OneSon,ALBERTFRIEDRICH:born1553;followsasDuke1568,declaredMELANCHOLIC1573;died1618。HisCousinGeorgeFriedrichadministeredforhimtill1603;afterwhichJoachimFriedrich;
andthen,lastly,JoachimFriedrich’sSon,JohannSigismundtheNinthKurfurst。HadmarriedtheHeiressofCleve(whencecameacelebratedCleveControversyinafter—times)。Noson;agoodmanydaughters;eldestofwhomwasmarriedtoKurfurstJohannSigismund;fromhercamethecontrovertedCleveProperty。
7thKURFURST(1571—1598),JOHANNGEORGE。
YOUNGERCULMBACHLINE。
KurfurstJohannGeorgesettledBaireuthandAnspachonTwoofhisYoungerSons,whoareFoundersofthe"YoungerCulmbachLine"
(SPLITLineorPairofLINES)。JagerndorfthenewKurfurst,JoachimFriedrich,kept;settleditononeofhisyoungersons。
HerearethetwonewFoundersinBaireuthandAnspach,andsomeindicationoftheir"Lines,"sofarasimportanttousatpresent:
BAIREUTH。
(1。)CHRISTIAN,secondsonofKurfurstJohannGeorge:born1581;
gotBaireuth1603;died1655。AdistinguishedGovernorinhissphere。Hadtwosons;theelderdiedbeforehim,butleftason,ChristianErnst;who(2。)succeeded,and(3。)whoseson,GeorgeWilhelm:1644,1655,1712;1678,1712,1726(areBIRTH,ACCESSION,ENDofthesetwo);thelatterofwhomhadnosonthatlived。
UponwhichtheposterityofChristian’ssecondsonsucceeded。
SecondsonofChristiannotabletousintwolittleways:
FIRST,ThatHE,GeorgeAlbert,MargrafofCULMbach,istheinscrutable"MarquisdeLULENbach"ofBromley’sLetters(anteap。184,lettheCommentatorstakecomfort!);
SECONDandbetter,ThatfromhimcameourlittleWilhelmina’sHusband,——aswillbeafterwardsexplained。Itwashisgrandson(4。)thatsucceededinBaireuth,GeorgeFriedrichKarl(1688,1726,1735);FatherofWilhelmina’sHusband。Afterwhom(5。)hisSonFriedrich(1711,1735,1763),Wilhelmina’sHusband;
wholeaving(1763)nothinghutadaughter,BaireuthfelltoAnspach,1769,afteranoldUncle(6。),childless,hadalsodied。
SIXBaireuthMargravesofthisLine;FIVEgenerations;andthentoAnspach,in1769。
ANSPACH。
(1。)JOACHIMERNST,thirdsonofKurfurstJohannGeorge:born1583;gotAnspach1603;died1625。Hadmilitarytendencies,experiences;didnotthriveasCaptainoftheEVANGELICALUNION
(1619—1620)whenWINTER—KINGcameupandTHIRTY—YEARSWARalongwithhim。Lefttwosons;elderofwhom,(2。)Friedrich,nominallySovereign,agestillonlyeighteen,fellintheBattleofNordlingen(worstbattleoftheThirty—YearsWar,1634);andtheyoungerofwhom,(3。)Albert,succeeded(1620,1634,1667),andhisson,(4。)JohannFriedrich(1654,1667,1686);and(5,6,7。)
nofewerthanthreegrandsons,——childrenmostly,thoughentitled"sovereign"——inaPARALLELway(ChristianAlbert,1675,1686,1692;GeorgeFriedrich,1678,1692,1703;WilhelmFriedrich,1685,1703,1723)。Twolittlepointsnotableherealso,andnothird:
FIRST,Thatoneofthegrand—DAUGHTERS,full—sisterofthelastofthesethreeparallelfigures,half—sisterofthetwoformer,was——QueenCaroline,GeorgeII。’swife,whohasstillsomefamewithus。
SECOND,Thattheyoungestofsaidthreegrandsons,QueenCaroline’sfull—brother,leftasonthenminor,whobecamemajor,(8。)andweddedaSisterofourdearlittleWilhelmina’s,ofwhomweshallhear(KarlWilhelmFriedrich,1712,1723,1757);
unmomentousMargrafotherwise。Hisandheronesonitwas,(9。)ChristianFriedrichKarlAlexander(1736,1757,1806),whoinheritedBaireuth,inheritedActressClairon,LadyCraven,andatHammersmith(HouseonceBubbDoddington’s,ifthathasanycharm)
endedtheaffair。
NINEAnspachMargraves;inFIVEgenerations:end,1806。
ENDOFBOOKIII
HistoryofFriedrichIIofPrussiaV4
byThomasCarlyleCarlyle’s"HistoryofFriedrichIIofPrussia"
BOOKIV。
FRIEDRICH’SAPPRENTICESHIP,FIRSTSTAGE。
1713—1728。
CHAPTERI。
CHILDHOOD:DOUBLEEDUCATIONALELEMENT。
OfFriedrich’schildhood,thereisnot,afterallourreading,muchthatitwouldinteresttheEnglishpublictoheartellof。
Perhapsnotmuchofknowablethatdeservesanywheretobeknown。
Booksonit,expresslyhandlingit,andBooksonFriedrichWilhelm’sCourtandHistory,ofwhichitisalwaysamainelement,arenotwanting:buttheyaremainlyofthesadsortwhich,withpainanddifficulty,teachusnothing,Booksdonebypedantsandtenebrificpersons,underthenameofmen;dwellingnotonthings,but,atendlesslength,ontheouterhusksofthings:ofunparalleledconfusion,too;——notsomuchasanIndexgrantedyou;
tothepoorhalf—peckofcinders,hiddeninthesewagon—loadsofashes,nosieveallowed!Bookstendingreallytofillthemindwithmeredust—whirlwinds,——iftheminddidnotstraightwayblowthemoutagain;whichitdoes。Oftheseletussaynothing。
SeldomhadsocuriousaPhenomenonworsetreatmentfromtheDryasdust,species。
AmongtheseBooks,touchingonFriedrich’schildhood,andtreatingofhisFather’sCourt,thereishardlyaboveonethatwecancharacterizeasfairlyhuman:theBookwrittenbyhislittleSisterWilhelmina,whenshegrewtosizeandknowledgeofgoodandevil;[MemoiresdeFrederiqueSophieWilhelminedePrusse,MargravedeBareith(Brunswick,ParisetLondres,l8l2),2vols。8vo。]——andthis,ofwhatflightyuncertainnatureitis,theworldpartlyknows。AhumanBook,however,notapedantone:thereisamostshrillfemalesoulbusywithintenseearnestnesshere;looking,andteachingustolook。WefinditaVERACIOUSBook,donewithheart,andfromeyesightandinsight;
ofaveracitydeeperthanthesuperficialsort。Itisfullofmistakes,indeed;andexaggeratesdreadfully,initsshrillfemaleway;butisaboveintendingtodeceive:deducttheduesubtrahend,——sayperhapstwenty—fivepercent,orinextremecasesashighasseventy—five,——youwillgetsomehumanimageofcredibleactualitiesfromWilhelmina。Practicallysheisouroneresourceonthismatter。OfthestrangeKingFriedrichWilhelmandhisstrangeCourt,withsuchanHeir—Apparentgrowingupinit,thereisnoreallighttobehad,exceptwhatWilhelminagives,——orkindlesdarkBooksofothersintogiving。Forthat,too,onlongstudy,istheresultofher,hereandthere。Withsoflickeryawax—taperheldoverFriedrich’schildhood,——andtheotherdirtytallow—dipsallgoingoutinintolerableodor,——judgeifoursuccesscanbeverytriumphant!
