首页 >出版文学> History of Friedrich II of Prussia>第24章
  andtheirtwoorbitsneverintersectedagain。——Someforty—fivemilessouthofAugsburg,uptheWertachRiver,moreproperlyuptheMindelRiver,liesMindelheim,onceanameknowninEnglandandinPrussia;oncetheDukeofMarlborough’s"Principality:"
  givenhimbyagratefulKaiserJoseph;takenfromhimbyanecessitousKaiserKarl,Joseph’sBrother,thatnowis。IknownotifhisMajestyremembersthattransaction,nowwhileintheselocalities;butknowwell,ifhedoes,hemustthinkitashabbyone。
  Onthesameday,1stAugust,1730,wequitAugsburg;setoutfairlyhomewardsagain。Theroutebendswestwardthistime;
  towardsFrankfurt—on—Mayn;thereyachtsaretobeready;andmeresailingthenceforth,gallantlydowntheRhine—stream,——suchayacht—voyage,inthesummerweather,withnoTouristsyetinfestingit,——toend,happilywewillhope,atWesel,inthereviewofregiments,andotherbusiness。Firststage,firstpause,istobeatLudwigsburg,andthewickedoldDukeofWurtemberg’s;
  thitherfirstfromAugsburg。WecrosstheDonauatDillingen,atGunzberg,orIknownotwhere;andbyto—morrow’ssunset,beingrapidtravellers,findourselvesatLudwigsburg,——clearthroughCanstatt,Stuttgard,andcertainlynoKattewaitingthere!
  Safeacrosstheintermediateuplands,herearewefairlyintheNeckarCountry,intheBasinoftheRhineagain;andoldDukeEberhardLudwigofWurtembergbiddinguskindlywelcome,pooroldbewilderedcreature,whohasbecomethetalkofGermanyinthosetimes。WillEnglishreadersconsenttoamomentaryglanceintohisaffairsandhim?StrangethingsaregoingonatLndwigsburg;
  naytheoriginofLudwigsburg,andthattheDukeshouldbethereandnotatStuttgard,isitselfstrange。LetustakethisExcerpt,headedLUDWIGSBURGin1730,andthenhastenon:——
  LUDWIGSBURGIN1730。
  "DukeEberhardLudwig,nowanelderlygentlemanoffifty—four,hasdistinguishedhimselfinhislongreign,notbypoliticalobliquitiesandobstinacies,thoughthosealsowerenotwanting,butbymatrimonialandamatory;whichhaverenderedhimconspicuoustohisfellows—creatures,andstillkeephimmentionableinHistory,brieflyandforasadreason。
  DukeEberhardLudwigwasdulyweddedtoanirreproachablePrincessofBaden—Durlach(JohannaElizabeth)upwardsofthirtyyearsago;
  andhedulyproducedoneSoninconsequence,withothergoodresultstohimselfandher。ButincourseoftimeDukeEberhardLudwigtooktoconsortingwithbadcreatures;took,infact,toswashingaboutatrandominthepoolofamatoryiniquity,asiftherehadbeennolawknown,oroftheleastvalidity,inthatmatter。
  "Perceivingwhich,acertainyoungfellow,Gravenitzbyname,whohadcometohimfromtheMecklenbnrgregions,bywayofpushingfortune,andhadgotsomepageshiporthelikehereinWurtemberg,recollectedthathehadayoungSisterathome;prettyandartful,whoperhapsmightdoastrokeofworkhere。HesendsfortheyoungSister;veryprettyindeed,andagentlewomanbybirth,thoughpenniless。Heborrowsclothesforher(byonerouscontractwiththehaberdashers,itissaid,beingpoortoadegree);heeasilygetsherintroducedtotheDucalSoirees;bidsher——Sheknowswhattodo?Rightwellsheknowswhat;catches,withherpiquantface,thedulleyeofEberhardLudwig,kindlesEberhardLudwig,andwillnotforsomethingquenchhim。Notsheatall:HowcanSHE;yourSereneHighness,askhernot!Avirtuousyounglady,she,andcomeofastainlessFamily!——Inbrief,shehooks,sheofallthefishesinthepool,thislumberofaDuke;enchantshim,keepshimhooked;andhasmadesuchapennyworthofhim,forthelasttwentyyearsandmore,asGermanycannotmatch。[Michaelis,iii。440。]
  HerbrotherGravenitzthepagehasbecomeCountGravenitztheprimeminister,orchiefoftheGoverningCabal;sheCountessGravenitzandAutocratofWurtemberg。Loadedwithwealth,withso—calledhonors,sheandhers,theregothey,flauntingsky—high;
  noneelseadmittedtomorethanthelibertyofbreathinginsilenceinthisDuchy;——thepoorDukeEberhardLudwigmakingnocomplaint;obedientasachildtothebiddingofhisGravenitz。
  HeisbecomeamereenchantedsimulacrumofaDuke;bewitchedunderworsethanThessalianspells;withoutfacultyofwilling,exceptasshewills;hisPeopleandhetheplaythingofthisCirceorHecate,thathasgotholdofhim。Soithaslastedforabovetwentyyears。GravenitzhasbecomethewonderofGermany;
  andrequires,onthesebadgrounds,aslightmentioninHumanHistoryforsometimetocome。CertainlyitisbytheGravenitzalonethatEberhardLudwigisremembered;andyet,downsinceUlrichwiththeThumb,[UlricusPOLLEX(rightthumbbiggerthanleft);diedA。D。1265(Michaelis,iii。262)。]whichofthosesereneabstruseBeutelsbachers,alwaysanabstruseobstinateset,hassofixedhimselfinyourmemory?——
  "MostpersonsinWurtemberg,forquiet’ssake,havecompliedwiththeGravenitz;thoughnotwithoutprotest,andsometimesspokenprotest。ThustheRightReverendOsiander(letusnameOsiander,HeadoftheChurchinWurtemberg)flatlyrefusedtohavehernameinsertedinthePublicPrayers;’Isnotshealreadyprayedfor?’
  saidOsiander:’Dowenotsay,DELIVERUSFROMEVIL?’saidtheindignantProtestantman。Andthereisoneotherpersonthatneverwillcomplywithher:thelawfulWifeofEberhardLudwig。
  SereneLady,shehashadasadexistenoeofit;thevoiceofherwrongsaudible,tolittlepurpose,thislongwhile,inHeavenandonEarth。Butitisnotinthepowerofrewardorpunishmenttobendherfemalewillintheessentialpoint:’Divorce,yourHighness?When_I_amfoundguilty,yes。Tillthen,never,yourHighness,never,never,’insteadvCRESCENDOtone:——sothathisHighnessisgladtoescapeagain,anddropthesubject。OnwhichtheSereneLadyagainfallssilent。Gravenitz,infact,hopesalwaystobeweddedwiththeright,naywereitonlywiththelefthand:andthisSereneLadystandslikeafatefulmonumentirremovablyintheway。TheSereneLadysteadilyinhabitsherownwingoftheDucalHouse,wouldnotexchangeitforthePalaceofAladdin;looksoutthereuponthegrandequipages,highdoings,impuresplendorsofherDukeandhisGravenitzwithaclear—eyedsilence,whichseemstosaymoreeloquentlythanwords,’MENE,MENE,YOUareweighed!’InthelandofWurtemberg,orundertheSun,isnorewardorpunishmentthatcanabatethissilence。
  Speakofdivorce,theanswerisasabove:leavedivorcelying,thereissilencelookingforthclear—eyedfromthatparticularwingofthePalace,onthingswhichthegodspermitforatime。
  "Clear—eyedsilence,which,astherewasnoabatingofit,grewatlastintolerabletothetwosinners。’Letusremove,’saidtheGravenitz,’sinceherSereneHighnesswillnot:buildanewcharmingPalace,——sayatourHuntingSeat,amongthosepleasantHillsintheWaiblingenregion,——andtaketheCourt,outthither。’
  Andtheyhavedoneso,intheselatebadyears;takingoutwiththembydegreesalltheCourtierGentry,alltheRATHS,GovernmentBoards,publicbusinesses;andbuildingnewhousesforthem,there。["From1727to1730"wasthislatterremoval。
  Ahunting—lodge,ofEberhardLudwig’sbuilding,andnamedbyhimLUGWIGSBURG,stoodheresince1705;nucleusofthesubsequentpalace,withits"Pheasantries,"its"Favoritas,"&c。&c。
  Theplacehadoriginallybeenmonastic(Busching,
  Erdbeschreibung,vi。1519)。]Founding,infact,asecondCapitalforWurtemberg,withwhatdistress,sulkymiseryanddisarrangement,toStuttgardandtheoldCapital,readerscanfancy。Thereitstands,thatLudwigsburg,thesecondCapitalofWurtemberg,sometenortwentymilesfromStuttgardthefirst:
  alastingmemorialofCirceGravenitzandherLudwig。Hasnotshe,byherincantations,madethestonehousesdanceouthither?
