old fritz and the new era-第60部分

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upon　the　beaming　face　of　the　young　king；　dining　in　the　distinguished
circle　of　his　friends　Voltaire；　D'Argens；　Algarotti；　La　Melbrie；　and
Keith。

The　Cupids　were　fresh　as　ever；　and　the　goddesses　had　not　removed　the
trumpets　from　their　lips。　But　where　were　the　of　the　merry　round…
table？　Returned　to　dust。　The　jests　and　poesy　have　died　awayall
have　sunken　to　decay　and　darkness。　The　king　silently　raised　his
glass　of　Tokay；　gazing　up　to　the　clouds　and　Cupids；　draining　it
slowly　in　sacrifice　for　the　dead。　Then　with　a　vehement；　contemptuous
movement；　he　threw　the　glass　over　his　shoulder；　shivering　it　into　a
thousand　pieces。　The　old　generals；　after　dessert；　had　gently　sunk
into　their　afternoon　nap；　and　now　started；　frightened；　looking
wildly　around；　as　if　they　expected　the　enemy　were　approaching。
Alkmene　crept　from　under　the　king's　chair　muffing　with　her　long；
delicate　nose；　the　glistening　pieces　of　glass；　and　the　footman　bent
himself　to　carefully　pick　them　up。

The　king　rose　silently；　saluting　the　old　generals；　pointing　with　his
staff　to　the　large　folding…doors　which　led　to　the　garden。

The　footmen　hastened　forward　to　open　them；　and　stand　in　stiff；
military　order　upon　each　side。　Frederick　walked　slowly　out；　mounting
the　two　steps　which　led　to　the　upper　terrace；　signing　to　the
attendants　to　close　the　doors。

He　was　alone。　Only　Windspiel　was　there　to　spring　about　joyfully；
barking；　and　turning　to　meet　him；　who　wandered　on　the　border　of　the
terrace；　where　he　had　formerly　walked　with　his　friends。　Now　he
stopped　to　gaze　up　the　broad；　deserted　steps　which　led　from　terrace
to　terrace；　as　if　he　could　re…people　them　with　the　well…known　forms；
and　could　see　them　approach　and　greet　him　with　the　look　of　endless
love　and　constancy。　Then　he　raised　his　eyes　to　heaven；　as　if　to　seek
there　those　he　in　vain　sought　upon　earth。

〃Do　you　not　see　me；　my　friends？〃　he　asked；　in　a　gentle　but　sad
voice。　〃Do　you　not　look　down　wonderingly　where　you　saw　a　cheerful；
smiling　king；　upon　the　now　bent；　shrunken　old　man；　cold　and
phlegmatic；　who　seldom　speaks；　and　then　causes　every　one　to　yawn？
Oh；　where　have　you　fled；　beautiful　spring…time　of　lifewherein　once
we　used　to　enliven　our　conversations　with　the　wit　of　the　Athenians；
and　the　jest　fluttered　upon　our　lips　as　we　glided　through　life　in
the　bold　enjoyment　of　youth？　Banished　is　the　dance；　and　I　creep
about；　leaning　upon　my　staff；　enfeebled　in　body；　and　with　saddened
heart！　Oh；　awful　change；　unhappy　old　age！　What　does　it　aid　me　that　I
am　a　king？　I　have　won　many　a　battle；　but　now　I　am　vanquished　by　age
and　death　and　am　alone！〃　＇Footnote：　The　king's　words。See
〃Posthumous　Works；〃　vol。　x。；　p。　100。＇

A　slight　breeze　rustled　through　the　trees；　fanning；　caressingly；　the
cheeks　of　the　king。　The　perfume　of　sweet　flowers　rose　from　the
terrace；　and　below　rushed　the　cascade。　The　marble　groups　around　the
fountain　glistened　in　the　golden　rays　of　the　sun；　and　in　the　dark
foliage　fluttered　and　sang　the　merry　birds　of　summer。

Suddenly　the　wind　wafted　from　the　church　at　Potsdam　the　clear　tones
of　a　bell；　announcing　to　the　king　the　hour　of　four；　the　death　of
Voltaire。

The　king　walked　along　to　the　rose…arbor；　to　the　temple　of
friendship；　where　the　bust　of　his　sister　Frederika　was　placed。　He
seated　himself　near　the　entrance；　listening　to　the　ringing　voice　of
the　bell；　and　recalling　that　the　death…mass　had　now　commenced　in
Berlin。

