old fritz and the new era-第5部分

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say　that　you　have　read　Homer；　then；　doubtless；　you　remember　the
story　of　Penelope；　who；　from　conjugal　fidelity；　spun　and　wove；
undoing　at　night　what　she　had　woven　by　day。　It　is　true；　you　bear
little　resemblance　to　this　chaste　dame；　but　you　might　emulate　her　in
spinning　and　weaving；　and　if　you　are　not　in　future　retiring；　I　can
easily　make　a　modern　Penelope　of　you；　and　have　you　instructed　in
spinning；　for　which　you　will　have　the　best　of　opportunities　in　the
house　of　correction　at　Spandau。　Remember　this；　and　never　permit
yourself　to　practise　protection。　I　will　keep　the　spinning…wheel　and
the　wool　ready　for　you；　that　you　may　count　upon。　Remember；　also；
that　it　is　very　disagreeable　to　me　that　you　visit　my　park；　as　I　like
to　breathe　pure　air。　Direct　your　promenade　elsewhere；　and　avoid
meeting　me　in　future。〃

〃Your　majesty；　I〃

〃Silence！　I　have　heard　sufficient。　You　have　nothing　more　to　say　to
me。　Go；　hide　your　head；　that　no　one　may　recognize　your　shame；　or　the
levity　of　the　prince。　Goand；　farewell　forever！〃　He　motioned
impatiently　to　her　to　retire；　fastening　his　eyes　with　a　fiery；
penetrating　glance　upon　her　pale；　agitated　face；　her　bowed；　humble
attitude；　and　still　continued　to　regard　her　as　she　painfully　dragged
herself　down　the　walk；　as　if　her　limbs　were　giving　way　under　her。
Long　stood　the　king　gazing　after　her；　resting　upon　his　staff；　and　as
she　disappeared　at　the　end　of　the　walk；　he　still　stood　there
immovable。　By　degrees　his　face　assumed　a　milder　expression。　〃He　who
is　free　from　sin；　let　him　cast　the　first　stone　at　her；〃　said　the
king；　softened；　as　he　slowly　turned　down　the　path　which　would　lead
to　his　carriage；　waiting　outside　the　park。

Frederick　was　lost　in　thought；　and　addressed　no　conversation　to　the
equerry；　Von　Schwerin；　who　sat　opposite　to　him。　But　as　they　drove
through　the　beautiful　street　Unten　den　Linden；　at　Berlin；　Frederick
glanced　at　the　equerry；　and　found　that　he　had　fallen　asleep；　wearied
with　the　long　silence　and　the　monotony　of　the　drive。　The　king　spoke
to　Alkmene；　loud　and　earnestly；　until　Herr　von　Schwerin；　awakened
and　startled；　glanced　at　the　king；　frightened；　and　trying　to
discover　whether　his　fearful　crime　against　etiquette　would　draw　upon
him　the　royal　censure。　Frederick；　however；　appeared　not　to　notice
his　fright；　and　spoke　kindly　to　him：　〃Did　you　not　tell　me；　Schwerin；
that　Count　Schmettau　would　sell　his　country　residence　at
Charlottenburg？〃

〃At　your　service；　your　majesty；　he　asked　me　to　purchase　it；　or　find
him　a　purchaser。〃

〃How　much　is　it　worth？〃

〃Sire；　Count　Schmettau　demands　eight　thousand　dollars　for　it。　There
is　a　beautiful　park　belonging　to　it；　and　the　house　is　worthy　the
name　of　a　castle；　so　large　is　it。〃

〃Why　do　you　not　buy　it；　if　the　count　offered　it　to　you？〃

The　equerry　assumed　a　sad　mien；　and　answered；　sighing：　〃Sire；　I
should　be　the　happiest　of　men　if　I　could　buy　that　charming
residence；　and　it　would　be　a　real　blessing　to　me　if　I　could　enjoy　in
summer　at　times　the　fresh　air。　My　finances　unfortunately；　do　not
allow　such　expenses；　as　I　am　not　rich；　and　have　a　large　family。〃

〃Then　you　are　right　not　to　spend　money　unnecessarily；〃　said　the
king；　quietly。　〃You　can　have　as　much　fresh　air　at　Potsdam　as　can
ever　enter　your　mouth；　and　it　costs　neither　you　nor　I　any　thing。　Say
to　Count　Schmettau　that　you　have　a　purchaser　for　his　residence　at
Charlottenburg。〃

