old fritz and the new era-第2部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



This　declaration　of　Schiller　satisfies　me　with　respect　to　the　nature
of　my　own　creations。　I　desire　not　to　be　a　resource　for　historical
writers；　but　I　shall　always　earnestly　and　zealously　seek　to　draw
from　the　wells　of　history；　that　nothing　false　or　unreal　may　find　a
place　in　the　〃magazine　of　my　fantasy。〃

CLARA　MUNDT；

（L。　MUEHLBACH。　）

BERLIN；　September　22；　1866。







OLD　FRITZ　AND　THE　NEW　ERA。


BOOK　I。

OLD　FRITZ。


CHAPTER　I。

THE　LONELY　KING。


〃Well；　so　let　it　be！〃　said　the　king；　sighing；　as　he　rose　from　his
arm…chair；　〃I　must　go　forth　to　the　strife；　and　these　old　limbs　must
again　submit　to　the　fatigue　of　war。　But　what　matters　it？　The　life　of
princes　is　passed　in　the　fulfilment　of　duties　and　responsibilities；
and　rarely　is　it　gladdened　with　the　sunny　rays　of　joy　and　peace！　Let
us　submit！

〃Yes；　let　us　submit！〃　repeated　the　king；　thoughtfully；　slowly　pacing
his　cabinet　back　and　forth；　his　hands　folded　upon　his　staff　behind
him；　and　his　favorite　dog；　Alkmene；　sleepily　following　him。

It　was　a　melancholy　picture　to　see　this　bowed…down　old　man；　his
thin；　pale　face　shaded　by　a　worn…out；　three…cornered　hat；　his　dirty
uniform　strewn　with　snuff；　and　his　meagre　legs　encased　in　high…
topped；　unpolished　boots；　his　only　companion　a　greyhound；　old　and
joyless　as　his　master。　Neither　the　bust　of　Voltaire；　with　its
beaming；　intelligent　face；　nor　those　of　his　friends；　Lord…Marshal
Keith　and　the　Marquis　d'Argens；　could　win　an　affectionate　glance
from　the　lonely　old　king。　He　whom　Europe　distinguished　as　the　Great
Frederick；　whom　his　subjects　called　their　〃father　and　benefactor；〃
whose　name　was　worthy　to　shine　among　the　brightest　stars　of　heaven；
his　pale；　thin　lips　just　murmured；　〃Resignation！〃

With　downcast　eyes　he　paced　his　cabinet；　murmuring；　〃Let　us　submit！〃
He　would　not　look　up　to　those　who　were　gazing　down　upon　him　from　the
wallsto　those　who　were　no　more。　The　remembrance　of　them　unnerved
him；　and　filled　his　heart　with　grief。　The　experiences　of　life；　and
the　ingratitude　of　men；　had　left　many　a　scar　upon　this　royal　heart；
but　had　never　hardened　it；　it　was　still　overflowing　with　tender
sympathy　and　cherished　memories。　To　Lord…Marshal　Keith；　Marquis
d'Argens；　and　Voltaire；　Frederick　owed　the　happiest　years　of　his
life。

D'Argens；　who　passionately　loved　Frederick；　had　been　dead　five
years；　Lord…Marshal　Keith　one　month；　and　Voltaire　was　dying！　This
intelligence　the　king　had　received　that　very　morning；　from　his　Paris
correspondent；　Grimm。　It　was　this　that　filled　his　heart　with
mourning。　The　face；　that　smiled　so　full　of　intelligence；　was　perhaps
distorted　with　agony；　and　those　beaming　eyes　were　now　closing　in
death！

Voltaire　was　dying！

Frederick's　thoughts　were　with　the　dead　and　dyingwith　the　past！　He
recalled；　when　crown　prince　at　Rheinsberg；　how　much　he　had　admired；
loved；　and　distinguished　Voltaire；　how　he　rejoiced；　and　how　honored
he　felt；　when；　as　a　young　king；　Voltaire　yielded　to　his　request　to
live　with　him　at　Berlin。　This　intimacy；　it　is　true；　did　not　long
continue；　the　king　was　forced　to　recognize；　with　bitter　regret；　that
the　MAN　Voltaire　was　not　worthy　the　love　which　he　bestowed　upon　the
POET。　He　renounced　the　MAN；　but　the　poet　was　still　his　admiration；
and　all　the　perfidy；　slander　and　malice　of　Voltaire；　had　never
changed　Frederick。　The　remembrance　of　it　had　long　since　faded　from
his　noble　heartonly　the　memory　of　the　poet；　of　the　author　of　so
many　hours　of　the　purest　enjoyment；　remained。

