old fritz and the new era-第7部分

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keeping　him　in　suspense　a　little　longer。

Herr　Behnisch　moved　forward；　and　the　prince；　frightened；　remained
standing　with　outstretched　hand。　He　menaced　the　king　with　a　glance
of　his　bright　blue　eyes。　Frederick　caught　the　look；　smiled；　and
turned　to　the　tutor。

〃I　believe　it　is　three　years　since　you　commenced　teaching　the　little
prince？〃　said　the　king。

〃At　your　service；　your　majesty；　since　1775。〃

〃A　tolerably　long　time；〃　said　the　king〃long　enough　to　make　a
savant　of　a　child　of　Nature。　You　have　been　faithful；　and　I　am
satisfied。　The　copybooks　which　you　sent　me　according　to　my　orders
are　satisfactory。　I　wished　to　acquaint　you　myself　of　my
satisfaction；　therefore　I　sent　for　you。〃

〃Your　majesty　is　very　condescending；〃　said　the　tutor；　and　his　sharp；
angular　face　brightened　a　little。　〃I　am　very　happy　in　the　gracious
satisfaction　of　your　royal　highness。　I　wished　also　to　make　known　to
you　personally　my　wishes　in　regard　to　the　petition　for　the　little
prince's　pocket…money；　he　should　learn　the　use　of　money。〃

〃Very　well；〃　said　the　king；　nodding　to　the　prince；　who　stood　behind
the　tutor；　holding　up　triumphantly　the　shuttle　cock。

Yet；　the　most　difficult　feat　remained　to　be　accomplished。　The
battledoor　was　in　the　very　depths　of　the　pocket；　only　the　point　of
the　handle　was　visible。

〃Your　majesty；〃　cried　Herr　Behnisch；　who　had　taken　the　approving
exclamation　of　〃very　well〃　to　himself〃your　majesty；　I　am　very
happy　that　you　have　the　grace　to　approve　of　my　petition　for　pocket…
money。〃

〃Yes；　I　think　it　well；〃　said　the　king；　〃that　the　prince　should　learn
not　to　throw　money　out　of　the　window。　I　will　send　you；　monthly；　for
the　prince；　two　Fredericks　d'or；　and；　before　you　hand　it　over　to
him；　change　it　into　small　pieces；　that　there　may　be　a　great　pile　of
it。〃　＇Footnote：　The　king's　own　wordsSee　〃Confidential　Letters。〃＇

Just　at　that　moment　the　prince　tried　to　seize　the　battle　door。　Herr
Behnisch　felt　the　movement；　and　was　on　the　point　of　turning　around；
when　Frederick　stopped　him；　by　saying；　〃I　believe　it　is　time　to
commence　a　regular　course　of　instruction　for　the　prince。　At　eight
years　of　age　the　education　of　an　heir　to　the　throne　must　progress
rapidly；　and　be　regulated　by　fixed　principles。　I　will　write　out　my
instructions；　that　you　may　always　have　them　before　you。〃

〃It　will　be　my　most　earnest　endeavor　to　follow　your　majesty's
commands　to　the　letter；〃　answered　the　tutor；　who　saw　not　the　little
prince；　with　beaming　face；　behind　him；　swinging　the　battledoor　high
in　the　air。

〃I　am　about　to　enter　upon　a　new　war；　no　one　knows　if　he　will　ever
return　from　a　campaign。　I　dare　not　spare　my　life；　when　the　honor　and
fame　of　my　house　are　at　stake。　Our　life　and　death；　however；　are　in
God's　hands。　Before　we　risk　our　lives；　we　should　put　every　thing　in
order；　and　leave　nothing　undone　which　it　is　our　duty　to　do。　I　will
write　my　instructions　to…day；　and　send　them　to　you。　Promise　me；　upon
your　word　of　honor　as　a　man；　that　you　will　act　upon　them；　as　long　as
you　are　tutor　to　Prince　Frederick　William；　even　if　I　should　not
return　from　the　campaign。〃

〃I　promise　it　to　your　majesty；〃　answered　the　tutor。　〃I　will；　in　all
things；　according　to　the　best　of　my　ability；　follow　your　majesty's
instructions。〃

