首页 >出版文学> History of Friedrich II of Prussia>第87章
  GodlikefabulousAchilles,andtheoldGreekKingsofmen,oneperceives,afterstudy,tobedimenoughGrazierSovereigns,’livingamonginfinitedung,’tilltheirsacredPoetextricatedthem。AndourUNsacredall—desecratingDryasdust,——HerrDoctor,I
  mustsay,itfillsmewithdespair!AuthentichumanHeroisms,notfabulousawhit,buttruetothebone,andbyallappearanceverymuchnoblerthanthoseofgodlikeAchillesandpiousAEneasevercouldhavebeen,——leftinthismanner,troddenunderfootofmanandbeast;manandbeastalikeinsensiblethatthereisanythingbutcommonmudunderfoot,andgratefultoanybodythatwillassurethemthereisnothing。Oh,Doctor,oh,Doctor!Andtheresultsofit——Youneednotgoexclusively’toFrance’tolookatthem。
  Theyaretoovisibleintheso—called’SocialHierarchies,’andsublimegiltDoggeries,sltcredandsecular,ofallModernCountries!Letusbesilent,myfriend。"——
  "PrussianDryasdust,"hesayselsewhere,"doesmakeaterriblejobofit;especiallywhenheattemptstoweepthroughhispipe—clay,orrisewithhislongearsintothemoralsublime。AstotheGermanPeople,IfindthattheydimlyhavenotwantedsensibilitytoFriedrich;thattheirmultitudesofAnecdotes,stillcirculatingamongtheminprintandVIVAVOCE,areproofofthis。TherebytheyhaveatleastmadeaMYTHofFriedrich’sHistory,andgivensomerhythmus,lifeandcheerfulhumansubstantialitytohisworkandhim。AccepttheseAnecdotesastheEpicTHEYcouldnotwriteofhim,butwerelongingtohearfromsomebodywhocould。Whohasnotyetappearedamongmankind,norwillforsometime。Alas,myfriend,onpiercingthroughthebewilderingnimbusofbabble,malignity,mendacity,whichveilsseven—foldtheFaceofFriedrichfromus,andgettingtoseesomeglimpsesoftheFaceitself,oneissorrowfullystruckdumboncemore。Whatasuicidalsetofcreatures;commandingaswithonevoice,ThatthereshallbenoHeroismmoreamongthem;thatallshallbeDoggeryandCommon—
  placehenceforth。’ACH,MEINLIEBERSULZER,youdon’tknowthatdamnedbrood!’——Well,well。’Solomon’sTemple,’theMoslemssay,’hadtobebuiltunderthechirpingoftenthousandSparrows。’
  Tenthousandofthem;committeeofthewholehouse,unanimouslyoftheoppositeview;——andcouldnotquitehinderit。Thattooissomething!"——
  Moretoourimmediatepurposeisthisotherthing:ThattheAustrianshavebeeninCouncilofWar;and,ondeliberation,havedecidedtocomeoutoftheirdefences;toquittheirstrongCamp,whichliessoeligibly,aheadofBreslauandarearofLissaandofSchweidnitzWateryonder;tocrossSchweidnitzWater,leaveLissabehindthem;andmeetthisoffensivelyaggressiveFriedrichinpitchedfight。Severalhadvoted,No,whystir?——Daunespecially,andotherswithemphasis。"Noneedoffightingatall,"saidDaun:
  "wecandefendSchweidnitzWater;ruinhimbeforeheevergetacross。""Defend?BeassaultedbyanArmylikehis?"urgesLucchesi,theotherChiefGeneral:"Itistotallyunworthyofus!
  Wehavegainedthegame;allthehonorsours;letushavedonewithit。Givehimbattle,sincehefortunatelywishesit;wefinishhim,andgloriouslyfinishtheWartoo!"SoarguedLucchesi,withvivacity,persistency,——tohisownillluck,butevidentlywithapprovalfromPrinceKarl。Everybodysees,thisisthewaytoPrinceKarl’sfavoratpresent。"HavenotIreconqueredSilesia?"
  thinksPrinceKarltohimself;andbeamsapplauseonthehighcourse,notthelowprudentone。[Kutzen,pp。45—48。]Inaword,theAustriansdecideonsteppingouttomeetFriedrichinopenbattle:itwasthefirsttimetheyeverdidso;anditwaslikewisethelast。
  Sunday,December4th,atfourinthemorning,FriedrichhasmarchedfromParchwitz,straighttowardstheAustrianCamp;[Muller,p。26。]hehears,onecanfancywithwhatpleasure,thattheAustriansareadvancingtowardshim,andwillnotneedtobeforcedintheirstrongposition。Hismarchisinfourcolumns,Friedrichinthevanguard;quarterstobeNeumarkt,alittleTownaboutfourteenmilesoff。WithinsomemilesofNeumarkt,earlyintheafternoon,helearnsthatthereareathousandCroatsintheplace,theAustrianBakeryatworkthere,andengineerpeoplemarkingoutanAustrianCamp。"OntheHeightbeyondNeumarkt,thatwillbe?"
  thinksFriedrich;forheknowsthisground,havingoftendonereviewshere;toBreslauallthewayonbothhands,notaroodofitbutisfamiliartohim。Whichwasasingularadvantage,saythecritics;andapointtheAustrianCouncilofWarshouldhavetakenmorethoughtof。
  Friedrich,beforeenteringNeumarkt,sendsaregimenttoridequietlyrounditonbothsides,andtoseizethatHeightheknowsof。Heightonceseized,orreadyforseizing,heburststhebarrierofNeumarkt;dashesinuponthethousandCroats;flingsouttheCroatsinextremehurry,musketryandsabreactingonthem;
  theyfindtheirHeightbeset,theirretreatcutoff,andthattheymustvanish。Ofthe1,000Croats,"569weretakenprisoners,and120slain,"inthisunexpectedsweepingoutofNeumarkt。
  Betterstill,inNeumarktisfoundtheAustrianBakery,setupandinfullwork;——deliversyou80,000bread—rationshot—and—hot,whichlittleexpectedtogosucharoad。OntheHeight,theAustrianstakesandengineer—toolswerefoundstickingintheground;
  sohastyhadtheflightbeen。
  HowPrinceKarlcametoexposehisBakery,hisstaffoflifesofaraheadofhim?PrinceKarl,itisclear,wasalittlepuffedupwithhighthoughtsatthistime。ThecaptureofSchweidnitz,thelate"Malplaquet"(poorishAnti—BevernMalplaquet),captureofBreslau,andthelowandlostconditionofFriedrich’sSilesianaffairs,hadmoreorlessturnedeverybody’shead,——everybody’sexceptFeldmarschallDaun’salone:——andwittymess—tables,wealreadysaid,wereinthedailyhabitofmockingatFriedrich’smarchtowardsthemwithaggressiveviews,andcalledhisinsignificantlittleArmythe"PotsdamGuard—Parade。"[Cogniazzo,ii。417—422。]
  Thatwasthecommontriumphanthumor;naturallysharedinbyPrinceKarl;thereadywaytoflatterhimbeingtosinginthattune。
  Nobodyotherwisecanexplain,andnobodyinanywisecanjustify,PrinceKarl’signoranceofFriedrich’sadvance,hisalmostvoluntarylosingofhisstaff—of—lifeinthatmanner。
  MAPTOGOHERE——FACINGPAGE48,BOOK18continuation————
  PrinceKarl’ssoldiershaveeach(inthecoldform)threedays,provisionintheirhaversacks:theyhavecomeacrosstheWeistritzRiver(morecommonlycalledSchweidnitzWater),whichwasalsotheheightofcontemptuousimprudence;andlieencamped,thisnight,——
  inlongline,notill—chosen(oncetheRiverISbehind),——
  perpendiculartoFriedrich’smarch,sometenmilesaheadofhim。
  Sincecrossing,theyhadlearnedwithsurprise,HowtheirBakeryandCroatshadbeensnaptup;thatFriedrichwasnotatadistance,butnear;——andthatarrangementscouldnotbemadetoosoon!
