old fritz and the new era-第20部分

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Alvensleben；　and　present　yourself　to　enter　the　guards　at　once。　Away
with　you！　I　do　not　need　drunken；　gossiping　footmen　in　my　service。
Away　with　you！〃

The　footman　slunk　slowly　away；　his　head　hanging　down；　with
difficulty　restraining　the　tears　which　stood　in　large　drops　in　his
eyes。

The　king　followed　him　with　his　glance；　which　softened　and　grew
gentler　from　sympathy。　〃I　pity　him；　the　poor　fellow！　but　I　must
teach　him　a　lesson。　I　want　no　gossips　around　me。　He　need　only　wear
the　uniform　two　weeks　or　so；　that　will　bring　him　to　reason。　Then　I
will　pardon　him；　and　receive　him　into　my　service　again。　He　is　a
good…natured　fellow；　and　would　not　betray　any　one　as　Kretzschmar
betrayed　him。〃

The　king　stepped　to　the　window　to　look　at　the　gentleman　who　was
eagerly　engaged　in　conversation　with　the　castellan　of　Sans…Souci。　At
this　instant　the　footman　entered　with　a　sealed　note　for　the　king。
〃From　his　royal　highness　Prince　Henry；〃　said　he。

〃Who　brought　it？〃

〃The　gentleman　who　speaks　with　the　castellan　upon　the　terrace。　I
wait　your　majesty's　commands。〃

〃Wait；　then。〃　The　note　ran　thus：　〃Your　majesty；　my　dearly…beloved
brother：　The　bearer；　Johann　Wolfgang　Goethe；　one　of　the　literati；
and　a　poet；　and　at　this　time　secretary　of　legation　to　the　duchy　of
Saxe…Weimar；　is　a　great　favorite　of　the　duke's；　our　nephew。　I　met
him　returning　from　the　parade　in　company　with　the　duke；　who
expressed　to　me　the　strong　desire　his　secretary　had　to　visit　the
celebrated　house　of　the　great　philosopher　of　Sans…Souci；　and　see　the
room　once　occupied　by　Voltaire。　I　could　not　well　refuse；　and
therefore　address　these　few　lines　to　your　majesty　before　returning
to　Berlin　with　the　duke；　who　will　dine　with　me；　accompanied　by　his
secretary。〃　I　am　your　majesty's　most　humble　servant　and　brother；
HENRY。〃

〃Tell　the　castellan　that　I　grant　him　permission　to　show　the　house
and　park　to　the　stranger；　he　shall　take　care　not　to　come　in　my　way；
so　that　I　shall　be　obliged　to　meet　him。　Tell　this　aside；　that　you
may　not　be　overheard。　Hasten；　for　they　have　already　been　waiting
some　time。〃

The　king　walked　again　to　the　window；　and；　hidden　by　the　curtain；
peeped　out。　〃So；　this　is　Herr　Goethe；　is　it？　What　assurance！　There
he　stands；　sketching　the　house。　What　wonderful　eyes　the　man　has！
With　what　a　proud；　confident　manner　he　looks　around！　What　a　brow！
Truly　he　is　a　handsome　fellow；　and　Herzberg　may　be　right　after　all。
That　brow　betokens　thought；　and　from　those　eyes　there　flashes　a
divine　light。　But　he　looks　overbearing　and　proud。　Now；　I　am　doubly
pleased　that　I　refused　Herzberg　to　have　any　thing　to　do　with　him。
Such　presumptive　geniuses　must　be　rather　kept　back；　then　they　feel
their　power；　and　strive　to　bring　themselves　forward。　Yes！　I　believe
that　man　has　a　future。　He　looks　like　the　youthful　god　Apollo；　who
may　have　condescended　to　descend　to　earth！　He　shall　not　entrap　me
with　his　beautiful　head。　If　he　is　the　man　who　makes　good　and　bad
weather　in　Weimar；　he　shall　learn　that　rain　and　sunshine　at　Sans…
Souci　do　not　depend　upon　him；　that　the　sun　and　clouds　here　do　not
care　whether　Herr　Goethe　is　in　the　world　or　not。　For　sunshine　and
storm　we　depend　upon　the　Great　Weather…Maker；　to　whom　we　must　all
bow；　evil　and　good　days　in　Prussia　shall　emanate　from　me；　so　long　as
I　live。　Sometimes　I　succeed　in　causing　a　little　sunshine；〃　continued
the　king。　〃I　believe　the　Prince　of　Prussia　has　to…day　felt　the　happy
influence　of　the　sun's　rays；　and　while　it　is　dull　and　lonely　at
Sans…Souei；　may　it　be　brighter　and　more　cheerful　at　Charlottenburg！
Eh　bien！　old　boy；〃　said　the　king；　stopping；　〃you　are　playing　the
sentimental；　and　eulogizing　your　loneliness。　Well；　well；　do　not
complain。Oh；　come　to　me；　spirits　of　my　friends；　and　hold　converse
with　me！　Voltaire；　D'Argens；　and　my　beloved　Lord…Marshal　Keith！　Come
to　me；　departed　souls；　with　the　memories　of　happier　days；　and　hover
with　thy　cheering；　sunny　influence　over　the　wrinkled　brow　of　old
Fritz！〃

