frederick the great and his family-第112章
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herself from the barren； colorless nothingness which awaited her； from that worst of all evils； the weariness with which the old coquette paints the terrible future； in which even she can no longer please； in which old age with a cruel hand sweeps away the flowers from the hair and the crimson from the cheek； and points out to the mocking world the wrinkles on the brow and the ashes in the hair。
〃It is cold here；〃 said Louise； shuddering； and springing up quickly from the grass…plot〃it is cold here； and lonely； I will return to the saloon。 Perhaps〃
Hasty steps drew near； and a voice whispered her name。 Madame du Trouffle drew back； and a glowing blush suffused her cheek； and as she advanced from the grotto she was again the gay； imperious coquettethe beautiful woman； with the cloudless brow and the sparkling eyes； which seemed never to have been over…shadowed by tears。 The conscience…stricken； self…accusing mother was again the worldly…wise coquette。
Her name was called the second time； and her heart trembled； she knew not if with joy or horror。
〃For God's sake； why have you dared to seek me here？ Do you not know that my husband may return at any moment？〃
〃Your husband is entertaining Prince Henry while the princess dances the first waltz with Count Kalkreuth。 All the world is dancing； playing； and chatting； and； while looking at the prince and princess； have for one moment forgotten the beautiful Louise du Trouffle。 I alone could not do this； and as I learned from Lady Elliot that you were here； I dared to follow you； and seek in one glance a compensation for what I have endured this day。 Ah； tell me； worshipped lady； must I be forever banished from your presence。〃
The words of the young man would have seemed insincere and artificial to every unprejudiced ear； but they filled the heart of the vain Louise du Trouffle with joy； they convinced her that she was yet beautiful enough to excite admiration。
〃All will be well； Emil；〃 said she； 〃I have convinced my husband that I am wise as Cato and virtuous as Lucretia。 He believes in me； and will cast all slander from his door。 Remain here； and let me return alone to the saloon。 Au revoir； man ami。〃
She threw him a kiss from the tips of her rosy fingers； and hastened away。
CHAPTER IV。
THE KING IN SANS…SOUCI。
The ceremonies and festivities of the reception were ended。 The king could at length indulge himself in that quiet and repose which he had so long vainly desired。 At length； he who had lived so many years to perform the duties of a king； who had in reality lived for his country； might after so many cares and sorrows seek repose。 The warrior and hero might once more become the philosopher； might once more enjoy with his friends the pleasure of science and art。
The king entered the carriage which was to bear him to Sans…Souci with a beaming countenancehis deeply…loved Sans…Souci； which had seemed a golden dream to him during the dreary years of the wara bright goal before him； of which it consoled and strengthened him even to think。 Now he would again behold it； now he would again enter those beautiful rooms； and the past would once more become a reality。
He seemed enraptured with the road which led him to Sans…Souci。 Every tree； every stone appeared to welcome him； and when the palace became visible； he was entirely overcome by his emotions； and sank back in his carriage with closed eyes。
The Marquis d'Argens； however； the only one who had been allowed to accompany the king in this drive； sprang from his seat； and waving his hat in greeting； exclaimed：
〃I greet you； Sans…Souci； you temple of wisdom and happiness！ Open wide your portals； for your lord is returning to you。 Let your walls resound as did Memnon's pillar； when the sun's rays first greeted it； after a long night。 Your night is passed； Sans…Souci； you will be again warmed by the sunbeams from your master's eyes！〃
The king smilingly drew his enthusiastic friend back to his seat。
〃You are； and always will be a childan overgrown child。〃
〃Sire；〃 said D'Argens； 〃that is because I am pious。 It is written； 'If you do not become as little children you cannot enter the kingdom of heaven！' Now； Sans…Souci is my kingdom！ I have become as the children； that I might be received at the side of my king； and begin once more the days of happiness。〃
The king gently shook his head。 〃Oh； I fear； my friend； that the days of happiness will not recommence； the sun which once illumined Sans…Souci has set。 Our lips have forgotten how to smile； and joy is dead in our hearts。 How many illusions； how many hopes and wishes I still indulged； when I last descended the steps of Sans…Souci； how poor； and weak； and depressed I shall feel in ascending them！〃
〃What？ your majesty poor！ You who return so rich in fame； crowned with imperishable laurels？〃
〃Ah； marquis； these laurels are bathed in blood； and paid for bitterly and painfully with the lives of many thousands of my subjects。 The wounds are still gaping which my land received during the war； and they will require long years to heal。 Do not speak to me of my laurels； fame is but cold and sorrowful food！ In order to prize fame； one should lay great weight on the judgment of men； I have lost all faith in them。 Too many bitter experiences have at length destroyed my faith and confidence。 I can no longer love mankind； for I have ever found them small； miserable； and crafty。 Those for whom I have done most have betrayed and deceived me the most deeply。 Think of Chafgotch； he whom I called friend； and who betrayed me in the hour of danger！ Remember Warkotch； whom I preferred to so many others； whom I overloaded with proofs of my love； and who wished to betray and murder me！ Think of the many attempts against my life； which were always undertaken by those whom I had trusted and benefited！ Think of these things； marquis； and then tell me if I should still love and trust mankind！〃
