old fritz and the new era-第38部分

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philosophers！〃

〃They　shall　livelivelive；''　shouted　the　duke！

〃Vivat　the　philosophers！　hurrah！　To　the　May…sports　upon　the
Blockberg　they　ride　upon　a　little　ass　with　golden　hornswith
Pharisaical　mien；　praying　with　their　eyes；　'I　thank　Thee；　O　Lord；
that　I　am　a　philosopher；　that　I　am　not　as　the　world's　children；
vain；　proud；　and　arrogant。'　Hey；　good　Carl　Augustus；　today　a　great
revelation　has　been　made　known　to　me　by　a　philosopher。　Wisdom　flowed
from　his　mouth。　All　the　spiders　in　their　gray；　self…woven　nets；
whispered　and　sang　in　his　corridor；　'We　weave　at　the　fountain　of
life；　we　spin　the　web　of　time。'　The　little　mice　crept　out　from　the
corners；　whispering；　Hallelujah！　Here　lives　the　great　philosopher
Moses；　who　has　devoured　wisdom；　and　is　unknowing　of　earthly
vanities。　Oh！　the　mice　and　the　spiders　waltz　together　upon　the
threshold　of　the　great　philosopher。　Hey；　ha！　a　waltz　we　will　dance！〃

Goethe　caught　the　duke　with　both　arms　around　the　waist；　and　tore
around　in　a　giddy　whirl；　both　laughing；　both　shrieking。　Wolfshund；
the　duke's　dog；　asleep　in　the　corner；　sprang　up　howling　and　barking
at　their　wild　bounds　and　goat…like　springs；　and　joined　the　dancers。
As　Goethe　felt　the　ribbon　which　confined　his　cue　give　way；　he　shook
wildly　his　curly；　powdered　hair　and　it　fell　in　mad　confusion。　Both
he　and　the　duke　now　sank　exhausted　to　the　floor；　panting　and
laughing。

〃Heaven　be　praised；　Wolf；〃　said　the　duke；　〃the　must　has　once　more
fermented；　and　sprung　a　few　of　the　hoops　of　dignity？〃

〃Yes；〃　answered　Goethe；　who　suddenly　assumed　a　grave；　serious　mien；
〃the　must　has　fermented；　and　I　trust　a　fine　wine　will　clear　itself
from　it。〃

〃Can　you　not　set　off；　Wolf？〃　asked　the　duke；　springing　up。　〃Have　you
had　sufficient　of　the　Berliners？〃

〃I　have　done　with　them；〃　replied　Goethe；　〃not　only　with　the
Berliners；　but　it　may　be　with　all　the　rest　of　humanity。　I　feel；　my
duke；　that　the　bloom　of　confidence；　candor；　and　self…sacrificing
love　fades　daily；　only　for　you；　and　the　friend　whom　I　love；　is　there
still　attraction　and　flagrancy。　Oh！　you　dear　ones；　be　charitable；
and　do　not　consent　that　they　fade　for　you。　Let　the　goodness　which　I
read　in　your　eyes；　my　dear　Carl；　and　the　sunny　rays　of　friendship
strengthen　the　poor　little　blossom；　that　it　does　not　entirely　fade
and　wither　away！〃　With　passionate　earnestness　he　threw　his　arms
around　the　duke；　pressing　him　to　his　bosom。

〃Oh！　Wolf；　my　dear　Wolf；　you　have　a　child's　heart　and　a　poet's　soul。
Are　you　faint…hearted　and　dispirited？　Do　you　not　know　that　you　are
the　sun　which　brings　forth　the　flowers　for　us；　and　shines　for　us
all？　Let　no　clouds　overshadow　you；　Wolf！　Let　your　fresh；　youthful
vigor；　and　divine　brilliancy；　penetrate　them。　In　the　thick；　sandy
atmosphere　of　Berlin　I　confess　the　sun　itself　loses　its　force　and
brightness！　Come！　let　us　be　off。　Our　steeds　stamp　with　impatience。〃
The　duke　drew　his　friend　from　the　room　and　joyfully　they　sprang　down
the　stairs　to　the　carriage；　the　great　dog　following；　howling　and
barking　after　them。　〃Forward；　then；　forward！　Blow；　postilion；　blow！
A　gay　little　air！　Let　it　peal　through　the　streets；　a　farewell　song！
Blow；　postilion；　blow！　and　I　will　moisten　your　throat　at　the　gates
with　the　thin；　white　stuff；　which　you　have　the　boldness　to　call
beer。〃　The　postilion　laughed　for　joy；　and　the　German　song　resounded
in　quivering　tones〃　Three　riders　rode　out　of　the　gate。〃　He　blew　so
long　and　loudly；　that　the　dog　set　up　a　mournful　howl；　and　amid　the
peals　of　the　postilion；　and　the　distressed　cry　of　Wolfshund；　they
drove　through　the　long；　hot　streets　of　Berlin；　through　the　Leipsic
Gate；　and　the　suburbs　with　their　small；　low　houses。　The　wagon…wheels
sank　to　the　spokes　in　the　loose；　yellow　sand　of　the　hill　they　soon
mounted；　and；　arriving　at　the　top　of　which；　the　postilion　stopped　to
let　his　horses　take　breath；　and　turned　to　remind　his　aristocratic
passengers　that　this　was　their　last　view　of　the　city。

