Hisownexertionsweresuchaswerehardlytobeexpectedfromahumanbodyorahumanmind。AtPotsdam，hisordinaryresidence，heroseatthreeinsummerandfourinwinter。Apagesoonappeared，withalargebasketfullofalltheletterswhichhadarrivedfortheKingbythelastcourier，despatchesfromambassadors，reportsfromofficersofrevenue，plansofbuildings，proposalsfordrainingmarshes，complaintsfrompersonswhothoughtthemselvesaggrieved，applicationsfrompersonswhowantedtitles，militarycommissions，andcivilsituations。Heexaminedthesealswithakeeneye;forhewasneverforamomentfreefromthesuspicionthatsomefraudmightbepractisedonhim。Thenhereadtheletters，dividedthemintoseveralpackets，andsignifiedhispleasure，generallybyamark，oftenbytwoorthreewords，nowandthenbysomecuttingepigram。Byeighthehadgenerallyfinishedthispartofhistask。Theadjutant—generalwastheninattendance，andreceivedinstructionsforthedayastoallthemilitaryarrangementsofthekingdom。ThentheKingwenttoreviewhisguards，notaskingsordinarilyreviewtheirguards，butwiththeminuteattentionandseverityofanolddrill—sergeant。InthemeantimethefourcabinetsecretarieshadbeenemployedinansweringthelettersonwhichtheKinghadthatmorningsignifiedhiswill。
Theseunhappymenwereforcedtoworkalltheyearroundlikenegroslavesinthetimeofthesugar—crop。Theyneverhadaholiday。Theyneverknewwhatitwastodine。Itwasnecessarythat，beforetheystirred，theyshouldfinishthewholeoftheirwork。TheKing，alwaysonhisguardagainsttreachery，tookfromtheheapahandfuloflettersatrandom，andlookedintothemtoseewhetherhisinstructionshadbeenexactlyfollowed。Thiswasnobadsecurityagainstfoulplayonthepartofthesecretaries;
forifoneofthemweredetectedinatrick，hemightthinkhimselffortunateifheescapedwithfiveyearsofimprisonmentinadungeon。Fredericthensignedthereplies，andallweresentoffthesameevening。
Thegeneralprinciplesonwhichthisstrangegovernmentwasconducted，deserveattention。ThepolicyofFredericwasessentiallythesameashisfather’s;butFrederic，whilehecarriedthatpolicytolengthstowhichhisfatherneverthoughtofcarryingit，cleareditatthesametimefromtheabsurditieswithwhichhisfatherhadencumberedit。TheKing’sfirstobjectwastohaveagreat，efficient，andwell—trainedarmy。HehadakingdomwhichinextentandpopulationwashardlyinthesecondrankofEuropeanpowers;andyetheaspiredtoaplacenotinferiortothatofthesovereignsofEngland，France，andAustria。ForthatenditwasnecessarythatPrussiashouldbeallsting。LewistheFifteenth，withfivetimesasmanysubjectsasFrederic，andmorethanfivetimesaslargearevenue，hadnotamoreformidablearmy。TheproportionwhichthesoldiersinPrussiaboretothepeopleseemshardlycredible。Ofthemalesinthevigouroflife，aseventhpartwereprobablyunderarms;andthisgreatforcehad，bydrilling，byreviewing，andbytheunsparinguseofcaneandscourge，beentaughttoformallevolutionswitharapidityandaprecisionwhichwouldhaveastonishedVillarsorEugene。TheelevatedfeelingswhicharenecessarytothebestkindofarmywerethenwantingtothePrussianservice。InthoserankswerenotfoundthereligiousandpoliticalenthusiasmwhichinspiredthepikemenofCromwell，thepatrioticardour，thethirstofglory，thedevotiontoagreatleader，whichinflamedtheOldGuardofNapoleon。Butinallthemechanicalpartsofthemilitarycalling，thePrussianswereassuperiortotheEnglishandFrenchtroopsofthatdayastheEnglishandFrenchtroopstoarusticmilitia。
ThoughthepayofthePrussiansoldierwassmall，thougheveryrixdollarofextraordinarychargewasscrutinisedbyFredericwithavigilanceandsuspicionsuchasMr。JosephHumeneverbroughttotheexaminationofanarmyestimate，theexpenseofsuchanestablishmentwas，forthemeansofthecountry，enormous。Inorderthatitmightnotbeutterlyruinous，itwasnecessarythateveryotherexpenseshouldbecutdowntothelowestpossiblepoint。AccordinglyFrederic，thoughhisdominionsborderedonthesea，hadnonavy。Heneitherhadnorwishedtohavecolonies。Hisjudges，hisfiscalofficers，weremeanlypaid。