〃Oh；　you　are　really　too　kind；〃　cried　the　equerry；　in　an　excitement
of　joy；　〃I　do　not　know〃

Here　the　carriage　entered　the　palace　court；　and　the　concluding　words
were　inaudible。　Herr　von　Schwerin　alighted　quickly　to　assist　the
king。　〃Say　to　Schmettau　to　present　himself　to　my　treasurer　and
cabinet　councillor；　Menkon；　tomorrow　morning　at　twelve　o'clock；　at
Sans…Souci。〃

The　king　nodded　kindly　to　the　equerry；　and　passed　into　the　Swiss
saloon；　and　farther　on　into　the　private　rooms　which　he　was
accustomed　to　occupy　whenever　he　remained　at　the　capital。　The　Swiss
saloon　was　fast　filling；　not　alone　with　the　generals　and　staff…
officers　of　the　Berlin　garrison；　but　with　the　officers　of　the
regiments　from　the　provinces；　who　presented　themselves　at　the　palace
according　to　the　order　of　the　king。　The　most　of　them　were　old　and
worn　out；　body　and　mind。　They　all　looked　morose　and　sorrowful。　The
great　news　of　the　approaching　war　with　Austria　had　spread　through
the　military。　The　old　laurel…crowned　generals　of　the　Seven　Years'
War　were　unwilling　to　go　forth　to　earn　new　laurels；　for　which　they
had　lost　all　ambition。　Not　one　dared　betray　his　secret　thoughts　to
another；　or　utter　a　word　of　disapproval。　The　king's　spies　were
everywhere；　and　none　could　trust　himself　to　converse　with　his
neighbor；　as　he　might　prove　to　be　one　of　them。　There　reigned　an
anxious；　oppressive　silence；　the　generals　and　staff…officers
exchanged　the　ordinary　greetings。　All　eyes　were　turned　toward　the
door　through　which　the　king　would　enter；　bowed　down；　like　his
generals；　with　the　cares　of　life；　and　the　burden　of　old　age。　The
king　slowly　entered。　He　was；　indeed；　an　old　man；　like　those　he　came
amongst；　and　now　saluted。　An　expression　of　imperishable　youth
lighted　up　his　pale；　sunken　face；　and　his　eyes　flashed　with　as　much
daring　and　fire　as　thirty…eight　years　before；　when　he　had　assembled
his　young　officers　around　him　in　this　very　hall；　to　announce　to　them
that　he　would　march　against　Austria。　How　many　wars；　how　many
battles；　how　many　illusions；　victories；　and　defeats　had　the　king
experienced　in　these　thirty…eight　years！　How　little　the　youthful；
fiery　king　of　that　day　resembled　the　weak　old　man　of　to…day；　how
little　in　common　the　young　King　Frederick　had　with　〃Alten　Fritz。〃
And　now　in　this　feeble　body　dwelt　the　same　courageous　spirit。　In　the
course　of　these　years　King　Frederick　II　had　become　Frederick　the
Great！　And　great　he　was　to…day；　this　little　old　mangreat　in　his
intentions　and　achievements；　never　heeding　his　own　debility　and　need
of　repose。　All　his　thoughts　and　endeavors　concentrated　on　the
welfare　of　his　people　and　his　countryon　the　greatness　and　glory　of
Germany。　Those　eyes　which　now　glanced　over　the　circle　of　generals
were　still　flashing　as　those　of　the　hero…king　whose　look　had
disarmed　the　lurking　assassin；　and　confounded　the　distinguished
savant　in　the　midst　of　his　eloquence；　so　that　he　stammered　and　was
silent。　He　was　still　Frederick　the　Great；　who；　leaning　upon　his
staff；　was　surrounded　by　his　generals；　whom　he　called　to　fight　for
their　fatherland；　for　Germany！

