首页 >出版文学> History of Friedrich II of Prussia>第103章
  MAPFACINGPAGE527,BOOKXX————————
  About9atnight,alltheAustriansarerollingoff,eastward,eastward。Prussiansgoadingthemforwardwhattheycould(firingnotquitedonetill10);andthatall—importantpommelofthesaddleisindisputablywon。TheAustrianssettledthemselves,inakindofhalf—moonshape,closeonthesuburbsofTorgau;
  thePrussiansinaparallelhalf—moonposture,somefurlongsbehindthem。TheAustrianssatbutashorttime;notamomentlongerthanwasindispensable。Daunperceivesthatthekeyofhisgroundisgonefromhim;thathewillhavetosendasecondCouriertoVienna。And,aboveallthings,thathemustforthwithgetacrosstheElbeandaway。LuckyforhimthathehasThreeBridges(orFour,includingtheTownBridge),andthathisBaggageisalreadyallacrossandstandingonwheels。WithexcellentdespatchandorderDaunwindshimselfacross,——allofhimthatisstillcoherent;andindeed,inthedistantpartsoftheBattle—field,wanderingAustrianpartieswereadmonishedhitherwardbytheRiver’svoiceinthegreatdarkness,——andDaun’slossinprisoners,thoughgreat,waslessthancouldhavebeenexpected:8,000inall。
  Tilltowardsoneinthemorning,thePrussians,intheirhalf—moon,hadnotlearnedwhathewasdoing。AboutonetheypushedintoTorgau,andacrosstheTownBridge;found26pontoons,——alltherestpackedoffexceptthese26;——anddidnotfollowfarther。
  LacyretreatedbytheotherorleftbankoftheRiver,toguardagainstattemptsfromthatside。NextdaytherewaspursuitofLacy;someprisonersandfurnituresgotfromhim,butnothingofmoment:DaunandLacyjoinedatDresden;tookpost,asusual,behindtheirinaccessiblePlauenChasms。Satthere,inviewofthechasingPrussians,withoutfartherlossthanthisofTorgau,andofaCampaigngonetowateragain。Whatanissue,forthethirdtime!
  [Tempelhof,iv。291—318,;Archenholtz,ii。159—174;Retzow,ii。299
  etseq。;UMSTANDLICHEBESCHREIBUNGDES&C,(inSeyfarth,
  Beylagen,ii。823—848):inHelden—Geschichte,orinAnonymousofHamburg(iv。
  245—300),theDaunDESPATCHES,theLists,&c。]——
  OnTorgau—field,behindthatfinalPrussianhalf—moon,therereigned,allnight,aconfusionwhichnotonguecanexpress。
  Poorwoundedmenbythehundredandthethousand,welteringintheirblood,onthecoldwetground;notsurgeonsornurses,butmercilesspredatorysutlers,equaltomurderifnecessary,waitingonthemandonthehappierthatweredead。"Unutterable!"saysArchenholtz;who,thoughwounded,hadcrawledorgotcarriedtosomevillagenear。Thelivingwanderedaboutingloomanduncertainty;luckyhewhosehaversackwasstillhis,andacrustofbreadinit:waterwasapricelessluxury,almostnowherediscoverable。PrussianGeneralsrovedaboutwiththeirStaff—
  Officers,seekingtore—formtheirBattalions;tolittlepurpose。
  Theyhadgrownindignant,insomeinstances,andwerevociferouslyimperativeandminatory;butintbedarkwhoneededmindthem?——
  theywentravingelsewhere,and,forthefirsttime,Prussianword—
  of—commandsawitselffutile。Pitchdarkness,bittercold,groundtrampledintomire。OnSiptitzHillthereisnothingthatwillburn:fartherback,intheDomitschWoods,arenumerousfinefires,towhichAustriansandPrussiansalikegather:"Peaceandtrucebetweenus;to—morrowmorningwewillseewhichareprisoners,whicharecaptors。"Sopassthewildhours,allheartslongingforthedawn,andwhatdecisionitwillbring。
  Friedrich,atElsnig,foundeveryhutfullofwounded,andtheirsurgeries,andmiseriessilentorloud。HehimselftookshelterinthelittleChurch;passedthenightthere。Busyaboutmanythings;
  ——"usingthealtar,"itseems,"bywayofwriting—table[selforsecretarieskneeling,shallwefancy,onthosenewterms?],andthestairsofitasseat。"OfthefinalZiethen—Lestwitzefforthewouldscarcelyhearthemusketryorcannonade,beingsofarawayfromit。Atwhathour,orfromwhomfirst,helearnedthattheBattleofTorgauhadbecomeVictoryinthenight—time,Iknownot:
  theAnecdote—Bookssendhimoutinhiscloak,wanderingupanddownbeforedaybreak;standingbythesoldiers’fires;andatlength,amongtheWoods,inthefaintincipiencyofdawn,meetingaShadowwhichprovestobeZiethenhimselfinthebody,withembracesandcongratulations:——evidentlymythical,thoughdramatic。Reachhimthenewssoondid;andsurelynonecouldbewelcomer。
  Head—quarterschangefromthealtar—stepsinElsnigChurchtosecularroomsinTorgau。ZiethenhasalreadyspedforthontheskirtsofLacy;wholeArmyfollowsnextday;and,ontheWar—
  theatreitis,onthesudden,atotalchangeofscene。
  Conceivabletoreaderswithoutthedetails。
  HopestherewereofgettingbackDresdenitself;butthat,oncloserview,provedunattemptable。DaunkepthisPlauenChasm,hisfewsquaremilesofgroundbeyond;therestofSaxonywasFriedrich’s,asheretofore。LoudonhadtriedhardonKoselforaweek;stormingonce,andasecondtime,veryfiercely,Goltzbeingnownear;butcouldmakenothingofit;and,onwindofGoltz,wenthisway。[HOFBERICHTVONDERBELAGERUNGVONKOSEL,IMOCTOBER1760
  (Seyfarth,Beylagen,ii。798—804):began"October21st;"ended"atdaybreak,October27th。"]TheRussians,onsoundofTorgau,shoulderedarms,andmadeforPoland。Daun,forhisownshare,wenttoViennathisWinter;inneedofsurgery,andotherthings。ThepopulationthereisratherdisposedtobegrumblyonitsonceheroicFabius;wishestheFabiuswerealittlelesscunctatory。ButImperialMajestyherself,oneisproudtorelate,droveout,inOldRomanspirit,somemiles,tomeethim,herdefeatedever—honoredDaun,andtoinquiregraciouslyabouthishealth,whichissoimportanttotheState。[Archenholtz,ii。179。]
  TorgauwasDaun’slastBattle:Daun’slastbattle;and,whatismoretothejoyofreadersandtheirEditorhere,wasFriedrich’slast,——sothattheremainingTwoCampaignsmayfairlybecondensedtoanextremedegree;andafewChaptersmorewilldeliverusaltogetherfromthispainfulelement!——
  DaunlostatTorgau,byhisownaccount,"about11,000men,"——
  shouldhavesaid,accordingtoTempelhof,andeventoneutralpersons,"above12,000killedandwounded,PLUS8,000prisoners,45cannon,29flags,1standard(orhorse—flag),"[Tempelhof,iv。
  213;Kausler,p。726。]whichbringshimtoatleast20,000minus;——
  thePrussianloss,heavyenoughtoo,being,byTempelhof’sadmission,"between13and14,000,ofwhom4,000prisoners。"
  Thesoreloss,notsocomputableinarithmetic,——butlesssoretoDaun,perhaps,thantomostpeople,——isthatofbeingbeaten,andhavingone’sCampaignreducedtowateragain。NoConquestofSaxony,anymorethanofSilesia,possibletoDaun,thisYear。
  InSilesia,thankstoLoudon,smallthankstoLoudon’sChief,theyhavegotGlatz:Koseltheycouldnotget;fieryLoudonhimselfstormedandblazedtonopurposethere,andhadtohurryhomeonsightofGoltzandrelief。Glatzisthenetsum—total。Daunknowsallthis;butinastoicalarithmeticalmanner,andrefusestobeflurriedbyit。
  Friedrich,aswesaid,hadhopedsomethingmightbedoneinSaxonyonthedefeatedDaun;——perhapsDresdenitselfbegotbackfromhim,andhisArmyaltogethersenttowinterinBohemiaagain?Butitprovedotherwise。DaunshowednottheleastdispositiontoquithisPlauenChasm,orfallintodiscouragement:andaftersomeweeksofdiligenttrial,onFriedrich’spart,andmuchrunningaboutinthosecentralandHill—wardparts,FriedrichfoundhewouldhavetobecontentwithhisformerallotmentofSaxonterritory,andtoleavetheAustriansquietintheirs。Tookwinter—quartersaccordingly,andlettheEnemytake。Cantonedhimself,inthatMeissen—FreybergCountry,infrontoftheAustriansandtheirimpassablePlauensandChasms:——prettymuchasinthepastYear,onlythattheTwoArmieslayatagreaterdistance,andweremorepeaceable,asifbymutualconsent。
  Head—quarteroftheKingisLeipzig;wheretheKingdidnotarrivetillDecember8th,——suchadjustingandarranginghashehad,andincessantrunningtoandfro。Helivedinthe"ApelHouse,NEW
  Neumarkt,No。16;"[Rodenbeck,ii。65。]thesamehehadoccupiedin1757,intheRossbachtime。"ACH!howleanyourMajestyhasgrown!"