The　service　sacred　to　memory！　The　prayer　for　the　immortal　soul！　As
the　lonely　king　sat　there；　calm　and　bowed　down；　a　solemn　prayer　and
holy　mass　rose　from　his　own　soul。　He　bowed　lower　his　head；　and；
without　realizing　it　himself；　traced　letters　in　the　sand　at　his
feet；　with　no　witness　but　the　blue　heavens　above　him；　and　Windspiel
who　curiously　eyed　the　lines。　Thinking　of　the　prayer　for　Voltaire's
undying　soul；　the　king　had　written　the　word　of　profoundest　mystery
and　revelation；　of　hope　and　prophecy〃　Immortality。〃

The　wind　gently　rustled　in　the　trees；　wafting　the　perfume　of
flowers。　Sweet　stillness　reigned　around；　and　lowly　sang　the　birds　as
if　not　to　waken　the　king；　who　slept　by　the　marble　form　of　his
beloved　sisterWindspiel　upon　his　knees；　and　in　the　sand　at　his
feet　the　word　traced　by　his　own　hand；　〃Immortality。〃




CHAPTER　XXIX。

CAGLIOSTRO'S　RETURN。


Wilhelmine　Enke　was　still　living　at　her　villa　at　Charlottenburg。　She
was；　as　formerly；　the　〃unmarried〃　daughter　of　the　hautboy…player；
the　favorite　and　friend　of　the　crown　prince；　the　same　as　two　years
previous；　when　he　presented　her　before　the　Bavarian　campaign；　with
this　house　and　There　was　no　change　in　her　outward　circumstances；　her
life　passed　regularly　and　calmly。　The　once　fresh　and　beautiful　cheek
had　lost　somewhat　of　its　youthful；　roseate　hue；　and　the　smile　of　the
ruby　lips　was　less　haughty；　and　the　warmth　of　those　brilliant　eyes
was　subdued。　This　was　the　only　perceptible　difference　wrought　by　the
little　vexations　and　troubles　incident　to　her　position。　She　had
found　some　bitter　drops　in　the　golden　goblet　which　the　prince　in　his
love　pressed　to　her　lipsdrops　which　were　uncongenial　to　lips
accustomed　to　the　sweets　of　life。

To…day　she　had　awaited　him　at　dinner；　and　had　just　received　a　very
friendly　but　laconic　letter；　excusing　himself　until　the　following
morning。　This　was　an　unpalatable　drop。　Wilhlemine　paced　back　and
forth　the　solitary；　gloomy　path；　at　the　foot　of　the　garden；　re…
reading　this　letter；　and　examining　every　word　to　search　out　its
hidden　meaning。

〃They　have　brought　this　about；〃　she　murmured；　tearing　the　letter
into　little　pieces；　which　lighted　upon　the　shrubbery　like
butterflies。　〃Yes；　it　is　their　work。　They　have　sought　by　all
possible　means　to　draw　him　into　their　power；　and　away　from　me。　And
they　will　succeed；　as　there　are　two　of　them；　and　the　princess
sustains　them；　and　I　am　alone；　unsupported。　I　am　entirely　alone
alone！〃

〃If　you　are　alone；　then；　it　is　surely　your　own　fault；〃　said　an
earnest；　solemn　voice；　and　at　the　same　instant　a　tall　form
approached　from　the　shrubbery　which　bordered　the　side　of　the　garden。

〃Cagliostro！〃　shrieked　Wilhelmine；　shrinking　terrified　away。　〃Oh；
mercy　upon　me；　it　is　Cagliostro！〃

〃Why　are　you　so　frightened；　my　daughter？〃　he　asked；　gently。　〃Why　do
you　withdraw　from　me；　and　cast　down　your　eyes？〃

〃I　thought　you　were　in　Courland；〃　she　stammered；　confused。

〃And　whilst　you　thought　me　afar；　you　forgot　your　sacred　oath　and
holy　duty；〃　he　replied；　in　a　harsh；　severe　tone。　〃Oh　my　daughter；
the　Invisibles　weep　and　lament　bitterly　over　you。〃

〃I　am　curious　to　see　these　tears；〃　said　Wilhelmine；　who　had　now
recovered　her　self…composure。　〃Do　you　think；　Herr　Magus；　any　of　them
could　be　found　in　the　eyes　of　Colonel　Bischofswerder　and　his
intimate　friend　Woellner？　Do　you　pretend　that　they　also　weep　over
me？〃