  TheirpositionintersectstheGreatRoadatrightangles,aswehint;andhasvillages,swamps,woodyknolls;especially,oneachwing,gooddefences。TheirrightwingleansonNypernanditsimpassablepeat—bogs,aVillagetwoorthreemilesnorthfromtheGreatRoad;theircentreisclosebehindanotherVillagecalledLeuthen,aboutasfarsouthfromit:lengthoftheirbivouacisaboutfivemiles;whichwillbecomesixorso,hadNadastioncetakenpost,whoistoformtheleftwing,andgodownasfarasSagschutz,southwardofLeuthen。SevenbattalionsareinthisVillageofLeuthen,eightinNypern,alltheVillagessecured;
  woods,scraggyabatis,redoubts,notforgotten:theircannonarenumerous,thoughoflightcalibre。Friedrichhasatleast71heavypieces;and10ofthemareformidablyheavy,——broughtfromthewallsofGlogau,withterriblelabortoZiethen;butwithexcellenteffect,onthisoccasionandhenceforth。Theygotthenameof"Boomers,Bellowers(DIEBRUMMER),"thoseTen。Friedrichwasingreatstraitsaboutartillery;andRetzowSeniorrecommendedthishaulingupoftheTenBellowers,whichbecamecelebratedintheyearscoming。AndnowweareontheBattle—ground,andmustlookintotheBattleitself,ifwecan。
  ChapterX。
  BATTLEOFLEUTHEN。
  FromNeumarkt,onMonday,longbeforeday,thePrussians,allbutasmallpartylefttheretoguardtheBakeryandArmyProperties,areoutagain;infourcolumns;towardswhatmaylieahead。
  Friedrich,asusualinsuchcases,forobviousreasons,rideswiththevanguard。ToBorne,thefirstVillageontheHighway,issomesevenoreightmiles。Theairisdamp,thedimincipiencesofdawnstrugglingamonghaze;alittlewayonthissideBorne,wecomeonranksofcavalrydrawnacrosstheHighway,stretchingrightandleftintothedimvoid:AustrianArmythis,then?Pushuptoit;
  seewhatitis,atleast。
  ItprovestobepoorGeneralNostitz,withhisthreeSaxonregimentsofdragoons,famoussinceKolin—day,andacoupleofHussarregiments,standinghereasoutpost;——whooughttohavebeenmorealert;buttheycouldnotseethroughthedark,andso,insteadofcatching,arecaught。ThePrussiansfalluponthem,frontandflank,tumblethemintoimmediatewreck;drivethewholeoutpostatfullgallophome,throughBorne,uponNypernandtherightwing,——withoutnewsexceptofthissymbolicalsort。
  Saxonregimentsarequiteruined,"540ofthemprisoners"(poorNostitzhimselfnotprisoner,butwoundedtodeath[DiedinBreslau,thetwelfthdayafter(Seyfarth,ii。362)。]);andthegroundclearinthisquarter。
  Friedrich,onthefarthersideofBorne,callshalt,tillthemainbodyarrive;ridesforward,himselfandstaff,tothehighestofarangeorsuiteofknolls,somefurlongsahead;seesthereinfullview,farandwide,theAustriansdrawnupbeforehim。FromNyperntoSagschuitzyonder;milesinlength;andsodistinct,whilethelightmendedandthehazesfaded,"thatyoucouldhavecountedthem[throughyourglasses],manbyman。"AhighlyinterestingsighttoFriedrich;whocontinuesthereintheprofoundeststudy,andcallsupsomehorseregimentsofthevanguardtomaintainthisHeightandtherangeofHeightsrunningsouthfromit。Andthere,Ithink,theKingismainlytobefound,lookingnowattheAustrians,nowathisownpeople,forsomethreehourstocome。HisplanofBattleissooncleartohim:Nypern,withitsbogsandscrags,ontheAustrianrightwing,istortuousimpossibleground,ashewellremembers,nogoodprospectforusthere:bettergroundforusontheirleftyonder,atLeuthen,evenatSagschutzfarthersouth,whithertheyarestretchingthemselves。Attempttheirleftwing;
  tryour"ObliqueOrder"uponthat,withalltheskillthatisinus;perhapswecandoitrightlythistime,andprosperaccordingly!ThatisFriedrich’splanofaction。ThefourcolumnsoncegottoBorneshallfallintotwo;turntotheright,andgosouthward,eversouthward:——theyaretobecomeourtwoLinesofBattle,weretheyoncegottotherightpointsouthward。
  WelloppositeSagschutz,thatwillbethepointforfacingtoleft,andmarchingup,——in"ObliqueOrder,"withtheutmostfacultytheyhave!
  "TheObliqueOrder,SCHRAGESTELLUNG,"letthehastyreaderpausetounderstand,"isanoldplanpractisedbyEpaminondas,andrevivedbyFriedrich,——whohastrieditinalmostallhisBattlesmoreorless,fromHohenfriedbergforwardtoPrag,Kolin,Rossbach;
  butnevercould,inallpoints,getitrightlydonetillnow,atLeuthen,inthehighesttimeofneed。"Itisaparticularmanoeuvre,"saysArchenholtz,rathersergeant—wise,"whichindeedothertroopsarenow[1793]inthehabitofimitating;butwhich,uptothispresenttime,nonebutPrussiantroopscanexecutewiththeprecisionandvelocityindispensabletoit。Youdivideyourlineintomanypieces;youcanpushtheseforwardstairwise,sothattheyshallhaltclosetooneanother,"obliquely,toeitherhand;andso,onaminimumofground,bringyourmassofmentotherequiredpointattherequiredangle。Friedrichinventedthismodeofgettingintoposition;byitscloseranking,byitsdepth,andthemannerofmovementused,ithadsomeresemblancetothe"MacedonianPhalanx,"——chieflyinthelatterpoint,Ishouldguess;
  forwhenarrivedatitsplace,itisnodeeperthancommon。
  "Formingitselfinthisway,amassoftroopstakesupinproportionverylittleground;anditshowsinthedistance,byreasonofthemixeduniformsandstandards,atotallychaoticmassofmenheapedononeanother,"goinginrapidmazesthiswayandthat。"ButitneedsonlythattheCommanderlifthisfinger;
  instantlythislivingcoilofknottedintricaciesdevelopsitselfinperfectorder,andwithaspeedlikethatofmountainriverswhentheicebreaks,"——isuponitsEnemy。[Archenholtz,i。209。]
  "YourEnemyisrankedashere,inlongline,threeortwotoone。
  Youmarchtowardshim,butkeephimuncertainastohowyouwillattack;thendoonasuddenmarchup,notparalleltohim,butoblique,atanangleof45degrees,——swift,vehement,inoverpoweringnumbers,onthewingyouhavechosen。Rollthatwingtogether,ruined,inuponitsownline,youmayrollthewholefivemilesoflineintodisorderandruin,andalwaysbeinoverpoweringnumberatthepointofdispute。Provided,only,youareswiftenoughaboutit,sharpenough!Butextraordinaryswiftness,sharpness,precisionistheindispensablecondition;——bynomeanstryitotherwise;nonebutPrussians,drilledbyanOldDessauer,capableofdoingit。ThisistheSCHRAGEORDNUNG,aboutwhichtherehasbeensuchcommentatingandcontroversyingamongmilitarypeople:whetherFriedrichinventedit,whetherCaesardidit,howEpaminondas,howAlexanderatArbela;how"——Whichshallnotintheleastconcernusonthisoccasion。
  Thefourcolumnsrustledthemselvesintotwo,andturnedsouthwardonthetwosidesofBorne;——southwardhenceforth,forabouttwohours;asifstraighttowardstheMagicMountain,theZobtenberg,faroff,whichisconspicuousoverallthatregion。
  Theirsteadiness,theirswiftnessandexactitudewereunsurpassable。"Itwasabeautifulsight,"saysTempelhof,aneye—
  witness:"Theheadsofthecolumnswereconstantlyonthesamelevel,andatthedistancenecessaryforforming;allflowedonexact,asifinareview。Andyoucouldreadintheeyesofourbravetroopsthenobletempertheywerein。"[Tempelhof,i。288,287。]Iknownotatwhatpointoftheircourse,orforhowlong,butitwasfromthecolumnnearesthim,whichistobefirstline,thattheKingheard,borneonthewindsamidtheirfield—music,astheymarchedthere,thesoundofPsalms,——many—voicedmelodyofaChurchHymn,wellknowntohim;whichhadbrokenout,bandaccompanying,amongthoseotherwisesilentmen。Thefactisverycertain,verystrangetome:detailsnotveryprecise,exceptthathere,asspecimen,isaverseoftheirHymn:——
  "Grantthatwithzealandskill,thisday,IdoWhatmetodobehooves,whatthoucommand’stmeto;
  GrantthatIdoitsharp,atpointofmomentfit,AndwhenIdoit,grantmegoodsuccessinit。"
  "Giebdassichthu’mitFleisswasmirzuthungebuhret,WozumichdeinBefehlinmeinemStandefuhret,Giebdassich’sthuebald,zuderZeitdaich’ssoll;
  Undwennich’sthu’,sogiebdassesgerathewohl。"
  ["HYMN—BOOKofPorst"(PrussianSternhold—and—
  Hopkins),"p。689:"citedinPreuss,ii。107。]
  Onehasheardthevoiceofwaters,onehaspausedinthemountainsatthevoiceoffar—offCovenanterpsalms;butavoicelikethis,breakingthecommandedsilences,onehasnotheard。"Shallweorderthattocease,yourMajesty?""Bynomeans,"saidtheKing;
  whosehardheartseemstohavebeentouchedbyit,asmightwellbe。Indeedthereisinhim,inthosegrimdays,atoneasoftrustintheEternal,asofrealreligiouspietyandfaith,scarcelynoticeableelsewhereinhisHistory。Hisreligion,andhehadinwitheredformsagooddealofit,ifwewilllookwell,beiugalmostalwaysinastrictlyvoicelessstate,——nay,ultra—voiceless,orvoicedthewrongway,asistoowellknown。"Bynomeans!"
  answeredhe:andamomentafter,saidtosomeone,Ziethenprobably:"Withmenlikethese,don’tyouthinkIshallhavevictorythisday!"