  saidtheMistressofit,atsightofhimagain(mythically,I
  shouldfancy,thoughitisintheAnecdote—Books)。"Lean,JAWOHL,"
  answeredhe:"andwhatwonder,withThreeWomen[Theresa,Czarina,Pompadour]hangingonthethroatofmeallthiswhile!"Butweproposetolookinuponhimourselves,inthisApelHouse,onmoreauthenticterms,byandby。Read,meanwhile,theseTwobitsofAutograph,thrownoffincidentally,atdifferentplaces,inthepreviousbusyjourneyingsoverMeissen—Freybergcountry:——
  1。FRIEDRICHTOMARQUISD’ARGENS(atBerlin)。
  "MEISSEN,10thNovember,1760……"IdrovetheenemytotheGatesofDresden;theyoccupytheirCampoflastYear;allmyskillisnotenoughtodislodgethem,"——
  [ChasmofPlauen,"aplaceimpregnable,wereitgarrisonedbychimney—sweeps,"saystheKingonce]。"WehavesavedourreputationbytheDayofTorgau:butdon’timagineourenemiesaresodisheartenedastodesirePeace。DukeFerdinand’saffairsarenotinagoodway[missedWesel,ofwhichpresently;——and,alasalso,GeorgeII。died,thisdaygoneafortnight,whichisfarworseforus,ifweknewit!]——IfeartheFrenchwillpreservethroughWintertheadvantagestheygainedduringtheCampaign。
  "Inaword,Iseeallblack,asifIwereatthebottomofatomb。
  HavesomecompassiononthesituationIamin;conceivethatI
  disguisenothingfromyou,andyetthatIdonotdetailtoyouallmyembarrassments,myapprehensionsandtroubles。Adieu,dearMarquis;writetomesometimes,——don’tforgetapoordevil,whocursestentimesadayhisfatalexistence,andcouldwishhealreadywereinthoseSilentCountriesfromwhichnobodyreturnswithnews。"[OEuvresdeFrederic,xix。
  204,205。]
  2。TheSecond,ofdifferentcomplexion,isastillmoreinterestinglittleAutograph,dateelsewhere,fartheron,inthosewanderings。
  MadamCamas,WidowoftheColonelCamaswhomweknewtwentyyearsago,is"Queen’sOBER—HOFMEISTERINN(LadyinChief),"——towhomtheKing’sLettersarealwayspretty:——
  FREIDRICHTOMADAMCAMAS(atMagdeburg,withtheQueen’sMajesty。
  "NEUSTADT,18thNovember,1760。
  "Iamexactinanswering,andeagertosatisfyyou[inthatmatteroftheporcelain:youshallhaveabreakfast—set,mygoodMamma;
  sixcoffee—cups,verypretty,welldiapered,andtrickedoutwithallthelittleembellishmentswhichincreasetheirvalue。
  Onaccountofsomepieceswhichtheyareaddingtotheset,youwillhavetowaitafewdays;butIflattermyselfthisdelaywillcontributetoyoursatisfaction,andproduceforyouatoythatwillgiveyoupleasure,andmakeyourememberyouroldAdorer。
  Itiscurioushowoldpeople’shabitsagree。ForfouryearspastI
  havegivenupsuppers,asincompatiblewiththeTradeIamobligedtofollow;andinmarchingdays,mydinnerconsistsofacupofchocolate。
  "Wehurriedoff,likefools,quiteinflatedwithourVictory,totryifwecouldnotchasetheAustriansoutofDresden:theymadeamockeryofusfromthetopsoftheirmountains。SoIhavewithdrawn,likeabadlittleboy,toconcealmyself,outofspite,inoneofthewretchedestvillagesinSaxony。AndherethefirstthingwillbetodrivetheCirclegentlemen,[ReichsArmy]outofFreybergintoChemnitz,andgetourselvesroomtoquarterandsomethingtoliveupon。Itis,Isweartoyou,adogofalife[orevenashe—dog,CHIENNEDEVIE],thelikeofwhichnobodybutDonQuixoteeverledbeforeme。Allthistumblingandtoiling,andbotherandconfusionthatneverceases,hasmademesoold,thatyouwouldscarcelyknowmeagain。Ontherightsideofmyheadthehairisallgray;myteethbreakandfallout;Ihavegotmyfacewrinkledlikethefalbalasofapetticoat;mybackbentlikeafiddle—bow;andspiritsadanddowncastlikeamonkofLaTrappe。
  Iforewarnyouofallthis,lest,incaseweshouldmeetagaininfleshandbone,youmightfeelyourselftooviolentlyshockedbymyappearance。Thereremainstomenothingbuttheheart,——whichhasundergonenochange,andwhichwillpreserve,solongasIbreathe,itsfeelingsofesteemandoftenderfriendshipformygoodMamma。
  Adieu。"[OEuvresdeFrederic,XVIII。144。]——
  TowhichaddonlythisonDukeFerdinand,"whoseaffairs,"wejustheard,"arenotinagoodway:"——
  FIGHTOFKLOSTERKAMPEN(NightofOctober15th—16th);
  WESELNOTTOBEHADBYDUKEFERDINAND。
  AfterWARBURG(July31st,whileFriedrichwasontheeveofcrossingElbeonnewadventures,DresdenSiegehavingfailedhim),DukeFerdinandmadenofiguretotheGazetteers;foughtnoBattlefarther;andhashadaCampaign,whichishonorableonlytojudgesofahigherthantheGazetteersort。
  ByWarburgFerdinandhadgottheDiemel;onthenorthbankofwhichhespreadhimselfout,impassabletoBroglio,wholaytryingontheoppositebank:——"NoHanoverbythisroad。"Brogliothereupondrewbackalittle;pushedoutcircuitouslyfromhisrightwing,whichreachesfareastwardofFerdinand,aconsiderableBrigade,——
  circuitously,roundbytheWeser—FuldaCountry,andbeyondtheembouchureofDiemel,——totryitbythatmethod。GotactuallyafewmilesintoHanoverianterritory,bythatmethod;laidholdofGottingen,alsoofMunden,whichsecuresaroadthither:andatGottingenthere,"eversinceAugust4th,"Brogliohasbeenthrowingupworks,andshootingouthussar—partiestoagooddistance;
  intending,itwouldseem,tomaintainhimself,andtobemischievous,inthatpost。Would,infact,fainenticeFerdinandacrosstheWeser,tohelpGottingen。"AcrossWeser,yes;——andsoleaveBrogliofreetotakeLippstadtfromme,ashemightafterashortsiege,"thinksFerdinandalways;"whichwouldbeautifullyshortenBroglio’scommunication[quitedirectthen,andwithoutinterruption,allthewaytoWesel],andmakeHanoveritself,HanoverandBrunswick,thecentralSeatofWar!"WhichFerdinand,grievedasheisforGottingen,willbynomeansconsentto。
  Ferdinand,strongonlyasonetotwo,cannothinderBroglio,thoughhetriesvariously;andismuchataloss,seeingBroglioirrepressiblybusythisway,allthroughAugustandonintoSeptember;——hasheard,however,fromWesel,throughsecretpartisansthere,thatWesel,consideredaltogetheroutofrisk,isleftinaveryweakcondition;weakingarrison,weakeveningunners。Reflectinguponwhich,inhisdifficulties,Ferdinandaskshimself,"AsuddenstrokeatWesel,200milesaway,mightitnotastonishBroglio,whoissobusyonusjusthere?"——and,September22d,despatchestheHereditaryPrinceonthaterrand。Amanlikelyforit,iftherebeoneintheworld:——unabletodoit,however,astheissuetold。HereiswhatIfindnoted。
  "SEPTEMBER22d,theErbprinz,withachosenCorpsof15,000,mostlyEnglish,lefttheseDiemelregionstowardsWesel,athisspeediest。
  September29th,Erbprinzandvanguard,Corpsrapidlyfollowing,aregottoDorsten,within20milesofWesel。AmostswiftErbprinz;
  likelyforsuchwork。Anditisthoughtbyjudges,Hadhehadeithersiege—artilleryorscalingapparatus,hemightreallyhaveattackedWeselwithgoodchanceuponit。Buthehasnotevenaladderready,muchlessasiege—gun。Siege—gunsareatBielefeld[comefromBremen,Isuppose,byEnglishboating,uptheWesersofar];butthatissixscoremilesofwheel—carriage;roadsbad,andthreateningtobeworse,asitisequinoctialweather。Thereisnothingforitbuttowaitforthoseguns。
  "TheErbprinz,hopefullywaiting,doeshisendeavorintheinterim;
