首页 >出版文学> History of Friedrich II of Prussia>第78章
  Butafirebeingkindled,whichconsistedoftar—barrels,fagots,tables,tubs,&c。,hewasconsumedinabouthalfanhour。"
  [OldNewspapers(Gentleman’sMagazine,
  xxvi。409)。]
  ThatistheiremploymentonTower—Hill,overyonder,whileMitchellisgettingunderwaytoseeFriedrich。
  MitchellcontinuedatPotsdamoverFriday;andwasstillineagerconsultationthatnight,whentheKingsaidtohim,withacertainexpressivenessofglance:"BONSOIR,then;——To—morrowmorningaboutfour!"Andonthemorrow,Saturday,28th,Mitchellreportshurriedly:——
  "……AmjustreturnedtoBerlin,intimetowritetoyourLordship。
  Thismorning,betweenfourandfive,ItookleaveoftheKingofPrussia。HrwentimmediatelyupontheParade;mountedonhorseback;
  and,afteraveryshortexerciseofhisTroops,puthimselfattheirhead;andmarcheddirectlyforBelitz[half—waytoBrietzen,TREUENbrietzenastheycallit];where,To—morrow,hewillentertheSaxonTerritory,"——as,attheirrespectivepoints,histwootherColumnswill;——andbegin,whoshallsaywhatterriblegame;
  incalculabletoyourLordshipandme,withsuchOperationsafootonTower—Hill![MitchellPapers,vi。804("ToLordHolderness,28thAugust,1756")。]——
  SevenHussarRegimentsofDukeFerdinand’sColumngotthelengthofLeipzigthatSundayEvening,29th;andtookpossessionoftheplace。[InHelden—Geschichte,iii。731,his"Proclamation"there,29thAugust,1756。]DukeFerdinandtorightoftheKing,DukeofBrunswick—Beverntoleft,——theThreeColumnscrosstheBorder,atpoints,say80milesfromoneanother;
  occasionally,onthemarch,bendingtorightwardsandleftwards,totakeintheprincipalTowns,andmakesettlementsthere,thetwomightbeaboveahundredmilesfromFriedrichoneachhand。ThelengthofmarchforeachColumn,——Ferdinand"fromLeipzig,byChemnitz,Freyberg,Dippoldiswalde,totheVillageofCotta"(Pirnaneighborhood,southofElbe);Bevern,"throughtheLausitz,byBautzen,toLohmen"(sameneighborhood,northofElbe);
  KingFriedrich,toDresden,bythecourseoftheElbeitself,wasnotfarfromequal,andmaybecalledabout150miles。Theymarchedwithdiligence,notwithhurry;hadtheirpauses,rest—days,whenbusinessrequired。Theygottotheirground,withthesimultaneousnessappointed,ontheeleventhortwelfthday。
  ThemiddleColumn,undertheKing,whereMarshalKeithissecondincommand,goesbyTorgau(detachingMoritzofDessautopickupWittenberg,andruintheslightworksthere);crossestheElbeatTorgau,September2d;marches,cantoningitselfdayafterday,alongthesouthernbankoftheRiver;leavesMeissentotheleft,I
  perceive,doesnotpassthroughMeissen;comesfirstatWilsdrufongroundwherewehavebeen,——andportionsofit,Idoubtnot,werebilletedinKesselsdorf;andwouldtakeaglanceattheoldField,iftheyhadtime。ThereisstrictdisciplineinalltheColumns;
  theauthoritiescomplyingonsummons,andarrangingwhatisneedful。Nobodyresists;town—guardsatoncegroundarms,andthereisnosoldiervisible;soldiersallebbingaway,whitherwardweguess。[Helden—Geschichte,iii。732,733;
  OEuvresdeFrederic,iv。81。]
  AtWilsdruf,Friedrichfirstlearnsforcertain,thattheSaxonArmy,withKing,withBruhlandotherchiefpersonages,arewithdrawntoPirna,totheinexpugnableKonigsteinandRock—
  Country。TheSaxonArmyhadbegunassemblingthere,September1st,directlyonthenewsthatFriedrichwasacrosstheBorder;
  September9th,onFriedrich’sapproach,theKingandDignitariesmoveoffthither,fromDresden,outofhisway。ExcellencyBrogliohasputthemonthatplan。WhichmayhaveitscomplexitiesforFriedrich,hopesBroglio,——thoughperhapsitsstillgreaterforsomeotherpartiesconcerned!ForBruhlandPolishMajesty,aswillappearbyandby,nothingcouldhaveturnedoutworse。
  MeanwhileFriedrichpusheson:"Forward,allthesame。"PolishMajesty,datingfromStruppen,inthePirnaCountry,hasbegunaCorrespondencewithFriedrich,verypoliteonbothhands;andhisAdjutant—General,theChevalierMeagher("ChevalierdeMARRE,"asValoricallshim,——MA’AR,ashecallshimselfinIrish),hasjusthad,atWilsdruf,aninterviewwithFriedrich;butisfarfromhavinggotsettlementonthetermshewished。PolishMajestymagnanimouslyassentingto"aRoadthroughhisCountryformilitarypurposes;"offers"thestrictestNeutrality,strictestfriendshipeven;hasdone,andwilldo,noinjurywhatevertohisPrussianMajesty——["DidweeverSIGNanything?"whispercomfortablyBruhlandhetooneanother];——expects,therefore,thathisPrussianMajestywillmarchon,whitherheisbound;andleavehimunmolestedhere。"[Helden—Geschichte,
  iii。774。]
  ThatwasMeagher’smessage;thatisthepurportofallhisPolishMajesty’sElevenLetterstoFriedrich,whichprecedeorfollow,——
  reiteratingwithacertainovineobstinacy,insensibletotimeorchange,ThatsuchisPolishMajesty’sfixednotion:
  "Strictneutrality,friendshipeven;andleavemeunmolestedhere。"
  [InOEuvresdeFrederic,iv。235—260("29thAugust—10thSeptember—18thSeptember,"1756),arecollectednow,theElevenLetters,withtheirAnswers。]"Strictneutrality,yes:
  butdisperseyourArmy,then,"answersFriedrich;sendyourArmybacktoitscantonments:ImustmyselfhavethekeepingofmyHighway,lestIloseit,asin1744。"ThisisFriedrich’sanswer;
  thisatfirst,andforsometimecoming;though,astheaspectschange,andthedangerouselementsheapthemselveshigher,Friedrich’sanswerwillrisewiththem,andhisterms,liketheSibyl’s,becomeworseandworse。ThisistheutmostthatMeagher,atWilsdruf,canmakeofit;andthis,inconceivablecircumstances,willgrowlessandless。
  Nextday,September9th,Friedrich,withsomeBattalions,enteredDresden,mostofhisColumntakingCampnearby;GeneralWylichhadenteredyesterday,andisalreadyCommandantthere。Friedrichsends,byFeldmarschallKeith,highestOfficerofhisColumn,hishomagestoherPolishMajesty:——nothinggivenusofKeith’sInterview;exceptbyaside—wind,"ThatMajestycomplainedofthosePrussianSentrieswalkingaboutincertainofhercorridors"(withaneyetoSomething,itmaybefeared!)——ofwhich,doubtless,Keithundertooktomakereport。FriedrichhimselfwaitsupontheJuniorPrinces,whoarelefthere:ispoliteandgraciousasever,thoughstrict,andwithbusinessenough;lodges,forhisownpart,"intheGarden—HouseofPrincessMoczinska;"——andnextmorningleadsoffhisColumn,ashortmarcheastward,tothePirnaCountry;where,ontherightandontheleft,FerdinandatCotta,BevernatLohmen(ifreaderswilllookontheirMap),hefindstheotherTwointheirduepositions。Head—quarterisGross—Sedlitz(westernmostskirtoftheRock—region);andwillhavetocontinueso,muchlongerthanhadbeenexpected。