〃They　do　not　belong　to　the　Invisibles；　but　the　Visibles。　But　their
souls　are　true　and　faithful；　and　would　have　to　mourn　over　the
unhappy　one　who　could　forget　her　vows。〃

〃Then　allow　me　to　say　that　I　abjure　these　tears；　and　laugh　at　the
idea　that　these　hypocrites　and　necromancers　weep　over　me。〃

〃My　daughter；　what　words　are　these；　and　how　strangely　altered　you
are！　I　have　come　from　the　far　north；　and　but　just　alighted　from　the
travelling…carriage。　I　came　at　once　to　see　you；　and　hoped　to　be
greeted　joyfully　with　a　kiss　of　love；　and　what　do　I　hear　instead？
Harsh　words　filled　with　scorn　and　mockery；　and　disobedience　against
the　Invisible　Fathers；　to　whom　you　have　sworn　fidelity　and
submission！〃

〃You　have　forced　me　to　it！〃　she　cried；　impetuously。　〃In　my　own　house
you　came　upon　me　and　compelled　me　to　take　part　in　your　mystic
assembly。〃

〃If　one　loves　humanity；　he　must　insist　upon　its　accepting
happiness；〃　said　Cagliostro；　solemnly。　〃We　recognized　in　you　one　of
the　elect；　one　of　the　great　souls　which　are　worthy　to　see　the　light；
and　sun　themselves　in　the　rays　of　knowledge。　Therefore　we　accepted
you　among　the　spirits　of　the　alliance；　and〃

〃And　made　great　promises；　of　which　not　one　has　been　fulfilled。　Where
is　the　title　of　countess；　the　influence；　position；　honor；　and
dignity；　which　you　prophesied　to　me？〃

〃Where　are　the　deeds　you　promised　to　perform；　the　witnesses　of　your
fidelity　and　devotion？〃　he　thunderingly　demanded。　〃You　have　dared　to
rebel　against　the　holy　alliance！　Your　short…sighted　spirit　presumes
to　mock　those　eyes　which　perceive　that　you　are　straying　away！
BewareWilhemine；　beware！　I　came　to…day　to　warn　you；　when　I　return
it　will　be　to　punish　you。　Turn；　oh　turn　while　there　is　yet　time！
Submit　your　will　to　the　Fathers；　as　you　have　sworn　to　do！　The
promised　reward　will　not　fail；　and　Wilhelmine　Enke　will　become　a
countess；　a　princess；　and　the　most　distinguished　and　powerful　will
bow　before　her。　The　Fathers　demand　of　you　repentance；　and
renunciation　of　the　worst　enemies　of　the　Rosicrucians。　Members；　and
even　chiefs　and　pioneers　of　the　Illuminati　and　Freemasons　are
welcomed　at　your　house。〃

〃Why　should　they　not　be？〃　asked　she；　smiling。　〃They　are　happy；
cheerful　spirits；　void　of　mysteries；　and　do　not　torture　people　with
mysticisms。　They　have　but　one　aim；　a　great　and　glorious　one；　to　free
the　mind　from　superstition　and　hypocrisy。　They　encounter　with　open
countenance　the　false　devotees　who　would　force　men　into　spiritual
servitude；　that　they　may　become　the　slaves　of　their　will。　You　call
them　'Illuminati；'　while　they　have　undertaken　to　illuminate　the
minds　with　the　beams　of　knowledge　which　the　Rosicrucians　obscure　in
a　mystical　fog。〃

〃Unhappy　one；　do　you　dare　to　say　that　to　me？〃　cried　Cagliostro；
menacingly。

〃Yes；〃　she　responded；　keeping　her　large；　brown　eyes　firmly　fixed
upon　Cagliostro's　angry　face。　〃That　I　dare　to　repeat　to　you；　and　I
would　also　remark　that　we　are　not　in　the　mystical　assembly　of　the
Rosicrucians；　and　your　familiar　'Du'　is　out　of　place。　I　belong　to
the　Illuminati；　and　mingle　with　the　freethinkers。　They　have　not；
indeed；　promised　me　titles；　honors；　or　dignities；　but　they　have
amused　me；　have　driven　ennui　from　the　house；　and　instead　of
mysticisms；　brought　me　poesy；　and　instead　of　the　invisible　holy
church；　the　Greek　temple。　It　is　possible　my　life　may　not　be　a　godly
one；　but　it　is　as　happy　as　the　gods；　and　that　is　some