frederick the great and his family-第27章

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〃Hush！〃　whispered　she；　〃do　you　not　see　the　prince？　Do　laugh！　Bow　down　and　give　the　swans　these　flowers！〃

The　count　took　the　flowers；　and　as　he　gave　them　to　the　swans；　he　whispered：

〃Give　me　at　least　a　sign　that　you　are　not　angry；　and　that　you　do　not　love　the　prince。　Throw　this　hated　bouquet；　which　has　taken　the　place　of　mine；　into　the　water；　it　is　like　a　poisoned　arrow　in　my　heart。〃

〃Hush！〃　whispered　the　princess。　She　turned　and　gave　the　prince　a　friendly　welcome。

Prince　Henry　was　so　happy　in　her　presence；　and　so　dazzled　by　her　beauty；　that　he　did　not　remark　the　melancholy　of　the　count；　and　spoke　with　him　gayly　and　jestingly；　while　the　count　mastered　himself；　and　replied　in　the　same　spirit。

The　princess　bowed　down　to　the　swans；　whom　she　enticed　once　more　with　caresses　to　the　borders　of　the　lake。　Suddenly　she　uttered　a　loud　cry；　and　called　to　the　two　gentlemen　for　help。　The　great　white　swan　had　torn　the　camelias　from　the　bosom　of　the　princess；　and　sailed　off　proudly　upon　the　clear　waters　of　the　lake。




CHAPTER　V。

INTRIGUES。


While　Prince　Henry　celebrated　Arcadian　fetes　at　Rheinsberg；　and　gave　himself　up　to　love　and　joy；　King　Frederick　lived　in　philosophic　retirement　at　Sans…Souci。　He　came　to　Berlin　only　to　visit　the　queen…　mother；　now　dangerously　ill；　or　to　attend　the　meetings　of　his　cabinet　ministers。　Never　had　the　king　lived　so　quietly；　never　had　he　received　so　few　guests　at　Sans…Souci；　and；　above　all；　never　had　the　world　so　little　cause　to　speak　of　the　King　of　Prussia。　He　appeared　content　with　the　laurels　which　the　two　Silesian　wars　had　placed　upon　his　heroic　brow；　and　he　only　indulged　the　wish　that　Europe；　exhausted　by　her　long　and　varied　wars；　would　allow　him　that　rest　and　peace　which　the　world　at　large　seemed　to　enjoy。　Those　who　were　honored　with　invitations　to　Sans…Souci；　and　had　opportunities　to　see　the　king；　could　only　speak　of　that　earthly　paradise；　of　the　peaceful　stillness　which　reigned　there；　and　which　was　reflected　in　every　countenance；　of　Frederick's　calm　cheerfulness　and　innocent　enjoyment。

〃The　king　thinks　no　more　of　politics；〃　said　the　frolicsome　Berliners；　〃he　is　absorbed　in　the　arts　and　sciences；　and；　above　all　other　things；　he　lives　to　promote　the　peaceful　prosperity　of　his　people。〃　The　balance　of　power　and　foreign　relations　troubled　him　no　longer；　he　wished　for　no　conquests；　and　thought　not　of　war。　In　the　morning　he　was　occupied　with　scientific　works；　wrote　in　his　〃Histoire　de　mon　Temps；〃　or　to　his　friends；　and　took　part　in　the　daily…recurring　duties　of　the　government。　The　remainder　of　the　day　was　passed　in　the　garden　of　Sans…Souci；　in　pleasant　walks　and　animated　conversation；　closing　always　with　music。　Concerts　took　place　every　evening　in　the　apartments　of　the　king；　in　which　he　took　part；　and　he　practised　difficult　pieces　of　his　own　or　Quantz's　composition；　under　Quantz's　direction。　From　time　to　time　he　was　much　occupied　with　his　picture…gallery；　and　sent　Gotzkowsky　to　Italy　to　purchase　the　paintings　of　the　celebrated　masters。

King　Frederick　appeared　to　have　reached　his　goal；　at　least；　that　which；　during　the　storm　of　war；　he　had　often　called　his　ideal；　he　could　devote　his　life　to　philosophy　and　art　in　the　enchanting　retirement　of　his　beloved　Sans…Souci。　The　tumult　and　discord　of　the　world　did　not　trouble　him；　in　fact；　the　whole　world　seemed　to　be　at　peace；　and　all　Europe　was　glad　and　happy。

Maria　Theresa　was　completely　bound　by　the　last　peace　contract　at　Dresden；　besides；　the　two　Silesian　wars　had　weakened　and　impoverished　Austria；　and　time　was　necessary　to　heal　her　wounds　before　she　dared　make　a　new　attempt　to　reconquer　the　noble　jewel　of　Silesia；　which　Frederick　had　torn　from　her　crown。　Notwithstanding　her　pious　and　Christian　pretensions；　she　hated　Frederick　with　her　whole　heart。