〃It is true； sire；〃 said the marquis； sadly； 〃your majesty has had a wretched experience； and mankind must appear small to you； who are yourself so great。 The eagle which soars proudly toward the sun； must think the world smaller and smaller； the higher he soars； the objects which delight us poor earth…worms； who are grovelling in the dust； and mistake an atom floating in the sunshine for the sun itself； must indeed appear insignificant to you。〃
〃Do not flatter me； marquis！ Let us； when together； hear a little of that truth which is so seldom heard among men； and of which the name is scarcely known to kings。 You flattered me； because you had not the courage to answer my question concerning the unworthiness of mankind； when I said I could no longer love or trust them！ You feel； however； that I am right； and you will know how to pardon me； when I appear to the world as a cold； hard…hearted egotist。 It is true my heart has become hardened in the fire of many and deep sufferings！ I loved mankind very dearly； marquis； perhaps that is the reason I now despise them so intensely； because I know they are not worthy of my love！〃
〃But； sire； you love them still； for your heart is possessed of that Godlike qualitymercywhich overlooks and pardons the faults and failings of mankind。 Intolerance is not in the nature of my king； and forgiveness and mercy are ever on his lips。〃
〃I will endeavor to verify your words； dear friend；〃 said the king； offering D'Argens his hand。 〃And should I not succeed； you must forgive me； and remember how deeply I have suffered； and that my heart is hardened by the scars of old wounds。 But I will indulge such sad thoughts no longer。 Only look how Sans…Souci gleams before us！ Every window which glitters in the sunlight seems to greet me with shining eyes； and the whispering leaves appear to bid me welcome。 There are the windows of my library； and behind them await the great spirits of my immortal friends； who look at me and shake their gray heads at the weak child who has returned to them old and bowed down。 Csesar looks smilingly at the laurels I have brought； and Virgil shakes his curly locks； and lightly hums one of his divine songs； which are greater than all my victories。 Come； marquis； come！ we will go； in all modesty and humility to these gifted spirits； and entreat them not to despise us； because we are so unlike them。〃
As the carriage reached the lowest terrace； Frederick sprang out with the elasticity of youth； and began to ascend the steps so lightly and rapidly； that the marquis could scarcely follow him。
From time to time the king stood still； and gazed around him； and then a bright smile illumined his countenance； and his eyes beamed with pleasure。 Then hastening onward； he turned his head toward the house that looked so still and peaceful； and seemed； with its open doors； ready to welcome him。
At length； having reached the summit； he turned once more with beaming eyes to look at the lovely landscape which was spread before him in smiling luxuriousness。 He then hastily entered the house and the beautiful room in which he had spent so many gay and happy hours with his friends。 Now his footsteps echoed in the lonely room； and none of his friends were there to welcome the returning kingnone but D'Argens； the dearest； the most faithful of all。
The king now turned to him； and a shadow overspread his countenance； which had been so bright。
〃D'Argens；〃 he said； 〃we are very poor； the most of our friends have left us forever。 The prior of Sans…Souci has returned； but his monks have all left him but you； marquis！〃
〃Does your majesty forget my Lord Marshal； the most amiable and intellectual of your monks？ It needs but a sign from his beloved prior to recall him from Neufchatel！〃
〃It is true；〃 said the king； smiling； 〃I am not so deserted as I thought。 Lord Marshal must return to us； and he must live here in Sans…Souci； as you will。 I must surround myself with those who deserve my confidence； perhaps； then； I can forget how bitterly I have been deceived by others。 Come； marquis； give me your arm； and we will make a tour of these rooms。〃
He placed his hand upon the arm of the marquis； and they passed through the silent； deserted rooms； which seemed to greet the king with a thousand remembrances。 Perhaps it was that he might the more distinctly hear the whispers of memory that he had commanded that no one should receive him in Sans…Souci； that no servant should appear until called for。 Without noise or ceremony； he desired to take possession of this house； in which he had not been the king； but the philosopher and poet。 He wished to return here； at least； as if he had only yesterday left the house。 But the seven years of care and sorrow went with him； they crept behind him into these silent； deserted halls。 He recognized them in the faded furniture； in the dusty walls； and in the darkened pictures。 They were not merely around； but within him； and he again felt how utterly he had changed in these years。
As they entered the room which Voltaire had occupied； Frederick's countenance was again brightened by a smile； while that of the marquis assumed a dark and indignant expression。
〃Ah； marquis； I see from your countenance that you are acquainted with all the monkey…tricks of my immortal friend；〃 said the king； gayly； 〃and you are in