〃I　believe　you；　I　take　you　to　be　an　honorable　man；〃　said　the　king。
〃You　will　always　be　mindful　of　the　great　responsibility　which　rests
upon　you；　as　you　have　a　prince　to　educate　who　will　one　day　govern　a
kingdom；　and　upon　whom　the　weal　and　woe　of　many　millions　are
dependent。　And　when　those　millions　of　men　one　day　bless　the　king
whom　you　have　educated；　a　part　of　the　blessing　will　fall　upon　you；
but　when　they　curse　him；　so　falls　the　curse　likewise　upon　your
guilty　head；　and　you　will　feel　the　weight　of　it；　though　you　may　be
in　your　grave！。　Be　mindful　of　this；　and　act　accordingly。　Now　you　may
depart。　I　will　write　the　instructions　immediately；　so　that　you　may
receive　them　to…day。〃

Herr　Behnisch　bowed；　backing　out　toward　the　door。

〃One　thing　more；〃　cried　the　king；　motioning　with　his　Staff　to　the
tutor。　〃In　order　that　you　may　ever　remember　our　interview；　I　will
present　you　with　a　souvenir。〃

He　opened　the　drawer　of　his　private　writing…table；　and　took　out　a
gold　snuff…box；　with　his　initials　set　in　brilliants　upon　the　cover；
handing　it　to　Herr　Behnisch；　he　motioned　him　to　retire；　and　thus
spare　him　the　expression　of　his　gratitude。

〃Your　majesty；〃　stammered　Herr　Behnisch；　with　tears　in　his　eyes；
〃I〃

〃You　are　an　honest　man；　and　so　long　as　you　remain　so；　you　can　count
upon　me。　Adieu！Now；〃　said　the　king；　as　the　door　closed；　〃have　you
recovered　the　plaything？〃

〃Here　it　is；　your　majesty；〃　shouted　the　prince；　as　he　held　up
triumphantly　the　battledoor　and　shuttlecock　high　in　the　air。

〃You　deserve　your　reward；　and　you　shall　have　it。　You　can　stay　with
me　and　play　with　it　here。　Take　care　and　not　make　too　much　noise；　as
I　wish　to　write。〃

The　king　now　seated　himself；　to　draw　up　the　instructions　for　Herr
Behnisch。　While　he　was　thus　occupied；　the　little　prince　tossed　his
shuttlecock；　springing　lightly　after　it　on　tiptoe　to　catch　it；
sometimes　he　missed　it；　and　then　he　cast　an　imploring　look　at　the
king；　as　it　fell　upon　the　furniture；　but　he　observed　it　not。　He　was
absorbed　in　writing　the　instructions　for　the　education　of　the　future
king；　Frederick　William　III。　The　physical　education　of　the　prince
was　his　first　care。　He　dwelt　upon　the　necessity　of　the　frequent
practice　of　dancing；　fencing；　and　riding；　to　give　suppleness；　grace；
and　a　good　carriagethrough　severe　training；　to　make　him　capable　of
enduring　all　hardships。　The　different　branches　of　study　next
occupied　the　king。　〃It　is　not　sufficient；〃　he　wrote；〃　that　the
prince　should　learn　the　dates　of　history；　to　repeat　them　like　a
parrot；　but　he　must　understand　how　to　compare　the　events　of　ancient
times　with　the　modern；　and　discover　the　causes　which　produced
revolutions；　and　show　that；　generally；　in　the　world；　virtue　is
rewarded　and　vice　punished。　Later；　he　can　learn　a　short　course　of
logic；　free　from　all　pedantry；　then　study　the　orations　of　Cicero　and
Demosthenes；　and　read　the　tragedies　of　Racine。　When　older；　he　should
have　some　knowledge　of　the　opinions　of　philosophers；　and　the
different　religious　sects；　without　inspiring　him　with　dislike　for
any　one　sect。　Make　it　clear　to　him　that　we　all　worship　Godonly　in
different　ways。　It　is　not　necessary　that　he　should　have　too　much
respect　for　the　priests　who　instruct　him。〃

The　shuttlecock　fell；　at　this　instant；　upon　the　paper　upon　which　the
king　was　writing。　Frederick　was　too　much　occupied　to　look　up；　but　he
threw　it　upon　the　floor；　continuing　to　write：

