frederick the great and his family-第101章

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oet　of　his　timea　much　worthier　man　than　Gottsched；　with　all　his　pompous　knowledge。　Gellert's　fame　will　outlive　his。　He　is　perhaps　the　only　German　who　will　not　be　forgotten。　He　attempts　but　little；　and　succeeds　well。〃




CHAPTER　XIV。

THE　KING　AND　THE　VILLAGE　MAGISTRATE。


In　the　little　village　of　Voiseilvitz；　near　the　Silesian　frontier；　there　was　a　great　stir　and　excitement。　The　quartermaster　of　the　army　had　just　arrived　and　announced　the　king's　approach。　He　then　went　on　to　the　next　village　to　seek　quarters　for　the　army。　After　their　many　sufferings　and　wants；　the　weary　soldiers　were　much　in　need　of　rest　and　refreshment。　They　had　passed　many；　many　miserable　weeks；　during　which　the　most　patient　had　become　disheartened。　The　king　alone　had　retained　his　courage；　his　presence　of　mind；　his　activity　and　energy。　He　had　borne；　without　complaint；　every　want　and　privation。　Surrounded　by　powerful　enemies；　his　great　and　clear　mind　had　contrived　the　intrenchments　which　encompassed　his　camp；　and　which　had　filled　his　enemies　with　wonder。　Neither　Daun；　Loudon；　Butterlin；　nor　Ternitschow；　dared　attack　the　camp　that　had　suddenly　become　a　strong　fortress。　They　gazed　in　wild　amazement　at　their　daring；　invincible　enemy；　whom　they　had　so　often　thought　to　ruin；　and　who　had　continually　with　his　lion　strength　broken　the　nets　they　had　laid　for　him。　Not　daring　to　attack　him　with　their　cannon　and　their　swords；　the　allies　relied　upon　another　much　more　fearful　weapon　hunger！　It　was　impossible　for　the　king；　surrounded　as　he　was　by　enemies；　to　obtain　food　for　his　troops　and　fodder　for　the　horses。　But　Frederick　did　not　cease　to　hope：　he　turned　night　into　day　and　day　into　night；　thus　he　was　prepared　for　any　movement。　During　the　day　he　could　observe　all　that　passed　in　the　enemy's　camp；　a　few　slight　guards　were　placed　in　the　intrenchments；　while　the　rest　of　the　army　slept。　But　at　night　they　did　not　sleep；　as　soon　as　evening　came；　all　the　tents　were　taken　down；　the　cannon　were　planted；　and　behind　them　the　regiments　were　placed　in　line　of　battle。　Thus　they　stood　listening　in　breathless　silence　for　any　sound　or　movement　that　would　announce　the　enemy's　approach。　All　were　ready　and　waiting　for　them；　determined　to　die　rather　than　surrender。

In　spite　of　privations；　want　of　rest　and　food；　the　army　remained　hopeful；　for　their　king　shared　their　danger；　wants；　and　sleepless　nights。　He　was　always　with　themhe　hungered　and　worked　with　them。　If　the　soldiers　were　deprived　of　their　rations；　they　had　at　least　the　consolation　of　knowing　that　the　king　suffered　likewise。　This　strengthened　and　encouraged　them。

The　Prussians　had　fortitude　to　bear　their　sufferings；　but　their　enemy　had　not　the　patience　to　wait。　Butterlin；　the　Russian　commander；　tired　of　watching　Frederick；　withdrew　to　Poland；　and　Loudon；　not　feeling　secure　now　in　his　isolated　position；　retired　also。

After　four　weeks　of　agony　and　want；　the　Prussian　army　could　leave　their　encampment　and　seek　both　food　and　rest。　They　were　to　recruit　themselves　in　the　villages　in　the　vicinity　of　Strehlen；　the　king　and　his　staff　were　to　rest　at　Voiseilvitz。　The　house　of　the　magistrate　had　been　chosen　as　the　only　dwelling…place　fit　for　these　noble　guests。　The　magistrate；　elated　at　the　honor；　was　marching　from　room　to　room；　scolding；　imploring　his　servants　to　have　every　thing　clean　and　orderly。

〃Remember；〃　said　he；　〃a　king　is　to　inhabit　this　house；　he　will　be　enraged　if　there　is　the　least　spot　or　stain　upon　the　floors　or　windows；　for　of　course　he　wears　beautiful　garments；　covered　with　pearls　and　diamonds；　and　embroidered　in　gold　and　silver。　How　fearful；　then；　would　it　be　were　he　to　ruin　them　at　my　house！　He　would　be　infuriated；　for　money　is　scarce　now；　and　I　dare　say　as　hard　for　him　to　get　as　for　us。〃

