首页 >出版文学> History of Friedrich II of Prussia>第37章
  "AtBelgard,nextmorning,hereviewedtheDragoonRegimentvonPlaten;andwasveryillcontentwithit。Andnobody,withtheleastunderstandingofthatbusiness,butmustownthatneverdidPrussianRegimentmanoeuvreworse。Consciousthemselveshowbaditwas,theylosthead,andgotintoopenconfusion。TheKingdidallthatwaspossibletohelpthemintoorderagain。Hewithdrewthriceover,togivetheOfficerstimetorecoverthemselves;
  butitwasallinvain。TheKing,contrarytowont,restrainedhimselfamazingly,andwouldnotshowhisdispleasureinpublic。
  Hegotintohiscarriage,anddroveawaywiththeFurstofAnhalt,"OldDessauer,"andVonWinterfeld,"CaptainintheGiantRegiment,"whoisnowMajor—GeneralvonWinterfeld;[Major—Generalsince1743,ofhighfame;fellinfight,7thSeptember,1757。]notstayingtodinewithGeneralvonPlaten,aswasalwayshiscustomwithCommandantswhomhehadreviewed。HebadePrinceWilhelmandtherestofusstayanddine;hehimselfdroveaway,"——towardsthegreatroadagain,andsomeuncertainlodgingthere。
  "Westayedaccordingly;anddidfulljusticetothegoodcheer,"——
  thoughpoorPlatenwouldcertainlylookflustered,onemayfancy。
  "ButasthePrincewasanxioustocomeupwithhisMajestyagain,andknewnotwherehewouldmeethim,wehadtobeveryswiftwiththebusiness。
  "WefoundtheKingwithAnhaltandWinterfeld,byandby;sittinginavillage,infrontofabarn,andeatingacoldpiethere,whichtheFurstofAnhalthadchancedtohavewithhim;hisMajesty,owingtowhathehadseenontheparade—ground,wasintheutmostill—humor(HOCHSTUBLERLAUNE)。Nextday,Saturday,hewentahundredandfiftyortwohundredmiles;andarrivedinBerlinattenatnight。Notexpectedtheretillthemorrow;sothathisroomswerelocked,——herMajestybeingoverinMonbijou,givingherchildrenaBall;"[Pollnitz,ii。534—537。]——andwecanfancywhataframeofmindtherewas!
  Nobody,notatfirsteventheDoctors,muchheededthisnewfitofillness;whichwentandcame:"changedtemper,"deeperorlessdeepgloomof"badhumor,"beingthemainphenomenontoby—
  standers。Butthesadtruthwas,hisMajestyneverdidrecoverhissunshine;fromPillauonwardshewasslowlyenteringintotheshadowsofthetotalLastEclipse;andhisjourneyingsandreviewingsinthisworldwerealldone。Tenmonthshence,Pollnitzandothersknewbetterwhatithadbeen!——
  ChapterVII。
  LASTYEAROFREINSBERG:TRANSITOFBALTIMOREANDOTHERPERSONSANDTHINGS。
  FriedrichhadnotbeenlonghomeagainfromTrakehnenandPreussen,whentheroutineofthingsatReinsbergwasilluminatedbyVisitors,ofbrilliantandlearnedquality;someofwhom,acertainSignorAlgarottiforone,requirepassingmentionhere。
  Algarotti,whobecameapermanentfriendorsatellite,veryluminoustothePrince,andwasmuchabouthimincomingyears,firstshoneoutuponthesceneatthistime,——comingunexpectedly,andfromtheEastwardasitchanced。
  Onhisownscore,Algarottihasbecomeawearisomeliterarymantomodernreaders:oneofthosehalf—rememberedmen;whosebooksseemtoclaimareading,anddonotrepayityouwhengiven。Treatises,ofaseriousnature,ONTHEOPERA;settingforth,inearnest,thepotential"moraluses"oftheOpera,anddedicatedtoChatham;
  NeutonianismoperleDonne(AstronomyforLadies):themereTitlesofsuchthingsarefatallysufficienttous;andwecannot,withouteffort,norwithit,recallthebrilliancyofAlgarottiandthemtohiscontemporaryworld。
  AlgarottiwasarichVenetianMerchant’sSon,preciselyabouttheCrown—Prince’sage;shonegreatlyinhisstudiesatBolognaandelsewhere;hadwrittenPoesies(RIME);writtenespeciallythatNewtonianismfortheDames(equaltoFontenelle,saidFame,andorthodoxNewtonianwithal,notheterodoxorCartesian);andhadshone,respected,atParis,onthestrengthofit,forthreeorfouryearspast:friendofVoltaireinconsequence,ofVoltaireandhisdivineEmilie,andawelcomeguestatCirey;friendofthecultivatedworldgenerally,whichwasthenlaboring,divineEmilieinthevanofit,tounderstandNewtonandbeorthodoxinthisdepartmentofthings。
  AlgarottididfinePoesies,too,onceandagain;didClassicalScholarships,andmuchelse:everywhereaclear—headed,methodicallydistinct,concisekindofman。Ahighstyleofbreedingabouthim,too;hadpowersofpleasing,andusedthem:
  amanbeautifullylucentinsociety,gentleyetimpregnablethere;
  keepinghimselfunspottedfromtheworldanditsdiscrepancies,——
  reallywithconsiderableprudence,firstandlast。
  HeissomewhatoftheBielfeldtype;aMerchant’sSon,weobserve,likeBielfeld;butaVenetianMerchant’s,notaHamburg’s;andalsoofbetternaturalstuffthanBielfeld。Concentratedhimselfuponhistaskwithmoreseriousness,andmadeahigherthingofitthanBielfeld;though,afterall,itwasthesametaskthetwohad。Alas,our"SwanofPadua"(sotheysometimescalledhim)onlysailed,paddlinggrandly,no—whither,——astheSwan—GooseoftheElbedid,inalessstatelymanner!OnecannotwellbeartoreadhisBooks。ThereisnolightuponFriedrichtotemptus;
  betterlightthanBielfeld’stherecouldhavebeen,andmuchofit:butheprudently,aswellasproudly,forboresuchtopics。
  Heapproachesverynearfertilityandgenialityinhiswritings,butneverreachesit。Dilettantismbecomeseriousandstrenuous,inthosedepartments——Well,itwasbeautifultoyoungFriedrichandtheworldatthattime,thoughitisnottous!——YoungAlgarotti,twenty—seventhisyear,hasbeentouringaboutasacelebritythesefouryearspast,onthestrengthofhisfinemannersandNewtonianismfortheDames。
  ItwasunderescortofBaltimore,"anEnglishMilord,"recommendedfromPotsdamitself,thatAlgarotticametoReinsberg;theSignorhadmuchtodowithEnglishpeoplenowandafter。WhereBaltimorefirstpickedhimup,Iknownot:buttheyhavebeentoRussiatogether;Baltimorebytwelveyearstheelderofthetwo:andnow,gettinghometowardsEnglandagain,theycallatReinsberginthefineAutumnweather;——andconsiderablycaptivatetheCrown—Prince,Baltimoreplayingchief,inthatasinotherpoints。Thevisitlastedfivedays:[20th—25thSeptember,1739(OEuvresdeFrederic,xiv。p。xiv)。]therewascopiousspeechonmanythings;——discussionaboutPrintingoftheANTIMACHIAVEL;
  AlgarottitogetitprintedinEngland,AlgarottitogetPineandhisEngravedHENRIADEputunderway;neitherofwhichprojectstookeffect;——readerscanconceivewhatacharmingfivedaysthesewere。Here,intheCrown—Prince’sownwords,aresomebriefglimmeringswhichwillsufficeus:——
  REINSBERG,25thSEPT。1739(Crown—PrincetoPapa)……that"nothingnewhasoccurredintheRegiment,andwehavefewsick。
  HerehastheEnglishMilord,whowasatPotsdam,passingthrough[stayedfivedays,thoughwecallitpassing,andsuppresstheAlgarotti,Baltimorebeingindeedchief]。HeisgonetowardsHamburg,totakeshipforEnglandthere。AsIheardthatmyMostAll—graciousFatherwishedIshouldshowhimcourtesy,IhavedoneforhimwhatIcould。ThePrinceofMirowhasalsobeenhere,"——
  ouroldStrelitzfriend。OfBaltimorenothingmoretoPapa。ButtoanotherCorrespondent,tothegoodSuhm(whoisnowatPetersburg,andmuchinourintimacy,readytotransactloansforus,translateWolf,ordowhatiswanted),thereisthispassagenextday:——