  Itremainstothisdayapleasanttown,andoccasionalresidenceofsovereignty。WAIBLINGEN,withinanhour’sride,hasgotmemorabilityonothergrounds;——whatreaderhasnotheardofGHIBELLINES,meaningWaiblingens?AndinanotherhouruptheRiver,youwillcometoBeutelsbachitself,whereUlrichwiththeThumbhadhisabode(betterlucktohim!),andgeneratedthisLoveroftheGravenitz,andmuchothernonsenseloudnowandthenforthelastfourcenturiesintheworld!——
  "ThereissomethingofabstruseinalltheseBeutelsbachers,fromUlrichwiththeThumbdownwards:amuteennui,aninexorableobstinacy;acertainstreakofnaturalgloomwhichnoilluminationcanabolish。Veracityofallkindsisgreatinthem;sullenpassivecourageplentyofit;activecouragerarer;articulateintellectdefective:henceastrangestiffperversityofconductvisibleamongthem,oftenmarringwhatwisdomtheyhave;——itistheroyalstampofFateputuponthesemen。Whatarecalledfatefulorfatedmen;suchasareoftenseenonthetopplacesoftheworld,makinganindifferentfigurethere。Somethingofthis,Idoubtnot,isconcernedinEberhardLudwig’sfascination;andweshallseeotherinstancesfartherdowninthisHistory。
  "Butso,fortwentyyears,theabsurdDuke,transformedintoamerePorcusbyhisCirceinthatscandalousmiraculousmanner,haslived;andsohestilllives。AndhisSereneWife,equallyobstinate,islivingatStuttgard,happilyoutofhissightnow。
  OneSon,aweaklyman,whohadoneheir,buthasnownone,isheronlycomfort。HisWifeisaPrussianMargravine(FriedrichWilhelm’sHALF—AUNT),andcultivatesCalvinismintheLutheranCountry:thisHusbandofhers,hetoohasanabstruselife,notlikelytolast。Weneednotdoubt’theFates’arebusy,andtheevildemons,withthosepoorfellow—beings!NayitissaidtheCirceisbecomingmuchofaHecatenow;ifthebewitchedDukecouldseeit。Sheisgettinghaggardbeyondthepowerofrouge;
  hermind,anymindshehas,moreandmorefilledwithspleen,malice,andthedregsofpriderunsour。Adisgustingcreature,testifiesoneEx—Officialgentleman,onceaHofrathunderher,butobligedtorunforlife,andinvokefreepressinhisdefence:
  [ApologiedeMonsieurForstnerdeBreitembourg,&c。(Paris,1716;or"aLondres,auxdepensdelaCompagnie,1745"):inSpittler,GeschichteWurtembergs
  (SpittlersWERKE,StuttgardundTubingen,1828;vol。v。),497—539。
  Michaelis,iii。428—439,gives(inabstruseChanceryGerman)aSequeltothisfineaffairofForstner’s。]noendtothefoulthingsshewillsay,ofanunspeakablenature,abouttheveryDukehervictim,testifiesthisEx—Official:maliciousasawitch,sayshe,andasuglyasoneinspiteofpaint,——’TOUJOURSUNLAVEMENTA
  SESTROUSSES。’GoodHeavens!"
  ButhereistheaugustPrussianTravelling—Party:shoveasideyourbewitchmentsandbewilderments;hangadecentscreenovermanythings!PoorEberhardLudwig,whoisinfinitelythegentleman,bestirshimselfagooddealtowelcomeoldroyalfriends;nordowehearthattheleastthingwentawryduringthistransitoftheroyalties。"FieldofBlenheim,saysyourMajesty?Ahme!"——
  ForEberhardLudwigknowsthatground;stoodtheWorld—Battlethere,andsomuchhascomeandgonesincethen:Ahmeindeed!
  FriedrichWilhelmandhehavemetbeforethis,andhavemuchtotelloneanother;TreatyofSevillebynomeanstheironlytopic。
  Naythefloodofcordialitywentatlengthsofar,thatatlastFriedrichWilhelm,theconscientiousKing,cameuponthemostintimatetopics:Gravenitz;theWordofGod;scandaltotheProtestantReligion:nolikelyheirtoyourDukedom;clearperiltoyourownsoul。IsnotherSereneHighnessanunexceptionableLady,heroicundersorewoes;andyourweddedWifeaboveall?——
  ’M—NA,andmightbringHeirstoo:onlyfortycomeOctober:——
  AhDuke,ahFriend!AVISEZLAFIN,EberhardLudwig;considertheendofitall;wearegrowingoldfellowsnow!TheDuke,Iconceive,whowasratherafatlittleman,blushedblue,thenred,andvariouscolors;atlengthsettlingintosteadypale,asitwere,indicatinganthraciticwhite—heat:itiscertainhesaidatlength,withemphasis,"Iwill!"Andhedidso,byandby。
  FriedrichWilhelmsentamessengertoStuttgardtodohisreverencetothehighinjuredLadythere,perhapstoshowherafaroffsomerayofhopeifshecouldendure。EberhardLudwig,raisedtoawhite—heat,perceivesthatinfactheisheartilytiredofthisCirce—Hecate;thatinfactshehaslongbeenanintolerablenightmaretohim,couldhebuthaveknownit。
  AndhisRoyalHighnesstheCrown—Princeallthiswhile?Well,yes;
  hisRoyalHighnesshasgotaCourtTailoratLudwigsburg;and,inallprivacy(seenwellbyRochow),hashadtheAugsburgredclothcutintoafineupperwrappage,overcoatorroquelaureforhimself;intendingtousethesamebeforelong。Thustheyseverally,theFatherandtheSon;thesearetheirknownactsatLudwigsburg,ThattheFatherpersuadedEberhardLudwigoftheGravenitzenormity,andthattheSongothisredtop—coatready。
  OnThursday,3dofAugust(lateintheafternoon,asIperceive),they,wellentertained,departtowardsMannheim,Kur—Pfalz(ElectorPalatine)oldKarlPhilipofthePfalz’splace;hopetobethereonthemorrowsometime,ifallgowell。GloomymuchenlightenedEberhardtakesleaveofthem,withabstrusebutgratefulfeelings;willstandbytheKaiser,anddismissthatGravenitznightmarebythefirstopportunity。
  Asaccordinglyhedid。NextSummer,goingonavisitnorthward,speciallytoBerlin,[Thereforsomethreeweeks,"till9thJune,1731,withasuiteofabovefiftypersons"(Fassmann,pp。421,422)。]heleftorderthattheGravenitzwastobegotoutofhissight,safestowedaway,beforehisreturn。Whichbytheproperofficers,militarycertainofthem,wasaccomplished,——byfixedbayonetsatlast,andnotwithoutfutiledemuronthepartoftheGravenitz。PoorEberhardLudwig,"hepublishedinthepulpits,Thathewasnowmindedtoleadabetterlife,"——hadtimenowbeenlefthim。Sameyear,1731,Novemberbeingcome,gloomyEberhardLudwiglost,notunexpectedly,hisoneSon,——theoneGrandsonwasgonelongsince。TheserenesteadfastDuchessnowhadherDukeagain,whatwasleftofhim:buthewasfallenintothesereandyellowleaf;intwoyearsmore,hediedchildless;[31stOctober,1733:Michaelis,iii。441。]andhisCousin,KarlAlexander,anAustrianFeldmarschallofrepute,succeededinWurtemberg。
  Withwhomwemaytransientlymeet,intimecoming;withwhom,andperhapslesspleasantlywithcertainofhischildren;fortheycontinuetothisday,——withtheoldabstruseelementstilltootraceableinthem。
  OldKarlPhilip,KurfurstofthePfalz,towardswhomFriedrichWilhelmisnowdriving,withintenttobethereto—morrowevening,isnotquiteastrangertoreadershere;andtoFriedrichWilhelmheismuchthereverse,perhapstoomuch。ThisishewhoranawaywithpoorPrinceSobieski’sBridefromBerlin,atstartinginlife;whofelluponhisownpoorProtestantHeidelbergersandtheirChurchoftheHolyGhost(beinghimselfPapist,eversincethatslaponthefacetohisancestor);andwhohasbeeninmanyquarrelswithFriedrichWilhelmandothers。Ahighexpensivesovereigngentleman,thisoldKarlPhilip;not,Ishouldsuppose,thepleasantestofmentolodgewith。Oneapprehends,hecannotbepeculiarlywelldisposedtoFriedrichWilhelm,afterthatsadHeidelbergpassageoffence,twelveorelevenyearsago。NottomentiontheinextricableJulich—and—Bergbusiness,whichisastandingcontroversybetweenthem。
  PooroldKurfurst,heisnowwithinayearofseventy。Hehashadcrossesandlosses;terriblecampaigningsagainsttheTurk,inoldtimes;andalwayssuchastockofquarrels,athome,asmusthavebeenstillworsetobear。Alifeofperpetualarguing,squabblingandbattling,——one’sneighborsbeingsuchanunreasonableset!
