frederick the great and his family-第107章

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s　name　seemed　a　prayer　to　God　for　his　happiness。

But　one　stood　by　the　carriage　who　could　not　speakwhose　silent；　trembling　lips　were　more　eloquent　than　words。　No　language　could　express　the　delight　of　D'Argentno　words　could　paint　the　emotion　which　moved　his　soul　and　filled　his　eyes　with　tears。

The　king　recognized　him；　and　holding　out　his　hand　invited　him　to　take　a　seat　in　the　carriage。　Then　giving　one　more　greeting　to　his　people；　he　said；　〃Onwardonward　to　Charlottenburg。〃

At　a　quick　pace　the　carriage　drove　through　Berlin。　Those　who　had　not　had　the　courage　and　strength　to　await　the　king　at　the　Frankfort　gate；　were　now　crowding　the　streets　to　welcome　him。

Frederick　did　not　raise　himself　again　from　the　dark　corner　of　the　carriage。　He　left　it　to　the　Duke　of　Brunswick　to　return　the　salutations　of　the　people。　He　remained　motionless；　and　did　not　even　appear　to　hear　the　shouts　of　his　subjects。　Not　once　did　he　raise　his　hand　to　greet　themnot　a　word　passed　his　lips。

When　they　crossed　the　king's　bridge　and　reached　the　castle　grounds；　the　people　were　assembled　and　closely　crowded　together。　Frederick　now　raised　himself；　but　he　did　not　see　themhe　did　not　regard　the　brilliantly　illuminated　houses；　or　the　grounds　sparkling　in　a　flood　of　light。　He　turned　slowly　and　sadly　toward　the　castlehis　eye　rested　upon　that　dark；　gloomy　mass　of　stone；　which　arose　to　the　right；　and　contrasted　mysteriously　with　the　brilliant　houses　around　it。　It　looked　like　a　monstrous　coffin　surrounded　by　death…lights。　Frederick　gazed　long　and　steadily　at　the　castle。　He　raised　his　head　once　more；　but　not　to　greet　his　subjects。　He　covered　his　facehe　would　not　be　looked　at　in　his　grief。　D'Argens　heard　him　murmur；　〃My　mother；　oh　my　mother！　Oh；　my　sister！〃

The　Prussians　welcomed　joyously　the　return　of　their　great　king；　but　Frederick　thought　only　at　this　moment　of　those　who　could　never　returnthose　whom　death　had　torn　from　him　forever。　Onward；　onward　through　the　lighted　streets！　All　the　inhabitants　of　Berlin　seemed　to　be　abroad。　This　was　a　Roman　triumph；　well　calculated　to　fill　the　heart　of　a　sovereign　with　just　pride。

The　Berliners　did　not　see　that　Frederick　had　no　glance　for　them。　Gloom　and　despair　veiled　his　countenance；　and　no　one　dreamed　that　this　king；　whom　they　delighted　to　honor；　was　at　this　proud　moment　a　weeping　son；　a　mourning　brother。

At　last　the　joyous；　careless　city　lay　behind　them；　and　they　approached　Charlottenburg。

The　noise　and　tumult　gradually　ceased；　and　a　welcome　quiet　ensued。　Frederick　did　not　utter　one　word；　and　no　one　dared　to　break　the　oppressive　silence。　This　triumphant　procession　seemed　changed　to　a　burial…march。　The　victor　in　so　many　battles　seemed　now　mastered　by　his　memories。

The　carriage　drew　up　at　Charlottenburg。　The　wide　court　was　filled　with　the　inhabitants　of　the　little　city；　who　welcomed　the　king　as　enthusiastically　as　the　Berliners　had　done。　Frederick　saluted　them　abruptly；　and　stepped　quickly　into　the　hall。

The　castle　had　been　changed　into　a　temple　of　glory　and　beauty　in　honor　of　the　king's　return。　The　pillars　which　supported　it　were　wound　around　with　wreaths　of　lovely；　fragrant　blossoms；　costly　draperies；　gay　flags；　and　emblems　adorned　the　walls；　the　floors　were　covered　with　rich　Turkish　carpets；　the　gilded　candelabras　shed　their　variegated　lights　in　every　direction；　irradiating　the　faces　of　the　court　cavaliers　glittering　with　stars　and　orders；　and　the　rich　toilets　of　the　ladies。　The　effect　was　dazzling。

In　the　middle　of　the　open　space　two　ladies　were　standing；　one　in　royal　attire；　sparkling　in　diamonds　and　gold　embroideries；　the　other　in　mourning；　with　no　ornament　but　pearls；　the　emblem　of　tears。　The　one　with　a　happy；　hopeful　face　gazed　at　the　king；　the　other　with　a　sad；　weary　countenance；　in　which　sickness；　sorrow；　and　disappointment　had　drawn　their　heavy　lines；　turned　slowly　toward　him；　her　large　eyes；　red　with　weeping；　were　fixed　upon　him　with　an　angry；　reproachful　expression。

