首页 >出版文学> History of Friedrich II of Prussia>第39章
  Readersareimpatienttohavedonewiththesemiscellaneouspreludings,andtobeoncedefinitelyunderway,suchaJourneylyingahead。Yes,readers;aJourneyindeed!And,atthispoint,permitmetowarnyouthat,wheretheground,whereDryasdustandtheDestinies,yieldanythinghumanlyillustrativeofFriedrichandhisWork,onewillhavetolinger,andcarefullygatherit,evenashere。Largetractsoccur,bestrewnwithmerepedantisms,diplomaticcobwebberies,learnedmarine—stores,andinhumanmatter,overwhichweshallhavetoskipempty—handed:thisalsowasamongthesadconditionsofourEnterprise,thatithastogonowtooslowandagaintoofast;notinproportiontonaturalimportanceofobjects,buttoseveralinferiorconsiderationswithal。SobusyhasperverseDestinybeenonit;perverseDestiny,edaciousChance;——andtheDryasdusts,too,andNightmares,inPrussiaaselsewhere,weknowhowstrongtheyare!
  Friedrich’scharacterinoldagehasdoubtlessitscuriousaffinities,itsdisguisedidentities,withtheseprognosticfeaturesandindicationsofhisyouth:andtoourreaders,——ifwedoevergetthemtothegoal,ofseeingFriedrichalittlewiththeirowneyesandjudgments,——theremaybepleasantcontrastsandcomparisonsofthatkindinstore,oneday。Butthefarcommonerexperience(whichalsohasbeenmyown),——hereisSmelfungus’ssternaccountofthat:——
  "Myfriend,youwillbeluckierthanI,if,aftertenyears,nottosay,inasense,twentyyears,thirtyyears,ofreadingandrummaginginthosesadPrussianBooks,ancientandnew(whichoftenarelaudablyauthentic,too,andexactastodetails),youcangatheranycharacterwhateverofFriedrich,inanyperiodofhislife,orconceivehimasaHumanEntityatall!Itisstrange,aftersuchthousand—foldwriting,butitistrue,hisHistoryisconsiderablyunintelligibletomankindatthishour;leftchaotic,enigmatic,inagoodmanypoints,——themilitarypartofitalonebeingbroughttoclearness,andrenderedfairlyconceivableandcredibletothosewhowillstudy。AndastotheManhimself,orwhathisrealPhysiognomycanhavebeen——!Well,itmustbeownedfewmenwereofsuchRAPIDITYoffaceandaspect;sodifficulttoseizethefeaturesof。Inhisaction,too,therewassuchrapidity,suchsecrecy,suddenness:amanthatcouldnotberead,evenbythecandid,exceptasinflashesoflightning。Andthentheangerofby—standers,uncandid,whogothurtbyhim;thehastymalevolences,thestupidities,theopacities:enough,inmoderntimes,whatissayingmuch,perhapsnoman’smotives,intentions,andprocedurehavebeenmorebelied,misunderstood,misrepresented,duringhislife。Nor,Ithink,sincethat,havemanymenfaredworse,bytheLimnerorBiographicclass,thefavorabletohimandtheunfavorable;orbeensosmearedofandblotchedof,andreducedtoamerebluranddazzlementofcross—
  lights,incoherences,incredibilities,inwhichnothing,notsomuchasahumannose,isclearlydiscerniblebywayoffeature!"——
  Courage,reader,nevertheless;ontheabovetermsletusmarchaccordingtopromise。
  ChapterII。
  THEHOMAGINGS。
  YoungFriedrich,ashisFatherhaddone,considersitunnecessarytobecrowned。OldFriedrich,firstofthename,andoftheKingseries,wedidseecrowned,withapinchofsnufftemperingthesolemnities。ThatCoronationoncewelldonesufficesallhisdescendantshitherto。Suchanexpenseofmoney,——ofdilutedmendacitytoo!Suchharanguing,gesturing,symbolicfugling,allgrownhalffalse:——avoidlying,evenwithyoureyes,orknees,orthecoatuponyourback,sofarasyoueasilycan!
  NothingofCoronation:butitisthoughtneedfultohavetheHULDIGUNGEN(Homagings)done,theFealtiessworn;andtheyoungMajestyinduecoursegoesabout,orgivesdirections,nowherenowthere,inhisvariousProvinces,gettingthataccomplished。
  Buteveninthat,Friedrichisbynomeansstrait—lacedorpunctilious;doesitcommonlybyDeputy:onlyinthreeplaces,Konigsberg,Berlin,Cleve,doesheappearinperson。Mainlybydeputy;andalwayswiththeminimumoffuss,andnoharanguingthatcouldbeavoided。NowherearetheoldSTANDE(ProvincialParliaments)assembled,noworafterwards:sufficientforthisandforeveryoccasionarethe"PermanentCommitteesoftheSTANDE;"
  norismuchspeaking,unessentialfordespatchofbusiness,usedtothese。
  "STANDE——ofRitterschaftmainly,ofGentrysmallandgreat——
  existedonceinallthoseCountries,aselsewhere,"saysoneHistorian;"andsomeofthem,inPreussen,forexample,usedtoberatherloud,andinclinedtoturbulence,tillthecurb,fromajudiciousbridle—hand,wouldadmonishthem。But,foralongwhilepast,——especiallysincetheGreatElector’stime,whogotan’ExciseLaw’passed,orthefoundationsofagoodExciseLawlaid;
  [Preuss,iv。432;andThronbesteigung,
  pp。379—383。]and,whatwithExcise,whatwithDomain—Farms,hadafixedAnnualBudget,whichhereckonedfairtobothparties,——theyhavebeendyingoutforwantofwork;and,underFriedrichWilhelm,maybesaidtohavegonequitedead。Whatworkwasleftforthem?PrussianBudgetisfixed,manythingsarefixed:
  whytalkofthemfarther?ThePrussianKing,nothingofafoollikecertainothers,"——whichindeedisthecardinalpoint,thoughmyAuthordoesnotsayso,——"isrespectfullyawareofthefactsroundhim;andcanlistentotherumorstoo,sofarashefindsgood。TheKingseeshimselfterriblyinterestedtogetintotherightcourseinallthings,andavoidthewrongone!Probablyhedoes,inhisway,seek’wiseAdviceconcerningthearduousmattersoftheKingdom;’nayIbelieveheisdiligenttohaveitofthewisest:——whoknowsifSTANDEwouldalwaysgiveitwiser;
  especiallySTANDEintheharanguingcondition?"——Enough,theyarenotappliedto。ThereisnoFreedominthatCountry。"NoFreedomtospeakof,"continueshe:"butIdoalittleenvythemtheirFixedBudget,andsomeotherthings。WhatpleasuretherecanbeinhavingyourhouseholdarrangementstumbledintodisordereverynewYear,byanew—contrivedscaleofexpensesforyou,Inevercouldascertain!"——
  FriedrichisnotthemantoawakenParliamentarysleeping—dogswellsettledbyhisAncestors。Onceortwice,outofPreussen,inFriedrichWilhelm’stime,therewasheardsomewhimper,whichsoundedlikethebeginningofabark。ButFriedrichWilhelmwasonthealertforit:AreyoucominginwithyourNIEPOZWALAM(yourLIBERUMVETO),then?NoneofyourPolishvagarieshere。"TOUTLE
  PAYSSERARUINE(thewholeCountrywillberuined),"sayyou?