  BrabblesaboutHeidelbergCatechism,andChurchoftheHolyGhost,sothatforeignKingsinterfered,shakingtheirwhipsuponus。
  Thenbrabblesaboutboundaries;aboutinheritances,anddetachedpropertiesverymany,——clearlymine,weretheneighborsreasonable!InfactthissovereignoldgentlemanhasbeenintheKaiser’scourts,orevenontheedgeoffight,oftenerthanmostothermen;anditisasifthatfirstadventure,oftheSobieskiweddingturnedtopsy—turvy,hadbeensymbolicalofmuchthatfollowedinhislife。
  WerememberthatunpleasantHeidelbergaffair:howhopefulitoncelooked;factDONE,ChurchoftheHolyGhostfairlyours;
  yourCORPUSEVANGELICORUMfallenquasi—dead;andnothingnowforitbutprotocollingbydiplomatists,pleadingintheDietsbymeninbombazine,neverlikeendingatall;——whenFriedrichWilhelmdidsuddenlyendit;suddenlylockeduphisownCatholicestablishmentsandrevenues,andquietlyinexorableputthekeyinhispocket;asitwere,drewhisownwhip,witha"WillyouwhipMYJew?"——andwehadtocoweroutoftheaffair,Kaiserhimselforderingus,inamosthumiliatedmanner!ReaderscanjudgewhetherKur—PfalzwaslikelytohaveakindlynoteofFriedrichWilhelminthatcornerofhismemory。ThepoormanfeltsodisgustedwithHeidelberg,hequitteditsoonafter。HewouldnotgotoDusseldorf(intheBerg—and—Julichquarter),ashisForefathersusedtodo;butsetuphisabodeatMannheim,wherehestillis。FriedrichWilhelm,whowasfarfrommeaningharmorinsolenceinthatHeidelbergaffair,hopesthereisnogrudgeremaining。Butsostandthefacts:itistowardsMannheim,nottowardsHeidelbergthatwearenowtravelling!——Fortherest,thisschemeofreprisals,orwhippingyourJewifyouwhipmine,answeredsowell,FriedrichWilhelmhasusedit,orthreatenedtouse,astherealmethod,eversince,whereneedful;andhassavedtherebymuchbombazineeloquence,andconfusiontomankind,onseveraloccasions。
  ButtheworstbetweenthesetwoHighGentlemenisthatJulich—and—Bergcontroversy;whichisasorestillrunning,andbeyondreachofprobablesurgery。OldKarlPhiliphasnomaleHeir;andisliketobe(whatheindeedproved)thelastoftheNEUBERGElectorsPalatine。Whattroublethererosewiththefirstofthem,aboutthatsadbusiness;andhowthethenBrandenburger,muchwroughtupon,smotethethenNeuburgeracrosstheveryface,anddrovehimintoCatholicism,wehavenotforgotten;howcanweever?——Itisonehundredandsixteenyearssincethatafter—dinnerscene;and,OHeavens,whatbickeringandbrabblingandconfusednegotiationtherehasbeen;lawyers’pensgoingalmostcontinuallyeversince,shadowingoutthemutualdarknessofsovereignties;
  andfromtimetotimethemilitaryimplementsbrandishingthemselves,thoughloathgenerallytodrawblood!Forahundredandsixteenyears:——buttheFinalBargain,lyingonparchmentinthearchivesofbothparties,andalwaysacknowledgedasfinal,wastothiseffect:"YousereneNeuburgkeepwhatyouhavegot;
  wesereneBrandenburgthelike:Clevewithdetachedpertinentsours;Julich—and—Bergmainlyyours。Andletusliveinperpetualamityonthatfooting。And,noteonlyfurthermore,whenourLinefails,thewholeofthesefineDuchiesshallbeyours:ifyourLinefail,ours。"Thatwastheplainbargain,donesolemnlyin1624,andagainmoresolemnlyandbroughttoparchmentwithsignaturein1666,asFriedrichWilhelmknowstoowell。Andnowtheverycaseisabouttooccur;thisoldman,childlessatseventy,isthelastoftheNeuburgs。Maynotonereasonablypretendthatabargainshouldbekept?
  "Tush,"answersoldKarlPhilipalways:"Bargain?"Andwillnothearreasonagainsthimselfonthesubject;notevenwhentheKaiseraskshim,——astheKaiserreallydid,afterthatWusterhausenTreaty,butcouldgetonlynegatives。KarlPhiliphasnoromanticideasofjustice,orofoldparchmentstyingupaman。
  KarlPhiliphadoneDaughterbythatdearRadzivilPrincess,Sobieski’sstolenBride;andhenever,bythedearRadzivilorherdearsuccessor,[SeeBuchholz,i。61n。]hadanyson,orotherdaughterthatlivedtowed。OneDaughter,wesay;afirst—born,extremelyprecioustohim。HerhemarriedtotheyoungfortunateSulzbachCousin,KarlJosephHeir—ApparentofSulzbach,who,byalllaws,wastosucceedinthePfalzaswell,——KarlPhilipthinkingfurthermore,"Heandshe,pleaseHeaven,shallholdfastbyDusseldorftoo,andthatfineJulich—and—BergTerritory,whichismine。Bargains?"Suchwas,andis,theoldman’sinflexiblenotion。Alas,thisoneDaughterdiedlately,andherHusbandlately;[Shein1728;hein1729:theireldestDaughterwasborn1721(Hubner,t。140;Michaelis,ii。101,123)。]againleavingonlyDaughters;willnotthischangethenotion?Notawhit,——
  thoughFriedrichWilhelmmayhavefondlyhopeditbypossibilitymight,Notawhit:KarlPhilipcherisheshislittleGrand—daughter,nowachildofnine,ashedidherMotherandherMother’sMother;hopesonedaytoseeherwedded(ashedid)toanewHeir—ApparentofthePfalzandSulzbach;and,forherbehoof,willholdfastbyBergandJulich,andpartwithnosquareinchofitforanyparchment。
  WhatisFriedrichWilhelmtodo?Seekjusticeforhimselfbyhis80,000menandtheironramrods?Apparentlyhewillnotgetitotherwise。Heisloathtobeginthatterriblegame。IfindeedEuropedotakefire,asislikelyatSevilleorelsewhere——Butinthemeanwhilehowhappyifnegotiationwouldbutserve!Alas,andiftheKaiser,England;Hollandandtheothers,couldbebroughttoguaranteeme,——asindeedtheyshould(toavoidaCASUSBELLI),andsomeofthemhavesaidtheywill!FriedrichWilhelmtriedthisJulich—and—BergProblembythepacificmethod,allhislife;
  strenuously,andwithouteffect。Resultperhapswascomingnevertheless;atthedistanceofanotherhundredyears!——OnethingIknow:whateverrectitudeandpatience,whatevercourage,perseverance,orotherhumanvirtuehehasputintothisoranothermatter,isnotlost;notitnoranyfractionofit,toFriedrichWilhelmandhissons’sons;butwillwellavailhimandthem,ifnotsoon,thenlater,ifnotinBergandJulich,theninsomeotherquarteroftheUniverse,whichisawideEntityandalong—lived!Courage,yourMajesty!
  SostandmattersasFriedrichWilhelmjourneystowardsMannheim:
  humanpolitenesswillhavetocloakwell,andkeepwelldown,agoodmanypricklypointsinthevisitahead。Alas,poorFriedrichWilhelmhasgotothermattertothinkof,bythetimewearriveinMannheim。
  CATASTROPHEONJOURNEYHOMEWARDS。
  TheRoyalParty,quittingLudwigsburg,——onThursday,3dAugust,1730,somehoursafterdinner,asIcalculateit,——hadbutarathershortjourneybeforethem:journeytoaplacecalledSinzheim,somefiftyorsixtymiles;alongwayshortofHeidelberg;theKing’spurposebeingtolodgeinthatdilapidatedsilentTownofSinzheim,andleavebothHeidelbergandMannheim,withtheircivicnoises,forthenextday’swork。Sinzheim,suchwastheprogram,asthePrinceandothersunderstoodit;butbysomeaccident,oronbettercalculation,itwasotherwisedecidedintheroyalmind:notatSinzheim,intricatedecayedoldTown,shallwelodgeto—night,butfiveorsixmilesshortofit,inthenaturallysilentVillageofSteinfurth,wheregoodcleanemptyBarnsaretobefound。WhichlatterisafavoritemethodofhisMajesty,fondalwaysoffreeairandtheabsenceoffuss。
  Shake—downs,atemporarycookingapparatus,plentyoftobacco,andatubtowashin:thisiswhatmanrequires,andthiswithoutdifficultycanbegot。HisMajesty’stastesaresimple;
  simple,andyetgoodandhuman。HereisasmallRoyalOrder,whichIreadonce,andeversinceremember,——thoughthereferenceisnowblownaway,andlostinthoseunindexedSibyllineFarragos,theterrorofhumannature;——letuscopyitfrommemory,tillsomedelivererarisewithfingeronpage。[ProbablyinRodenbeck’sBeitrage,——butlongsadsearchingthere,andelsewhere,provesunavailingatpresent。HistoricalFarragoswithoutINDEX;ahundred,orseveralhundred,blindsacksofHistoricalclippings,generallyauthentictooifuseless,andnottheleastscrapofLABELonthem:——arenottheseahandyarticle!]
  "AtMagdeburg,onthisReview—Journey,havedinnerforme,underacertainTreeyouknowof,outsidetheramparts。"Dinnerofonesoundportionsolid,onedittoliquid,oftheduequality;readiedhonestly,——andtobeeatenunderashadyTree;ontheReview—grounditself,withthesummerskyoverone’shead。
  CouldJupiterTonans,hadhebeentravellingonbusinessinthoseparts,havedonebetterwithhisdinner?——
  "AtSinzheim?"thinkshisRoyalHighness;andhasspokenprivilytothePageKeith。Toglideoutoftheirquartersthere,inthatwastenegligentoldTown(wherepost—horsescanbehad),inthegrayofthesummer’sdawn?AcrosstheRhinetoSpeyerisbutthreehoursriding;thencetoLandau,intoFrance,into——?Enough,PageKeithhasundertakentogethorses,andtheflightshallatlastbe。Husht,husht。To—morrowmorning,beforethesparrowwake,itisourdeterminationtobeupontheroad!
