frederick the great and his family-第106章
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Then turning once more to Mustapha Aga； he dismissed him for the day； and gave him permission to occupy the magnificent tent which had been presented to him by the Khan； during the remainder of his visit。
Mustapha Aga then withdrew with his interpreter； leaving the king alone with the Baron von Rexin； who now presented to him the papers which it was necessary he should sign； to establish the long…desired alliance with Turkey。 This treaty assured to Prussia all the privileges which Turkey accorded to the other European powers： free navigation； the rights of ambassadors and consuls； and the personal liberty of any Prussian subjects who might have been seized as slaves。
The king signed the treaty； and named Baron von Rexin his minister plenipotentiary； and commanded him to return with the ambassador from Tartary and present the signed treaty to the Grand Sultan。
〃Now the struggle can begin anew；〃 said Frederick； when he was once more alone。 〃I will recommence with the new year； I will battle as I have already done； I will consider nothing but my honor and the glory of Prussia。 I will not live to see the moment when I will consent to a disgraceful peace。 No representations； no eloquence shall bring me to acknowledge my own shame。 I will be buried under the ruins of my native land； or if this consolation be denied me by my unfortunate fate； I will know how to end my misfortunes。 Honor alone has led my footsteps； and I will follow no other guide。 I sacrificed my youth to my father； my manhood to my country； and I have surely gained the right to dispose of my old age。 There are people who are docile and obedient toward fate。 I am not one of them。 Having lived for others； I dare at least die for myself； careless what the world may say。 Nothing shall force me to prefer a weak old age to death。 I will dare all for the accomplishment of my plans； they failing； I will die an honorable death。 But no！ no！〃 said the king； smiling after a short pause。 〃I will not indulge in such sad and despairing thoughts on the day which has shown me the first ray of sunlight after so many storms。 Perhaps the year sixty… two will be more fortunate than the one just passed。 I stand no longer alone； I have my friends and my allies。 Why should I carp； that the world calls them unbelievers？ I have seen Christians betray and murder one another。 Perhaps unbelievers are better Christians than believers。 We will try them； at least。 When all deserted me； they offered me the hand of friendship。 This is the first sunbeam which has greeted me。 Perhaps bright days may now follow the storms。 May God grant it！〃 ＇Footnote： The king was not deceived。 The Empress Elizabeth died in the commencement of the year 1762。 Her successor Peter the Third； was a passionate admirer of Frederick the Great； and he now became the ally of Prussia。 The Empress Catharine approved this change； and remained the ally of Prussia。 France now withdrew from the contest； and in the year 1763； Austria； finding her treasury completely exhausted； was compelled to make peace with Prussia。 Prussia had no use for her new ally of Tartary； and Krimgirai； who was already on the march； returned home with his army。See 〃Memoires du Baron de Tott sur les Turcs et les Tartares。〃＇
BOOK VI。
CHAPTER I。
THE KING'S RETURN。
Berlin was glittering in festal adornment！ This was a great； a joyous day； the first gleam of sunshine； after many long years of sorrow； suffering； and absolute want。 For the last seven years the king had been absent from his capital…to…day he would return to Berlin。
After seven years of bloody strife； the powers at Hubertsburg had declared peace。 No nation had enlarged its boundaries by this war。 Not one of the cities or fortresses of the King of Prussia had been taken from him； and he was forced to content himself with his former conquest。 There had been no successful results！ Losses only were to be calculated。
During these seven years； Russia had lost one hundred and eighty thousand men； the French two hundred thousand； the Prussians a hundred and twenty thousand； the English and confederate Germans a hundred and sixty thousand； and the Saxons ninety thousandlastly； the Swedes and the States sixty thousand。 This seven years' war cost Europe nearly a million of men。 Their blood fertilized the German soil； and their bones lay mouldering beneath her green sods。
Throughout all Europe； weeping mothers； wives； and children turned their sorrowful faces toward the land which had robbed them of their dear loved ones； they were even deprived the painfully sweet consolation of weeping over these lonely and neglected graves。
Losses were not only to be counted in myriads of men； whose blood had been shed in vain； but uncounted millions had been lavished upon the useless strife。
During this war； the debt of England had increased to seventy million pounds sterling； the yearly interest on the debt was four and a half million crowns。 The Austrians calculated their debt at five hundred million guldens； France at two thousand million livres； Sweden was almost bankrupt； and unfortunate Saxony had to pay to Prussia during the war over seven million crowns。
In the strict meaning of the term； Prussia had made no debt； but she was； in fact； as much impoverished as her adversaries。 The Prussian money which was circulated during the war was worthless。