  TheDiplomaticworldinDresdenisingreatemotion;moreespeciallyjustatpresent。Thismorning,beforeleaving,Friedrichhadtodoanexceedinglystrictthing:securetheOriginalsofthoseMenzelDocuments。Originalsindispensabletohim,forjustifyinghisnewproceduresuponSaxony。Sothattherehasbeen,atthePalace,aScenethismorningofaveryhighanddissonantnature,——"MarshalKeith"init,"MarshalKeithmakingasecondvisit"(saysomelooseandfalseAccounts);——thefactsbeingstrictlyasfollows。
  FarfromremovingthosePrussiansentriescomplainedoflastnight,hereseemstobeadoublestrengthofthemthismorning。AndherPolishMajesty,asevere,hard—featuredoldLady,hasbeenfilledwithindignantamazementbyaPrussianOfficer——MajorvonWangenheim,Ibelieveitis——requiring,intheKingofPrussia’sname,theKeysofthatArchive—room;PrussianMajestyabsolutelyneedingsight,foralittlewhile,ofcertainPapersthere。
  "Enterthatroom?ArchivesofacrownedHead?Letmeseethelivingmortalthatwilldaretodoit!"——onefanciestheindignantPolishMajesty’sanswer;andhow,callingformaterials,she"openlysealedthedoorinquestion,"inWangenheim’spresence。AsthisisacelebratedPassage,whichhasbeenreportedinseverallooseways,letustakeitfromtheprimarysource,Chancerystyleandall。GrafvonSternberg,AustrianExcellency,writingfromthespotandatthehour,informshisownCourt,andthroughthatallCourts,inthesesolemnlyOfficialterms:——
  "DRESDEN,10thSEPTEMBER,1756。TheQueen’sMajesty,thisforenoon,hascalledtoheralltheForeignMinistersnowatDresden;andinHighestOwnPersonhassignifiedtous,How,thePrussianintrusionsandhostilitiesbeingalreadyknown,HighestsaidQueen’sMajestywouldnowsimplystatewhathadfarthertakenplacethismorning:——
  "HighestsaidQueen’sMajesty,towit,had,inherownname,requestedtheKingofPrussia,inconformitywithhisassurances[byKeith,yesternight]ofpayingeveryregardforHerandtheRoyalFamily,ToremovethePrussianSentriespacingaboutinthoseCorridors,"——CorridorswhichleadtotheSecretArchives,importanttosomeofus!——"Insteadofwhich,thesaidKinghadnotonlydoubledhisSentriesthere;butalso,byanOfficer,demandedtheKeysoftheArchive—apartment[justalludedto]!AndastheQueen’sMajesty,forsecurityofallwritingsthere,offeredtosealtheDoorofitherself,anddidso,thereandthen,——thesaidOfficerhadsolittlerespect,thatheclappedhisownsealthereontoo。
  "Norwashecontenttherewith,"——notbyanymeans!——"butthesameOfficer[havingbeenwithWylich,Commandanthere]cameback,ashorttimeafter,andmadeforopeningoftheDoorhimself。
  WhichbeingannouncedtotheQueen’sMajesty,sheinherownperson(HOCHSTDIESELBE,Highest—the—Same)wentoutagain;andstandingbeforetheDoor,informedhim,’HowHighest—the—SamehadtoomuchregardtohisPrussianMajesty’sgivenassurance,tobelievethatsuchordercouldproceedfromtheKing。’AstheOfficer,however,replied,’Thathewassorrytohavesuchanordertoexecute;
  butthattheorderwasseriousandprecise;andthathe,bynotexecutingit,wouldexposehimselftothegreatestresponsibility,"
  HerMajestycontinuedstandingbeforetheDoor;andsaidtotheOfficer,’Ifhemeanttouseforce,hemightuponHermakehisbeginning。’"Thereisforyou,HerrWangenheim!——
  "UponwhichsaidOfficerhadgoneaway,toreportanewtotheKing[Ithink,onlytoWylichtheCommandant;Kingnowadozenmilesoff,notsoeasilyreportedto,andhismindknown];andinthemeanwhileHerMajestyhadcalledtoherthePrussianandEnglishAmbassadors[MahlzahnandStormont;sorrybothofthem,buthowentirelyresourceless,——especiallyMahlzahn!],andhadrepresentedandrepeatedtothemtheabove;beseechingthatbytheirremonstrancesandpersuasionstheywouldinducetheKingofPrussia,conformablywithhisgivenassurance,toforbear。
  Instead,however,ofanyfruitfromsuchremonstrancesandurgencies,finalOrdercame,’That,Queen’sMajesty’sownHighestPersonnotwithstanding,forcemustbeused。’
  "WhereuponherMajesty,toavoidactualmistreatment,hadbeenobligedto"——tobecomepassive,and,noKeysbeingprocurablefromher,seeasmithwithhispicklocksgivethesePrussiansadmission。
  Legation—SecretaryPlessmannwasthere(Menzelonefanciessitting,ratherpale,inanadjacentroom[Supra,p。266。]);andtheyknewwhattodo。TheirsmithopenstherequiredBoxforthem(oneofseveral"alllyingpackedforWarsaw,"saysFriedrich);fromwhichsoontakingwhattheyneeded,WangenheimandWylichwithdrewwiththeirbooty,andreadershavethefruitofittothisday。
  "Whichunheard—ofprocedure,bepleased,yourExcellencies,toreporttoyourrespectiveCourts。"[GesammelteNachrichten,i。222(or"No。26"ofthatCollection);
  OEuvresdeFrederic,iv。83。]
  PooroldLady,whatasituation!AndIbelievesheneversawherpooroldHusbandagain。ThedayhewenttoPirna(morningofyesterday,September9th,Friedrichenteringintheevening),thesepoorSpouseshad,littledreamingofit,takenleaveofoneanotherforevermore。SuchprofitliesinyourBruhl。KingsandQueensthatwillbegovernedbyaJesuitGuarini,andaBruhloftheTwelveTailors,sometimespaydearforit。They,ortheirrepresentatives,aresuretodoso。KingsandQueens,——yes,andifthatwereall:
  buttheirpoorCountriestoo?TheirCountries;——well,theirCountriesdidnothateBeelzebub,inhisvariousshapes,ENOUGH。
  TheirCountriesshouldhavebeeninwatchagainstBeelzebubintheshapeofBruhls;——watching,andalso"praying"inaheroicmanner,nowfallenobsoleteintheseimpioustimes!
  ChapterV。
  FRIEDRICHBLOCKADESTHESAXONSINPIRNACOUNTRY。
  Friedrichreckonshimselftohave65,000meninSaxony。SchwerinisissuingfromSilesia,throughtheGlatzMountains,forBohemia,attheheadof40,000。TheAustrianforceisinferiorinquantity,andfarfromready:——Two"Camps"inBohemiatheyhave;thechiefoneunderBrowne(looking,orintending,thisSaxonway),andasmallerunderPiccolomini,intheKonigshof—Kolinregion:——ifwellrunintofromfrontandrear,bothBrowneandPiccolominimightbebeautifullyhandled;andagashbecutinAustria,whichmightinclinehertobeatpeaceagain!NothinghindersbutthispaltryCampoftheSaxons;itselfonly18,000strong,butinaCountryofsuchstrength。Andthisdoeshinder,effectuallywhileitcontinues:"HowmarchtoBohemia,andleavetheroadblockedinourrear?"