  (SuchhadbeenthepoorMarshalorProvincialSPEAKER’S
  Remonstranceononeoccasion):"Idon’tbelieveawordofthat。
  ButIdobelievetheGovernmentbyJUNKERS[CountrySquires]andNIEPOZWALAMwillberuined,"——asitisfullymeanttobe!"IamestablishingtheKing’sSovereigntylikearockofbronze(ICH
  STABILIREDIESOUVERAINETATWIEEINENROCHERVONBRONZE),"someextremelystrongkindofrock![Forster,b。iii。
  (Urkundenbuch,i。50);Preuss,iv。420n。
  "NIEPOZWALAM"(theformulaofLIBERUMVETO)signifies"IDon’tPermit!"]ThiswasoneofFriedrichWilhelm’smarginaliainresponsetosuchathing;andthemutinouswhimperdiedoutagain。
  ParliamentaryAssemblagesaresometimesCollectiveWisdoms,butbynomeansalwaysso。InMagdeburgwerememberwhattroubleFriedrichWilhelmhadwithhisunreasonableRitters。
  Rittersthere,intheirassembledcapacity,hadtheReichbehindthem,andcouldnotbedealtwithlikePreussen:butFriedrichWilhelm,bywiseslowmethods,managedMagdeburgtoo,andreducedittosilence,ortowordsnecessaryfordespatchofbusiness。
  IneachProvince,aPermanentCommittee——chosen,Isuppose,byKingandKnightsassenting;chosenIknownothow,butadmittedtobewiselychosen——representstheonceParliamentorSTANDE;andhasitspotencyfordoinggoodserviceinregardtoallProvincialmatters,fromroadsandbridgesupwards,andisimpotenttodotheleastharm。Roadsandbridges,Churchmatters,repartitionoftheLand—dues,Armymatters,——infacttheyareaneffectivenon—
  haranguingParliament,totheKing’sDeputyineverysuchProvince;wellcalculatedtoilluminateandforwardhissubalternAMTmenandhim。Nay,weobserveitisoftenestinthewayofgiftsandsolacementsthattheKingarticulatelycommunicateswiththeseCommitteesortheirRitterschafts。ProjectsforDrainingofBogs,forimprovedHighways,forbetterHusbandry;loansgrantedthem,Loan—BanksestablishedfortheProvince’sbehoof:——noneedofparliamentaryeloquenceonsuchoccasions,butofsomethingfardifferent。
  Itisfromthisquiescent,orbusybutnoiselesskindofSTANDE
  andPopulationsthatFriedrichhashisHULDIGUNGtotake;——andtheoperation,whetherdonepersonallyorbydeputy,mustbeanabundantlysimpleone。He,forhispart,isfortunateenoughtofindeverywheretheSovereigntyESTABLISHED;"rockofbronze"nottheleastshakeninhistime。Hewillgraciouslyundertake,byWrittenAct,whichisreadbeforetheSTANDE,KingorKing’sDeputywitnessingthere,"Tomaintaintheprivileges"ofhisSTANDEandPopulations;theSTANDEanswer,onoath,withliftedhand,andexpressinvocationofHeaven,Thattheywillobeyhimastruesubjects;Andso——doubtlesswithsomethingofdiningsuperadded,butnowhisperofitputonrecord——theHULDIGUNGwilleverywhereveryquietlytransactitself。
  TheHULDIGUNGitselfisnothingtous,evenwithFriedrichthere,——asatKonigsberg,Berlin,Cleve,thethreeexceptionalplaces。
  Towhich,nevertheless,letusbrieflyattendhim,forthesakeofhereandtheresomedirectglimpsewemaygetofthethenFriedrich’sactualphysiognomyandways。Otherdirectview,orthechanceofsuch,isnotconcededusoutofthosesadPrussianBooks;whichareveryfullonthisoftheHULDIGUNG,ifsilentonsomanyotherpoints。[Preuss,Thronbesteigung,p。382。]
  FRIEDRICHACCEPTSTHEHOMAGES,PERSONALLY,INTHREEPLACES。
  ToKonigsbergishisfirstexcursiononthiserrand。Preussenhasperhaps,ormaybesuspectedofhaving,someremnantsofsourhumorsleftinit,andremembrancesofSTANDEwithharanguingsandevenmutinies:thereifanywheretheKinginpersonmaydogoodonsuchanoccasion,HeleftBerlin,July7th,boundthitherward;
  hereisNoteofthatfirstRoyalTour,——specimenofseveralhundredssuch,whichhehadtodointhecourseofthenextforty—fiveyears。
  "FriendAlgarotti,charmingtalker,attendedhim;whoelse,officialandnon—official,asknot。TheJourneyistobecircuitous;tocombinevariousbusinesses,andalsotohaveitsamusements。TheywentbyCustrin;glancingatoldknownCountry,whichisatitsgreenestinthisseason。ByCustrin,acrosstheNeumark,intoPommern;afterthatbyanintricatewindingroute;
  reviewingregiments,inspectinggarrisons,nowherenowthere;
  doingallmannerofinspections;talkingIknownotwhat;oftenestlodgingwithfavoredGenerals,ifitsuited。DistancetoKonigsberg,bythedirectroad,isabout500miles;bythiswindingone,itmusthavebeen800:Journeythithertookninedaysinall。ObliquelythroughPommern,almosttothecoastoftheBaltic;theirultimatumthereaplacecalledCoslin,wheretheyreviewedwithstrictness,——omittingColberg,asmallSea—Fortressnotfarrearward,timebeingshort。ThenceintoWest—Preussen,intoPolishTerritory,andswiftlyacrossthat;keepingDantziganditsnoiseswideenoughtotheleft:onenightinPoland;
  andthenexttheyareinOst—Preussen,placecalledLiebstadt,——
  againonhome—ground,anddiligentlyreviewingthere。
  "ThereviewatLiebstadtisremarkableinthis,Thattheregiments,oneregimentespecially,notbeingwhatwasfit,acertainGrenadier—Captaingotcashieredonthespot;andtheoldCommandanthimselfwassoonafterpensioned,andmoregentlysenthisways。SostrictishisMajesty。Contrariwise,hefoundLieutenant—GeneralvonKatte’sGarrison,atAngerburg,nextday,inaveryhighperfection;andColonelPosadowsky’sregimentspeciallyso;withwhichlattergentlemanhelodgedthatnight,andmadehimfartherhappybytheORDEROFMERIT:ColonelPosadowsky,GarrisonofAngerburg,faroffinEast—Preussen,ChevalieroftheOrderofMerithenceforth,ifweevermeethimagain。TothegoodoldLieutenant—GeneralvonKatte,whonodoubtdinedwiththem,hisMajestyhanded,onthesameoccasion,aPatentofFeldmarschall;——intendssoontomakehimGraf;anddidit,asreadersknow。BothColonelandGeneralattendedhimthenceforth,stillbyacircuitousroute,toKonigsberg,toassistinthesolemnitiesthere。ByGumbinnen,byTrakehnen,——theStudofTrakehnen:thatalsohisMajestysaw,andmadereviewof;
  notwithoutemotion,wecanfancy,asthesleekcoltsweretrottedoutonthosenewterms!AtTrakehnen,KatteandtheColonelwouldbehisMajesty’sguests,forthenighttheystayed。Thisistheirextremepointeastward;Konigsbergnowliesagoodwaywestofthem。ButatTrakehnentheyturn;and,Saturday,16thJuly,1740,afteranotherhundredmilesorso,alongthepleasantvalleyofthePregel,gettoKonigsberg:readytobeginbusinessonMondaymorning,——onSundayifnecessary。"[FromPreuss,
  Thronbesteigung,pp。382,385;Rodenbeck,p。16;&c。]
  OnSundaytheredidakindofmemorabilityoccur:TheHULDIGUNGS—
  PREDIGT(HomageSermon)——byareverendHerrQuandt,chiefPreacherthere。Whichwouldnotbeworthmentioning,exceptforthiscircumstance,thathisMajestyexceedinglyadmiredQuandt,andthoughthimamostDemosthenicgenius,andthebestofalltheGermans。Quandt’stextwasinthesewords:"Thinearewe,David,andonthyside,thouSonofJesse;Peace,peacebeuntothee,andpeacebetothinehelpers;forthyGodhelpeththee。"
  [FirstChronicles,xii。18。]
  Quandtbegan,inasonorousvoice,raisinghisfacewithrespectfulenthusiasmtotheKing,"Thinearewe,OFriedrich,andonthyside,thouSonofFriedrichWilhelm;"andsowenton:
  sermonbrief,sonorous,compact,andstickingclosetoitstext。
  Friedrichstoodimmovable,gazingontheeloquentDemosthenicQuandt,withadmirationheightenedbysurprise;——wroteofQuandttoVoltaire;and,withsustainedenthusiasm,tothePubliclongafterwards;andtotheendofhisdayswaswonttomakeQuandtanexception,ifperhapsalmosttheonlyone,fromGermanbarbarism,anddisharmonyofmindandtongue。SothatpoorQuandtcannoteversincegetentirelyforgotten,butneedsalwaystoberakedupagain,forthisreasonwhenothershaveceased:analmostmelancholyadventureforpoorQuandtandAnother!——
  TheHULDIGUNGwasrathergrand;HarangueandCounter—haranguepermittedtotheduelength,andproperfestivitiesfollowing:
  buttheSTANDEcouldnotmanagetogetintovocalcovenantingordeliberatingatall;FriedrichbeforeleavingBerlinhadansweredtheirhintorrequestthatway,inthesewords:"WearelikewisegraciouslyinclinedtogivetothesaidSTANDE,beforetheirHomaging,thesameassurancewhichtheygotfromourHerrFather’sMajesty,whoisnowwithGod,"——generalassurancethattheir,andeverybody’s,"Rightsshallbemaintained[asweseetheyare],——
  withwhich,itishoped(HOFFENTLICH),theywillbecontent,andgettopeaceuponthismatter(SICHDABEIBERUHIGENWERDEN)。"
  [Preuss,Thronbesteigung,p。380。]Itwillbebestforthem!