Frederick　drawing　near；　recognized　the　queen　and　the　Princess　Amelia。　At　the　sight　of　this　dearly…beloved　face；　the　queen；　forgetting　her　usual　timidity　and　assumed　coldness；　stepped　eagerly　forward　and　offered　both　her　hands　to　her　husband。　Her　whole　heart；　the　long…suppressed　fervor　of　her　soul；　spoke　in　her　moist　and　glowing　eyes。　Her　lips；　which　had　so　long　been　silent；　so　long　guarded　their　sweet　secret；　expressed；　though　silently；　fond　words　of　love。　Elizabeth　Christine　was　no　longer　young；　no　longer　beautiful；　she　had　passed　through　many　years　of　suffering　and　inward　struggle；　but　at　this　moment　she　was　lovely。　The　eternal　youth　of　the　soul　lighted　her　fair　browthe　flash　of　hope　and　happiness　glimmered　in　her　eyes。　But　Frederick　saw　nothing　of　this。　He　had　no　sympathy　for　this　pale　and　gentle　queen；　now　glowing　with　vitality。　He　thought　only　of　the　dearly…loved　queen　and　mother　who　had　gone　down　into　the　cold；　dark　grave。　Frederick　bowed　coldly　to　Elizabeth　Christine；　and　took　both　her　hands　in　his　a　short　moment。

〃Madame；〃　said　he；　〃this　is　a　sad　moment。　The　queen　my　mother　is　missing　from　your　side。〃

Elizabeth　Christine　started　painfully；　and　the　hands　which　the　king　had　released　fell　powerless　to　her　side。　Frederick's　harsh；　cruel　words　had　pierced　her　heart　and　quenched　the　tears　of　joy　and　hope　which　stood　in　her　eyes。

Elizabeth　was　incapable　of　reply。　Princess　Amelia　came　to　her　relief。

〃If　my　brother；　the　king；　while　greeting　us　after　his　long　absence；　is　unconscious　of　our　presence　and　sees　only　the　faces　of　the　dead；　he　must　also　be　forced　to　look　upon　my　unhappy　brother；　Prince　Augustus　William；　who　died　of　a　broken　heart。〃

The　king's　piercing　eyes　rested　a　moment　with　a　strangely　melancholy　expression　upon　the　sorrowful；　sickly　face　of　the　Princess　Amelia。

〃Not　so；　my　sister；〃　said　he；　softly　and　gently；　〃I　not　only　see　those　who　have　been　torn　from　us　by　death。　I　look　upon　and　welcome　gladly　those　who　have　been　spared　to　me。　I　am　happy　to　see　you　here　to…day；　my　sister。〃

Frederick　offered　Amelia　his　hand；　and　bowing　silently　to　those　who　were　present；　he　entered　his　apartment；　followed　only　by　the　Marquis　d'Argens。

Frederick　stepped　rapidly　through　the　first　room；　scarcely　looking　at　the　new　paintings　which　adorned　the　walls；　he　entered　his　study　and　threw　a　long；　thoughtful　glance　around　this　dear　room。　Every　piece　of　furniture；　every　book；　recalled　charming　memories　of　the　pastevery　thing　stood　as　he　had　left　it　seven　years　ago。　He　now　for　the　first　time　realized　the　joy　of　being　again　at　home；　his　country　had　received　him　and　embraced　him　with　loving　arms。

With　glowing　cheeks　he　turned　toward　the　marquis；　who　was　leaning　against　the　door　behind　him。

〃Oh；　D'Argens！　it　is　sweet　to　be　again　in　one's　own　native　landthe　peace　of　home　is　sweet。　The　old　furniture　appears　to　welcome　me；　that　old　chair　stretches　its　arms　wooingly　toward　me；　as　if　to　lure　me　to　its　bosom；　and　give　me　soft　sleep　and　sweet　dreams　in　its　embrace。　Marquis；　I　feel　a　longing　to　gratify　my　old　friend；　I　yield　to　its　gentle；　silent　pleadings。〃

Frederick　stepped　to　the　arm…chair　and　sank　into　it　with　an　expression　of　indescribable　comfort。

〃Ah；　now　I　feel　that　I　am　indeed　at　home。〃

〃Allow　me；〃　said　D'Argens；　〃to　say；　your　majesty；　what　the　dear　old　arm…chair；　in　spite　of　its　eloquence；　cannot　express。　I；　also；　am　a　piece　of　the　old　furniture　of　this　dear　room；　and　in　the　name　of　all　my　voiceless　companions；　I　cry　'Welcome　to　my　king！'　We　welcome　you　to　your　country　and　your　home。　You　return　greater　even　than　when　you　left　us。　Your　noble　brow　is　adorned　with　imperishable　laurels；　your　fame　resounds　throughout　the　earth；　and　every　nation　sings　to　you　a　hymn　of　victory。〃