〃And　will　be　seen　no　more；〃　repeated　the　duke。　〃Come；　let　us　take　a
farewell　look　at　Berlin；　Wolf！〃　and　away　they　sprang　without　waiting
for　the　footman　to　descend；　and　waded　through　the　sand　to　a　rising
in　the　fallow　fields。　There　they　stood；　arm　in　arm；　and　viewed　the
town　with　its　towers　and　chimneys；　houses；　barracks；　and　palaces
stretched　at　their　feet。　A　thick；　gray；　cloud　of　vapor　and　smoke
hovered　over　it；　and　veiled　the　horizon　in　dust　and　fog。　〃Farewell；
Berlin；　you　city　of　arrogance　and　conceit！〃　cried　the　duke；
joyfully。　〃I　shake　your　dust　from　my　feet；　and　strew　the　sand　of
your　fields　over　every　souvenir　of　you　in　memory；〃　and　suiting　the
action　to　his　words；　he　tossed　a　handful　of　it　in　the　air。

〃Farewell；　Muses　and　Graces　of　sand　and　dust！〃　cried　Goethe；　as　his
fiery　eye　flashed　far　out　over　the　fog…enveloped　roofs。　〃Farewell；
Berlin；　void　of　nature　and　without　verdure！　the　abode　of　poetic　art；
but　not　of　poesy。　You　Babylon　of　wisdom　and　philosophy；　I　have　seen
you　with　your　painted　cheeks　and　coquettish　smile；　your　voluptuous
form　and　seductive　charms。　You　shall　never　ensnare　me　with　your
deceitful　beauty；　and　suck　the　marrow　from　my　bones；　or　the
consciousness　of　pure　humanity　from　my　soul。　Beautiful　may　you　be　to
enslaved　intellects；　but　to　the　free；　they　turn　their　backs　to　you
and　thrice　strew　ashes　on　your　head。　Farewell；　Berlin；　may　I　never
see　you　again！〃　＇Goethe；　in　fact；　never　visited　Berlin　again；　though
he　was　often　invited　there；　particularly　when　the　new　theatre　was
opened；　with　a　poetic　prologue　written　by　himself。　They　inaugurated
the　festivity　with　Goethe's　〃Iphigenia；〃　the　first　representation；
and　Prince　Radzwill　urgently　invited　the　poet；　through　Count　Bruhl；
to　visit　Berlin　at　this　time；　and　reside　in　his　palace。　But　Goethe
refused；　he　was　seventy…two　years　old　（1826）；　and　excused　himself　on
account　of　his　age。＇　Goethe　stooped　and　threw　a　handful　of　sand　in
the　air。

The　postilion；　tired　of　standing　in　the　burning　sun；　blew　loudly　the
air　of　the　soldier's　song：　〃Now；　adieu；　Louisa；　wipe　your　face；
every　ball　does　not　hit。〃　Mournfully　the　melody　sounded　in　the
stillness；　like　accusing　spirits　who　wept　the　insult　of　the　prince
and　the　poet。