WeperceivethelittlecreaturehasgotmuchfromNature;notthebigarenaonly,butfineinwardgifts,forheiswell—borninmoresensesthanone;——andthatinthebreedingofhimtherearetwoelementsnoticeable,widelydiverse:theFrenchandtheGerman。
Thisisperhapsthechiefpeculiarity;bestworthlayingholdof,withtheduecomprehension,ifourmeansallow。
FIRSTEDUCATIONALELEMENT,THEFRENCHONE。
Hisnurses,governesses,simultaneousandsuccessive,mostlyofFrenchbreed,aredulysetdowninthePrussianBooks,andheldinmindasapointofdutybyPrussianmen;but,inforeignparts,cannotbeconsideredotherwisethanasagroup,andmerelywithgenericfeatures。HehadaFrauvonKameckeforHeadGoverness,——
theladywhomWilhelmina,inherfamedMemoires,alwayswritesKAMKEN;andofwhom,exceptthefloatinggossipfoundinthatBook,thereisnothingtoberemembered。
Underher,aspracticalsuperintendent,SOUS—GOUVERNANTEandquasi—mother,wastheDamedeRoucoulles,amoreimportantpersonforushere。DamedeRoucoulles,oncedeMontbail,thesamerespectableEdict—of—NantesFrenchladywho,five—and—twentyyearsago,hadtakensimilarchargeofFriedrichWilhelm;afactthatspeakswellforthecharacterofherperformanceinthatoffice。
ShehaddoneherfirsteditionofaPrussianPrinceinasatisfactorymanner;andnotwithoutdifficultaccidentsandsingularities,aswehaveheard:thelikeofwhichweresparedherinthishersecondedition(sowemaycallit);asecondand,inallmannerofways,animprovedone。TheyoungFritzswallowednoshoe—buckles;didnotleapoutofwindow,hangingonbythehands;
norachieveanythingofturbulent,orotherwisememorable,inhisinfantinehistory;thecourseofwhichwasingeneralsmooth,andruns,happilyforit,belowthekenofrumor。TheBoy,itissaid,andiseasilycredible,wasofextraordinaryvivacity;quickinapprehendingallthings,andgracefullyrelatinghimselftothem。
Oneoftheprettiest,vividestlittleboys;witheyes,withmindandways,ofuncommonbrilliancy;——onlyhetakeslesstosoldieringthanthepaternalheartcouldwish;andappearstofindotherthingsintheworldfullyasnotableaslouddrums,andstiffmendrawnupinrows。Moreover,heisapttobealittleunhealthynowandthen,andrequirescarefromhisnurses,overwhomthejudiciousRoucoulleshastobeveryvigilant。
OfthisrespectableMadamedeRoucoullesIhaveread,atleastseventimes,whatthePrussianBookssayofherbywayofBiography;butitisalwaysgivenintheirdulltombstonestyle;
ithasmoreovernexttonoimportance;andI,——alas,Idonotyettoowellrememberit!ShewasfromNormandy;ofgentleblood,neververyrich;Protestant,intheEdict—of—Nantestime;andhadtoflyhercountry,ayoungwidow,withdaughterandmother—in—lawhangingonher;thewholeofthemalmostpenniless。However,shewaskindlyreceivedattheCourtofBerlin,asusualinthatsadcase;andgotsomepracticalhelptowardslivinginhernewcountry。QueenSophieCharlottehadlikedhersociety;andfindingherofprudentintelligentturn,andwiththestyleofmannerssuitable,hadgivenherFriedrichWilhelmtotakechargeof。
ShewasatthattimeMadamedeMontbail;widow,aswesaid:
sheafterwardsweddedRoucoulles,arefugeegentlemanofherownNation,whohadgoneintothePrussianArmy,aswascommonforthelikeofhim:Shehadagainbecomeawidow,MadamedeRoucoullesthistime,withherdaughterMontbailstillabouther,when,bythegratefulgoodsenseofFriedrichWilhelm,shewasagainintrustedaswesee;——andsohadthehonorofgovernessingFredericktheGreatforthefirstsevenyearsofhislife。
Respectablelady,sheoversawhisnurses,pap—boats,——"beer—soupandbread,"hehimselftellsusonce,washismaindietinboyhood,——beer—soups,dress—frocks,firstattemptsatwalking;
andthenalsohislittlebitsofintellectualities,moralities;
hisincipienciesofspeech,demeanor,andspiritualdevelopment;
anddidherfunctionveryhonestly,thereisnodoubt。
Wilhelminamentionsher,atasubsequentperiod;andwehaveaglimpseofthissameRoucoulles,glidingaboutamongtheroyalyoung—folk,"withonlyonetoothleft"(figurativelyspeaking),andsomewhatgiventotattle,inPrincessWilhelmina’sopinion。
Grownveryoldnow,poorlady;andthedreadfulestbore,whenshegetsuponHanoverandherexperiences,andQueenSophieCharlotte’s,inthatstupendouslymagnificentcourtunderGentlemanErnst。Shunthattopic,ifyouloveyourpeaceofmind!
[Memoires(abovecited)。]——ShedidcertainlysuperintendtheBoyFritzkinforhisfirstsevenyears;thatisaglorythatcannotbetakenfromher。Andherpupil,too,weagreeablyperceive,wasalwaysgratefulforherservicesinthatcapacity。Onceaweek,ifhewereinBerlin,duringhisyouthfultime,hewassuretoappearattheRoucoullesSoiree,andsayandlookvariouspleasantthingstohis"CHERMAMAN(dearMamma),"asheusedtocallher,andtotherespectablesmallpartsshehad。
Nottospeakofothermoresubstantialservices,whichalsowerenotwanting。
Roucoullesandtheotherfemalesouls,mainlyFrench,amongwhomtheincipientFritznowwas,appeartohavedonetheirpartaswellascouldbelookedfor。RespectableEdict—of—NantesFrenchladies,withhighhead—gear,widehoops;aclear,correct,butsomewhatbarrenandmeagrespecies,tight—lacedandhigh—frizzledinmindandbody。Itisnotaveryfertileelementforayoungsoul:notverymuchofsilentpietyinit;andperhapsofvocalpietymorethanenoughinproportion。Anelementfoundingonwhattheycall"enlightenedProtestantism,""freedomofthought,"andthelike,whichisapttobecomeloquacious,andtooconsciousofitself;terming,onthewhole,rathertocontemptofthefalse,thantodeeporveryeffectiverecognitionofthetrue。
Butitis,insomeimportantsenses,aclearandpureelementwithal。Atlowest,therearenoconscioussemi—falsities,orvolunteerhypocrisies,taughtthepoorBoy;honor,clearness,truthofwordatleast;adecorousdignifiedbearing;
variousthingoodthings,arehonestlyinculcatedandexemplified;
norisanybad,ungracefulorsuspiciousthingpermittedthere,ifrecognizedforsuch。Itmighthavebeenaworseelement;
andwemustbethankfulforit。Friedrich,throughlife,carriesdeeptracesofthisFrench—Protestantincipiency:averybigwide—branchingroyaltree,intheend;butassmallandflexibleaseedlingonceasanyoneofus。
ThegoodoldDamedeRoucoullesjustlivedtowitnesshisaccession;onwhichgrandjunctureandafterwards,ashehaddonebefore,hecontinuedtoexpress,ingracefulandusefulways,hisgratitudeandhonestaffectiontoherandhers。Teaservices,presentsincut—glassandotherkinds,withLettersthatwerestillmoreprecioustotheoldLady,hadcomealwaysatdueintervals:,andoneofhisearliestkinglygiftswasthatofsomesuitablesmallpensionforMontbail,theelderlydaughterofthispooroldRoucoulles,[Preuss,FriedrichderGrosse,eineLebensgeschichte(5vols。Berlin,1832—1834),v。(Urkundenbuch,p。4)。OEuvresdeFrederic
(samePreuss’sEdition,Berlin,1846—1850,&c。),xvi。184,191。——
TheHerrDoctorJ。D。E。Preuss,"HistoriographerofBrandenburg,"
devotedwhollytothestudyofFriedrichforfive—and—twentyyearspast,andforaboveadozenyearsbusilyengagedineditingtheOEuvresdeFrederic,——has,besidesthatLebensgeschichtejustcited,threeorfoursmallerBooks,ofindistinctlydifferenttitles,onthesamesubject。Ameritoriouslyexactman;acquaintedwiththeouterdetailsofFriedrich’sBiography(hadheanywayofarranging,organizingorsettingthemforth)asfewmeneverwereorwillbe。
WeshallmeanalwaysthisLebensgeschichte
here,whennoothertitleisgiven:andOEuvresdeFredericshallsignifyHISEdition,unlessthecontrarybestated。]whowasjustsingingherDIMITTAESasitwere,stillinablitheandpiousmanner。Forshesawnow(in1740)herlittlenurslinggrowntobeabrilliantmanandKing;
KinggoneouttotheWars,too,withallEuropeinquiringandwonderingwhattheissuewouldbe。Asforher,sheclosedherpooroldeyes,atthisstageofthebusiness;piously,inforeignparts,farfromhernativeNormandy;anddidnotseefartherwhattheissuewas。GoodoldDame,Ihave,aswasobserved,readsomeseventimesoverwhattheycallbiographicalaccountsofher;
buthaveseventimes(byHeaven’sfavor,Idopartlybelieve)
mostlyforgottenthemagain;andwouldnot,withoutcause,inflictonanyreaderthelikesorrow。Torememberoneworthything,howmanythousandunworthythingsmustamanbeabletoforget!
