old fritz and the new era-第72部分

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when　he　awoke；　it　was　to　an　inconsolable　grief。　He　wept　with　heart…
felt　sorrow；　his　oath　alone　kept　him　from　hastening　to　her；　it　bound
him；　and　fettered　his　earnest　wish　to　see　her；　making　him　sad　and
melancholy。

The　spirits　had　no　pity　nor　mercy　upon　him。　His　two　confidants
encouraged　his　virtue　and　piety　from　morning　till　night；　exalting
his　excited　fancy　with　their　marvellous　relations　and　apparitions。

One　day　as　they　were　on　the　point　of　commencing　the　morning　prayers
to　the　Invisibles；　a　royal　footman　appeared；　with　the　command　to
betake　themselves　to　Sans…Souci；　where　the　king　awaited　them。

A　royal　carriage　was　in　attendance　to　convey　them。　There　was　no
alternative　but　obedience。

〃Perhaps　Fate　destines　us　to　become　martyrs　to　the　holy　cause；〃　said
Woellner；　devoutly　folding　his　hands。

〃We　may　never　enjoy　the　happiness　of　seeing　our　dear　brothers　of　the
confederacy　again；〃　sighed　Bischofswerder。　〃Our　spirits　will　always
be　with　you；　my　prince；　and　the　Invisible　Fathers　will　protect　you
in　all　your　ways。〃

The　crown　prince；　deeply　moved；　separated　from　his　friends　with
tears　in　his　eyes；　but　as　the　carriage　rolled　away　he　felt　relieved
as　of　an　oppressive　burden；　and　breathed　more　freely。

At　the　same　time　a　footman　entered；　bearing　upon　a　golden　salver　a
letter　for　the　prince。　Unobserved　and　free　to　act；　he　read　it；　and
as　he　sat　musingly　thinking　over　its　contents；　so　tender　and
affectionate；　he　re…read　it；　and　rising；　made　a　bold　resolve；　his
face　beaming　with　happiness；　to　order　his　carriage；　which　he　did；
and　in　a　few　moments　more　drove　at　full　speed　away　from　the　palace。

Bischofswerder　and　Woellner；　in　the　mean　time；　arrived　at　Sans…
Souci。　The　footman　awaiting　them　conducted　them　at　once　through　the
picture…gallery；　into　the　little　corridor　leading　to　the　king's
cabinet；　and　there　left　them　to　announce　them　to　his　majesty。　Both
gentlemen　heard　their　names　called　in　a　loud　voice；　and　the　response
of　the　king：　〃Let　them　wait　in　the　little　corridor　until　I　permit
them　to　enter。〃

The　footman　returned　and　with　subdued　voice　made　known　the　royal
command；　and　departed；　carefully　closing　the　door。

There　was　no　seat　in　the　narrow；　little　corridor；　and　the　air　was
close　and　oppressive。

They　could　hear　voices　in　mingled　conversation；　sometimes　it　seemed
as　if　the　king　were　communicating　commands；　again；　as　if　he　dictated
in　a　suppressed　voice。　The　Rosicrucians　knew　very　well　it　was　the
hour　of　the　cabinet　council；　and　they　waited　patiently　and
steadfastly；　but　as　their　watches　revealed　the　fact　that　three　hours
had　passed；　and　every　noise　was　hushed；　they　concluded　they　were
forgotten；　and　resolved　to　remind　the　lackey　of　their　presence。

〃Indeed；　this　standing　is　quite　insupportable；〃　whispered　Woellner。

They　both　slipped　to　the　entrance　and　tried　the　bronze　knob；　but
although　it　turned；　the　door　opened　not；　and　was　evidently　fastened
upon　the　outside。　They　looked　alarmed　at　each　other；　asking　what　it
could　mean。　〃Can　it　be　intentional？　Are　we　imprisoned　here？　We　must
be　resigned；　although　it　is　a　severe　experience。〃　At　last；　patience
exhausted；　they　resolved　to　bear　it　no　longer；　and　tapped　gently　at
the　door　of　the　king。　The　loud　bark　of　a　dog　was　their　only
response；　and　again　all　was　still。

〃Evidently　there　is　no　one　there；〃　sighed　Bischofswerder。　〃It　is　the
hour　of　dining　of　the　king。〃

〃I　wish　it　were　ours　also；〃　whined　Woellner。　〃I　confess　I　yearn　for
bodily　nourishment；　and　my　legs　sink　under　me。〃