〃Gentlemen；〃　said　the　king；　〃I　have　called　you　together　to　announce
to　you　that　we　must　go　forth　to　new　wars；　and；　God　willing；　to　new
victories。　The　Emperor　of　Austria　forces　me　to　it；　for；　against　all
laws　and　customs；　and　against　all　rights　of　kingdoms；　he　thinks　to
bring　German　territory　into　the　possession　of　the　house　of　Hapsburg。
Charles　Theodore；　prince…elector；　having　no　children；　has　concluded
a　treaty　with　the　Emperor　Joseph；　that　at　his　death　the　electorate
of　Bavaria　will　fall　to　Austria。　In　consequence　thereof　an　Austrian
army　has　marched　into　Bavaria；　and　garrisoned　the　frontier。The
prince…elector；　Duke　Charles　Theodore；　was　not　authorized　to　proceed
thus；　for；　though　he　had　no　children　to　succeed　him；　he　had　a　lawful
successor　in　his　brother's　son；　Duke　Charles　von　Zweibrucken。
Electoral　Saxony　and　Mecklenburg　have　well…founded　pretensions；　even
if　Zweibrucken　were　not　existing。　All　these　princes　have　addressed
themselves　to　me；　and　requested　me　to　represent　them　to　the　emperor
and　to　the　imperial　governmentto　protect　them　in　their　injured
rights。　I　have　first　tried　kindness　and　persuasion　to　bring　back
Austria　from　her　desire　of　aggrandizement；　but　in　Vienna　they　have
repulsed　every　means　of　peaceable　arbitration。　I；　as　one　of　the
rulers　of　the　empire　（and　as　I　have　reaffirmed　the　Westphalian
treaty　through　the　Hubertsburger　treaty）；　feel　bound　to　preserve　the
privileges；　the　rights；　the　liberty　of　the　German　states。　I　have
therefore　well　reflected；　and　decided　to　draw　the　swordthat　what
the　diplomats　have　failed　to　arrange　with　the　pen　should　be　settled
with　the　sword。　These　are　my　reasons；　gentlemen；　which　make　it　my
duty　to　assemble　an　army；　therefore　I　have　called　you　together。〃　His
fiery　eyes　flashed　around　the　circle；　peeling　into　the　thin；
withered　faces　of　his　generals；　and　encountering　everywhere　a　grave；
earnest　mien。

The　king　repressed　with　an　effort　a　sigh；　then　continued；　with　a
mild　voice：　〃My　feeble　old　age　does　not　allow　me　to　travel　as　in　my
fiery　youth。　I　shall　use　a　post…carriage；　and　you；　gentlemen；　have
the　liberty　to　do　the　same。　On　the　day　of　battle　you　will　find　me
mounted；　you　will　follow　my　example。　Until　then；　farewell！〃
＇Footnote：　The　king's　words。See　〃Prussia；　Frederick　the　Great；〃
vol。　iii。＇

〃Long　live　the　king！〃　cried　General　von　Krokow；　and　all　the　generals
who　formerly　joined　in　this　cry　of　the　Prussian　warrior；　now
repeated　it　in　weak；　trembling　tones。　Frederick　smiled　a
recognition；　bowing　on　all　sides；　then　turned　slowly　away；　leaning
upon　his　staff。

When　once　more　alone；　the　youthful　expression　faded　from　his　eyes；
and　the　gloomy　shadows　of　old　age　settled　down　upon　his　thoughtful
brow。　〃They　have　all　grown　old　and　morose；〃　said　he；　mildly；　〃they
will　not　show　any　more　heroism；　the　fire　of　ambition　is　quenched　in
their　souls！　A　warm　stove　must　warm　their　old　limbs。　Oh！　it　is　a
pitiful　thing　to　grow　old；　and　still　they　call　themselves　the　images
of　God！　Poor　boasters；　who；　with　a　breath　of　the　Almighty；　are
overturned　and　bent　as　a　blade　of　grass　in　the　sand！〃

〃Your　majesty；　may　I　come　in？〃　asked　a　gentle；　happy　child's　voice。

The　king　turned　hastily　toward　the　door；　so　softly　opened；　and　there
stood　a　charming　little　boy；　in　the　uniform　of　a　flag…bearer；　with
the　cap　upon　his　head；　and　a　neat　little　sword　by　his　side。　〃Yes；
you　may　enter；〃　nodded　the　king　kindly　to　him。　〃You　know　I　sent　for
you；　my　little　flag…bearer。〃




CHAPTER　III。

FREDERICK　WILLIAM。


The　little　flag…bearer　skipped　into　the　room　with　graceful　vivacity；
and　sprang；　with　a　merry　bound；　up　to　the　king；　took　his　hand
without　ceremony；　and　pressed　it　to　his　lips。　Then；　raising　up　his
head　and　shaking　back　his　light…brown　curl