FromthisEdict—of—Mantesenviroument,whichtaughtouryoungFritzhisfirstlessonsofhumanbehavior,——apolitesharplittleBoy,wedohopeandunderstand,——helearnedalsotoclothehisbitsofnotions,emotions,andgarrulousutterabilities,intheFrenchdialect。Learnedtospeak,andlikewise,whatismoreimportant;toTHINK,inFrench;whichwasotherwisequitedomesticatedinthePalace,andbecamehissecondmother—tongue。
Notabaddialect;yetalsononeofthebest。Veryleanandshallow,ifveryclearandconvenient;leavingmuchinpoorFritzunuttered,unthought,unpractised,whichmightotherwisehavecomeintoactivityinthecourseofhislife。Helearnedtoreadverysoon,Ipresume;buthedidnot,noworafterwards,everlearntospell。HespellsindeeddreadfullyILL,athisfirstappearanceonthewritingstage,asweshallseebyandby;andhecontinued,tothelast,oneofthebadspellersofhisday。AcircumstancewhichInevercanfullyaccountfor,andwillleavetothereader’sstudy。
Fromallmannerofsources,——frominferiorvaletaille,PrussianOfficials,RoyalMajestyitselfwhennotingala,——helearned,notlessrootedly,thecorruptPrussiandialectofGerman;andusedthesame,allhisdays,amonghissoldiers,nativeofficials,commonsubjectsandwhereveritwasmostconvenient;speakingit,andwritingandmisspellingit,withgreatfreedom,thoughalwayswithacertainaversionandundisguisedcontempt,whichhassincebroughthimblameinsomequarters。Itistrue,thePrussianformofGermanisbutrude;andprobablyFriedrich,exceptsometimesinLuther’sBible,neverreadanyGermanBook。What,ifwewillthinkofit,couldheknowofhisfirstmother—tongue!German,tothisday,isafrightfuldialectforthestupid,thepedantanddullardsort!Onlyinthehandsofthegifteddoesitbecomesupremelygood。IthadnotyetbeenthelanguageofanyGoethe,anyLessing;
thoughitstoodontheeveofbecomingsuch。IthadalreadybeenthelanguageofLuther,ofUlrichHutten,FriedrichBarbarossa,Charlemagneandothers。Andseveralextremelyimportantthingshadbeensaidinit,andsomepleasantonesevensunginit,fromanolddate,inaveryappropriatemanner,——hadCrown—PrinceFriedrichknownallthat。Buthecouldnotreasonablybeexpectedtoknow:——andthewiserGermansnowforgivehimfornotknowing,andareeventhankfulthathedidnot。
ChapterII。
THEGERMANELEMENT。
Sothat,aswesaid,therearetwoelementsforyoungFritz,andhighlydiverseones,frombothofwhichheistodrawnourishment,andassimilatewhathecan。BesidesthatEdict—of—NantesFrenchelement,andincontinualcontactandcontrastwithit,whichprevailschieflyintheFemaleQuartersofthePalace,——thereisthenativeGermanelementforyoungFritz,ofwhichthecentreisPapa,nowcometobeKing,andpowerfullymanifestinghimselfassuch。AnabruptperemptoryyoungKing;andGermantothebone。
Alongwithwhom,companionstohiminhissocialhours,andfellow—workersinhisbusiness,areasetofveryruggedGermansonsofNature;differingmuchfromtheFrenchsonsofArt。
BaronGrumkow,LeopoldPrinceofAnhalt—Dessau(notyetcalledthe"OLDDessauer,"beingunderfortyyet),GeneralGlasenap,ColonelDerschau,GeneralFlans;these,andtheothernamelessGeneralsandOfficials,areacuriouscounterparttotheCamases,theHautcharmoysandForcades,withtheirnimbletonguesandrapiers;
stillmoretotheBeausobres,Achards,fullofecclesiasticallogic,madeofBayleandCalvinkneadedtogether;andtothehigh—frizzledladiesrustlinginstiffsilk,withtheshadowofVersaillesandoftheDragonnadesalikepresenttothem。
BornHyperboreanstheseothers;roughashemp,andstoutoffibreashemp;nativeproductsoftherigorousNorth。Ofwhom,afterallourreading,weknowlittle。——OHeaven,theyhavehadlonglinesofruggedancestors,castinthesamerudestalwartmould,andleadingtheirroughlifethere,ofwhomweknowabsolutelynothing!Dumballthoseprecedingbusygenerations;andthisofFriedrichWilhelmisgrownalmostdumb。Grimsemi—articulatePrussianmen;gonealltopipe—clayandmustacheforus。
Strangeblond—complexioned,notunbeautifulPrussianhonorablewomen,inhoops,brocades,andunintelligiblehead—gearandhair—towers,——ACHGOTT,theytooaregone;andtheirmusicaltalk,intheFrenchorGermanlanguage,thatalsoisgone;andthehollowEternitieshaveswallowedit,astheirwontis,inaverysurprisingmanner!——
Grumkow,acunning,greedy—hearted,long—headedfellow,oftheoldPomeranianNobilitybybirth,hasakindofsuperficialpolishputuponhisHyperboreanisms;hehasbeeninforeigncountries,doinglegations,diplomacies,forwhich,atleastforthevulpinepartsofwhich,hehasaturn。HewritesandspeaksarticulategrammaticalFrench;butneitherinthat,norinnativePommerishPlatt—Deutsch,doesheshowusmuch,exceptthedepthsofhisowngreed,ofhisownastucitiesandstealthyaudacities。Ofwhichweshallhearmorethanenoughbyandby。
OFTHEDESSAUER,NOTYET"OLD。"
AstothePrinceofAnhalt—Dessau,ruggedman,whoseveryfaceisthecolorofgunpowder,healsoknowsFrench,andcanevenwriteinit,ifhelike,——havingdulyhadaTutorofthatnation,andstrangeadventureswithhimonthegrandtourandelsewhere;——butdoesnotmuchpractisewriting,whenitcanbehelped。
Hischildren,Ihaveheard,heexpresslydidnotteachtoreadorwrite,seeingnobenefitinthateffeminateart,butleftthemtopickitupastheycould。HisPrincess,allrightlyennoblednow,——whomhewouldnotbutmarry,thoughsentonthegrandtourtoavoidit,——wasthedaughterofoneFosanApothecaryatDessau;
andisstillabeautifulandprudentkindofwoman,whoseemstosuithimwellenough,noworsethanifshehadbeenbornaPrincess。Muchtalkhasbeenofher,inprincelyandothercircles;norishismarriagetheonlystrangethingLeopoldhasdone。Heisamantokeeptheworld’stonguewagging,nottoomusicallyalways;thoughhimselfofveryunvocalnature。
Perhapsthebiggestmassofinarticulatehumanvitality,certainlyoneofthebiggest,thengoingaboutintheworld。Amanofvastdumbfaculty;dumb,butfertile,deep;noendofingenuitiesintheroughheadofhim:——asmuchmother—wit,there,Ioftenguess,ascouldbefoundinwholetalkingparliaments,spoutingthemselvesawayinvocablesandeloquentwind!
