old fritz and the new era-第58部分

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Bread；　flour；　meat；　and　beer；　the　sustenance　of　the　poor；　shall
remain　as　they　are；　for　I　will　not　that　they　shall　pay　more。　But
tobacco；　coffee；　and　tea；　are　superfluous　things；　which　the
prosperous　and　rich　consume。　Whoever　will　smoke；　and　drink　tea　or
coffee；　can　and　shall　pay　for　being　a　gourmand！〃

〃I　beg　pardon；　but　it　is　just　these　taxes　which　will　create　the
greatest　discontent；〃　answered　Herzberg。　〃Your　majesty　will　remember
that　the　duty　on　coffee　was　complained　of　and　criticised　by　every
one；　and　the　poor　people　grumbled　more　than　all。　In　spite　of　the
resistance　of　government；　coffee　has　become；　more　and　more；　a　means
of　nourishment　and　refreshment　for　the　lower　class。〃

〃I　will　teach　them　to　renounce　it；〃　cried　the　king；　striking　the
table　violently　with　his　staff　〃I　will　not　suffer　so　much　money　to
go　out　of　the　country　for　this　abominable　beverage！　My　people　shall
re…learn　to　drink　their　beer；　instead　of　this　infamous　stuff；　as　I
had　to　do　when　a　young　man。　What　was　good　enough　for　the　crown
prince　of　Prussia；　will　to…day　suffice　for　his　subjects。　I　tell　you；
Herzberg；　I　will　teach　them　to　drink　their　beer；　or　pay　dearly　for
this　bad；　foreign　stuff。　Then　we　will　see　which　will　conquer；
Prussian　beer　or　foreign　coffee。〃

〃It　is　possible　that　the　former　will　be　victorious　on　account　of
their　poverty　and　the　high　duties；　but　in　any　case　the　people　will
be　discontented；　and　grumble　against　your　majesty。〃

〃Do　you　suppose　that　I　care　for　that？〃　asked　the　king；　with　a　quick；
fiery　glance　at　the　calm；　earnest　face　of　his　confidant。　〃Do　you
think　that　I　care　for　the　applause　of　the　people；　or　trouble　myself
about　their　complaints？　I　regard　their　shouting　or　their　grumbling
about　as　much　as　the　humming　or　buzzing　of　a　fly　upon　the　wall。　If
it　dares　to　light　upon　my　nose；　I　brush　it　off；　and　if　I　can；　I
catch　it。　Beyond　that；　it　is　its　nature　to　hum　and　buzz。　Herzberg；
you　understand　that　if　a　ruler　should　listen　to　the　praises　or
discontent　of　his　subjects；　he　would　soon　be　a　lost　man；　and　would
not　know　his　own　mind。　The　people　are　changeable　as　the　weather；　to…
morrow　they　crush　under　their　feet　what　to…day　they　bore　aloft；　and
praise　one　day　what　they　stone　the　next。　Do　not　talk　to　me　about　the
people！　I　know　this　childish；　foolish　mass；　and　he　is　lost　who
counts　upon　their　favor。　It　is　all　the　same　to　me　whether　they　like
or　hate　me。　I　shall　always　do　my　duty　to　my　subjects　according　to
the　best　of　my　knowledge　and　ability；　as　it　becomes　an　honorable　and
faithful　officer。　As　the　chief　and　most　responsible　servant　of　my
kingdom；　I　should　be　mindful　to　increase　her　income　and　diminish　her
expensesto　lay　taxes　upon　the　rich；　and　lighten　them　for　the　poor。
This　is　my　task；　and　I　will　fulfil　it　so　long　as　I　live！〃

〃Oh；〃　cried　Herzberg；　with　enthusiasm；　〃would　that　the　entire　nation
might　hear　these　words；　and　engrave　them　upon　their　hearts！〃

〃Why　that；　mon　cher？〃　asked　Frederick；　shrugging　his　shoulders。　〃I
do　not　ask　to　be　deified；　my　subjects　are　perfectly　welcome　to
discuss　my　acts；　so　long　as　they　pay　me　punctually；　and　order　and
quiet　are　respected　and　preserved。〃

〃All　that　is　done；〃　said　Herzberg；　joyfully。　〃The　machine　of　state
is　so　well　arranged；　that　she　has　fulfilled　her　duty　during　the　war；
and　will　soon　reestablish　prosperity。〃