Voltaire　was　dying！

This　great　and　powerful　spirit；　who　so　long　a　time；　in　the　natural
body；　had　instructed；　inspired；　and　refreshed　mankind；　would　leave
that　body　to　risewhither？

〃Immortality；　what　art　thou？〃　asked　the　king；　aloud；　and　for　the
first　time　raising　his　eyes　with　an　inquiring　glance　to　the　busts　of
his　friends。　〃I　have　sought　for　thee；　I　have　toiled　for　thee；　my
whole　life　long！　Neither　the　researches　of　the　learned；　nor　the
subtleties　of　philosophy　reveal　thee　to　me。　Is　there　any　other
immortality　than　fame？　Any　other　eternal　life　than　that　which　the
memory　of　succeeding　generations　grants　to　the　dead？〃　In　this　tone
of　thought　Frederick　recited；　audibly；　the　conclusion　of　a　poem；
which　he　had　addressed　to　D'Alembert：

〃I　have　consecrated　my　days　to　philosophy；　I　admit　all　the　innocent
pleasures　of　life；　And　knowing　that　soon　my　course　will　finish；　I
enjoy　the　present　with　fear　of　the　future。　What　is　there　to　fear
after　death？　If　the　body　and　the　mind　suffer　the　same　fate；　I　shall
return　and　mingle　with　nature；　If　a　remnant　of　my　intellectual　fire
escapes　death；　I　will　flee　to　the　arms　of　my　God。〃　＇Footnote：
Posthumous　works；　vol。　vii。；　p。88。＇

〃And　may　this　soon　be　granted　me！〃　continued　the　king；　〃then　I　shall
be　reunited　to　those　loved　onesgone　before。　I　must　be　content　to
tarry　awhile　in　this　earthly　vale　of　sorrow；　and　finish　the　task
assigned　me　by　the　Great　Teacher；　therefore；　let　us　submit。〃

He　sighed；　pacing　to　and　fro；　his　steps　were　arrested　at　a　side…
table；　where　lay　a　long　black　velvet　box；　it　contained　the　flute
that　his　beloved　teacher；　Quantz；　had　made　for　him。　Frederick　had
always　kept　it　in　his　cabinet　as　a　memento　of　his　lost　friend；　as
this　room　he　had　devoted　to　a　temple　of　Memoryof　the　past！

〃Another　of　the　joys；　another　of　the　stars　of　my　life　vanished！〃
murmured　the　king。　〃My　charming　concerts　are　at　an　end！　Quantz；
Brenda；　and　my　glorious　Graun　are　no　more。　While　they　are　listening
to　the　heavenly　choir；　I　must　be　content　with　the　miserable；　idle
chatter　of　men；　the　thunder　of　battle　deafening　my　ears；　to　which
that　mad；　ambitious　Emperor　of　Austria　hopes　to　force　me！〃

As　the　king　thus　soliloquized；　he　involuntarily　drew　from　the　box
the　beautiful　ebony　flute；　exquisitely　ornamented　with　silver。　A
smile　played　around　his　delicate　mouth。　He　raised　the　flute　to　his
lips；　and　a　melancholy　strain　floated　through　the　stillnessthe
king's　requiem　to　the　dead；　his　farewell　to　the　dying！

No　sound　of　the　outer　world　penetrated　that　lonely　room。　The　guard
of　honor；　on　duty　upon　the　Sans…Souci　terrace；　halted　suddenly；　as
the　sad　music　fell　upon　his　ear。　The　fresh　spring　breeze　swept
through　the　trees；　and　drove　the　laden…blossomed　elder…bushes
tapping　against　the　windowpanes；　as　if　to　offer　a　May…greeting　to
the　lonely　king。　The　servant　in　waiting　stole　on　tiptoe　to　the　door
of　the　anteroom；　listening　breathlessly　at　the　key…hole　to　the
moving　melody。

Even　Alkmene　suddenly　raised　her　head　as　if　something　unusual　were
taking　place；　fixed　her　great　eyes　upon　her　master；　jumping　upon　his
knee；　and　resting　her　fore…paws　lovingly　upon　his　breast。

Frederick　neither　observed　nor　felt　the　movement　of　his　favorite；
his　thoughts　were　absent　from　the　presentabsent　from　the　earth！
They　were　wandering　in　the　unknown　future；　with　the　spirits　of　those
he　longed　to　see　again　in　the　Elysian　fields。