  TheSaxonCampdidcontinue,——unmanageablebyanymethod,forfiveweekstocome;theseasonofwar—operationsgone,bythattime:——
  andFriedrich’sFirstCampaign,renderedmostlyfruitlessinthismanner,willbynomeanschecktheAustriantruculencies,asbyhisvelocityhehopedtodo。No;but,onthecontrary,willrousetheAustrians,FrenchandallEnemies,toatenfoldpitchoftemper。
  Andbringuponhimself,fromanastonishedandmisunderstandingPublic,suchtempestsandworld—tornadoesofloud—roaringobloquy,asevenhe,Friedrich,hadneverenduredbefore。
  ToreadersofatouringhabitthisSaxonCountryisperhapswellknown。Forthelasthalf—centuryithasbeengrowingmoreandmorefamous,underthenameof"SaxonSwitzerland(SACHSISCHE
  SCHWEITZ),"insteadof"MisnianHighlands(MEISSNISCHEHOCHLAND),"
  whichitusedtobecalled。AbeautifulenoughandextremelyruggedCountry;interestingtothepicturesquemind。Beginsrising,insoftHills,onbothsidesoftheElbe,afewmileseastofDresden,asyouascendtheRiver;tillitrisesintoHillsofwildcharacter,gettingeverwilder,andrivenintowondrouschasmsandprecipices。Extends,sayalmosttwentymilesuptheRiver,toTetschenandbeyond,inthiseasterndirection;andwithperhapstenmilesofbreadthoneachsideoftheRiver:areaoftheRock—
  region,therefore,isperhapssomefourhundredsquaremiles。
  TheFalkenberg(whatweshouldcallHAWKSCRAG)northeastwardintheLausitz,theSchneeberg(SNOWMOUNTAIN),southeastwardontheBohemianborder,areaboutthirty—fivemilesapart:thesetwoarebothreckonedtobeinit,——itslastoutpostsonthateasternside。
  Butthelimitsofitarefixedbycustomonly,anddependonnonaturalcondition。
  WemightdefineitastheSandstoneNECKoftheMetalMountains:aratherlowerblock,ofSandstone,intercalatedintotheMetal—
  Mountainrange,whichotherwise,onbothhands,ishigher,andofharderrocks。Southward(asSHOULDERtothissandstoneNECK)lies,continuous,broadandhigh,the"Metal—Mountainrange"speciallysocalled:northwardandnortheastwardthererise,beyondthatFalkenberg,manymountains,solitaryoringroups,——"theMetalMountains"fadingouthereinto"theLausitzHills,"stillinfinepicturesquefashion,whichareNorthernBordertothegreatBohemian"BasinoftheElba,"afteryouemergefromthisSandstoneCountry。
  SaxonSwitzerlandisnotveryhighanywhere;2,000feetisanotabledegreeofheight:butitistornandtumbledintostonelabyrinths,chasmsandwindingrock—walls,asfewregionsare。
  Growspinewood,tothetopmostheight;pine—treesfaraloftlookquietlydownuponyou,oversheerprecipices,onyourintricatepath。OntheslopesoftheHillsisgrassenough;intheintervalsareVillagesandhusbandries,arecornandmilkforthelaboriousnatives,——whodependmainlyonquarrying,andpine—forestwork:
  pinesandfree—stone,raftsoflongslimpines,andbigstonebarges,arewhatoneseesupontheRiverthere。ANote,notverygeological,saysofit:——
  "ElbesweepsfreelythroughthisCountry,foragesandaeonspast;
  curlinghimselfalittleintosnake—figure,andwithincreasedvelocity,butsilentmostly,andtrimtotheedge,afineflint—
  coloredriver;——thoughinaeonslonganterior,itmusthavebeenaverydifferentmatterfortorrentsandwater—power。TheCountryisonehugeBlockofSandstone,somanysquaremilesofthatmaterial;
  ribbed,channelled,tornandquarried,inthismanner,bytheever—
  busyelements,foramillionofAgespast!ChieflybytheElbehimself,sincehegottobeaRiver,andbecamecosmicandpersonal;ceasingtobeamerewaterychaosofLakesandDelugeshereabouts。FortheSandstonewasofvariousdegreesofhardness;
  tenaciousasmarblesomepartsofit,softalmostassandotherparts。Andtheprimordialdiluviumsandworld—oldtorrents,greatandsmall,rushingdownfromtheBohemianHighlands,fromtheSaxonMetalMountains,withsuchstorming,gurglingandswashing,havesweptawaythesoftparts,andleftthehardstandinginthischaoticmanner,andbequeatheditalltotheElbe,andthecommonfrostsandrainsofthesehumanages。
  "Elbehasnowatrimcourse;butElbetooisbusyquarryingandmining,wherenotartificiallyheldin;——andyounoticeateveryoutletofaBrookfromtheinterior,northsideandsouthside,howbusytheBrookhasbeen。Boring,grinding,undermining;muchhelpedbythefrosts,bytherains。AEonsago,theBrookwasalake,intheinterior;butwaseverymomentlaboringtogetout;tillithascutforitselfthatmountaingullet,orsheer—downchasm,andbroughtoutwithitanAlluviumorDelta,——onwhich,sinceAdam’stime,humancreatureshavebuiltaHamlet。Thatistheorigin,orunwrittenhistory,ofmosthamletsandcultivatedspotsyoufallinwithhere:theyarethewasteshavingsoftheBrook,workingmillionsofyears,foritsownobjectofgettingintotheElbeinlevelcircumstances。Ploughedfields,notwithoutfertility,areintheinterior,ifyouascendthatBrook;theHamlet,atthedeltaormouthofit,isasifbuiltuponitsTONGUEandintoitsGULLET:
  thinkhowpicturesque,intheNovemberrains,forexample!
  "Theroad"oneroad,"fromDresdentoAussig,toLobositz,Budin,Prag,runsuptheriver—brink(southbrink);or,inourday,asPrag—DresdenRailway,thundersthroughthosesolitudes;strangelyawakeningtheirechoes;andinvitingeventhebewilderedTouristtoreflect,ifhecould。ThebewilderedTouristseesrock—wallsheaven—highonbothhandsofhim;Riverandherushingonbetween,bylawofgravitation,lawofennui(whicharelawsofNatureboth),withanarrowstripofskyinfullgallopoverhead;andhaslittleencouragementtoreflect,exceptuponhisownsorrows,anddeliriouscircumstances,physicalandmoral。’Howmuchhappier,wereIlyinginmybed!’thinksthebewilderedTourist;——doesstrivewithaltoadmirethePicturesque,butwithlittlesuccess;
  noticesthe’BASTEI(Bastion),’andotherrigorouslyprescribedpointsoftheSublimeandBeautiful,whicharetobe’done。’
  ThatyouwillhavetoDO,myfriend:stepout,youwillhavetogoonthatPinnacle,withindifferentHotelattached;onthatironbalcony,aloftamongthecloudsyonder;andshuddertoprojectoverElbe—floodfromsuchaltitudes,admiringthePicturesqueinprescribedmanner。
  "ThisCountryhasforitspermanentuses,timber,free—stone,modicumofmilkandhaver,serviceabletothegenerality;——andtohisPolishMajesty,atpresent,itisastheveryArkofNoah:
  pricelessatthisjuncture;beingthestrongestmilitarycountryintheworld。Excellentstrengthinit;expressFortresses;especiallyoneFortresscalledtheKonigstein,notfarfromSchandau,ofatoweringprecipitousnature,with’awell900feetdeep’init,andpleasantVillageoutsideatthebase;——Fortresswhichisstill,inourday,reckonedasafeplacefortheSaxonArchivesandpreciosities。Impregnabletogunpowderartillery;nottobehadexceptbyhunger。Andthen,fartherdowntheRiver,closebyPirna,presidingoverPirna,asthatKonigsteininsomesortdoesoverSchandau,istheSonnenstein:SonnensteintoowasaFortressinthosedaysofFriedrich,butnotimpregnable,ifjudgedworthtaking。TheAustrianstookit,ayearortwohence;Friedrichretookit,dismantledit:’theSonnensteinisnowaMadhouse,’saytheGuide—books。
  "Sonnensteinstandscloseeastorup—streamofPirna,whichisatownof5,000souls,bymuchthelargestinthoseparts;
  Konigsteinalittledown—streamofSchandau,whichlatterisontheoppositeornorthsideoftheRiver。ThesearethetwochiefTowns,whichdoallthetradeofthisregion;picturesqueplacesboth:——
  theTouristremembersPirna?Standingonitssleektableorstair—
  step,bytheRiver’sedge;wellabovefloodmark;green,shaggyorfringymountainslookingdownonittorearward;infront,beyondtheRiver,nothingvisiblebutmile—longcream—coloredrock—wall,withbushesatbottomandtop,wallquarriedbyElbe,asyoucansee。Pirnaisnearthebeginning[properlyEND,butwestartfromDresden]orwesternextremityofSaxonSchweitz。Schandau,almostattheoppositeoreasternextremity,isstillmorepicturesque;
  standingonthedeltaofalittleBrook,withhighrock—cliffs,withgarden—shrubberies,sandedwalks,tuftsofforest—umbrage;
  abright—painted,almostOPERATIC—lookingplace,——withspa—waters,ifIrecollect:"yestruly,andthe"BathSeason"makingitspackagesingreathaste,breakingupprematurely,thisYear(1756)!——
  DirectlyonarrivingatGross—Sedlitz,FriedrichtakesocularsurveyofthisCountry,whichisalreadynotunknowntohim。
  HefindsthattheSaxonshavesecuredthemselveswithintheMountains;arockystreamlet,BrookofGottleube,whichissuesintoElbejustbetweenGross—Sedlitzandthem,"throughadellofeightyorahundredfeetdeep,"servingastheirfirstdefence;wellinfrontofthemererockyHeightsandprecipicesbehindit,whichstretchcontinuouslyalongtosouthward,sixmilesormore,fromPirnaandthesouthbrinkofElbe。AtLangen—Hennersdorf,whichisthesouthernmostpart,theseHeightsmakeanelbowinwards,byLeopoldshayn,towardstheKonigstein,whichisbutfourmilesoff;