  REINSBERG,26thSEPTEMBER,1739(toSuhm)。"WehavehadMilordBaltimorehere,andtheyoungAlgarotti;bothofthemmenwho,bytheiraccomplishments,cannotbutconciliatetheesteemandconsiderationofallwhoseethem。Wetalkedmuchofyou[Suhm],ofPhilosophy,ofScience,Art;inshort,ofallthatcanbeincludedinthetasteofcultivatedpeople(HONNETESGENS)。"
  [OEuvresdeFrederic,xvi。378。]Andagaintoanother,abouttwoweekshence:——
  REINSBERG,10thOCTOBER,1739(toVoltaire)。"WehavehadMilordBaltimoreandAlgarottihere,whoaregoingbacktoEngland。
  ThisMilordisaverysensibleman(HOMMETRESSENSE);
  whopossessesagreatdealofknowledge,andthinks,likeus,thatsciencescanbenodisparagementtonobility,nordegradeanillustriousrank。IadmiredthegeniusofthisANGLAIS,asonedoesafinefacethroughacrapeveil。HespeaksFrenchveryill,yetonelikestohearhimspeakit;andasforhisEnglish,hepronouncesitsoquick,thereisnopossibilityoffollowinghim。
  HecallsaRussian’amechanicalanimal。’Hesays’PetersburgistheeyeofRussia,withwhichitkeepscivilizedcountriesinsight;ifyoutookthiseyefromit,Russiawouldfallagainintobarbarism,outofwhichitisjuststruggling。’[Ib。xxi。326,327。]……YoungAlgarotti,whomyouknow,pleasedmebeyondmeasure。Hepromisedthathe"——ButBaltimore,promiseornot,isthechieffigureatpresent。
  Evidentlyanoriginalkindoffiguretous,CETANGLAIS。
  AndindeedthereisalreadyfinishedarhymedEPISTLEtoBaltimore;EpitresurlaLiberte(copygoesinthatsameLETTER,forVoltaire’sbehoof),whichdatesitselflikewiseOctober10th;beginning,——
  "L’espritlibre,Milord,quiregneenAngleterre,"
  which,thoughitisfulloffinesinceresentiments,abouthumandignity,papalsuperstition,Newton,Locke,andaspirationsforprogressofcultureinPrussia,noreadercouldstandatthisepoch。
  WhatBaltimoresaidinanswertotheEPITRE,wedonotknow;
  probablynotmuch:itdoesnotappearheeversaworspoketoFriedrichasecondtime。Threeweeksafter,FriedrichwritingtoAlgarotti,hasthesewords:"IprayyoumakemyfriendshipstoMilordBaltimore,whosecharacterandmannerofthinkingItrulyesteem。Ihopehehas,bythistime,gotmyEPITREontheEnglishLibertyofThought。"[29thOctober1739,ToAlgarottiinLondon(OEuvres,xviii。5)。]AndsoBaltimorepasseson,silentinHistoryhenceforth,——thoughFriedrichseemstohaverememberedhimtolatetimes,asakindoftype—figurewhenEnglandcameintohishead。Forthesakeofthissmalltransitoverthesun’sdisk,IhavemadesomeinquiryaboutBaltimore;butfoundverylittle;——perhapsenough:——
  "HewasCharles,SixthLordBaltimore,itappears;Sixth,andlastbutone。FirstoftheBaltimores,weknow,wasSecretaryCalvert(1618—1624),whocolonizedMaryland;lastofthem(1774)wastheSonofthisCharles;somethingofafool,tojudgebythefaceofhiminPortraits,andbysomeofhisdoingsintheworld。He,thatSeventhBaltimore,printedoneortwolittleVolumes"nowofextremerarity"——cannotbetoorare);andwindedupbystandinganuglyTrialatKingstonAssizes(plaintiffanunfortunatefemale)。
  AfterwhichheretiredtoNaples,andthereended,1774,thelastoftheseMilords。[Walpole(byPark),CatalogueofRoyalandNobleAuthors(London,1806),v。278。]
  "HeoftheKingstonAssizes,wesay,wasnotthisCharles;buthisSon,whomletthereaderforget。Charles,agefortyatthistime,hadtravelledabouttheContinentagooddeal:once,longago,weimaginedwehadgotaglimpseofhim(butitwasaguessmerely)
  loungingaboutLunevilleandLorraine,alongwithLyttelton,intheCongress—of—Soissonstime?Notlongafterthat,itiscertainenough,hegotappointedaGentlemanoftheBedchambertoPrinceFred;whowasafriendofspeculativetalkersandcultivatedpeople。InwhichsituationCharlesSixthBaronBaltimorecontinuedallhisdaysafter;andmighthaverisenbymeansofFred,ashewasanxiousenoughtodo,hadbothofthemlived;buttheybothdied;Baltimorefirst,in1751,ayearbeforeFred。BubbDoddington,diligentlaborerinthesameFredvineyard,wasmuchinfestedbythisBaltimore,——who,drunkorsober(forheoccasionallygetsintoliquor),isalwaysputtingoutBubb,andstandstoowellwithourRoyalMaster,onesecretlyfears!
  Baltimore’sfinances,Icanguess,werenotintoogoodorder;
  mostlyanAbsentee;IrishEstatesnotmanagedinthefirststyle,whileoneisbusyintheFredvineyard!’Thebestandhonestestmanintheworld,withagooddealofjumbledknowledge,’Walpolecallshimonce:’butnotcapableofconductingaparty。’"
  [Walpole’sLetterstoMann(London,1843),ii。175;27thJanuary,1747。Seeib。i。82。]Ohno;——anddied,atanyrate,Spring1751:[PeerageofIreland
  (London,1768),ii。172—174。]andwewillnotmentionhimfarther。
  BIELFELD,WHATHESAWATREINSBERGANDAROUND。
  Directlyontherearofthesefinevisitors,came,byinvitation,apairoftheKorn’s—Hotelpeople;Masonicfriends;oneofwhomwasBielfeld,whosedaintyInstallationSpeechandwaysofprocedurehadbeenofpromisetothePrinceonthatoccasion。
  "BaronvonOberg"wastheother:——HanoverianBaron:thesamewhowentintotheWars,andwasa"GeneralvonOberg"twentyyearshence?Thesameoranother,itdoesnotmuchconcernus。Nordoesthevisitmuch,oratall;exceptthatBielfeld,beingofwritingnature,professestogiveocularaccountofit。HonesttranscriptofwhatahumancreatureactuallysawatReinsberg,andintheBerlinenvironmentatthatdate,wouldhavehadavaluetomankind:butBielfeldhasadoptedthefictitiousform;andprettymuchruinedforusanytranscriptthereis。Exaggeration,gesticulation,fantasticuncertaintyafflictthereader;
  andpreventcomfortablebelief,exceptwherethereisotherevidencethanBielfeld’s。
  AtBerlinthebeautifulstraightstreets,LindenAvenues(perhapsabettersamplethanthoseofourday),werenotabletoBielfeld;
  bridges,statuesveryfine;grandesplanades,andsuchmilitarydrillingandparadingaswasneverseen。Hehaddinner—
  invitations,too,inquantity;likesthisoneandthat(allinprudentasterisks),———likesTruchsessvonWaldburgverymuch,andhisstrangemodeofbachelorhousekeeping,andthewayhedinesandtalksamonghisfellow—creatures,orsitsstudiousamonghisMilitaryBooksandPaper—litters。Butallisloosefar—offsketching,inthestyleofAnacharsistheYounger;andmakesnosolidimpression。
  GettingtoReinsberg,totheTown,totheSchloss,hecrossestheesplanade,themoat;seeswhatweknow,beautifulsquareMansionamongitswoodsandwaters;——andalmostnothingthatwedonotknow,exceptthewaythemoat—bridgeislighted:"Bridgefurnished,"hesays,"withsevenStatuesrepresentingthesevenPlanets,eachholdinginherhandaglasslampintheformofaglobe;"——whichisaprettyobjectinthenight—time。TheHouseisnowfinished;Knobelsdorfrejoicinginhissuccess;Pesneandothersgivingthelasttouchtosomeceilingsofasublimenature。
  OnthelintelofthegateisinscribedFREDERICOTRANQUILLITATEM
  COLENTI(ToFriedrichcourtingTranquillity)。Thegardens,walks,hermitages,grottos,areveryspacious,fine:notyetcompleted,——
