old fritz and the new era-第57部分

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which　were　equally　his　gift。　The　father　wore　his　gold…embroidered
uniform；　and　imagined　himself　a　stately　figure；　as　the　gout　left　him
the　use　of　his　limbs　this　day。

The　invited　witnesses　began　to　assemble。　Just　then　Ebenstreit　von
Leuthen　drove　up　in　the　handsome　travelling…carriage；　which　was　a
wedding…gift　to　his　wife；　and　excited　the　admiration　of　the　numerous
street　public。

Old　Trude；　in　her　simple　dark　Sunday　dress；　had　awaited　the
appearance　of　the　bridegroom；　and　went　to　announce　his　arrival　to
the　bride。

Marie　was　in　her　little　garret…room；　so　unlike　in　its　present
appearance　to　its　former　simplicity　and　comfortas　unlike　as　the
occupant　to　the　rosy；　smiling　young　girl；　who；　yonder　by　the　little
brown　table　in　the　window…niche；　taught　her　pupils；　or　with　busy；
skilful　hands　made　the　loveliest　flowers；　the　income　of　which　she
gave　to　her　parents；　joyfully　and　although　she　never　received　thanks
or　recognition　for　the　same。　Now　the　same　little　table　was　covered
with　morocco　cases；　whose　half…open　covers　revealed　brilliant
ornaments；　laces；　and　sweet　perfumes；　superb　silk　dresses；　cloaks；
and　shawls；　ornamented　with　lace；　lay　about　upon　the　bed　and　chairs。

Herr　Ebenstreit　von　Leuthen　had　truly　given　his　bride　a　princely
dowry；　and　her　mother　had　spread　the　things　around　room。

Since　Marie　gave　her　consent　to　the　marriage；　she　had　followed　out
their　wishes　without　opposition。　She　wore　a　white　satin　dress；
covered　with　gold　lace；　her　arms；　neck；　and　ears；　adorned　with
diamonds。　The　coiffeur　had　powdered　and　arranged　her　hair；　without
her　ever　casting　a　glance　into　the　Psyche…mirror　which　her　betrothed
had　had　the　gallantry　to　send　to　her　room。　She　let　him　arrange　the
costly　bridal　veil；　but　when　he　would　place　the　crown　of　myrtle；　she
waved　him　back。

〃Your　work　is　finished；〃　she　said；　〃my　mother　will　place　that；　I
thank　you。〃

As　Trude　entered；　Marie　was　standing　in　the　centre　of　the　room；
regarding　it　with　sinister；　angry　looks。

〃There　you　are；　Trude；〃　she　said；　〃I　am　glad　to　see　you　a　moment
alone；　for　I　have　something　to　tell　you。　I　have　spoken　with　my
future　husband；　demanding　that　you　live　with　me　as　long　as　I　live。
Immediately　after　the　ceremony　you　will　go　to　my　future　home　and
remain　there　as　house…keeper　during　my　absence。〃

Sadly　the　old　woman　shook　her　head。　〃No；　that　is　too　important　a
place　for　me。　I　will　not　lead　a　lazy　life；　and　play　the　fine　woman。
I　was　made　to　work　with　my　hands。〃

〃Do　what　you　will　in　the　house；〃　answered　Marie。　〃Only　promise　me
that　you　will　not　leave　me；　and　when　I　return　that　I　shall　find　you
there。　If　you　leave　me；　I　will　never　come　back。　Promise　me！〃

〃Then　I　will　promise　you；　my　poor　child；〃　sighed　Trude。

Marie　laughed　scornfully。　〃You　call　me　poordo　you　not　see　I　am
rich？　I　carry　a　fortune　about　my　neck。　Go；　do　not　bewail　meI　am
rich！〃

〃Marie；　do　not　laugh　so；　it　makes　me　feel　badly；〃　whispered　the　old
woman。　〃I　came　to　tell　you　the　bridegroom　and　the　clergyman　are
there。〃

〃The　time　has　arrived　for　the　marriage　of　the　rich　and　happy　bride。
Go；　Trude；　beg　my　mother　to　come　up　and　adorn　me　with　the　myrtle…
wreath。〃

〃Dear　Marie；　can　I　not　do　it？〃　asked　Trude；　with　quivering　voice。

〃No；　not　you；　touch　not　the　fatal　wreath！　You　have　no　part　in　that！
Call　my　motherit　is　time！〃