  RuinsoftheTowerofStauffen,HOHENorHighSTAUFFEN,whereKaiserBarbarossalivedonce,youngandruddy,andwasnotyetaMYTH,"winkingandnoddingundertheHillatSalzburg,"——yes,itisbutafewmilestotherightthere,werethisadeliberatetouringparty。Butthisisarapiddrivingone;knowsnothingaboutStauffen,caresnothing。——WecannotfancyFriedrichrememberedBarbarossaatall;ormuchregardedHeilbronnitself,theprincipalandonlyfamousTowntheypassthisday。TheSt。
  Kilian’sChurch,yourHighness,andbigstonegiantatthetopofthesteepleyonder,——adventurousmasonsandslaterpeoplegetuponthecrownofhishead,sometimes,andstandwavingflags。
  [Buddaus,Lexicon,ii。?Heilbronn。]
  TheTownhousetoo(RATHHAUS),withitsamazingoldClock?
  AndGotzvonBerlichingen,theTown—Councillorsoncehadhiminprisonforonenight,inthe"Gotz’sTower"here;yourHighnesshasheardof"GotzwiththeIronHand"?BerlichingensstillliveatJaxthausen,fartherdowntheNeckarValley,intheseparts;
  andshowtheoldHAND,considerablyrustednow。Heilbronn,themostfamousCityontheNeckar;anditsoldmiraculousHolyWell——?WhatcareshisHighness!Weinsbergagain,whichisbutafewmilestotherightofus,——thereitwasthattheBesiegedWivesdidthatastonishingfeat,600yearsago;comingout,asthecapitulationbore,"withtheirmostvaluableproperty,"eachbroughtherHusbandonherback(werenotthefactalittleuncertain!)——wherebytheoldCastlehas,tothisday,thename"WEIBERTREUE,FaithfulnessofWomen。"Welf’sDuchess,Husbandonback,wasattheheadofthosewomen;aHohenzollernancestorofyours,IthinkIhaveheard,wasofthebesiegingparty。[Siegeisnotoriousenough;A。D。1140:KohlerReichshistorie,p。167,whodoesnotmentionthestoryofthewomen;
  Menzel(Wolfgang),GeschichtederDeutschen,
  p。287,whotakesnonoticethatitisahighlymythicalstory,——
  supportedonlybythetestimonyofonepoorMonkinKoln,vaguelychroniclingfiftyyearsafterdateandatthatgooddistance。]
  Alas,thinkshisRoyalHighness,istherenotaflowerofWelfdomnowinEngland;andI,unluckiestofHohenzollerns,stillfarawayfromherhere!ItisatWindsor,notinWeinsberg,oramongtheruinsofWEIBERTREUE,thathisHighnesswishestobe。
  AtHeilbronnourroadbranchesofftotheleft;andwerolldiligentlytowardsSinzheim,calculatingtobetherebeforenightfall。Whew!SomethinghasgoneawryatSinzheim:norightlodginginthewasteInnsthere;orgoodcleanBarns,ofapromisingcharacter,aretobehadnearerthanthere:
  weabsolutelydonotgotoSinzheimto—night;wearetostopatSteinfurth,asmallquietHamletwithBarns,fourorfivemilesshortofthat!ThiswasagreatdisappointmenttothePrince,——andsomesay,ahighlymomentouscircumstanceinhisHistory:["MightperhapshavesucceededatSinzheim"(Seckendorf’s
  RelationoftheCrown—Prince’smeditatedFlight,
  p。2;——addressedtoPrinceEugenefewdaysafterwards;giveninForster,iii。1—13)。]——however,heralliesinthecourseoftheevening;speaksagaintoPageKeith。"Steinfurth[STONY—FORD,overtheBrookhere];beitatSteinfurth,allthesame!"PageKeithwillmanagetogethorsesforushere,noless。AndSpeyerandtheFerryoftheRhinearewithinthreehours。Favorus,Silenceandallyegoodgenii!——
  OnFridaymorning,4thAugust,1730,"usualhourofstarting,3A。M。,"notbeingyetcame,theRoyalPartyliesasleepintwocleanairyBarns,facingoneanother,intheVillageofSteinfurth;Barnsfacingoneanother,withtheHeidelbergHighwayandVillageGreenasleepinfrontbetweenthem;[CompareWilhelmina,i。259(herAccountoftheFlight:"HearditfrommyBrother,"——andreportitlooselyafteradozenyears!)。]foritislittleaftertwointhemorning,thedawnhardlybeginningtobreak。PrinceFriedrich,withhisTrioofVigilance,Buddenbrock,Waldau,Rochow,liesinoneBarn;Majesty,withhisSeckendorfandparty,isintheother:apparentlyallstilllockedinsleep?
  Notall:PrinceFriedrich,forexample,isawake;——theTrioisindeedaudiblyasleep;unlessotherswatchforthem,theirsixeyesareclosed。Friedrichcautiouslyrises;dresses;takeshismoney,hisnewredroquelaure,unboltstheBarn—door,andwalksout。TrioofVigilanceissoundasleep,andknowsnothing:
  alas,TrioofVigilance,whileitsownsixeyesareclosed,hasappointedanotherpairtowatch。
  GummersbachtheValetcomestoRochow’sbolster:"Hst,HerrOberst—Lieutenant,pleaseawaken!PrinceRoyalisup,hasonhistop—coat,andisgoneoutofdoors!"Rochowstartstohishabiliments,orperhapshasthemreadyon;inaminuteortwo,Rochowalsoisforthintothegrayofthemorning;——findstheyoungPrinceactuallyontheGreenthere;inhisredroquelaure,leaningpensivelyononeofthetravellingcarriages。
  "GutenMorgen,IhroKoniglicheHoheit!"[Ranke,1。305。]
  ——Fancysuchasalutationtotheyoungman!PageKeith,atthismoment,comeswithapairofhorses,too:"Whitherwiththenags,Sirrah?"Rochowaskedwithsomesharpness。Keith,seeinghowitwas,answeredwithoutvisibleembarrassment,"Herr,theyaremineandKunzthePage’shorses"(which,Isuppose,istrue);"readyattheusualhour!"Keithmightadd。——"HisMajestydoesnotgotillfivethismorning;——backtothestables!"beckonedRochow;
  and,accordingtothebestaccounts,didnotsuspectanything,oraffectednottodoso。
  PageKeithreturned,tremblinginhissaddle。FriedrichstrolledtowardstheotherBarn,——atleasttobeoutofRochow’scompany。
  SeckendorfemergesfromtheotherBarn;awakeatthecommonhour:
  "HowdoyoulikehisRoyalHighnessintheredroquelaure?"asksRochow,asifnothinghadhappened。WasthereeversuchabaffledRoyalHighness;oryoungbrightspiritchainedintheBear’sDeninthismanner?OurSteinfurthprojecthasgonetowater;anditisnotto—dayweshallgetacrosstheRhine!——Notto—day;noranyotherday,onthaterrand,strongasourresolutionsare!Fornewlight,inafewhoursafterwards,poursinupontheproject;
  andhumanfinesse,orulteriorschemes,availnothinghenceforth。
  "TheCrown—Prince’smeditatedFlight"hastrieditself,andfailed。HereandsothatlongmeditationENDS;thisatSteinfurthwasalltheover—actitcouldevercometo。Infewhoursmoreitwillmeltintoair;andonlytheterribleconsequenceswillremain!——
  Bylastnight’sarrangement,thePrincewithhisTriowastosetoutanhourbeforehisFather,whichcircumstancehadhelpedPageKeithinhisexcuses。NaturallythePrincehadnownowishtolingerontheGreenofSteinfurth,insuchapostureofaffairs:
  "TowardsHeidelberg,then;letusseethebigTunthere:ALLONS!"
  HowtheyoungPrinceandhisTriodidthisday’sjourney;whereheloitered,whathesaw,saidorthought,wehavenoaccount:itiscertainonlythathisFather,whosetoutfromSteinfurthanhourafterhim,arrivedinMannheimseveralhoursbeforehim;and,inspiteofKurfurstKarlPhilip’swelcome,testifiedtheliveliestinquietudeonthatunaccountablecircumstance。
  BeautifulRhine—stream,thrice—beautifultrimMannheim;——yes,allisbeautifulindeed,yourSerenity!ButwherecanthePrincebe?
  hekeptejaculating。AndKarlPhiliphadtoanswerwhathecould。
  OfcoursethePrincemaybelingeringaboutHeidelberg,lookingatthebigTunandothermiracles:——"Ihadthepleasuretorepairthatworld—famousTuborTun,asyourMajestyknows;whichhadlainhalfburnt,eversinceLouisXIV。withhisfirebrandrobberieslayuponus,andburntthePfalzinwhole,smallhonortohim!IrepairedtheTun:[Kohler,Munzbelustigungen(viii。418—424;145—152),whogivesaviewoftheworld’swonder,lyinghorizontalwithstairsrunninguptoit。
  BigTunsofthatkindwerenotuncommoninGermany;andhaduses,ifmultiplexduesofwineweretobepaidINNATURA:
  theHeidelberg,thebiggestofthem,issmalltotheWhitbread—and—Company,forporter’s—ale,inourtime。]itisprobablythesuccessfulestfeatIdidhitherto;andwellworthlookingat,hadyourMajestyhadtime!"——"JAWOHL;——buthecameawayanhourbeforeme!"——ThepoliteKarlPhilip,atlength,sentoffoneofhisownEquerriestoridetowardsHeidelberg,oreventoSteinfurthifneedful,andseewhatwasbecomeofthePrince。
  ThisOfficialpersonmetthePrince,allinorder,atnogreatdistance;andbroughthimsafetoPapa’spresenceagain。
  WhyPapawasinsuchafussaboutthislittlecircumstance?