〃I　am　fearfully　hungry；〃　groaned　Bischofswerder；　〃besides；　the　air
is　suffocating。　I　am　resolved　to　go　to　extremes；　and　make　a　noise。〃

He　rushed　like　a　caged　boar　from　one　door　to　the　other；　shrieking
for　the　lackey　to　open　the　door；　but　as　before；　a　loud　bark　was　the
only　response。

〃The　Lord　has　forsaken　us；〃　whimpered　Woellner。　〃The　sublime　Fathers
have　turned　their　faces　away　from　us。　We　will　pray　for　mercy　and　beg
for　a　release！〃　and　he　sank　upon　his　knees。

〃What　will　that　avail　us　here；　where　neither　prayers　nor　devotion
are　heeded？　Only　energy　and　determination　will　aid　us　at　Sans…Souci。
Come；　let　us　thump　and　bang　until　they　set　us　free！〃　cried
Bischofswerder；　peevishly。

Their　hands　were　lame；　and　their　voices　hoarse　with　their　exertions；
and　no　longer　able　to　stand；　they　sank　down　upon　the　floor　hungry
and　exhausted；　almost　weeping　with　rage　and　despair。

At　last；　after　long　hours　of　misery；　they　heard　a　noise　in　the
adjoining　room。　The　king　had　again　entered　his　cabinet。　The　door
opened；　and　the　lackey　motioned　to　the　two　gentlemen　to　enter。　They
rose　with　difficulty　and　staggered　into　the　room；　the　door　being
closed　behind　them。

His　majesty　was　seated　in　his　arm…chair；　with　his　three…cornered　hat
on；　leaning　his　chin　upon　his　hands；　crossed　upon　his　staff。　He
fixed　his　great　blue　eyes；　with　a　searching　glance；　upon　the　two
Rosicrucians；　then　turned　to　his　minister；　Herzberg；　who　was　seated
at　the　table　covered　with　documents。

〃These　are；　then；　the　two　great　props　of　the　Rosicrucians？〃　asked
Frederick〃the　two　charlatans　whom　they　have　told　me　make　hell　hot
for　the　crown　prince；　continually　lighting　it　up　with　their　prayers
and　litanies。〃

〃Your　majesty；　answered　Herzberg；　smiling；　〃these　gentlemen　are
Colonel　Bischofswerder　and　the　councillor　of　the　exchequer；
Woellner；　whom　your　majesty　has　commanded　to　appear　before　you。〃

〃You　are　the　two　gentlemen　who　work　miracles；　and　have　the
effrontery　to　summon　the　spirit　of　our　ancestor；　the　great　elector；
and　the　Emperor　Marcus　Aurelius？〃

〃Sire；〃　stammered　Bischofswerder；　〃we　have　tried　to　summon　spirits。〃

〃And　I　too；〃　cried　the　king；　〃only　they　will　not　come；　therefore　I
wished　to　see　the　enchanters；　and　would　like　to　purchase　the
secret。〃

〃Pardon　me；　most　gracious　sire；〃　said　Woellner；　humbly；　〃you　must
first　be　received　in　the　holy　order　of　the　Rosicrucians。〃

〃Thanks；〃　cried　the　king；　〃I　am　not　ready　for　the　like　follies；　and
whilst　I　live　the　Invisibles　must　take　heed　not　to　become　too
visible；　or　they　will　be　taken　care　of。　I　will　not　permit　Prussia　to
retrograde。　It　has　cost　too　much　trouble　to　〃enlighten　the　people；
bring　them　to　reason；　and　banish　hypocrisy。　Say　to　the　Rosicrucians
that　they　shall　leave　the　crown　prince　in　peace；　or　I　will　chase
them　to　the　devil；　who　will　receive　them　with　open　arms！　It　could　do
no　harm　to　appeal　to　the　prince's　conscience　to　lead　an　honorable
life；　and　direct　his　thoughts　more　to　study　than　to　love；　but　you
shall　not　make　a　hypocrite　of　him　and　misuse　his　natural　good…
nature。　If　the　Rosicrucians　try　to　force　the　prince　and　rule　him；　I
will　show　them　that　I　am　master；　and　will　no　longer　suffer　their
absurdities；　but　will　break　up　the　whole　nest　of　them！　I　have　been
much；　annoyed　at　the　deep　despondency　of　the　crown　prince。　You　shall
not　represent　to　him　that　baseness　and　virtue　are　the　same；　and　that
he　is　the　latter　when　he　betrays　those　to　whom　he　has　sworn　fidelity
and　affection。　An　honorable　man　must；　above　all；　he　cognizant　of
benefits；　and　not　forsake　those　who　have　sacrificed　their　honor　and
love　to　him；　and　have　proved　their　fidelity。　Have　you　understood　me；
gentlemen？〃