  Friedrichgaveawaymuchcornhere;thatis,openedhisCorn—
  Granaries,oncharitableterms,andtookallmannerofmeasures,hereasinotherplaces,forreliefofthescarcitytherewas。
  Oftheilluminations,neversogrand,thereadershallhearnothing。A"Torch—ProcessionoftheStudents"turnedoutaprettything:——Studentsmarchingwithtorches,withfinewind—music,regulatedenthusiasm,finesuccinctaddresstohisMajesty;
  andalltheworldescorting,withits"LiveForever!"FriedrichgavetheStudents"aTRINK—GELAG(BanquetofLiquors),"howarrangedIdonotknow:andtotheSpeakeroftheAddress,alikelyyounggentlemanwithVONtohisname,heofferedanEnsigncyofFoot("inCamas’sFusileerRegiment,"——CamasnowgonetoParis,embassying),whichwasjoyfullyaccepted。
  Joyfullyaccepted;——anditturnedoutwellforallparties;
  theyounggentlemanhavingrisen,wheremeritwastheruleofrising,andbecomeGrafandLieutenant—General,inthecourseofthenextfiftyyears。[Preuss,Thronbesteigung,p。387。]
  HuldigungandTorch—Processionover,theRoyalPartydashedrapidlyoff,nextmorning(21stJuly),homewardsbytheshortestroute;and,inthreedaysmore,byFrankfurt—on—Oder(whereaglimpseofGeneralSchwerin,afavoriteGeneral,wastobehad),weresafeinBerlin;receivedwithacclamation,naywith"blessingsandeventears"somesay,afterthispleasantFortnight’sTour。GeneralSchwerin,itisrumored,willbemadeFeldmarschallstraightway,theMunchowsaregettingsopromotedaswesaid;edictsarecomingout,muchbusinessspeedingforward,andthetonguesofmenkeepwagging。
  BerlinHULDIGUNG——andindeed,byDeputy,thatofnearlyalltheotherTowns——wasonTuesday,August2d。AtBerlinhisMajestywaspresentinthematter:but,exceptthegazingmultitudes,andhussarregiments,rankedintheSchloss—Platzandstreetsadjoining,therewaslittleofnotableinit;theupholsteryarrangementsthriftyintheextreme。HisMajestyispronetothriftinthisoftheHuldigung,aswouldappear;perhapsregardingtheaffairasscenicmerely。Here,besidesthisofBerlin,isanotherinstancejustoccurring。Itappears,theQuedlinburgpeople,shutoutfromthelightoftheactualRoyalCountenance,cannotdotheirHomagingbyDeputy,withoutatleastaPortraitoftheKingandoftheQueen:Howmanage?askstheOfficialPerson。"HaveaCoupleofDaubsdoneinBerlin,threeguineasapiece;sendthemthese,"answerstheKing!["OndoitfairebarbouillerdemauvaisescopiesaBerlin,lapiecea20
  ecus。{enditalic>——FR。"Preuss,ii。(Urkundenbuch,s。222)。]
  HereintheBerlinSchloss,scenetheLargeHallwithindoors,thereisa"platformraisedthreesteps;andonthis,bywayofakindofthrone,anarm—chaircoveredwitholdblackvelvet;"thewholesurmountedbyacanopyalsoofoldblackvelvet:notasublimepieceofupholstery;butreckonedadequate。
  Friedrichmountedthethreesteps;stoodbeforetheoldchair,hisPrincesstandingpromiscuouslybehindit;hisRittersinquantity,infrontandtorightandleft,onthefloor。SomeMinisteroftheInteriorexplainssuitably,notattoogreatlength,whattheyaremetfor;somejuniorOfficial,juniorbutofquality,respondedbriefly,forhimselfandhisorder,totheeffect,"Yea,truly:"
  theHULDIGUNGENS—URKUNDE(DeedofHomage)wasthenreadbytheproperClerk,andtheRittersallswore;audibly,withliftedhands。ThisistheRitterHuldigung。
  HisMajestythenstepsouttotheBalcony,forOathandHomageofthegeneralPopulation。Generalpopulationgaveitsoath,and"threegreatshoutsoverandabove。""ESLEBEDERKONIG!"thrice,withalltheirthroats。UponwhichashowerofMedals,"Homage—
  Medals,"goldandsilver(quantitynotmentioned)raineddownuponthem,induesuccession;andwerescrambledfor,intheusualway。
  "HisMajesty,"theywrite,andthisisperhapstheonepointworthnotice,"hisMajesty,contrarytocustomandtoetiquette,remainedontheBalcony,sometimeaftertheceremony,perhapsafullhalf—hour;"——silentthere,"withhislookfixedattentivelyontheimmeasurablemultitudebeforetheSchloss;andseemedsunkindeepreflection(BETRACHTUNG):"——analmostawfullyeloquentthoughinarticulatephenomenontohisMajesty,thatofthosemultitudesscramblingandhuzzaingthere![Preuss,
  Thronbesteigung,p。389。]
  These,withtheCleveone,arealltheHornagingsFriedrichwaspersonallypresentat;theothershedidbyDeputy,allinoneday(2dAugust);andwithoutfuss。Scenicmattersthese;inwhich,exceptwherehecan,asintheKonigsbergcase,combineinspectionsandgravebusinesseswiththem,hetakesnointerest。
  However,heisnow,forthesakechieflyofinspectionsandotherrealobjects,bentonaJourneytoCleve;——thefellowofthattoKonigsberg:Konigsberg,Preussen,theeasternmostoutlyingwingofhislongstragglingDominions;andthenCleve—Julich,itscounterpartonthesouthwesternside,——therealso,withsuchcontingencieshangingoverCleve—Julich,itwerepropertomakesomemusteringoftheFrontiergarrisonsandaffairs。[InregardtotheDayofHULDIGUNGatCleve,whichhappilyisnotoftheleastmomenttous,Preuss(Thronbesteigung,
  p,390)andHelden—Geschichte,(i。423)seemtobeinflatcontradiction。]HisMajestysopurposes:andwepurposeagaintoaccompany,——notforinspectionandmustering,butforanunexpectedreason。ThegraveJourneytoClevehasanappendage,orcomicside—piece,hangingtoit;morethanoneappendage;whichthereadermustnotmiss!——Beforesettingout,readthesetwoFractions,snatchedfromtheDiplomatistWastebag;
  lookingwell,wegaintheresomemomentaryviewofFriedrichonthebusinessside。OfFriedrich,andalsoofAnother:——
  Sunday,14thAugust,1740,Dickens,whohasbeenreportinghithertoinafavorable,thoughinalanguidexotericmanner,notbeinginanyheightoffavor,Englandorhe,——hadexpressAudienceofhisMajesty;beingsummonedouttoPotsdamforthatend:
  "Sundayevening,about7P。M。"——MajestyintendingtobeoffontheCleveJourneyto—morrow。LetusaccompanyDickens。Readersmayremember,GeorgeII。hasbeenatHanoverforsomeweekspast;
  Bielfelddiligentlygrinningeuphemismsandcourtlygraciositiestohim;Truchsesshinting,onopportunity,thatthereareperhapsweightybusinessesintherear;which,however,ontheBritannicside,seemloathtostart。BritannicMajestyismuchatalossabouthisSpanishWar,sodangerousforkindlingFranceandthewholeworlduponhim。InregardtowhichPrussiamightbesoimportant,fororagainst。——This,incompressedform,iswhatDickenswitnessesatPotsdamthatSundayeveningfrom7P。M。:——
  "Audiencelastedaboveanhour:Kingturneddirectlyuponbusiness;wishestohave’CategoricalAnswers’astoThreePointsalreadysubmittedtohisBritannicMajesty’sconsideration。
  Clearfootingindispensablebetweenus。Whatyouwantofme?sayit,andbeplain。WhatIwantofyouis,Thesethreethings:——
  "1。GuaranteeforJulichandBerg。AlltheworldknowsWHOSE
  theseDuchiesare。WillhisBritannicMajestyguaranteemethere?
