old fritz and the new era-第9部分
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would have ready for me？〃
At the thought of it a terrible anguish； a nameless despair； seized
her。 She felt that the spinning…wheel hung over her like the sword
of Damocles； ready at the least occasion to fall upon her； and bind
her to it。 She felt that she could not endure such suspense and
torture； she must escape； she must rescue herself from the king's
anger。
〃But whither； whither！ I must fly from here； from his immediate
proximity； where a motion of his finger is sufficient to seize me；
to cause me to disappear before the prince could have any knowledge
of it； before he could know of the danger which threatened me。 I
must away from Potsdam！〃
The prince had arranged a little apartment in Berlin for the winter
months； which she exchanged for Potsdam in the spring。 This seemed
to offer her more security for the moment； for she could fly at the
least sign of danger； could even hide herself from the prince； if it
were necessary to save him and herself。 Away to Berlin； then！ That
was the only thought she was able to seize upon。 Away with her
children； before misfortune could reach them！
She sprang to the door； tore it open； rushing to the nurse； upon
whose knees the baby slept； near whom her little daughter knelt。
With trembling hands she took her boy and pressed him to her heart。
〃Louisa； we must leave here immediately； it is urgent necessity！〃
said she； with quivering lip。 〃Do not say a word about it to any
one； but hasten； order quickly a wagon； bargain for the places； and
say we must set off at once。 The wagon must not be driven to the
door； but we will meet it at the Berlin Gate。 We will go on foot
there； and get in。 Quick； Louisa； not a wordit must be！〃
The servant did not dare to oppose her mistress； or contradict the
orders； but hastened to obey them。
〃It is all the old king's fault；〃 said Louisa to herself； as she
hurried through the street。 〃Yes； the king has ordered mistress to
Berlin。 He looked so furious； the old bear！ His eyes flashed so
terribly； one might well fear him； and I thanked Heaven when
mamselle sent me home from the park。 It is coming to a bad end at
last； I should have done better not to have taken the place at all。
Oh； if we were only away from here； if I only could find a wagon to
take us！〃
Thanks to the nurse's fears and endeavors； the wagon was soon found；
and scarcely an hour had passed before Wilhelmine Enke； her two
children and nurse； were hidden under a plain linen…covered wagon；
and on their way to Berlin。
The street was unusually animated； as the division of troops which
the king had reviewed in Berlin； were marching out of the city to
report themselves on the Bavarian frontier。 Their first night's
quarters were to be in Potsdam； and the last great parade was to
take place there on the following morning； before the king commenced
his journey。 The driver had often to halt at the side of the street
to let the troops pass； which with a full band of music； came
marching on。 At the head of one of the regiments； mounted upon a
fiery steed； was a general in brilliant uniform； his breast covered
with orders； which glittered in the sun。 He was tall and rather
corpulent； but appeared to advantage。 His carriage was proud and
imposing； his face was almost too youthful for a general； and his
body too corpulent for the expressive and delicate features。 As he
passed by the poor； unpretending carriage； where Wilhelmine sat with
her children； she heard distinctly his beautiful； sonorous voice；
and merry laugh。 〃Oh Heaven； it is he！it is he！〃 she murmured；
drawing herself farther back into the wagon with her children。 Just
then； out of an opening in the linen cover； Louisa peeped；
whispering； 〃Mamselle； it is the Prince of Prussia！〃
〃Be quietfor mercy's sake be quiet； Louisa； that we may not be
remarked！〃 said Wilhelmine； gently。 〃Take the child that he may not
scream； for if the prince should hear him he will turn back。 He
knows the voice of his little son！〃
〃Yes； he knows the voice of his little son！〃 muttered the nurse； as
she laid the child to her breast。 〃The little son must stop here on
the street； in a miserable wagon； while his noble father rides past；
so splendid and glittering with gold； not knowing that his little
boy is so near him。 Oh； a real trouble and a real heart…sorrow is
this！〃
〃Indeed it is；〃 said Wilhelmine； in her heart； 〃a real trouble and a
real heart…sorrow。 How all these men would present arms； and salute
my children； if they had been born to a throne instead of obscurity！
How they would bow and bend； if I were called Louisa of Hesse…
Darmstadt； and the lawful wife of the prince！ Did they not also bend
and bow before the first wife； Elizabeth von Braunschweig；
＇Footnote： The first wife of Prince Frederick William of Prussia was
the Princess Elizabeth von Braunschweig； the niece of Frederick the
Great。 The crown prince was scarcely twenty…one years of age when
betrothed to her。 After four years they were separated； on account
of the improper conduct of the princess； who was banished to