  heretootheSaxonsaredefendedbyaBrook(runningstraighttowardsKonigstein,thisone)infrontoftheirHeights;andstanddefensive,inthisway,alongarock—bulwarkoftenmileslong:
  thepassesallsecuredbybatteries,byabatis,palisades,mileaftermile,asFriedrichridesobservantleftward:behindthem,Elberushingswifterthroughhisrock—wallsyonder,withchasmsandintricategorges;defendingtheminexpugnablytorear。Sixmileslongofnaturalbulwark(sixtoHennersdorf),wherethegrossoftheSaxonslie;thentoKonigsteinfourothermiles,sufficiently,ifmoresparsely,besetbythem。"Nostrongerpositionintheworld,"Friedrichthinks;[OEuvresdeFrederic,iv。83,84(notaverydistinctAccount;andfarfromaccurateinthedetails,——whichareleftwithouteffectualcorrectioneveninthebestEditions)。]——andthatitisimpossibletoforcethisplace,withoutalossoflifedisproportionateeventoitsimportanceatpresent。NottosaythattheSaxonswillmaketermsalltheeasier,BEFOREbloodshedrisebetweenus;——andfurthermorethatHunger(forweheartheyhaveprovisiononlyfortwoweeks)mayitselfsoondoit。"Wedgethemin,therefore;blockeveryoutgate,everyentrance;nothingtogetin,exceptgraduallyHunger。Hunger,andonourpartrationalOffers,willsuffice。"
  ThatisFriedrich’splan;goodinitself,——thoughtheovineobstinacy,andothercircumstances,retardedtheexecutionofittoanunexpectedextent,lamentabletoFriedrichandtosomeothers。
  ThePrussian—Saxonmilitaryoperationsforthenextfiveweeksneednotdetainus。TheirrespectivepositionsontheHeightsbehindthatBrookGottleube,andontheplainerCountryinfrontofit,——
  HowthePrussianslie,firstDivisionofthem,fromGross—SedlitztoZehist,undertheKing;thensecondDivisionfromZehisttoCotta,andonwardby"theRothschenke"(RED—HOUSETavern),byMarkersbach,andsparselyasfarasHellendorfonthePragHighway;
  inbrief,wherealltheDivisionsofthemlie,andunderwhom;
  andwherethePrussians,watchingElbeitself,haveBatteriesandPostsonthenorthsideofit:allthisismarkedontheMap;
  ——tosatisfyingenuouscuriosity,shoulditmaketourinthoseparts。TowhichaddonlythesestragglesofNote,asfartherelucidative:——
  "TheSaxons,betweenElbeandtheirLines,possessaboutthirtysquaremilesofcountry。FromPirnaorSonnensteintoKonigstein,asthecrowflies,maybefivemileseasttowest;butbyLangen—
  Hennersdorf,andtheelbowthere,itwillbeten:atKonigstein,moreover,Elbemakesanabruptturnnorthwardforacoupleofmiles,insteadofwestwardasheretofore,turningabruptlywestwardagainafterthat:sothattheSaxon’Camp’orOccupancyhere,isanirregularTrapezium,withPirnaandKonigsteinforvertices,andwithareaestimableasabove,——ploughable,afairportionofit,andnotwithoutcornofitsown。Sothatthe’twoweeks’provision’
  spunthemselvesout(shortallowanceaiding)totwomonths,beforeactualfaminecame……"TheHigh—roadfromtheLausitzpartscrossesElbeatPirna;
  fallsintotheDresden—PragHigh—roadthere;andfromPirnatowardsToplitz,forthefirstfewmiles,thislatterrunsthroughthePrussianPosts;butwemayguessitisnotmuchtravelledatpresent。NorthofElbe,too,thePrussianshavebatteriesonthefitpoints;detachmentsofdueforce,fromGross—SedlitzBridge—of—
  PontoonsallroundtoSchandau,orbeyond;couldfireupontheKonigstein,acrosstheRiver:theyhavepluggeduptheSaxonpositioneverywhere。TheyhaveaBatteryespecially,andstrongpost,tocannonadetheBridgeatPirna,shouldtheSaxonsthinkoftryingthere。ItisnowtheoneSaxonorevenHalf—SaxonBridge;
  SonnensteinandPirnacommandtheSaxonendofit,astrongbatterythePrussianend:aBridgelyingmainlyidle,likethegeneralHighwaytoToplitzatthistime。BeyondtheKonigstein,again,ataplacecalledWendisch—Fahre(WENDS’—FERRY),thePrussianshave,bymeansofboatsswingingwideatanchorontheswiftcurrent,whatiscalledaFlying—bridge,withwhichthenorthsidecancommunicatewiththesouth。TheyhaveapostatNieder—Raden(OBER
  Raden,railwaystationinourtime,isonthesouthside):
  NetherRadenisaninterestinglittleHamlet,mostlyinvisibletomankind(builtintheTHROATofthestonechasmsthere),fromwhichyoubeginmountingtotheBASTEIfaraloft。ARadentobenoted,bytheTouristandus。"
  Little,orevennothing,offightingthereis:whyshouldtherebe?
  Themilitaryoperationsareadead—lock,andrequirenoword。
  Thirtythousand,halfofthePrussianForce,lie,vigilantaslynxes,blockadinghere;otherhalf,32,000,underMarshalKeith,havemarchedforwardtoAussig,toNollendorfontheBohemianfrontier,tocleartheways,andlookintoanyAustrianmotionthereabouts,——withwhom,withsomePandourdetachmentofwhom,DukeFerdinand,leadingthevanguard,hashadalittlebrushamongtheHills;smitingthemhomeagain,inhisusualcreditableway(September13th);andtakingCampatPeterswalde,heandothersoftheForce,thatnight。[OEuvresdeFrederic,
  iv。85;ANONYMOUSOFHAMBURG,i。19。]ItiswiththisKeithArmy,withthisifwithany,thatadventuresaretobelookedforatpresent。
  PolishMajesty’sHead—quartersareatStruppen,wellinthecentreoftheSaxonlines;"goesalwaystotheKonigsteintosleep。"
  PolishMajesty’sowntableis,byFriedrich’spermissionforthatspecialobject,suppliedADLIBITUM:butthecommonmenwereatonceputonshortallowance,whichgrowsalwaystheshorter。
  PolishMajestycorrespondswithFriedrich,aswesaw;andaboveall,sendsburningMessagestoAustria,toFrance,toeveryEuropeanCourt,chargedwithmereshrieks:"Helpme;arobberhasme!"Inwhichsense,Excellenciesofallkinds,especiallyoneLordStormont,theEnglishExcellency,dailyrunningoutfromDresdentoGross—Sedlitz,arepassionatelyindustriouswithFriedrich;whoiseagerenoughtocomply,werethereanysafemeanspossible。
  Buttherearenone。Unfortunately,too,itappearstheAustriansareastir;FeldmarschallBrowneactuallyfurbishinghimselfatPragyonderwithaneyehitherward,andextraordinaryhasteandspiritshown:whichobligesFriedrichtoriseinhisdemands;
  ovineobstinacy,ontheotherside,naturallyincreasingfromthesamecause。
  "PolishMajesty,wesay,haslibertytobringinproviantforselfandsuite,rigorouslyfornomortalmore;andheliveswell,intheculinarysense,——surelyformostpart’inhisdressing—gown,’too,poorloosecollapsedsoul!Bruhlandhehaveplentyofformalbusiness:buttheironerealbusinessisthatofcrying,byestafettesandeveryconceivablemethod,toAustria,’Getusoutofthis!’TowhichAustriahasanswered,’Yes;onlypatience,andbesteady!’——Friedrich’shead—quartersareatSedlitz;andthenegotiatingandrespondingwhichhehas,transcendsimagination。
  Hisfirsthopewas,PolishMajestymightbepersuadedtojoinwithhim;——onthebackofthat,certainty,graduallycoming,thatPolishMajestyneverwould;andthattheAustrianswouldendeavorarescue,weretheyonceready。Starvation,ortheAustrians,whichwillbefirsthere?isthequestion;andFriedrichstudiestothinkitwillbetheformer。Atallevents,havingsettledonthestarvationmethod,andseenthatallhispostsareright,weperceivehedoesnotstickclosebySedlitz;butrunsnowhithernowthither;isatTorgau,whereanimportantestablishment,kindofNewGovernmentforSaxony,ontheFinanceside,isorganizingitself。WhathisworkwithAmbassadorswas,andhowdelicatethehandlingneeded,think!"——HereisanotherClipping:——……"PolishMajestypassesthedayatStruppen,amidmanyvainnoisesofSoldiering,ofDiplomatizing;thenightalwaysatKonigstein,andfinallybothdayandnight,——quiteluxuriouslyaccommodated,Bruhlandhe,totheveryendofthisAffair。
  TowardsStruppen[thisisweeksfartheron,butwegiveithere],——
  ComtedeBroglio[OldBroglio’selderSon,youngerisintheMilitaryline],whoisAmbassadortohisSaxon—PolishMajesty,setsoutfromDresdenforaninterviewwithsaidMajesty。AtthePrussianlines,heisinformed,’Yes,youcango;but,withoutourKing’sOrder,youcannotreturn。’’What?TheMostChristianMajesty’sAmbassador,andtreatedinthisway?IwillgotowherethePolishKingis,andIwillreturntomyownKing,sooftenasI
  findbusiness:stopmeatyourperil!’andthreatenedandargued,andmadeadealofblusterousnoise;——fartoomuch,thinksValori;
  thinkthePrussianOfficers,whoaresorry,butinflexible。
  MargrafKarl,Commandantoftheplace,inabsenceofKingFriedrich(whoisgonelately,onaBusinessweshallhearof),earnestlydissuadedExcellencyBroglio;butitwastonopurpose。NextdayBroglioappearedinhisstate—carriage,formallydemandingentrance,freethoroughfare:’Doyoudarerefuseme?’’Yes,’
  answeredMargrafKarl;’wedoandmust。’IndignantBroglioreappeared,nextday,onfoot;Lieutenant—GeneralPrinceFriedrichEugenofWurtembergthechiefmanincharge:’Doyoudare?’