  Andifso,How,andtowhatlengths,willheproceedaboutit?
  "2。SettlementaboutOst—Friesland。ExpectancyofOst—Frieslandsoontofallheirless,whichwasgrantedmelongsince,thoughHanovermakeshagglings,counter—claimings:ImusthavesomeSettlementaboutthat。
  "3。ThelikeaboutthoseperplexitiesinMecklenburg。
  Nodifficultythereifwetryheartily,noristheresuchpressinghasteaboutit。
  "ThesearemythreeclaimsonEngland;andIwilltrytoserveEnglandasfarinreturn,ifitwilltellmehow。’Ah,bewareofthrowingyourselfintothearmsofFrance!’modestlysuggestsDickens。——’Well,ifFrancewillguaranteemethoseDuchies,andyouwillnotdoanything?’answershisMajestywithafinelaugh:
  ’EnglandIconsidermymostnaturalfriendandally;butImustknowwhatthereistodependonthere。Princesareruledbytheirinterest;cannotfollowtheirfeelings。Letmehaveanexplicitanswer;say,atWesel,whereIamtobeonthe24th,’"tendayshence。BritannicMajestyisatHanover,andcananswerwithinthattime。"Thishetwicetoldme,’Wesel,24th,’inthecourseofourinterview。PermitmetorecommendthemattertoyourLordship,"——
  myLordHarrington,nowattendingtheBritannicMajesty。
  "Duringthewholeaudience,"addsDickens,"theKingwasinextremegoodhumor;andnotonlyheardwithattentionalltheconsiderationsIoffered,butwasnottheleastoffendedatanyobjectionsImadetowhathesaid。Itisundoubtedlythebestwaytobehavewithfranknesstohim。"TheselastareDickens’sownwords;letthemmodestlybeamemorandumtoyourLordship。
  ThisKinggoeshimselfdirecttothepoint;andstraightforwardness,asaprimarycondition,willprofityourLordshipwithhim。[Dickens(inState—PaperOffice,17thAugust,1740)。]
  Mosttrueadvice,this;——andwouldperhapsbefollowed,wereitquiteeasy!Butthingsareverycomplicated。AndtheBritannicMajesty,muchplaguedwithSpanishWarandParliamentarynoisesinthatunquietIsland,isdoubtlessgladtogetawaytoHanoverforalittle;andwouldfainbeonholidayinthesefineruralmonths。
  Whichisnotwellpossibleeither。Jenkins’sEar,risingatlastlikeafieryportent,haskindledtheLondonFogoveryonder,inastrangeway,andthemurkystagnancyisallgettingonfire;
  theEnglishintent,asseldomanyNationwas,togivetheSpaniardsaneffectualbeating。Whichtheyhopetheycan,——thoughunexpecteddifficultieswilloccur。And,inthemeanwhile,whatariddleofpotentialitiesforhispoorMajestytoread,andpickhiswayfrom!——
  Bielfeld,inspiteofallthis,wouldfainbefullofadmirationfortheBritannicMajesty。Confessesheisbelowthemiddlesize,infactatinylittlecreature,butthenhisshapeisperfect;
  legmuchtobecommended,——whichhisMajestyknows,standingalwayswithonelegslightlyadvanced,andtheOrderoftheGarteronit,thatmankindmaytakenotice。HereisBielfeld’sdescriptionfaithfullyabridged:——
  "Bigblueeyes,perhapsratherofparboiledcharacter,thoughproudenough;eyesflushwithhisfaceormore,ratherINRELIEF
  thanonalevelwithit,"——AFLEURDETETE,afterthemannerofafish,ifonemightsayso,andbetokeningsuchanintellectbehindthem!"Attitudeconstrained,legadvancedinthatway;
  hiscourtierscallitmajestic。Biggishmouth,strictlyshutinthecrescentorhorse—shoeform(FERMEEENCROISSANT);curlywig(ANOEUDS,remindingyouoflamb’s—wool,colornotknown);
  eyebrows,however,youcanseeareashy—blond;generaltintisfundamentallylivid;butwheningoodcase,theroyalskinwilltaketolerablybrightcolors(PRENDD’ASSEZBELLESCOULEURS)。
  Astotheroyalmindandunderstanding,whatshallBielfeldsay?
  ThathisMajestysometimesmakesingeniousandjustremarks,andislaudablyseriousatalltimes,andcanmajesticallyholdhistongue,andstandwithadvancedleg,andeyesrathermorethanflush。Senseofhisdignityishigh,asitoughttobe;ongreatoccasionsyouseeprideandakindofjoymantlingintheroyalcountenance。Hasbeenknowntomakeexplosions,andtobeveryfurioustoPrinceFredandothers,whenprickedinto:——but,myfriend,whatmortalisexemptfromfailings?MajestyreadstheEnglishNewspaperseverymorninginbed,whichareoftenbiting。
  MajestyhashisWalmoden,aHanoverianImproperFemale,CountessofYarmouthsocalled;quiet,autumnal,faircomplexioned,stupid;
  whoismuchacomforttohim。Shekeepsoutofmischief,politicalorother;andgivesBielfeldagraciousnodnowandthen。"
  [Bielfeld,i。158。]Harringtonisheretoo;——andBritannicMajestyandhearebusygoverningtheEnglishNationontheseterms。——
  WereturnnowtothePrussianMajesty。
  AboutsixweeksafterthatofDickens,——CleveJourneyandmuchelsenowended,——PraetoriustheDanishEnvoy,whomweslightlyknewatReinsbergonce,givesthistestimony;writinghometoanExcellencyatCopenhagen,whosenameweneednotinquireinto:——
  "TogiveyourExcellencyajustideaofthenewGovernmenthere,ImustobservethathithertotheKingofPrussiadoesasitwereeverythinghimself;andthat,exceptingtheFinanceMinistervonBoden,whopreachesfrugality,andfindsforthatdoctrineuncommonacceptance,almostgreatereventhanintheformerreign,hisMajestyallowsnocounsellingfromanyMinister;sothatHerrvonPodewils,whoisnowtheworkinghandinthedepartmentofForeignAffairs,hasnothinggivenhimtodobuttoexpeditetheordershereceivesfromtheCabinet,hisadvicenotbeingaskeduponanymatter;andsoitiswiththeotherMinisters。
  PeoplethoughtthelossofHerrvonThulmeyer,"veteranForeignMinisterwhomwehavetransientlyheardofintheDouble—Marriagetime,andperhapshaveevenseenatLondonorelsewhere,[Died4thAugust(Rodenbeck,p。20)。]"wouldbeirreparable;soexpertwashe,andalivingarchiveinthatbusiness:however,hispostseemstohavevanishedwithhimself。HissalaryisdividedbetweenHerrvonPodewils,"whomthereaderwillsometimeshearofagain,"Kriegsrath(CouncillorofWar)vonIlgen,"sonoftheoldgentlemanweusedtoknow,"andHofrathSellentinwhoisRENDANT
  OFTHELEGATIONS—KASSE"(Ambassadors’Paymaster,wecouldguess,AmbassadorBodyhavingspecialtyofcashassignedit,comparablewiththespecialtyofvaluereceivedfromit,inthisstrictfrugalCountry),——neitherofwhichtwolatternamesshallthereaderbetroubledwithfarther。"Agoodmanyresolutions,andresponsesbytheKing,Ihaveseen:theycombinelaconicexpressionwithanadmirablebusinesseye(GESCHAFTSBLICK)。
  Unhappily,"——atleastforusintheDiplomaticline,foryourExcellencyandmeunhappily,——"thereisnobodyabouttheKingwhopossesseshiscompleteconfidence,orwhomwecanmakeuseofinregardtothenecessaryintroductionsandpreliminarymovements。
  Herebyitcomesthat,——ascertainthingscanonlybehandledwithcautiousforesightandcircumlocution,andinthewayofbeginningwide,——anAmbassadorhereismorethrownoutofhiscoursethaninanyotherCourt;andknowsnot,thoughhisobjectweresteadilyinsight,whatroadtostrikeintoforgettingtowardsit。"[Preuss,Thronbesteigung,p。377(2dOctober,1740)。]
  ChapterIII。
  FRIEDRICHMAKESANEXCURSION,NOTOFDIRECTSORT
  INTOTHECLEVECOUNTRIES。