  TrulytherehassomethingcometoPapa’sknowledgesincehestarted,perhapssincehearrivedatMannheim。PageKeith,whoridesalwaysbehindtheKing’scoach,hasriddenthisdayinanagonyofremorseandterror;andatlength(probablyinMannheim,oncehisMajestyisgottohisApartments,ornowthathefindshisMajestysoanxiousthere)hasfallenonhisknees,and,withtearsandobtestations,madeacleanbreast。PageKeithhasconfessedthattheCrown—PrinceandheweretohavebeeninSpeyer,orfarther,atthistimeoftheday;flyingrapidlyintoFrance。"God’sProvidencealonepreventedit!Pardon,pardon:
  slayme,yourMajesty;butthereisthenakedtruth,andthewholeofit,andIhavenothingmoretosay!"HereuponensuesdespatchoftheEquerry;andhereupon,aswemayconjecture,theEquerry’sreturnwithFritzandtheTrioisanunspeakablerelieftoFriedrichWilhelm。
  FriedrichWilhelmnowsummonsBuddenbrockandCompanystraightway;
  shows,inasuppressed—volcanicmanner,withquestionsandstatements,——obligedtoSUPPRESSoneselfinforeignhospitableSereneHouses,——whatatrocityofscandalandterrorhasbeenontheedgeofhappening:"Andyouthree,Rochow,Waldau,Buddenbrock,markit,youthreeareresponsible;andshallanswer,Inowtellyou,withyourheads。Deaththepenalty,unlessyoubringHIMtoourownCountryagain,——’livingordead,’"addedtheSuppressed—Volcano,inlowmetallictone;andthesparklingeyesofhim,theredtint,andrustlinggestures,makethewordstoocredibletous。[Ranke,i。307。]
  WhatFriedrichWilhelmgottospeakaboutwiththeoldKur—Pfalz,duringtheirserenepsssagesofhospitalityatMannheim,isnotverycleartome;hisPrussianMajestyisprivatelyinsuchadesperatehumor,andtheoldKur—Pfalzprivatelysodiscrepantonallmannerofpoints,especiallyontheJulich—and—Bergpoint。
  TheycouldtalkfreelyabouttheoldTurkCampaigns,BattleofZentha,[11thSeptember,1697;Eugene’scrowningfeat;——breakingoftheGrandTurk’sbackinthisworld;whohasstaggeredabout,lessandlessofaterrorandoutrage,moreandmoreofanuisancegrowingunbearable,eversincethatday。SeeHormayr(iii。97—101)
  forsomedescriptionofthisusefulbitofHeroism。]andPrinceEugene;veryfreelyabouttheHeidelbergTun。ButitisknownoldKarlPhiliphadhisagentsattheCongressofSoissons,tosecurethatBerg—and—JulichinterestfortheSulzbachsandhim:
  directlyintheteethofFriedrichWilhelm。Howthatmayhavegone,sincetheTreatyofSevillebrokeouttoastonishmankind,——
  willbeunsafetotalkabout。Fortherest,oldKarlPhiliphasfranklyadoptedthePragmaticSanction;butthenhehas,likewise,privatelymadeleaguewithFrancetosecurehiminthatJulich—and—Bergmatter,shouldtheKaiserbreakpromise;——leaguewhichmaymuchobstructsaidSanction。NayprivatelyheiscastingglancesonhisBavarianCousin,elegantambitiousKarlAlbert。
  KurfurstofBaiern,——arenotweallfromthesameWittelsbachstock,Cousinsfromofold?——andwillundertake,forthesameJulich—and—Bergobject,tosecureBavariainitsclaimsontheAustrianHeritagesindefectofHeirsMaleinAustria。[Michaelis,ii。99—101。]WhichrunsdirectlyintothethroatofsaidPragmaticSanction;andengagestomakeit,merewastesheepskin,sotospeak!TrulyoldKarlPhiliphashisabstruseoutlooks,thisway,thatway;mostabstrusepoliticsaltogether:——andinfactwehadbetterspeakoftheBattleofZenthaandtheHeidelbergTun,whilethisVisitlasts。
  Onthemorrow,Saturday,August5th,certainFrenchmenfromtheGarrisonofLandaucomeacrosstopaytheircourtanddine。
  WhichraceofmenFriedrichWilhelmdoesnotlove;andnowlessthanever,gloomilysuspicioustheymaybecomeonparricideFritz’sscore,——youRochowandCompanykeepaneye!Bynightandbydayaneyeuponhim!FriedrichWilhelmwas,nodoubt,gladtogetawayonthemorrowafternoon;fairlyoutintotheBerg—Strasse,intothesummerbreezesandumbrageouswoods,withallhispertinentsstillsafeabouthim;rushingtowardsDarmstadtthroughtheSundaystillness,wherehewillarriveintheevening,timeenough。["SundayEveningarriveatDarmstadt,"saysSeckendorf(inForster,iii。3),butbymistakecallsitthe"7th"
  insteadof"6th。"]
  TheoldPrinceofDarmstadt,ErnstLudwig,LandgrafofHessen—Darmstadt,agenowsixty—three,hasahoaryvenerableappearance,accordingtoPollnitz,"butsitsahorsewell,walkswell,andseemstoenjoyperfecthealth,"——whichwearegladtohearof。Whatmoreconcernsus,"helivesusually,quiteretired,inasmallhouseupontheSquare,"inthisextremelysmallMetropolisofhis,"andleaveshisHeir—ApparenttomanageallbusinessinthePalaceandelsewhere。"[Pollnitz,MemoirsandLetters,ii。66。]pooroldGentleman,hehasthebiggestPalacealmostintheworld;onlyhecouldnotfinishitforwantoffunds;anditliesthere,oneofthebiggestfutilities,vexatioustolookupon。NodoubttheoldGentlemanhashadvexations,plentyofthem,firstandlast。Heisnowgotdisgustedwiththeaffairsofpubliclife,andaddictshimselfverymuchto"turningivory,"asthemoreeligibleemployment。
  Helivesinthatsmallhouseofhis,amonghisturning—lathesandivoryshavings;dinesinsaidsmallhouse,"atatableforfourpersons:"onlyonSunday,andaboveallonthisSunday,putsoffhisapron;goesacrosstothePalace;dinesthereinstate,withhisHeirandtheGrandees。HehasakinshipbyaffinitytoFriedrichWilhelm;hisWife(deadlongyearssince),MotherofthisHeir—Apparent,wasanAnspachPrincess,AunttothenowQueenCarolineofEngland。Pooroldfellow,theseinsignificancies,andthathedescendsdirectfromPhiliptheMagnanimousofHessen(Luther’sPhilip,whoinsistedonthesupplementaryWife),areallIknowofhim;andheissomewhattragictomethere,turningivoryinthisextremelyanarchicworld。WhatthepassagesbetweenhimandFriedrichWilhelmwere,onthisoccasion,shallremainconjecturaltoallcreatures。FriedrichWilhelmsaid,thisSundayeveningatDarmstadttohisownPrince:"Stillhere,then?
  IthoughtyouwouldhavebeeninParisbythistime!"——TowhichthePrince,withartificialfirmness,answered,Hecouldcertainly,ifhehadwished;[Seckendorf(inForster,iii。),p。3。]andbeingfamiliarwithreproaches,perhapshopeditwasnothing。
  FromDarmstadttoFrankfurt—on—Maynisnotquitefortymiles,aneasymorningdrive;throughtheoldCountrycalledofKatzen—ellenbogen;CATS—ELBOW,anameridiculoustohear。
  [CATTIMELIBOCUM,thatis,CATTUM—MELIBOCUM(CATTIafamedNation,MELIBOCUSthechiefHillorFortressoftheirCountry),issaidtobetheoriginal;——whichhasgotchanged;likeABALLABAinto"Appleby,"orGODENCOMPASSUSinto"TheGoatandCompasses,"
  amongourselves。]Berg—StrasseandtheOdenwald(FORESToftheOTTI)aregone;butblueonthenortheastyonder,ifyourRoyalHighnesswillpleasetolook,maybeseensummitsoftheSPESSART,amuchgranderforest,——tallbranchytimbersyonder,onedaytobemastsofadmirals,whenfloateddownasfarasRotterdam,whitherwardonestillmeetsthemgoing。Spessart;——andnearer,wellhiddenontheright,isanobscurevillagecalledDETTINGEN,notyetbecomefamousintheNewspapersofanidleworld;ofanEnglandsurelyveryidletogothitherseekingquarrels!Allwhichis,naturally,inthehighestdegreeindifferenttoaCrown—Princesopreoccupied。——TheyreachFrankfurt,Monday,stillingoodtime。
  Behold,atFrankfurt,theTrioofVigilance,BuddenbrockandCompany(horribletothinkof!)signify,"ThatwehavetheKing’sexpressordersNottoentertheTownatallwithyourRoyalHighness。We,forourpart,aretogodirectintooneoftheRoyalYachts,whichswingatanchorhere,andtowaitinthesametillhisMajestyhavedoneseeingFrankfurt,andreturntous。"HereisamessageforthepooryoungPrince:Detected,prisoner,andavolcanicMajestynowlikelytobeinfullplaywhenhereturns!——
  GiltweathercockontheMaynBridge(whichoneGoetheusedtolookat,inthenextgeneration)——this,andthesteeple—topsofFrankfurt,especiallythatsteeple—topwiththegrinningskullofthemutinousmalefactoronit,warningtomankindwhatmutinyleadsto;this,then,iswhatwearetoseeofFrankfurt;andwithsuchasymphonyasourthoughtsareplayinginthebackground。
  UnhappySon,unhappyFather,oncemore!