At　last；　thanks　to　threats　and　entreaties；　the　house　was　in　readiness　for　the　king。　The　front　room　was　beautifully　clean；　and　white　blinds　were　at　the　windows。　The　deal　table　was　covered　with　a　snow…white　damask　cloth。　Beside　a　window　in　which　were　placed　some　bright　plants；　an　old　leathern　arm…chair　was　standing；　which　the　magistrate　intended　for　a　throne。　The　walls　were　covered　with　some　portraits　of　the　royal　family　of　Prussia。　Around　a　wretched　engraving　of　Frederick　a　wreath　of　immortelles　and　forget…me…nots　was　woven。　In　a　corner　stood　a　large　bed　with　clean　white　curtains　in　readiness　for　the　king。　When　every　thing　was　arranged；　with　a　last　proud　look　at　his　handsome　dwelling；　the　magistrate　hurried　to　the　front　door；　waiting　anxiously　for　his　guest。　His　heart　beat　high　with　expectationhis　whole　being　was　in　commotionhe　was　to　see　a　king　for　the　first　time；　and　he　asked　himself　how　this　king　would　look。　〃How　glorious　his　eyes　must　be！　I　think　he　must　radiate　like　the　sun。　It　must　almost　blind　the　eyes　to　dwell　upon　his　splendor。〃

Lost　in　these　thoughts；　he　did　not　observe　a　cavalcade　consisting　of　three　riders　passing　through　the　street。　The　foremost　one　was　enveloped　in　an　old　faded　blue　mantle；　his　large　three…cornered　hat　hung　far　over　his　brow；　shading　his　eyes　and　his　thin；　pale　countenance。　His　heavy　army　boots　were　in　need　both　of　brushing　and　mending。　His　two　companions　formed　an　agreeable　contrast　to　him。　They　wore　the　rich；　glittering　uniforms　of　Prussian　staff　officers。　All　about　them　was　neat　and　elegant；　and　pleased　the　magistrate　right　well。　The　cavalcade　now　stopped　at　his　house；　and；　to　the　amazement　of　the　villagers；　the　two　spruce　young　officers　sprang　to　the　groundand　hastened　to　assist　the　man　in　the　blue　mantle　to　alight　from　his　horse。　But　he　waved　them　aside；　and　springing　lightly　from　the　saddle；　advanced　to　the　house　door。　The　magistrate　blocked　up　the　way；　and　looking　haughtily　at　the　stranger；　said：

〃You　undoubtedly　belong　to　the　servants　of　the　king；　and　think；　therefore；　to　enter　my　house。　But　that　cannot　be。　The　king　alone　will　dwell　with　me。　If　you　are　what　I　suppose　you　to　be；　you　must　go　next　door。　My　neighbor　may　have　quarters　for　you。〃

The　stranger　smiled。　Fixing　his　large；　brilliant　eyes　sternly　upon　the　magistrate；　he　caused　him　to　draw　back　almost　in　terror；　feeling　as　if　the　sun　had　really　blinded　him。

〃I　am　not　one　of　the　king's　servants；〃　said　the　stranger；　gayly；　〃but　I　am　invited　to　dine　with　him。〃

〃Then　it　is　all　right；〃　said　the　magistrate；　〃you　can　enter。　But　you　must　first　go　into　that　little　side…room　and　brush　your　shoes　before　the　king　sees　you；　for　he　would　surely　be　enraged　to　find　you　in　dusty　boots。〃

The　king　laughed　gayly；　and　entered　the　house。　〃I　will　go　to　the　king's　chamber　at　once。　I　think　he　will　forgive　my　shoes。〃　He　beckoned　to　the　two　officers　and　entered　his　room；　the　door　of　which　he　left　open。

The　magistrate　took　no　more　notice　of　him；　but　remained　outside；　looking　eagerly　for　the　king。

Frederick　still　did　not　come　to　illuminate　the　street　with　his　splendor。　In　his　stead　came　generals　and　officers；　with　gold　epaulets　and　bright　stars　sparkling　on　their　coats；　and　entered　the　king's　chamber；　without　a　word　to　the　magistrate。

〃They　are　all　waiting　for　the　king；〃　murmured　he；　〃but　I　shall　see　him　first。　How　splendid　and　magnificent　are　all　these　officers！　How　grand；　how　glorious　then　must　the　king　be；　who　is　far　nobler　than　they！　He　does　not　come；　I　will　enter　and　pass　the　time　in　looking　at　all　these　splendidly…dressed　soldiers。〃　He　stepped　lightly　to　the　door；　and　peered　in。　He　started；　a　low　cry　of　terror　escaped　him；　as　he　looked　at　the　scene　before　him。