  throwsabridgeovertheRhine,pouncesuponClevegarrison(prisoners,withtheirfurnitures),pouncesuponthisandthat;
  ’spreadsterror’ontheFrenchthereabouts’uptoDusseldorfandKoln,——andonBrogliohimself,sofaroff,thedueastonishment。
  ’Weseltobesnatched,——yeHeavens!OurNetherlandsroadcutoff:
  Dusseldorf,Koln,ourRhineMagazines,allandsundry,fallentothehawks,——who,thelighter—wingedofthem,mightpayvisitsinFranceitself!’BrogliohastosuspendhisGottingenoperations,anddetachMarquisdeCastrieswith(sayultimately,forCastriesistogrowandgatherbytheroad)35,000,torelieveWesel。
  Castriesmarchesdouble—quick;weatherveryrainy;——arrivesinthosepartsOCTOBER13th;——hardlyagunfromBielefeldcometohandyet,Erbprinzmerelyfillingmenwithterror。Andso,"OCTOBER14th,aftertwoweeksandaday,theHereditaryPrincesees,notgunsfromBielefeld,butCastriespushingintoWesela7,000ofadditionalgarrison,——andtheEnterpriseonWeselgrownimpossible。Impossible,andprobablyfarmore;Castriesinaconditiontodevourus,ifheprovesharp。ItbehoovestheHereditaryPrincetobehimselfsharp;——whichheundoubtedlywas,inthissharpcrisis。Nextday,ourErbprinz,takingsurveyofCastriesinhisstronggroundofKlosterKampen,decides,likeagallantfellow,toattackHIM;——andstraightwaydoesit。
  Breaks,thatsamenight(October15th—16th,1760),stealthily,throughwoodsandwithprecautions,intoCastries’sPost;——
  intendingsurprisal,andmereruintoCastries。Andthereensued,nottheSURPRISALasitturnedout,buttheBATTLEOFKLOSTER
  KAMPEN;whichagainprovedunsuccessful,oronlyhalf—successful,totheHereditaryPrince。Amany—winged,intricateNight—Battle;
  tobereadofinBooks。ThisiswheretheChevalierd’Assas,heorSomebody,gavethealarmtotheCastriespeopleattheexpenseofhislife。’AMOI,AUVERGNE,Ho,Auvergne!’shoutedD’Assas(ifitwasD’Assasatall),whenthestealthyEnglishcameuponhim;
  whowasatoncecutdown。[Preuss(ii。270n。)assertsittobeproved,in"MiscellenausdenneuestenauslandischenLitteratur(1824,No。3,p。409),"aBookwhichnoneofuseversaw,"Thattherealhero[equaltoaRomanDeciusormore]wasnotCaptaind’Assas,oftheRegimentAuvergne,butapoorPrivateSoldierofit,calledDubois"!——Isnotthisastrangeturn,aftersuchbe—PENSIONING,be—painting,singingandcelebrating,asroseuponpoorD’Assas,ortheFamilyofD’Assas,twentyyearsafterwards(1777—1790)!——BothDuboisandD’Assas,Iconclude,layamongtheslainatKlosterKampen,silenttheyforever:——andapainfuldoubtdoesrise,AstothemiraculousoperationofPosthumousRumorandWonder;andWhethertherewasany"miracleofheroism,"orothermiracleatall,andnotratherapoornocturnalaccident,——poorsentryintheedgeofthewood,shriekingout,onapparitionofthestealthyEnglish,"Ho,Auvergne,help!"probablyfiringwithal;andgettingkilledinconsequence?NONNOSTRUMEST。]
  Itiscertain,Auvergnegavefire;awokeCastriesbodily;andsavedhimfromwhatwasotherwiseinevitable。Surprisenowtherewasnonefarther;butacomplexFight,managedinthedarknesswithuncommonobstinacy;endinginwithdrawaloftheErbprinz,asfromathingthatcouldnotbedone。Hislossinkilled,woundedandprisoners,was1,638;thatofCastries,byhisowncounting,2,036:
  butKlosterKampen,inthewide—awakestate,couldnotbewon。
  "DuringtheFight,theErbprinz’sRhine—Bridgehadburstintwo:
  hisammunitionwasrunningshort;——and,itwouldseem,thereisnoretreat,either!TheErbprinzputaboldfaceonthematter,stoodtoCastriesinathreateningattitude;mamoeuvredskilfullyfortwodayslonger,facestilltoCastries,tilltheBridgewasgotmended;then,nightofOctober18th—19th,crossedtohisownside;
  gathereduphisgoods;andatadeliberatepacemarchedhome,onthoseterms;——doingsomeusefulfightingbytheroad。"
  [Mauvillon,ii。120—129:Tempelhof,ii。325—332。]
  Hadlostnothing,sayhisadmirers,"butonecannon,whichburst。"
  OneburstcannonleftonthefieldofKlosterKampen;——butalso,aswesee,hiserrandalongwithit;and1,600goodfighterslostaudburst:whichwasmoreimportant!CriticismstherewereonitinEngland,perhapsoftheunwisesortgenerally;sorrowinthehighestquarter。"Anunaccountableexpedition,"Walpolecallsit,"onwhichPrinceFerdinandsuddenlydespatchedhisNephew,attheheadofaconsiderableforce,towardsthefrontiersofHolland,"——
  merelytoseethecountrythere?——"whichoccasionedmuchsolicitudeinEngland,astheMainArmy,alreadyunequaltothatofFrance,wasthusrenderedmuchweaker。KingGeorgefeltitwithmuchanxiety。"[Walpole’sGeorgeSecond,iii。
  299。]AnunaccountableEnterprise,mypoorGazetteerfriends,——
  veryevidentlyanunsuccessfulone,sofarasWeselwent。
  ManyEnglishfalleninit,too:"theEnglishshowedhereagainaGANZAUSNEHMENDETAPFERKEIT,"saysMauvillon;andprobablytheirshareofthelosswasproportionate。
  ClearlyenoughthereisnoWeseltobehad。NeithercouldBroglio,thoughdisturbedinhisGottingenfortifyingsandoperations,beejectedoutofGottingen。Ferdinand,onfailureofWesel,himselfmarchedtoGottingen,andtriedforsomedays;butfoundhecouldnot,insuchweather,tearoutthatfirmlyrootedFrenchPost,butmustbecontentto"maskit,"forthepresent;and,thisdone,withdrew(December13th)tohiswinter—quartersnearby,asdidBrogliotohis,——aboutthetimeFriedrichandDaunhadfinallysettledintheirs。
  Ferdinand’sCampaignshenceforth,whichturnallonthedefenceofHanover,arehighlyrecommendedtoprofessionalreaders;buttothelaicsortdonotproveinterestinginproportiontothetrouble。
  Infact,thehugeWarhenceforthbeginseverywhere,oreverywhereexceptinPitt’sdepartmentofit,toburnlower,likealampwiththeoilgettingdone;andhaslessofbrilliancythanformerly。
  "LetustryforHanover,"theBelleisles,ChoiseulsandwiseFrenchheadshadsaidtothemselves:"Canada,India,everythingislost;
  butweredearHanoverwellinourclutch,Hanoverwouldbearemedyformanythings!"ThroughtheremainingCampaigns,asinthisnowdone,thatistheirfixedplan。Ferdinand,byunweariedeffort,succeededindefendingHanover,——nothingofitbutthatinconsiderablesliceorskirtroundGottingen,whichtheykeptlong,couldeverbegotbytheFrench。FerdinanddefendedHanover;
  andworeoutannuallythebigFrenchArmieswhichweremissionedthither,asinthespasmofanexpiringlasteffortbythispoorhag—riddenFrance,——atanexpensetoher,say,of50,000menperyear。WhichwasgoodserviceonFerdinand’spart;butdonelessandlessintheshiningoruniversallynotableway。
  Sothatwithhimtoowearehenceforth,thankHeaven,permittedandevenboundtobebrief。HardlyabovetwoBattlesmorefromhim,ifeventwo:——andmostlytheweariedReader’simaginationlefttoconceiveforitselfthoseintricatestrategies,andendlessmanoeuvringsontheDiemelandtheDill,ontheOhmRiverandtheSchwalmandtheLippe,orwherevertheymaybe,withsmallhelpfromaweariedEditor!——
  ChapterVI。
  WINTER—QUARTERS1760—1761。
  Amelancholylittleevent,whichafterwardsprovedunexpectedlyunfortunateforFriedrich,hadhappenedinEnglandtendaysbeforetheBattleofTorgau。Saturday,25thOctober,1760,GeorgeII。,pooroldgentleman,suddenlydied。Hewasinhis77thyear;