At the close of the war； all those who carried these promissory notes shared the fate of the rich man in the fairy tale。 The money collected at night turned to ashes before morning。 This was the fatal fruit of the war which for seven years had scourged Europe。 Prussia； however； had reason to be satisfied and even grateful。 Although bleeding from a thousand wounds； exhausted and faint unto death； she promised a speedy recovery； she was full of youthful power and energyhad grown； morally； during this seven years' strugglehad become great under the pressure of hardship and self… denial； and now ranked with the most powerful nations of Europe。
To…day； however； suffering and destitution were forgotten： only smiling； joyous faces were seen in Berlin。 The whole city seemed to be invigorated by the golden rays of fortune； no one appeared to suffer； no one to mourn for the lostand yet amongst the ninety… eight thousand inhabitants of Berlin； over thirty thousand received alms weeklyso that a third of the population were objects of charity。 To…day no one thirsted； no one was hungry； all hearts were merry； all faces glad！
They had not seen their great King Frederick for seven years； they would look upon him to…day。 The royal family had arrived from Magdeburg。
Every one hastened to the streets to see Frederick； who on his departure had been but the hero…king of Prussia； but who now； on his return； was the hero of all Europewhom all nations greetedwhose name was uttered in Tartary； in Africa； with wonder and admiration yes； in all parts of the civilized and uncivilized world！
The streets were filled with laughing crowds； all pressed toward the Frankfort gate； where the king was to enter。 The largest arch of triumph was erected over this gate； and all other streets were decorated somewhat in the same manner。 Every eye was turned toward this street； all were awaiting with loudly…beating hearts the appearance of that hero whose brow was decked with so many costly laurels。 No heart was more impatient； no one gazed so eagerly at the Frankfort gate as the good Marquis d'Argens； he stood at the head of the burghers； near the arch of triumph； he had organized the citizens for this festal reception； he had left his cherished retirement for love of his royal friend； to welcome him； he had ventured into the cutting wind of a cold March morning。 For Frederick's sake he had mounted a horse； a deed of daring he had not ventured upon for many a year； in his lively impatience； he even forgot the danger of being run away with or dragged in the dust。
The marquis knew well that nothing could be more disagreeable to the king than this public reception； but his heart was overflowing with hope and happiness； and he felt the necessity of shouting his vivats in the sunny air。 In the egotism of his love； he forgot to respect the preferences of the king。
Perhaps Frederick suspected this triumph which his good Berliners had prepared for him。 Perhaps it appeared to his acute sensibilities and noble heart altogether inappropriate to welcome the returned soldiers with wild shouts of joy； when so many thousand loved ones were lying buried on the bloody battle…field。 Perhaps he did not wish to see Berlin； where his mother had so lately died； adorned in festal array。
Hour after hour passed。 The sun was setting。 The flowers which had been taken from the greenhouses to decorate the arch of triumph； bowed their lovely heads sadly in the rough March winds。 The fresh； cool breeze whistled through the light draperies and displaced their artistic folds。 Notwithstanding the enthusiasm of the citizens； they began to be hungry； and to long greatly for the conclusion of these solemnities。 Still the king came not。 The Berliners waited awhile longer； and then one after another quietly withdrew。 This bad example was speedily imitated； and the gay cortege of riders grew small by degrees and beautifully less。 At sunset but a few hundred citizens remained at the gate； and even these heroic Spartans showed but little of the enthusiasm of the morning。
Marquis d'Argens was in despair； and if Frederick had arrived at this moment he would have heard a reproachful phillipic from his impatient friend instead of a hearty welcome。 But fortune did not favor him。 so far as to give him the opportunity to relieve his temper。 The king did not appear。 The marquis at last proposed to the citizens to get torches； and thus in spite of the darkness give to their king a glittering reception。 They agreed cheerfully； and the most of them dashed off to the city to make the necessary preparations。
The streets were soon brilliantly lighted； and now in the distance the king's carriage was seen approaching。 Throughout the vast train shouts and vivats were heard； and the proud voices of this happy people filled the air as with the thunder of artillery。
〃Long life to the king！ Long life to Frederick the Great！〃
The carriage came nearer and nearer； and now myriads of lights danced around it。 The citizens had returned with their torches； and the carriage of Frederick rolled on as if in a sea of fire。 It drew up at the arch of triumph。 The king rose and turned his face toward his people； who were shouting their glad welcome。 The light from the torches fell upon his countenance； and their red lustre gave his cheek a fresh and youthful appearance。
His subjects saw once more his sparkling； speaking eye； in which shone the same energy； the same imperial power； as in days gone by。 They saw the soft； sympathetic smile which played around his eloquent lipsthey saw him； their king； their hero； and were glad。 They laughed and shouted with rapture。 They stretched out their arms as if to clasp in one universal embrace their dear…loved king； who was so great； so beautiful； so far above them in his bright radiance。 They threw him fond kisses； and every utterance of his name seemed a prayer to God for his happines