  perhapswillneverbe。ATempleofBacchusisjustnowonhand,somewhereinthoselabyrinthicwoods:"twelvegiganticSatyrsascaryatides,crownedbyaninvertedPunch—bowlfordome;"thatistheingeniousKnobelsdorf’sidea,pleasanttothemind。
  Knobelsdorfisofaustereaspect;austere,yetbenevolentandfullofhonestsagacity;theverypictureofsoundsense,thinksBielfeld。M。Jordanishandsome,thoughofsmallstature;
  agreeableexpressionofface;eyeextremelyvivid;browncomplexion,bushyeyebrowsaswellasbeardareblack。[Bielfeld(abridged),i。45。]
  Ordidthereadereverhearof"M。Fredersdorf,"HeadValetatthistime?Fredersdorfwillbecome,asitwere,Privy—Purse,House—Friend,anddomesticFactotum,andplayagreatpartincomingyears。"Atallhandsomeman;"much"silentsense,civility,dexterity;"something"magnificentlycleverinhim,"thinksBielfeld(now,orelsetwentyyearsafterwards);whomwecanbelieve。[Ib。p。49。]HewasagiftfromGeneralSchwerin,thisFredersdorf;onceaPrivateinSchwerin’sregiment,atFrankfurt—
  on—Oder,——excellentontheflute,foronequality。Schwerin,whohadaneyeformen,senthimtoFriedrich,intheCustrintime;
  hopinghemightsuitinflutingandotherwise。Whichheconspicuouslydid。Bielfeld’saccount,wemustcandidlysay,appearstobeanafterthought;butreaderscanmaketheirprofitofit,allthesame。
  AstotheCrown—PrinceandPrincess,wordsfailtoexpresstheirgraciousperfections,theiraffabilities,politeingenuities:——
  Bielfeld’swordsdogiveussomepleasantshadowyconceivabilityoftheCrown—Princess:——
  "Tall,andperfectinshape;bustsuchasasculptormightcopy;
  complexionofthefinest;featuresditto;nose,Iconfess,smallishandpointed,butexcellentofthatkind;hairofthesupremestflaxen,’shining’likeafloodofsunbeams,whenthepowderisoffit。AhumaneingenuousPrincess;littlenegligencesintoiletorthelike,ifsuchoccur,eventhesesetheroff,soingenuousarethey。Speakslittle;butalwaystothepurpose,inasimple,cheerfulandwiseway。Dancesbeautifully;heart(hersoubretteassuresme)isheavenly;——and’perhapsnoPrincesslivinghasafinersetofdiaonds。’"
  OftheCrown—Princessthereissomepleasantshadowtracedasoncobweb,tothiseffect。ButoftheCrown—Princethereisnoformingtheleastconceptionfromwhathesays:——thisismerecobwebwithNothingelaboratelypaintedonit。Nordotheportraitsoftheothersattractbytheirverisimilitude。HereisColonelKeyserling,forinstance;thewittyCourlander,famousenoughintheFriedrichcircle;whowentonembassytoCirey,andmuchelse:he"whirlsinwithuproar(FRACAS)likeBoreasintheBallet;"fowling—pieceonshoulder,andinhis"dressing—gown"
  withal,whichisstillstranger;snatchesoffBielfeld,unknowntillthatmoment,tositbyhimwhiledressing;andthere,withmuchcapering,pirouetting,andindeedalmostground—and—loftytumbling,foraccompaniment,"talksofHorses,Mathematics,Painting,Architecture,Literature,andtheArtofWar,"whilehedresses。ThisgentlemanwasonceColonelinFriedrichWilhelm’sArmy;isnowfairlyturnedofforty,andhasbeenintroubles:
  wehopeheisnotLIKEintheBielfeldPortrait;——otherwise,howhappythatweneverhadthehonorofknowinghim!Indeed,theCrown—Prince’sHouseholdgenerally,asBielfeldpaintsitinflourishesofpanegyric,isbutunattractive;barrentothemodernon—looker;partlythePainter’sblame,wedoubtnot。Hegivesdetailsabouttheirmodeofdining,takingcoffee,doingconcert;
  ——anddescribesonceanincidentaldrinking—boutgotupaforethoughtbythePrince;whichisprobablyingoodpartfiction,thoughnotilldone。Thesefantasticsketchings,rigorouslywinnowedintothecredibleandactual,leavenogreatresidueinthatkind;butwhatlittletheydoleaveisoffavorableandpleasantnature。
  BielfeldmadeavisitprivatelytoPotsdam,too:sawtheGiantsdrill;madeacquaintancewithimportantCaptainsoftheirs(allinASTERISKS)atPotsdam;withwhomhedined,notinatoocrediblemanner,andevendanced。Amongtheasterisks,weeasilypickoutCaptainWartensleben(oftheKorn’s—Hoteloperation),andWinterfeld,astillmoreimportantCaptain,whomwesawdiningoncoldpiewithhisMajesty,atabarn—doorinPommern,notlongsince。OftheGiants,ortheirlifeatPotsdam,Bielfeld’swordisnotworthhearing,——worthsuppressingrather;hisknowledgebeingsosmall,andhungforthinsofantasticaway。ThistransientsighthehadofhisMajestyinperson;this,whichisworthsomethingtous,——factbeingevidentlylodgedinit,"Afterchurch—parade,"AutumnSundayafternoon(dayuncertain,Bielfeld’sdatebeingfictitious,andevenimpossible),MajestydroveouttoWusterhausen,"wherethequantitiesofgamesurpassallbelief;"
  andBielfeldhadoneglimpseofhim:——
  "IsawhisMajestyonly,asitwere,inpassing。IfImayjudgebyhisPortraits,hemusthavebeenofaperfectbeautyinhisyoungtime;butitmustbeconfessedthereisnothingleftofitnow。
  Hiseyestrulyarefine;buttheglanceofthemisterrible:
  hiscomplexioniscomposedofthestrongesttintsofred,blue,yellow,green,"——notalovelycomplexionatall;"bighead;thethicknecksunkbetweentheshoulders;figureshortandheavy(COURTEETRAMASSEE)。"[Bielfeld,p。35。]
  "GoingouttoWusterhausen,"then,thatafternoon,"October,1739。"HowhisMajestyiscrusheddown;quitebulgedoutofshapeinthatsadway,bytheweightoftimeanditspressures:
  histhoughts,too,mostlikely,ofaheavy—ladenandabstrusenature!TheoldPfalzControversyhasmisgonewithhim:Pfalz,andsomuchelseintheworld;——theworldinwhole,probablyenough,nearendingtohim;thefinalshadows,sombre,grandandmournful,closinginuponhim!
  TURKWARENDS;SPANISHWARBEGINS。AWEDDINGINPETERSBURG。
  LastnewscometoPotsdaminthesedaysis,TheKaiserhasendedhisdisastrousTurkWar;beenobligedtoendit;suddendownbreak,andasitwerepanicterror,havingatlastcomeuponhisunfortunateGeneralsinthoseparts。DukeFranzwaspassionatetobeoutofsuchathing;Franz,GeneralNeippergandothers;
  andnow,"2dSeptember,1739,"likelodgersleapingfromaburninghouse,theyareoutofit。TheTurkgetsBelgradeitself,nottomentionwideterritoriesfarthereast,——Belgradewithoutshotfired;——naytheTurkwashardlytobekeptfromhangingtheImperialMessenger(aGeneralNeipperg,DukeFranz’soldTutor,andchiefConfidant,whomweshallhearmoreofelsewhere),whosepassportwasnotquiterightonthisoccasion!——NeverwasamoredisgracefulPeace。Butalsoneverhadbeenworsefighting;
  planless,changeful,powerless,meltingintofutilityateverystep:——nottobemendedbyimprisonmentsinGratz,andstillharshertreatmentofindividuals。"Hasallsuccessforsakenme,then,sinceEugenedied?"saidtheKaiser;andsnatchedatthisTurkPeace;gladtohaveit,bymediationofFrance,andonanyterms。
  HasnotthisKaiserlosthisoutlyingpropertiesatafearfulrate?Naplesisgone;SpanishBourbonsitsinourNaples;
  comparativelylittleleftforusinItaly。AndnowtheveryTurkhasbeatenussmall;insolentlyfillipstheImperialnoseofus,——
  threateningtohangourNeipperg,andthelike。WereitnotforAnneofRussia,whosebighorse—whipfallsheavyonthisTurk,hemightalmostgettoViennaagain,foranythingwecoulddo!