  KingFriedrichdidnotquitekeephisdayatWesel;indeedthis24thwasnotthefirstday,butthelastofseveral,hehadappointedtohimselfforfinistothatJourneyintheCleveCountries;Journeyrathercomplextoarrange。Hehasseveralbusinessesaheadinthoseparts;and,asusual,willgroupthemwithgoodjudgment,andthriftoftime。Notinspectionsmerely,butamusements,meetingswithfriends,especiallyFrenchfriends:
  thequestionis,howtogroupthemwithskill,sothatthenecessaryelementsmayconvergeattherightmoment,andoneshotkillthreeorfourbirds。ThisisFriedrich’sfineway,perceptibleinalltheseJourneys。TheFrenchfriends,flyingeachonhisowntrack,withhisownloadofimpediments,VoltairewithhisMadameforinstance,areadifficultelementinsuchproblem;
  andtherehasbeen,andis,muchschemingandcorrespondingaboutit,withinthelastmonthespecially。
  VoltaireisnowatBrussels,withhisDuChatelet,prosecutingthatendless"lawsuitwiththeHouseofHonsbruck,"——whichhe,andwe,arebothdesiroustohavedonewith。HeisattheHague,too,nowandthen;printing,abouttoprint,theANTI—MACHIAVEL;
  corresponding,torightandleft,quarrellingwithVanDurenthePrinter;lives,whilethere,intheVIEILLECOUR,inthevastduskyroomswithfadedgilding,andgrandoldBookshelves"withthebiggestspider—websinEurope。"BrusselsishisplaceforLaw—
  Consultations,generalfamilyresidence;theHagueandthatoldspider—webPalaceforcorrectingProof—sheets;doingone’sownprivatestudies,whichweneverquiteneglect。FainwouldFriedrichseehim,fainheFriedrich;butthereisadivineEmilie,thereisaMaupertuis,thereare——Inshort,neverweresuchdifficulties,inthecookingofaneggwithwaterboiling;
  andmuchvaincorrespondencehasalreadybeenonthatsubject,asonothersequallyextinct。Correspondencewhichisnotpleasantreadingatthistime;theratherasnoreadercan,withoutendlesssearching,evenunderstandit。Correspondencelefttous,notinthecosmic,elucidatedorlegiblestate;leftmainlyastheEditorialrubbish—wagonschosetoshootit;likeatumbledquarry,liketheruinsofasackedcity;——avoidablebyreaderswhoarenotforcedintoit![HerrPreuss’sedition(OEuvresdeFrederic,vols。xxi。xxii。xxiii。)hascomeoutsincetheabovewaswritten:itisagreeablyexceptional;being,forthefirsttime,correctlyprinted,andtheeditorhimselfhavingmostlyunderstoodit,——thoughthereaderstillcannot,onthetermsthereallowed。]Takethefollowingselectbricksassample,whichareofsomeuse;thegeneralHeadingis,KINGFRIEDERICTOM。DEVOLTAIRE(attheHague,oratBrussels)。
  "CHARLOTTENBURG,12thJUNE,1740。——……MydearVoltaire,resistnolongertheeagernessIhavetoseeyou。Doinmyfavorwhateveryourhumanityallows。IntheendofAugust,IgotoWesel,andperhapsfarther。Promisethatyouwillcomeandjoinme;forI
  couldnotlivehappy,nordietranquil,withouthavingembracedyou!ThousandcomplimentstotheMarquise,"divineEmilie。"Iambusywithbothhands[Corn—Magazines,FreePress,AbolitionofTorture,andmuchelse];workingattheArmywiththeonehand,atthePeopleandtheFineArtswiththeother。"
  "BERLIN,5thAUGUST,1740。——……IwillwritetoMadameduChatelet,incompliancewithyourwish:"markit,reader。
  "Tospeaktoyoufranklyconcerningherjourney,itisVoltaire,itisyou,itismyFriendthatIdesiretosee;andthedivineEmiliewithallherdivinityisonlytheAccessoryoftheApolloNewtonized。
  "IcannotyetsaywhetherIshalltravel[incognitointoforeignpartsalittle]ornottravel;"therehavebeenrumors,perhapsprivatewishes;but——……"Adieu,dearfriend;sublimespirit,first—bornofthinkingbeings。Lovemealwayssincerely,andbepersuadedthatnonecanloveandesteemyoumorethanI。
  VALE。FEDERIC。"
  "BERLIN,6thAUGUST[whichisnextday]。——YouwillhavereceivedaLetterfrommedatedyesterday;thisisthesecondIwritetoyoufromBerlin;Ireferyoutowhatwasintheother。Ifitmustbe(FAUT)thatEmilieaccompanyApollo,Iconsent;butifIcouldseeyoualone,thatiswhatIwouldprefer。Ishouldbetoomuchdazzled;Icouldnotstandsomuchsplendorallatonce;itwouldoverpowerme。IshouldneedtheveilofMosestotempertheunitedradianceofyourtwodivinities。"……Inshort,don’tbringher,ifyouplease。
  "REMUSBERG[poeticforREINSBERG],8thAUGUST,1740。——……MydearVoltaire,IdobelieveVanDurencostsyoumoretroubleandpainsthanyouhadwithHENRIQUATRE。InversifyingtheLifeofaHero,youwrotethehistoryofyourownthoughts;butincoercingascoundrelyoufencewithanenemywhoisnotworthyofyou。"
  Topunishhim,andcutshorthisprofits,"PRINT,then,asyouwish[yourowneditionoftheANTI—MACHIAVEL,togoalongwithhis,andtripthefeetfromit]。FAITESROULERLAPRESSE;erase,change,correct;doasyouseebest;yourjudgmentaboutitshallbemine。"——"IneightdaysIleavefor[wherethinksthereader?
  "DANTZIG"deliberatelyprintalltheEditors,carefulPreussamongthem;overturningtheterrestrialazimuthsforus,andmakingdaynight!]——forLeipzig,andreckononbeingatFrankfurtonthe22d。
  Incaseyoucouldbethere,Iexpect,onmypassage,togiveyoulodging!AtCleveorinHolland,Idependforcertainonembracingyou。"[Preuss,OEuvresdeFrederic,xx。
  pp。5,19—21;Voltaire,OEuvres,lxxii。226,&c。(notworthciting,incomparison)。]
  IntrinsicallytheFriedrichcorrespondenceatthistime,withVoltaireespecially,amongmanyfriendsnowonthewingtowardsBerlinandsendingletters,has,——ifyouareforcedintostrugglingforsomeunderstandingofit,anddogettoreadpartsofitwiththeeyesofFriedrichandVoltaire,——hasacertainamiability;andisnothinglikesowasteanddrearyasitlooksinthechaoticorsacked—citycondition。Friedrichwriteswithbrevity,oftenestonpracticalities(theANTI—MACHIAVEL,thecomingInterview,andthelike),evidentlynotimetospare;
  writesalwayswithconsiderablesincerity;withfriendliness,muchadmiration,andaningenuousvivacity,toM。deVoltaire。
  Voltaire,athisleisureinBrusselsortheOldPalaceanditsspider—webs,writesmuchmoreexpansively;notwithinsincerity,heeither;——withendlessairygraciosities,andingenioustwirls,andtouchesofflatteringunction,whichlatter,heisaware,mustnotbelaidontoothick。Asthus:——
  InregardtotheANTI—MACHIAVEL,——Sire,deigntogivemeyourpermissionsastothescoundrelofaVanDuren;wellworthwhile,Sire,——"ITisamonumentforthelatestposterity;theonlyBookworthyofaKingforthesefifteenhundredyears。"
  Thisisastrongishtrowelful,thrownondirect,withadroitness;
  andeventhishasakindofsincerity。Safer,however,todoitintheobliqueorreflexway,——byAmbassadorCumas,forexample:——
  "Iwilltellyouboldly,Sir[youM。deCamas],IputmorevalueonthisBook(ANTI—MACHIAVEL)thanontheEmperorJulian’sCAESAR,orontheMAXIMSofMarcusAurelius,"——Idoindeed,havingakindofpropertyinitwithal![Voltaire,OEuvres,lxxii。280(toCamas,18thOctober,1740)。]
  Infact,Voltairetooisbeautiful,inthispartoftheCorrespondence;butmuchinatwitter,——theQueenofSheba,notthesedateSolomon,inprospectofwhatiscoming。Heplumeshimselfalittle,weperceive,tohisd’ArgentalsandFrenchCorrespondents,onthissublimeintercoursehehasgotintowithaCrownedHead,thecynosureofmankind:———Perhapsevenyou,mybestfriend,didnotquiteknowme,andwhatmeritsIhad!
