　twice　forced　me　to　marry　two　unloved
and　unknown　princesses；　when　he　knew　that　I　already　loved　this
certain　person。　Twice　I　have　married；　because　the　command　of　his
king　is　law　to　the　crown　prince　of　Prussia。　For　my　love　and　my
sympathy　there　is　no　law　but　that　of　my　own　heart；　and　this　alone
have　I　followed。〃

〃His　majesty　does　not　reproach　you。　The　philosopher　of　Sans…Souci
understands　human　nature；　and　he　feels　indulgent　toward　your
weakness。　He　is　quite　satisfied　that　you　have　chosen　this　person；　as
friend　and　favorite；　to　console　yourself　for　an　unhappy　marriage。
Her　low　birth　is　a　guaranty　that　she　will　never　mingle　in　politics；
an　act　which　would　be　visited　with　his　majesty's　highest
displeasure。　While　his　majesty　permits　you　to　continue　this
intimacy；　and　recognizes　the　existence　of　this　woman；　he　wishes　her
to　be　provided　for　as　becomes　the　mistress　of　a　crown　prince；　and
not　as　the　grisette　of　a　gentleman。　She　should　have　her　own　house；
and　the　livery　of　her　lord。〃

〃As　if　it　were　my　fault　that　this　has　not　already　been　arranged！〃
cried　the　prince。　〃Am　I　not　daily　and　hourly　tormented　with　poverty；
and　scarcely　know　how　to　turn；　between　necessary　expenses　and　urgent
creditors？　You　know　well　yourself；　your　excellency；　how　stingy　and
parsimonious　the　king　is　to　the　crown　prince。　He　scarcely　affords　me
the　means　to　support　my　family　in　a　decent；　to　say　nothing　of　a
princely；　manner。　How　dependent　we　all　are；　myself；　my　wife；　and　my
children　upon　the　king；　whose　economy　increases；　while　our　wants　and
expenses　also　increase　every　year！　It　is　sufficiently　sad　that　I
cannot　reward　those　who　have　proved　to　me　during　ten　years　their
fidelity　and　love；　but　I　must　suffer　them　to　live　in　dependence　and
want。〃

〃His　majesty　understands　that；　and　thinks　that　as　your　royal
highness　is　to　go　to　the　field；　and　will　be　exposed；　as　a　brave
commander；　to　the　uncertain　fate　of　battle；　that　you　should　assure
the　future　of　all　those　who　are　dear　to　you；　and　arrange　a　certain
competency　for　them。　A　good　opportunity　now　offers　to　you。　Count
Schmettau　will　sell　his　villa　at　Charlottenburg；　and　it　would　be
agreeable　to　his　majesty　that　you　should　purchase　it；　and　assign　it
to　those　dearest　to　you。　In　order　to　give　you　as　little　trouble　as
possible；　his　majesty　has　had　the　matter　already　arranged；　through
his　equerry；　Count　Schmettau；　and　the　purchase　can　be　made　this　very
hour。　Here　is　the　bill　of　sale；　only　the　name　of　the　present
possessor　is　wanting；　the　signature　of　the　purchaser；　and　the
payment　of　seven　thousand　five　hundred　thalers。〃

〃The　names　can　be　quickly　written；　but；　your　excellency；〃　cried　the
prince；　〃where　will　the　money　come　from？〃

〃I　have　just　given　your　royal　highness　the　key　to　the　little　box：
have　the　goodness　to　press　hard　upon　the　rosette。〃

The　prince　touched　the　spring；　the　cover　flew　backit　contained
only　a　strip　of　paper！　Upon　it　was　written；　in　the　king's　own
handwriting；　〃Bill　of　exchange　upon　my　treasurer。　Pay　to　the　order
of　the　Prince　of　Prussia　twenty　thousand　thalers。〃　＇Footnote：
〃Memoirs　of　the　Countess　Lichtenau；〃　vol。1＇　The　prince's　face
lighted　up　with　joy。　〃Oh！　the　king　has　indeed　given　me　a　miraculous
elixir；　that　compensates　for　all　misfortunes；　heals　all　infirmities；
and　is　a　balsam　for　all　possible　griefs。　I　will　bring　it　into　use
immediately；　and　sign　the　bill　of　sale。〃　He　signed　the　paper；　and
filled　with　haste　the　deficiency　in　the　contract。　〃It　is　done！〃　he
cried；　joyfully；　〃the　proprietress；　Wilhelmine　Enke；　purchaser；
Frederick　William　of　Prussia。　Nothing　remains　to　be　done　but　to　draw
upon　the　king's　treasury；　and　pay　Count　Schmettau。〃

〃Your　royal　highness　is　spared　even　that　trouble。　Here　are　twenty
rolls；　and　each　roll　contains　one　hundred　double　Fredericks　d'or；
and；　when　your　highness　commands　it；　I　will　reserve　seven　rolls　and
pay　Count　Schmettau；　then　there　remain　thirteen　for　yourself。　Here
is　the　contract；　which　you　will　give　in　person　to　the　possessor。〃

〃First；　I　must　go　to　the　king；〃　said　the　prince；　〃my　heart　urges　me
to　express　my　gratitude　to　him；　and　my　deep　sense　of　his　goodness
and　tenderness。　I　feel　ashamed　without　being　humbled；　like　a
repentant　son；　who　has　doubted　the　generosity　and　goodness　of　his
father；　because　he　has　sometimes　severely　reprimanded　his　faults。　I
must　go　at　once　to　the　king。〃

〃He　will　not　receive　your　royal　highness；〃　answered　Herzberg；
smiling。　〃You　know　our　sovereign；　who　so　fully　deserves　our
admiration　and　love。　His　favor　and　goodness　beam　upon　us　all；　and　he
desires　neither　thanks　nor　acknowledgment。　He　performs　his　noble；
glorious　deeds　in　a　harsh　manner；　that　he　may　relieve　the　recipients
of　his　bounty　from　the　burden　of　gratitude；　and　often　when　he　is　the
most　morose　and　harsh；　is　he　at　heart　the　most　gracious　and
affectionate。　You　and　yours　have　experienced　it　to…day。　He　appeared
to　be　angry；　and　enveloped　himself　in　the　toga　of　a　severe　judge　of
morals；　but；　under　this　toga；　there　beat　the　kind；　noble　heart　of　a
friend　and　father；　who　punishes　with　rigorous　words；　and　forgives
with　generous；　benevolent　deeds。〃

〃For　this　I