  AKaiserworthytobepitied;——whomFriedrichWilhelm,weperceive,doeshonestlypity。AKaisermuchbeggared,muchdisgraced,inlateyears;whohasplayedahugelife—gamesolong,diplomatizing,warring;and,excepttheShadowofPragmaticSanction,hasnothingtoretireupon。
  TheRussiansprotested,withastonishment,againstsuchTurkPeaceontheKaiser’spart。Buttherewasnohelpforit。Oneallyisgone,theKaiserhasletgothisWesternskirtoftheTurk;
  and"ThamasKouliKhan"(calledalsoNadirShah,famedOrientalslasherandslayerofthattime)nolongerstandsupontheEasternskirt,but"hasenteredIndia,"itappears:theRussians——theircash,too,runninglow——dothemselvesmakepeace,"aboutamonthafter;"restoringAzophandnearlyalltheirconquests;puttingofftheruinoftheTurktillabettertime。
  WarisoverintheEast,then;butanotherintheWest,EnglandagainstSpain(SpainandFrancetohelp),isaboutbeginning。
  ReadersrememberhowJenkins’sEarre—emerged,Springgoneayear,inablazingcondition?Here,throughSYLVANUSURBANhimself,aretwodirectglimpses,atwelve—monthnearerhand,whichshowushowthematterhasbeenproceedingsince:——
  "LONDON,19thFEBRUARY,1739。TheCityAuthorities,"——layingorgoingtolay"thefoundationoftheMansion—House"(Edificenowveryblackinourtime),anddoingotherthingsoflittlemomenttous,"hadaMasqueradeattheGuildhallthisnight。TherewasaverysplendidappearanceattheMasquerade;butamongthemanyhumorousandwhimsicalcharacters,whatseemedmosttoengageattentionwasaSpaniard,whocalledhimself’KnightoftheEar;’
  asBadgeofwhichOrderheworeonhisbreasttheformofaStar,withitspointstingedinblood;andonthebodyofitanEarpainted,andincapitallettersthewordJENKINSencirclingit。
  Acrosshisshouldertherehung,insteadofribbon,alargeHalter;
  whichhehelduptoseveralpersonsdressedasEnglishSailors,whoseemedingreatterrorofhim,andfallingontheirkneessufferedhimtorummagetheirpockets;whichdone,hewouldinsolentlydismissthemwithstrokesofhishalter。SeveraloftheSailorshadabloodyEarhangingdownfromtheirheads;andontheirhatswerethesewords,EARFOREAR;onothers,NOSEARCHOR
  NOTRADE;withthelikesentences。"[Gentleman’sMagazinefor1739,p。103;——ourDATES,asalways,areN。8。]
  Theconflagrationevidentlygoingon;notlikelytobedampeddownagain,byministerialart!——
  "LONDON,19thMARCH,1739。"GrandDebateinParliament,onthelate"SpanishConvention,"pretendedBargainofredresslatelygotfromSpain:ApprovetheConvention,orNotapprove?"AhundredMemberswereintheHouseofCommonsbeforeseven,thismorning;
  andfourhundredhadtakentheirseatbyten;whichisanunheard—
  ofthing。PrinceofWales,"Fredinperson,"wasinthegallerytilltwelveatnight,andhadhisdinnersenttohim。SirRobertWalpolerose:’Sir,thegreatpainsthathavebeentakentoinfluenceallranksanddegreesofmeninthisNation——……
  Butgivemeleaveto’"——applyawetclothtoHonorableGentlemen。
  Whichhedoes,reallywithskillandsense。Franceandtheothersaresostrong,heurges;Englandsounprepared;Kaiseratsuchapass;’Warliketobe,aboutthePalatinateDispute[ourfriendFriedrichWilhelm’s]:WhereisEnglandtoget,allies?’——andhourslongofthelikesort。Ajudiciouswetcloth;whichprovedunavailing。
  For"WilliamPitts"(sotheyspellthegreatChathamthatistobe)waseloquentontheotherside:"DespairingMerchants,""VoiceofEngland,"andsoon。Andtheworldwasallinaninflamedstate。AndMr。Pulteneyexclaimed:Palatinate?Allies?"Weneednoallies;thecaseofMr。Jenkinswillraiseusvolunteerseverywhere!"Andinshort,——aftereightmonthsmoreofhaggling,andapplyingwetcloths,——Walpole,inthenameofEngland,hastodeclareWaragainstSpain;["3dNovember(23dOctober),1739。"]
  thepublichumorprovingunquenchableonthatmatter。War;andnoPeacetobe,"tillourundoubtedright,"toroadwayontheoceansofthisPlanet,becomepermanentlymanifesttotheSpanishMajesty。
  SuchtheeffectofasmallEar,keptaboutoneincotton,fromursinepietyorotherfeelings。HasnotJenkins’sEarre—emerged,withavengeance?IthaskindledaWar:dangerousforkindlingotherWars,andsettingthewholeworldonfire,——aswillbetooevidentinthesequel!TheEAROFJENKINSisasingularthing。
  Mighthavemountedtobeaconstellation,likeBERENICE’SHAIR,andothersmallfactsbecomemythical,hadtheEnglishPeoplebeenofpoeticturn!EnoughofIT,forthetimebeing。——
  ThisSummer,AntonUlrich,atPetersburg,didwedhisSereneMecklenburgPrincess,HeiressofalltheRussias:"July14th,1739,"——threemonthsbeforethatDrivetoWusterhausen,whichwesawlately。LittleAntonUlrich,CadetofBrunswick;
  ourFriedrich’sBrother—in—Law;——anoticeablysmallmanincomparisontosuchbulkofdestiny,thinksFriedrich,thoughthecaseisnotwithoutexample![ALetterofhistoSuhm;touchingonFranzofLorraineandthisAntonUlrich。]
  "AntonUlrichisnowfive—and—twenty,"saysoneofmyNotebooks;
  "ayounggentlemanofsmallstature,shiningcourageinbattle,butsomewhatshyandbashful;whohashadhistroublesinPetersburgsociety,tillthetrialcame,——andwillhave。HerearethestagesofAntonUlrich’sfelicity:——
  "WINTER,1732—1733。HewassentfortoPetersburg(hisSereneAunttheGermanKaiserinn,andKaiserKarl’sdiplomatists,suggestingitthere),withtheviewofhispayingcourttotheyoungMecklenburgPrincess,HeiressofalltheRussias,ofwhomwehaveoftenheard。February,1733,hearrivedonthiserrand;——notapprovedofatallbytheMecklenburgPrincess,byCzarinaAnneoranybodythere:whatcanbedonewithsuchanuncomfortablelittlecreature?TheygavehimtheColonelcyofCuirassiers:’Drillthere,andendure。’
  "SPRING,1737。Much—enduring,diligentlydrilling,forfouryearspast,hewentthisyeartotheTurkWarunderMunnich;——muchpleasedMunnich,atOczakowandelsewhere;whoreportsintheWar—
  Officehighthingsofhim。Andonthewhole,——thesereneViennapeoplenowagainbestirringthemselves,withwhomweareincopartneryinthisTurkbusiness,——littleAntonUlrichisencouragedtoproceed。Proceeds;formallydemandshisMecklenburgPrincess;and,"JULY14th,1739,wedsher;thehappiestlittlemaninalltheRussias,andwiththebiggestdestiny,ifitprosper。Nextyear,too,therecameasonandheir;whomtheycalledIwan,inhonorofhisRussianGreat—grandfather。ShallweaddthesubsequentfelicitiesofAntonUlrichhere;orwaittillanotheropportunity?"
