frederick the great and his family-第19章

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er　who　Mr。　Zoller　was　and　who　I　was。〃

〃Now；　forward！　Farewell；　Frederick　Zoller！　Now　I　am　on　Prussian　soil；　the　hour　of　thoughtless　happiness　is　passed。　I　fear；　Balby；　that　the　solemn　duties　of　life　will　soon　take　possession　of　us。　So　be　it！　I　accept　my　destinyI　am　again　Frederick　of　Hohenzollern！〃

〃And　I　have　the　honor　to　be　the　first　to　greet　your　majesty　on　your　own　domain；〃　said　Balby；　as　he　bowed　profoundly　before　the　king。




BOOK　II。


CHAPTER　I。

THE　UNHAPPY　NEWS。


The　Princess　Amelia　was　alone　in　her　room。　She　was　stretched　upon　a　sofa；　lost　in　deep　thought；　her　eyes　were　raised　to　heaven；　and　her　lips　trembled；　from　time　to　time　they　murmured　a　word　of　complaint　or　of　entreaty。

Amelia　was　ill。　She　had　been　ill　since　that　unhappy　day　in　which　she　intentionally　destroyed　her　beauty　to　save　herself　from　a　hated　marriage。＇Footnote：　See　〃Berlin　and　Sans…Souci。〃＇　Her　eyes　had　never　recovered　their　glance　or　early　fire；　they　were　always　inflamed　and　veiled　by　tears。　Her　voice　had　lost　its　metallic　ring　and　youthful　freshness；　it　sounded　from　her　aching　and　hollow　chest　like　sighs　from　a　lonely　grave。

Severe　pain　from　time　to　time　tortured　her　whole　body；　and　contracted　her　limbs　with　agonizing　cramps。　She　had　the　appearance　of　a　woman　of　sixty　years　of　age；　who　was　tottering　to　the　grave。

In　this　crushed　and　trembling　body　dwelt　a　strong；　powerful；　healthy　soul；　this　shrunken；　contracted　bosom　was　animated　by　a　youthful；　ardent；　passionate　heart。　This　heart　had　consecrated　itself　to　the　love　of　its　early　years　with　an　obstinate　and　feverish　power。

In　wild　defiance　against　her　fate；　Amelia　had　sworn　never　to　yield；　never　to　break　faith；　to　bear　all；　to　suffer　all　for　her　love；　and　to　press　onward　with　unshaken　resignation　but　never…failing　courage　through　the　storms　and　agonies　of　a　desolate；　misunderstood；　and　wretched　existence。　She　was　a　martyr　to　her　birth　and　her　love；　she　accepted　this　martyrdom　with　defiant　self…reliance　and　joyful　resignation。

Years　had　passed　since　she　had　seen　Trenck；　but　she　loved　him　still！　She　knew　he　had　not　guarded　the　faith　they　had　mutually　sworn　with　the　constancy　that　she　had　religiously　maintained；　but　she　loved　him　still！　She　had　solemnly　sworn　to　her　brother　to　give　up　the　foolish　and　fantastic　wish　of　becoming　the　wife　of　Trenck；　but　she　loved　him　still！　She　might　not　live　for　him；　but　she　would　suffer　for　him；　she　could　not　give　him　her　hand；　but　she　could　consecrate　thought　and　soul　to　him。　In　imagination　she　was　his；　only　his；　he　had　a　holy；　an　imperishable　right　to　her。　Had　she　not　sworn；　in　the　presence　of　God；　to　be　his　through　life　down　to　the　borders　of　the　grave？　Truly；　no　priest　had　blessed　them；　God　had　been　their　priest；　and　had　united　them。　There　had　been　no　mortal　witness　to　their　solemn　oaths；　but　the　pure　stars　were　presentwith　their　sparkling；　loving　eyes　they　had　looked　down　and　listened　to　the　vows　she　had　exchanged　with　Trenck。　She　was　therefore　hishis　eternally！　He　had　a　sacred　claim　upon　her　constancy；　her　love；　her　forbearance；　and　her　forgiveness。　If　Trenck　had　wandered　from　his　faith；　she　dared　not　follow　his　example；　she　must　be　ever　ready　to　listen　to　his　call；　and　give　him　the　aid　he　required。

Amelia's　love　was　her　religion；　her　life's　strength；　her　life's　object；　it　was　a　talisman　to　protect　and　give　strength　in　time　of　need。　She　would　have　died　without　it；　she　lived　and　struggled　with　her　grief　only　for　his　sake。

This　was　a　wretched；　joyless　existencea　never…ending　martyrdom；　a　never…ceasing　contest。　Amelia　stood　alone　and　unloved　in　her　family；　feared　and　avoided　by　all　the　merry；　thoughtless；　pleasure　seeking　circle。　In　her　sad　presence　they　shuddered　involuntarily　and　felt　chilled；　as　by　a　blast　from　the　grave。　She　was　an　object　of　distrust　and　weariness　to　her　companions　and　servants；　an　object　of　love　and　frank　affection　to　no　one。