〃The　great　object　will　be　to　awaken　a　love　of　learning　in　the
prince；　to　prevent　any　approach　to　pedantry；　and　not　to　make　the
course　of　instruction　too　severe　at　the　commencement。　We　now　come　to
the　chief　division　of　education；　that　which　concerns　the　morals。
Neither　you　nor　all　the　power　in　the　world　would　be　sufficient　to
alter　the　character　of　a　child。　Education　can　do　nothing　further
than　moderate　the　violence　of　the　passions。　Treat　my　nephew　as　the
son　of　a　citizen；　who　has　to　make　his　own　fortune。　Say　to　him　that；
when　he　commits　follies；　and　learns　nothing；　the　whole　world　will
despise　him。　Let　him　assume　no　mannerisms；　but　bring　him　up　simply。
The〃

It　was　the　second　time　the　shuttlecock　fell　upon　the　paper。　The　king
looked　up　censuringly　at　the　prince；　who　stood　speechless　with
fright　and　anxiety。　The　king　again　threw　it　upon　the　floor；　and
wrote　on：

〃The　prince　must　be　polite　toward　every　one；　and　if　he　is　rude；　he
must　immediately　make　an　apology。　Teach　him　that　all　men　are　equal
that　high　birth　is　a　myth　when　not　accompanied　with　merit。　Let　the
prince　speak　with　every　one；　that　he　may　gain　confidence。　It　is　of
no　consequence　if　he　talks　nonsense；　every　one　knows　that　he　is　a
child。　Take　care　in　his　education；　above　all　things；　that　he　is
self…reliant；　and　not　led　by　others；　his　follies；　as　well　as　his
good　qualities；　should　belong　to　himself。　It　is　of　very　great
importance　to　inspire　him　with　a　love　for　military　life；　and　for
this　reason　say　to　him；　and　let　him　hear　others　say　it；　that　every
man　who　is　not　a　soldier　is　a　miserable　fellow；　whether　noble　or
not。　He　must　see　the　soldiers　exercise　as　often　as　possible；　and　it
would　be　well　to　send　for　five　or　six　cadets；　and　have　them　drill
before　him。　Every　thing　depends　upon　cultivating　a　taste　for　these
things。　Inspire　him　with　a　love　of　our　country；　above　all　things。
Let　no　one　speak　to　him　who　is　not　truly　patriotic。〃

Again　the　shuttlecock　fell　upon　the　paper。　The　little　prince　uttered
a　cry　of　horror；　staring　at　the　plaything。　This　time　the　king　did
not　receive　the　interruption　so　calmly。　He　looked　at　the　speechless
boy　as　if　very　angry；　then　took　it　and　put　it　in　his　pocket。　Casting
another　angry　glance　at　the　prince；　he　continued：

〃The　officers　who　dine　with　the　prince　shall　tease　and　annoy　him；
that　he　may　become　confident。〃

〃Your　majesty；〃　said　the　prince；　timidly　and　imploringly；　〃I　beg
pardon　a　thousand　times　for　being　so　awkward。　I　am　sorry；　and　I　will
be　more　careful　in　the　future。〃

The　king　paid　no　attention　to　him；　but　continued　to　write：　〃When　you
understand　him　better；　try　to　learn　his　chief　passion　to　uproot　it；
but　to　moderate　it。〃　＇Footnote：　This　entire　instruction　is　an　exact
translation　of　the　original；　which　Frederick　drew　up　in　French；　and
which　is　included　in　his　〃Complete　Works。〃＇

〃My　dear　lord　and　king；〃　began　the　prince　again；　〃I　beg　you　will
have　the　goodness　to　give　me　my　shuttlecock。〃

The　king　was　silent；　and　with　apparent　indifference　commenced
reading　over　what　he　had　written。

Prince　Frederick　William　waited　a　long　time；　but；　on　receiving　no
answer；　and　understanding　that　his　pleading　was　in　vain；　his　face
grew　red　with　anger；　and　his　eyes　flashed。　With　an　irritated；
determined　manner；　he　stepped　close　up　to　the　king；　his　hands
resting　upon　his　hips。　〃Your　majesty；〃　cried　he；　with　a　menacing
tone；　〃will　you　give　me　my　ball　or　not？〃

The　king　now　looked　up　at　the　prince；　who　regarded　him　in　an
insolent；　questioning　manner。　A　smile；　mild　as　the　evening　sunset；
spread