  ThelossoftheirSaxonForepostprovedmoreimportanttotheAustriansthanitseemed;——notcomputableinprisoners,orkilledandwounded。TheHeightnamedScheuberg,——"BorneRise"(sowemightcallit,whichhasgotitsPillarofmemorialsince,withgiltVictoryatop[Nottill1854(Kutzen,pp。194,195)。];——whereFriedrichnowisandwheretheAustriansarenot,isatonceascreenandapointofvisiontoFriedrich。BylossoftheirNostitzForepost,theyhadlostviewofFriedrich,andnevercouldrecoverviewofhim;couldnotforhourslearndistinctlywhathewasabout;andwhenhedidcomeinsightagain,itwasinamostunexpectedplace!OnthefarthersideofBorne,edgeofthebigexpanseofopencountrythere,Friedrichhashalted;riddenwithhisadjutantstothetopof"theScheuberg(Shy—HILL),"astheBookscallit,thoughitismoreproperlyabluntKnollor"Rise,"
  ——thenearestofaChainofKnolls,orswellsintheground,whichrunsfromnorthtosouthonthatpart。
  ExcepttheZobtenberg,risingblueandmassive,onthesouthernhorizon(famousmythologicMountain,remindingyouofanARTHUR’S
  SEATinshapetoo,onlybiggerandsolitary),thisCountry,formanymilesround,hasnothingthatcouldbecalledaHill;itisdefinableasabarewide—wavingchampaign,withslightbumpsonit,orslowheavingsandsinkings。Countrymostlyunderculture,thoughitisofsandyquality;oneortwosluggishbrooksinit;andreedymeresormires,drainedinourday。ItisdottedwithHamletsoftheusualkind;andhaspatchesofscraggyfir。Yourhorizon,evenwherebare,islimited,owingtothewavyheavingsoftheground;
  windmillsandchurch—belfriesareyouronlyresource,andeventhese,fromaboutLeuthenandtheAustrianposition,leavetheBornequartermostlyinvisibletoyou。LeuthenBelfry,thesamewhichmayhavestoodahundredyearsbeforethisBattle,endsinasmalltile—roof,openonlyatthegables:——"LeuthenBelfry,"saysarecentTourist,"isofsmallresourceforaview。Tosouthyoucanseesomedistance,Sagschutz,LobetintzandotherHamlets,amidscraggyfir—patches,andmeadows,oncemirypools;buttonorthyouaresoonshutinbyaswellorslowrise,withtwowindmillsuponit[importanttoreadersatpresent];andtoeastward[BreslausideandLissaside],ortowestward[Friedrich’sside],onehasnoview,exceptoftheoldwarpedraftersandtheiroldmouldytileswithinfewinches;or,ifbyaudaciouseffortsateachend,totheriskofyourneck,yougetatransientpeep,itisstopt,farshortofBorne,bytheslowirregularheavings,withorwithoutfiraboutthem。"[Tourist’sNote,PENESME。]
  Inshort,FriedrichkeepspossessionofthatBorneridgeofKnolls,escortedbyCavalryingoodnumbers;twinklingaboutinanenigmaticway:——"Prussianrightwingyonder,"thinktheAustrians——
  "whitherward,orwhatcantheymean?"——andkeepshisowncolumnsandtheAustrianlinesinview;himselfandhismovementsinvisible,orworse,totheAustrianGeneralsfromanyspy—glassorconjecturetheycanemploy。
  TheAustrianGeneralsareinwindmills,onchurch—belfries,here,there;diligentlyscanningtheabstrusephenomenon,ofwhichsolittlecanbeseen。Daun,whohadalwaysbeenagainstthisadventure,thinksitprobablethevanishedPrussiansareretiringsouthward:forBohemiaandourMagazinesprobably。"Thesegoodpeoplearesmugglingoff(DIEGUTENLEUTEPASCHENAB),"saidhe:
  "letthemgoinpeace。"[Muller,p。36。]Daun,thatmorning,inhisreconnoitrings,hadaskedofapeasant,"Whatisthat,then?"
  (meaningthetopofaVillage—steepleinthedistance,butthoughtbythepeasanttobemeaningsomethingnearerhand)。"ThatistheHillourKingchasestheAustriansover,whenheisreviewinghere!"WhichDaunreportedathead—quarterswithagrin。
  [Nicolai,Anekdoten,iv。34。]
  Lucchesi,ontheotherhand,scanningthoseBorneHills,andthecavalryofFriedrich’sescorttwinklinghitherandthitheronthem,becomesconvincedtoamoralcertainty,ThatyonderisthePrussianVanguard,probableextremityofleftwing;andthathe,Lucchesi,hereatNypern,istobeattacked。"Attacked,you?"saidoneMontazet,FrenchAgentorEmissaryhere:"unlesstheyweresnipes,itisimpossible!"ButLucchesisawittoowell。
  Hesendstosaythatsuchistheevidentfact,andthathe,Lucchesi,isnotequaltoit,butmusthavelargereinforcementofHorsetohisrightwing。"Tush!"answerPrinceKarlandDaun;andreturnonlyargument,verbalconsolation,todistressedLucchesi。
  Lucchesisendsasecondmessage,morepassionatelypressing,tothelikeeffect;alsowiththelikereturn。Uponwhichhesendsathirdmessage,quitepassionate:"IfCavalrydonotcome,Iwillnotberesponsiblefortheissue!"AndnowDaundoescollecttherequiredreinforcement;"allthereserveofHorse,andagreatmanyfromtheleftwing;"——and,Daunhimselfheadingthem,goesoffataswifttrot;tolookintoLucchesiandhisdistresses,threeorfourmilestoright,fiveorsixfromwherethedangerlies。NowisFriedrich’sgoldenmoment。
  Wendingalwayssouth,ontheirwesternorinvisiblesideofthoseKnolls,Friedrich’speoplehavegottoaboutthelevel,orLATITUDE
  aswemightcallit,ofNadasti’sleft。ToRadaxdorf,namely,toLobetintz,orstillfarthersouth,andperhapsamiletowestofNadasti。FriedrichhasmountedtoLobetintzWindmill;andjudgesthatthetimeiscome。DaunandCavalryoncegottosupporttheirrightwing,andoursouthlatitudebeingnowsufficient,Friedrich,swiftasPrussianmanoeuvringcandoit,fallswithallhisstrengthupontheirleftwing。Formsinobliqueorder,——horse,foot,artillery,allperfectintheirpaces;andcomesstreamingovertheKnollsatSagschutz,suddenlylikeafire—delugeonNadasti,whohadchargethere,andwasexpectingnosuchadventure!
  HowFriedrichdidtheforminginobliqueorderwasatthattimeamysteryknownonlytoFriedrichandhisPrussians:butsoldiersofallcountries,gatheringthesecretfromhim,nowunderstandit,andcanlearnedlyexplainittosuchasarecurious。WillreaderstakeatouchmoreoftheDRILL—SERGEANT?