  Betterwait。Thisisall,andmorethanall,hisPrussianMajesty,rollingoutofWusterhausenthatafternoon,everknewofthem,orneededtoknow!——
  ChapterVIII。
  DEATHOFFRIEDRICHWILHELM。
  AtWusterhausen,thisAutumn,thereisgameasusual,butlittleornohuntingfortheKing。Hehastositdrearilywithindoors,formostpart;listeningtotherustleoffallingleaves,todimWintercomingwithitsrainsandwinds。Field—sportsarearumorfromwithout:forhimnownojoyoussow—baiting,deer—chasing;——
  that,likeotherthings,ispast。
  InthebeginningofNovember,hecametoBerlin;wasworsethere,andagainwasbetter;——strovetodotheCarnival,ashadbeencustomary;but,inalanguid,lamedmanner。Onenighthelookedinuponanevening—partywhichGeneralSchulenburgwasgiving:
  hereturnedhome,chilled,shivering;,couldnot,allnight,bebroughttoheatagain。Itwasthelastevening—partyFriedrichWilhelmeverwentto。[Pollnitz(ii。538);whogivesnodate。]
  Lieutenant—GeneralSchulenburg:thesamewhodoomedyoungFriedrichtodeath,asPresidentoftheCourt—Martial;
  andthenwrotetheThreeLettersabouthimwhichweoncelookedinto:illuminateshimselfinthismannerinBerlinsociety,——
  Carnivalseason,1740,weatherfiercelycold。MaypoleSchulenburgtheleanAunt,Ex—MistressofGeorgeI。,overinLondon,——Ithinkshemustnowbedead?Orifnotdead,whynot!Memory,forthetenthtime,failsme,ofthehumanlyunmemorable,whomperhapsevenflunkiesshouldforget;andIwilltryitnomore。
  ThestalwartLieutenant—Generalwillreappearonusonce,twiceattheutmost,andneveragain。Hegavethelastevening—partyFriedrichWilhelmeverwentto。
  PoorFriedrichWilhelmisintruthveryill;tossesaboutallday,inandoutofbed,——bedandwheeled—chairdrearilyalternating;
  suffersmuch;——andagain,inDiplomaticcircles,therumorsarerifeandsinister。EverfromthischillatSchulenburg’sthemedicinesdidhimnogood,saysPollnitz:ifherallied,itwastheeffectofNature,andonlytemporary。Hedoesdaily,withpunctuality,hisOfficialbusiness;perhapsthebesttwohourshehasofthefour—and—twenty,forthetimehangsheavyonhim。HisoldGeneralssitroundhisbed,talking,smoking,asitwasfiveyearsago;hisFeekinandhisChildrenmuchabouthim,outandin:
  theheavy—laden,wearyhoursrollroundastheycan。IngeneralthereisakindofconstantTabaks—Collegium,oldFlans,Camas,Hacke,Pollnitz,Derschau,andtherestbyturnsalwaysthere;
  theroyalPatientcannotbeleftalone,withoutfaceshelikes:
  otherGenerals,estimableintheirway,haveaphysiognomydispleasingtothesickman;andwillsmartforitiftheyenter,——"AtsightofHIMeverypaingrowspainfuler!"——thepoorKingbeingofpoetictemperament,asweoftensay。Friendsareencouragedtosmoke,especiallytokeepupastreamoftalk;ifatanytimehefallintoadozeandtheyceasetalking,thesilencewillawakenhim。
  Heisworstoffinthenight;sleepverybad:andamonghissorebodilypains,ennuifallsveryheavytoamindsorestless。Hecanpaint,hecanwhittle,chisel:atlasttheyevenmounthimatable,inhisbed,withjoiner’stools,mallets,glue—pots,wherehemakessmallcarpentry,——thetalktogoonthewhile;——oftenatnightisthesoundofhismalletaudibleinthePalaceEsplanade;
  andBerlintownsfolkpausetolisten,withmanythoughtsofasympatheticoratleastinarticulatecharacter:"HM,WEH,IHRO
  MAJESTAT:ACHGOTT,paleDeathknockswithimpartialfootatthehutsofpoormenandthePalacesofKings!"[Pollnitz,ii。539。]
  ReverendHerrRoloff,whomtheycallProvost(PROBST,ChiefClergyman)Roloff,apioushonestmanandpreacher,he,Icouldguess,hasalreadybeengivingspiritualcounselnowandthen;
  laterinterviewswithRoloffareexpresslyonrecord:foritistheKing’sprivatethought,everandanonborneinuponhim,thatdeathitselfisinthisbusiness。
  QueenandChildren,mostlyhopinghitherto,thoughfearingtoo,liveinmuchanxietyandagitation。TheCrown—PrinceisoftenoverfromReinsberg;mustnotcometoooften,noreveninquiretoomuch:hisaffectionatesolicitudemightbemistakenforsolicitudeofanotherkind!ItiscertainheisinnohastetobeKing;
  toquitthehauntsoftheMuses,andembarkonKingship。
  Certain,too,heloveshisFather;shuddersatthethoughtoflosingHIM。Andyetagaintherewillgleamsintrudeofacontrarythought;whichthefilialheartdisowns,withakindofhorror,"Down,thouimpiousthought!"——Weperceivehemanagesingeneraltopushthecrisisawayfromhim;tobelievethatrealdangerisstilldistant。Hisdemeanor,sofaraswecangatherfromhisLettersorotherevidence,isamiable,prudent,natural;
  altogetherthatofahumanSoninthosedifficultcircumstances。
  PoorPapaisheavy—laden:letushelptobearhisburdens;——
  letushopethecrisisisstillfaroff!——
  Once,onafavorableevening,probablyaboutthebeginningofApril,whenhefeltasifimproving,FriedrichWilhelmresolvedtodress,andholdTobacco—Parliamentagaininaformalmanner,Letuslookinthere,throughtheeyesofPollnitz,whowasofit,uponthelastTobacco—Parliament:——
  "Anumerousparty;Schwerin,Hacke,Derschau,allthechiefsandcommandantsoftheBerlinGarrisonarethere;theoldcirclefull;
  socialhumanspeechoncemore,andpipesalight;pleasanttotheKing。Hedoesnothimselfsmokeonthisoccasion;butheisunusuallylivelyintalk;muchenjoysthereturningglimpseofolddays;andtheTobaccocirclewasproceedingthroughitsphases,successfulbeyondcommon。AllatoncetheCrown—Princestepsin;
  directfromReinsberg:[12thApril,1740?(OEuvres,xxvii。partlst,p。29);Pollnitzisdateless]anunexpectedpleasure。AtsightofwhomtheTobaccocircle,takenonthesudden,simultaneouslystartedup,andmadehimabow。
  Ruleis,inTobacco—Parliamentyoudonotrise——foranybody;
  andtheyhaverisen。Whichstruckthesickheartinastrangepainfulway。’Hm,theRisingSun?’thinkshe;’Rulesbrokenthrough,fortheRisingSun。ButIamnotdeadyet,asyoushallknow!’ringingforhisservantsingreatwrath;andhadhimselfrolledout,regardlessofprotestationsandexcuses。
  ’Hither,youHacke!’saidhe。
  "Hackefollowed;butitwasonlytoreturnontheinstant,withtheKing’sorder,’ThatyouinstantlyquitthePalace,allofyou,anddon’tcomeback!’SolemnrespectfulmessagetohisMajestywasofnoeffect,orofless;theyhadtogo,onthoseterms;
  andPollnitz,makingforhisMajesty’sapartmentnextmorningasusual,wastwitchedbyaGens—d’arme,’Noadmittance!’Anditwasdaysbeforethematterwouldcomeroundagain,underearnestprotestationsfromtheoneside,andtruculentrebukesfromtheother。"[Pollnitz(abridged),ii。50。]FiguretheCrown—Prince,figurethepoorsickMajesty;andwhatatimeinthoselocalities!
  Withthebrightspringweatherheseemedtorevive;towardstheendofAprilheresolvedforPotsdam,everybodythinkinghimmuchbetter,andtheouterPublicreckoningthecrisisoftheillnessover。Hehimselfknewother。Itwasonthe27thofthemonththathewent;hesaid,"Faretheewell,then,Berlin;IamtodieinPotsdam,then(ICHWERDEINPOTSDAMSTERBEN)!"TheMay—flowerscamelate;theweatherwaschangeful,ungenialforthesickman:
  thiswinterof1740hadbeenthecoldestonrecord;itextendeditselfintotheverysummer;andbroughtgreatdistressofeverykind;——ofwhichsomeoralrumorstillsurvivesinallcountries。
  FriedrichWilhelmheardcomplaintsofscarcityamongthepeople;
  admonitionstoopenhisCorn—granaries(suchashealwayshasinstoreagainstthatkindofaccident);buthestillhesitatedandrefused;unabletolookintoithimself,andfearingdeceptions。
  Fortherest,heisstrugglingbetweendeathandlife;ingeneralpersuadedthattheendisfasthasteningon。HesendsforChiefPreacherRoloffouttoPotsdam;hassomenotabledialogueswithRoloff,andwithtwootherPotsdamClergymen,ofwhichthereisrecordstillleftus。Inthese,asinallhisdemeanoratthissupremetime,weseethebigruggedblockofmanhoodcomeoutveryvividly;stronginhissimplicity,inhisveracity。
  FriedrichWilhelm’swishistoknowfromRoloffwhatthechancesareforhimintheotherworld,——whichisnotlesscertainthanPotsdamandthegiantgrenadierstoFriedrichWilhelm;andwhere,heperceives,neverhalfsoclearlybefore,heshallactuallypeeloffhisKinghood,andstandbeforeGodAlmighty,nobetterthananakedbeggar。Roloff’sprognosticsarenotsoencouragingastheKinghadhoped。SurelythisKing"nevertookorcovetedwhatwasnothis;kepttruetohismarriage—vow,inspiteofhorribleexampleseverywhere;believedtheBible,honoredthePreachers,wentdiligentlytoChurch,andtriedtodowhatheunderstoodGod’scommandmentswere?"ToallwhichRoloff,acourageouspiousman,answerswithdiscreetwordsandshakingsofthehead,"DidIbehaveill,then;didIeverdoinjustice?"