  ’Indubitably,Yes;’——andBrogliostillpushingonincredulous,Eugenactuallyraisedhisarm,——elbowandfore—armacrossthebreastofMostChristianMajesty’sAmbassador,——whorecoiled,toDresden,inmerewhirlwindsoffire;andmadethemostofit[unwisely,thinksValori]inwritingtoCourt。[Valori,ii。349,209,353("Wednesday,6thOctober,"thedayofit,seemingly);
  ib。i。312,&c。]Court,inhighdudgeon,commandedValoritoquitBerlinwithouttakingleave。Valori,inhisprivatecapacity,wroteanAdieu;[Friedrich’skindLetterinanswertoit,"2dNovember,1756,"inValori,i。313。]andinhispublic,asthefactstood,ThathewasgonewithoutAdieu。"
  AndtheDauphiness,daughterofthoseinjuredPolishMajesties,fellonherknees(Pompadourpermittingandencouraging)atthefeetofMostChristianMajesty;onherknees,allinpassionoftears;cravedhelpandprotectiontoherlovedoldMother,inthenameofNatureandofallKings:couldanyKingresist?AndhisPompadourwasbusy:"ThinkofthatnobleEmpress,whocallsmeCOUSINANDDEARPRINCESS;thinkofthatinsolentPrussianRobber:
  Ah,yourMajesty:"—andKingLouis,thoughnotahatingman,didprivatelydislikeFriedrich;andevilspeechesofFriedrich’shadbeenreportedtohim。And,inshort,theupshotwas:KingLouis,boundonlyto24,000forhelpofAustria,determinedtosend,anddidsend,above100,000acrosstheRhine,nextYear,forthatobject;aswillbeseen。AndallFrenchmen——allexceptBelleisle,whoisold——arecharmedwiththesenewenergeticmeasures,andbeautifulnewAustrianconnections。
  Certainitis,theAustriansarecoming,herImperialMajestybentwithallhermightonreliefofthoseSaxonmartyrs;whichindeedisreliefofherself,asshewellperceives:"Courage,myfriends;
  endureyetalittle!"MessengerssmugglethemselvesthroughtheMountainpaths,andgoandreturn,thoughwithdifficulty。
  SinceSeptember19th,theCorrespondencewithPolishMajestyhasceased:nopersuadingofthePolishMajesty。Winterfeldwenttwicetohim;conferredatlarge,Bruhlforbiddentobethere,ontheactualstringenciesandurgenciesofFactbetweentheTwoCountries;butitwaswithnoresultatall。PolishMajestyhasnottheleastintentionthatSaxonyshallbeevenaHighwayforFriedrich,ifatanytimePolishMajestycanhinderit:
  "Neutrality,"therefore,willnotdoforFriedrich;hedemandsAlliance,practicalPartnership;andtothathisPolishMajestyiscompletelyabhorrent。Diplomatizingmaycease;nothingbutwrestleoffightwillsettlethismatter。
  Friedrich,abletogetnothingfromtheSovereignofSaxony,isreducedtograspSaxonyitself:andwecanobservehimdoingit;
  alwaysthecloser,alwaysthemorecarefully,asthecomplicacydeepens,andtheobstinacybecomesmoredangerousandprovoking。
  Whatalternativeisthere?OnfirstenteringSaxony,Friedrichhadmadenosecretthathewasnotamerebirdofpassagethere。
  AtTorgau,therewasatoncea"Field—Commissariat"established,withPrussianOfficialsofeminencetoadminister,theMilitaryChesttobedepositedthere,andTorgautobeputinastateofdefence。Torgau,ourSaxonMetropolisofWar—Finance,isbecomingmoreandmoretheMetropolisofSaxonFinanceingeneral。
  SaxonOfficialswereliable,fromthefirst,tobesuspended,onFriedrich’sorder。SaxonFinance—Officials,ofallkinds,werefromthefirstinstructed,thattillfarthernoticetheremustbenodisbursementswithoutKingFriedrich’ssanction。And,infact,KingFriedrichfullyintendsthatSaxonyistohelphimallitcan;
  andthatiteitherwillorelseshall,inthisdirepressureofperplexity,whichisdueinsuchadegreetotheconductoftheSaxonGovernmentfortwelveyearspast。WouldSaxonygowithhiminanyformofconsent,howmuchmoreconvenienttoFriedrich!
  ButSaxonywillnot;PolishMajesty,nothimselfsufferinghunger,isobstinateasthedecreesofFate(orassheep,whentoomuchputupon),regardlessofconsiderations;——and,infine,hereisBrowneactuallyafoot;comingtorelievePolishMajesty!——TheAustrianshaduncommonlybestirredthemselves:——
  Theactivity,thezealofallranks,eversincethisexpeditionintoSaxony,andclutchingofSaxonybythethroat,contemporarywitnessesdeclaretohavebeenextraordinary。"HorsesforPiccolomini’sCavalry,——theyhadscarcelygottheirhorses,nottospeakoftrainingthem,nottospeakofcannonandtheheavierrequisites,whenSchwerinbeganmarchingoutofGlatzonPiccolomini。AstothecannonforBrowneandhim,draught—cattleseemabsolutelyunprocurable。WhereuponMariaTheresaflingsopenherownImperialStuds:’There,yokethesetoourcannon;letthemgotheirswiftest;’——whichawokesuchanenthusiasm,thatnoblemenandpeasantscrowdedforwardwiththeircoach—horsesandtheircart—horses,torelayBrowne,allthroughBohemia,atdifferentstages;andthecannonandequipmentsmovetotheirplacesatthegallop,inamanner,"[Archenholtz,i。24。]——andevenBrowne,atthebaseoftheMetalMountains,hasgotmostofhisequipments。
  AndisastirtowardsPirna(Armyof60,000,rumorsays),forreliefoftheSaxonmartyrs。Friedrich’scomplexitiesaregettingdaybydaymorestringent。
  FromthemiddleofSeptember,MarshalKeith,aswasobserved,withHalfofthePrussians,DukeFerdinandofBrunswickunderhim,hasbeenontheBohemianslopeoftheMetalMountains;securingtheroads,townsandpassesthereabouts,andlookingoutfortheadvanceofMarshalBrownefromtheinteriorparts。TownofAussig,andtheRiver—road(castleofTetschen,onitshighrockknowntoTourists,whichalwaysneedstobetakenonsuchoccasions),theseKeithhassecured。LiesencampedfromPeterswaldetoAussig,themiddleormainstrengthofhimbeingintheHamletofJohnsdorf(discoverable,ifreaderslike):thereliesKeith,fifteenmilesinlength;likeastrap,orbar,thrownacrossthebackofthatMetal—
  MountainRange,——orpartofitsback;fortherangeisverybroad,andthereismuchinequality,andmanytroughs,bigandlittle,partialandgeneral,inthecrossingofit。AtractwhichmyreadersandIhavecrossedbeforenow,bythe"Pascopol"orPost—
  roadandotherwise;andshalloftenhavetocross!
  Browne,vigorouslyastirintheinterior(cannonandequipmentscomingbyrelaysatsuchapace),isdailyadvancing,withhisbestspeed:inthelastdaysofSeptember,BrowneisencampedatBudin;
  maycrosstheEgerRiveranyday,andwillthenbewithintwomarchesofKeith。HisintentionstowardsPirnaCountryarefixedandsure;buttheplanorroutehewilltakeisunknowntoeverybody,andindeedtoBrownehimself,tillheseenearathandandconsider。Browne’sproblem,hehimselfknows,isabundantlyabstruse,——borderingontheimpossible;buthewilltryhisbest。
  TogetwithinreachoftheSaxonsisalmostimpossibletoBrowne,evenweretherenoKeiththere。Asgoodasimpossiblealtogether,byanylineofmarch,whileKeithisafootinthoseparts。
  ByAussig,downtheRiver,straightfortheinterioroftheirCamp,itisflatlyimpossible:bythesouthorsoutheastcorneroftheirCamp(Gottleubeway),orbythenortheast(bySchandauway,rightbankofElbe),itisvirtuallyso,——atleastwithoutbeatingKeith。
  CouldonebeatKeithindeed;——butthatwillnotbeeasy!Andthat,unluckily,isthepreliminarytoeverything。
  "BytheHellendorf—Hennersdorfside,inthewasteswhereGottleubeBrookgathersitself,Brownemighthaveachance。There,onthatsoutheastcorneroftheirCamp,wereheoncetheretoattackthePrussiansfromwithout,whiletheSaxonsburstupfromwithin,——
  there,"thinksagoodjudge,"ismuchthefavorablestplace。
  ButunlessBrowne’sArmyhadwings,howisitevertogetthere?
  AcrossthoseMetal—Mountainranges,barredbyKeith:——byAussig,withtherocksoverhangingElbeRiverandhim,hecannotgoinauycase。WeretherenoKeith,indeed(buttherealwaysis,standingreadyonthespring),onemightholdtoleftward,andbystolenmarches,swift,farroundabout——!