  "Yougostairwise(ENECHELON),"sayshe:"firstbattalionstarts,secondstandsimmovabletillthefirsthavedonefiftysteps;
  atthefifty—first,secondbattalionalsostepsalong;
  thirdwaitingforITSfifty—firststep。Firstbattalion[rightmostbattalionorleftmost,asthecasemaybe;rightmostinthisLeuthencase]doingfiftystepsbeforethenextstirs,andeachbattalioninsuccessionpunctuallydoingthesame:"marchalongontheseterms,——orhaltateitherend,whileyouadvanceattheother,——itisevidentyouwillswingyourselfoutoftheparallelpositionintoanydegreeofobliquity。Andfurthermore,merelybyhaltingandfacinghalfroundatthedueintervals,youshoveyourselftorightortoleftasrequired(alwaystorightinthisLeuthencase):andso——providedyouCANmarchasapairofcompasseswould——youwill,inthegivennumberofminutes,impingeuponyourEnemy’sextremityattherequiredangle,andoverlaphimtotherequiredlength:whereupon,Athim,inflank,infront,andrear,andseeifhecanstandit!"Abeautifulmanoeuvre"saysCaptainArchenholtz;"devisedbyFriedrich,"byFriedrichinheritingEpaminondasandtheOldDessauer;"andwhichperhapsonlyFriedrich’smen,tothisday,coulddowiththerequisiteperfection。"
  Nadasti,askilfulWar—Captain,especiallywithHorse,wasbeautifullypostedaboutSagschutz;hisextremeleftfoldedupEN
  POTENCEthere(elbowofitatSagschutz,forearmofitrunningtoGohlaueastward);POTENCEendinginfirwoodKnollswithCroatmusketeers,inditches,ponds,difficultground,especiallytowardsGohlau。Hehasastrongbattery,14pieces,ontheHeighttorearofhim,attheangleorelbowofhisPOTENCE;strongabatis,wellmannedinfronttorightwards:uponthis,andupontheCroatsinthefirwood,thePrussiansintendtheirattack。GeneralWedellisthere,PrinceMoritzaschief,withsixbattalions,andtheirbatteries,batteryof10Brummersandanother;ZiethenalsoandHorse:comingon,inswiftfire—flood,andatanangleofforty—
  fivedegrees。Mostunexpected,strangetobehold!Fromsouthwestyonder;aboutoneo’clockoftheday。
  Nadasti,thoughastonishedatthePrussianfire—deluge,standstohisarms;makes,infront,vigorousdefence;andeventakes,insomesort,theinitiative,——thatis,dashesouthisCavalryonZiethen,beforeZiethenhascharged。Ziethen’sHorse,whoarerightmostofthePrussians:andarebaretotheright,——groundofferingnobush,nobrookthere(thoughZiethen,foreseeingsuchdefect,hasaclumpofinfantrynearbytomendit),——reelbackunderthisfirstshock,comingdownhilluponthem;andwouldhavefaredbadly,hadnottheclumpofinfantryinstantlyopenedfireontheNadastivisitors,andpoureditinsuchfloodsuponthem,thatthey,intheirturn,hadtoreelback。Backthey,welloutofrange;——andleaveZiethenfreeforacounter—attackshortly,oneasierterms,whichwassuccessfultohim。For,duringthatfirsttussleofhis,thePrussianInfantry,toleftofZiethen,hasattackedtheSagschutzFirwood;clearsthatofCroats;
  attacksNadasti’sline,breaksit,theirBrummerbatterypotentlyassisting,andtherageofWedellandeverybodybeingextreme。
  Sothat,inspiteofthefineground,Nadastiisinabadway,ontheextremeleftoroutmostpointofhisPOTENCE,ortacticalKNEE。
  Roundtheknee—panorangleofhisPOTENCE,whereistheabatis,hefaresstillworse。Abatis,besweptbythosetenBrummersandotherBatteries,tillbulletandbayonetcanactonit,speedilygivesway。"TheyweremereWurtembergers,these;andcouldnotstand!"
  criedtheAustriansapologetically,atagreatrate,afterwards;
  asifanybodycouldwellhavestood。
  IndisputablytheWurtembergersandtheabatisaregone;andtheBrandenburgers,stormingafterthem,stormNadasti’sinteriorbatteryof14pieces;andNadasti’saffairsarerapidlygettingdesperateinthisquarter。FigurePrinceKarl’sscouts,gallopingmadlytorecallthatDaunCavalry!AustrianBattalions,plentyofthem,rushdowntohelpNadasti;buttheyaremetbythecrowdingfugitives,thechasingPrussians;arethemselvesthrownintodisorder,andcandonogoodwhatever。Theyarriveonthegroundflurried,blown;havenottheleasttimetotakebreathandorder:
  thefewestofthemevergotfairlyranked,noneofthemeverstoodaboveonepush:allgoesrollingwildlybackuponthecentreaboutLeuthen。Chaoscomeonus;——andallformerelackoftime:
  couldNadastibutoncestretchoutoneminuteintotwenty!Buthecannot。Nadastidoesnothimselflosehead;skilfullycoverstheretreat,tryingtorallyonceandagain。Notforthefirstfewfurlongs,tilltheditches,tillthefirwood,quagmiresarealldone,couldZiethen,nowontheopenground,fairlyhewin;
  "takewholebattalionsprisoners;"drivethecrowdinanaltogetherstormymanner;andwhollyconfoundthematterinthispart。
  PrinceKarl,hismessengersflyingmadly,hasstruggledasmanseldomdidtoputhimselfinsomepostureaboutLeuthen,togetupsomedefencesthere。Leuthenitself,thechurchyardofitespecially,isonthedefensive。Menarebringingcannontothewindmills,totheswellinggroundonthenorthsideofLeuthen;
  theydigditches,buildbatteries,——couldtheybutmakeTimehalt,andFriedrichwithhim,foronequarterofanhour。Buttheycannot。Bytheextremeofdiligence,theAustrianshaveinsomemeasureswungthemselvesintoanewposition,orimperfectLineroundLeuthenasacentre,——Lucchesi,voluntarilyorbyorder,swingingsouthwardsontheonehand;Nadastiswingingnorthwardsbycompulsion;——newLineatananglesayof75degreestotheoldone。
  Andhere,foranhourmore,therewasstifffighting,thestiffestoftheday;——ofwhich,takeonedirectglimpse,fromtheAustrianside,furnishedbyaYoungGentlemanfamousafterwards:——
  Leuthen,letuspremise,isalongHamletoftheusuallitterysort;withtworows,insomepartsthree,offarm—houses,barns,cattle—stalls;withChurch,orevenwithtwoChurches,aProtestantandaCatholic;goesfromeasttowestaboveamileinlength。WiththewrecksofNadastitumblingintoitpell—mellfromthesoutheast,andLucchesidesperatelyendeavoringtoswingroundfromthenorthwest,notquiteincoherently,andthePrussianfire—stormforaccompaniment,LeuthenisprobablythemostchaoticplaceinthePlanetEarthduringthathourorso(fromhalf—pasttwotohalf—pastthree)whiletheagonylasted。Atoneo’clockNadastiwasattacked;attwoheistumblinginmid—careertowardsLeuthen:
  IguessthedateofthisExcerpt,ortestimonybyaNotableEye—
  witness,maybehalf—pasttwo;crisisoftheagonyjustabouttobegin:andbeforefouritwasallfinishedagain。Eye—witnessistheyoungPrincedeLigne,nowCaptaininanAustrianRegimentofFoot;andstandinghereinthisperilousposture,havingbeencalledinaspartoftheReserve。Hesays:——
  "CryhadrisenfortheReserve,"inwhichwasmyregiment,"andthatitmustcomeonasfastaspossible,"——toLeuthen,westofusyonder。"Weranwhatwecouldrun。OurLieutenant—Colonelfellkilledalmostatthefirst;beyondthiswelostourMajor,andindeedalltheOfficersbutthree,——threeonly,andaboutelevenortwelveoftheVoluuteerorCadetkind。Wehadcrossedtwosuccessiveditches,whichlayinanorchardtoleftofthefirsthousesinLeuthen;andwerebeginningtoforminfrontoftheVillage。Buttherewasnostandingofit。Besidesageneralcannonadesuchascanhardlybeimagined,therewasarainofcase—
  shotuponthisBattalion,ofwhichI,astherewasnoColonelleft,hadtotakecommand;andathirdBattalionoftheRoyalPrussianFoot—guards,whichhadalreadymadeseveralofourregimentspassthatkindofmuster,gave,atadistanceofeightypaces,theliveliestfireonus。Itstoodasifontheparade—ground,thatthirdBattalion,andwaitedforus,withoutstirring。
  "TheAustrianregimentAndlau,atourrighthand,couldnotgetitselfformedproperlybyreasonofthehouses;itwasstandingthirtydeep,andsometimesitsshothitusontheback。OnmylefttheAustrianregimentMerciranitsways;andIwasgladofthat,incomparison。BynomethodoreffortcouldIgetthedragoonsofBathyani,whostoodfiftyyardsinrearofme,tocutinalittle,andhelpmeout,"——nogoodcuttinghereabouts,thinkthedragoonsofBathyani。"Mysoldiers,whowerestilltiredwithrunning,andhadnocannon(theseeitherfromnecessityorchoicetheyhadleftbehind),weregotscattered,fewerinnumber,andwerefightingmainlyoutofsullenness。Moreourhonor,thanthenotionofdoinggoodintheaffair,preventedusfromrunningoff。AnEnsignoftheregimentArberghelpedmeawhiletoform,fromhisandmyownfragments,akindofline;buthewasshotdown。TwoOfficersoftheGrenadiersbroughtmewhattheystillhad。SomeHungarians,too,wereluckilygottogether。Butatlast,as,withallhelpsandtheremnantsofmyownbraveBattalion,Ihadcomedowntoatmost200,IdrewbacktotheHeightwheretheWindmillis,"
  [Kutzenp。103(from"PrincedeLigne’sDIARY,i。63,GermanTranslation")。]——wheremanyhavedrawnback,andarestandinginshelteredplaces,ahundreddeep,sayourBooks。
  StifffightingatLeuthen;especiallyfurioustillLeuthenChurchyard,aplacewithhighstonewalls,wasgot。LeuthenVillage,weobserve,wascrammedwithAustriansspittingfirefromeverycoignofvantage;ChurchandChurchyardespeciallyareacitadelofdeath。CannonplayingfromtheWindmillHeights,too;——
  momentsareinestimable。ThePrussianCommander(namecharitablyhidden)atLeuthenChurchyardseemstohesitateinthemurderousfire—deluge:MajorMollendorf,namablefromthatdayforward,growling,"Notimethisforstudy,"dashesouthimself,"EINANDRER
  MANN(Followme,whoeverisaman)!"——smashesintheChurch—Gateoftheplace,ninemusketsblazingonhimthroughit;smashes,afteradesperatestruggle,theAustrianscleanoutofit,andconquersthecitadel。[Muller,p。42。]
  TheAustrians,onconfusedterms,madestiffdisputeinthissecondpositionforaboutanhour。ThePrussianReservewasorderedupbyFriedrich;thePrussianleftwing,whichhadstood"refused,"aboutRadaxdorf,tillnow:atonetimenearlyallthePrussianswereinfire。Friedrichishere,isthere,whereverthepresswasgreatest;
  "PrinceFerdinand,"whomwenowandthenfindnamed,asadiligentlittlefellow,andascertaintobehereinthisandotherBattlesofFriedrich’s,——"PrinceFerdinandatonetimepointedhiscannonontheBushorFir—ClumpofRadaxdorf;——anaide—de—campcametohimwithmessage:"YouarefiringontheKing;theKingisyonder!"