〃Now；　on　to　our　dear　Weimar；　Wolf！〃　The　carriage　rolled　down　the
sandy　hill；　and　Berlin　disappeared　to　the　travellers；　lost　in　dreamy
thought。　Slowly　they　advanced；　in　spite　of　relays　and　fresh　horses
at　every　station。　Night　spread　out　her　starry　mantle　over　the　world；
and　the　sleepers　who　rested　from　the　burdens　and　cares　of　the　day。
Goethe　alone　was　wakeful　and　vigilant。　With　his　beautiful　eyes；　as
brilliant　as　fallen　stars；　uplifted　to　heaven；　to　God；　his　manly
bosom　heaving　with　noble　thoughts　and　glorious　aspirations；　he
reviewed　the　past；　and　recalled　with　joy　that　he　had　accomplished
much　and　well。　He　peered　into　the　future；　and　promised　himself　to　do
more　and　better。　〃Yes；　I　will；〃　whispered　he　softly；　pointing　to　the
stars；　〃so　high　as　possible　shall　the　pyramid　of　my　being　rise。　To
that　I　will　constantly　bend　my　thoughts；　never　forgetting　it；　for　I
dare　not　tarry；　with　the　years　already　on　my　head；　fate　may　arrest
my　steps；　and　the　tower　of　Babylon　remain　unfinished。　At　least　they
must　acknowledge　the　edifice　was　boldly　designed；　and　if　I　live；　God
willing；　it　shall　rise。〃




BOOK　III。

STORM　AND　PRESSURE


CHAPTER　XIX

THE　KING　AND　THE　AUSTRIAN　DIPLOMAT。


Frederick　commenced　the　campaign　against　the　house　of　Hapsburg　with
all　the　energy　and　bold　courage　of　former　days。　The　diplomats　had
once　more　been　permitted　to　seek　the　arts　of　negotiation；　and；　these
having　failed；　the　king　advanced　rapidly；　and　entered　Bohemia　with
his　advance…guard。　The　imperial　army；　informed　of　the　approach　of
the　enemy；　retired　hurriedly　to　their　intrenchments　at　Koeniggratz；
beyond　the　Elbe；　without　a　decisive　battle。　In　the　skirmishes　at　the
outposts　the　Prussians　had　been　victorious。　On　the　opposite　shore　of
the　Elbe；　at　Welsdorf；　the　king　took　up　his　headquarters。　Why　did　he
not　pursue　his　bold　run　of　victory？　Why　did　he　not　surprise　the
imperial　army；　which　he　knew　was　scattered；　and　not　in　a　position　to
resist　the　strength　of　the　Prussian　forces？　Moreover；　the　second
column　of　the　Prussian　army；　under　the　command　of　Prince　Henry；　had
also　entered　Bohemia；　and　fortified　a　camp　near　Rimburg；　having
united　with　the　Saxon　allies；　which　caused　the　imperialists　under
Field…Marshal　Loudon　to　seek　protection　beyond　the　Iser；　near
Muenchengratz　and　Yung…bunzlau。　Why　did　the　king　then　stop　in　the
midst　of　his　victorious　career？　He　had　advanced　to　the　field　with
his　fresh；　youthful　fire；　a　shining　example　to　all。　He　was　always
mounted；　shunning　no　danger；　but　taking　part　in　the　hardships　and
fatigue　incident　to　the　changing　life　of　war；　even　showing　himself
personally　active　at　the　discovery　of　foraging…parties。　Why　did　he
suddenly　hesitate　and　lie　inactive　in　camp？　Why　did　he　not　summon
his　generals　and　staff…officers　to　his　quarters；　instead　of　his
Minister　von　Herzberg？　Every　one　asked　himself　the　question；　and
every　one　answered　it　differently。Some　said；　〃Because　the　Empress
of　Russia　had　raised　objections　to　this　war　of　German　brothers；〃
others；　that　〃the　King　of　the　French　had　offered　to　settle　the
quarrel　as　intermediator。〃　A　third　said；　the　〃empress…queen；　Maria
Theresa；　was　terrified　at　the　rapid　advance　of　the　Prussians；　and
had　immediately　commenced　negotiations　for　peace。〃

While　the　wise　politicians　of　Germany　and　all　Europe　reand　pondered；
Frederick　tarried　quietly　in　his　peasant…house；　in　which　he　had
taken　up　his　quarters；　and　which　had　been　arranged　very　comfortably
with　carpets；　camp…stools；　and　curtains。　He　sat　in　his　cabinet　upon
the　high；　leather…covered　arm…chair；　which　had　been　brought　for　him
from　the　neighboring　parsonage。　Alkmene　lay　upon　his　knee；　and　Diana
at　his　feet。　His　countenance　was　pale；　and　betrayed　fatigue；　but　his
eye　beamed　with　undimmed　brilliancy；　and　around　his　mouth　played　an
ironical　smile。　〃Well；　so　matters　stand；　therefore；　I　have　summoned
you　to　Welsdorf；〃　said　Frederick　to　his　minister；　Von　Herzberg。　〃The
empress…queen　is；　above　all　things；　a　most　tender　mother。　She　is
fearfully　anxious；　now　that　the　dear　young　Emperor