  "BySchandauregion,northsideoftheElbe,isBrowne’seasiest,andindeedonefeasible,pointofapproach,——noPrussiansatpresentbetweenhimandthat;theroadopen,thoughafarcircuitnorthwardforBrowne,——werehetocrosstheElbeinLeitmeritzcircle,andmarchwithvelocity?Thattoowillbedifficult,——
  nearlyimpossibleinsightofKeith。Andwerethatevendone,theegressfortheSaxons,bySchandauside,isthroughstraitmountaingorges,intricatesteeppasses,crossingsoftheElbe:whatforceofSaxonsorofAustrianswilldrivethePrussiansfromtheirredoubtsandbatteriesthere?"[OEuvresdeFrederic,iv。86,93,96。]
  Browne’sproblemisnoneofthefeasiblest:buthisordersarestrict,"RelievetheSaxons,atallrisks。"AndBrowne,oneoftheablestsoldiersliviug("YourImperialMajesty’sbestgeneral,"
  saidthedyingKhevenhullerlongsince),willdohisutmostuponit。Friedrichdoesnotthinktheenterpriseverydangerous,——
  beatingofKeiththeindispensablepreliminarytoit;butwillnaturallyhimselfgoandlookintoit。
  Tuesday,September28th,FriedrichquitsPirnaCountrybythePragHighway;makingdueinspectionofhisPostsashegoesalong;
  and,theoutmostoftheseoncepast,drivesrapidlyuptheMountains;gets,withsmallescort,throughPeterswaldeontoJohnsdorfthatnight。DoesnotthinkthisKeithpositiongood;
  breaksupthis"CampofJohnsdorf"bodilynextmorning;andmarchesdowntheMountains,directtowardsBrowne;who,wehear,isaboutcrossingtheEger(hisPontoonsnowcomeatlast),andwillhimselfbeontheadvance。FromTurmitz,apoormountainhamletinthehollowoftheHills,whichishead—quartersthatnight,themarchproceedsagain;Friedrichwiththevanguard;Army,Ithink,onvariouscountry—roads,onbothhands;tillallgetupontheGreatRoadagain,——Prag—Toplitz—DresdenPost—road;whichiscalled,speciallyinthispartofit,andlooselyinwhole,"ThePascopol,"
  andleadsdowndirecttoBudinandBrowne。
  "A’Pascopol’famedinmilitaryannals,"saysourTourist。"Itisaroadwithmanywindings,manyprecipitoussweepsofupanddown;
  roadprecipitousinstructure;——offersviewstotheloverofwildNature:hugelonesomeHillsscatteredinthedistance;
  wasteexpansesnearerhand,andfutileattemptsatmoorishagriculture;butlittleelsethatiscomfortable。IntimesofPeace,youwillmeet,atlongintervals,somepost—vehiclestrugglingforwardundermelancholycircumstances;somecart,ordilapidatedmongrelbetweencartandbasket,withaleanoxharnessedtoit,andscarecrowdriver,ladenwithpit—coal,——whichyouwishsafehome,andthatthescarecrowweregettingwarmedbyit。ButinWar—timethesteeproadislivelier;thecommonInvasionroadbetweenSaxonyandBohemia;wholeArmiessweepingoverit,andtheirthousand—foldwagonsandnoisesmakingclangorenough……OneofthoseHollows,onthePascopol,isJoachimsthal,withitsoldSilverMines;yieldingcoinswhichwereinrequestwithtraders,thesilverbeingfine。’LetmyducatbeaJoachimsthalone,then!’theoldtraderwouldsay:’aJOACHIMSTHAL—ER;’or,forbrevity,a’THAL—ER;’whenceTHALER,andatlastDOLLAR(almightyandotherwise),——nowgoingroundtheworld![Busching,
  Erdbeschreibung,v。178。]PascopolfinishesinWelminaTownship。FromthelasthamletinWelmina,attheneckofthelastHill,stepdownwardonemile,holdingrathertotheleft,youwillcomeontheinnocentVillageofLobositz,itspoorcorn—millsandhuckster—shopsallpeaceablyunknownasyet,whichissoontobecomeveryfamous。"
  TheCountry—roadswhereFriedrich’sArmyisonmarch,Ishouldthink,aremostlyonthemountinghand。Forhere,fromTurmitz,isatroughagain;thoughthelastconsiderableone;andonthecrestofthat,weshalllookdownupontheBohemianPlainsandthegrandBasinoftheElbe,——throughvariousscrubbyvillageswhicharenotnameworthy;throughonecalledKletschen,whichforacertainreasonis。CrossingtheshoulderofKletschenberg(HILLofthisKletschen),whichabutsuponthePascopol,——yonderinbrightsunshineisyourbeautifulexpansiveBasinoftheElbe,andthegreenBohemianPlains,revealedforamoment。Friedrichsnatcheshisglass,notwithpicturesqueobject:"See,yonderisFeldmarschallBrowne,then!Incampyonder,downbyLobositz,nottenmilesfromus,——[itismosttrue;Brownemarchedthismorning,longbeforetheSun;crossedEger,andpitchedcampatnoon]——
  Good!"thinksFriedrich。AndpushesdownintothePascopol,intothehollowsandminortroughs,whichhideBrownehenceforth,tillwearequitenear。
  Quitenear,throughWelminaandacertainfinalgapoftheHills,Friedrichwiththevanguarddoesemerge,"anhourbeforesunset;"
  overhangingBrowne;notaboveamilefromtheCampofBrowne。
  AverylargeCamp,thatofBrowne’s,flankedtorightbytheElbe;
  goesfromSulowitz,throughLobositz,toWelhotencloseonElbe;——
  andhaspropertiesextremelywellworthstudyingjustnow!
  "Friedrich"theBookssay,"bivouacsbyafireofsticks,"shortwaydownonthesouthernslopeoftheHill;andtillsunsetandafter,haseye—glass,brain,andfacultiesandactivitiessufficientlyoccupiedfortherestofthenight;——hisDivisionsgraduallytakingpostbehindhim,underarms;"nottillmidnight,theveryrearmostofthem。"["Tuesday,28thSeptember,lefttheCampatSedlitz,with8battalions20squadrons,toJohnsdorf:
  29th,toTurmitz,——BrowneistopasstheEgertomorrow。FromthetopsofthePascopol(30th),SEEanAustrianCampinthePlainofLobositz。Vanguardbivouacsinthe’neck’ofthetwoHillsoralittlebeyond。"PRUSSIANACCOUNTOFCAMPAIGN1756(in
  GesammelteNachrichten,i。844—845,840—858);AnonymousofHamburg;
  &c。&c。]
  ChapterVI。
  BATTLEOFLOBOSITZ。
  Welmina,——orReschni—Aujest,lastpertinentofWelmina(butwewilltakeFriedrich’snameforit),offerstothescrutinizingeyenothing,inourday,butsomebewilderedmemoryof"AlteFritz"
  clingingobstinatelyeventothePeasantmindthereabouts。Asleepylitteryplace;somebiggishhaggarduntrimmedtrees,somebroken—
  backedsleepy—lookingthatchedhouses,notincontact,andeachasfarasmightbewithitsbackturnedontheother,andcloakedinitsownlitterandprivacy。Probablynohumancreaturewillbevisible,asyoupassthrough。Muchstrawlyingabout,chieflywherethefewgaunttreeslookdownonit(cattlegladofanyshelter):
  infact,itismainlyanextincttumultofstraw;nothingalive,asyoupass,butafewpooroxenlanguidlysaunteringupanddown,findingmuchtotrample,littletoeat。TheCzechPopulations(wereitnotforthat"QuestionoftheNationalities")arenotverybeautiful!