Mademoiselle　Ernestine　von　Haak　had　alone　remained　true　to　her；　but　she　had　married；　and　gone　far　away　with　her　husband。　Princess　Amelia　was　now　alone；　there　was　no　one　to　whom　she　could　express　her　sorrow　and　her　fears；　no　one　who　understood　her　suppressed　agony；　or　who　spoke　one　word　of　consolation　or　sympathy　to　her　broken　heart。

She　was　alone　in　the　world；　and　the　consciousness　of　this　steeled　her　strength；　and　made　an　impenetrable　shield　for　her　wearied　soul。　She　gave　herself　up　entirety　to　her　thoughts　and　dreams。　She　lived　a　strange；　enchanted；　double　life　and　twofold　existence。　Outwardly；　she　was　old；　crushed；　ill；　her　interior　life　was　young；　fresh；　glowing；　and　energetic；　endowed　with　unshaken　power；　and　tempered　in　the　fire　of　her　great　grief。　Amelia　lay　upon　the　divan　and　looked　dreamily　toward　heaven。　A　strange　and　unaccountable　presentiment　was　upon　her；　she　trembled　with　mysterious　forebodings。　She　had　always　felt　thus　when　any　new　misfortunes　were　about　to　befall　Trenck。　It　seemed　as　if　her　soul　was　bound　to　his；　and　by　means　of　an　electric　current　she　felt　the　blow　in　the　same　moment　that　it　fell　upon　him。

The　princess　believed　in　these　presentiments。　She　had　faith　in　dreams　and　prophecies；　as　do　all　those　unhappy　beings　to　whom　fate　has　denied　real　happiness；　and　who　seek　wildly　in　fantastic　visions　for　compensation。　She　loved；　therefore；　to　look　into　the　future　through　fortune…tellers　and　dark　oracles；　and　thus　prepare　herself　for　the　sad　events　which　lay　before　her。　The　day　before；　the　renowned　astrologer　Pfannenstein　had　warned　her　of　approaching　peril；　he　declared　that　a　cloud　of　tears　was　in　the　act　of　bursting　upon　her！　Princess　Amelia　believed　in　his　words；　and　waited　with　a　bold；　resolved　spirit　for　the　breaking　of　the　cloud；　whose　gray　veil　she　already　felt　to　be　round　about　her。

These　sad　thoughts　were　interrupted　by　a　light　knock　upon　the　door；　and　her　maid　entered　and　announced　that　the　master　of　ceremonies；　Baron　Pollnitz；　craved　an　audience。

Amelia　shuddered；　but　roused　herself　quickly。　〃Let　him　enter！〃　she　said；　hastily。　The　short　moment　of　expectation　seemed　an　eternity　of　anguish。　She　pressed　her　hands　upon　her　heart；　to　still　its　stormy　beatings；　she　looked　with　staring；　wide…opened　eyes　toward　the　door　through　which　Pollnitz　must　enter；　and　she　shuddered　as　she　looked　upon　the　ever…smiling；　immovable　face　of　the　courtier；　who　now　entered　her　boudoir；　with　Mademoiselle　von　Marwitz　at　his　side。

〃Do　you　know；　Pollnitz；〃　said　she；　in　a　rough；　imperious　tone〃do　you　know　I　believe　your　face　is　not　flesh　and　blood；　but　hewn　from　stone；　or；　at　least；　one　day　it　was　petrified？　Perhaps　the　fatal　hour　struck　one　day；　just　as　you　were　laughing　over　some　of　your　villainies；　and　your　smile　was　turned　to　stone　as　a　judgment。　I　shall　know　this　look　as　long　as　I　live；　it　is　ever　most　clearly　marked　upon　your　visage；　when　you　have　some　misfortune　to　announce。〃

〃Then　this　stony　smile　must　have　but　little　expression　to…day；　for　I　do　not　come　as　a　messenger　of　evil　tidings；　but　if　your　royal　highness　will　allow　me　to　say　so；　as　a　sort　of　postillon　d'amour。〃

Amelia　shrank　back　for　a　moment；　gave　one　glance　toward　Mademoiselle　von　Marwitz；　whom　she　knew　full　well　to　be　the　watchful　spy　of　her　mother；　and　whose　daily　duty　it　was　to　relate　to　the　queen…mother　every　thing　which　took　place　in　the　apartment　of　the　princess。　She　knew　that　every　word　and　look　of　Pollnitz　was　examined　with　the　strictest　attention。

Pollnitz；　however；　spoke　on　with　cool　self…possession：

〃You　look　astonished；　princess；　it　perhaps　appears　to　you　that　this　impassive　face　is　little　suited　to　the　role　of　postillon　d'amour；　and　yet　that　is　my　position；　and　I　ask　your　highness's　permission　to　make　known　my　errand。〃