  RoloffmentionsBaronSchlubhutthedefalcatingAmtmann,hangedatKonigsbergwithoutevenatrial。"Hehadnotrial;butwasthereanydoubthehadjustice?Apublicthief,confessinghehadstolenthetaxeshewassettogather;insolentlyoffering,asifthatwereall,torepaythemoney,andsaying,ItwasnotMANIER(goodmanners)tohanganobleman!"Roloffshakeshishead,Tooviolent,yourMajesty,andsavoringofthetyrannous。ThepoorKingmustrepent。
  "Well,——isthereanythingmore?Outwithit,then;betternowthantoolate!"——Muchoppression,forcingmentobuildinBerlin。——
  "Oppression?wasitnottheirbenefit,aswellasBerlin’sandtheCountry’s?Ihadnointerestinitother。Derschau,youwhomanagedit?"andhisMajestyturnedtoDerschau。Forallthesmokinggeneralsandcompanyarestillhere;norwillhisMajestyconsenttodismissthemfromthepresenceandbealonewithRoloff:"Whatistheretoconceal?Theyarepeopleofhonor,andmyfriends。"Derschau,whosefeatsinthebuildingwayarenotunknowneventous,answerswithahardface,Itwasallrightandorderly;nothingoutofsquareinhisbuildingoperations。
  TowhichRoloffshakeshishead:"Athingofpublicnotoriety,HerrGeneral。"——"IwillproveeverythingbeforeaCourt,"answerstheHerrGeneralwithstillharderface;Roloffstillausterelyshakinghishead。Hm!——Andthenthereisforgivenessofenemies;
  yourMajestyisboundtoforgiveallmen,orhowcanyouasktobeforgiven?"Well,Iwill,Ido;youFeekin,writetoyourBrother(unforgivablestofbeings),afterIamdead,thatIforgavehim,diedinpeacewithhim。"——BetterherMajestyshouldwriteatonce,suggestsRoloff。——"No,afterIamdead,"persiststheSonofNature,——thatwillbesafer![Wroteaccordingly,"notabletofinishwithoutmanytears;"honestsensibleLetter(thoughindifferentlyspelt),"Berlin,1stJune,1740;"——liesnowinState—PaperOffice:"ROYALLETTERS,vol。xciv。,Prussia,1689—1777。"]Anunwedgeableandgnarledbigblockofmanhoodandsimplicityandsincerity;suchaswerarelygetsightofamongthemodernsonsofAdam,amongthecrownedsonsnearlynever。
  AtpartinghesaidtoRoloff,"You(ER,He)donotspareme;itisright。YoudoyourdutylikeanhonestChristianman。"
  [NotataexoreRoloffi("foundamongtheSeckendorfPapers,"nodatebut"May1740"),inForster,ii。154,155;inafragmentarystate:completedinPollnitz,ii。545—549。]
  Roloff,Iperceive,hadseveralDialogueswiththeKing;
  andstayedinPotsdamsomedaysforthatobject。TheabovebitofjottingisfromtheSeckendorfPapers(probablypickedupbySeckendorfJunior),andisdatedonly"May。"OfthetwoPotsdamPreachers,oneofwhomis"Oesfeld,ChaplainoftheGiantGrenadiers,"andtheotheris"Cochius,CalvinistHofprediger,"
  eachpublishedonhisownscoresomeNotesofdialogueandcircumstance;[CochiustheHOFPREDIGER’S(CalvinistCourt—
  Chaplain’s)ACCOUNTofhisInterviews(firstofthem"Friday,27thMay,1740,about9P。M。");followedbydittofromOesfeld(ChaplainoftheGiants),whousuallyaccompaniedCochius,——areinSeyfarth,GeschichteFriedrichdesGrossen
  (Leipzig,1783—1788),i。(Beylage)24—40。Seyfarthwas"Regiments—
  Auditor"inHalle:hisWork,solidthoughstupid,consistsnearlyaltogetherofmultifariousBEYLAGEN(Appendices)andNOTES;
  whicharecreditablyaccurate,andoftencurious;and,asusual,havenoIndexforanunfortunatereader。]whicharetothesameeffect,sofarastheyconcernus;andexhibitthesameruggedSonofNature,lookingwithallhiseyesightintothenearEternity,andsinkinginahumanandnotinhumanmanneramidthefloodsofTime。"Wa,Wa,whatgreatGodisthis,thatpullsdownthestrengthofthestrongestKings!"——
  ThepoorKing’sstateisveryrestless,fluctuatesfromdaytoday;heisimpatientofbed;sleepsveryill;isupwheneverpossible;rollsaboutinhiswheeled—chair,andevengetsintotheair:atonetimelookingstrong,asiftherewerestillmonthsinhim,andanonsunkinfaintingweakness,asifhehadfewminutestolive。FriedrichatReinsbergcorrespondsverysecretlywithDr。Eller;hasotherfriendsatPotsdamwhosesecretnewsheveryanxiouslyreads。Tothelasthecannotbringhimselftothinkitserious。"[LettertoEller,25thMay,1740(OEuvres),xvi。184。]
  OnThursday,26thofMay,anexpressfromEller,orthePotsdamfriends,arrivesatReinsberg:Heistocomequickly,ifhewouldseehisFatheragainalive!Thestepmayhavedanger,too;butFriedrich,aworldoffeelingsurginghim,isontheroadnextmorningbeforethesun。Hisjourneymaybefancied;thelikeofitfallstoallmen。Arrivingatlast,turninghastilyacornerofthePotsdamSchloss,Friedrichseessomegatheringinthedistance:itishisFatherinhisROLLWAGEN(wheeled—chair),——notdying;butoutofdoors,givingordersaboutfoundingaHouse,orseeingitdone。HouseforonePhilips,acrabbedEnglishmanhehas;whosetongueisnoneofthebest,noteventoMajestyitself,butwhosemeritsasaGroom,ofEnglishandotherHorses,arewithoutparallelinthoseparts。Withoutparallel,anddeserveaHousebeforewedie。Letusseeitsetagoing,thisblessedMayday!OfPhilips,whosurviveddeepintoFriedrich’stime,andutteredroughsayings(inmixedintelligibledialect)whenputuponinhisgrooming,orotherwisedisturbed,Icouldobtainnofartheraccount:themandidnotcaretobeputinHistory(averysmallservicetoaman);caredtohaveahousewithtrimfittings,andtodohisgroomingwell,thefortunatePhilips。
  AtsightofhisSon,FriedrichWilhelmthrewouthisarms;theSonkneelingsankuponhisbreast,andtheyembracedwithtears。
  MyFather,myFather;MySon,mySon!Itwasascenetomakeallby—standersandevenPhilipsweep。——ProbablytheemotionhurttheoldKing;hehadtobetakeninagainstraightway,hisshowofstrengthsuddenlygone,andbedtheonlyplaceforhim。ThissameFridayhedictatedtooneofhisMinisters(Boden,whowasincloseattendance)theInstructionforhisFuneral;arudecharacteristicPiece,whichperhapstheEnglishreaderknows。
  Toolongandrudeforreprintinghere。[Copyofit,inSeyfarth(ubisupra),i。19—24。TranslatedinMauvillon(ii。432—437);
  in&c。&c。]
  Heistobeburiedinhisuniform,thePotsdamGrenadiershisescort;withmilitarydecorum,threevolleysfired(andtakecaretheybewellfired,"NICHTPLACKEREN"),somanycannon—salvos;——
  andnofussorflauntingceremony:simplicityanddecencyiswhatthetenantofthatoakcoffinwants,ashealwaysdidwhenownerofwiderdominions。Thecoffin,whichhehasreadyandbesidehiminthePalacethisgoodwhile,isastoutpieceofcarpentry,withleatherstrapsandotherimprovements;heviewsitfromtimetotime;solaceshistruculentimaginationwiththelookofit:
  "Ishallsleeprightwellthere,"hewouldsay。TheimagehehasofhisBurial,weperceive,isofperfectvisuality,equaltowhataDefoecoulddoinimagining。Allisseen,settledtothelastminuteness:thecoffinistobeborneoutbysoandso,atsuchandsuchadoor;thisdetachmentistofall—inhere,thatthere,intheattitudeof"coverarms"(musketinvertedunderleftarm);
  andthebandistoplay,withallitsblackamoors,OHauptvollBlutundWunden(OHead,allbleedingwounded);aDirgehisMajestyhadliked,whoknewmusic,andhadaloveforit,afterhissort。GoodSonofNature:adumbPoet,asIsayalways;mostdumb,butreal;thevalueofhimgreat,andunknowninthesebabblingtimes。ItwasonthissameFridaynightthatCochiuswasfirstsentfor;Cochius,andOesfeldwithhim,"aboutnineo’clock。"