Amanofdreadfulimpetuositywithal。SetuponhiswillastheonelawofNature;stormingforwardwithincontrollableviolence:
averywhirlwindofaman。Hewasleftaminor;hisMotherguardian。NothingcouldpreventhimfrommarryingthisFostheApothecary’sDaughter;notearsnorcontrivancesofhisMother,whomhemuchloved,andwhotookskilfulmeasures。FourteenmonthsoftravelinItaly;grandtour,witheligibleFrenchTutor,——whomheoncedrewswordupon,gettingsomerebukefromhimonenightinVenice,andwouldhavekilled,hadnotthemanbeennimble,atoncedexterousandsublime:——itavailednot。Thefirstthinghedid,onre—enteringDessau,withhisTutor,wastocallatApothecaryFos’s,andseethecharmingMamsell;togoandseehisMother,wssthesecondthing。MotevenhisgrandpassionforwarcoulderadicateFos:hewenttoDutohWilliam’swars;thewisemotherstillcounselling,whowasownaunttoDutohWilliam,andlikedthescheme。HebesiegedNamur;foughtandbesiegedupanddown,——withinsatiableappetiteforfightingandsieging;
withgreathonor,too,andambitionsawakeninginhim;——campaignaftercampaign:butalongwiththeflamy—thunderyidealbride,figurativelycalledBellona,therewasalwaysasoftrealone,MamsellFosofDessau,towhomhecontinuedconstant。
TheGovernmentofhisDominionsheleftcheerfullytohisMother,evenwhenhecameofage:"IamforlearningWar,astheonerighttrade;dowithallthingsasyouplease,Mamma,——onlynotwithMamsell,notwithher!"——
Readersmayfigurethisscenetoo,andshudderoverit。
SomeratherhandsomemaleCousinofMamsell,MedicalGraduateorwhateverhewas,hadappearedinDessau:——"Seems,toadmireMamsellmuch;ofcourse,inaPlatonicway,"saidrumor:——
"He?Admire?"thinksLeopold;——thinksagooddealofit,notinthephilosophicmood。AshewasonedaypassingFos’s,MamsellandtheMedicalGraduatearevisible,standingtogetheratthewindowinside。PleasantlylookingoutuponNature,——ofcoursequitecasually,saysomeHistorieswithasneer。Infact,itseemspossiblethisMedicalGraduatemayhavebeensettoactshoeing—
horn;buthehadbetternot。LeopoldstormsintotheHouse,"Draw,scandalouscanaille,anddefendyourself!"——Andinthis,orsomesuchway,aconfidenttraditionsays,hekilledthepoorMedicalGraduatethereandthen。Onetriesalwaystohopenot:
butVarnhagenispositive,thoughtheotherHistoriessaynothingofit。Godknows。ThemanwasaPrince;noReichshofrath,Speyer—WetzlarKAMMER,orotherSupremeCourt,wouldmuchtroubleitself,exceptwithformalshakingsofthewig,aboutsuchapeccadillo。Infine,itwasbetterforLeopoldtomarrytheMissFos;whichheactuallydid(1698,inhistwenty—secondyear),"withtheleft—hand,"——andthenwiththerightandbothhands;
havinggotherproperlyennobledbeforelong,byhissplendidmilitaryservices。Shemade,aswehavehinted,anexcellentWifetohim,forthefiftyorsixtyensuingyears。
Thisisastrangeruggedspecimen,thisinarticulateLeopold;
alreadygettingmythic,aswecanperceive,tothepolishedvocalages;whichmixallmanneroffableswiththeconsiderablehistoryhehas。Readerswillseehimturnupagaininnotableforms。Amanhithertounknownexceptinhisowncountry;andyetofveryconsiderablesignificancetoallEuropeancountrieswhatsoever;
thefruitofhisactivities,withouthisnameattached,beingnowmanifestinallofthem。Heinventedtheironramrod;heinventedtheequalstep;infact,heistheinventorofmodernmilitarytactics。Evenso,ifweknewit:theSoldieryofeverycivilizedcountrystillreceivesfromthisman,onparade—fieldsandbattle—fields,itswordofcommand;outofhisroughheadproceededtheessentialofallthattheinnumerableDrill—sergeants,invariouslanguages,dailyrepeatandenforce。
Suchamanisworthsometransientglancefromhisfellow—creatures,——especiallywithalittleFritztrottingathisfoot,anddrawinginferencesfromhim。
Dessau,weshouldhavesaidfortheEnglishreader’sbehoof,wasandstillisalittleindependentPrincipality;aboutthesizeofHuntingdonshire,butwithwoodsinsteadofbogs;——revenueofit,atthisday,is60,000pounds,wasperhapsnot20,oreven10,000
inLeopold’sfirsttime。ItliessomefourscoremilessouthwestofBerlin,attainablebypost—horsesinaday。Leopold,ashisFatherhaddone,stoodbyPrussiaasifwhollynativetoit。Leopold’sMotherwasSisterofthatfineLouisa,theGreatElector’sfirstWife;hisSisterisweddedtotheMargrafofSchwedt,FriedrichWilhelm’shalf—uncle。Lyinginsuchneighborhood,andbeinginsuchaffinitytothePrussianHouse,theDessauersmaybesaidtohave,inlatetimes,theirheadquartersatBerlin。LeopoldandLeopold’ssons,ashisfatherbeforehimhaddone,withoutneglectingtheirDessauandPrincipality,holdbythePrussianArmyastheirmainemployment。NotneglectingDessaueither;
butgoingthitherinwinter,oroncallotherwise;Leopoldleastofallneglectingit,whoneglectsnothingthatcanbeusefultohim。
HeisGeneralField—MarshalofthePrussianArmies,theforemostmaninwar—matterswiththisnewKing;andwellworthytobeso。
Heisinventing,orbroodinginthewaytoinvent,avarietyofthings,——"ironramrods,"forone;averygreatimprovementonthefragileineffectivewoodenimplement,sayalltheBooks,butgivenodatetoit;thatisthefirstthing;andtherewillbeothers,likewiseundated,butposterior,requiringmentionbyandby。
Inventingmanythings;——andalwayswellpractisingwhatisalreadyinvented,andknownforcertain。Inaword,heisdrillingtoperfection,withassiduousrigor,thePrussianInfantrytobethewonderoftheworld。Hehasfoughtwiththem,too,inaconclusivemanner;andisatalltimesreadyforfighting。
HewasinMalplaquetwiththem,ifonlyasvolunteeronthatoccasion。HecommandedtheminBlenheimitself;stood,intherightorEugenewingofthatfamedBattleofBlenheim,fiercelyatbay,whentheAustrianCavalryhadallfled;——fiercelyvolleying,charging,dexterouslywheelingandmanoeuvring;stickingtohisgroundwithamastiff—liketenacity,——tillMarlborough,andvictoryfromtheleft,relievedhimandothers。HewasattheBridgeofCassano;whereEugeneandVendomecametohand—grips;——
whereMirabeau’sGrandfather,COL—D’ARGENT,gothissix—and—thirtywounds,andwas"killed"asheusedtotermit。[Carlyle’sMiscellanies,v。?Mirabeau。]"ThehottestfireIeversaw,"saidEugene,whohadnotseenMalplaquetatthattime。WhileCol—d’ArgentsankcollapsedupontheBridge,andthehorsechargedoverhim,andagaincharged,andbeatandwerebeatenthreeseveraltimes,——Anhalt—Dessau,impatientofsuchfiddlinghitherandthither,swashedintothestreamitselfwithhisPrussianFoot:swashedthroughit,waist—deeporbreast—deep;
andmighthavesettledthematter,hadnothiscartridgesgotwetted。OldKingFriedrichrebukedhimangrilyforhisimpetuosityinthismatter,andthesadlossofmen。
ThenagainhewasattheStormingoftheLinesofTurin,——Eugene’sfeatof1706,andamostvolcanicbusiness;——wasthefirstmanthatgot—overtheentrenchmentthere。Foremostman;faceallblackwiththesmokeofgunpowder,onlychannelledhereandtherewithrivuletsofsweat;——notalovelyphenomenontotheFrenchintheinterior!Whostillfoughtlikemadmen,butwereatlengthdrivenintoheaps,andobligedtorun。Awhilebeforetheyran,Anhalt—Dessau,noticingsomeCaptainpostedwithhiscompanyinalikelysituation,steptasidetohimforamoment,andasked,"AmIwounded,thinkyou。?——No?Thenhaveyouanythingtodrink?"