  ClosesouthofthispoorHamletisabigHill,conspicuouswiththreepeaks;quiteattheotherbaseofwhich,agoodwaydown,liesLobositz,themainVillageinthoseparts;aplacenowofassiduouscorn—millandfruittrade;andoneofthestationsontheDresden—PragRailway。ThisHilliswhatLloydcallstheLobosch;
  [Major—GeneralLloyd,HistoryofthelateWarinGermany,1756—1759(3vols。4to,London,1781),i。2—11。]twintowhich,onlyflatter,isLloyd’s"HomolkaHill"(HillofRADOSTITZinmoremodernPlansandBooks)。ConspicuousHeights,andimportanttoushere,——thoughIdidnotfindthePeasantsmuchknowthemunderthosenames。BythesouthernshoulderofthisLoboschHillrunstheroadfromWelminatoLobositz,withbranchestowardsmanyothervillages。Toyourrightorsouthernhand,shortwaysouthward,risestheotherHill,whichLloydcallsHomolkaHill;
  thegaporintervalbetweenHomolkaandLobosch,perhapsafurlonginextent,isessentiallythePASSthroughthoseuplands。
  Thispass,Friedrich,atthefirstmoment,madesureof;
  fillingthesamewithbattalions,theretobivouac。HelikewisepromptlylaidholdofthetwoHills,highLoboschtohisleft,andlowerHomolkatoright;whichprecautionarymeasureitisreckonedafaultinBrownetohaveneglected,thatnight;faultforwhichhesmartedonthemorrow。
  Fromthisuplandpass,orneckbetweenthetwoMountains,Friedrich’sbattalionswouldhavehadafineview,hadthemorningshoneforthem:Lobositz,Leitmeritz,Melnick;agreatfertileValley,orexpanseoffruitfulcountry,manymilesinbreadthandlength;Elbe,likeasilverstripe,windinggrandlythroughthefinestofallhiscountries,beforeduckinghimselfintotherock—
  tumultsofthatPirnadistrict。ThemountaingorgesofPragandMoldauRiver,southofMelnick,liehiddenunderthehorizon,orvisibleonlyaspeaks,thirtymilesandmoretosoutheastward;
  abrightcountryintervening,sprinkledwithsteepledtowns。
  Tonorthwestward,faraway,aretheLausitzMountains,rankedinlooseorder,butmassive,makingakindofrange:andasoutpoststothemintheirscatteredstate,Hillsofgoodheightandaspectarescatteredallabout,andbreaktheuniformityofthePlain。
  NowhereinNorthGermanycouldthePrussianbattalionshaveafinerview,——ifthemorningwerefine,andifviewsweretheirobject。
  Themorning,firstinOctober,wasnotfine;anditwasfarotherthanscenerythatthePrussianbattalionshadinhand!——Friday,1stOctober,1756,Dayshouldhavebroken:butwhereisday?Atseveninthemorning(andontilleleven),thickmistlayovertheplain;
  thinfogtotheveryhill—tops;sothatyoucannotseeahundredyardsahead。Lobositzisvisibleonlyasthroughacrape;
  fartheron,nothingbutgraysea;underwhich,whattheAustriansaredoing,orwhetherthereareanyAustrians,whocansay?
  LeftwardontheLobosch—Hillside,aswereconnoitre,somePandoursarenoticeable,nestledinthevineyardsthere:——thatsunwardsideoftheLoboschisallvineyards,belongingtothedifferentLobositzers:scrubbyvineyards,allinabrownpluckedstateatthisseason。Vineyardspartedbylowstonewalls,saythreeorfourfeethigh(partedbyhurdles,orbytinytrenches,inourday,andthestonewallsmerestonefacings):therearethePandourscrouched,andgivefireinakneelingposturewhenyouapproach。
  Lowerdown,nearLobositzitself,flickeringsasofHorsesquadrons,probablyHussarparties,twinkledubiousinthewaveringmist。Problemwraptinmist;nothingtobeseen;andalldependsonjudgingitwithaccuracy!Sevenbytheclock:Deploy,atanyrate;
  letuscoverourpost;andbeinreadinessforevents。
  Friedrich’svanguardofitselfnearlyfillsthatneck,orspacebetweentheLoboschandHomolkaHills。HespreadshisInfantryand"hundredfield—pieces,"inpart,rightwardsalongtheHomolkaHill;
  butchieflyleftwardsalongtheLobosch,wheretheirnearestdutyistodriveoffthosePandours。Alwaysasanewbattalion,pushingfartherleftward,comesuponitsground,thePandoursgivefireonit;——anditonthePandours;tilltheLeftWingiscomplete,andalltheLoboschis,inthismanner,acracklingofPandourmusketry。andanti—musketry。RightWing,steadytoitsgunsontheHomolka,hasasyetnothingtodo。ThosewingsofInfantryaretwolinesdeep;theCavalry,inthreelines,isbetweentheminthecentre;noroomforCavalryelsewhere,exceptontheoutskirtssomefringingoflighthorse,tobereadyforemergencies。
  ThePandourfiring,exceptforthenoiseofit,doesnotamounttomuch;theycantakenoaim,saysLloyd,crouchingbehindtheirstonefences;andthePrussianBattalions,steadilypushingdownwards,trampleouttheirsputtering,andcleartheLoboschofthemtoasafedistance。Butthegroundisintricate,sowraptinmistforthepresent。Thatcracklinglastsforhours;decisiveofnothing;andthemistalso,andone’sanxiousguessingsandscrutinizings,lastsinawaveringfitfulmanner。
  Once,forsometime,inthewaveringofthemist,therewasseen,downintheplainoppositeourcentre,abodyofCavalry。Horseforcertain:saytensquadronsofthem,or1,500Horse;continuallymanoeuvring,changingshape;nowinmoreranks,nowinfewer;
  sometimes"checkerwise,"formedlikeadraught—board;shootingoutwings:theycareerabout,oneseesnotwhither,orvanishagainintothemistbehind。"Browne’srear—guardthis,thatwearecomeupon,"thinksFriedrich;"thesesquattedPandours,backedbyHorse,mustbehisrear—guard,thatareamusingus:BrowneandtheArmyareoff;crossingtheElbe,hasteningtowardstheSchandau,thePirnaquarter,whilewestandbickeringandidlysputteringhere!"
  ——Wearyofsuchidlebusiness,FriedrichordersforwardTwentyofhisSquadronsfromthecentrestation:"ChargemethoseAustrianHorse,andletusfinishthis。"TheTwentySquadrons,precededbyapairoffield—pieces,movedownhill;storminupontheAustrianparty,stormitfuriouslyintothemist;arefuriouslychasingit,——whenunexpectedcannon—batteries,destructivecase—shot,awakenontheirleftflank(batteriesfromLobositz,onemayguess);
  andforcethemtodrawback。Todrawback,withsomeloss;andrankagain,inanindignantlyblowncondition,atthefootoftheirHill。Indignant;afterbriefbreathing,theytryitoncemore。
  "Don’ttryit!"Friedrichhadsentouttotellthem:forthemistwasclearing;andFriedrich,onthehigherground,sawnewimportantphenomena:butitwastoolate。FortheTwentySquadronsareagaindashingforward;sweepingdownwhateverisbeforethem:
  inspiteofcannon—volleys,theyplungedeeperanddeeperintothemist;comeupon"aditchtwelvefeetbroad"(bigswampydrain,suchasarestillfoundthere,grass—greeninsummer—time);clearsaidditch;forwardstilldeeperintothemist:andafterthreehundredyards,comeuponasecondfarworse"ditch;"plainlyimpassablethisone,——"ditch"theycallit,thoughitisinfactavilesedgyBrook,oozingalongthere(theMORELLBACH,considerableBrook,lazilywanderingtowardsLobositz,whereitdisemboguesinratherswifterfashion);——andaresalutedwithcannon,fromthefartherside;andseeserriedranksunderthegauzeofmist:Browne’sArmy,infact!TheTwentySquadronshavetorecoiloutofshot—range,thefaster,thebetter;withalossofagoodmanymen,inthosetwocharges。FriedrichordersthemupHillagain;muchregretfulofthissecondcharge,whichhewishedtohinder;andpoststhemtorearward,——wheretheystandsilent,theunconsciousstoic—
  philosophersinbuff,andhavelittlefartherservicethroughtherestoftheday。
  Itisnow11o’clock;themistallclearingoff;andFriedrich,beforethatsecondcharge,hadagrowingviewofthePlainanditscondition。Beyondquestion,thereisBrowne;notinretreat,byanymeans;butinfullarray;numerous,andhispositionverystrong。
  Ranked,unattackablemostly,behindthatoozyBrook,orBACHofMorell;whichhasonlytwonarrowBridges,cannonplentyonboth:
  oneBridgefromthesouthpartstoSulowitz(OURroadtoSulowitzanditwouldbebyRadostitzandtheHomolka);andthenoneotherBridge,connectingSulowitzwithLobositz,——whichlatterisBrowne’sownBridge,unitingrightwingandleftofBrowne,sotospeak;andisstillmoreunattackable,inthecircumstances。
  WhatwillFriedrichdecideonattempting?