  AtwhichFerdinand[hisdearlittleBrother]ERSCHRACK,"oralmostfaintedwithterror。[Kutzen,p。110。]
  Stiffdispute;andhadtheAustrianspossessedthePrussiandexterityinmanoeuvring,andaFriedrichbeenamongthem,——
  perhaps?Butontheirownterms,therewasfromthefirstlittlehopeinit。"BehindtheWindmillstheyareahundredmendeep;"
  byandby,yourWindmills,riddledtopieces,havetobeabandoned;
  thePrussianleftwingrushingonwithbayonets,willnotallofyouhavetogo?Lucchesi,withhisabundantCavalry,seeingthislattermovementandthePrussianflankbareinthatpart,willdoastrokeuponthem;——andthisprovedproperlythefinaleofthematter,finaletobothLucchesiandit。
  ThePrussianflankwastoappearancebareinthatleftwardquarter;
  butonlytoappearance:DriesenwiththeleftwingofHorseisinaHollowhardby;strictlychargedbyFriedrichtoprotectsaidflank,andtakenothingelseinhand。DriesenletsLucchesigallopby,inthiscareerofhis;thenemerges,ranked,andcomesstorminginuponLucchesi’sback,——entirelyconfoundinghisastonishedCavalryandtheircareer。AstonishedCavalry,bullet—stormonthissideofthem,edgeofswordonthat,takewinginalldirections(orallexcepttowestandsouth)quiteoverthehorizon;
  Lucchesihimselfgetskilled,——crossesastillwiderhorizon,poorman。Hebegantheruin,andheendsit。FornowDriesentakesthebaredAustriansinflank,inrear;andallgoestumblingheretoo,andinfewminutesisageneraldelugerearwardtowardsSaaraandLissaside。
  AtSaaratheAustrians,sunjustsinking,madeathirdattempttostand;butitwashopelesslyfaintthistime;wentallasunderatthefirstpush;andflowedthen,torrent—wise,towardsallitsBridgesovertheSchweidnitzWater,towardsBreslaubyeverymethod。TherearefourBridges,StabelwitzbelowLissa;
  Goldschmieden,Hermannsdorf,above;andthemainoneatLissaitself,astandingBridgeontheHighroad(alsoofwood);andbythisthechieftorrentflows;Prussianhorsepursuingvigorously;
  PrussianInfantrydrawnupatSaara,restingsomeminutes,aftersuchaday’swork。[Archenholtz,i。209;Seyfarth,
  Beylagen,ii。243—252(byaneye—witness,intelligentsuccinctAccountoftheBattleandpreviousMarch;ib。252—272,oftheSieges&c。following);Preuss,ii。112,&c。;Tempelhof,i。276。]
  Trulyamemorablebitofwork;nofinerdoneforahundredyears,orforhundredsofyears;andtheresultsofitmanifold,immediateandremote。About10,000Austriansareleftonthefield,3,000ofthemslain;prisonersalready12,000,inashorttime21,000;
  flags51,cannon116;——"ConquestofSilesia"gonetowater;
  PrinceKarlandAustriafallenfromtheirhighhopesinoneday。
  ThePrussianslostinkilled1,141,inwounded5,118;85hadbeentakenprisonersaboutSagschutzandGohlau,inthefirststrugglethere。[Kutzen,pp。118,125。]ThereandatLeuthenVillagehadbeenthetwotoughpassages;aboutanhoureach;inthreehourstheBattlewasdone。"MEINEHERREN,"saidFriedrichthatnightatparole,"aftersuchaspellofwork,youdeserverest。Thisdaywillbringtherenownofyourname,andoftheNation’s,tothelatestposterity。"
  Highandlowhadshonethisday;especiallythesefour:
  Ziethen,Driesen,Retzow,——andaboveallMoritzofDessau。
  Ridinguptheline,asnightfell,Friedrich,inpassingMoritzandtherightwing,drewbridleforaninstant:"IcongratulateyouontheVictory,HerrFeldmarschall!"criedhecheerily,andwithemphasisonthelastword。Moritz,stillverybusy,answeredslightly;andFriedrichrepeatedlouder,"Don’tyouhearthatI
  congratulateyou,HerrFELDMARSCHALL!"——agladsoundtoMoritz,whoeversinceKolinhadstoodratherintheshadow。"Youhavehelpedme,andperformedeveryorder,asnoneeverdidbeforeinanybattle,"addedthegratefulKing。
  Ridinguptheline,allnowgrowndusky,Friedrichasks,"AnybattalionamindtofollowmetoLissa?"Threebattalionsvolunteering,followhim;threeareplenty。AtSaara,ontheGreatRoad,thingsarefallenutterlydark。"Landlord,bringalantern,andescort。"LandlordofthepoorTavernatSaaraescortsobediently;lanterninhisrighthand,lefthandholdingbytheKing’sstirrup—leather,——King(ExcellencyorGeneral,astheLandlordthinkshim)wishingtospeakwiththeman。WillthereaderconsenttotheirDialogue,whichisdullish,butsingulartohaveinanauthenticform,withNicolaiasvoucher?[Anekdoten,iii。231—235。]Likesomepooroldhorse—shoe,plougheduponthefield。Twofarthingsworthofrustyoldiron;nowlittleotherthanacurveofbrownrust:butitgallopedattheBattleofLeuthen;
  thatissomething!——
  KING。"Comenear;catchmebythestirrup—leather[Landlordwithlanterndoesso]。WeareontheBreslauGreatRoad,thatgoesthroughLissa,aren’twe?"
  LANDLORD。"Yea,Excellenz。"
  KING。"Whoareyou?"
  LANDLORD。"YourExcellenz,IamtheKRATSCHMER[SilesianforLandlord]atSaara。"
  KING。"Youhavehadagreatdealtosuffer,Isuppose。"
  LANDLORD。"ACH,yourExcellenz,hadnotI!Forthelasteight—and—
  fortyhours,sincetheAustrianscameacrossSchweidnitzWater,mypoorhousehasbeencrammedtothedoorwiththem,somanyservantstheyhave;andsuchabullyingandtumbling:——theyhavedrivenmehalfmad;andIamcleanplunderedout。"
  KING。"Iamsorryindeedtohearthat!——WerethereGeneralstooinyourhouse?Whatsaidthey?Tellme,then。"
  LANDLORD。"Withpleasure,yourExcellenz。Well;yesterdaynoon,I
  hadPrinceKarlinmyparlor,audhisAdjutantsandpeopleallcrowdingabout。Suchaquestioningaudbothering!Hundredscamedashingin,andotherhundredsweresentout:inandouttheywentallnight;nosoonerwasonegone,thantencame。Ihadtokeeparoaringfireinthekitchenallnight;somanyOfficerscrowdingtoittowarmthemselves。Andtheytalkedandbabbledthisandthat。
  Onewouldsay,ThatourKingwascomingon,then,’withhisPotsdamGuard—Parade。’Anotheranswers,’OACH,hedaren’tcome!Hewillrunforit;wewilllethimrun。’Butnowmydelightis,ourKinghaspaidthemtheirfooleriessoprettilythisafternoon!"
  KING。"Whengotyouridofyourhighguests?"
  LANDLORD。"AboutninethismorningthePrincegottohorse;andnotlongafterthree,hecamepastagain,withaswarmofOfficers;
  allgoingfullspeedforLissa。Sofullofbraggingwhentheycame;
  andnowtheywereoff,wrongsideforemost!Isawhowitwas。
  Andeverafterhim,thefloodofthemran,Highroadnotbroadenough,——anhourandmorebeforeitended。Suchapell—mell,suchawelter,cavalryandmusketeersalljumbled:ourKingmusthavegiventhemadreadfullathering。Thatiswhattheyhavegotbytheirbraggingandtheirlying,——for,yourExcellenz,thesepeoplesaidtoo,’OurKingwasforsakenbyhisownGenerals,allhisfirstpeoplehadgoneandlefthim:’whatIneverinthisworldwillbelieve。"
  KING(notlikingevenrumorofthatkind)。"Thereyouareright;
  nevercansuchathingbebelievedofmyArmy。"
  LANDLORD(whomthis"MY"hastransfixed)。"MEINGOTT,youareourGNADIGSTERKONIG(mostgraciousKing)yourself!Pardon,pardon,if,inmystupidity,Ihave——"
  KING。"No,youareanhonestman:——probablyaProtestant?"