  NayFriedrichWilhelmgotnewlightsinFrankfurt:RittmeisterKattehadanestafettewaitingforhimthere。EstafettewithacertainLetter,whichtheRittmeisterhadpickedupinErlangen,andhasshotacrossbyestafettetowaithisMajestyhere。
  Majestyhasreadwithopeneyesandthroat:LetterfromtheCrown—PrincetoLieutenantKatteinBerlin:treasonousFlight—projectnowindisputableasthesunatnoon!——HisMajestysteptonboardtheYachtinsuchhumoraswasneverseenbefore:
  "Detestablerebelanddeserter,scandalofscandals——!"——itisconfidentlywritteneverywhere(thoughSeckendorfdiplomaticallykeepssilence),hisMajestyhustledandtussledtheunfortunateCrown—Prince,pokedthehandleofhiscaneintohisfaceandmadethenosebleed,——"NeverdidaBrandenburgfacesufferthelikeofthis!"criedthepoorPrince,driventotheedgeofmadignitionandoneknowsnotwhat:whentheBuddenbrocks,atwhateverperilinterfered;gotthePrincebroughtonboardadifferentYacht;
  andtheconflagrationmoderatedforthemoment。TheYachtsgetunderwaytowardsMainzanddowntheRhine—stream。TheYachtsglideswiftlyonthefavoringcurrent,takingadvantageofwhatwindtheremaybe:wereweonceashoreatWeselinourowncountry,——waittillthen,thinkshisMajesty!
  AndsoitwasonthesetermsthatFriedrichmadehisfirstacquaintancewiththebeautiesoftheRhine;——readerscanjudgewhetherhewasinatemperveryopentothepicturesque。IknownotthattheypausedatMainz,orrecollectedBarbarossa’sWorld—Tournament,ortheHochheimvineyardsatall:Iseetheyoungman’sYachtdashinginswiftgallop,notwithoutdanger,throughtheGapofBingen;dancingwildlyontheboilingwhirlpoolsofSt。Goar,wellthreadingthecliffs;——theyoungmangloomilyinsensibletodangeroflife,andcharmofthepicturesque。Coblenz(CONFLUENTIA),theMoselleandEhrenbreitstein:Majesty,smokingondeckifhelike,canlookatthesethroughgrimlypacifyingtobacco;buttotheCrown—Princelifeitselfisfallenhaggardandbankrupt。
  OveragainstCoblenz,nestledinbetweentheRhineandthefootofEhrenbreitstein,[Pollnitz,MemoirsandLetters,iii。180。]there,perhapsevennow,inhisHuntingLodgeofKerlichyonder,ishisSereneHighnessthefatlittleKurfurstofTrier,oneofthoseAustrianSchonborns(BrothertohimofBamberg);uponwhomwhyshouldwemakeacall?WearedueatBonn;
  thefortunateyoungKurfurstofKoln,richestPluralistintheChurch,expectsusathisResidencethere。FriedrichWilhelmviewsthefineFortressofEhrenbreitstein:——whatwouldyourMajestythinkifthisweretobeyoursinahundredyears;thisandmuchelse,bywayofcompound—interestfortheBerg—and—Julichandotheroutstandingdebts?Courage,yourMajesty!——OnthefatlittleKurfurst,atKerlichhere,wedonotcall:probablyouthunting;
  "huntseveryday,"[Busching,Beitrage,
  iv。201。]asifitwerehistrade,poorlittlesoul。
  AtBonn,wherewedostepashoretolodgewithaleanKurfurst,FriedrichWilhelmstrictlycharges,inmy(Seckendorf’s)hearing,theTrioofVigilancetohaveaneye;toseethattheybringthePrinceonboardagain,"LIVINGORDEAD。"——Nofear,yourMajesty。
  Princelistenedwithsilent,almostdefiantpatience,"MITGROSSER
  GEDULD。"[Seckendorf(inForster,iii。4)。]AtBonnthePrincecontrivedtoconfidetoSeckendorf,"Thathehadinverytruthmeanttorunaway:hecouldnot,attheagehewascometo,standsuchindignities,actualstrokesasintheCampofRadewitz;——andhewouldhavegonelongsince,haditnotbeenfortheQueenandthePrincesshisSister’ssake。Hecouldnotrepentwhathehaddone:andiftheKingdidnotceasebeatinghiminthatmanner,&c。,hewouldstilldoit。Forlossofhisownlife,suchalifeashishadgrown,hecaredlittle;hischiefmiserywas,thatthoseOfficerswhohadknownofthethingshouldcometomisfortunebyhismeans。IftheKingwouldpardonthesepoorgentlemen,hewouldtellhimeverything。Fortherest,beggedSeckendorftohelphiminthislabyrinth;——nothingcouldeversoobligehimashelpnow;"andmoreofthelikesort。Thesethingshesaid,atBonn,toSeckendorf,thefountainofallhiswoes。
  [Ibid。]WhatSeckendorf’sreflectionsonthishissadhandiworknowwere,wedonotknow。Probablyhemadenone,beingastrong—mindedcase—hardenedoldstager;butresolvedtodowhathecouldforthepooryouth。Somewhereonthisroute,atBonnmorelikelythanelsewhere,FriedrichwroteinpencilthreewordstoLieutenantKeithatWesel,andgotittothePost—Office:
  "SAUVEZ—VOUS,TOUTESTDECOUVERT(Allisfoundout;——away)!"
  [Wilhelmina(i。265)saysitwasaPageoftheOldDessauer’s,acomradeofKeith’s,who,havingknownintime,gavehimwarning。
  Certainitis,thisNoteofFriedrich’s,whichtheBooksgenerallyassignascause,couldnothavedoneit(infra,p。275,andtheirrefragabledatethere)。]
  ClementAugust,expensiveKurfurstofKoln(ElectorofCologne,aswecallit),whodoesthehospitalitieshereatBonn,inagrandway,with"aboveahundredandfiftychamberlains"foroneitem,——
  glanceathim,reader;perhapsweshallmeetthemanagain。HeisyoungerBrotheroftheelegantambitiousKarlAlbert,KurfurstofBavaria,whomwehavetransientlyheardof:sonsbothofthemareofthat"ElectorofBavaria"whohauntsusintheMarlboroughHistories,——whojoinedLouisXIV。intheSuccessionWar,andgothuntedaboutatsucharate,afterBlenheimespecially。HisBoys,prisonersoftheKaiser,werebredupinaconfiscatedstate,assonsofamereprivategentleman;nothingvisiblyaheadofthem,atonetime,butanobscureandextremelylimiteddestinyofthatkind;——thoughnowagain,onFrenchfavor,andtheturnofFortune’sinconstantwheel,theyaremountingveryhigh。
  BavariacameallbacktotheoldElectorofBavaria;
  evenMarlborough’s"PrincipalityofMINDELHEIM"came。[AtthePeaceofBaden(corollarytoUTRECHT),1714。Electorhadbeen"banned"(GEACHTET,solemnlydrummedout),1706;nothingbutFrenchpaytoliveupon,tillhegotback:died26thFebruary,1726,whenKarlAlbertsucceeded(Michaelis,ii。255)。]AndthepresentKurfurst,whowillnotdothePragmaticSanctionatall,——
  KurfurstKarlAlbertofBaiern,ouroldKarlPhilipofMannheim’sgenealogical"Cousin;"——weheardofabstrusecolleaguingsthere,tendenciestobreakthePragmaticSanctionaltogether,andreduceittowastesheepskin!NotimpossibleKarlAlbertwillgohighenough。AndthisClementAugustthecadet,heisKurfurstofKoln;
  bygoodelection—tactics,andfavoroftheFrench,hehasmanagedtosucceedanUnclehere:hassucceededatOsnabruckinlikefashion;——pooroldErnstAugustofOsnabruck(towhomweoncesawGeorgeI。gallopingtodie,andwhohimselfsoonafterdied),hissuccessoristhissameClementAugust,theturnforaCATHOLIC
  BishopbeingcomeatOsnabruck,andtheFrenchbeingkind。
  KurfurstofKoln,BishopofOsnabruck,dittoofPaderbornandMunster,dittonowofHildesheim;richestPluralistoftheChurch。
  Goesabouthereinalanguidexpensivemanner;"ingreencoattrimmedwithnarrowsilver—lace,smallbag—wigdonewithFrenchgarniture(SCHLEIFE)infront;andhasredheelstohisshoes。"
  Alankyindolentfigure,agenowthirty;"tallandslouchingofperson,longleanface,hook—nose,blackbeard,mouthsomewhatopen。"[Busching(Beitrage,iv。201—204:
  fromacertainTravellingTutor’sMS。DIARYof1731;wherealsoisdetailoftheKurfurst’smodeofDining,——elaboratebutdreary,bothmodeanddetail)。HisSchlossisnowtheBonnUniversity。]
  Hasaboveonehundredandfiftychamberlains;——and,Idoubtnot,isinexpressiblywearisometoFriedrichWilhelminhisMajesty’spresentmood。Patienceforthemoment,andpolitenessaboveallthings!——TheTrioofVigilancehadnodifficultywithFriedrich;
  broughthimonboardsafeagainnextday,andallproceededontheirvoyage;theKurfurstinpersonpolitelyescortingasfarasKoln。
  Koln,famedoldCityoftheThreeKings,withitsfamedCathedralwherethosethreegentlemenareburied,heretheKurfurstceasesescorting;andtheflatoldCityisleft,excitingwhatreflectionsitcan。ThearchitecturalDilettantioftheworldgatherhere;St。UrsulaandherElevenThousandVirginswereoncemassacredhere,yourMajesty;anEnglishPrincessshe,itissaid。
  "NARREN—POSSEN(Packofnonsense)!"grumblesMajesty。——PleasantDusseldorfismuchmoreinterestingtohisMajesty;thepleasantCapitalofBerg,whichoughttobeours,ifrightcouldbedone;
  ifoldPfalzwouldgiveuphiscrotchets;andthebowls,inthebiggameplayingatSevilleandelsewhere,wouldrollfair!
