frederick the great and his family-第102章

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　image　of　his　beloved　Sans…Souci　passed　from　time　to　time　before　his　soul。　He　dreamed　of　his　quiet　library　and　his　beautiful　picture…gallery。　And　yet　his　courage　was　unconqueredand　he　preferred　the　torture　of　these　wretched　dayshe　preferred　death　itself　to　the　unfavorable　and　humiliating　peace　which　his　proud　enemies；　made　presumptuous　by　their　last　successes；　dared　to　offer　him。　They　stood　opposed　to　him　in　monstrous　superiority；　but　Frederick　remained　unshaken。　With　a　smaller　army　and　fewer　allies　Alexander　demolished　Persia。　〃But　happily；〃　he　said　to　himself；　〃there　was　no　Alexander　to　lead　his　enemies　to　victory。〃

Frederick　did　not　despair；　and　yet　he　did　not　believe　in　the　possibility　of　triumph。　He　preferred　an　honorable　death　to　a　dishonorable　peace。　He　would　rather　fail　amidst　the　proud　ruins　of　Prussia；　made　great　by　his　hand；　than　return　with　her　to　their　former　petty　insignificance。　They　offered　him　peace；　but　a　peace　which　compelled　him　to　return　the　lands　he　had　conquered；　and　to　pay　to　his　victorious　enemies　the　costs　of　the　war。

The　king　did　not　regard　these　mortifying　propositions　as　worthy　of　consideration；　and　he　commanded　his　ambassador；　whom　he　had　sent　to　Augsburg　to　treat　with　the　enemy；　to　return　immediately。　〃It　is　true；〃　he　said　to　his　confidant；　Le　Catt；　〃all　Europe　is　combined　against　meall　the　great　powers　have　resolved　upon　my　destruction。　And　England；　the　only　friend　I　did　possess　in　Europe；　has　now　abandoned　me。〃

〃But　one　has　remained　faithful。〃

〃'Among　the　faithless；　faithful　only　he'　Among　the　innumerable　false；　unmoved；　unshaken；　unseduced；　unterrified；　that　is　my　sword。　If　the　exalted　empresses　are　not　my　friends；　the　greater　honor　to　my　good　sword　which　has　never　failed　me；　and　which　shall　go　down　with　me　into　the　dark　grave。　If　in　Europe　I　have　neither　friends　nor　allies；　I　may　find　both　in　other　parts　of　the　world。　Asia　may　send　me　the　troops　which　Europe　denies。　If　Russia　is　my　enemy；　who　knows　but　for　this　reason　Turkey　may　become　my　ally？　And　who　knows　but　an　alliance　with　the　so…called　unbelievers　would　be　of　more　value　to　Prussia　than　a　league　with　the　so…called　believing　Russians？　They　call　themselves　Christians；　but　their　weapons　are　lies；　intrigues；　deceit；　and　treachery。　The　Moslem；　however；　is　an　honorable　man　and　a　brave　soldier。　If　he　calls　his　God　Allah；　and　his　Christ　Mohammed；　God　may　call　him　to　account。　I　have　nothing　to　do　with　it。　What　has　faith　to　do　with　the　kings　of　this　world？　Besides；　I　believe　the　Turks　and　Tartars　are　better　Christians　than　the　Russians。〃

〃Your　majesty　is　really；　then；　thinking　of　an　alliance　with　the　Turks　and　Tartars？〃　said　Le　Catt。

〃I　am　thinking　of　it　so　earnestly；〃　said　the　king；　eagerly；　〃that　day　and　night　I　think　of　nothing　else。　I　have　spared　no　cost；　no　gold；　no　labor；　to　bring　it　about。　Once　I　had　almost　succeeded；　and　the　Sublime　Porte　was　inclined　to　this　league；　and　my　ambassador；　Rexin；　was；　with　the　consent　of　the　Grand　Vizier　Mustapha；　and　indeed　by　his　advice；　disguised　and　sent　secretly　to　Constantinople。　The　negotiations　were　almost　completed；　when　the　Russian　and　French　ambassadors　discovered　my　plans；　and　by　bribery；　lies；　and　intrigues　of　every　base　sort；　succeeded　in　interfering。　Mustapha　broke　his　promise；　and　his　only　answer　to　me　was'that　the　Sublime　Porte　must　wait　for　happier　and　more　propitious　days　to　confirm　her　friendship　and　good　understanding　with　the　King　of　Prussia。'　This　was　the　will　of　God　the　Almighty。　This　propitious　year　has　been　a　long　time　coming；　but　I　hope　it　is　now　at　hand；　and　this　longed…for　alliance　will　at　length　be　concluded。　The　last　dispatches　from　my　ambassador　in　Constantinople　seem　favorable。　The　wise　and　energetic　Grand　Vizier　Raghile；　the　first　self…reliant　and　enterprising　Turkish　statesman；　has　promised　Rexin　to　bring　this　matter　before　the　sultan；　and　I　am　daily　expecting　a　courier　who　will　bring　me　a　decisive　and　perhaps　favorable　answer　from　Tartary。〃