  LANDLORD。"JOA,JOA,IHRMAJESTAT,IamofyourMajesty’screed!"
  Crack—crack!AtthispointtheDialogueiscutshortbysuddenmusket—shotsfromthewoodyfieldstoright;crackleofabouttwelveshotsinall;whichhurtnothingbutsomehorse’sfeet,——hadbeenaimedatthelight,andtoolow。Instantlythelightisblownout,andthereisahuntingoutofCroats;Lissaorenvironsnotevacuatedyet,itseems;andtheKing’sEntrancetakesplaceundervolleyingsandcannonadings。
  KingridesdirectlytotheSchloss,whichisstillafinehandsomehouse,offtheonestreetofthatpoorVillage,——northsideofstreet;wellrailedoff,anditsoldditchesauddefencesnowtrimmedintoflower—plots。TheSchlossisfullofAustrianOfficers,bustlingabout,intendingtoquarter,whentheKingenters。They,andtheforcetheystillhadinLissa,couldeasilyhavetakenhim:buthowcouldtheyknow?Friedrichwassurprised;
  buthadtoputthebestfaceonit。[InKutzen(pp。121,209etseq。)explanationofthetruecircumstances,andsourceofthemistake。]"BONSOIR,MESSIEURS!"saidhe,withagaytone,steppingin:"Istherestillroomleft,thinkyou?"TheAustrians,bowingtothedust,makewayreverentlytothedivinitythathedgesaKingofthissort;mutelyescorthimtothebestroom(suchthepopularaccount);andforcertainmakeoff,theyandtheirs,towardstheBridge,whichliesalittlefarthereast,attheendoftheVillage。
  WeistritzorSchweidnitzWaterisabiggishmuddystreaminthatpart;gushingandeddying;notvoiceless,vexedbymillsandtheirweirs。SomefiringtherewasfromCroatsinthelowerhousesoftheVillage,andtheyhadacannonatthefartherbridge—end;buttheyweregladtogetaway,andvanishinthenight;muddyWeistritzsinginghoarseadieutotheircannonandthem。Prussiangrenadiersplungedindignantintothehouses;madeshortworkofthemusketriesthere。InfewminuteseveryCroatandAustrianwasacross,orsilencedotherwisetoowell;Prussiancannonnowgoingintherearofthem,andcontinuingtogo,——suchhadbeentheorder,"tillthepowderyouhaveisdone。"Fireofmusketryandoccasionalcannonlastsallnight,fromtheLissaorPrussiansideoftheRiver,——"lesttheyburnthisBridge,orattemptsomemischief。"Athingfarfromtheirthoughts,inpresentcircumstances。
  ThePrussianhostatSaara,hearingthesenoises,tooktoitsarmsagain;andmarchedaftertheKing。Thickdarkness;silence;
  tramp,tramp:——aPrussiangrenadierbrokeout,withsolemntenorvoiceagain,intoChurch—Music;aknownChurch—Hymn,ofthehomelyTE—DEUMkind;inwhichfive—and—twentythousandothervoices,andalltheregimentalbands,soonjoin:——
  "NundunketalleGottMitHerzen,MundundHanden,DergrosseDingethutAnunsundallenEnden。"[Muller,p。48。]
  "NowthankGod,oneandall,Withheart,withvoice,withhands—a,WhowondersgreathathdoneTousandtoalllands—a。"
  Andthustheyadvance;melodious,far—sounding,throughthehollowNight,oncemoreinahighlyremarkablemanner。Apiouspeople,ofrightTeutschstuff,tenderthoughstout;and,exceptperhapsOliverCromwell’shandfulofIronsides,probablythemostperfectsoldierseverseenhitherto。ArrivingattheendofLissa,andfindingallsafeasitshouldbethere,theymaketheirbivouac,theirparallelogramoftwolines,mileslongacrossthefields,leftwingrestingonLissa,rightonGuckerwitz;and——having,I
  shouldthink,atleasttobaccotodependon,withabundantstick—
  fires,andhealthyjoyfulhearts——passthenightinathankful,comfortablemanner。
  LeuthenwasthemostcompleteofallFriedrich’svictories;
  twohoursmoreofdaylight,asFriedrichhimselfsays,anditwouldhavebeenthemostdecisiveofthiscentury。[OEuvresdeFrederic,iv。167。]Asitwas,theruinofthisbigArmy,80,000against30,000,["89,200wastheAustrianstrengthbeforetheBattle"(deducttheGarrisonsofSchweidnitzandLiegnitz):Preuss,ii。109(fromtheSTAFF—OFFICERS)。]wasasgoodastotal;andaworldofAustrianhopessuddenlycollapsed;andalltheirSilesianApparatus,makingsureofSilesiabeyondanIF,wastumbledintowreck,——bythisonestrokeithadgot,smitingthecorner—stoneofitasifwithunexpectedlightning。OnthemorrowafterLeuthen,FriedrichlaidsiegetoBreslau;Karlhadleftagarrisonof17,000init,andastoutCaptain,oneSprecher,determinedondefence:suchinterestshungonBreslau,suchimmensitiesofstoreswereinit,hadtherebeennothingelse。
  Friedrich,pushingwithallhisstrength,inspiteofbadweatherandofSprecher’sindustriousdefence,gotitintwelvedays。
  [7th—19thDecember:DIARIUM,&c。ofitinHelden—
  Geschichte,iv。955—961。]Sprecherhadpostedplacardsonthegallowsandupanddown,terrificallyproclaimingthatanymanconvictedofmentioningsurrendershouldbeinstantlyhanged:
  butFriedrich’sbombardmentwasstrong,hisassaultscontinual;
  andtheditcheswerethreateningtofreeze。Ontheseventhdayofthesiege,aLaboratoriumblewup;ontheninth,aPowder—Magazine,carryingalumpoftherampartawaywithit。Sprecherhadtocapitulate:PrisonersofWar,we17,000;ourcannons,ammunitions(mostopulent,includingwhatwetookfromBevernlately);
  these,weandBreslaualtogether,alas,itisallyoursagain。
  LiegnitzGarrison,seeingnohope,consentedtowithdrawonleave。
  [26thDecember:Helden—Geschichte,iv。1016。]
  SchweidnitzcannotbebesiegedtillSpringcome:exceptSchweidnitz,MariaTheresa,thehighKaiserinn,hasnofootofgroundinSilesia,whichshethoughttobehersagain。
  Goneutterly,Patentsandall;Schweidnitzalonewaitingtillspring。TothelivelyjoyofSilesiaingeneral;tothethrice—
  livelysorrowandalarmofcertainindividuals,leadingCatholicEcclesiasticsmainly,whohadmisreadthesignsofthetimesinlatemonths!ThereisoneSchaffgotsch,Archbishoporhead—manofthem,especially,whoisnowinabadway。Neverwassuchroyalfavor;neversuchingratitude,saytheBooksatwearisomelength。
  Schaffgotschwasashowymanofquality,nephewofthequondamAustrianGovernor,whomFriedrich,acrossagooddealofPapalandotheropposition,gotpushedintotheCatholicPrimacy,andtooksomepainstomakecomfortablethere,——OrderoftheBlackEagle,guestatPotsdam,andthelike;——havingakindoffancyfortheairySchaffgotsch,aswellasjudginghimsuitableforthisSilesianHigh—Priesthood,withhismoderateideasandqualityways,——whichIhaveheardwerealittledissolutewithal。TothewholeofwhichSchaffgotschprovedsignallytraitorousandingrate;
  andhadpluckedofftheBlackEagle(saytheBooks,nearlybreathlessoversuchasacrilege)onsomepublicoccasion,priortoLeuthen,andtrampleditunderhisfeet,theunworthyfellow。
  Schaffgotsch’spatheticLettertoFriedrich,inthenewdaysposteriortoLeuthen,andFriedrich’scontemptuousinexorableanswer,wecouldgive,butdonot:whyshouldwe?OKing,Iknowyourdifficulties,andwhatepochitis。But,ofatruth,yourairydissoluteSchaffgotsch,asagrateful"ArchbishopandGrand—Vicar,"
  isalmostugliertomethanasaTraitorungratefulforit;
  andshallgototheDevilinhisownway!TheywouldnothavehiminAustria;hewasnotwellreceivedatRome;happilydiedbeforelong。[Preuss,ii。113,114;Kutzen,pp。12,155—160,fortherealparticculars。]FriedrichwasnotcrueltoSchaffgotschortheothers,contemptuouslymildrather;butheknewhenceforthwhattoexpectofthem,andslightlychangedthisandthatinhisSilesianmethodsinconsequence。