〃Particularly；〃　cried　the　king；　〃if　we　rightly　understand　the　art　of
agriculture。　In　the　end　every　thing　depends　upon　him　who　best
cultivates　his　field。　This　is　the　highest　art；　for　without　it　there
would　be　no　merchants；　courtiers；　kings；　poets；　or　philosophers。　The
productions　of　the　earth　are　the　truest　riches。　He　who　improves　his
ground；　brings　waste　land　under　the　plough；　drains　the　swamps；　makes
the　most　glorious　conquests　over　barbarism。〃

〃And　those　are　also　conquerors；　sire；〃　said　Herzberg；　smiling；　〃who
drain　the　mental　swamps；　and　improve　the　waste　mental　ground。　Such
are　those　who　increase　the　schools　and　instruct　the　people。　I　have
caused　the　school　authorities　to　report　to　me；　according　to　your
majesty's　command。　A　happy　progress　has　been　noticed　everywhere。
Cultivation　and　education　are　advancing；　and　since　our　teachers　have
adopted　the　principles　of　Rousseau；　a　more　humane　spirit　is
perceptible　throughout　our　schools。〃

〃What　principle　do　we　owe　to　Jean　Jacques？〃　asked　the　king。

〃Sire；　the　principle　that　man　is　good　by　nature！〃

〃Ah；　mon　cher；　who　says　that　knows　but　little　of　the　abominable　race
to　which　we　belong！〃　＇Footnote：　The　king's　words。See　〃Prussia。〃
vol。　iv。；　p。　221。＇

〃Do　you　not　believe　in　this　doctrine？〃　asked　Herzberg。

The　king　raised　his　large　blue　eyes　musingly　to　the　busts　placed
upon　the　bookcases；　and　around　the　walls。　They　lingered　long　upon
those　of　Homer；　Plato；　and　D'Alembert；　then　turned　to　that　of
Voltaire；　with　its　satyr…like　face。　〃No；　I　do　not　believe　it；〃　he
sadly　responded。　〃Mankind　is　an　ignoble　race；　still　one　must　love
them；　for　among　the　wicked　are　always　some　worthy　ones；　whose　light
beams　so　brightly　clear；　that　they　change　night　into　day。　During　my
life　I　have　learned　to　know　many　base；　miserable　creatures；　but　I
have　become　reconciled　to　them；　as　I　have　also　found　some　who　were
virtuous　and　excellentsome　who　were　noble　and　beautiful；　as　the
grains　of　wheat　among　the　chaff。　You　belong　to　the　latter；　my
Herzberg；　and　as　in　heaven　many　unjust　will　be　forgiven　for　one　just
person；　so　will　I　upon　earth　forgive　on　your　account　the　Trencks；
Schaffgotschs；　Goernes；　Voltaires；　Wallraves；　Glasows；　Dahsens；　and
all　the　traitors；　poisoners；　and　perfidious　ones；　as　they　may　be
called。　Remain　by　my　side　and　sustain　me；　to　prevent　many　a　wicked
thing　and　bring　to　pass　much　that　is　good。　I　shall　always　be
grateful　to　you　in　my　heart　for　it；　that　you　can　depend　upon　even　if
my　weather…beaten　face　looks　ill…humored；　and　my　voice　is　peevish。
Remember　that　I　am　a　fretful　old　man；　who　is　daily　wasting　away；
approaching　that　bourne　from　which　no　traveller　has　ever　returned。〃

〃God　grant　that　your　majesty　may　be　far　removed　from　this　bourne！〃
said　Herzberg；　with　emotion。　〃And　He　may　grant　it　on　account　of　your
subjects；　who　are　so　much　in　need　of　your　care　and　government。〃

〃There　is　no　one　upon　earth　who　could　not　be　replaced；〃　said　the
king；　shaking　his　head。　〃When　I　am　gone；　they　will　shout　to　my
successor。　I　trust　my　subjects　will　exchange　a　good　ruler　for　their
fretful　old　king。　I　have　been　very　well　satisfied　with　him　during
the　campaign；　and　he　has　shown　ability　in　the　diplomatic　mission　to
St。　Petersburg。　He　has　proved　himself　a　soldier　and　a　diplomat；　and
I　hope　he　will　become　a　great　king。　Herzberg；　why　do　you　not　answer
me；　but　cast　down　your　eyes？　What　does　your　silence　mean？〃

〃Nothing　at　alltruly　nothing！　The　crown　prince　has　a　noble；
generous　heart；　a　good　understanding；　only〃