Trude　turned　sadly　toward　the　door；　Marie　glancing　after　her；　and
calling　her　back　with　gentle　tone。

〃Trude；　my　dear；　faithful　mother；　kiss　me　once　more。〃　She　threw　her
arms　around　Marie's　neck　and　imprinted　a　loving　kiss　upon　her
forehead；　weeping。　〃Now　go；　Trudewe　must　not　give　way；　you　know
me；　you　well　understand　my　feelings；　and　see　into　my　heart。〃

The　old　woman　went　out；　drying　her　eyes。　Marie　uttered　her　last
farewell。　〃With　you　the　past　goes　forth；　with　you　my　youth　and　hope！
When　the　door　again　opens；　my　future　enters　a　strange；　fearful　life。
Woe　to　those　who　have　prepared　it　for　mewoe　to　those　who　have　so
cruelly　treated　me！　They　will　yet　see　what　they　have　done。　The　good
angel　is　extinct　within　me。　Wicked　demons　will　now　assume　their　over
me。　I　will　have　no　pityI　will　revenge　myself；　that　I　swear　to
Moritz！〃

Her　mother　rustled　in；　clothed　in　her　splendid　wedding…garments。
〃Did　you　send　for　me；　dear　Marie？〃　she　whispered。

〃Yes；　motherI　beg　you　to　put　on　my　myrtle…wreath。〃

〃How！　have　you　no　endearment　for　me？〃　she　asked；　smilingly。　〃Why　do
you　say　'you'　instead　of　'thou？'〃

〃It　is　better　so；　mother；〃　she　coldly　answered。　〃Will　you　adorn　me
with　the　bridal…wreath？〃

〃Willingly；　my　dear　child；　it　is　very　beautiful　and　becoming。〃

〃Do　you　realize；　mother；　what　you　are　doing？　You　place　the　wreath　to
consecrate　me　to　an　inconsolably　unhappy　life　with　the　man　that　I
hate　and　despise！〃

〃My　dear　child；　I　know　that　you　think　so　to…day；　but　you　will　soon
change；　and　find　that　wealth　is　a　supportable　misfortune。〃

〃Mother；　one　day　you　will　recall　these　words。　Crown　me　for　the　hated
bridal。　The　sacrifice　is　prepared！〃




BOOK　IV。

THE　VISIBLES　AND　THE　INVISIBLES。


CHAPTER　XXVIII。

OLD　FRITZ。


The　war　terminated；　the　hostile　armies　returned　to　their　different
German　countries。　Frederick　the　Great　had　gained　his　point；　forcing
Austria　to　renounce　the　possession　of　Bavaria。　The　Prince　of
Zweibruecken　had　been　solemnly　recognized　by　him　as　the　rightful
heir　to　the　electorate；　and　the　lawful　ruler　and　possessor　of
Bavaria。　The　Emperor　Joseph　had　submitted　with　profound　regret　and
bitter　animosity　to　the　will　of　his　mother；　the　reigning　empress；
and　consented　to　the　peace　negotiations　of　Baron　von　Thugut。　Having
signed　the　document　of　the　same；　in　his　quality　of　co…regent；　he
angrily　threw　aside　the　pen；　casting　a　furious　glance　at　the　hard；
impenetrable　face　of　Thugut；　saying：　〃Tell　her　majesty　that　I　have
accomplished　my　last　act　as　co…regent；　and　I　now　abdicate。　From
henceforth　I　will　still　lie　her　obedient　son；　but　no　submissive
joint　ruler；　to　only　follow　devotedly　her　imperial　will。　Therefore　I
resign；　and　never　will　trouble　myself　in　future　about　the　acts　of
the　government。〃　The　emperor　kept　his　word。　He　retired；　piqued；　into
solitude；　wounded　in　the　depths　of　his　soul；　and　afterward
travelled；　leaving　the　government　entirely　to　the　empress　and　her
pious　confessors。