  Forthenextthreedays(SaturdaytoMonday)whenhiscoughandmanysufferingswouldpermithim,FriedrichWilhelmhadlongprivatedialogueswithhisSon;instructinghim,aswasevident,inthemysteriesofState;inwhatknowledge,astopersonsandtothings,hereckonedmightbeusefulesttohim。Whatthelessonswere,weknownot;thewayoftakingthemhadgivenpleasuretotheoldman:hewasheardtosay,perhapsmorethanonce,whentheGeneralswerecalledin,andthedialogueinterruptedforawhile:
  "AmnotIhappytohavesuchaSontoleavebehindme!"AndthegrimlysympatheticGeneralstestifiedassent;endeavoredtotalkalittle,couldatleastsmoke,andlookfriendly;tilltheKinggatheredstrengthforcontinuinghisinstructionstohisSuccessor。Allelsewasasifsettledwithhim;thishadstillremainedtodo。Thisoncedone(finished,Mondaynight),whynotabdicatealtogether;anddiedisengaged,beitinadayorinamonth,sincethatisnowtheoneworkleft?FriedrichWilhelmdoessopurpose。
  Hisstate,nowasallalong,wasfluctuating,uncertain,restless。
  Hewasheardmurmuringprayers;hewouldsaysometimes,"Prayforme;BETETBETET。"Andmorethanonce,indeeptone:"Lord,enternotintojudgmentwithThyservant,forinThysightshallnomanlivingbejustified!"ThewildSonofNature,lookingintoLifeandDeath,intoJudgmentandEternity,findsthatthesethingsareverygreat。Thistooisacharacteristictrait:InacertainGermanHymn(Whyfretormurmur,then?thetitleofit),whichtheyoftensangtohim,oralongwithhim,ashemuchlovedit,arethesewords,"NakedIcameintotheworld,andnakedshallIgo,"——"No,"saidhe"alwayswithvivacity,"atthispassage;"notquitenakid,Ishallhavemyuniformon:"
  Letusbeexact,sinceweareatit!Afterwhichthesingingproceededagain。"ThelateGrafAlexandervonWartenberg"——CaptainWartenberg,whomweknow,andwhoseopportunities——"waswonttorelatethis。"[Busching(in1786),Beitrage,
  iv。100。]
  Tuesday,31stMay,"aboutoneinthemorning,"Cochiuswasagainsentfor。HefoundtheKinginverypiousmood,butingreatdistress,andafraidhemightyethavemuchpaintosuffer。
  Cochiusprayedwithhim;talkedpiously。"Icanremembernothing,"
  saidtheKing;"Icannotpray,Ihaveforgottenallmyprayers。"——
  "Prayerisnotinwords,butinthethoughtoftheheart,"saidCochius;andsoothedtheheavy—ladenmanashecould。"Fareyouwell,"saidFriedrichWilhelm,atlength;"mostlikelyweshallnotmeetagaininthisworld。"WhereatCochiusburstintotears,andwithdrew。Aboutfour,theKingwasagainoutofbed;wishedtoseehisyoungestBoy,whohadbeenillofmeasles,butwasdoingwell:"PoorlittleFerdinand,adieu,then,mylittlechild!"
  ThisistheFatherofthatfineLouisFerdinand,whowaskilledatJena;concerningwhomBerlin,incertainemancipatedcirclesofit,stillspeakswithregret。He,theLouisFerdinand,hadfinequalities;butwentfara—roving,intoradicalism,intoromanticlove,intochampagne;andwascutdownonthethresholdofJena,desperatelyfighting,——perhapshappilyforhim。
  FromlittleFerdinand’sroomFriedrichWilhelmhashimselfrolledintoQueenSophie’s。"Feekin,OmyFeekin,thoumustrisethisday,andhelpmewhatthoucanst。ThisdayIamgoingtodie;
  thouwiltbewithmethisday!"ThegoodWiferises:Iknownotthatitwasthefirsttimeshehadbeensocalled;butitdidprovethelast。FriedrichWilhelmhasdecided,asthefirstthinghewilldo,toabdicate;andalltheOfficialpersonsandcompanionsofthesick—room,Pollnitzamongthem,notlongaftersunrise,arecalledtoseeitdone。Pollnitz,huddlingonhisclothes,arrivedaboutfive:inacorridorheseesthewheeled—
  chairandpoorsickKing;stepsasidetolethimpass:"’Itisover(DASISTVOLLBRACHT),’saidtheKing,lookinguptomeashepassed:hehadonhisnightcap,andabluemantlethrownroundhim。"Hewaswheeledintohisanteroom;thereletthecompanyassemble;manyofthemarealreadythere。
  Theroyalstablesarevisiblefromthisroom:FriedrichWilhelmordersthehorsestoberiddenout:youoldFurstofAnhalt—Dessaumyoldestfriend,youColonelHackefaithfulestofAdjutant—
  Generals,takeeachofyouahorse,thebestyoucanpickout:
  itismylastgifttoyou。Dessau,insilence,withdumb—showofthanks,pointstoahorse,anyhorse:"Youhavechosentheveryworst,"saidFriedrichWilhelm:"Takethatother,Iwillwarranthimagoodone!"ThegrimoldDessauerthanksinsilence;
  speechlessgriefisonthatsterngunpowderface,andheseemseventobestrugglingwithtears。"Nay,nay,myfriend,"FriedrichWilhelmsaid,"thisisadebtwehavealltopay。"
  TheOfficialpeople,Queen,Friedrich,MinisterBoden,MinisterPodewils,andevenPollnitz,beingnowallpresent,FriedrichWilhelmmakeshisDeclaration,atconsiderablelength;oldGeneralBredowrepeatingitaloud,[Pollnitz,ii。561。]sentencebysentence,theKing’sownvoicebeingtooweak;sothatallmayhear:"Thatheabdicates,givesupwholly,infavorofhisgoodSonFriedrich;thatforeignAmbassadorsaretobeinformed;
  thatyouarealltobetrueandloyaltomySonasyouweretome"——andwhatelseisneedful。TowhichthejudiciousPodewilsmakesanswer,"ThattheremustfirstbeawrittenDeedofhishighTransactionexecuted,whichshallbestraightwaysetabout;
  theDeedonceexecuted,signedandsealed,——thehighRoyalwill,inallpoints,takeseffect。"Alas,beforePodewilshasdonespeaking,theKingislikefallingintoafaint;doesfaint,andiscarriedtobed:toounlikelyanyDeedofAbdicationwillbeneeded。
  Upsanddownstherestillwere;sorefluctuatinglabor,asthepoorKingstrugglestohisfinalrest,thismorning。Hewasatthewindowagain,whentheWACHT—PARADE(GrenadiersonGuard)turnedout;hesawthemmaketheirevolutionsforthelasttime。[Pauli,viii。280。]Afterwhich,newrelapse,newfluctuation。Itwasabouteleveno’clock,whenCochiuswasagainsentfor。TheKinglayspeechless,seeminglystillconscious,inbed;Cochiusprayswithfervor,inaloudtone,thatthedyingKingmayhearandjoin。"Notsoloud!"saystheKing,rallyingalittle。Hehadrememberedthatitwastheseasonwhenhisservantsgottheirnewliveries;theyhadbeenorderedtoappearthisdayinfullnewcostume:"Ovanity!Ovanity!"saidFriedrichWilhelm,atsightoftheornamentedplush。"Prayforme,prayforme;mytrustisintheSaviour!"heoftensaid。Hispains,hisweaknessaregreat;
  thecordageofamosttoughheartrendingitselfpiecebypiece。
  Atonetime,hecalledforamirror:thatiscertain:——ruggedwildman,sonofNaturetothelast。Themirrorwasbrought;whathesaidatsightofhisfaceisvariouslyreported:"NotsowornoutasIthought,"isPollnitz’saccount,andthelikeliest;——thoughperhapshesaidseveralthings,"uglyface,""asgoodasdeadalready;"andcontinuedtheinspectionforsomemoments。
  [Pollnitz,ii。564;Wilhelmina,ii。321。]Agrim,strangething。
  "Feelmvpulse,Pitsch,"saidhe,noticingtheSurgeonofhisGiants:"tellmehowlongthiswilllast。"——"Alas,notlong,"
  answeredPitsch。——"Saynot,alas;buthowdoyou(He)know?"——
  "Thepulseisgone!"——"Impossible,"saidhe,liftinghisarm:
  "howcouldImovemyfingersso,ifthepulseweregone?"