  feeble,butnotfeeblerthanusual,——unless,perhaps,theunaccountablenewsfromKlosterKampenmayhavebeentooagitatingtothedimoldmind?OntheMondayofthisweekhehad,"fromatentinHydePark,"presidedataReviewofDragoons;andonThursday,ashisColdstreamGuardswereonmarchforPortsmouthandforeignservice,"wasinhisPorticoatKensingtontoseethempass;"——fullofzealalwaysinregardtomilitarymatters,andtothisWarinparticular。Saturday,bysunrisehewasonfoot;
  tookhiscupofchocolate;inquiredaboutthewind,andthechancesofmailsarriving;openedhiswindow,saidhewouldhaveaturnintheGardens,themorningbeingsofine。Itwasnowbetween7and8。
  Thevaletthenwithdrewwiththechocolateapparatus;buthadhardlyshutthedoor,whenheheardadeepsigh,andfallofsomething,——"billetofwoodfromthefire?"thoughthe;——uponwhich,hurryingback,hefounditwastheKing,whohaddroptfromhisseat,"asifinattemptingtoringthebell。"Kingsaidfaintly,"CallAmelia,"andinstantlydied。PoordeafAmelia(Friedrich’soldlove,nowgrownoldanddeaf)listenedwildlyforsomefaintsoundfromthoselipsnowmuteforever。GeorgeSecondwasnomore;hisgrandsonGeorgeThirdwasnowKing。
  [OldNewspapers(inGentleman’sMagazine,
  xxx。486—488)。]
  Intrinsicallytaken,thisseemednoverygreateventforFriedrich,forPitt,forEnglandormankind:butitprovedotherwise。
  ThemeritofthispoorKingdeceased,whohadledhisNationstumblingamongthechimney—potsatsucharateinthesemadGermanWarsforTwentyYearspast,was,ThathedidnowstandloyaltotheEnterprise,nowwhenithadbecomesaneindeed;nowwhentheNationwasbroadawake,andaCaptainhadrisentoguideitoutofthatperilousposture,intonever—expectedvictoryandtriumph!PooroldGeorgehadstoodbyhisPitt,byhisFerdinand,withaperfectloyaltyatallturns;andbeendevoted,heartandsoulandbreeches—pocket,tocompletelybeatingBourbon’soppressiveideasoutofBourbon’shead。Alittlefact,buthowimportant,thenandthere!UndertheSuccessor,allthismaybedifferent:——ghastlybeings,OldTutors,Favorites,Mother’s—Favorites,flit,asyetinvisible,onthenewbackstairs:——shouldButeandCompanygetintotheforeground,peoplewillthenknowhowimportantitwas。
  Walpolesays:——
  "TheYorkes[Ex—ChancellorHardwickepeople]hadlongdistastedthisWar:"yes,andbeenpainfullyobligedtoholdtheirtongues:
  "butnow,"withinamonthorsooftheoldKing’sdeath,"therewaspublished,underLordHardwicke’scountenance,aTractsettingforththeburdenandillpolicyofourGermanmeasures。ItwascalledCONSIDERATIONSONTHEGERMANWAR;wasablywritten,andchangedmanymen’sminds。"Thisisthefamous"MauduitPamphlet:"
  firstofthosesmallstones,fromtheslingofOppositionnotobligedtobedormant,whicharenowbeginningtorattleonPitt’sOlympianDwelling—place,——highreallyasOlympus,incomparisonwithothersofthekind,butwhichunluckilyismadeofGLASSliketherestofthem!Theslingerofthisfirstresoundinglittlemissile,Walpoleinformsus,was"oneMauduit,formerlyaDissentingTeacher,"——sonofaDissentingMinisterinBermondsey,I
  hear,andperhapshimselfonceaPreacher,butatpresentconcernedwithFactorageofWoolonthegreatscale;gotsoonafterwardspromotedtobeHeadoftheCustom—houseinSouthampton,solovelydidheseemtoButeandCompany。"HowagreeablehispoliticsweretotheinterioroftheCourt,soonappearedbyaplace[SouthamptonCustom—house]beingbestowedonhimbyLordBute。"AfortunateMauduit,yetastupidlytragical;hadsuchadestinyinEnglishHistory!HearWalpolealittlefarther,onMauduit,andonotherthingsthenresonanttoArlingtonStreetinawayoftheirown。
  "TOSIRHORACEMANN[atFlorence]:——
  "NOVEMBER14th,1760[tenthnightafterTorgau]……WeareallingunsandbonfiresforanunexpectedvictoryoftheKingofPrussiaoverDaun;butasnoparticularsareyetarrived,therearedoubters。"
  "DECEMBER5th,1760。Ihavereceivedthesamplesofbrocadella……
  IshallsendyouacuriousPamphlet,theonlyworkIalmosteverknewthatchangedtheopinionsofmany。ItiscalledCONSIDERATIONS
  ONTHEPRESENTGERMANWAR,["London:PrintedforJohnWilkie,attheBible,inSt。Paul’sChurchyard,1761,"addsmypoorCopy(afrugal12mo,ofpp。144),notaddingofwhatedition。]andiswrittenbyawholesaleWoollen—Draper[connectedwithWool,insomeway;"FactoratBlackwellHall,"ifthatmeanDraper:——andagrowingmaneverafter;cametobe"AgentforMassachusetts,"ontheBoston—TEAoccasion,andagaindidTracts;was"Presidentofthe"——inshort,wasaconspicuousVice—President,soletusdefinehim,ofThegeneralAnti—PenaltyorLife—made—SoftAssociation,withCauseofcivilandreligiousLibertyallovertheWorld,andsuchlike;andaMauduitcomfortablyresonantinthatwaytillhedied[Chalmers,BIOG。DICTIONARY;Nichols,LITERARYANECDOTES;
  &c。&c。];butthematerialsaresupposedtobefurnishedbythefactionoftheYorkes。TheconfirmationoftheKingofPrussia’svictorynearTorgaudoesnotpreventthedisciplesofthePamphletfromthinkingthatthebestthingwhichcouldhappenforuswouldbetohavethatMonarch’sheadshotoff。[Hear,hear!]——
  "ThereareLettersfromtheHague[whatfoolishLettersdoflyabout,myfriend!],thatsayDaunisdeadofhiswounds。Ifheis,IshallbegintobelievethattheKingofPrussiawillendsuccessfullyatlast。[Oh!]IthasbeenthefashiontocrydownDaun;but,asmuchastheKingofPrussiamayadmirehimself[doesimmensely,accordingtoourSelwyninformations],IdaresayhewouldhavebeengladtobematchedwithonemuchmorelikehimselfthanonesooppositeastheMarshal。"
  "JANUARY2d,i761。TheGermanWarisnotsopopularasyouimagine,eitherintheClosetorintheNation。"[Walpole,LetterstoSirHoraceMann(Lond。1843),i。6,7。]
  (Enough,enough。)
  TheMauduitPamphlet,whichthenproducedsuchaneffect,isstilltobemetinoldCollectionsandonBookstalls;butproduceslittlesavewearinesstoamodernreader。"Hanovernotinrealdanger,"
  argueshe;"iftheFrenchhadit,wouldnotthey,allEuropeorderingthem,havetogiveitupagain?"Giveitup,——GRATIS,orinreturnforCanadaandPondicherry,Mauduit’sdoesnotsay。
  Whichisanimportantomission!ButMauduit’sgrandargumentisthatofexpense;frightfuloutlayofmoney,aggravatedbydittomismanagementofsame。
  AWarhighlyexpensive,hesays——(andthetruthis,Pittwasneverstingyofmoney:"Nearlytheonethingwehaveinanyplenty;
  befrankinuseofthat,inanEnterprisesoill—providedotherwise,andinvolvinglifeanddeath!"thinksPitt);——