  OfPrinceKarlletusaddaword。OnthemorrowafterLeuthen,CaptainPrincedeLigneandoldPapaD’AhrembergcouldfindlittleornoArmy;theysteptacrosstoGrabschen,avillageonthesafesideoftheLohe,andtherefoundKarlandDaun:"rathersilent,both;oneofthemlooking,’Whowouldhavethoughtit!’theother,’Didn’tItellyou?’"——andknowingnothing,theyeither,wheretheArmywas。Armywas,infact,asyetnowhere。"Croatfellows,inthisFarmsteadofours,"saysDeLigne,"hadfallentoshootingpigeons。"Thenighthadbeenunusuallydark;theAustrianArmyhadsquattedintowoods,intooffice—houses,farm—villages,overawidespaceofcountry;andonlyasthedayrose,begantodribblein。
  Bycount,theyarestill50,000;butheart—broken,beatenasmenseldomwere。"Whatsoundisthat?"menaskedyesterdayatBrieg,fortymilesoff;andnobodycouldsay,exceptthatitwassomehugeBattle,fatefulofSilesiaandtheworld。Breslauhaditlouder;
  Breslauwasstillmoreanxious。"WhatISallthat?"askedsomebody(mightbeDeblintheShoemaker,foranythingIknow)ofanAustriansentrythere:"That?ThatisthePrussiansgivingussuchabeatingasweneverhad。"WhatnewsforDeblintheShoemaker,ifheisstillaboveground!——
  "PrinceKarl,gatheringhisdistractedfragments,put17,000intoBreslaubywayofamplegarrisonthere;andwiththerestmadeoffcircuitouslyforSchweidnitz;thenceforLandshut,anddowntheMountains,hometoKonigsgratz,——selfandArmyinthemostwreckedcondition。ChasedbyZiethen;Ziethen(stickingalwaystothehocksofthem,’asFriedricheagerlyenjoinsonhim;orsometimesitis,’sittingonthebreechesofthem:’foraboutafortnighttocome。
  [ElevenRoyalAutographs:inBlumenthal,LifeofDeZiethen(ii。94—111),afeebleincorrectTranslationofthem。]Ziethentook2,000prisoners;noendofbaggages,ofwagonsleftinthedifficultplaces:wildweatherevenforZiethen,stillmoreforKarl,amongtheSilesian—BohemianHill—roads:
  heavyrains,deepmuds,thensuddenglass,withcuttingsnow—
  blasts:’AnArmynotalittledilapidated,’writesPrinceKarl,almostwithtearsinhiseyes;(Armywithoutlinens,withoutclothes;inconditiontrulysadandpitiable;andhasalways,soclosearetheenemy,toencamp,thoughwithouttents。’
  [Kutzen,p。134("PrinceKarltotheKaiser,December14th")。]。
  DidnotgettoKonigsgratz,andsafeshelter,fortendaysmore。
  Counted,atKonigsgratzintheChristmastime,37,000rankandfile,——’22,000ofwhomaregonetohospital,’bytheDoctor’sreport。
  "Universalastonishment,indignation,evenincredulity,isthehumoratVienna:thehighKaiserinnherself,keptinthedarkforsometime,becomesdimlyaware;andbyKaiserFranz’sownadvicesherelievesPrinceKarlfromhismilitaryemployments,andappointsDauninstead。PrinceKarlwithdrewtohisGovernmentoftheNetherlands;andwiththeaidofgenerousliquors,andwhatnaturalmagnanimityhehad,spentanoiselesslifethenceforth;
  Swordlaidentirelyontheshelf;andimmortalGlory,asofAlexanderandthelike,quitemakingitsexitfromthescene,convivialorother。’ThefirstGeneralintheworld,’soheusedtobetenyearsago,inAustria,inEngland,Holland,thethrice—
  greatestofGenerals:butnowhehastriedFriedrichinFivepitchedBattles(Czaslau,Hohenfriedberg,Sohr,thenPrag,thenLeuthen);——beenbeateneverytime,undereveryformofcircumstance;andnow,atLeuthen,thefifthbeatingissuch,nopublic,howeverignorant,canstanditfarther。Theignorantpublicchangesitslong—earedeulogiesintocontumeliouslyhorridshrieksofcondemnation;inwhichoneisstillfartherfromjoining。
  ’ThatcrossingoftheRhine,’saysFriedrich,’wasaBELLECHOSE;
  butflatterersblewhimintodangerousself—conceit;besides,hewasill—obeyed,asothersofushavebeen。’["PrincedeLigne,MemoiressnrFrederic(Berlin,1789),p。38"(Preuss,ii。
  112)。]Adieutohim,poorred—facedsoul;——andgoodliquortohim,——atleastifhecantakeitinmoderation!"
  Theastonishmentofallmen,wiseandsimple,atthissuddenoversettingofthesceneofthings,andturningofthegazetteer—
  diplomatictheatrebottomuppermost,wasnaturallyextreme,especiallyingazetteeranddiplomaticcircles;andtheadmiration,willingorunwilling,ofFriedrich,insomemostessentialpointsofhim,rosetoahighpitch。Bettersoldier,itisclear,hasnotbeenheardofinthemodernages。Heroicconstancy,couragesuperiortofate:severalclearfeaturesofahero;——pityheweresuchaliarwithal,andignorantofcommonhonesty;thoughtthesimplesort,inabewilderedmanner,endeavoringtoforgetthelatterfeatures,orthinkthemnotirreconcilable。Militaryjudgesofmostvariousquality,downtothisday,pronounceLeuthentobeessentiallythefinestBattleofthecentury;andindeedoneoftheprettiestfeatseverdonebymaninhisFightingCapacity。
  Napoleon,forinstance,whohadrunovertheseBattlesofFriedrich(apparentlysomewhatinhaste,butalwayswithaworduponthemwhichisworthgatheringfromsuchasource),speaksthusofLeuthen:"ThisBattleisamasterpieceofmovements,ofmanoeuvres,andofresolution;enoughtoimmortalizeFriedrich,andrankhimamongthegreatestGenerals。Manifests,inthehighestdegree,bothhismoralqualitiesandhismilitary。"[Montholon,
  Memoires&c。,deNapoleon,vii。211。ThisNapoleonSUMMARYOFFRIEDRICH’SCAMPAIGNS,andthesebriefBitsofCriticism,arepleasantreading,thoughthefruitevidentlyofslightstudy,anddocredittoNapoleonperhapsstillmorethantoFriedrich。]
  HowtheEnglishWalpoles,inParliamentandoutofit;howthePrussianSulzers,D’Argenses,theGazetteerandvaguepublic,mayhavespokenandwrittenatthattime,whenthematterwasfreshandoneverybody’stongue,——judgestillbytwosmallsymptomswhichwehavetoshow:——
  1。ALETTEROFFRIEDRICH’STOD’ARGENS(Durgoy,nearBreslau,19thDecember,1757)。——"Yourfriendshipseducesyou,MONCHER;Iambutapaltryknave(POLISSON)incomparisonwith’Alexander,’andnotworthytotietheshoe—latchetsof’Caesar’!Necessity,whoisthemotherofindustry,hasmademeact,andhaverecoursetodesperateremediesinevilsofalikenature。
  "Wehavegothere[thisday,bycapitulationofBreslau]fromfourteentofifteenthousandprisoners:sothat,inall,Ihaveabovetwenty—threethousandoftheQueen’stroopsinmyhands,fifteenGenerals,andabovesevenhundredOfficers。’Tisaplasteronmywounds,butitisfarenoughfromhealingthem。
  "IamnowaboutmarchingtotheMountainregion,tosettlethechainofquartersthere;andifyouwillcome,youwillfindtheroadsfreeandsafe。IwassorryattheAbbe’streason,"——paltryDePrades,ofwhomweheardenoughalready。[OEuvresdeFrederic,xix。47。]
  2。APOTTERY—APOTHEOSISOFFRIEDRICH。——"Therestandsonthismantel—piece,"saysoneofmyCorrespondents,theamiableSmelfungus,inshort,whomreadersareacquaintedwith,"asmallChinaMug,notofbadshape;declaringitself,inoneobscurecorner,tobemadeatWorcester,’R。I。,Worcester,1757’(lateintheseason,Ipresume,demandbeingbrisk);whichexhibits,allroundit,adiligentPotter’s—ApotheosisofFriedrich,hastilygotuptomeetthegeneralenthusiasmofEnglishmankind。Worth,whileitlastsunbroken,amoment’sinspectionfromyouinhurryingalong。
  "Frontside,whenyoutakeourMugbythehandlefordrinkingfromit,offersapoorwell—meantChinaPortrait,labelledKINGOF
  PRUSSIA:CopyofFriedrich’sPortraitbyPesne,twentyyearstooyoungforthetime,smilingoutnoblyuponyou;uponwhomtheredescendswithrapidityasmallGenius(morelikeaCupidwhohadhastilyforgottenhisbow,andgoesheadforemostonanothererrand)