  Pitschlookedmournfullysteadfast。"HerrJesu,totheeIlive;
  HerrJesu,totheeIdie;inlifeandindeaththouartmygain(DUBISTMEINGEWINN)。"ThesewerethelastwordsFriedrichWilhelmspokeinthisworld。Heagainfellintoafaint。
  EllergaveasignaltotheCrown—PrincetotaketheQueenaway。
  Scarcelyweretheyoutoftheroom,whenthefainthaddeepenedintodeath;andFriedrichWilhelm,atrestfromallhislabors,sleptwiththeprimevalsonsofThor。
  NoBaresarkofthem,norOdin’sself,Ithink,wasabitoftruerhumanstuff;——Iconfesshisvaluetome,inthesesadtimes,israreandgreat。ConsideringtheusualHistrionic,Papin’s—
  Digester,Truculent—Charlatanandotherspeciesof"Kings,"aloneattainableforthesunkflunkypopulationsofanEragivenuptoMammonandtheworshipofitsownbelly,whatwouldnotsuchapopulationgiveforaFriedrichWilhelm,toguideitontheroadBACKfromOrcusalittle?"Wouldgive,"Ihavewritten;butalas,itoughttohavebeen"SHOULDgive。"WhatTHEY"would"giveistoomournfullyplaintome,inspiteofballot—boxes:asteadyandtremendoustruthfromthedaysofBarabbasdownwardsandupwards!
  ——Tuesday,31stMay,1740,betweenoneandtwoo’clockintheafternoon,FriedrichWilhelmdied;agefifty—two,coming15thAugustnext。Sameday,FriedrichhisSonwasproclaimedatBerlin;
  quiltedheralds,withsoundoftrumpetandthelike,doingwhatiscustomaryonsuchoccasions。
  OnSaturday,4thJune,theKing’sbodyislaidoutinstate;
  allPotsdamatlibertytocomeandsee。Heliesthere,inhisregimentals,inhisoakencoffin,onaraisedplaceinthemiddleoftheroom;decentmortuarydraperies,lamps,garlands,banderolsfurnishingtheroomandhim:athisfeet,onablack—velvetTABOURET(stool),arethechivalryemblems,helmet,gauntlets,spurs;andonsimilarstools,attherighthandandtheleft,liehismilitaryinsignia,hatandsash,sword,guidon,andwhatelseisfit。Around,insilence,sitnineveteranmilitarydignitaries;
  Buddenbrock,Waldau,Derschau,Einsiedel,andfiveotherswhomweomittoname。Silenttheysit。Agrimearnestsightintheshineofthelamplight,asyoupassoutoftheJunesun。Manywent,allday;lookedonceagainonthefacethatwastovanish。
  Preciselyattenatnight,thecoffin—lidisscreweddown:
  twelvePotsdamCaptainstakethecoffinontheirshoulders;
  four—and—twentyCorporalswithwaxtorches,four—and—twentySergeantswithinvertedhalbertslowered;certainGeneralsonorder,andverymanyfollowingasvolunteers;theseperformtheactualburial,——carrythebodytotheGarrisonChurch,whereareclergywaiting,whichisbutasmallstepoff;seeitlodged,oakcoffinandall,inamarblecoffininthesidevaultthere,whichisknowntoTourists。[Pauli,viii。281。]Itistheendoftheweek,andtheactualburialisdone,——hastenedforwardforreasonswecanguess。
  FilialpietybynomeansintendstodefraudalovedFatheroftheSpartanceremonialcontemplatedasobsequiesbyhim:veryfarfromit。Filialpietywillconformtothatwithrigor;onlyaddingwhatmusicalandothersplendorsarepossible,totestifyhislovestillmore。Andso,almostthreeweekshence,onthe23dofthemonth,withtheaidofDresdenArtists,ofLatinCantatasandotherpomps(notinexcusable,thoughsomewhatoutofkeeping),thedueFuneralisdone,noCorpsebutaWaxEffigypresentinit;——
  andinallpoints,thatofthePotsdamGrenadiersnotforgotten,therewasrigorousconformitytotheInstructionleft。Inallpoints,eventotheextensivefuneraldinner,anddrinkingoftheappointedcaskofwine,"thebestcaskinmycellar。"Adieu,OKing。
  ThePotsdamGrenadiersfiredtheirthreevolleys(not"PLACKERING,"asIhavereasontobelieve,butwell);gottheirallowance,dinner—liquor,andappointedcoinofmoney:itwasthelastservicerequiredoftheminthisworld。Thatsamenighttheyweredissolved,thewholeFourThousandofthem,atastroke;
  andceasedtoexistasPotsdamGrenadiers。Colonels,Captains,alltheOfficersknowntobeofmerit,wereadvanced,atleasttransferred。Ofthecommonmen,aminority,ofnotinhumanheightandofworthotherwise,wereformedintoanewRegimentonthecommonterms:thestupidsplay—footedeight—feetmasswereallowedtostalkoffwhithertheypleased,orvegetateonfrugalpensions;
  IrishKirkman,andafewothersneitherknock—kneednorwithouthead,wereappointedHEYDUCS,thatis,porterstotheKing’sorotherPalaces;anddidthatdutyinwhatwasconsideredanornamentalmanner。
  Herearestilltwothingscapableofbeingfishedupfromtheseaofnugatorymatter;andmeditatedonbyreaders,tillthefollowingBooksopen。
  ThelastbreathofFriedrichWilhelmhavingfled,Friedrichhurriedtoaprivateroom;satthereallintears;lookingbackthroughthegulfsofthePast,uponsuchaFathernowraptawayforever。Sadall,andsoftinthemoonlightofmemory,——thelostLovedOneallintherightaswenowsee,weallinthewrong!——
  this,itappears,wastheSon’sfixedopinion。Sevenyearshence,hereishowFriedrichconcludestheHISTORYofhisFather,writtenwithaloyaladmirationthroughout:"WehaveleftundersilencethedomesticchagrinsofthisgreatPrince:readersmusthavesomeindulgenceforthefaultsoftheChildren,inconsiderationofthevirtuesofsuchaFather。"[OEuvres,i。174
  (MemoiresdeBrandebourg:finishedabout1747)。]Allintearshesitsatpresent,meditatingthesesadthings。
  InalittlewhiletheOldDessauer,abouttoleaveforDessau,venturesintotheCrown—Prince,Crown—Princenolonger;
  "embraceshisknees;"offers,weeping,hiscondolence,hiscongratulation;——hopeswithalthathissonsandhewillbecontinuedintheiroldposts,andthathe,theOldDessauer,"willhavethesameauthorityasinthelatereign。"Friedrich’seyes,atthislastclause,flashouttearless,strangelyOlympian。
  "InyourpostsIhavenothoughtofmakingchange:inyourposts,yes;——andastoauthority,IknowofnonetherecanbebutwhatresidesintheKingthatissovereign!"Which,asitwere,struckthebreathoutoftheOldDessauer;andsenthimhomewithapainfulmiscellanyoffeelings,astonishmentnotwantingamongthem。
  Atanafterhour,thesamenight,FriedrichwenttoBerlin;metbyacclamationenough。Hesleptthere,notwithouttumultofdreams,onemayfancy;andonawakeningnextmorning,thefirstsoundheheardwasthatoftheRegimentGlasenapunderhiswindows,swearingfealtytothenewKing。Hesprangoutofbedinatempestofemotion;bustleddistractedlytoandfro,wildlyweeping。
  Pollnitz,whocameintotheanteroom,foundhiminthisstate,"half—dressed,withdishevelledhair,intears,andasifbesidehimself。""ThesehuzzaingsonlytellmewhatIhavelost!"saidthenewKing。——"HEwasingreatsuffering,"suggestedPollnitz;
  "heisnowatrest。""True,hesuffered;buthewasherewithus:
  andnow——!"[Ranke(ii。46,47),fromcertainFragments,still,inmanuscript,ofPollnits’sMemoiren。
  ENDOFBOOKX
  HistoryofFriedrichIIofPrussiaV11
  byThomasCarlyleBOOKXI。