  Plumeshimselfalittle;butstudiestobemodestwithal;hasnotmuchofthepeacock,andoftheturkeyhasnothing,tohisoldfriends。Allwhichisverynaiveandtransparent;naturalandevenpretty,onthepartofM。deVoltaireastheweakervessel。——
  Fortherest,itiscertainMaupertuisisgettingunderwayatParistowardstheCleverendezvous。Brussels,too,issoneartheseCleveCountries;withintwodays’gooddriving:——ifonlythetimesandrouteswouldrightlyintersect?
  Friedrich’sintentionisbynomeansforastraightjourneytowardsCleve:heintendsforBaireuthfirst,thenbackfromBaireuthtoCleve,——makingahugesouthwardelbowonthemap,withBaireuthforapexorturning—point:——inthismannerhewillmakethetimessuit,andhaveaconvergenceatCleve。ToBaireuth;——whoknowsifnotfarther?Allsummertherehasgonefitfullyarumor,thathewishedtoseeFrance;perhapsParisitselfincognito?
  Therumor,whichwasheardevenatPetersburg,[Raumer’s
  Beitrage(EnglishTranslation,London,1837),p。15
  (Finch’sDespatch,24thJune,1740)。]isnowsunkdeadagain;
  butprivately,thereisnodoubt,aglimpseofthesublimeFrenchNationwouldbewelcometoFriedrich。HecouldnevergettoTravellinginhisyoungtime;missedhisGrandTouraltogether,muchashewishedit;andheiscapableofpranks!——Enough,onMondaymorning,15thAugust,1740,[Rodenbeck,p。15,slightlyinerror:seeDickens’sInterview,supra,p。187。]FriedrichandSuiteleavePotsdam;earlyenough;go,byLeipzig,bytheroutealreadyknowntoreaders,throughCoburgandtheVoigtlandregions;Wilhelminahasgotwarning,sitseagerlyexpectingherBrotherintheHermitageatBaireuth,gladdestofshrillsisters;
  andfullofanxietieshowherBrotherwouldnowbe。Thetravellingpartyconsisted,besidestheKing,ofsevenpersons:PrinceAugustWilhelm,King’snextBrother,Heir—apparentiftherecomenochildren,nowabriskyouthofeighteen;LeopoldPrinceofAnhalt—
  Dessau,OldDessauer’seldest,whatwemaycallthe"YoungDessauer;"ColonelvonBorck,whomweshallhearofagain;
  ColonelvonStille,alreadyheardof(gravemenoffifty,thesetwo);milk—beardMunchow,anAdjutant,youngestofthepromotedMunchows;Algarotti,indispensablefortalk;andFredersdorf,theHouse—StewardanddomesticFactotum,oncePrivateinSchwerin’sRegiment,whomBielfeldsoadmiredatReinsberg,foreseeingwhathewouldcometo。OneofFriedrich’slateactswastogiveFactotumFredersdorfanEstateofLand(smallenough,Ifancy,butwithcountry—houseonit)forsolacetotheleisureofsousefulaman,——studiousofchemistrytoo,asIhaveheard。Seveninall,besidestheKing。[Rodenbeck,p。19(andforChamberlainFredersdorf’sestate,p。15)。]DirecttowardsBaireuth,incognito,andatthetopoftheirspeed。Wednesday,17th,theyactuallyarrive。PoorWilhelmina,shefindsherBrotherchanged;becomeaKinginfact,andsternlysolitary;aloneinsoul,evenasaKingmustbe![Wilhelmina,ii。322,323。]——
  "Algarotti,oneofthefirstBEAUX—ESPRITSofthisage,"asWilhelminadefineshim,——FriendAlgarotti,theyoungVenetiangentlemanofelegance,induskyskin,inverywhitelinenandfrills,withhisfervidblackeyes,"doestheexpensesoftheconversation。"Heisfullofelegantlogic,hasspeculationsonthegreatworldandthelittle,onNature,Art,Papistry,Anti—
  Papistry,andtakesuptheOperainanearnestmanner,ascapableofbeingaschoolofvirtueandthemoralsublime。HisrespectableBooksontheOperaandothertopicsarenowallforgotten,andcravenottobementioned。Tomeheisnotsupremelybeautiful,thoughmuchthegentlemaninmannersasinruffles,andingeniouslylogical:——ratheryellowtome,inmindasinskin,andwithataintofobsoleteVenetianMacassar。ButtoFriedrichheisthrice—dear;wholovestheSharpfacetedcutoftheman,anddoesnotobjecttohisyelloworExtinct—Macassarqualitiesofmind。
  ThankstothatwanderingBaltimoreforpickingupsuchajewelandcarryinghimNorthward!AlgarottihimselflikestheNorth:hereinourhardyclimates,——especiallyatBerlin,andwerehislovedFriedrichNOTaKing,——Algarotticouldbeveryhappyinthelibertyallowed。AtLondon,wherethereisnoKing,ornonetospeakof,andplentyoffreeIntelligences,Carterets,Lytteltons,youngPittsandthelike,heisalsowell,wereitnotforthehorridsmokeuponone’slinen,andthelittleornoFrenchofthoseproudIslanders。
  Wilhelminaseemstolikehimhere;isglad,atanyrate,thathedoesthecostsofconversation,betterorworse。Intherestisnohope。Stille,Borckareaccomplishedmilitarygentlemen;butoftacitnature,reflective,practical,ratherthandiscursive,anddonotwastethemselvesbyincontinenceoftongue。Stille,byhismilitaryCommentaries,whicharestillknowntosoldiersthatread,maintainssomelastingremembranceofhimself:Borckweshallseeengagedinasmallbitofbusinessbeforelong。AstoMunchow,theJEUNEMORVEUXofanAdjutant,he,thoughhismannersarewellenough,andhewearsmilitaryplumesinhishat,isstillanunfledgedyoungcreature,"billstillyellow,"sotospeak;——
  andmarkshimselfchieflybyavisiblehankeringafterthattroublesomecreatureMarwitz,whoisalwayscoquetting。
  Friedrich’sconversation,especiallytomeWilhelmina,seems"GUINDE,setonstilts,"likewisetherearefrequentcutsofbanterinhim;anditispainfullyevidenthedistinguishesmySisterofAnspachandherfoolishHusband,whomhehasinvitedoverhitherinamosteagermanner,beyondwhatapoorWilhelminawithheroldlovecanpretendto。Patience,myshrillPrincess,BeautyofBaireuthandtheworld;letushopeallwillcomerightagain!MyshrillPrincess——whohasamelodiousstrengthlikethatofwar—fifes,too——knowshowtobepatient;andveilsmanythings,thoughofahighlyunhypocriticalnature。
  ThesewereThreegreatDaysatBaireuth;Wilhelminaistocomesoon,andreturnthevisitatBerlin。TowaitupontheKing,knownthoughincognito,"theBishopofBamberg"camedrivingover:
  [Helden—Geschichte,i。419。]Schonborn,AustrianKanzler,orwho?HisoldCityweoncesaw(andplentyofhangedmalefactorsswingingroundit,duringthatJOURNEYTOTHE
  REICH);——buttheBishophimselfnevertoourknowledge,Bishopbeingabsentthen,IhopeitisthesameBishopofBamberg,whomaFriendofBusching’s,touringthereaboutthatsametime,sawdininginaveryextraordinarymanner,withmedievaltrumpeters,"withwaitersinspursandbuff—belts;"[Busching’s
  Beitrage;——Schlosser(HistoryoftheEighteenthCentury)alsoquotesthescene。]ifitisnot,Ihavenottheslightestshadowofacquaintancewithhim,——
  therehavebeensomanyBishopsofBambergwithwhomonewishestohavenone!OnthethirddayFriedrichandhiscompanywentaway,towardsWurzburg;andWilhelminawasleftalonewithherreflections。"Ihadhadsomuchtosaytohim;Ihadgotnothingsaidatall:"alas,itiseverso。"TheKingwassochanged,grownsomuchbigger(GRANDI),youcouldnothaveknownhimagain;"
  standsfinelyerectandatfullbreadth,everyinchaKing;
  hisverystature,youwouldsay,increased。——Adieu,myPrincess,pearlofPrincesses;allreaderswillexpectyourreturn—visitatBerlin,whichistobesoon。
  FRIEDRICHSTRIKESOFFTOTHELEFT,ANDHASAVIEWOF
  STRASBURGFORTWODAYS。
  ThroughWurzburg,Frankfurt—on—Mayn,speedsFriedrich;——
  WilhelminaandmankindunderstandthatitishomewardsandtoCleve;butatFrankfurt,indeepestprivacy,thereoccursasuddenwhirlsouthward,——uptheRhine—Valley;directtowardsStrasburg,forasightofFranceinthatquarter!SohasFriedrichdecided,——
  notquitesuddenly,onnewLettershere,ornewcomputationsaboutCleve;butbyforethoughttakenatBaireuth,asratherappears。
  FromFrankfurttoStrasburg,say150miles;fromStrasburghome,isnotmuchfartherthanfromFrankfurthome:itcanbedone,then;husht!