＇Footnote：　Kammer；　〃History　of　the　Porte；〃　vol。　viii。；　p。　190。＇

Le　Catt　gazed　with　admiration　upon　the　noble；　excited　countenance　of　the　king。　〃Oh；　sire；〃　said　he；　deeply　moved；　〃pardon；　that　in　the　fulness　of　my　heart；　overcome　with　joy　and　rapture。　I　dare　for　once　to　give　expression　in　words　to　my　love　and　my　admiration。　It　is　a　glorious　spectacle　to　see　the　proud　oak　in　the　midst　of　the　wild　tempest　firm　and　unmoved；　not　even　bowing　its　proud　head　to　the　raging　elements；　offering　a　bold　but　calm　defiance。　But　it　is　a　still　more　exalted　spectacle　to　see　a　man　with　a　brave　heart　and　flashing　eye　defy　disaster　and　death；　alone；　in　the　consciousness　of　his　own　strength；　meeting　Fate　as　an　adversary　and　gazing　upon　it　eye　to　eye　unterrified。　Misfortune　is　like　the　lion　of　the　desert。　If　a　man　with　steady　eye　and　firm　step　advances　to　meet　him；　he　ceases　to　roar　and　lies　down　humbly　at　his　feet；　he　recognizes　and　quails　before　man　made　in　the　likeness　of　God。　You；　my　king；　now　offer　this　spectacle　to　the　astonished　world。　Can　you　wonder　that　I；　who　am　ever　near　you；　are　filled　with　devotion　and　adoration；　and　must　at　last　give　utterance　to　my　emotion？　I　have　seen　your　majesty　on　the　bloody　battle…field；　and　in　the　full　consciousness　of　victory；　but　never　have　I　seen　the　laurels　which　crown　your　brow　so　radiant　as　in　these　days　of　your　misfortune　and　defeat。　Never　was　the　King　of　Prussia　so　great　a　hero；　so　glorious　a　couqueror；　as　during　these　last　weeks　of　destitution　and　gloom。　You　have　hungered　with　the　hungry；　you　have　frozen　with　the　freezing；　you　have　passed　the　long；　weary　nights　upon　your　cannon　or　upon　the　hard；　cold　earth。　You　have　divided　your　last　drop　of　wine　with　the　poor　soldiers。　You　did　this；　sire；　I　was　in　your　tent　and　witnessed　itI　alone。　You　sat　at　your　dinnera　piece　of　bread　and　one　glass　of　Hungarian　wine；　the　last　in　your　possession。　An　officer　entered　with　his　report。　You　asked　him　if　he　had　eaten。　He　said　yes；　but　his　pale；　thin　face　contradicted　his　words。　You；　sire；　broke　off　the　half　of　your　bread；　you　drank　the　half　of　your　wine；　then　gave　the　rest　to　the　officer；　saying　in　an　almost　apologetic　tone；　'It　is　all　that　I　have。'　Sire；　on　that　day　I　did　what　since　my　youth　I　have　not　doneI　wept　like　a　child；　and　my　every　glance　upon　your　nobel　face　was　a　prayer。〃

〃Enthusiast；〃　said　the　king；　giving　his　hand　to　Le　Catt　with　a　kindly　smile；　〃is　the　world　so　corrupt　that　so　natural　an　act　should　excite　surprise；　and　appear　great　and　exalted？　Are　you　astonished　at　that　which　is　simply　human？　But　look！　There　is　a　courier！　He　stops　before　the　door　of　my　peasant…palace。　Quick；　quick！　Le　Catt；　let　me　know　the　news　he　brings。〃

Le　Catt　hastened　off；　and　returned　at　once　with　the　dispatches。

Frederick　took　them　with　impatient　haste；　and　while　he　read；　his　grave　face　lightened；　and　a　happy；　hopeful　smile　played　once　more　upon　his　lips。　〃Ah；　Le　Catt；〃　said　he；　〃I　was　a　good　prophet；　and　my　hopes　are　about　to　be　fulfilled。　Europe　is　against　me；　but　Asia　is　my　ally。　The　barbarous　Russians　are　my　enemies；　but　the　honest　Turks　and　Tartars　are　my　friends。　This　dispatch　is　from　my　ambassador　Rexin。　He　is　coming；　accompanied　by　an　ambassador　of　Tartary；　and　may　be　here　in　a　few　hours。〃

〃Where　will　your　majesty　receive　him？〃　said　Le　Catt。

The　king　looked　around　smilingly　at　the　little　room；　with　the　rude　walls　and　dirty　floor。