Hisministersatforeigncourtswalkedonfoot，ordroveshabbyoldcarriagestilltheaxle—treesgaveway。Eventohishighestdiplomaticagents，whoresidedatLondonandParis，heallowedlessthanathousandpoundssterlingayear。Theroyalhouseholdwasmanagedwithafrugalityunusualintheestablishmentsofopulentsubjects，unexampledinanyotherpalace。TheKinglovedgoodeatinganddrinking，andduringgreatpartofhislifetookpleasureinseeinghistablesurroundedbyguests;yetthewholechargeofhiskitchenwasbroughtwithinthesumoftwothousandpoundssterlingayear。Heexaminedeveryextraordinaryitemwithacarewhichmightbethoughttosuitthemistressofaboarding—
housebetterthanagreatprince。Whenmorethanfourrixdollarswereaskedofhimforahundredoysters，hestormedasifhehadheardthatoneofhisgeneralshadsoldafortresstotheEmpressQueen。Notabottleofchampagnewasuncorkedwithouthisexpressorder。Thegameoftheroyalparksandforests，aseriousheadofexpenditureinmostkingdoms，wastohimasourceofprofit。Thewholewasfarmedout;andthoughthefarmerswerealmostruinedbytheircontract，theKingwouldgrantthemnoremission。Hiswardrobeconsistedofonefinegaladress，whichlastedhimallhislife;oftwoorthreeoldcoatsfitforMonmouthStreet，ofyellowwaistcoatssoiledwithsnuff，andofhugebootsembrownedbytime。Onetastealonesometimesalluredhimbeyondthelimitsofparsimony，nay，evenbeyondthelimitsofprudence，thetasteforbuilding。Inallotherthingshiseconomywassuchaswemightcallbyaharshername，ifwedidnotreflectthathisfundsweredrawnfromaheavilytaxedpeople，andthatitwasimpossibleforhim，withoutexcessivetyranny，tokeepupatonceaformidablearmyandasplendidcourt。
Consideredasanadministrator，Frederichadundoubtedlymanytitlestopraise。Orderwasstrictlymaintainedthroughouthisdominions。Propertywassecure。Agreatlibertyofspeakingandofwritingwasallowed。Confidentintheirresistiblestrengthderivedfromagreatarmy，theKinglookeddownonmalcontentsandlibellerswithawisedisdain;andgavelittleencouragementtospiesandinformers。Whenhewastoldofthedisaffectionofoneofhissubject，hemerelyasked，"Howmanythousandmencanhebringintothefield？"Heoncesawacrowdstaringatsomethingonawall。Herodeupandfoundthattheobjectofcuriositywasascurrilousplacardagainsthimself。Theplacardhadbeenpostedupsohighthatitwasnoteasytoreadit。
Fredericorderedhisattendantstotakeitdownandputitlower。
"MypeopleandI，"hesaid，"havecometoanagreementwhichsatisfiesusboth。Theyaretosaywhattheyplease，andIamtodowhatIplease。"NopersonwouldhavedaredtopublishinLondonsatiresonGeorgetheSecondapproachingtotheatrocityofthosesatiresonFrederic，whichthebooksellersatBerlinsoldwithimpunity。Onebooksellersenttothepalaceacopyofthemoststinginglampoonthatperhapswaseverwrittenintheworld，theMemoirsofVoltaire，publishedbyBeaumarchais，andaskedforhisMajesty’sorders。"Donotadvertiseitinanoffensivemanner，"saidtheKing;"butsellitbyallmeans。I
hopeitwillpayyouwell。"Evenamongstatesmenaccustomedtothelicenceofafreepress，suchsteadfastnessofmindasthisisnotverycommon。
ItisduealsotothememoryofFrederictosaythatheearnestlylabouredtosecuretohispeoplethegreatblessingofcheapandspeedyJustice。Hewasoneofthefirstrulerswhoabolishedthecruelandabsurdpracticeoftorture。Nosentenceofdeath，pronouncedbytheordinarytribunals，wasexecutedwithouthissanction;andhissanction，exceptincasesofmurder，wasrarelygiven。Towardshistroopsheactedinaverydifferentmanner。
MilitaryoffenceswerepunishedwithsuchbarbarousscourgingthattobeshotwasconsideredbythePrussiansoldierasasecondarypunishment。Indeed，theprinciplewhichpervadedFrederic’swholepolicywasthis，thatthemoreseverelythearmyisgoverned，thesaferitistotreattherestofthecommunitywithlenity。