  ThatoozyMorellBrookissuesonBrowne’ssideofLobositz,cuttingBrowneintwo;butisotherwiseallinBrowne’sfavor。
  BrowneextendsthroughLobositz;andbeyondit,curvesuptoWelhotenontheRiver—brink;atLobositzarevisibleconsiderableredoubts,cannon—batteriesandmuchregularinfantry。Brownewillbedifficulttoforceyonder,intheLobositzpart;butyonderalonecanhebetried。HeispushingupmoreInfantrythatway;
  consciousprobablyofthatfact,——andthattheLoboschHillisnothis,butanother’s。WhatwouldnotBrownenowgivefortheLoboschHill!Yesternighthemighthavehaditgratis,inamanner;
  andindeeddidtryslightly,withhisPandourpeople(durstnotatgreaterexpense),——whohavenowceasedsputtering,andcowerextinctinthelowervineyardsthere。Browne,atanyrate,israpidlystrengtheninghisrightwing,whichhasholdofLobositz;
  pushingforwardinthatquarter,——wheretheBrookwithalisoffirmerbottomandmorewadable。ThithertooisFriedrichbent。
  SothatLobositzisnowthekeyoftheBattle;therewillthetugofwarnowbe。
  Friedrich’scavalryisgonealltorearward。HisrightwingholdstheHomolkaHill,——thattoowouldnowbevaluabletoBrowne;
  andcannotbehadgratis,asyesternight!Friedrich’sleftwingisontheLobosch;Pandoursprettywellextinctbeforeit,butnowfromWelhotenquarternewRegularscomingonthither,——asifBrownewouldstilltaketheLobosch?Whichwouldbevictorytohim;butisnotnowpossibletoBrowne。Norwilllongseemso;——Friedrichhavingotherworkinviewforhim;——meaningnowtotakeLobositz,insteadoflosingtheLoboschtohim!FriedrichpushesouthisLeftWingstillfartherleftward,leftwardanddownwardwithal,toclearthosevineyard—fencescompletelyoftheiroccupants,PandourorRegular,oldornew。Thisisdone;thevineyard—fencesswept;——andthesweepingsdriven,inamoreandmorestormyfashion,towardsWelhotenandLobositz;theLoboschfallingquitedesperateforBrowne。
  HenceforthFriedrichdirectsallhisindustrytotakingLobositz;
  Browne,tothedefendingofit,whichhedoeswithgreatvigorandfire;hisbatteries,redoubts,doingtheiruttermost,andhisbattalionsrushingon,massofthemaftermass,atquickmarch,obstinate,fiercetoadegree,intheheightoftemper;andshowingsuchfightasweneverhadofthembefore。Friedrich’sLeftWingandBrowne’sRightnowhaveittodecidebetweenthem;——anyattemptBrownemakeswithhisLeftthroughSulowitz(asheoncedid,andonceonly)isinstantlyrepressedbycannonfromtheHomolkaHill。
  AndtherestoftheBattle,orrathertheBattleitself,——forallhithertohasbeenpickeeringandgropinginthemist,——maybemadeconceivableinfewwords。
  FriedrichordersthesecondlineofhisLeftWingtomarchupandjoinwiththefirst;RightWing,shovingITStwolinesintoone,isnowtocovertheLoboschaswell。LeftWing,incondensedcondition,shallfalldownonLobositz,anddoitsbest。Theyarenowclearofthevineyard—works;thegroundisleveller,thoughstillsloping,——athreefurlongsfromtheVillage,andsomewhattowardstheElbe,whenBrowne’sbattalionsfirstcameextensivelytoclosegrips;fierceenough(aswassaid);thetoughestwrestleyethadwiththoseAustrians,——comingonwithsteadyfury,undersuchforceofcannon;withironramrodstoo,andimprovedways,likeourown。Butnothingcouldavailthem;thecounter—furybeingsogreat。TheyhadtogoattheWelhotenpart,andeventorun,——
  plungingintoElbe,agoodfewofthem,anddrowningthere,inthevainhopetoswim。"Neverhavemytroops,"saysFriedrich,"donesuchmiraclesofvalor,cavalryaswellasinfantry,sinceIhadthehonortocommandthem。Bythisdead—liftachievement(TOURDE
  FORCE)Ihaveseenwhattheycando。"[LettertoSchwerin,"Lobositz,2dAugust,1756"(Retzow,i。64);RELATIONDELA
  CAMPAGNE,1756,thatis,PRUSSIANACCOUNT(inGesammelteNachrichten),i。848。Lloyd,UTSUPRA,i。2—11(whohassolidinformationatfirsthand,havingbeenanactorintheseWars。Amanofgreatnaturalsagacityandinsight;decidedlyluminousandoriginal,thoughofsomewhatcrabbedtempernowandthen;amanwellworthhearingonthisandonwhateverelsehehandles)。Tempelhof,GESCHICHTEDESSIEBENJAHRIGENKRIEGES(whichisatfirstamereTranslationofLloyd,nothingnewinitbutcertainnotesandcriticismsonLloyd;whenLloydends,Tempelhof,PrussianMajorandProfessor,alearned,intelligent,butdiffuseman,offarinferiortalenttoLloyd,continuesandcompletesonhisownfooting:sixverythin4tos,Berlin,1794),i。38(Battle,withFOOTNOTES),andib。51(CRITICISMofLloyd)。PrussianandAustrianAccountsinHelden—Geschichte,iii。
  800etseq。ManyNarrativesinFELDZUGE,andtheBEYLAGEtoSeyfarth;&c。&c。]
  Infine,aftersomethreehoursmoreofdesperatetuggingandstruggling,cannononbothsidesgoingatagreatrate,andinfinitemusketry("ninetycartridgesamanonourPrussianside,andammunitionfallingdone"),notwithoutbayonet—pushings,andsmitingswiththebuttofyourmusket,theAustriansaredrivenintoLobositz;arefuriouslypushedthere,and,inspiteofnewbattalionscomingtotherescue,arefairlypushedthrough。
  TheseVillage—streetsaretoonarrowfornewbattalionsfromBrowne;"muchoftheVillageshouldhavebeenburntbeforehand,"
  saycooljudges。Andnow,sureenough,itdoesgetburnt;
  Lobositzisnowallonfire,byPrussianindustry。SothattheAustrianshavetoquititinstantly;andrushoffingreatdisorder;keyoftheBattle,orBattleitself,quitelosttothem。
  ThePrussianinfantry,ledbytheDukeofBrunswick—Bevern("GovernorofStettin,"oneoftheDuke—Ferdinandcousinry,frugalandvaliant),gavethehighestsatisfaction;seldomwassuchfiring,suchfuriouspushing;theyhadspentninetycartridgesaman;wereatlastquiteoutofcartridges;sothatBevernhadtosay,"Strikeinwithbayonets,MEINEKINDER;butt—ends,orwhatwehave;HERAN!"OurGrenadiersweremainlytheythatburntLobositz。
  "Howsalutarynowwouldithavebeen,"saysEpimetheusLloyd,"hadBrownehadasmallbatteryontheothersideoftheElbe;"
  wherebyhemighthavetakentheminflank,andshornthemintothewind!EpimetheusmarksthisbatteryonhisPlan;andiswisebehindhand,atacheaprate。
  Browne’sRightWing,andprobablyhisArmywithit,wouldhavegonemuchtoperdition,nowthatLobositzwasbecomePrussian,——hadnotBrowne,inthenickofthemoment,madeamasterlymovement:
  pushedforwardhisCentreandLeftWing,numerousbattalionsstillfresh,tointerposebetweenthechasingPrussiansandthosefugitives。ThePrussians,infantryonly,cannotchaseonsuchterms;thePrussiancavalry,weknow,isfarrearwardonthehighground。Browneretiresamileortwo,——southward,Budin—ward,——notchased;andtherehalts,andrearrangeshimself;thinkingwhatfartherhewilldo。Hisaiminfightinghadonlybeentodefendhimself;andinthathumbleaimhehasfailed。ChaseofthePrussiansoverthatHomolka—Loboschcountry,withthehighgroundsrearwardandtheMetalMountainsintheirhands,hecouldinnoeventhaveattempted。
  Thequestionnowis:WillhegobacktoBudin;orwillhetryfarthertowardsSchandau?Naturepointstotheformercourse,insuchcircumstances;Friedrich,bywayofassisting,doesathingmuchadmiredbyLloyd;——detachesBevernwithastrongpartysouthward,outofLobositz,whichisnowhis,tolayholdofTschirskowitz,lyingBudin—ward,butbeyondtheBudinRoad。
  Whichfeat,whenBrownehearsofit,meanstohim,"GoingtocutmeofffromBudin,then?Frommyammunition—stores,frommyverybread—cupboard!"Andhemarchesthatsamemidnight,silently,ingoodorder,backtoBudin。Heisnotmuchruined;naythePrussianlossisnumericallygreater:"3,308killedandwounded,onthePrussianside;ontheAustrian,2,984,withthreecannontakenandtwostandards。"Notruinedatall;butfoiled,frustrated;andhastodeviseearnestly,"Whatnext?"Oncerearranged,hemaystilltry。
  TheBattlelastedsevenhours;thelastfourofitveryhot,tillLobositzwaswonandlost。Itwasabout5P。M。whenBrownefiredhisretreat—cannon:——cannonhappenedtobeloaded(saytheAnecdote—Books,mythicallygivennowandthen);Friedrich,weariedenough,hadflunghimselfintohiscarriageforamoment’srest,orthankfulreflection;andofallplaces,theballoftheretreat—
  cannonlightedTHERE。BetweenFriedrich’sfeet,ashelayreclining,——saytheAnecdote—Books,whomnobodyisboundtobelieve。
  OnthestrengthofthosetwoPrussiancharges,whichhadretiredfromcase—shotontheirflank,andhadnotwings,forgettingoversedgeandooze,Austriapretendedtoclaimthevictory。
  "Twochargesrepelledbyourgallanthorse;Lobositz,indeed,wasgotonfire,andwehadnothingforitbuttowithdraw;butwetookanewposition,andonlyleftthatforwantofwater;"——withthelikeexcuses。"Essentiallyaclearvictory,"saidtheAustrians;