  todropawreathonthisdeservinghead;——wreathfartoosmallforevergettingon(owingtodistance,letushope),thoughtheartlessPaintermakesnosign;andindeedbothGeniusandwreath,ashegivesthem,lookalmostlikeabiginsect,whichtheKingwillbeapttotreatharshlyifhenoticeit。Ontheoppositeside,again,separatedfromFriedrich’sbackbythehandle,isanenormousimageofFame,withwingsfillinghalftheMug,withtwotrumpetsgoingatonce(abass,probably,andatreble),whoflieswithgreatease;andbetweenhereagerfaceendtheunexpectantoneofFriedrich(whois180degreesoff,andknowsnothingofit)
  standsacircularTrophy,orImbroglioofdrums,pikes,muskets,cannons,field—flagsandthelike;veryslightlytiedtogether,——
  theknot,ifthereisone,beinghiddenbysomefantasticbitofscrollorescutcheon,withaFameandONEtrumpetscratchedonit;
  ——andhighoutoftheImbrogliorisethreestandardsinscribedwithNames,whichweperceiveareintendedtobenamesofFriedrich’sVictories;standardsnotableatthisday,withNameswhichIwillpunctuallygiveyou。
  "Standardfirst,whichfliestothewestwardorleftward,has’Reisberg’(nosuchplaceonthisdistractedglobe,butmeaningBevern’sREICHENBERG,perhaps),——’Reisberg,’’Prague,’’Collin。’
  Middlestandardcurvesbeautifullyrounditsstaff,andgivesustoread,’Welham’(non—extant,too;maymeanWELMINAorLobositz),’Rossbach’(verygood),’Breslau’(poorBevern’s,thoughtaVICTORY
  inWorcesteratthistime!)。Standardthird,whichfliestoeastwardorrighthand,has’Neumark’(thatis,NEUMARKTandtheAustrianBread—ovens,4thDecember);’Lissa’(notyetLEUTHENinEnglishnomenclature);and’Breslau’again,whichmeansthecaptureofBreslauCITYthistime,andisarealsuccess,7th—19thDecember;——givingustheapproximatedate,Christmas,1757,tothishastyMug。AMuggotupfortemporaryEnglishenthusiasm,andtheaccidentalinstructionofposterity。ItisoftolerableChina;
  holdsagoodpint,’TotheProtestantHero,withallthehonors;’——
  andoffers,inlittle,acuriouseyeholeintothethenEngland,withitsthenlightsandnotions,whichisnowsodeep—hiddenfromus,undervolcanicashes,FrenchRevolutions,andthewrecksofaHundredverydecadentYears。"
  ChapterXI。
  WINTERINBRESLAU:THIRDCAMPAIGNOPENS。
  Friedrich,duringthosegrandvictories,issufferingsadlyinhealth,"COLIQUEDEPUISHUITJOURS,neithersleepnorappetite;"
  "eightmonthsofmereanguishesandagitationsdowearonedown。"
  Heistiredtoo,hesays,ofthemerebusiness—talk,coarseandrugged,whichhasbeenhisallotmentlately;longsforsomehumanlyroofedkindoflodging,andalittletalkthatshallhaveflavorinit。[LettersofhistoPrinceHenri(December26th,&c。:
  OEuvres,xxvi。167,169;Stenzel,v:123)。]ThetroopsonceallintheirWinter—quarters,hesitsdowninBreslauashisownwintering—place:placeofrelaxation,——ofrest,oratleastofchangedlabor,——nomanneedingitmore。Thereforsomethreemonthshehadatolerabletime;perhaps,bycontrast,almostadelightful。
  Readersmustimagineit;wehavenodetailsallowedus,noranytimeforthemevenifwehad。
  Therecomevariousvisitors,variousgayeties,——King’sBirthday(January24th);qualityBalls,"atwhichRoyalMajestysometimesdeignedtoshowhimself。"AlivelyBreslau,incomparison。
  SisterAmeliapaidabeautifulvisitofafortnightormore:
  SisterAmelia,andalongwithher,twomarriedCousins(onceMargravinesofSchwedt),whoseHusbands,littleBrotherFerdinand,andEugenofWurtemberg,arewinteringhere。TheMarquisd’Argens,howexquisitelytreatedweshallsee,isaprincipalfigure;
  ExcellencyMitchell,deepinveryimportantbusinessjustnow,isanother。ReaderdeCatt(hewhoonce,inaDutchRiver—Boat,gotintoconversationwiththesnuffygentlemaninblackwig)madehisnewappearance,thisWinter,——needednow,sinceDePradesisoff。
  "Shouldyouhaveknownmeagain?"askedFriedrich。"Hardly,inthatdress;besides,yourMajestylooksthinner。""ThatIcanbelieve,withthecursedlifeIhavebeenleading!"[Rodenbeck,i。285。]
  Therecamealso,daynotgiven,aCaptainGuichard("MajorQuintusIcilius"thatistobe)withhisnewBookontheArtMilitaryoftheAncients,MEMOIRESMILITAIRESSURLESGRECSETLESROMAINS;
  [aLaHaye,2tomes,4to,1757(Nicolai,Anekdoten,vi。134)]whichcannotbutbewelcometoFriedrich。Asolidaccountofthatmatter,bythefirstmanwhoeverunderstoodbothWarandGreek。FarpreferabletoFolard’s,amanwithoutGreekatall,andwithmilitaryideasnotalittlefantastichereandthere。
  OfCaptainGuichard,werehisBookonceread,andhimselfalittleknown,therewillbemoretosay。Forthepresent,fancyhimretainedassupernumerary:——andinregardtoFriedrich’sWintergenerally,acceptthefollowingsmallhints,smallbutdirect:——
  FRIEDRICHTOD’ARGENS(threedifferenttimes)。
  1。ONTHEROADTOLEUTHEN"(Torgau,15thNovember1757)……IhavebeenobligedtohavetheAbbearrested[DePrades,ofwhomenough,longsince];hehasbeenplayingthespy,andIhavemanyevidentproofsofit。Thatisveryinfamousandveryungrateful。——Ihavemadeaprodigiousquantityofverses(PRODIGIEUSEMENTDEVERS)。
  IfIlive,IwillshowthemyouinWinter—quarters:ifIperish,theyarebequeathedtoyou,andIhaveorderedthattheybeputintoyourhand……
  "Adieu,mydearMarquis。Ifancyyoutobeinbed:don’trotthere;——andrememberyouhavepromisedtojoinmeinWinter—quarters;"——onthislatterpointFriedrichisveryurgent,amiablyeager;preparedtowrapthepoorMarquisincotton,andcarryhimandlodgehim,likeglasswithcare。[OEuvresdeFrederic,]xix,43。]Forexample:——
  2。WHILESETTLINGTHEWINTER—QUARTERS("Striegau,26thDecember,1757:"SiegeofBreslaudonetendaysago)……"Whatapleasuretohearyouarecoming!Yourtravellingyoucandoinyourownway。
  IhavechosenapartyofLightHorse(JAGER),whowillappearatBerlintoconductyou。Youcanmakeshortjourneys:thefirsttoFrankfurt,thesecondtoCrossen,thethirdtoGrunberg,fourthtoGlogau,fifthtoParchwitz,sixthtoBreslau。Ihavedirectedthathorsesbeorderedforyou,thatyourroomsbewarmedeverywhere,andgoodfowlsreadyonallroads。YourapartmentinthisHouse[RoyalHouseinBreslau,whichtheKinghasbuiltforhimselfyearsago]iscarpeted,hermeticallyshut。Youshallsuffernothingfromdraughtsorfromnoise。"[Ib。xix。48。]——LuckyMarquis;whataLandlord!Cameaccordingly;stayedtilldeepinApril,——waitinglatterlyforweather,Iperceive;longaftertheKinghimselfwasoff。Thus:——
  3。FRIEDRICHONTHEFIELDAGAINFORFIVEWEEKSPAST("Munsterberg,23dApril,1758")。"Adieu,dearMarquis;IfancyyouarenowinBerlinagain。GotoCharlottenburgwheneverandhowyoulike;takecareofyourself;andbereadyforthebeginningofOctobernext!——
  Astome,MONCHER,Iamofftofightwindmillsandostriches(AUTRUCHES),thatis,RussiansandAustrians(AUTRICHIENS)。Adieu,MONCHER。"[OEuvresdeFrederic,xix。49。]
  TherecirculatedintheNewspapers,thisWinter,somethingofwhatwascalledaLETTERfromFriedrichtoMariaTheresa,formallyproposingPeace,afterthesemagnificentsuccesses。Andcertainly,ofallthingsintheEarth,FriedrichwouldhavebestlikedPeace,thisyear,lastyear,andforthenextfiveyears:"Gohome,then,goodneighbors;don’tbreakintomyhouse,don’tcutmypoorthroat,andwewillbefriendsagain!"Friedrich,itappears,hadactually,findingormakingopportunity,sentsomepoliteLetter,ofpacifictenor,inhislightcleverway,tothataddress;——notwithoutmomentaryhopesofperhapsgettinggoodfromit。
  [InPREUSS,ii。130(Friedrich’sLettermostlygiven;——beareraPrincevanLobkowitz,prisoneratLeuthen,nowgoinghomeonhandsometerms)Stenzel,v。124(forthePER—CONTRAfeeling)。]