While　the　lonely　king　implored　the　spirits　of　his　friends；　to
brighten　with　their　presence　the　quiet；　gloomy　apartment　at　Sans…
Souci；　the　sun　shone　in　full　splendor　at　Charlottenburgthe
sunshine　beaming　from　the　munificence　of　Frederick。　Wilhelmine　Enke
had　passed　the　whole　day　in　admiring　the　beautiful　and　tasteful
arrangement　of　the　villa。　Every　piece　of　furniture；　every　ornament；
she　examined　attentivelyall　filled　her　with　delight。　The　prince；
who　accompanied　her　from　room　to　room；　listened　to　her　outbursts　of
pleasure；　rejoicing。

〃I　wish　that　I　could　often　prepare　such　happiness　for　you；　dearest；
for　my　heart　is　twice　gladdened　to　see　your　beaming　face。〃

〃Reflected　from　your　own。　You　are　my　good　genius　upon　earth。　You
have　caused　the　poor；　neglected　child　to　become　the　rich　and　happy
woman。　To　you　I　owe　this　home；　this　foot　of　earth；　which　I　can　call
my　own。　Here　blossom　the　flowers　for　mehere　I　am　mistress；　and
those　who　enter　must　come　as　my　guests；　and　honor　me。　All　this　I　owe
to　you。〃

〃Not　to　me；〃　said　the　prince；　smiling；　〃I　only　gave　to　you　what　was
given　to　me！　To　the　king　belong　your　thanks。　Harsh　in　words；　but
gentle　in　deeds；　he　has　given　you　this　refuge；　freeing　you　from　the
slavery　of　poverty；　from　the　sorrow　of　being　homeless。　But　tell　it
not；　Wilhelmine。　The　king　would　be　angry　if　it　were　known　that　he
not　only　tolerated　but　showed　great　generosity　to　you。　It　is　a
secret　that　I　ought　not　even　to　disclose　to　you。　I　could　not　receive
your　thanks；　for　I　have　not　deserved　them。　From　the　king　comes　your
good　fortune；　not　from　me。　The　day　will　come　when　I　can　requite　you；
when　the　poor　crown　prince　becomes　the　rich　king。　On　that　day　the
golden　rain　shall　again　shower　upon　you；　never　to　cease；　and；　vying
with　the　shower　of　gold；　the　brightest　sunbeams　play　continually
around　you。　As　king；　I　will　reward　your　fidelity　and　love；　which　you
have　proved　to　the　poor　crown　prince；　with　splendor；　power；　and
riches。　Until　then　rejoice　with　the　little　that　his　grace　has
accorded　you；　and　await　the　much　that　love　will　one　day　bring　you。
Farewell；　Wilhelmine；　the　evening　sets　in；　and　I　must　forth　to
Potsdam。　The　king　would　never　pardon　me　if　I　did　not　pass　the　last
evening　with　my　wife　in　the　circle　of　my　family。　Farewell！〃

He　embraced　her　tenderly；　and　Wilhelmine　accompanied　the　prince　to
the　carriage；　and　returned　to　survey　anew　the　beautiful　rooms　which
were　now　her　own　possession。　An　unspeakable；　unknown　feeling　was
roused　in　her；　and　voices；　which　she　had　never　heard；　spoke　to　her
from　the　depths　of　her　heart。　〃You　are　no　longer　a　despised；
homeless　creature；〃　they　whispered。　〃You　have　a　home；　a　foot　of
earth　to　call　your　own。　Make　yourself　a　name；　that　you　may　be　of
consequence　in　the　world。　You　are　clever　and　beautiful；　and　with
your　prudence　and　beauty　you　can　win　a　glorious　future！　Remember　the
Marquise　de　Pompadour；　neglected　and　scorned　as　you；　until　a　king
loved　her；　and　she　became　the　wife　of　a　king；　and　all　France　bowed
down　to　her。　Even　the　Empress　Maria　Theresa　honored　her　with　her
notice；　and　called　her　cousin。　I　am　also　the　favorite　of　a　future
king；　and　I　will　also　become　the　queen　of　my　king！〃