Religiouspersecutionwasunknownunderhisgovernment，unlesssomefoolishandunjustrestrictionswhichlayupontheJewsmayberegardedasforminganexception。HispolicywithrespecttotheCatholicsofSilesiapresentedanhonourablecontrasttothepolicywhich，underverysimilarcircumstances，EnglandlongfollowedwithrespecttotheCatholicsofIreland。EveryformofreligionandirreligionfoundanasylumintheStates。ThescofferwhomtheparliamentsofFrancehadsentencedtoacrueldeath，wasconsoledbyacommissioninthePrussianservice。TheJesuitwhocouldshowhisfacenowhereelse，whoinBritainwasstillsubjecttopenallaws，whowasproscribedbyFrance，Spain，Portugal，andNaples，whohadbeengivenupevenbytheVatican，foundsafetyandthemeansofsubsistenceinthePrussiandominions。
MostofthevicesofFrederic’sadministrationresolveselvesintoonevice，thespiritofmeddling。Theindefatigableactivityofhisintellect，hisdictatorialtemper，hismilitaryhabits，allinclinedhimtothisgreatfault。Hedrilledhispeopleashedrilledhisgrenadiers。Capitalandindustryweredivertedfromtheirnaturaldirectionbyacrowdofpreposterousregulations。
Therewasamonopolyofcoffee，amonopolyoftobacco，amonopolyofrefinedsugar。Thepublicmoney，ofwhichtheKingwasgenerallysosparing，waslavishlyspentinploughingbogs，inplantingmulberrytreesamidstthesand，inbringingsheepfromSpaintoimprovetheSaxonwool，inbestowingprizesforfineyarn，inbuildingmanufactoriesofporcelain，manufactoriesofcarpets，manufactoriesofhardware，manufactoriesoflace。
Neithertheexperienceofotherrulers，norhisown，couldeverteachhimthatsomethingmorethananedictandagrantofpublicmoneywasrequiredtocreateaLyons，aBrussels，oraBirmingham。
Forhiscommercialpolicy，however，therewassomeexcuse。Hehadonhissideillustriousexamplesandpopularprejudice。
Grievouslyasheerred，heerredincompanywithhisage。Inotherdepartmentshismeddlingwasaltogetherwithoutapology。Heinterferedwiththecourseofjusticeaswellaswiththecourseoftrade;andsetuphisowncrudenotionsofequityagainstthelawasexpoundedbytheunanimousvoiceofthegravestmagistrates。Itneveroccurredtohimthatmenwhoseliveswerepassedinadjudicatingonquestionsofcivilrightweremorelikelytoformcorrectopinionsonsuchquestionsthanaprincewhoseattentionwasdividedamongathousandobjects，andwhohadneverreadalaw—bookthrough。Theresistanceopposedtohimbythetribunalsinflamedhimtofury。HereviledhisChancellor。Hekickedtheshinsofhisjudges。Hedidnot，itistrue，intendtoactunjustly。Hefirmlybelievedthathewasdoingright，anddefendingthecauseofthepooragainstthewealthy。Yetthiswell—meantmeddlingprobablydidfarmoreharmthanalltheexplosionsofhisevilpassionsduringthewholeofhislongreign。Wecouldmakeshifttoliveunderadebaucheeoratyrant;
buttoberuledbyabusybodyismorethanhumannaturecanbear。
ThesamepassionfordirectingandregulatingappearedineverypartoftheKing’spolicy。EveryladofacertainstationinlifewasforcedtogotocertainschoolswithinthePrussiandominions。IfayoungPrussianrepaired，thoughbutforafewweeks，toLeydenorGottingenforthepurposeofstudy，theoffencewaspunishedwithcivildisabilities，andsometimeswiththeconfiscationofproperty。Nobodywastotravelwithouttheroyalpermission。Ifthepermissionweregranted，thepocket—
moneyofthetouristwasfixedbyroyalordinance。Amerchantmighttakewithhimtwohundredandfiftyrixdollarsingold，anoblewasallowedtotakefourhundred;foritmaybeobserved，inpassing，thatFredericstudiouslykeptuptheolddistinctionbetweenthenoblesandthecommunity。Inspeculation，hewasaFrenchphilosopher，butinaction，aGermanprince。HetalkedandwroteabouttheprivilegesofbloodinthestyleofSieyes;
butinpracticenochapterintheempirelookedwithakeenereyetogenealogiesandquarterings。
SuchwasFrederictheRuler。ButtherewasanotherFrederic，theFredericofRheinsberg，thefiddlerandflute—player，thepoetasterandmetaphysician。AmidstthecaresofStatetheKinghadretainedhispassionformusic，forreading，forwriting，forliterarysociety。Totheseamusementshedevotedallthetimethathecouldsnatchfromthebusinessofwarandgovernment;andperhapsmorelightisthrownonhischaracterbywhatpassedduringhishoursofrelaxation，thanbyhisbattlesorhislaws。