〃It　will　be　my　holy　duty　to　follow　strictly　your　majesty's
commands；〃　said　Bischofswerder。

〃And　I　also　will　strive　to　promote　the　will　of　my　king；〃　asserted
Woellner。

〃It　will　be　necessary　to　do　so；　or　you　two　gentlemen　may　find
yourselves　at　Spandau。　I　would　say　to　you　once　for　all；　I　will　not
suffer　any　sects；　every　one　can　worship　God　in　his　own　way。　No　one
shall　have　the　arrogant　presumption　to　declare　himself　one　of　the
elect。　We　are　all　sinners。　The　Rosicrucians　are　not　better　than　the
Illuminati　or　Freemasons；　and　none　are　more　worthy　than　the　tailor
and　cobbler　who　does　his　duty。　Adieu！〃

The　king　nodded　quickly　and　pointed　to　the　door　out　of　which　the　two
brothers　were　about　to　disappear；　when　he　called　them　back。

〃If　the　prince　is　not　at　the　palace　on　your　return；　I　advise　you　not
to　pursue　him；　but　reflect　that　the　Invisibles　may　have　summoned　him
to　a　communion　of　spirits；　I　believe；　too；　that　I　kept　you　waiting；
but　without　doubt　you　were　comforted　by　the　Fathers；　who　bore　you
away　upon　their　wings；　and　gave　you　food　and　drink！　Those　who　are
protected　by　the　spirits；　and　can　summon　them　at　pleasure；　can　never
want。　If　you　are　hungry；　call　up　the　departed　Lucullus；　that　he　may
provide　for　you　to　eat；　and　if　you　have　no　earthly　seat；　summon
Semiramis　that　she　may　send　you　her　hanging　gardens　for　the　quiet
repose　of　the　elect！　I　am　rejoiced　that　you　have　enjoyed　such
celestial　refreshments　in　the　corridor。　Adieu！〃

The　king　gazed　sadly　after　them。　Approaching　Herzberg；　he　said：　〃I
felt；　as　I　looked　at　the　two　rogues；　that　it　was　a　pity　to　grow　old。
Did　you　think　that　I　would　let　them　off　so　easily？〃

〃Sire；　I　really　do　not　understand　you；〃　replied　Herzberg；　shrugging
his　shoulders。　〃I　know　not；　in　your　most　active　youthful　days；　how
you　could　have　done　otherwise。〃

〃I　will　tell　you　that；　if　I　were　not　an　old　man；　void　of　decision
and　energy；　I　would　have　had　these　fellows　taken　to　Spandau　for
life！〃　said　the　king；　striking　the　table　with　his　staff。

〃Your　majesty　does　yourself　injustice；〃　said　Herzberg；　smiling。　〃You
were　ever　a　just　monarch　in　your　most　ardent　youth；　and　never　set
aside　the　law。　These　men　were　not　guilty　of　any　positive　crime。〃

〃They　are　daily　and　hourly　guilty　of　enticing　away　from　me　the　crown
prince；　and　making　the　future　ruler　of　my　country　an　obscurer；　a
necromancer；　and　at　the　same　time　a　libertine！　I　was　obliged　to
overlook　his　youthful　preference　for　Wilhelmine　Enke；　and　wink　at
this　amour；　for　I　know　that　crown　prince　is　human；　and　his
affections　are　to　be　consulted。　If　he　cannot　love　the　wife　which
diplomacy　chooses　for　him；　then　he　must　be　permitted　the　chosen　one
of　his　heart　to　console　him　for　the　forced　marriage。　At　the　same
time　this　person　was　passable；　and　without　the　usual　fault　of　such
creatures；　a　desire　to　rule　and　mingle　in　politics。　She　seems　to　be
unambitious　and　unpretentious。　These　Rosicrucians　would　banish　her
by　increasing　the　number　of　favorites；　that　they　may　rule　him；　and
make　the　f