England　had　allied　herself　with　Russia。　France　was　at　the　moment　too　much　occupied　with　the　pageants　which　the　lovely　Marquise　de　Pompadour　celebrated　at　Versailles；　not　to　be　in　peace　and　harmony　with　all　the　world；　yes；　even　with　her　natural　enemy；　Austria。　Count　Kaunitz；　her　ambassador　at　Paris；　had；　by　his　wise　and　adroit　conduct；　banished　the　cloud　of　mistrust　which　had　so　long　lowered　between　these　two　powers。

This　was　the　state　of　things　at　the　close　of　the　year　1775。　Then　was　the　general　quiet　interrupted　by　the　distant　echo　of　a　cannon。　Europe　was　startled；　and　rose　up　from　her　comfortable　siesta　to　listen　and　inquire　after　the　cause　of　this　significant　thunderbolt。　This　roar　of　cannon；　whose　echo　only　had　been　heard；　had　its　birth　far；　far　away　in　America。　The　cannon；　however；　had　been　fired　by　a　European　powerby　England；　always　distinguished　for　her　calculating　selfishness；　which　she　wished　the　world　to　consider　praiseworthy　and　honorable　policy。　England　considered　her　mercantile　interests　in　America　endangered　by　France；　and　she　thirsted　with　desire　to　have　not　only　an　East　India　but　a　West　India　company。　The　French　colonies　in　America　had　long　excited　the　envy　and　covetousness　of　England；　and　as　a　sufficient　cause　for　war　had　utterly　failed；　she　was　bold　enough　to　take　the　initiative　without　excuse！

In　the　midst　of　a　general　peace；　and　without　any　declaration　of　war；　she　seized　upon　a　country　lying　on　the　borders　of　the　Ohio　River；　and　belonging　to　French　Canada；　made　an　attack　upon　some　hundred　merchant…ships；　which　were　navigating　the　Ohio；　under　the　protection　of　the　ships…of…war；　and　took　them　as　prizes。　＇Footnote：　〃Characteristics　of　the　Important　Events　of　the　Seven　Years'　War；〃　by　Retson。＇

That　was　the　cannon…shot　which　roused　all　Europe　from　her　comfortable　slumber　and　dreamy　rest。

The　Empress　of　Austria　began　to　make　warlike　preparations　in　Bohemia；　and　to　assemble　her　troops　on　the　borders　of　Saxony　and　Bohemia。　The　Empress　of　Russia　discontinued　instantaneously　her　luxurious　feasts　and　wild　orgies；　armed　her　soldiers；　and　placed　them　on　the　borders　of　Courland。　She　formed　an　immediate　alliance　with　England；　by　which　she　bound　herself　to　protect　the　territory　of　George　II。　in　Germany；　if　attacked　by　France；　in　retaliation　for　the　French　merchant…ships　taken　by　England　on　the　Ohio　River。　Hanover；　however；　was　excepted；　as　Frederick　of　Prussia　might　possibly　give　her　his　aid。　For　this　promised　aid；　Russia　received　from　England　the　sum　of　150；000　pounds　sterling；　which　was　truly　welcome　to　the　powerful　Bestuchef；　from；　the　extravagant　and　pomp…loving　minister　of　the　queen。

Saxony　also　prepared　for　war；　and　placed　her　army　on　the　borders　of　Prussia；　for　which　she　received　a　subsidy　from　Austria。　This　was　as　gladly　welcomed　by　Count　Bruhl；　the　luxurious　minister　of　King　Augustus　the　Third　of　Poland　and　Saxony；　as　the　English　subsidy　was　by　Bestuchef。

The　King　of　France　appeared　to　stand　alone；　even　as　completely　alone　as　Frederick　of　Prussia。　Every　eye　therefore　was　naturally　fixed　upon　these　two　powers；　who　seemed　thus　forced　by　fate　to　extend　the　hand　of　fellowship　to　each　other；　and　form　such　an　alliance　as　England　had　done　with　Russia；　and　Austria　with　Saxony。

This　contract　between　Prussia　and　France　would　have　been　the　signal　for　a　general　war；　for　which　all　the　powers　of　Europe　were　now　arming　themselves。　But　France　did　not　extend　her　hand　soon　enough　to　obtain　the　friendship　of　Prussia。　France　distrusted　Prussia；　even　as　Austria；　England；　Russia；　and　Saxony　distrusted　and　feared　the　adroit　young　adventurer；　who　in　the　last　fifty　years　had　placed　himself　firmly　amongst　the　great　powers　of　Europe；　and　was　bold；　brave；　and　wise　enough　to　hold　a　powerful　and　self…sustained　position　in　their　circle。