ItwasthejustboastofSchillerthat，inhiscountry，noAugustus，noLorenzo，hadwatchedovertheinfancyofpoetry。TherichandenergeticlanguageofLuther，drivenbytheLatinfromtheschoolsofpedants，andbytheFrenchfromthepalacesofkings，hadtakenrefugeamongthepeople。OfthepowersofthatlanguageFrederichadnonotion。Hegenerallyspokeofit，andofthosewhousedit，withthecontemptofignorance。HislibraryconsistedofFrenchbooks;athistablenothingwasheardbutFrenchconversation。Theassociatesofhishoursofrelaxationwere，forthemostpart，foreigners。Britainfurnishedtotheroyalcircletwodistinguishedmen，borninthehighestrank，anddrivenbycivildissensionsfromthelandtowhich，underhappiercircumstances，theirtalentsandvirtuesmighthavebeenasourceofstrengthandglory。GeorgeKeith，EarlMarischalofScotland，hadtakenarmsfortheHouseofStuartin1715;andhisyoungerbrotherJames，thenonlyseventeenyearsold，hadfoughtgallantlybyhisside。WhenallwaslosttheyretiredtogethertotheContinent，rovedfromcountrytocountry，servedundervariousstandards，andsoborethemselvesastowintherespectandgood—willofmanywhohadnolovefortheJacobitecause。
TheirlongwanderingsterminatedatPotsdam;norhadFredericanyassociateswhodeservedorobtainedsolargeashareofhisesteem。Theywerenotonlyaccomplishedmen，butnoblesandwarriors，capableofservinghiminwaranddiplomacy，aswellasofamusinghimatsupper。Aloneofallhiscompanions，theyappearnevertohavehadreasontocomplainofhisdemeanourtowardsthem。SomeofthosewhoknewthepalacebestpronouncedthattheLordMarischalwastheonlyhumanbeingwhomFredericeverreallyloved。
ItalysenttothepartiesatPotsdamtheingeniousandamiableAlgarotti，andBastiani，themostcrafty，cautious，andservileofAbbes。ButthegreaterpartofthesocietywhichFrederichadassembledroundhim，wasdrawnfromFrance。MaupertuishadacquiredsomecelebritybythejourneywhichhehadmadetoLapland，forthepurposeofascertaining，byactualmeasurement，theshapeofourplanet。HewasplacedinthechairoftheAcademyofBerlin，ahumbleimitationoftherenownedacademyofParis。BaculardD’Arnaud，ayoungpoet，whowasthoughttohavegivenpromiseofgreatthings，hadbeeninducedtoquithiscountry，andtoresideatthePrussianCourt。TheMarquessD’ArgenswasamongtheKing’sfavouritecompanions，onaccount，asitshouldseem，ofthestrongoppositionbetweentheircharacters。ThepartsofD’Argensweregood，andhismannersthoseofafinishedFrenchgentleman;buthiswholesoulwasdissolvedinsloth，timidity，andself—indulgence。Hewasoneofthatabjectclassofmindswhicharesuperstitiouswithoutbeingreligious。HatingChristianitywitharancourwhichmadehimincapableofrationalinquiry，unabletoseeintheharmonyandbeautyoftheuniversethetracesofdivinepowerandwisdom，hewastheslaveofdreamsandomens，wouldnotsitdowntotablewiththirteenincompany，turnedpaleifthesaltfelltowardshim，beggedhisguestsnottocrosstheirknivesandforksontheirplates，andwouldnotfortheworldcommenceajourneyonFriday。Hishealthwasasubjectofconstantanxietytohim。
Wheneverhisheadached，orhispulsebeatquick，hisdastardlyfearsandeffeminateprecautionswerethejestofallBerlin。AllthissuitedtheKing’spurposeadmirably。Hewantedsomebodybywhomhemightbeamused，andwhomhemightdespise。Whenhewishedtopasshalfanhourineasypolishedconversation，D’Argenswasanexcellentcompanion;whenhewantedtoventhisspleenandcontempt，D’Argenswasanexcellentbutt。
Withtheseassociates，andothersofthesameclass，Fredericlovedtospendthetimewhichhecouldstealfrompubliccares。
Hewishedhissupperpartiestobegayandeasy。Heinvitedhisgueststolayasideallrestraint，andtoforgetthathewasattheheadofahundredandsixtythousandsoldiers，andwasabsolutemasterofthelifeandlibertyofailwhosatatmeatwithhim。Therewas，therefore，atthesepar...完整阅读请扫描二维码下载丁香书院APP免费看：