  "dreadfullyexpensive,"urgesMauduit,andgivessomeinstancesofCommissariatmoneyssignallywasted,——notbyPitt,butbythestupidityofPitt’sWarOffices,CommissariatOffices,Officesofallkinds;nottobecuredatoncebyanyPitt:——Howmagazinesofhaywereshippedandreshipped,carriedhither,thither,upthisriver,downthat(nobodyknowingwherethewar—horseswouldbethatweretoeatit);tillatlength,whenithadreachedalmostthevalueofboheatea,therightplaceofitwasfoundtobeEmbden(nearesttoBritainfromthefirst,hadonebutknown),andnotahorsewouldnowtasteit,sospoiledwasthearticle;allhorsessnortedatit,astheywouldhavedoneatbohea,neversoexpensive。[Mauduit(towardstheend)hasastoryofthattenor,——particularsnotworthverifying。]ThesethingsareincidenttoBritishwarfare;alsotoSwedish,andtoallwarfaresthathavetheirWarOfficesinanimaginarystate,——statemuchtobeabhorredbyeverysanecreature;butnottobemendedallatoncebythenoblestofmen,intowhosehandstheyaresuddenlythrustforsavinghisNation。Conflagrationtobequenched;andyourbucketsallinhideousleakage,likebucketsoftheDanaides:——youronecourseis,plythem,pourwiththem,suchastheyare。
  MauduitpointsoutfarthertheenormousfortunesrealizedbyaswindlingsetofArmy—Furnishers,Hebrewsmainly,andunbeautifultolookon。Alas,yes;thistooisathingincidenttothecase;
  andinadegreetoallsuchcases,andsituationsofsuddencrisis;
  ——havenotweseenJewEphraimgrowingrichbythecoppermoneyevenofaFriedrich?ChristianProtestantsthereare,withal,playingthesamegameonalargerscale。HerrSchimmelmann("MOULDY—man")theDane,forinstance,——DaneorHolsteiner,——iscoiningfalsemoneyforaDukeofHolstein—Plon,whohasnotaSeven—YearsWaronhishands。Diligentlycoining,thisMouldyIndividual;stillmoresuccessfully,istradinginFriedrich’sMeissenChina(boughtinthecheapestmarket,soldinthedearest);
  hasatHamburghis"AuctionofMeissenPorcelain,"steadilygoingon,asanewcommercialinstitutionofthatCity;——and,inshort,byassiduouslylaboringinsuchharvest—fields,gathersacolossalfortune,100,000pounds,300,000pounds,orIwillnotrememberwhat。Gets"ennobled,"furthermore,byaDanishGovernmentprompttorecognizehumanmerit:ElephantOrder,DannebrogOrder;noOrdergoodenoughforthisMouldy—manofmerit;[Preuss,ii。391,282,&c。]——andis,sofarasIknow,begetting"Nobles,"thatistosay,Vice—KingsandmonitoryExemplars,fortheDanishPeople,tothisday。Letusshutdowntheironlidonallthat。
  Mauduit’sPamphlet,ifitraisedintheabhorrentunthinkingEnglishmindsomevaguenotion,asprobablyitdid,thatPittwasresponsibleforthesethings,orwasinasortthecauseorauthorofthem,mightproducesomeeffectagainsthim。"Whatasplashisthisyouaremaking,youGreatCommoner;wettingeverybody’sfeet,——asourMauduitproves;——whiletheConflagrationseemstobegoingout,ifyouletitalone!"Fortheheadsofmenresemble——
  Myfriend,Iwillnottellyouwhatthey,inmultitudinousinstances,resemble。
  ButthushaswoollenMauduit,fromhisprivatecamp("Clement’sLane,LombardStreet,"saytheDictionaries),shot,ataveryhighobject,whatpigeon’s—eggorsmallpebblehehad;thefirstofmanysuchthattookthataim;withweakthoughloud—soundingimpact,butwithresults——resultsonKingFriedrichinparticular,whichwerestrongerthantheCannonadeofTorgau!Aswillbeseen。Forwithinyearandday,——MauduitandCompanymakingtheirnoisesfromwithout,andtheButesandHardwickesworkingincessantlywithsuchrarepowerofleverageandscrewageintheinteriorparts,——acertainQuasi—OlympianHouse,madeofglass,willlieinsherds,andtheablestandnoblestmaninEnglandseehimselfforbiddentodoEnglandanyservicefarther:"Notneededmore,Sir!Goyou,——andlookatUSfortheremainderofyourlife!"
  KINGFRIEDRICHINTHEAPELHOUSEATLEIPZIG
  (8thDecember,1760—17thMarch,1761)。
  Friedrich’sWinterintheApelHouseatLeipzigisofcheerfulercharacterthanwemightimagine。Endlesssorebusinesshedoubtlesshas,ofrecruiting,financiering,watchingandproviding,whichgrowsmoredifficultyearbyyear;buthehassubordinatesthatworktohissignal,andanorganizedmachineryforbusinesssuchasnootherman。Andsolacementstherearewithal:hisBookshehasabouthim;welcomerthaneverinsuchseasons:Friendstoo,——heisnotsolitary;norneglectfulofresources。FaithfulD’Argenscameatonce(stayedtillthemiddleofMarch):[OEuvresdeFrederic,xix。212,213。SendsaCouriertoconductD’Argens"FORDecember8th;""21stMarch,"D’ArgensisbackatBerlin。]D’Argens,QuintusIcilius,EnglishMitchell;thesethreealmostdailyborehimcompany。TillthemiddleofJanuary,also,hehadhistwoNephewswithhim(SonsofhispoordeceasedBrother,thelatetragicPrinceofPrussia),——theelderofwhom,FriedrichWilhelm,becameKingafterwards;thesecond,Henribyname,diedsuddenlyofsmall—poxwithinaboutsevenyearshence,totheKing’sdeepandsoregrief,wholikedhimthebetterofthetwo。
  Theiragesrespectivelyarenowabout16and14。[Henri,born30thDecember,1747,died26thMay,1767;——FriedrichWilhelm,afterwardsFriedrichWilhelmII。(sometimescalledDERDICKE,TheBig),born25thDecember,1744;King,17thAugust,1786;died16thNovember,1797。]Theirappetitefordancing,andtheirgayyoungways,arepleasantnowandafterwardstotheoldUncleinhisgrimelement。
  [Letters,&c。inSCHONING。]
  Music,too,hehad;dailyeveningConcert,thoughfromhimselfthereisnoflutingnow。OneofhisBerlinConcertpeoplewhohadbeensentforwasFasch,avirtuosoonIknownotwhatinstrument,——butamangiventotakenoteofthingsabouthim。FaschwaspainfullysurprisedtoseehisKingsoalteredintheinterimpast:
  "bentnow,sunkintohimself,grownold;towhomthesefiveyearsofwar—tumultandanxiety,ofsorrowandhardtoil,hadgivenadashofgloomyseriousnessandmelancholy,whichwasinstrongcontrastwithhisformervividlybrightexpression,andwasnotnaturaltohisyears。"[Zelter’sLifeofFasch(citedinPREUSS,ii。278)。]
  FromD’ArgensthereisoneauthenticAnecdote,worthgiving。
  OneeveningD’Argenscametohim;enteringhisApartment,foundhiminasituationveryunexpected;whichhasbeenmemorableeversince。"Oneevening[thereisnodatetoit,exceptvaguely,asabove,December,1760—March,1761],D’Argens,enteringtheKing’sApartment,foundhimsittingonthegroundwithabigplatteroffriedmeat,fromwhichhewasfeedinghisdogs。Hehadalittlerod,withwhichhekeptorderamongthem,andshovedthebestbitstohisfavorites。TheMarquis,inastonishment,recoiledastep,struckhishandstogether,andexclaimed:’TheFiveGreatPowersofEurope,whohaveswornalliance,andconspiredtoundotheMarquisdeBrandebourg,howmighttheypuzzletheirheadstoguesswhatheisnowdoing!SchemingsomedangerousplanforthenextCampaign,thinkthey;collectingfundstohavemoneyforit;studyingaboutmagazinesformanandhorse;orheisdeepinnegotiationstodividehisenemies,andgetnewalliesforhimself?Notabitofallthat。Heissittingpeaceablyinhisroom,andfeedinghisdogs!’"[Preuss,ii。282。]
  INTERVIEWWITHHERRPROFESSORGELLERT
  (Thursday,18thDecember,1760)。
  StillmorecelebratedistheInterviewwithGellert;thoughI
  cannotsayitisnowmoreentertainingtotheingenuousmind。
  OneofFriedrich’smanyInterviews,thisWinter,withtheLearnedofLeipzigUniversity;forheisabornfriendoftheMusessocalled,andneverneglectsanopportunity。Wonderfultoseehow,insuchanenvironment,inthedepthsofmeretoilandtribulation,withawholebreakingworldlyingonhisshoulders,asitwere,——healwaysshowssuchappetiteforasnatchoftalkwithanybodypresumablyofsense,andknowledgeonsomething!