  DusseldorfandthatfinePalaceofthePfalzers,whichoughttobemine;——andherenextisKaiserswerth,aplaceofsieges,cannonadings,knowntothoseIknew。’M—NA,fromfathertosonandgrandsonitgoeson,andthereisnoendtotroubleandwar!——
  HisMajesty’snextlodgingisatMors;oldgauntCastleintheTownofMors,which(thankstoLeopoldofAnhalt—DessauandtheIronRamrods)isnowhisMajesty’sinspiteoftheDutch。
  Therethelodgingis,atanhour’sdrivewestwardfromtheRhine—shore:——wherehisMajestyquittedtheRiver,Idonotknow;
  norwhethertheCrown—PrincewenttoMorswithhim,orwaitedinhisYacht;butguessthelatter。HisMajestyintendsforGeldernonthemorrow,onmattersofbusinessthither,fortheTownishis:butwhatwouldthePrince,inthepresentstateofthings,dothere?——AtMors,SeckendorffoundmeanstoaddresshisMajestyprivately,andsnuffledintohimsuggestionsofmercytotherepentantPrince,andtothepoorOfficerswhomhewassoanxiousabout。"Well,ifheWILLconfesseverything,andleaveoffhisquirksandconcealments:butIknowhewon’t!"answeredMajesty。
  InthatdilapidatedCastleofMors,——lookatit,reader,thoughinthedark;wemayseeitagain,ortheshadowofit,perhapsbymoonlight。AverygauntoldCastle;nexttonothinglivinginit,sincetheoldDessauer(bystratagem,andwithoutshotfired)
  flungouttheDutch,intheTreaty—of—Utrechttime;MorsCastleandTerritorybeingindisputablyours,thoughalwayswithheldfromusonpretexts。[Narrativeofthemarchthither(Nightof7thNovember,1712),anddexteroussurprisaloftheplace,in
  LeopoldivonAnhalt—DessauLebenundThaten
  (Anonymous,byRANFFT),pp。85—90;——wheretheDespatchoftheastonishedDutchCommandanthimself,totheirHighMightinesses,isgiven。PartoftheOrangeHeritage,thisMors,——camebytheGreatElector’sfirstWife;——buthadhungSUBLITE(thoughtheParchmentswereplainenough)eversinceourKingWilliam’sdeath,andearlier。Neuchatel,acceptedinsteadofORANGE,andnotevenofthevalueofMors,wasanotheritemofthesamelot。
  Besideswhich,weshallhearofoldPalacesatLooandotherdilapidatedobjects,incidentallyintimecoming。]
  AtGeldern,inthepressureofbusinessnextday,hisMajestygotwordfromWesel,thatLieutenantKeithwasnotnowtobefoundinWesel。"Waslastseenthere(thatwecanhearof)certainhoursbeforeyourMajesty’sAll—graciousOrderarrived。Hadsaddledhisownhorse;cameamblingthroughtheBrunenGate,’goingouttohavearide,’hesaid;anddidnotreturn。"——"Keithgone,scandalousKeith,whomIpardonedonlyfewweeksago;hetooisinthePlot!WilltheveryArmybreakitsoath,then?"HisMajestyburstsintofireandflame,atthesenewtidings;ordersthatColonelDumoulin(ourexpertestrogue—tracer)goinstantlyonthescentofKeith,andfollowhimtillfoundandcaught。Also,ontheotherhand,thattheCrown—Princebeconstitutedprisoner;
  saildowntoWesel,prisonerinhisYacht,andawaitupontheRhinetherehisMajesty’sarrival。Formidableomens,itisthought。
  HisMajesty,allbusinessdoneinGeldern,drivesacrosstoWesel;
  canseeFritz’sYachtwaitingdulyintheRiver,andblackCarehoveringoverher。Itisontheeveningofthe12thofAugust,1730。AndsohisMajestyendsthismemorableTourintotheReich;
  buthasnotyetendedthegloomymiseries,forhimselfandothers,whichplentifullysprungoutofthat。
  ChapterVII。
  CATASTROPHE,ANDMAJESTY,ARRIVEINBERLIN。
  AtBerlindarkrumorsofthisintendedflight,andactualArrestoftheCrown—Prince,areagitatingalltheworld;especiallyLieutenantKatte,andtheQueenandWilhelmina,aswemaysuppose。
  ThefirstnewsofitcametragicallyontheyoungPrincess。
  [ApparentlysomerumorFROMFRANKFURT,whichsheconfusesinherafter—memorywiththespecificnewsFROMWESEL;forherdateshere,asusual,areallawry(Wilhelmina,i。246;Preuss,i。42,iv。473;Seckendorf,inForster,iii。6)。]
  "MammahadgivenaballinhonorofPapa’sBirthday,"——Tuesday,15thAugust,1730;——andwewerealldancinginthefinesaloonsofMonbijou,withprettyintervalsinthecoolboscagesandorangeriesoftheplace:allofusashappyascouldbe;
  Wilhelmina,inparticular,dancingatanunusualrate。
  "Werecommencedtheballaftersupper。ForsixyearsIhadnotdancedbefore;itwasnewfruit,andItookmyfillofit,withoutheedingmuchwhatwaspassing。MadameBulow,whowithothersofthemhadwornlongfacesallnight,pleading’illness’whenonenoticedit,saidtomeseveraltimes:’Itislate,Iwishyouhaddone,’——’EH,MONDIEU!’Ianswered,’letmehaveenoughofdancingthisonenewtime;itmaybelongbeforeitcomesagain。’——
  ’Thatmaywellbe!’saidshe。Ipaidnoregard,butcontinuedtodivertmyself。Shereturnedtothechargehalfanhourafter:
  ’Willyouend,then!’saidshewithavexedair:(youaresoengaged,youhaveeyesfornothing。’——’Youareinsuchahumor,’
  Ireplied,’thatIknownotwhattomakeofit。’——’LookattheQueen,then,Madam;andyouwillceasetoreproachme!’AglancewhichIgavethatwayfilledmewithterror。TheresattheQueen,palerthandeath,inacorneroftheroom,inlowconferencewithSonsfeldandCountessFinkenstein。AsmyBrotherwasmostinmyanxieties,Iasked,Ifitconcernedhim?Bulowshruggedhershoulders,answering,’Idon’tknowatall!’Amomentafter,theQueengaveGood—night;andgotintohercarriagewithme,——
  speakingnowordallthewaytotheSchloss;sothatIthoughtmyBrothermustbedead,andImyselftookviolentpalpitations,andSonsfeld,contrarytoorders,hadatlasttotellmeinthecourseofthenight。"PoorWilhelmina,andpoorMotherofWilhelmina!