〃I　refuse　your　request；〃　said　Amelia；　roughly；　〃I　have　nothing　to　do　with　Love；　and　find　his　godship　as　old　and　dull　as　the　messenger　he　has　sent　me。　Go　back；　then；　to　your　blind　god；　and　tell　him　that　my　ears　are　deaf　to　his　love　greeting；　and　the　screeching　of　the　raven　is　more　melodious　than　the　tenderest　words　a　Pollnitz　can　utter。〃

The　princess　said　this　in　her　most　repulsive　tone。　She　was　accustomed　to　shield　herself　in　this　rude　manner　from　all　approach　or　contact；　and；　indeed；　she　attained　her　object。　She　was　feared　and　avoided。　Her　witty　bon　mots　and　stinging　jests　were　repeated　and　merrily　laughed　over；　but　the　world　knew　that　she　scattered　her　sarcasms　far　and　wide；　in　order　to　secure　her　isolation；　to　banish　every　one　from　her　presence；　so　that　none　might　hear　her　sighs；　or　read　her　sad　history　in　her　countenance。

〃And　yet；　princess；　I　must　still　implore　a　hearing；〃　said　he；　with　imperturbable　good…humor；　〃if　my　voice　is　rough　as　the　raven's；　your　royal　highness　must　feed　me　with　sugar；　and　it　will　become　soft　and　tender　as　an　innocent　maiden's。〃

〃I　think　a　few　ducats　would　be　better　for　your　case；〃　said　Amelia；　〃a　Pollnitz　is　not　to　be　won　with　sweets；　but　for　gold　he　would　follow　the　devil　to　the　lower　regions。〃

〃You　are　right；　princess；　I　do　not　wish　to　go　to　heaven；　but　be　low；　there　I　am　certain　to　find　the　best　and　most　interesting　society。　The　genial　people　are　all　born　devils；　and　your　highness　has　ever　confessed　that　I　am　genial。　Then　let　it　be　so！　I　will　accept　the　ducats　which　your　royal　highness　think　good　for　me；　and　now　allow　me　to　discharge　my　duty。　I　come　as　the　messenger　of　Prince　Henry：　He　sends　his　heart…felt　greetings　to　his　royal　sister；　and　begs　that　she　will　do　him　the　honor　to　attend　fete　at　Rheinsberg；　which　will　take　place　in　eight　days。〃

〃Has　the　master　of　ceremonies　of　the　king　become　the　fourrier　of　Prince　Henry？〃　said　Amelia。

〃No；　princess；　I　occasionally　and　accidentally　perform　the　function　of　a　fourrier。　This　invitation　was　not　my　principal　object　to…day。〃

〃I　knew　it；〃　said　Amelia；　ironically。　〃My　brother　Henry　does　not　love　me　well　enough　to　invite　me　to　this　fete；　if　he　had　not　some　other　object　to　attain。　Well；　what　does　Prince　Henry　wish？〃

〃A　small　favor；　your　royal　highness；　he　wishes；　on　the　birthday　of　his　wife；　to　have　Voltaire's　'Rome　Sauvee'　given　by　the　French　tragedians。　Some　years　since　your　highness　had　a　great　triumph　in　this　piece。　The　prince　remembers　that　Voltaire　prepared　the　role　of　Aurelia　especially　for　you；　with　changes　and　additions；　and　he　entreats　you；　through　me；　the　temporary　Directeur　des　spectacles　de　Rheinsberg；　to　lend　him　this　role　for　the　use　of　his　performer。〃

〃Why　does　not　my　brother　rather　entreat　me　to　take　this　part　myself？〃　said　Amelia；　in　cruel　mockery　over　herself。　〃It　appears　to　me　I　could　look　the　part　of　Aurelia；　and　my　soft；　flute…like　voice　would　make　a　powerful　impression　upon　the　public。　It　is　cruel　of　Prince　Henry　to　demand　this　role　of　me；　it　might　be　inferred　that　he　thought　I　had　become　old　and　ugly。〃

〃Not　so；　your　highness；　the　tragedy　is　to　be　performed　on　this　occasion　by　public　actors；　and　not　by　amateurs。〃

〃You　are　right；〃　said　Amelia；　suddenly　becoming　grave；　〃at　that　time　we　were　amateurs；　lovers　of　the　drama；　our　dreams　are　overwe　live　in　realities　now。〃

〃Mademoiselle　von　Marwitz；　have　the　goodness　to　bring　the　manuscript　my　brother　wishes；　it　is　partly　written　by　Voltaire's　own　hand。　You　will　find　it　in　the　bureau　in　my　dressing…room。〃

Mademoiselle　Marwitz　withdrew　to　get　the　manuscript；　as　she　left　the　room；　she　looked　back　suspicious