  Theincognitoistoberigorous:FriedrichbecomesCOMTEDUFOUR,aPrussian—Frenchgentleman;PrinceAugustWilhelmisGrafvonSchaffgotsch,AlgarottiisGrafvonPfuhl,Germansthesetwo;
  whatLeopold,theYoungDessauer,calledhimself,——stilllesswhattheothers,orwhethertheotherswerethereatall,andnotshovedon,directtowardsWesel,outofthewayasislikelier,——
  canremainuncertaintoreadersandme。FromFrankfurt,then,onMondaymorning,22dAugust,1740,asIcompute,througholdknownPhilipsburgCampaigncountry,andthelinesofEttlingenandStollhofen;theretheRoyalPartyspeedseagerly(weatherverybad,asappears):anditiscertaintheyareatKehlonTuesdayevening;lookingacrossthelongRhineBridge,Strasburganditssteeplesnowcloseathand。
  ThislookstobearomanticfinepassageintheHistoryoftheyoungKing;——thoughintruthitisnot,andprovesbutafeeblestoryeithertohimorus。Concerningwhich,however,thereader,especiallyifheshouldhearthatthereexistspreciseAccountofit,TwoAccountsindeed,onefromtheKing’sownhand,willnotfailofacertaincravingtobecomeacquaintedwithdetails。
  Thiscraving,foolishratherthanwise,weconsideritthriftiesttosatisfyatonce;andshallgivetheKing’sNARRATIVEentire,thoughitisajinglingleanscraggyPiece,partlyrhyme,"inthemannerofBachaumontandLaChapelle;"writtenatthegallop,afewdayshence,anddespatchedtoVoltaire:——"You,"dearVoltaire,"wishtoknowwhatIhavebeenabout,sinceleavingBerlin;
  annexedyouwillfindadescriptionofit,"writesFriedrich。
  [OEuvres,xxii。25(Wesel,2dSeptemher,1740)。]OutofVoltaire’sandotherpeople’swaste—baskets,ithasatlengthbeenfishedup,patchbypatch,andpastedtogetherbyvictoriousmodernEditors;andhereitisagainentire。TheotherNarrative,whichgotintotheNewspaperssoonafter,islikewiseofauthenticnature,——Fassmann,ourpooroldfriend,confirmingit,ifthatwereneedful,——andishappilyinprose。[GiveninHelden—Geschichte,i。420—423;——seelikewiseFassmann’sMerkwurdigsterRegierungs—Antritt
  (pooroldBookonFRIEDRICH’SACCESSION);Preuss(Thronbesteigung,pp。395—400);&c。&c。]
  HoldingthesetwoPieceswelltogether,andgivingtheKing’sfaithfullytranslated,inacompletestate,itwillbepossibletosatisfyfoolishcravings,andmakethisStrasburgAdventureluminousenough。
  KINGFRIEDRICHTOVOLTAIRE(fromWesel,2dSeptember,1740),CHIEFLYINDOGGEREL,CONCERNINGTHERUNTOSTRASBURG。
  Partofit,incorrect,inVoltaire,OEuvres
  (scandalousPiecenowcalledMemoires,onceViePriveeduRoidePrusse),ii。24—26;
  finally,inPreuss,OEuvresdeFrederic,
  xiv。156—161,therealandcompleteaffair,asfishedupbyvictoriousPreussandothers。
  "IhavejustfinishedaJourney,intermingledwithsingularadventures,sometimespleasant,sometimesthereverse。YouknowI
  hadsetoutforBaireuth,"——BRUXELLESthebeautifulFrenchEditorwrote,whichmakesEgyptiandarknessofthePiece!——"toseeaSisterwhomIlovenolessthanesteem。Ontheroad[thitherorthence;orlikeliest,THERE],AlgarottiandIconsultedthemap,tosettleourrouteforreturningbyWesel。Frankfurt—on—Mayncomesalwaysasaprincipalstage;——Strasburgwasnogreatroundabout:wechosethatrouteinpreference。TheINCOGNITOwasdecided,namespitchedupon[ComteDufour,andtheothers];
  storyweweretotell:infine,allwasarrangedandconcertedtoanicetyaswellaspossible。WefanciedweshouldgettoStrasburginthreedays[fromBaireuth]。
  ButHeaven,whichdisposesofallthings,Differentlyregulatedthisthing。
  Withlank—sidedcoursers,LinealdescendantsfromRosinante,Withploughmeninthedressofpostilions,Blockheadsofimpertinentnature;
  Ourcarriagesstickingfastahundredtimesintheroad,Wewentalongwithgravityataleisurelypace,Knockingagainstthecrags。
  Theatmosphereinuproarwithloudthunder,Therain—torrentsstreamingovertheEarthThreatenedmankindwiththeDayofJudgment[VERYBADWEATHER],Andinspiteofourimpatience,Fourgooddaysare,inpenance,Lostforeverinthesejumblings。
  Maisleciel,quidetoutdispose,Regladifferemmentlachose。
  Avecdecoursiersefflanques,EnlignedroitesissusdeRosinante,Etdespaysansenpostillonsmasques,Dutorsderaceimpertinente,Notrecarrosseencentlieuxaccroche,Nousallionsgravement,d’uneallureindolente,Gravitantcontrelesrochers。
  Lesairsemusparlebruyanttonnerre,Lestorrentsd’eaurepandussurlaterre,Dudernierjourmenacaientleshumains;
  Etmalgrenotreimpatience,QuatrebonsjoursenpenitenceSontpourjamaisperdusdanslescharrains。
  "Hadallourfatalitiesbeenlimitedtostoppagesofspeedonthejourney,weshouldhavetakenpatience;but,afterfrightfulroads,wefoundlodgingsstillfrightfuler。
  ForgreedylandlordsSeeinguspressedbyhungerDid,inamorethanfrugalmanner,Intheirinfernalhovels,Poisoninginsteadoffeeding,Stealfromusourcrowns。
  Oagedifferent[ingoodcheer]fromthatofLucullus!
  Cardeshotesinteresses,Delafaimnousvoyantpresses,D’unefaconplusquefrugale,Dansunechaumiereinfernale,Ennousempoisonnant,Nousvolaientnosecus。
  OsiecledifferentdestempsdeLucullus!