anddeliberately"drankaglassofaqua—vitae,"thejudiciousCaptaincarryingapocket—pistolofthatsort,incaseofaccident;andlikewise"eat,withgreatappetite,abitofbreadfromoneofthesoldiers’haversacks;saying,Hebelievedtheheatofthejobwasdone,andthattherewasnofearnow!"——
DesweltberumktenLeopoldi,&c。(Anonymous,byRanfft,citedabove),pp。42—45,52,65。]
Amanthathasbeeninmanywars;inwhoseroughhead,areschemeshatching。AnyreligionhehasisofProtestantnature;buthehasnotmuch,——onthedoctrinalside,verylittle。Luther’sHymn,EinefesteBurgistunserGott,hecalls"GodAlmighty’sgrenadier—march。"Onjoiningbattle,heaudiblyutters,withbaredhead,somegrowlofruggedprayer,farfromorthodoxattimes,butmuohinearnest:thatliftingofhishatforprayer,ishislastsignalonsuchoccasions。Heisverycunningasrequired,withal;notdisdainingtheserpentinemethodwhennootherwilldo。WithFriedrichWilhelm,whoishissecond—cousin(Mother’sgrand—nephew,ifthereadercancountthat),heisfromofoldonthebestfooting,andcontrivestobehisMentorinmanythingsbesidesWar。TillhisquarrelwithGrumkow,ofwhichweshallhear,hetooktheleadinpoliticaladvising,too;andhadschemes,orwasthoughttohave,ofwhichQueenSophiewasinmuchterror。
Atall,strong—boned,hairyman;withcloudybrows,vigilantswifteyes;has"abluishtintofskin,"saysWilhelmina,"asifthegunpowderstillstucktohim。"Hewearslongmustaches;triangularhat,plumeandotherequipments,areofthriftypracticalsize。
Canbepoliteenoughinspeech;buthidesmuchofhismeaning,whichindeedismostlyinarticulate,andnotalwaysjoyfultotheby—stander。Heplaysroughpranks,too,onoccasion;andhasabighorse—laughinhim,wherethereisafoptoberoasted,orthelike。Wewillleavehimforthepresent,inhopeofothermeetings。
Remarkablemen,manyofthoseoldPrussiansoldiers:ofwhomonewishes,tonopurpose,thattherehadmoreknowledgebeenattainable。ButtheBooksaresilent;nopainter,nogenialseeing—mantopaintwithhispen,wasthere。GrimhirsuteHyperboreanfigures,theypassmostlymutebeforeus:burly,surly;inmustaches,indimuncertaingarniture,ofwhichthebuff—beltsandthesteel,arealoneconspicuous。GrowlingingutturalTeutsohwhatlittlearticulatemeaningtheyhad:
spending,oftheinarticulate,aproportioningames,ofchance,probablytooindrinkingbeer;yethavinganimmenseoverpluswhichtheydonotsospend,butendeavortoutterinsuchworkingastheremaybe。SohavetheHyperboreanslivedfromofold。
FromthetimesofTacitusandPytheas,nottospeakofOdinandJaphet,whathostsofthemhavemarchedacrossExistence,inthatmanner;——andwhereisthememorythatwould,evenifitcould,speakofthemall!——
WewillhopethemindofourlittleFritzhaspowersofassimilation。Bayle—Calvinlogics,andshadowsofVersailles,onthishand,andgunpowderLeopoldsandinarticulateHyperboreansonthat:hereisawidediversityofnutriment,allrathertoughinquality,providedfortheyoungsoul。Innumerableunconsciousinferenceshemusthavedrawninhislittlehead!PrinceLeopold’sface,withthewhiskersandblueskin,Ifindhewaswont,atafterperiods,todoincaricature,underthefigureofaCat’s;——
horrorandadmirationnotthesolefeelingsraisedinhimbytheField—Marshal。——Forbodilynourishmenthehad"beer—soup;"
adecidedSpartantoneprevailing,whereverpossible,inthebreedingandtreatmentofhim。
Andweneednotdoubt,byfarthemostimportantelementofhiseducationwastheunconsciousApprenticeshiphecontinuallyservedtosuchaSpartanasKingFriedrichWilhelm。Ofwhoseworksandwayshecouldnothelptakingnote,angryorother,everydayandhour;norintheend,ifhewereintelligent,helpunderstandingthem,andlearningfromthem。AharshMasterandalmosthalf—mad,asitmanytimesseemedtothepoorApprentice;yetatrueandsolidone,whoserealwisdomwasworththatofalltheothers,ashecameatlengthtorecognize。
ChapterIII。
FBIEDRICHWILHELMISKING。
WiththedeathofoldKingFriedrich,thereoccurredatoncevastchangesintheCourtofBerlin;atotalanduniversalchangeinthemodeoflivinganddoingbusinessthere。FriedrichWilhelm,outoffilialpiety,woreathisfather’sfuneralthegrandFrenchperukeandothersublimitiesofFrenchcostume;butitwasforthelasttime:thatsaddutyoncedone,heflungthewholeaside,notwithoutimpatience,andonnooccasionworesuchcostumeagain。
HewasnotafriendtoFrenchfashions,norhadeverbeen;farthecontrary。Inhisboyhood,saytheBiographers,therewasonceagrandembroideredcloth—of—gold,orotherwisesupremelymagnificent,littleDressing—gowngivenhim;buthewouldatnorateputiton,orbeconcernedwithit;onthecontrary,stuffeditindignantly"intothefire;"anddemandedwholesomeusefulduffelinstead。
Hebeganhisreformliterallyattheearliestmoment。
BeingsummonedintotheapartmentwherehispoorFatherwasinthelaststruggle,hecouldscarcelygetacrossforKAMMERJUNKER,KAMMERHERRN,Goldsticks,Silversticks,andtheothersolemnhistrionicfunctionaries,allcrowdingtheretodotheirsadmimicryontheoccasion:notalovelyaccompanimentinFriedrichWilhelm’seyes。HispoorFather’sdeath—struggleoncedone,andallreducedtoeverlastingrestthere,FriedrichWilhelmlookedinsilenceovertheUnutterable,foraShortspace,disregardfuloftheGoldsticksandtheireagernewhomaging;walkedswiftlyawayfromittohisownroom,shutthedoorwithaslam;andthere,shakingthetearsfromhiseyes,commencedbyanotableduty,——thedutynearesthand,andthereforefirsttobedone,asitseemedtohim。Itwasaboutoneintheafternoon,25thFebruary,1713;
hisFatherdeadhalfanhourbefore:"TearsataFather’sdeath—bed,musttheybedashedwithragebysuchasetofgreedyHistrios?"thoughtFriedrichWilhelm。HesummonedthesehisCourt—people,thatistosay,summonedtheirOBER—HOFMARSCHALLandrepresentative;andthroughhimsignifiedtothem,That,tilltheFuneralwasover,theirservicewouldcontinue;andthatonthemorrowaftertheFuneral,theywere,everysoulofthem,discharged;andfromthehighestGoldstickdowntothelowestPage—in—waiting,theKing’sHouseshouldbesweptentirelycleanofthem;——saidHouseintendingtostartafreshuponaquitenewfooting。[Forster,i。174;Pollnitz,Memoiren,ii。4。]Whichspreadsuchaconsternationamongthecourtierpeople,saytheHistories,aswasneverseenbefore。
Thethingwasdone,however;andnobodydurstwhisperdiscontentwithit;thisruggedyoungKing,withhisplangentmetallicvoice,withhissteady—beamingeyes,seemingdreadfullyinearnestaboutit,andapersonthatmightprovedangerousifyoucrossedhim。
HereducedhisHouseholdaccordingly,atonce,tothelowestfootingoftheindispensable;anddischargedawholeregimentofsuperfluousofficialpersons,court—flunkies,inferior,superiorandsupreme,inthemostruthlessmanner。HedoesnotintendkeepinganyOBER—HOFMARSCHALL,orthelikeidleperson,henceforth;thinksaminimumoftheGoldsticksoughttosufficeeveryman。
EightLackeys,intheante—chambersandelsewhere,these,witheachaJAGERBURSCH(whatweshouldcallanUNDER—KEEPER)toassistwhennothunting,willsuffice:Lackeysat"eightTHALERS
monthly,"whichissixshillingsaweek。ThreeactivePages,sometimestwo,insteadofperhapsthreedozenidlethatthereusedtobe。InKingFriedrich’stime,therewerewonttobeathousandsaddle—horsesatcornandhay:buthowmanyofthemwereinactualuse?Verymanyofthemweremereimaginaryquadrupeds;theirpriceandkeeppocketedbysomeknavishSTALLMEISTER,EquerryorHead—groom。FriedrichWilhelmkeepsonlythirtyHorses;buttheseareveryactual,notimaginaryatall;theircornnotrunningintoanyknave’spocket;butlyingactuallyinthemangershere;
gettinggroundforyouintoactualfour—footedspeed,when,onturforhighway,yourequiresuchathing。About,thirtyforthesaddle,——withafewcarriage—teams,arewhatFriedrichWilhelmcanemployinanyreasonablemeasure:andmorehewillnothaveabouthim。
InthelikeruthlesshumorhegoesoverhisPension—list;
strikesthreefourthsofthataway,reducestheremainingfourthtotheverybone。Inlikehumor,hegoesovereverydepartmentofhisAdministrative,HouseholdandotherExpenses:shearseverythingdown,herebythehundredthalers,therebytheten,willingeventosaveHALFATHALER。Hegoesoverallthisthreeseveraltimes;——hisPapers,thethreesuccessiveListsheusedonthatoccasion,havebeenprinted。[Rodenbeck,BeitragezurBereicherungderLebembeschreibungenFriedrichWilhelmsI。undFriedrichsdesGrossen(Berlin,1836),pp。99—127。]
Hehassatisfiedhimself,inabouttwomonths,what,theeffectiveminimumis;andleavesitso。Reducedtobelowthefifthofwhatitwas;55,000THALERS,insteadof276,000。[Stenzel,iii。237。]
Bydegreeshewentover,wentintoandthrough,everydepartmentofPrussianBusiness,inthatfashion;steadily,warily,irresistiblycompellingeveryitemofit,largeandlittle,totakethatsamecharacterofperfecteconomyandsolidity,ofutilitypureandsimple。Needfulworkistoberigorouslywelldone;needlesswork,andineffectualorimaginaryworkers,toberigorouslypitchedoutofdoors。WhatablessingonthisEarth;
worthpurchasingalmostatanyprice!Themoneysavedissomething,nothingifyouwill;buttheamountofmendacityexpunged,hasanyonecomputedthat?Mendacitynotoftongue;
butthefarfellersort,ofhand,andofheart,andofhead;
shortsummaryofallDevil’s—worshipwhatsoever。Whichspreadssilentlyalong,onceyouletitin,withfullpurseorwithempty;
somefoolsevenpraisingit:thequietDRY—ROTofNations!