Stettin。 There she lived until her death in 1840； after seventy…one
years of imprisonment。 Never during these seventy…one years had the
Princess 〃Lisbeth；〃 as she was called； dared to leave Stettin。 There
she was obliged to amuse herself。 Her concerts and evening
entertainments were celebrated。 The second wife of the crown prince
of Prussia was Louisa of Hesse…Darmstadt； the mother of Frederick
William III。 She died in 1805。＇ although every one knew of her
shameful conductknew of her intrigues with lackeys and common
soldiers？ Do they not now bow before her； although she is banished
to Stettin for her infamous conduct； and lives there a prisoner？ A
fine imprisonment that！ The whole town is her prison； and when she
appears in public every one stands upon the street to salute the
crown princess of Prussia。 But when they see me they pass carelessly
by； or they look at me with a contemptuous laugh； and fancy
themselves miracles of virtue； and free from sin。 My only crime is
that my father was not a prince； and that I am of low birth。 Am I to
blame for thatto blame that the man whom I love； and who loves me；
cannot marry me and make me his lawful wife？〃
〃Ho！ gee； ho！〃 cried the driver to his horses。 〃Get up！〃 The troops
had passed； the highway was now free； and uninterrupted rolled the
heavy； creaking wagon into Berlin。 Within all was quiet。 The two
children and nurse were asleep。 The driver was half asleep； his head
hung shaking about； only now and then he started to give his horses
a crack； which the thin； wheezing animals did not heed in the least。
Wilhelmine alone slept not； in her soul there was no quiet； no
peace。 She grumbled at fate； and at mankind。 An unspeakable anxiety
seized her for the immediate future； and fear of the king's anger。
As the sun was setting they reached Berlin； and were entering the
town； when the guard； in royal livery； sprang through the gate；
calling； in a loud voice； to the wagon； 〃Halthalt！ Turn out the
way！〃 Then was heard the call of the sentinel； and the roll of the
drums。 An equipage； drawn by six black steeds； drove past。 A pale；
young wife； splendidly attired； leaned back in the carriage； and the
little flag…bearer； Prince Frederick William； was by her side； on
the seat opposite sat the second son； Prince Louis； and the lord
steward。 In this beautiful equipage drove the Princess of Prussia；
at her side； in a miserable linen…covered wagon； crouching far in
the corner； sat Wilhelmine Enke； the rival of the princess； near
her； her two children； whose existence condemned her； and stamped
her life with dishonor。 Like a dream the brilliant apparition rushed
past Wilhelmine； and it haunted her through the long streets； to the
humble home where she sought a temporary refuge。 And when finally
alone； in her own room； where no one could spy into her face； nor
understand her words； there broke forth from her soul a long…
repressed wrong。 She stood erect； a proud； insolent smile played
around her mouth。 〃I am his wife； too； I alone am his beloved wife；〃
said she； with a loud； triumphant voice； 〃and my children are his
only truly…beloved children； for they are those of his love。 How
proudly she drove past me！ How beautiful is her pale face； and how
interesting her sad smile！ She in sunlight； and I in shade！ She
knows that I am her rival； but she is not mine。 No； the Princess of
Prussia cannot rival Wilhelmine Enke。 I have no fear of her。 But the
king I have to fear；〃 cried she suddenly； shrinking with terror。 In
the meeting with the princess she had forgotten him； her anguish；
her anxiety for the future。 All were forgotten for the momentto be
recalled with renewed terror。
〃Thank Heaven；〃 she said； 〃I have escaped。 For the moment I am safe！
What will the prince do； when he finds that we have fled from
Potsdam？ Will he divine where we have gone？ Will he come to seek me？
If he still loves meif I am really the happy rival of his wife and
every other court ladyyes； then he will come。 Then he will know
where to find his Wilhelmine。 But if it is true； what malicious
people have repeated to me； with feigned sympathy； that the prince
loves anotherthat he has withdrawn his love from me； is
indifferent and coldthen he will not seek me； then I shall remain
here alone！alone； with my children； this long； fearful night！
What； then； if I am alone？ No； oh； no！ I will not believe that I am
forsaken。 These are wicked thoughts which haunt meonly the
agitation of this dreadful day； which imagination has overwrought。
Rise up and be strong！ Go to thy children；〃 said she； 〃and read in
their eyes that he can never leave thee！〃
Forcing herself to composure； she sought her children； found Louisa
humming and singing her little boy to sleep； and her daughter
nodding； on a low stool at her feet。
〃Come； my child； I will put you to sleep；〃 said the mother； lifting
her in her arms。 〃Your mother will make your bed softly。 When you
sleep and speak with the angels； intercede for us all。〃
With tender care she undressed her and bore her gently in her arms
to her bed； and； kneeling before it； breathed a prayer over her
sleeping child； then bent
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