  "Frightfulroads;shortofvictual,shortofdrink:norwasthatall。Wehadtoundergoavarietyofaccidents;andcertainlyourequipagemusthavehadasingularair,forineverynewplacewecameto,theytookusforsomethingdifferent。
  SometookusforKings,Someforpickpocketswelldisguised;
  Othersforoldacquaintances。
  Attimesthepeoplecrowdedout,Lookedusintheeyes,Likeclownsimpertinentlycurious。
  OurlivelyItalian[Algarotti]swore;
  FormyselfItookpatience;
  TheyoungCount[mygayyoungerBrother,eighteenatpresent]
  quizzedandfrolicked;
  ThebigCount[Heir—apparentofDessau]silentlyswunghishead,WishingthisfineJourneytoFrance,Inthebottomofhisheart,mostchristianlyattheDevil。
  Lesunsnousprenaientpourdesrois,D’autrespourdesfilouscourtois,D’autrespourgensdeconnaissance;
  Parfoislepeuples’attroupait,EntrelesyeuxnousregardaitEnbadaudscurieux,remplisd’impertinence。
  NotrevifItalienjurait,Pourmoijeprenaispatience,LejeuneComtefolatrait,LegrandComtesedandinait,EtcebeauvogagedeFranceDanslefonddesoncoeurchretiennementdamnait。
  "Wefailednot,however,tostrugglegraduallyalong;atlastwearrivedinthatStronghold,where[asprefacetotheWarof1734,knowntosomeofus]——
  Wherethegarrison,toosupple,SurrenderedsopiteouslyAfterthefirstblurtofexplosionFromthecannonoftheFrench。
  Ouagarnison,troupeflasque,SerenditsipiteusementApreslapremierebourasqueDucanonfrancaisfoudroyant。
  YourecognizeKehlinthisdescription。ItwasinthatfineFortress,——where,bytheway,thebreachesarestilllyingunrepaired[Reichbeingaslowcorpusinregardtosuchthings],——thatthePostmaster,amanofmoreforesightthanwe,askedIfwehadgotpassports?
  No,saidItohim;ofpassportsWeneverhadthewhim。
  StrongonesIbelieveitwouldneedTorecall,tooursideofthelimit,SubjectsofPlutoKingoftheDead:
  But,fromtheGermanicEmpireIntothegallantandcynicalabodeOfMessieursyourprettyFrenchmen,——
  Ajollyandbeamingair,Rubicundfaces,notignorantofwine,Thesearethepassportswhich,legibleifyoulookonus,Ourtroopproducestoyouforthatend。
  Non,luidis—je,despasse—portsNousn’eumesjamaislafolie。
  Ilenfaudrait,jecrois,defortsPourressusciteralavieDechezPlutonleroidesmorts;
  Maisdel’empiregermaniqueAusejourgalantetcyniqueDeMessieursvosjolisFrancais,Unairrebondissantetfrais,Unefacerougeetbachique,Sontlespasse—portsqu’ennostraitsVousproduiticinotreclique。
  "No,Messieurs,saidtheprovidentMasterofPassports;
  nosalvationwithoutpassport。SeeingthenthatNecessityhadgotusinthedilemmaofeithermanufacturingpassportsourselvesornotenteringStrasburg,wetooktheformerbranchofthealternativeandmanufacturedone;——inwhichfeat,thePrussianarms,whichIhadonmyseal,weremarvellouslyfurthersome。"
  Thisisafact,astheoldNewspapersandconfirmatoryFassmannmoredirectlyappriseus。"TheLandlord[orPostmaster]atKehl,havingsignifiedthattherewasnocrossingwithoutPassport,"
  Friedrich,atfirst,somewhattakenaback,bethoughthimofhiswatch—sealwiththeRoyalArmsonit;andsoonmanufacturedthenecessaryPassport,signetedindueform;——which,however,gaveasuspiciontotheInnkeeperastothequalityofhisGuest。
  Afterwhich,Tuesdayevening,23dAugust,"theyatoncegotacrosstoStrasburg,"saysmyNewspaperFriend,"andputupattheSIGN
  OFTHERAVEN,there。"OrinFriedrich’sownjingle:——
  "WearrivedatStrasburg;andtheCustom—housecorsair,withhisinspectors,seemedcontentwithourevidences。
  Thesescoundrelsspiedus,Withoneeyereadingourpassport,Withtheotheroglingourpurse。
  Gold,whichwasalwaysaresource,Whichbrought,JovetotheenjoymentOfDanaewhomhecaressed;
  Gold,bywhichCaesargovernedTheworldhappyunderhissway;
  Gold,moreadivinitythanMarsorLove;
  Wonder—workingGoldintroducedusThatevening,withinthewallsofStrasburg。"
  [Giventhusfar,withseveralslighterrors,inVoltaire,ii。
  24—26;——theremainder,longunknown,hadtobefishedup,patchbypatch(Preuss,OEuvresdeFrederic,xiv。
  159—161)。]
  Cessceleratsnousepiaient,D’unoeillepasse—portlisaient,Del’autrelorgnaientnotrebourse。
  L’or,quitoujoursfutderessource,ParlequelJupinjouissaitDeDanae,qu’ilcaressait;
  L’or,parquiCesargouvernaitLemondeheureuxsoussonempire;
  L’or,plusdieuqueMarsetl’Amour,Lesoir,danslesmursdeStrasbourg。
  Saddoggerel;permissibleperhapsasasampleoftheFriedrichmanufacture,surelynototherwise!Thereremainsyetmorethanhalfofit;readersseewhattheirfoolishcravinghasbroughtuponthem!Doggereloutofwhichnoclearstory,suchstoryasthereis,canbehad;though,excepttheexaggerationandcontortion,thereisnothingoffictioninit。WeflytotheNewspaper,happilyatleastaprosecomposition,whichbeginsatthispoint;andshallusetheDoggerelhenceforthasillustrationonlyorasrepetitionintheFriedrich—mirror,ofathingOTHERWISEmadecleartous:——
  HavinggotintoStrasburgandtheRAVENHOTEL;FriedrichnowonFrenchgroundatlast,oratleastonHalf—French,German—French,isintenttomakethemostofcircumstances。TheLandlord,withoneofFriedrich’sservants,isstraightwaydespatchedintothepropercoffee—housestoraiseasupper—partyofOfficers;politelyasksanylikelyOfficer,"IfhewillnotdoaforeignGentleman[seeminglyofsomedistinction,signifiesBoniface]thehonortosupwithhimattheRaven?"——"No,byJupiter!"answerthemost,intheirvariousdialects:"whoishethatweshouldsupwithhim?"
  Three,struckbythesingularityofthething,undertake;andwiththesewemustbecontent。Friedrich——orcallhimM。leComteDufour,withPfuhl,Schaffgotschandsuchescortaswesee——
  politelyapologizesontheentranceoftheseofficers:
  "Manypardons,gentlemen,andmanythanks。Knowingnobody;
  desirousofacquaintance:——sinceyouaresogood,howhappy,byalittleinformality,tohavebroughtbraveOfficerstokeepmecompany,whomIvaluebeyondotherkindsofmen!"
  TheOfficersfoundtheirhostamostengaginggentleman:
  hissupperwassuperb,plentyofwine,"andoneredkindtheyhadnevertastedbefore,andlikedextremely;"——ofwhichhesentsomebottlestotheirlodgingnextday。Theconversationturnedonmilitarymatters,andwasenlivenedwiththeduesallies。
  ThisforeignCountspeaksFrenchwonderfully;abrilliantman,whomtheothersratherfear:perhapssomethingmorethanaCount?
  TheOfficers,loathtogo,rememberedthattheirtwobattalionshadtoparadenextmorning,thatitwastimetobeinbed:"Iwillgotoyourreview,"saidtheStrangerCount:thedelightedOfficersundertaketocomeandfetchhim,theysettlewithhimtimeandmethod;howhappy!
  Onthemorrow,accordingly,theycallandfetchhim;helooksatthereview;reviewdone,theyaskhimtosupperforthisevening:
  "Withpleasure!"and"walkswiththemabouttheEsplanade,toseetheguardmarchby。"Beforeparting,hetakestheirnames,writestheminhistablets;says,withasmile,"Heistoomuchobligedevertoforgetthem。"ThisisWednesday,the24thofAugust,1740;
  Field—MarshalBroglioisCommandantinStrasburg,andtheseobligingOfficersare"oftheregimentPiedmont,"——theirnamesontheKing’stabletsIneverheardmentionedbyanybody(ornevertilltheKing’sDoggerelwasfishedupagain)。Field—MarshalBrogliomyreadershavetransientlyseen,afaroff;——"gallopingwithonlyoneboot,"somesay"almostinhisshirt,"attheFordofSecchia,inthoseItaliancampaigns,fiveyearsago,theAustrianshavingstolenacrossuponhim:——hehadafuriousgallop,withnoendofridicule,onthatoccasion;isnowCommandanthere;
  andweshallhaveagreatdealmoretodowithhimwithinthenextyearortwo。