〃Why　hesitate；　Herzberg？　Go　onwhat　is　your　'only？'〃

〃I　would　only　say　that　the　crown　prince　must　beware　and。　not　be
governed　by　others。〃

〃Oh；　you　mean　that　he　will　be　ruled　by　mistresses　and　favorites？〃

〃I　do　fear　it；　your　majesty！　You　well　know　that　the　crown　princes
are　generally　the　antipodes　of　those　ascendant　to　the　throne。　If　the
ruler　has　only　an　enlightened　mind；　and　is　free　from　prejudices；　so…
…〃

〃Is　his　crown　prince　an　obscurer；〃　added　quickly　the　king；　〃having
the　more　prejudices；　and　is　capable　of　being　ruled　by　mystics　and
exorcists。　Is　not　that　your　meaning？〃

Count　Herzberg　nodded。　The　king　continued　with　animation：　〃Some　one
has　told　me　of　a　new　friend　who　returned　from　the　war　with　the
prince；　and　who　belongs　to　the　Rosicrucians　and　exhorters；　and　hopes
to　find　many　adherents　here　for　such　deceptions。　Is　it　true？〃

〃Yes；　sire。　It　is　Colonel　Bischofswerder；　a　Rosicrucian　and
necromancer　and　of　course　of　very　pleasant　address。　He　has　indeed
already　gained　much　power　over　the　impressible　mind　of　Frederick
William；　and　his　importance　is　greatly　on　the　increase。〃

〃What　does　the　crown　prince's　mistress　say　to　it？　Is　she　not
jealous？〃

〃Of　which　one　does　your　majesty　speak？〃

The　king　started；　and　his　eyes　flashed。　〃What！〃　he　cried　with
vehemence；　〃is　there　a　question　of　several？　Has　the　crown　prince
others　besides　Wilhelmine　Enke；　whom　I　have　tolerated？〃

〃Sire；　unfortunately；　the　prince　has　not　a　very　faithful　heart。
Besides；　it　is　Bischofswerder's　plan；　as　I　suppose；　to　separate　him
from　Wilhelmine；　who　will　not　subordinate　herself　to　him；　and　who
even　dares　to　mock　the　necromancers　and　visionaries；　and　oppose　them
to　the　crown　prince。〃

〃Does　Enke　do　that？〃　asked　the　king。

〃Yes；　sire；〃　answered　Herzberg；　as　the　king　rose　and　slowly　paced
the　room。　〃And　one　must　acknowledge　that　in　that　she　does　well　and
nobly。　Otherwise　one　cannot　reproach　her。　She　leads　a　quiet；　retired
life；　very　seldom　leaving　her　beautiful　villa　at　Charlottenburg；　but
devotes　herself　to　the　education　of　her　children。　She　is　surrounded
with　highly…educated　men；　savants；　poets；　and　artists；　who　indeed
all　belong　to　the　enlightened；　the　so…called　Illuminati；　and　which
are　a　thorn　in　the　eye　to　Colonel　Bischofswerder。　Your　majesty　will
perceive　that　I　have　some　good　informants　in　this　circle；　and　the
latest　news　they　bring　me　is　that　the　bad　influence　is　upon　the
increase。　The　Rosicrucians　reproach　the　prince　for　his　immoral
connection　with　Wilhelmine　Enke；　as　they　would　replace　her　by　one
who　gives　herself　up　to　them。〃

〃That　shall　not　take　place；〃　cried　the　king。　〃No；　we　will　not　suffer
that；　and　particularly　when　we　are　forced　to　recognize　such
abominable　connections；　we　should　endeavor　to　choose　the　most
desirable。　I　cannot　permit　that　this　person；　who　has　at　least　heart
and　understanding；　should　be　pushed　aside　by　Bischofswerder。　My
nephew　shall　retain　her；　and　she　shall　drive　away　the　Rosicrucians
with　all　their　deviltries。　Herzberg；　go　and　tell　the　crown　prince；
from　me；　that　I　order〃

His　majesty　suddenly　stopped；　and　looked　at　Herzberg　with　surprise；
who　was　smiling。

〃Why　do　you　laugh；　Herzberg？〃

〃I　was　not　laughing；　sire。　If　my　lip　quivered　against　my　will；　it
was　because　I　stupidly　and　foolishly　dared　to　finish　the　broken
sentence。〃

〃Well；　how　did　you　manage　to　conclude　it？〃

〃S