  Thefact,ofArrest,andunknownmischieftothePrince,istakenforcertain;butwhatmaybetheissuesofit;whobesidesthePrincehavebeeninvolvedinit,especiallywhowillbefoundtohavebeeninvolved,ismatterofdireguesstothethreewhoaremostinterestedhere。LieutenantKattefindsheoughttodisposeofthePrince’seffectswhichwereintrustedtohim;ofthethousandgoldThalersinparticular,and,beyondandbeforeall,ofthelockedWriting—desk,inwhichliesthePrince’scorrespondence,theveryQueenandPrincesslikelytobeconcernedinit!Kattedespatchesthesetwoobjects,theMoneyandthelittleDesk,inallsecrecy,toMadamFinkenstein,astothesuresthand,withashortNoteshadowingoutwhathethinkstheyare:CountessFinkenstein,oldGeneralvonFinkenstein’sWife,andasecondmothertothePrince,she,likeherHusband,aswornpartisanofthePrinceandhisMother,shalldowiththesepreciousandterribleobjectswhat,toherownwisejudgment,seemsbest。
  MadamFinkensteincarriesthematonce,indeepsilence,totheQueen。HugedismayonthepartoftheQueenandPrincess。
  TheyknowtoowellwhatLettersmaybethere:andthereisasealontheDesk,andnokeytoit;neithermustit,intimecoming,seemtohavebeenopened,evenifwecouldnowopenit。
  Adesperatepinch,anditmustbesolved。FemalewitandWilhelminadidsolveit,bysomepre—eminentlyacutedeviceoftheirdespair;[Wilhelmina,i。253—257。]andcontrivedtogettheLettersout:hundredsofLetters,enoughtobeourdeathifread,saysWilhelmina。TheseLetterstheyburnt;andsettowritingfastasthepenwouldgo,otherlettersintheirstead。FancythemoodofthesetwoRoyalWomen,andtheblackwhirlwindtheywerein。Wilhelmina’sdespatchwasincredible;penwentatthegallopnightandday:newletters,ofolddatesandofnomeaning,aregotintotheDeskagain;theDeskclosed,withoutmarkofinjury,andshovedasidewhileitisyettime。——Timepresses;hisMajestytoo,andtheevents,goatgallop。HereisaLetterfromhisMajesty,toatrustyMistressoftheRobes,orwhateversheis;
  which,letitarrivethroughwhatsofteningmediaitlikes,willcompletethepoorQueen’sdespair:——
  "MYDEARFRAUVONKAMECKE,——Fritzhasattemptedtodesert。Ihavebeenunderthenecessitytohavehimarrested。IrequestyoutotellmyWifeofitinsomegoodway,thatthenewsmaynotterrifyher。AndpityanunhappyFather。
  "FRIEDRICHWILHELM。"
  [Nodate:"ARRIVED"(fromWesel,weconclude),Sunday,"20thAugust,"atthePalaceofBerlin(Preuss,i。42)。]
  ThesamepostbroughtanordertotheColoneloftheGerns—d’ArmestoputthatLieutenantKatteofhisundercloseconfinement:——wehopethethoughtlessyoungfellowhasalreadygotoutoftheway?
  Heisgettinghissaddlealtered:fettlingaboutthisandthat;
  doesnotconsiderwhatdangerheisin。ThissameSunday,hisMajormethimonthestreetofBerlin;said,inasignificanttone,"YoustillHERE,Katte!"——"Igothisnight,"answeredKatte;
  butheagainputitoff,didnotgothisnight;andtheorderforhisarrestdidcomein。Onthemorrowmorning,ColonelPannewitz,hopingnowhewasnotthere,wentwiththerhadamanthineorder;
  andfindingtheunluckyfellow,wasobligedtoexecuteit。
  Katteliesinward,awaitingwhatmaybepreparedforhim。
  FriedrichWilhelmatWeselhashadroughpassageswiththePrinceandothers。OntheSaturdayevening,12thAugust1730,[Preuss,iv。473;Seckendorf(Forster,iii。6)says13th,butWRONG。]hisMajestyhadtheCulpritbroughtonshore,totheCommandant’sHouse,foraninterview。Culpritprovinglessremorsefulthanwasexpected,andevidentlynotconfessingeverything,aloudterriblesceneensued;whichFriedrichWilhelm,theunhappyFather,windedupbydrawinghisswordtoruntheunnaturalSonthroughthebody。
  OldGeneralMosel,CommandantofWesel,sprangbetweenthem,"Sire,cutmetodeath,butspareyourSon!"andtheswordwasgotbacktoitsscabbard;andthePrincelodgedinaseparateroom,twosentrieswithfixedbayonetskeepingwatchoverhim。FriedrichWilhelmdidnotseehisfaceagainfortwelvemonthstocome,——
  "twelvemonthsandthreedays。"
  MilitarygentlemenofduegrimnessinterrogatedthePrincenextevening,[Seckendorf(inForster,iii。5)。]fromaPaperdrawnupbyhisMajestyintheinterim。Princeconfesseslittle:DiddesigntogetacrosstheRhinetoLandau;thencetoStrasburg,Paris,inthestrictestincognito;intendedtovolunteerthere,thoughthemighttakeFrenchservice,profoundlyincognito,andsignalizehimselfintheItalianWar(justexpectedtobreakout),whichmighthaverecoveredhimsomefavorfromhisMajesty:doesnottellclearlywherehismoneycamefrom;shyextremelyofelucidatingKatteandKeith;——infact,asweperceive,strugglesagainstmendacity,butwillnottellthewholetruth。"Lethimlieinward,then;andtakewhatdoomtheLawshaveappointedforthelikeofhim!"DivineLaws,aretheynot?Well,yes,yourMajesty,divineandhuman;——orarethereperhapsnolawsbutthehumansort,completelyexplicitinthiscase?"HeismyColonelatleast,"thinksFriedrichWilhelm,"andtriedtodesertandmakeothersdesert。IfarebelliousCrown—Prince,breakinghisFather’sheart,findthelawsstillinarticulate;adesertingColonelofthePotsdamRegimentfindsthemspeakplainenough。Lethimtaketheanswertheygivehim?"
  Dumoulin,inthemeanwhile,canmakenothingofKeith,therunawayLieutenant。Dumoulin,withhissagaciousorgan,sooncameuponthescentofKeith;andhasdiscoveredthesethingsabouthim:Oneevening,aweekbeforehisMajestyarrived,Sundayevening,6thAugust,1730,[RELATIOEXACTIS:inPreuss,iv。473。]
  LieutenantKeith,doubtlesssmellingsomething,saddledhishorseasabovementioned,decidedtohavearideinthecountrythisfineevening,andissuedoutattheBrunenGateofWesel。HeisontherightbankoftheRhine;pleasantyellowfieldsonthishandandthat。Heamblesslowly,foraspace;thengraduallyawakensintospeed,intofullspeed;arrives,withinacoupleofhours,atDingden,aVillageintheMunsterTerritory,safeoverthePrussianBorder,bytheshortestline:andfromDingdenridesatmoreleisure,butwithoutlosingtime,intotheDutchOverysselregion,straighttowardstheHague。HemustbeintheHague?saidDumoulintotheOfficialpersons,onarrivingthere,——toMeinertshagenthePrussianAmbassadorthere,[Seckendorf(Forster,iii。7)。]andtoKeppel,DutchOfficialgentlemanwhowasonceAmbassadoratBerlin。PrussianAmbassadorapplies,andagainapplies,inthehighestquarters;butwefeartheyareslack。
  Dumoulindiscoversthatthemanwascertainlyhere;Keppelreadilyadmits,HehadKeithtodinnerafewdaysago:butwhereKeithnowis,Keppelcannotformtheleastguess。
  DumoulinsuspectsheiswithLordChesterfield,theEnglishAmbassadorhere。Alightwasseen,foranightortwo,inoneofthegarret—roomsofLordChesterfield’shouse,——probablyKeithreading?——butKeithisnottobeheardof,oninquirythere;
  andtheverylighthasnowgoneout。TheColonelatleast,"
  distinguishedEnglishLordisgonetoEnglandinthesedays;
  buthisGermanSecretaryisnotgone:theHouseisinviolable,impregnabletoPrussia。Whoknows,inspiteofthelightgoingout,butKeithisstillthere,merelywithawindowshuttertoscreenhim?Onemorning,itbecomesapparentKeithisnotthere。
  Onemorning,agentlemanattheseasideisadmiringDutchfishing—skiffs,andhowtheydosail,"Pooh,Sir,thatisnothing。!"answersamaninmultiplexbreeches:"theothernightI
  wentacrosstoEnglandinone,withanExcellency’sMessengerwhocouldnotwait!"——Truthis,theChesterfieldSecretary,whoforbadelights,tookthefirstgoodnightforconveyingKeithtoScheveningenandtheseaside;whereaFisher—boatwasprovidedforhim;whichcarriedhim,frailcraftasitwas,safeacrosstoEngland。Oncethere,theAuthoritiestookpityonthepoorfellow;——furnishedthemodicumofcashandhelp;senthimwithAdmiralNorristoassistthePortuguese,menacedwithSpanishwaratthistime;amongwhomhegraduallyrosetobeMajorofHorse。
  FriedrichWilhelmcitedhimbytapofdrumthreetimesinWesel,andalsointheGazettes,nativeandDutch;then,ashedidnotcome,nailedanEffigyofhim(cutinfour,ifIremember)onthegallowsthere;andconfiscatedanypropertyhehad。Keithhadmorepedigreethanproperty;wasofPoberowinPommern;sonofpoorgentlefolksthere。HesentnowordofhimselftoPrussia,forthenexttenyears;sothathehadbecomeakindofmythtomanypeople;tohispoorMotheramongtherest,whohashertragicalsurmisesabouthim。Hewillappearagain;butnottomuchpurpose。