Toexpungesuchisgreatlythedutyofeveryman,especiallyofeveryKing。Unconsciously,notthinkingofDevil’s—worship,orspiritualdry—rot,butofmoneychiefly,andledbyNatureandthewaysshehaswithus,itwasthetaskofFriedrichWilhelm’slifetobringaboutthisbeneficentresultinalldepartmentsofPrussianBusiness,greatandlittle,publicandevenprivate。
Yearafteryear,hebringsittoperfection;pushesitunweariedlyforwardeverydayandhour。SothathehasPrussia,atlast,allaPrussiamadeafterhisownimage;themostthrifty,hardy,rigorousandSpartancountryanymodernKingevertiedover;
andhimself(ifhethoughtofthat)aKingindeed。HethatmodelsNationsaccordingtohisownimage,heisaKing,thoughhissceptrewereawalking—stick;and,properlynootheris。
FriedrichWilhelmwaswonderedat,andlaughedat,byinnumerablemortalsforhiswaysofdoing;whichindeedwereverystrange。
NotthathefiguredmuchinwhatiscalledPublicHistory,ordesiredtodoso;for,thoughavigilantruler,hedidnotdealinprotocollingandcampaining,——heletaminimumofthatsufficehim。Butincourtsoirees,whereelegantemptytalkgoeson,andofallmaterialsforitscandalisfoundincomparablythemostinteresting。IsupposethereturnedupnonameoftenerthanthatofhisPrussianMajesty;andduringthesetwenty—sevenyearsofhisReign,hiswildpranksandexplosionsgavefoodforcontinualtalkinsuchquarter。
ForhewaslikenootherKingthatthenexisted,orhadeverbeendiscovered。WilderSonofNatureseldomcameintotheartificialworld;intoaroyalthronethere,probablynever。Awildman,whollyinearnest,veritableastheoldrocks,——andwithaterriblevolcanicfireinhimtoo。Hewouldhavebeenstrangeanywhere;butamongthedapperRoyalgentlemenoftheEighteenthCentury,whatwastobedonewithsuchanOrsonofaKing?——ClaphiminBedlam,andbringouttheballot—boxesinstead?Themoderngeneration,too,stilltakesitsimpressionofhimfromtheserumors,——stillmorenowfromWilhelmina’sBook;whichpaintstheoutsidesavageryoftheroyalman,inamoststrikingmanner;
andleavestheinsidevacant,undiscoveredbyWilhelminaortherumors。
Neverthelessitappearstherewereafewobservanteyesevenofcontemporaries,whodiscernedinhimasurprisingtalentfor"NationalEconomics"atleast。OneLeipzigProfessor,Saxon,notPrussianbynationorinterest,recognizesinFriedrichWilhelm"DENGROSSENWIRTH(thegreatManager,Husbandry—man,orLandlord)
oftheepoch;"andlecturesonhisadmirable"works,arrangementsandinstitutions"inthatkind。[Rodenbeck’sBeitrage(p。14),——Year,orNameofLecturer,notmentioned。]
NaythedapperRoyalgentlemensaw,withenvy,theindubitablegrowthofthismadsavageBrother;andascribeditto"hisavarice,"tohismeanways,whichwereinsuchcontrasttotheirsublimeones。ThatheunderstoodNationalEconomicshasnowbecomeverycertain。Hisgrimsemi—articulatePapersandRescripts,onthesesubjects,arestillalmostworthreading,byaloverofgenuinehumantalentinthedumbform。Forspelling,grammar,penmanshipandcomposition,theyresemblenothingelseextant;
areasifdonebythepawofabear:indeedtheutterancegenerallysoundsmorelikethegrowlingofabearthananythingthatcouldbehandilyspeltorparsed。Butthereisadecisivehumansenseintheheartofit;andthereissuchadirehatredofemptybladders,unrealitiesandhypocriticalformsandpretences,whathecalls"windandhumbug(WINDUNDBLAUERDUNST),"asisverystrangeindeed。Strangeamongallmankind;doublyandtreblystrangeamongtheunfortunatespeciescalledKingsinourtime。
Towhom,——forsadreasonsthatcouldbegiven,——"windandbluevapor(BLAUERDUNST),"artisticallymanagedbytherulesofAcousticsandOptics,seemtobeallwehaveleftus!——
Itmustbeownedthatthismanisinflexibly,andwithafierceslowinexorabledetermination,setuponhavingrealitiesroundhim。Thereisadivineideaoffactputintohim;thegenusshamwasneverhatefulertoanyman。Letitkeepoutofhisway,wellbeyondtheswingofthatrattanofhis,oritmaygetsomethingtoremember!Ajustman,too;wouldnotwronganyman,norplayfalseinwordordeedtoanyman。WhatisJusticebutanotherformoftheREALITYwelove;atruthactedout?Ofallthehumbugsor"paintedvapors"known,Injusticeistheleastcapableofprofitingmenorkings!Ajustman,Isay;andavaliantandveracious:butruggedasawildbear;entirelyinarticulate,asifdumb。Noburstsofparliamentaryeloquenceinhim,northeleasttendencythatway。HistalentforStump—Oratorymaybereckonedtheminimumconceivable,orpracticallynotedaZERO。AmanwhowouldnothaveriseninmodernPoliticalCircles;manunchoosableathustingsorincaucus;manforeverinvisible,andveryunadmirableifseen,totheAbleEditorandthosethathangbyhim。Infact,akindofsavageman,aswesay;buthighlyinteresting,ifyoucanreaddumbhumanworth;andofinexpressibleprofittothePrussianNation。
Forthefirsttenyearsofhisreign,hehadaheavy,continualstruggle,gettinghisfinanceandotherbranchesofadministrationextricatedfromtheirstranglingimbrogliosofcoilednonsense,andputuponarationalfooting。Hislaborintheseyears,thefirstoflittleFritz’slife,musthavebeengreat;thepushingandpullingstrongandcontinual。Thegoodplanitself,thiscomesnotofitsownaccord;itisthefruitof"genius"(whichmeanstranscendentcapacityoftakingtrouble,firstofall):givenahugestackoftumbledthrums,itisnotinyoursleepthatyouwillfindthevitalcentreofit,orgetthefirstthrumbytheend!Andthentheexecution,therealizing,amidthecontradiction,silentorexpressed,ofmenandthings?ExplosiveviolencewasbynomeansFriedrichWilhelm’smethod;theamountofslowstubbornbroad—shoulderedstrength,inallkinds,expendedbytheman,strikesusasverygreat。Theamountofpatienceeven,thoughpatienceisnotreckonedhisforte。
ThatoftheRITTER—DIENST(Knights’—Service),forexample,whichisbutonesmallitemofhisbusiness,thecommutingoftheoldfeudaldutyofhisLandholderstodoServiceinWartime,intoafixedmoneypayment:nothingcouldbefairer,moreclearlyadvantageoustobothparties;andmostofhis"Knights"gladlyacceptedtheproposal:yetacertainfactioussetofthem,theMagdeburgset,stirredupbysomesevenoreightoftheirnumber,"hardlyabovesevenoreightreallyagainstme,"sawgoodtostandout;remonstrated,recalcitrated;complainedintheDiet(Kaisertoohappytohearofit,thathemighthaveahookonFriedrichWilhelm);andforlongyearsthatpaltrymatterwasaprovocationtohim。[1717—1725。Forster,ii。162—165,iv。31—34;Stenzel,iii。316—319;SamuelBuchholz,NeuestePreussisch—
BrandenburgischeGeschichte(Berlin,1775),i。197。]
Butifyourplanisjust,andabitofNature’splan,persistinitlikealawofNature。ThissecrettoowasknowntoFriedrichWilhelm。Inthespaceoftenyears,byactualhumanstrengthloyallyspent,hehadmanagedmanythings;sawallthingsinacoursetowardsmanagement。Allthings,asitwere,fairlyontheroad;themultiplexteampullingoneway,inrationalhumanharness,notinimbrogliosofcoiledthrumsmadebytheNightmares。
HowheintroducedanewmodeoffarminghisDomainLands,whichareamainbranchofhisrevenue,andshallbefarmedonregularleasehenceforth,andnotwastedinpeculationandindolentmismanagementasheretofore;[Forster,ii。206,216。]newmodesoflevvinghistaxesandrevenuesofeverykind:[Ib。ii。190,195。]
Howheatlastconcentrated,andharmonizedintooneeasy—goingeffectiveGENERALDIRECTORY,[Completedd19thJanuary,1723
(Ib。ii。172)。]themultifariousconflictingBoards,thatwerejoltingandjanglinginadarkuse—and—wontmanner,andleavingtheirworkhalfdone,whenhefirstcameintopower:[Dohm,DenkwurdigkeitenmeinerZeit(LemgoundHanover,1814—1819),iv。88。]Howheinsistedonhavingdaylightintroducedtotheverybottomofeverybusiness,fair—and—squareobservedastheruleofit,andtheshortestroadadoptedfordoingit:Howhedrainedbogs,plantedcolonies,establishedmanufactures,madehisownuniformsofPrussianwool,inaLAGERHAUSofhisown:HowhedealtwiththeJewGompertaboutfarminghisTobacoo;——how,frommanyacrookedcaseandcharacterhe,bysloworshortmethods,broughtoutsomethingstraight;
wouldtakenodenialofwhatwashis,normakeanydemandofwhatwasnot;anddidprovereallyaterrortoevildoersofvariouskinds,especiallytoprevaricators,defalcators,imaginaryworkers,andslipperyunjustpersons:Howheurgeddiligenceonallmortals,wouldnothavetheveryApple—womensit"withoutknitting"attheirstalls;andbrandishedhisstick,orstruckitfiercelydown,overtheincorrigiblyidle:——Allthis,aswellashisludicrousexplosionsandunreasonableviolences,isonrecordconcerningFriedrichWilhelm,thoughitistothelatterchieflythattheworldhasdirecteditsunwiseattention,injudgingofhim。HewasaveryarbitraryKing。Yes,butthenagooddealofhisARBITRIUM,orsovereignwill,wasthatoftheEternalHeavensaswell;anddidexceedinglybehoovetobedone,iftheEarthwouldprosper。Whichisanimmenseconsiderationinregardtohissovereignwillandhim!Hewaspromptwithhisrattan,inurgentcases;hadhisgallowsalso,promptenough,whereneedful。
Lethimseethatnomistakeshappen,ascertainlyhemeansthatnoneshall!