Bavaria　was　rescued！　It　owed　its　existence　to　the　watchfulness；
sagacity；　and　disinterested　aid　of　Prussia's　great　king。　The　Elector
Maximilian　vowed　in　his　delight　that　he；　as　well　as　his　successors
and　heirs；　would　never　forget　that　Bavaria　must　ascribe　its
continuance　to　Prussia　alone；　and　therefore　the　gratitude　of　the
princes　of　this　electorate　could　not　and　never　would　be　extinguished
toward　the　royal　house　of　Prussia。　Frederick　received　these
overflowing　acknowledgments　with　the　calmness　of　a　philosopher　and
the　smile　of　a　skeptic。　He　understood　mankind　sufficiently　to　know
what　to　expect　from　their　oaths；　to　know　that　in　the　course　of　time
there　is　nothing　more　oppressive　and　intolerable　than　gratitude；
that　it　soon　becomes　a　burden　which　they　would　gladly　throw　off
their　bent　shoulders　at　any　price；　and　become　the　enemy　of　him　to
whom　they　had　sworn　eternal　thankfulness。　Frederick　regarded　these
oaths　of　Bavaria　not　as　a　security　for　the　future；　but　as　a　payment
on　account　of　the　past。

〃I　did　not　go　forth　to　render　the　Bavarian　princes　indebted　to　me；〃
said　he；　to　his　only　confidante；　Count　Herzberg；　as　he　brought　to
him；　at　Sans…Souci；　the　renewed　expression　of　thanks　of　the　prince
elector。　〃I　would　only　protect　Germany　against　Austria's　grasp；　and
preserve　the　equilibrium　of　the　German　empire。　Believe　me；　the　house
of　Hapsburg　is　a　dangerous　enemy　for　the　little　German
principalities；　and　if　my　successor　does　not　bear　it　in　mind；　and
guard　himself　against　their　flatteries　and　cat's…paws；　Austria　will
fleece　him　as　the　cat　the　mouse　who　is　enticed　by　the　odor　of　the
bacon。　Prussia　shall　be　neither　a　mouse　in　the　German　empire；　nor
serve　as　a　roast　for　Austria。　But　she　shall　be　a　well…trained
shepherd's　dog　for　the　dear；　patient　herd；　and　take　care　that　none
go　astray　and　are　lost。〃

〃Your　majesty　has　drawn　an　unfortunate　character　for　the　future　of
our　country；〃　sighed　Herzberg；　thoughtfully；　〃and　I　must　grant　that
it　is　sketched　with　severe　but　correct　outlines　so　it　follows　that
poor　Germany　has　many　combats　and　hardships　in　store。〃

〃What　do　you　mean？〃　asked　the　king。　〃What　characteristic　did　I
name？〃

〃Your　majesty　pointed　out　Austria　as　the　cat　watching　for　prey　in
Germany。　Prussia；　on　the　contrary；　as　the　shepherd's　dog；　which
should　watch　the　native　herd；　and　occasionally　bite　those　who　wander
from　the　flock。　The　comparison　is　apt；　and　clearly　exposes　the
natural　hostility　of　the　two　nations。　Nature　has　placed　the　cat　and
the　dog　in　eternal　enmity；　and　there　is　no　compromise　to　be　thought
of；　to　say　nothing　of　friendship。　There　may；　now　and　then；　be　a
truce；　the　cat　may　draw　in　her　claws；　and　the　dog　may　cease　to　howl
and　growl；　but　the　combat　will　renew　itself；　and　never　end；　but　in
the　death　of　one　party；　and　the　victorious　triumph　of　the　other。〃

〃You　are　right；〃　said　the　king；　nodding　slightly。　〃From　this　natural
hostility　will　proceed　many　combats　and　storms　for　our　land；　and
much　blood　will　be　shed　on　its　account。　Let　us　look　to　the　future；
and　try　to　ward　off　the　coming　evil；　in　erecting　high　barriers
against　the　cat…like　springs　of　the　enemy。　I　will　think　out　a
security　for　Germany。　But　first；　mon　cher　ami；　we　have　to　care　for
our　own　country　and　people。　The　war　has　greatly　injured　my　poor
subjects。　Industry　is　prostrated　and　prosperity　disturbed。　We　must
seek　new　sources　of　acquisition；　and　sustain　those　which　are
exhausted。　For　this；　we　must　think　of　fresh　taxes；　and　other　sources
of　income。〃

〃Sire；〃　said　Herzberg；　shrugging　his　shoulders；　〃the　taxes　are
already　so　heavy　that　it　will　be　difficult　to　increase　them。〃

〃You　are　greatly　mistaken；〃　cried　the　king；　with　increased
animation。　〃I　will　impose　a　tax　upon　those　things　which　are　now
exempt；　and　establish　a　capable　administration　for　the　purpose。
Bread；　flour；　meat；　and　beer；　the　sustenance　of　the　poor；　shall
remain　as　they　are；　for　I　will　not　that　they　sh