  ThisWinter,saytheBooks,"hehad,invacantintervals,agreatdealofcommuningwiththefamedofLeipzigUniversity;"thisortheotherfamedProfessor,——Winkler,Ernesti,Gottschedagain,andothers,comingtogiveaccount,eachforhimself,ofwhatheprofessedtobeteachingintheworld:"ontheNaturalSciences,moreespeciallytheMoral;onLibraries,onRareBooks。
  GottschedwasabletosatisfytheKingononepoint;namely,ThatthecelebratedpassageofSt。John’sGospel——"THEREARETHREETHAT
  BEARRECORD——wasNOTinthefamousManuscriptoftheViennaLibrary;GottschedhavinghimselfexaminedthatimportantCODEX,andfoundinthetextnothingofsaidPassage,butmerely,writtenonthemargin,alegibleintercalationofit,inMelanchthon’shand。Luther,inhisVersion,neverhaditatall。"
  [Helden—Geschichte,vi。596。]AGottschedinclinedtotheSocinianview?NottheleastconsequencetoFriedrichorus!OurbusinessisexclusivelywithGellerthere。
  ReadershaveheardofGellert;thereare,ortherewere,EnglishWritingsabouthim,LIVES,orIforgetwhat:andinhisnativeProtestantSaxony,amongallclasses,especiallythehigher,hehad,inthoseyearsandonwardstohisdeath,suchapopularityandrealsplendorofauthorityasnomanbeforeorsince。Hadrisen,againsthiswillinsomesort,tobearealPope,apracticalOracleinthoseparts。Inhismodestbachelorlodging(ageofhimfive—and—fortygone)hehassheavesofLettersdaily,——aboutaffairsoftheconscience,ofthehousehold,oftheheart:
  fromsomeevangelicalyounglady,forexample,ShallImarryHIM,thinkyou,OmyFather?"andperhapsfromherPapa,"ShallSHE,thinkyou,Omyditto?"——SheavesofLetters:andoforalconsulterssuchcrowds,thatthepoorOraclewasobligedtoappointspecialhoursforthatbranchofhisbusiness。Hisclass—room(helecturesonMORALS,someTHEORYOFMORALSENTIMENT,orsuchlike)iscrowdedwith"blueuniforms"(ingenuousPrussianOfficerseagertohearaGellert)intheseWinters。RuggedHulsen,thisveryseason,whocommandsinFreybergCountry,alleviatesthepoorvillageofHainichenfromcertainofficialinflictions,andbidsthepoorpeoplesay"ItisbecauseGellertwasbornamongyou!"PlainlytheTrismegistusofmankindatthatdate:——whoisnow,asusual,becomeasurprisingTrismegistustothenewgenerations!
  HehadwrittencertainthinBooks,allofathinlanguidnature;
  butrational,clear;especiallyaBookofFABLESINVERSE,whicharewatery,butnotwhollywater,andhavestillalanguidflavorinthemforreaders。HisBookonLETTER—WRITINGwasofusetotherisinggeneration,initstime。Clearlyanamiable,ingenious,correct,altogethergoodman;ofpiousmind,——and,whatwasmore,ofstrictlyorthodox,accordingtothethenSaxonstandardinthebestcircles。ThiswasthefigureofhisLifeforthelastfifteenyearsofit;andhewasnowaboutthemiddleofthatculminatingperiod。Amodest,despondentkindofman,giventoindigestions,dietetics,hypochondria:"ofneatfigureanddress;nosehooked,butnottoomuch;eyesmournfullyblueandbeautiful,fineopenbrow;"——afinecountenance,andfinesoulofitssort,poorGellert:"punctuallikethechurch—clockatdivineservice,inallweathers。"[Jordens,LexikonDeutscherDichterundProsaisten(Leipzig,1807),ii。54—68(?Gellert)。]
  Amanofsomerealintellectandmelody;some,bynomeansmuch;
  whowasofamiablemeekdemeanor;studioustooffendnobody,andtodowhatevergoodhecouldbytheestablishedmethods;——andwho,whatwasthegreatsecretofhissuccess,wasoforthodoxyperfectandeminent。Whom,accordingly,thewholeworld,politeSaxonorthodoxworld,hailedasitsEvangelistandTrismegistus。
  Essentiallyacommonplaceman;butwhoemployedhimselfinbeautifyingandilluminatingthecommonplaceofhisclayandgeneration:——infinitelytothesatisfactionofsaidgeneration。
  "Howcharmingthatyoushouldmakethinkabletous,makevocal,musicalandcomfortablycertain,whatwewereallinclinedtothink;youcreatureplainlydivine!"AndthehomagestoGellertwereunlimitedandcontinual,notpleasantallofthemtoanidlishmaninweakhealth。
  MitchellandQuintusIcilius,whoareoftenurgingontheKingthatanewGermanLiteratureisspringingup,offarmoreimportancethantheKingthinks,havespokenmuchtohimofGellerttheTrismegistus;——andatlength,inthecourseofatendaysfromFriedrich’sarrivalhere,actualInterviewensues。TheDIALOGUE,thoughitisbutdullandwaterytoamodernpalate,shallbegivenentire,forthesakeofoneoftheInterlocutors。TheReportofit,gleanedgraduallyfromGellerthimself,andprinted,notlongafterwards,fromhismanuscriptsorthoseofothers,istobetakenasperfectlyfaithful。Gellert,writingtohisinquiringFriendRabener(athencelebratedBerlinWit),describes,fromLeipzig,"29thJanuary,1760,"oraboutsixweeksaftertheevent:"How,onedayaboutthemiddleofDecember,QuintusIciliussuddenlycametomypoorlodginghere,tocarrymetotheKing。"Amtooilltogo。
  Quintuswillexcusemeto—day;butwillreturnto—morrow,whennoexcuseshallavail。Didgoaccordinglynextday,Thursday,18thDecember,4o’clockoftheafternoon;andcontinuedtillaquarterto6。"HadnothingoffearinspeakingtotheKing。RecitedmyMALERZUATHEN。"Kingsaid,atparting,hewouldsendformeagain。
  "TheEnglishAmbassador[Mitchell],anexcellentman,wasprobablythecauseoftheKing’swishtoseeme……TheKingspokesometimesGerman,sometimesFrench;ImostlyGerman。"
  [Gellert’sBriefwechselmitDemoiselleLucius,herausgegebenvonF。A。Ebert(Leipzig,1823),pp。629,631。]Asfollows:——
  RING。"Areyou(ER)theProfessorGellert?"
  GELLERT。"Yea,IHROMAJESTAT。"
  KING。"TheEnglishAmbassadorhasspokenhighlyofyoutome。
  Wheredoyoucomefrom?"
  GELLERT。"FromHainichen,nearFreyberg。"
  KING。"HavenotyouabrotheratFreyberg?"
  GELLERT。"Yea,IHROMAJESTAT。"
  KING。"TellmewhywehavenogoodGermanAuthors。"
  MAJORQUINTUSICILIUS(putsinaword)。"YourMajesty,youseehereonebeforeyou;——onewhomtheFrenchthemselveshavetranslated,callinghimtheGermanLaFontaine!"