Yearlyhemadehiscountryricher;andthisnotinmoneyalone(whichisofveryuncertainvalue,andsometimeshasnovalueatall,andevenless),butinfrugality,diligence,punctuality,veracity,——thegrandfountainsfromwhichmoney,andallrealvaluesandvalorsspringformen。ToFriedrichWilhelminhisrustiosimplicity,moneyhadnolackofvalue;ratherthereverse。
Tothehomespunmanitwasasuccessofmostexcellentquality,andthechiefsymbolofsuccessinallkinds。Yearlyhemadehisownrevenues,andhispeople’salongwiththemandasthesourceofthem,larger:andinallstatesofhisrevenue,hehadcontrivedtomakehisexpenditurelessthanit;andyearlysavedmassesofcoin,and"repositedtheminbarrelsinthecellarsofhisSchloss,"——wheretheyprovedveryuseful,oneday。MuchinFriedrichWilhelmproveduseful,beyondevenhisexpectations。
AsaNation’sHUSBANDheseekshisfellowamongKings,ancientandmodern。HappytheNationwhichgetssuchaHusband,onceinthehalf—thousandyears。TheNation,asfoolishwivesandNationsdo,repinesandgrudgesagooddeal,itsweakwhimsandwillbeingthwartedveryoften;butitadvancessteadily,withconsciousnessornot,inthewayofwell—doing;andafterlongtimestheharvestofthisdiligentsowingbecomesmanifesttotheNationandtoallNations。
StrangeasitsoundsintheRepublicofLetters,wearetemptedtocallFriedrichWilhelmamanofgenius;——geniusfatedandpromotedtoworkinNationalHusbandry,notinwritingVersesorthree—volumeNovels。Asilentgenius。Hismelodiousstanza,whichhecannotbeartoseehaltinanysyllable,isaroughfactreducedtoorder;factmadetostandfirmonitsfeet,withtheworld—rocksunderit,andlookingfreetowardsallthewindsandallthestars。Hegoesaboutsuppressingplatitudes,rippingofffutilities,turningdeceptionsinsideout。TherealmofDisorder,whichisUnveracity,Unreality,whatwecallChaos,hasnofiercerenemy。Honestsoul,andheseemedtohimselfsuchastupidfellowoften;notongue—learningatall;littlecapabletogiveareasonforthefaiththatwasinhim。Hecannotargueinarticulatelogic,onlyininarticulatebellowings,orworse。HemustDOathing,leaveitundemonstrated;oncedone,itwillitselftellwhatkindofthingitis,byandby。Menofgeniushaveahardtime,Iperceive,whetherbornonthethroneoroffit;andmustexpectcontradictionsnexttounendurable,——thepluralityofblockheadsbeingsoextreme!
Ifind,exceptSamuelJohnson,nomanofequalveracitywithFriedrichWilhelminthatepoch:andJohnsontoo,withallhistongue—learning,hadnotlogicenough。Infact,itdependsonhowmuchconvictionyouhave。BlessedbeHeaven,thereishereandthereamanbornwholovestruthastruthshouldbeloved,withallhisheartandallhissoul;andhatesuntruthwithacorrespondingperfecthatred。Suchmen,inpolitecircles,whichunderstandthatcertainlytruthisbetterthanuntruth,butthatyoumustbepolitetoboth,areliabletogettotheendoftheirlogic。EvenJohnsonhadabellowinhim;thoughJohnsoncouldatanytimewithdrawintosilence,HISkingdomlyingallunderhisownhat。HowmuchmoreFriedrichWilhelm,whohadnologicwhatever;andwhosekingdomlaywithouthim,farandwide,athinghecouldnotwithdrawfrom。TheruggedOrson,heneededtoberight。FromutmostMemeldowntoWeselagain,rankedinastragglingmannerroundthehalf—circumferenceofEurope,allmannerofthingsandpersonsweredependingonhim,andonhisbeingright,notwrong,inhisnotion。
Amanofcleardiscernment,verygoodnaturaleyesight;
andirrefragablyconfidentinwhathiseyestoldhim,inwhathisbeliefwas;——yetofhugesimplicitywithal。Capableofbeingcoaxedabout,andledbythenose,toastrangedegree,iftherewereanartistdexterousenough,daringenough!Hisownnaturaljudgmentwasgood,and,thoughapttobehastyandheadlong,wasalwayslikelytocomerightintheend;butinternally,wemayperceive,hismodesty,self—distrust,anxietyandotherunexpectedqualities,musthavebeengreat。Andthenhisexplosiveness,impatience,excitability;hisconsciousdumbignoranceofallthingsbeyondhisownsmallhorizonofpersonalsurvey!AnOrsoncapableenoughofbeingcoaxedandtickled,bysomefirst—rateconjurer;——first—rate;asecond—ratemighthavefailed,andgottorntopiecesforhispains。ButSeckendorfandGrumkow,whatadancetheyledhimonsomematters,——asweshallsee,andaspoorFritzandotherswillsee!
Hewasfullofsensitiveness,roughashewasandshaggyofskin。
Hiswildimaginationsdrovehimhitherandthitheratasadrate。
Heoughttohavetheprivilegesofgenius。HistallPotsdamRegiment,hismad—lookingpassionforenlistingtallmen;
thisalsoseemstomeoneofthewhimsofgenius,——anexaggeratednotiontohavehis"stanza"polishedtothelastpunctilioofperfection;andmightbeparalleledinthehistoryofPoets。
Stranger"manofgenius,"orinmorepeculiarcircumstances,theworldneversaw!