The　wailing　music　of　his　flute　expressed　the　lamentation　of　his
soul；　and　his　eyes　filled　with　tears　as　he　raised　them　to　the　bust
of　Voltaire；　gazing　at　it　with　a　look　of　pain　until　the　melody　was
finished。　Then　abruptly　turning；　half　unwillingly；　half　angrily；　he
returned　the　flute　to　the　box；　and　stole　away；　covering　his　face
with　his　hands；　as　if　to　hide　his　emotion　from　himself。

〃Now　we　have　finished　with　the　dead；　and　the　living　claim　our
thoughts；〃　sighed　the　king。　〃What　an　absurd　thing　is　the　human
heart！　It　will　never　grow　cold　or　old；　always　pretending　to　a　spark
of　the　fire　which　that　shameful　fellow　Prometheus　stole　from　the
gods。　What　an　absurdity！　What　have　I；　an　old　fellow；　to　do　with　the
fire　of　Prometheus；　when　the　fire　of　war　will　soon　rage　around　me；〃
At　this　instant　the　door　gently　opened。　〃What　do　you　want；　Muller？
What　do　you　poke　your　stupid　face　in　here　for？〃　said　the　king。

〃Pardon　me；　your　majesty；〃　replied　the　footman；　〃the　Baron　von　Arnim
begs　for　an　audience。〃

〃Bid　him　enter；〃　commanded　the　king；　sinking　back　in　his　old；　faded
velvet　arm…chair。　Resting　his　chin　upon　his　staff；　he　signed　to　the
baron；　who　stood　bowing　upon　the　threshold；　to　approach。　〃Well；
Arnim；　what　is　the　matter？　What　papers　have　you　there？〃

〃Sire；〃　answered　Baron　von　Arnim；　〃the　contract　of　the　French
actors；　which　needs　renewing；　I　have　to　lay　before　your　majesty；
also　a　paper；　received　yesterday；　from　Madame　Mara；　still　another
from　the　singer　Conciliani；　and　a　petition　from　four　persons　from
the　opera。〃

〃What　stupid　stuff！〃　growled　the　king；　at　the　same　time　bestowing　a
caress　upon　Alkmene。　〃Commence　with　your　report。　Let　us　hear　what
those　singers　are　now　asking　for。〃

〃The　singer　Conciliani　has　addressed　a　heart…breaking　letter　to　your
majesty；　and　prays　for　an　increase　of　salarythat　it　is　impossible
for　him　to　live　upon　three　thousand　dollars。〃

〃Ah！　that　is　what　is　wanted？〃　cried　the　king；　furious；　and　striking
his　staff　upon　the　floor。　〃The　fellow　is　mad；　When　he　cannot　live
upon　three　thousand；　he　will　not　be　able　to　live　upon　four。　I　want
money　for　cannon。　I　cannot　spend　it　for　such　nonsense。　I　am
surprised；　Von　Arnim　that　you　repeat　such　stuff　to　me。〃

〃Your　majesty；　it　is　my　duty　that　I〃

〃What！　Your　duty　is　not　to　flatter　them。　I　pay　them　to　give　me
pleasure；　not　presumption。　Remember；　once　for　all；　do　not　flatter
them。　Conciliani　will　get　no　increase　of　salary。　If　he　persists；　let
him　go　to　the　mischief！　This　is　my　decision。Proceed！　What　is
Madame　Mara　begging　for？〃

〃Madame　Mara　constantly　refuses　to　sing　the　airs　which　your　majesty
commanded　to　be　introduced　into　the　opera　of　'Coriolanus。'　She　has
taken　the　liberty　to　address　you　in　writing；　here　is　the　letter；　if
your　majesty　will　have　the　grace　to　read　it。〃

〃By　no　means；　sir；　by　no　means！〃　cried　the　king；　at　the　same　instant
catching　the　paper　with　his　staff；　he　slung　it　like　a　shot　arrow　to
the　farthest　corner　of　the　room；　to　the　great　amusement　of　Alkmene；
who；　with　a　loud　bark；　sprang　from　her　master's　knee；　and　with　a
bound　caught　the　strange　bird；　and　tore　it　in　pieces。　〃You　are
right；　my　pet；〃　said　the　king；　laughing；　〃you　have　written　my　answer
with　your　nose　to　this　arrogant　person。　Director；　say　to　Madame　Mara
that　I　pay　her　to　sing；　not　to　write