  KING。"Thatismuch。HaveyoureadLaFontaine?"
  GELLERT。"Yes,yourMajesty;buthavenotimitated:Iamoriginal(ICHBINEINORIGINAL)。"
  KING。"Well,thisisonegoodAuthoramongtheGermans;butwhyhavenotwemore?"
  GELLERT。"YourMajestyhasaprejudiceagainsttheGermans。"
  KING。"No;Ican’tsaythat(Nein;daskannichnichtsagen)。"
  GELLERT。"Atleast,againstGermanwriters。"
  KING。"Well,perhaps。WhyhavewenogoodHistorians?WhydoesnooneundertakeaTranslationofTacitus?"
  GELLERT。"Tacitusisdifficulttotranslate;andtheFrenohthemselveshavebutbadtranslationsofhim。"
  KING。"Thatistrue(DAHATERRECHT)。"
  GELLERT。"And,onthewhole,variousreasonsmaybegivenwhytheGermanshavenotyetdistinguishedthemselvesineverykindofwriting。WhileArtsandScienceswereintheirfloweramongtheGreeks,theRomanswerestillbusyinWar。PerhapsthisistheWarlikeEraoftheGermans:——perhapsalsotheyhaveyetwantedAugustusesandLouis—Fourteenths!"
  KING。"How,wouldyouwishoneAugustus,then,forallGermany?"
  GELLERT。"Notaltogetherthat;IcouldwishonlythateverySovereignencouragedmenofgeniusinhisowncountry。"
  KING(startinganewsubject)。"HaveyouneverbeenoutofSaxony?"
  GELLERT。"IhavebeeninBerlin。"
  KING。"Youshouldtravel。"
  GELLERT。"IHROMAJESTAT,forthatIneedtwothings,——healthandmeans。"
  KING。"Whatisyourcomplaint?IsitDIEGELEHRTEKRANKHEIT
  (DiseaseoftheLearned,"Dyspepsiasocalled)?"Ihavemyselfsufferedfromthat。Iwillprescribeforyou。Youmustridedaily,andtakeadoseofrhubarbeveryweek。"
  GELLERT。"ACH,IHROMAJESTAT:ifthehorsewereasweakasIam,hewouldbeofnousetome;ifhewerestronger,Ishouldbetooweaktomanagehim。"(MarkthisoftheHorse,however;atalehangsbyit。)
  KING。"Thenyoumustdriveout。"
  GELLERT。"ForthatIamdeficientinthemeans。"
  KING。"Yes,thatistrue;thatiswhatAuthors(GELEHRTE)inDeutschlandarealwaysdeficientin。Isupposethesearebadtimes,arenotthey?"
  GELLERT。"JAWOHL;andifyourMajestywouldgrantusPeace(DEN
  FRIEDENGEBENWOLLTEN)——"
  KING。"HowcanI?Havenotyouheard,then?Therearethreeofthemagainstme(ESSINDJADREIWIDERMICH)!"
  GELLERT。"IhavemoretodowiththeAncientsandtheirHistorythanwiththeModerns。"
  KING(changingthetopic)。"Whatdoyouthink,isHomerorVirgilthefinerasanEpicPoet?"
  GELLERT。"Homer,asthemoreoriginal。"
  KING。"ButVirgilismuchmorepolished(VIELPOLIRTER)。"
  GELLERT。"WearetoofarremovedfromHomer’stimestojudgeofhislanguage。ItrusttoQuintilianinthatrespect,whoprefersHomer。"
  KING。"ButoneshouldnotbeaslavetotheopinionoftheAncients。"
  GELLERT。"NoramIthat。Ifollowthemonlyincaseswhere,owingtothedistance,Icannotjudgeformyself。"
  MAJORICILIUS(againgivingaslightfilliporsuggestion)。"He,"
  theHerrProfessorhere,"hasalsotreatedofGERMANLETTER—
  WRITING,andhaspublishedspecimens。"
  KING。"So?ButhaveyouwrittenagainsttheCHANCERYSTYLE,then"
  (thepainfullysolemnstyle,ofceremonialandcircumlocution;
  Letterswrittensoastobemainlywigandbuckram)?
  GELLERT。"ACHJA,thathaveI,IHROMAJESTAT!"
  KING。"Butwhydoesn’titchange?TheDevilmustbeinit(ESIST
  ETWASVERTEUFELTES)。Theybringmewholesheetsofthatstuff,andIcanmakenothingofit!"
  GELLERT。"IfyourMajestycannotalterit,stilllesscanI。Icanonlyrecommend,whereyoucommand。"
  KING。"CanyourepeatanyofyourFables?"
  GELLERT。"Idoubtit;mymemoryisverytreacherous。"
  KING。"Bethinkyoualittle;Iwillwalkabout[Gellertbethinkshim,browpuckered。King,seeingthebrowunpuckeritself]。
  Well,haveyouone?"
  GELLERT。"Yes,yourMajesty:THEPAINTER。"Gellertrecites(voiceplaintiveandhollow;somewhatPREACHY,Ishoulddoubt,butnotcrackedorshrieky);——wecondensehimintoproseabridgmentforEnglishreaders;Germancanlookatthebottomofthepage:
  [(Gellert’sWERKE:Leipzig,1840;i。135。)]——
  "’AprudentPainterinAthens,moreintentonexcellencethanonmoney,haddoneaGodofWar;andsentforarealCritictogivehimhisopinionofit。Onsurvey,theCriticshookhishead:"ToomuchArtvisible;won’tdo,myfriend!"ThePainterstrovetothinkotherwise;andwasstillarguing,whenayoungCoxcomb[GECK,Gawk]
  steptin:"Gods,whatamasterpiece!"criedheatthefirstglance:
  "Ah,thatfoot,thoseexquisitelywroughttoenails;helm,shield,mail,whatopulenceofArt!"ThesorrowfulPainterlookedpenitentiallyattherealCritic,lookedathisbrush;andtheinstantthisGECKwasgone,struckouthisGodofWar。’"
  KING。"AndtheMoral?"
  GELLERT(stillreciting):
  "’WhentheCriticdoesnotlikethyBitofWriting,itisabadsignforthee;butwhentheFooladmires,itistimethouatoncestrikeitout。’"
  "EinklugerMalerinAthen,Derminder,weilmanihnbezhalte,AlsweilerEhresuchte,malte,LiesseinenKennereinstdenMarsimBildesehn,UndbatsichseineMeinungaus。
  DerKennersagtihmfieiheraus,DassihmdasBildnichtganzgefallenwollte,Unddasses,umrechtschonzusein,WeitminderKunstverrathensollte。
  DerMalerwandtevielesein;
  DerKennerstrittmitihmausGrunden,Undkonntihndochnichtuberwinden。
  GleichtrateinjungerGeckherein,UndnahmdasBildinAugenschein。
  ’O,’riefer,’beidemerstenBlicke,IhrGotter,welcheinMeisterstucke!
  Ach,welcherFuss!O,wiegeschicktSindnichtdieNagelausgedruckt!
  MarslebtdurchausindiesemBilde。
  WievieleKunst,wievielePrachtIstindemHelmundindemSchilde,UndinderRustungangebracht!’
  DerMalerwardbeschamtgeruhret,UndsahdenKennerklaglichan。
  ’Nun,’spracher,’binichuberfuhret!