The　generalsthe　officers　dressed　in　the　gold　and　silver　embroidered　uniformsstood　around　the　room　with　bared　heads；　in　their　midst　stood　the　stranger　with　the　dusty　boots。　He　alone　had　his　hat　on。　He　alone　bore　neither　epaulets　nor　stars：　he　was　clad　in　simple　uniform；　without　a　single　ornament；　and　still；　wonderful　to　say；　it　now　seemed　to　the　magistrate　that　he　was　more　noble；　more　splendid…looking　than　all　the　others。　He　was　the　smallest　amongst　them；　but　seemed　much　taller。　They　stood　with　bowed　heads　before　him；　he　alone　was　raised　proudly　to　his　full　height。　There　was　something　grand　and　glorious　in　his　countenance；　and　when　his　large；　luminous　eyes　fell　upon　the　magistrate；　he　endeavored　in　vain　to　slip　awayhe　was　rooted　to　the　spot　as　if　by　magnetism。

〃Will　you　not　stay　with　us　until　the　king　comes？〃　said　Frederick；　laughing。

The　magistrate　answered　the　smile　with　a　broad　grin。　〃I　see；　sir；〃　said　he；　〃that　you　are　laughing　at　me。　You　know　that　you　yourself　are　the　king。〃

Frederick　nodded　an　assent；　and　then　turned　to　Prince　Anhalt　von　Dessau。

〃You　see；　sir；　how　precarious　a　thing　is　the　glory　and　magnificence　of　a　king。　This　man　took　me　for　a　servant；　his　dull　eyes　could　not　perceive　my　innate　glory。〃

〃Your　majesty　justly　calls　this　man's　eyes　dull；〃　said　the　prince；　laughing。

Frederick　looked　at　him　kindly；　and　then　began　a　low；　earnest　conversation　with　his　generals；　who　listened　attentively　to　his　every　word。

The　magistrate　still　stood　at　the　door。　It　seemed　to　him　that　he　had　never　seen　any　thing　so　splendid…looking　as　this　man　with　the　muddy　boots；　the　simple　coat；　and　torn；　unwieldy　hat；　whose　countenance　beamed　with　beauty；　whose　eyes　glittered　like　stars。

〃That；　then；　is　really　the　king？〃　said　he　to　one　of　the　royal　servants〃the　King　of　Prussia；　who　for　five　years　has　been　fighting　with　the　empress　for　us？〃

〃Yes；　it　is　him。〃

〃From　to…day　on　I　am　a　Prussian　at　heart；〃　continued　the　magistrate；　〃yes；　and　a　good　and　true　one。　The　King　of　Prussia　dresses　badly；　that　is　true；　but　I　suppose　his　object　is　to　lighten　the　taxes。〃　Passing　his　coat…sleeve　across　his　misty　eyes；　he　hastened　to　the　kitchen　to　investigate　dinner。




CHAPTER　XV。

THE　PROPOSAL　OF　MARRIAGE。


Some　days　had　passed　since　the　king　entered　Voiseilvitz。　He　dwelt　in　the　house　of　the　magistrate；　and　the　generals　were　quartered　in　the　huts　of　the　village。　The　regiments　were　in　the　neighboring　hamlets。　The　king　lived　quietly　in　his　house；　wholly　given　up　to　anxiety　and　discontent。　He　ate　alone　in　his　room；　spoke　to　no　one；　or　if　he　did；　said　only　a　few　grave　words。　All　jesting　was　vanished　from　his　lips；　he　was　never　seen　to　smile；　never　heard　to　play　the　flute。　The　grief　which　oppressed　his　heart　was　too　profound　to　be　confided　to　the　soft　and　melting　tones　of　his　flute。　Even　that　cherished　companion　could　now　give　him　no　consolation。　Fearful；　horrible　intelligence　had　followed　him　from　the　encampment　at　trehlen。　It　had　poisoned　these　days　of　long…denied　and　necessary　rest；　and　shrouded　the　gloomy　future　with　yet　darker　presentiments　of　evil。

Schweidnitz；　the　strong　fortress；　the　key　of　Silesia；　which　had　been　so　long　and　with　such　mighty　effort　defended；　had　fallen！had　yielded　to　the　Austriansand　Frederick　had　thus　lost　the　most　important　acquisition　of　the　last　year；　and　thus　his　possession　of　Silesia　was　again　made　doubtful。　He　looked　sadly　back　upon　all　the　precious　blood　which　had　been　shed　to　no　purposeupon　all　the　great　and　hardly…won　battles；　won　in　vain。　He　looked　forward　with　an　aching　heart　to　the　years　of　blood　and　battle　which　must　follow。　Frederick　longed　for　rest　and　peacehe　was　weary　of　bloodshed　and　of　war。　Like　an　alluring；　radiant　picture　of　paradise；　the　image　of　his　beloved　Sans…Souci　passed　from　time　to　time　before　his　soul。　He　dreamed　of　his　quiet　l