FriedrichWilhelm,inhisCrown—Princedays,andnowstillmorewhenhewashimselfinthesovereignplace,hadseenallalong,withnaturalarithmeticalintellect,Thathisstrengthinthisworld,asatpresentsituated,wouldverymuchdependupontheamountofpotential—battlethatlayinhim,——onthequantityandqualityofSoldiershecouldmaintain,andhavereadyforthefieldatanytime。Amostindisputabletruth,andaheartfeltoneinthepresentinstance。Toaugmentthequantity,toimprovethequality,inthisthrice—essentialparticular:herelaythekeystoneandcrowningsummitofallFriedrichWilhelm’sendeavors;towhichhedevotedhimself,asonlythebestSpartancouldhavedone。Ofwhichtherewillbeotheropportunitiestospeakindetail。Foritwasathingworld—notable;
world—laughable,aswasthenthought;theextremelyseriousfruitofwhichdidatlengthalsobecomenotableenough。
IntheMalplaquettime,onceonsomeoccasion,itissaid,twoEnglishOfficers,notwellinformeduponthematter,andprovokingenoughintheircontemptuousignorance,werereasoningwithoneanotherinFriedrichWilhelm’shearing,astothewarlikepowersofthePrussianState,andWhethertheKingofPrussiacouldonhisownstrengthmaintainastandingarmyof15,000?Withoutsubsidies,doyouthink,somanyas15,000?FriedrichWilhelm,incensedatthethingandatthetone,isreportedtohavesaidwithheat:"Yes,30,000!"[Forster,i。138。]whereatthemilitarymenslightlywaggedtheirheads,lettingthematterdropforthepresent。Buthemakesitgoodbydegrees;twofoldorthreefold;——
andwillhaveanarmyoffromseventytoahundredthousandbeforehedies,["72,000field—troops,30,000garrison—troops"
(GestandnisseeinesOEsterreichischenVeterans,
Breslau,1788,i。64)。]thebest—drilledoffightingmen;andwhataddsmuchtothewonder,afullTreasurywithal。ThisistheBrandenburgSpartanKing;acquaintedwithNationalEconomics。
AloneofexistingKingshelaysbymoneyannually;andislayingbymanyotherandfarmorepreciousthings,forPrussiaandthelittleBoyhehashere。
FriedrichWilhelm’spassionfordrilling,recruitingandperfectinghisarmyattractedmuchnotice:laughingsatiricalnotice;inthehundredmonthsofcommonrumor,whichheregardedlittle;andnoticeiracundandminatory,whenitledhimintocollisionwiththeindependentportionsofmankind,nowandthen。
Thislattersortwasnotpleasant,andsometimeslookedratherserious;butthistoohecontrivedalwaystodigestinsometolerablemanner。Hecontinueddrillingandrecruiting,——wemaysaynothisArmyonly,buthisNationinalldepartmentsofit,——
asnomanbeforeorsinceeverdid:increasing,byeverydevisablemethod,theamountofpotential—battlethatlayinhimandit。
Inamilitary,andalsoinamuchdeepersense,hemaybedefinedasthegreatDrill—sergeantofthePrussianNation。IndeedthishadbeenthefunctionoftheHohenzollernsallalong;thisdifficult,unpleasantandindispensableoneofdrilling。FromthefirstappearanceofBurggrafFriedrich,withgoodwordsandwithHEAVYPEG,inthewreckofanarchicBrandenburg,anddownwardseversince,thishassteadilyenoughgoneon。Andnotalittlegooddrillingthesepopulationshavehad,firstandlast;
justordersgiventhem(wiseandjust,whichtoarespectabledegreewereHeaven’sordersaswell):andcertainlyHeavyPeg,forinstance,——HeavyPeg,bringingQuitzow’sstrongHouseabouthisears,——wasarespectabledrummer’scattoenforcethesame。
Thishasbeengoingonthesethreehundredyears。ButFriedrichWilhelmcompletestheprocess;finishesitofftothelastpitchofperfection。FriedrichWilhelmcarriesitthrougheveryfibreandcrannyofPrussianBusiness,andsofaraspossible,ofPrussianLife;sothatPrussiaisalladrilledphalanx,readytothewordofcommand;andwhatweseeintheArmyisbutthelastconsummateessenceofwhatexistsintheNationeverywhere。
ThatwasFriedrichWilhelm’sfunction,madereadyforhim,laidtohishandbyhisHohenzollernforegoers;andindeeditprovedamostbeneficentfunction。
ForIhaveremarkedthat,ofallthings,aNationneedsfirsttobedrilled;andnoNationthathasnotfirstbeengovernedbyso—called"Tyrants,"andheldtighttothecurbtillitbecameperfectinitspacesandthoroughlyamenabletoruleandlaw,andheartilyrespectfulofthesame,andtotallyabhorrentofthewantofthesame,evercametomuchinthisworld。Englanditself,infoolishquartersofEngland,stillhowlsandexecrateslamentablyoveritsWilliamConqueror,andrigorouslineofNormansandPlantagenets;butwithoutthem,ifyouwillconsiderwell,whathaditeverbeen?AgluttonousraceofJutesandAngles,capableofnograndcombinations;lumberingaboutinpot—belliedequanimity;notdreamingofheroictoilandsilenceandendurance,suchasleadstothehighplacesofthisUniverse,andthegoldenmountain—topswheredwelltheSpiritsoftheDawn。Theirveryballot—boxesandsuffrages,whattheycalltheir"Liberty,"ifthesemean"Liberty,"andaresucharoadtoHeaven,Anglo—Saxonhigh—roadthither,——couldneverhavebeenpossibleforthemonsuchterms。Howcouldthey?Nothingbutcollision,intolerableinterpressure(asofmennotperpendicular),andconsequentbattleoftensupervening,couldhavebeenappointedthoseundrilledAnglo—Saxons;theirpot—belliedequanimityitselfcontinuingliabletoperpetualinterruptions,asintheHeptarchytime。
AnenlightenedPublicdoesnotreflectonthesethingsatpresent;
butwillagain,byandby。LookingwithhumaneyesovertheEnglandthatnowis,andovertheAmericaandtheAustralia,frompoletopole;andthenlisteningtotheConstitutionallitaniesofDryasaust,andhislamentationsontheoldNormanandPlantagenetKings,andhisrecognitionofdepartedmeritandcausesofeffects,——themindofmanisstruckdumb!
ChapterIV。
HISMAJESTY’SWAYS。
FriedrichWilhelm’sHistoryisoneofECONOMICS;whichstudy,sosoonasthereareKingsagaininthisworld,willbeprecioustothem。Inthathappystateofmatters,FriedrichWilhelm’sHistorywillwellrewardstudy;andteachbyexample,inaverysimpleanddirectmanner。InwhatiscalledthePolitical,Diplomatic,"Honor—to—be"department,thereisnot,norcaneverbe,muchtobesaidofhim;thisEconomistKinghavingalwayskepthimselfwellathome,andlookedsteadilytohisownaffairs。Sothatforthepresenthehas,asaKing,nexttonothingofwhatiscalledHistory;anditisonlyasafellow—man,ofsingularfaculty,andinamostpeculiarandconspicuoussituation,thathecanbeinterestingtomankind。Toushehas,asFatheranddailyteacherandmasterofyoungFritz,acontinualinterest;andwemustnotethemaster’sways,andthemainphenomenaoftheworkshopastheysuccessivelyturnedup,forthesakeofthenotableApprenticeservingthere。
Hewasnottallofstature,thisarbitraryKing:
aflorid—complexionedstout—builtman;ofserious,sincere,authoritativeface;hisattitudesandequipmentsverySpartanintype。Manofshortfirmstature;stands(inPesne’sbestPortraitsofhim)athisease,andyetlikeatower。Mostsolid;"plumbandrathermore;"eyessteadfastlyawake;cheeksslightlycompressed,too,whichflingthemouthratherforward;asifaskingsilently,"Anythingastir,then?Allrighthere?"Face,figureandbearing,allinhimisexpressiveofrobustinsight,anddirectdetermination;ofhealthyenergy,practicality,unquestionedauthority,——acertainairofroyaltyreducedtoitssimplestform。
ThefaceinPicturesbyPesneandothers,isnotbeautifuloragreeable;healthy,genuine,authoritative,isthebestyoucansayofit。Yetitmayhavebeen,whatitisdescribedasbeing,originallyhandsome。Highenougharchedbrow,rathercopiouscheeksandjaws;nosesmallish,incliningtobestumpy;largegrayeyes,brightwithsteadyfireandlife,oftenenoughgloomyandsevere,butcapableofjollylaughtertoo。Eyes"naturallywithakindoflaughinthem,"saysPollnitz;——whichlaughcanblazeoutintofearfulthunderousrage,ifyougivehimprovocation。
Especiallyifyoulietohim;forthathehatesaboveallthings。
Lookhimstraightintheface:hefancieshecanseeinyoureyes,ifthereisaninternalmendacityinyou:whereforeyoumustlookathiminspeaking;suchishisstandingorder。
Hishairisflaxen,fallingintotheash—grayordarker;
finecopiousflowinghair,whileheworeitnatural。Butitsoongottiedintoclubs,inthemilitarystyle;andatlengthitwasaltogethercroppedaway,andreplacedbybrown,andatlastbywhite,roundwigs。Whichlatteralso,thoughbadwigs,becamehimnotamiss,underhiscocked—hatandcockade,saysPollnitz。
[Pollnitz,Memoiren(Berlin,1791),ii。568。]Thevoice,Iguess,evenwhennotloud,wasofclangorousandpenetrating,quasi—metallicnature;andIlearnexpresslyonce,thatithadanasalqualityinit。[Busching,Beitrage,i。568。]HisMajestyspokethroughthenose;snuffledhisspeechinanearnestominouslyplangentmanner。Inangrymoments,whichwerefrequent,itmusthavebeen——
unpleasanttolistento。Fortherest,ahandsomemanofhisinches;conspicuouslywell—builtinlimbsandbody,anddelicatelyfinishedofftotheveryextremities。Hisfeetandlegs,saysPollnitz,wereveryfine。Thehands,ifhewouldhavetakencareofthem,werebeautifullywhite;fingerslongandthin;ahandatoncenimbletograsp,delicatetofeel,andstrongtoclutchandhold:whatmaybecalledabeautifulhand,becauseitistheusefulest。
NothingcouldexceedhisMajesty’ssimplicityofhabitudes。
Butonelovesespeciallyinhimhisscrupulousattentiontocleanlinessofpersonandofenvironment。HewashedlikeaveryMussulman,fivetimesaday;lovedcleanlinessinallthings,toasuperstitiousextent;whichtraitispleasantintheruggedman,andindeedofapiecewiththerestofhischaracter。Heisgraduallychangingallhissilkandotherclothroom—furniture;