Francethat　is　to　say；　Louis　the　FifteenthFrancethat　is　to　say；　the　Marquise　de　Pompadour；　hated　the　King　of　Prussia　manfully。　By　his　bold　wit　he　had　often　brought　the　French　court　and　its　immoralities　into　ridicule　and　contempt。

Austria　and　her　minister　Kaunitz　and　Maria　Theresa　hated　Frederick　of　Prussia；　because　of　his　conquest　of　Silesia。

Russiathat　is　to　say；　Elizabeth　and　Bestuchefhated　the　King　of　Prussia　for　the　same　reason　with　France。　Frederick's　cutting　wit　had　scourged　the　manners　of　the　Russian　court；　as　it　had　humiliated　and　exposed　the　court　of　France。

Saxonythat　is　to　say；　Augustus　the　Third；　and　his　minister；　Count　Bruhlhated　Frederick　from　instinct；　from　envy；　from　resentment。　This　insignificant　and　small　neighbor　had　spread　her　wings　and　made　so　bold　a　flight；　that　Saxony　was　completely　over…shadowed。

England　hated　no　one；　but　she　feared　Prussia　and　France；　and　this　fear　led　her　to　master　the　old…rooted　national　hatred　to　Russia；　and　form　an　alliance　with　her　for　mutual　protection。　But　the　English　people　did　not　share　the　fears　of　their　king；　they　murmured　over　this　Russian　ally；　and　this　discontent；　which　found　expression　in　Parliament；　rang　so　loudly；　that　Frederick　might　well　have　heard　it；　and　formed　his　own　conclusions　as　to　the　result。　But　did　he　hear　it？　Was　the　sound　of　his　flute　so　loud？　Was　his　study　hermetically　sealed；　so　that　no　echo　from　the　outside　world　could　reach　his　ears？

There　was　no　interruption　to　his　quiet；　peaceful　life；　he　hated　nobody；　made　no　warlike　preparations；　his　soldiers　exercised　no　more　than　formerly。　Truly　they　exercised；　and　at　the　first　call　to　battle；　150；000　men　would　be　under　arms。

But　Frederick　seemed　not　inclined　to　give　this　call；　not　inclined　to　exchange　the　calm　pleasures　of　Sans…Souci　for　the　rude　noises　of　tents　and　battle…fields。　He　seemed　to　be　in　peaceful　harmony　with　all　nations。　He　was　particularly　friendly　and　conciliating　toward　the　Austrian　embassy；　and　not　only　was　the　ambassador；　Count　Peubla　invited　often　to　the　royal　table；　but　his　secretary；　Baron　Weingarten。　came　also　to　Potsdam　and　Sans…Souci。　The　king　appeared　attached　to　him；　and　encouraged　him　to　come　often；　to　walk　in　the　royal　gardens。

Frederick　was　gracious　and　kind　toward　the　officials　of　all　the　German　powers。　On　one　occasion；　when　the　wife　of　Councillor　Reichart；　attached　to　the　Saxon　embassy；　was　confined；　at　Frederick's　earnest　wish；　his　private　secretary；　Eichel；　stood　as　god…father　to　the　child。　＇Footnote：　〃Characteristics　of　the　Important　Events　of　the　Seven　Years'　War。〃＇

In　order　to　promote　good　feeling　in　Saxony；　the　king　sent　Count　Mattzahn；　one　of　the　most　eloquent　cavaliers　of　the　day；　to　the　Dresden　court；　and　so　well　supplied　was　he；　that　he　dared　compete　in　pomp　and　splendor　with　Count　Bruhl。

Frederick　appeared　to　attach　special　importance　to　the　friendship　of　Saxony；　and　with　none　of　his　foreign　ambassadors　was　he　engaged　in　so　active　a　correspondence　as　with　Mattzahn。　It　was　said　that　these　letters　were　of　a　harmless　and　innocent　nature；　relating　wholly　to　paintings；　which　the　count　was　to　purchase　from　the　Saxon　galleries；　or　to　music；　which　Frederick　wished　to　obtain　from　amongst　the　collection　of　the　dead　Hesse；　or　to　an　Italian　singer　Frederick　wished　to　entice　to　Berlin。

The　world　no　longer　favored　Frederick's　retirement。　The　less　disposed　he　was　to　mingle　in　politics；　the　more　Maria　Theresa；　Elizabeth　of　Russia；　Augustus　of　Saxony；　and　the　Marquise　de　Pompadour　agitated　the　subject。

France　had　not　forgotten　that　the　contract　between　herself　and　Prussia　was　about　to　expire。　She　knew　also　that　the　subsidy　money　between　England　and　Russia　had　not　yet　been　voted　by　Parliament。　It