〃Well；　well；〃　said　Frederick；　smilingly；　〃do　not　look　too　sharply　at　my　claims　to　such　world…wide　renown；　or　my　fame　will　lose　a　portion　of　its　lustre。　You　will　see　that　chance　has　done　almost　every　thing　for　memore　than　my　own　valor　and　wisdom；　and　the　bravery　of　my　troops　combined。　Chance　has　been　my　best　ally　during　this　entire　war。　＇Footnote：　The　king's　own　words。＇　Chance　enabled　me　to　escape　the　famine　camp　of　Bunzelwitzchance　gave　me　the　victory　over　my　enemies。　Speak　no　more　of　my　fame；　marquis；　at　least　not　in　this　sacred　room；　where　Cicero；　Caesar；　Lucretius；　and　Thucydides　look　down　upon　us　from　the　walls；　where　the　voiceless　books　with　their　gilded　letters　announce　to　us　that　we　are　surrounded　by　great　spirits。　Speak　not　of　fame　to　me；　D'Argens；　when　from　yonder　book…　shelf　I　see　the　name　of　Athalie。　I　would　rather　have　written　Athalie；　than　to　have　all　the　fame　arising　from　this　seven　years'　war。〃　Footnote：　Ibid。＇

〃Herein　I　recognize　the　peaceful；　noble　tastes　of　my　king；〃　said　D'Argens；　deeply　moved；　〃years　of　hardship　and　victory　have　not　changed　himthe　conquering　hero　is　the　loving　friend　and　the　wise　philosopher。　I　knew　this　must　be　soI　knew　the　heart　of　my　king；　I　knew　he　would　regard　the　day　on　which　he　gave　peace　to　his　people　as　far　more　glorious　than　any　day　of　bloody　battle　and　triumphant　victory。　The　day　of　peace　to　Prussia　is　the　most　glorious；　the　happiest　day　of　her　great　king's　life。〃

Frederick　shook　his　head　softly；　and　gazed　with　infinite　sadness　at　his　friend's　agitated　countenance。

〃Ah；　D'Argens；　believe　me；　the　most　beautiful；　the　happiest　day　is　that　on　which　we　take　leave　of　life。〃

As　Frederick　turned　his　eyes　away　from　his　friend；　they　fell　accidentally　upon　a　porcelain　vase　which　stood　upon　a　table　near　his　secretary；　he　sprang　hastily　from　his　chair。

〃How　came　this　vase　here？〃　he　said；　in　a　trembling　voice。

〃Sire；〃　said　the　marquis；　〃the　queen…mother；　shortly　before　her　death；　ordered　this　vase　to　be　placed　in　this　room；　she　prized　it　highlyit　was　a　present　from　her　royal　brother；　George　II。　Her　majesty　wished　that；　on　your　return　from　the　war；　it　might　serve　as　a　remembrance　of　your　fond　mother　At　her　command；　I　placed　that　packet　of　letters　at　the　foot　of　the　vase；　after　the　queen　mother　had　sealed　and　addressed　it　with　her　dying　hand。〃

Frederick　was　silent；　he　bowed　his　head　upon　the　vase；　as　if　to　cool　his　burning　brow　upon　its　cold；　glassy　surface。　He；　perhaps；　wished　also　to　conceal　from　his　friend　the　tears　which　rolled　slowly　down　his　cheeks；　and　fell　upon　the　packet　of　letters　lying　before　him。

The　king　kissed　the　packet　reverentially；　and　examined　with　a　deep　sigh　the　trembling　characters　traced　by　the　hand　of　his　beloved　mother。

〃For　my　sonthe　king。〃

Frederick　read　the　address　softly。　〃Alas！　my　dear　mother；　how　poor　you　have　made　me。　I　am　now　no　longer　a　sononly　a　king！〃

He　bowed　his　head　over　the　packet；　and　pressed　his　mother's　writing　to　his　lips；　then　laid　the　letters　at　the　foot　of　the　vase　and　remained　standing　thoughtfully　before　it。

A　long　pause　ensued。　Frederick　stood　with　folded　arms　before　the　vase；　and　the　marquis　leaned　against　the　door　behind　him。　Suddenly　the　king　turned　to　him。

〃I　beg　a　favor　of　you；　marquis。　Hasten　to　Berlin；　and　tell　Benda　he　must　perform　the　Te　Deum　of　my　dear　Graun　here　in　the　castle　chapel　to…morrow　morning　at　nine　o'clock。　I　know　the　singers　of　the　chapel　can　execute　itthey　gave　it　once　after　the　battle　of　Leignitz。　Tell　Benda　to　make　no　difficulties；　for　it　is　my　express　wish　to　hear　the　music　to…morrow　morning。　I　trust　to　you；　mar