〃I　will　receive　him　here！〃　said　he；　〃here；　in　my　royal　palace　of　Voiseilvitz。　I　am　forced　to　believe　that　a　right　royal　king　would；　by　his　presence；　transform　the　lowliest　hut　into　a　palace；　and　the　most　ordinary　chair　into　a　throne。　The　eyes　of　the　ambassador　may；　however；　be　as　dull　as　those　of　the　worthy　possessor　of　my　present　palace。　It　may　be　that　he　will　not　recognize　me　as　the　visible　representative　of　Godas　king　by　the　grace　of　God。　We　must　therefore　come　to　his　assistance；　and　show　ourselves　in　all　the　dazzling　glitter　of　royalty。　We　must　improvise　a　throne；　and；　it　appears　to　me；　that　leathern　arm…chair；　which　certainly　belonged　to　a　grandfather；　is　well　suited　to　the　occasion。　It　will　be　a　worthy　representation　of　my　throne；　which　was　my　grandfather's　throne；　he　erected　it；　and　I　inherited　it　from　him。　Shove　it；　then；　into　the　middle　of　the　room；　and　fasten　some　of　the　Russian　flags；　which　we　took　at　Zorndorf；　on　the　wall　behind　it；　spread　my　tent…carpet　on　the　floor；　and　my　throne　saloon　is　ready。　Quick；　Le　Catt；　make　your　preparations；　call　the　servants；　and　show　them　what　they　have　to　do。　In　the　mean　time；　I　will　make　my　toilet；　I　must　not　appear　before　the　worthy　ambassador　in　such　unworthy　guise。〃　The　king　rang　hastily；　and　his　valet；　Deesen；　entered。　〃Deesen；〃　said　he；　gayly；　〃we　will　imagine　ourselves　to　be　again　in　Sans…Souci；　and　about　to　hold　a　great　court。　I　must　do　then；　what　I　have　not　done　for　a　long　timemake　grande　toilette。　I　will　wear　my　general's　uniform；　and　adorn　myself　with　the　order　of　the　Black　Eagle。　I　will　have　my　hair　frizzed；　and　screw　up　an　imposing　cue。　Well；　Deesen；　why　do　you　gaze　at　me　so　wildly？〃

〃Sire；　the　general's　coat　is　here；　but〃

〃Well；　but　what？〃　cried　the　king；　impatiently。

〃But　the　breeches！　the　breeches！〃　stammered　Deesen；　turning　pale；　〃they　are　torn；　and　those　your　majesty　now　wears；　are　your　last　and　only　ones。〃

〃Well；　then；〃　said　the　king；　laughing；　〃I　will　continue　to　wear　my　last　and　only　breeches；　I　will　put　on　my　general's　coat；　voila　tout。〃

〃That　is　wholly　impossible；〃　cried　Deesen；　wringing　his　hands。　〃If　your　majesty　proposes　to　hold　a　great　court；　you　cannot　possibly　wear　these　breeches！〃

〃Why　not？　why　not？〃　said　the　king；　fiercely。

〃Sire；〃　murmured　Deesen；　〃sire；　that　has　happened　to　them　which　happened　to　your　majesty　at　Torgau。〃

〃That　is　to　say〃　said　the　king；　questioningly。

〃That　is　to　say；　they　are　wounded。〃

Frederick　looked　surprised；　and　following　the　glance　of　his　valet；　he　found　his　eyes　fixed　upon　his　knees。

〃You　are　right；　Deesen；〃　said　he；　laughing；　〃that　disaster　has　befallen　my　breeches　which　befell　me　at　Torgau：　they　are　wounded；　and　need　a　surgeon。〃

〃Your　majesty　must　therefore　graciously　postpone　your　great　court　till　to…morrow。　Perhaps　I　may　find　a　tailor　in　one　of　the　neighboring　villages；　he　will　work　during　the　night；　and　early　tomorrow　every　thing　will　be　in　order。〃

〃It　must　be　done　to…daydone　immediately；〃　cried　the　king。　〃In　a　few　hours　the　injury　must　be　healed；　and　my　apparel　fully　restored　to　health。〃

〃But；　sire；〃　whispered　Deesen；　〃how　can　that　be　possible？　Your　majesty　has　but　one　pair；　and　you　must　take　them　off；　in　order　that　they　may　be　mended。〃

〃Well；　I　will　take　them　off；〃　said　the　king；　〃go　and　seek　the　tailor。　I　will　undress　and　go　to　bed　till　this　important　operation　is　performed。　Go　at　once！〃

While　the　king　was　undressing；　he　heard　Deesen's　stentorian　voice；　calling　out　lustily　through　the　streets〃A　tailor！　a　tailor！　is　there　a　tailor　amongst　the　soldiers？〃

The　king　was　scarcely　covered　up　in　bed　before　Deesen　entered；　with　a　joyous　face。

〃Sire；　I　have　found　a　soldier　who　can　do　the　work；　he　is　not　a　tailor；　but　he　swears　he　can　sew　and　patch；　and　he　undertakes　to　dress　the　wounds。〃

〃And　yet；　it　is　said　that　a　higher　power　rules　the　world；〃　murmured　the　king；　when　he　was　again　alone；　〃accidentaccident　decides　all　questions。　If　there