Wilhelmine　had　remained　standing　in　the　midst　of　the　great　drawing…
room；　which　she　was　passing　through；　listening　to　these　seductive
voices；　to　these　strange　pictures　of　the　future。　In　her　imagination
she　saw　herself　in　this　room　surrounded　with　splendor　and
magnificence；　and　sparkling　with　gems。　She　saw　around　her　elegantly…
attired　ladies　and　gentlemen；　in　brilliant　uniforms；　glittering　with
orders；　saw　every…where　smiling　faces；　and　respectful　manners。　She
saw　all　eyes　turned　to　her；　and　heard　only　flattering　words；　which
resounded　for　her　from　every　lipfor　her；　once　so　despised　and
scorned！　〃It　shall　be；　yes；　it　shall　be；〃　cried　she　aloud。　〃I　will
be　the　queen　of　my　king！　I　will　become　the　Prussian　Marquise　de
Pompadour；　that　I　swear　by　the　heads　of　my　children；　by〃

〃Rather　swear　by　thy　own　beautiful　head；　Wilhelmine；〃　said　a　voice
behind　her。　Startled；　she　turned；　and　beheld　the　tall　figure　of　a
man；　wrapped　in　a　long　cloak；　who　stood　in　the　open　door。

〃Who　are　you？〃　she　cried；　amazed。　〃How　dare　you　enter　here？〃

The　figure　closed　the　door；　without　answering；　and；　slowly
approaching　Wilhelmine；　fixed　his　black　eyes　upon　her　with　a
searching　gaze。　She　tried　to　summon　help；　but　the　words　died　on　her
lips；　her　cheeks　blanched　with　terror；　and；　as　if　rooted　to　the
floor；　she　stood　with　outstretched　arms　imploring　the　approaching
form。　The　figure　smiled；　but　there　was　something　commanding　in　its
manner；　and　in　the　fiery　eyes；　which　rested　upon　her。　When　quite
near　her；　it　raised　its　right　hand　with　an　impatient　movement。
Immediately　her　arms　fell　at　her　side；　her　cheeks　glowed；　and　a
bright　smile　lighted　up　her　face。　Then　it　lifted　the　three…cornered；
gold…bordered　hat　which　shaded　its　face；　nodding　to　her。

〃Do　you　recognize　me；　Wilhelmine？〃　he　asked；　in　a　sweet；　melodious
voice。

〃Yes；〃　she　answered；　her　eyes　still　fixed　upon　him。　〃You　are
Cagliostro；　the　great　ruler　and　magician。〃

〃Where　did　we　meet？〃

〃I　remember；　it　was　in　Paris；　at　the　house　of　the　governor　of　the
Bastile；　M。　Delaunay。　You　caused　me　to　read　in　a　glass　the　futurea
bright；　glorious　future。　I　was　surrounded　with　splendor　and
magnificence。　I　saw　myself　glittering　with　gems；　a　king　knelt　at　my
feet。　I　was　encircled　by　richly…attired　courtiers；　who　bowed　before
me；　and　honored　me；　whispering：　'We　salute　you；　O　beautiful
countess；　be　gracious　to　us；　exalted　princess！'　It　sounded　like
heavenly　music；　and　I　shouted　with　delight。〃

〃Was　that　all？〃　said　Cagliostro；　solemnly；　〃that　the　crystal　showed
you。〃

Shuddering；　she　murmured：　〃The　splendor；　glory；　and　power　vanished；
and　all　was　changed　to　a　fearful　picture。　I　saw　myself　in　a　plain；
dark　dress；　in　a　deserted；　lonely　room；　with　iron…barred　windows；
and　a　small　iron　door　closed　in　the　dreary　white　wallsit　was　a
prison！　And　I　heard　whispered　around　me：　'Woe　to　you；　fallen　and
dethroned　one！　You　have　wasted　away　the　days　of　your　splendor；
submit　in　patience　to　the　days　of　your　shame　and　humiliation。'　I
could　not　endure　to　behold　it；　and　screamed　with　terror；　fainting。〃

〃Y