  Ihrhabtmirnichtzuvielgethan。’
  DerjungeGeckwarkaumhinaus,SostricherseinenKriegsgottaus。"
  MORAL。
  "WenndeineSchriftdemKennernichtgefallt,SoistesschoneinbosesZeichen;
  Doch,wennsiegardesNarrenLoberhalt,SoistesZeit,sieauszustreichen。"
  KING。"Thatisexcellent;veryfineindeed。Youhaveasomethingofsoftandflowinginyourverses;themIunderstandaltogether。
  ButtherewasGottsched,oneday,readingmehisTranslationofIPHIGENIE;IhadtheFrenchCopyinmyhand,andcouldnotunderstandawordofhim[aSwanofSaxony,laboringinvainthatday]!TheyrecommendedmeanotherPoet,onePeitsch[HerrPeitschofKonigsberg,Hofrath,DoctorandProfessorthere,Gottsched’sMasterinArt;editedbyGottschedthirtyyearsago;nowbecomeadumbidol,thoughatonetimeagodconfessed];himIflungaway。"
  GELLERT。"IHROMAJESTAT,himIalsoflingaway。"
  KING。"Well,ifIcontinuehere,youmustcomeagainoften;
  bringyourFABLESwithyou,andreadmesomething。"
  GELLERT。"IknownotifIcanreadwell;Ihavethesingingkindoftone,nativetotheHillCountry。"
  KING。"JA,liketheSilesians。No,youmustreadmetheFABLES
  yourself;theyloseagreatdealotherwise。Comebacksoon。"
  [Gellert’sBriefwechselmitDemoiselleLucius
  (alreadycited),pp。632etseq。](EXITGELLERT。)
  KING(toIcilius,aswelearnfromadifferentRecord)。"ThatisquiteanothermanthanGottsched!"(EXUENTOMNES。)
  ThemodestGellertsayshe"rememberedJesusSirach’sadvice,PRESS
  NOTTHYSELFONKINGS,——andnevercameback;"norwasspeciallysentfor,inthehurriessucceeding;thoughtheKingneverquiteforgothim。Nextday,atdinner,theKingsaid,"HeisthereasonablestmanofalltheGermanLiteraryPeople,C’ESTLEPLUSRAISONNABLEDE
  TOUSLESSAVANSALLEMANDS。"AndtoGarve,atBreslau,yearsafterwards:"GellertistheonlyGermanthatwillreachposterity;
  hisdepartmentissmall,buthehasworkedinitwithrealfelicity。"AndindeedtheKinghad,beforethat,aspracticalresultoftheGellertDialogue,managedtosetsomeBerlinBookselleruponprintingoftheseeligibleFABLES,"fortheuseofourPrussianSchools;"inwhichandothercapacitiestheFABLES
  stillservewithacceptancethereandelsewhere。[Preuss,ii。274。]
  InregardtoGellert’sHorse—exercise,IhadstilltorememberthatGellert,notlongafter,didgetaHorse;twosuccessiveHorses;
  bothhighlyremarkable。Thefirstespecially;whichwasPrinceHenri’sgift:"TheHorsePrinceHenrihadriddenattheBattleofFreyberg"(Battletobementionedhereafter);——quadrupedthatmusthavebeenastonishedatitself!ButaprettyenoughgiftfromthewarlikeadmiringPrincetohisdyspepticGreatMan。ThisHorsehavingyieldedtoTime,theveryKurfurst(grandsonofPolishMajestythatnowis)sentGellertanother,housingandfurniturecomplete;mountedonwhich,GellertanditwereamongthesightsofLeipzig;——wellenoughknownheretoyoungGoethe,inhisCollegedays,whousedtomeetthegreatmanandprincelyhorse,anddosalutation,withperhapssometwinkleofscepticisminthecornerofhiseye。[DICHTUNGUNDWAHRHEIT,Theilii。Buch6(inGoethe’sWERKE,xxv。51etseq)。]PoorGellertfellseriouslyillinDecember,1769;tothefearandgriefofalltheworld:"estafettesfromtheKurfursthimselfgallopeddaily,oroftener,fromDresdenforthesickbulletin;"butpoorGellertdied,allthesame(13thofthatmonth);andwehave(reallywithpatheticthoughts,evenwe)tobidhisamiableexistenceinthisworld,hisbitsofgloriesandhim,adieuforever。
  DIALOGUEWITHGENERALSALDERN(intheApelHouse,Leipzig,21stJanuary,1761)。
  FourorfiveweeksafterthisofGellert,FriedrichhadanotherDialogue,whichalsoispartlyonrecord,andisofmoreimportancetoushere:DialoguewithMajor—GeneralSaldern;onacertainbusiness,delicate,yetprofitabletothedoer,——nobodysofitforitasSaldern,thinkstheKing。SaldernishewhodidthatextraordinaryfeatofpackingthewrecksofbattleontheFieldofLiegnitz;afine,clear—flowing,silentkindofman,rapidandsteady;withagreatdealofmethodicandothergoodfacultyinhim,——more,perhaps,thanhehimselfyetknowsof。HimtheKinghassentfor,thismorning;anditisonthebusinessofPolishMajesty’sRoyalHunting—SchlossatHubertsburg,——whichisathingotherwiseworthsomenoticefromus。
  ForthreemonthslongtheKinghadbeenrepresenting,intheproperquarters,whatplunderings,andriotousandevendisgustingsavageries,theSaxonshadperpetratedatCharlottenburg,Schonhausen,Friedrichsfeld,inOctoberlast,whilemastersthereforafewdays:butneitherinReichsDiet,wherePlothowaseloquent,norelsewherebytheDiplomaticmethod,couldhegettheleastredress,oronecivilwordofregret。FromPolishMajestyhimself,towhomFriedrichremonstratedthematter,throughtheEnglishResidentatWarsaw,Friedrichhadexpectedregret;buthegotnone。SomethinkhehadhopedthatPolishMajesty,touchedbythesehorrorsofwar,andbythereciprocitiesevidentlyliabletofollow,mightbeinducedtotrysomethingtowardsmediatingaGeneralPeace:butPolishMajestydidnot;PolishMajestyansweredsimplynothingatall,norwouldgetintoanycorrespondence:
  uponwhichFriedrich,possiblyalittlepiquedwithal,hadatlengthdeterminedonretaliation。
  Withinourcantonments,reflectsFriedrich,hereisHubertsburgSchloss,withsuchahuntingapparatusinandaroundit;
  PolishMajesty’sHERTZBLATT("lidoftheHEART,"astheycallit;
  breastbone,atleast,andpitofhisSTOMACH,whichinclinestonothingbuthunting):lethisHubertsburgbecomeasourCharlottenburgis;perhapsthatwilltouchhisfeelings!
  Friedrichhadformedthisresolution;and,Wednesday,January21st,sendsforSaldern,oneofthemostexact,deft—goingandpunctiliouslyhonorableofallhisGenerals,toexecuteit。
  EnterSaldernaccordingly,——royalAudience—room"intheAPEL’SCHE
  HAUS,NewNeumarkt,No。16,"asabove;——towhom(oneKuster,areliablecreature,reportingforusonSaldern’sbehalf)theKingsays,inthedistinctslowishtoneofaKinggivingorders:——
  KING。"Saldern,to—morrowmorningyougo[ER,Hegoes)withadetachmentofInfantryandCavalry,inallsilence,toHubertsburg;
  besettheSchloss,getallthefurniturescarefullypackedupandinvoiced。Iwantnothingwiththem;themoneytheybringImeantobestowonourFieldHospitals,andwillnotforgetYOUindisposingofit。"
  Saldern,usuallysopromptwithhis"JA"onanyOrderfromtheKing,looksembarrassed,standssilent,——totheKing’sgreatsurprise;——andafteramomentortwosays:——
  SALDERN。"Forgiveme,yourMajesty:butthisiscontrarytomyhonorandmyoath。"
  KING(stillinacalmtone)。"YouwouldberighttothinksoifI
  didnotintendthisdesperatemethodforagoodobject。Listentome:greatLordsdon’tfeelitintheirscalp,whentheirsubjectsaretornbythehair;onehastogriptheirownlocks,astheonlywaytogivethempain。"(TheselastwordstheKingsaidinasharpertone;heagainmadehisapologyfortheresolutionhehadformed;andrenewedhisOrder。Withthemodestyusualtohim,butalsowithmanliness,Saldernreplied:)——
  SALDERN。"Orderme,yourMajesty,toattacktheenemyandhisbatteries,Iwillontheinstantcheerfullyobey:butagainsthonor,oathandduty,Icannot,Idarenot!"
  TheKing,withvoicegraduallyrising,Isuppose,repeatedhisdemonstrationthatthethingwasproper,necessaryinthecircumstances;butSaldern,truetotheinwardvoice,answeredsteadily:——
  SALDERN。"ForthiscommissionyourMajestywilleasilyfindanotherpersoninmystead。"
  KING(whirlinghastilyround,withanangrycountenance,but,I
  shouldsay,anadmirablepreservationofhisdignityinsuchextremecase)。"SALDERN,ERWILLNICHTREICHWERDEN,——Saldern,yourefusetobecomerich。"AndEXIT,leavingSalderntohisownstiffcourses。[Kuster,CharakterzugedesGeneral—Lieutenantv。
  Saldern(Berlin,1793),pp。39—44。]
  NothingremainedforSaldernbuttofallill,andretirefromtheService;whichhedid:amanhonorablyruined,thoughteverybody;——
  whichdidnotprovetobethecase,byandby。