frederick the great and his family-第33章

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〃What　has　she　done　to　you？〃　said　the　prince；　with　a　mocking　smile。　〃Two　things；　which　man　finds　hardest　to　forgive！　She　outwitted　you；　and　took　your　riches　from　you。　Ah！　general；　I　fear　this　war　will　be　in　vain；　and　that　you　will　not　be　able　to　take　your　wife's　jewels　from　St。　Petersburg；　where　the　empress　retains　them。〃

Winterfeldt　subdued　his　anger；　and　replied：　〃You　have　related　us　a　beautiful　fairy　tale；　prince；　a　tale　from　the　Arabian　Nights；　in　which　there　is　a　talk　of　jewels　and　glorious　treasures；　only　that　in　this　tale；　instead　of　the　usual　dragon；　an　empress　guards　them。　I　acknowledge　that　I　do　not　understand　your　highness。〃

〃But　I　understand　you　perfectly；　general。　I　know　your　ambitious　and　proud　plans。　You　wish　to　make　your　name　renowned。　General；　I　consider　you　are　much　in　fault　as　to　this　war。　You　were　the　king's　confidantyou　had　your　spies　everywhere；　who；　for　heavy　rewards；　imparted　to　you　the　news　by　which　you　stimulated　the　king。〃

〃If　in　your　eyes；〃　said　Winterfeldt；　proudly；　〃it　is　wrong　to　spend　your　gold　to　find　out　the　intrigues　of　your　own；　your　king's；　and　your　country's　enemies；　I　acknowledge　that　I　am　in　fault；　and　deserve　to　be　punished。　Yes；　everywhere　I　have　had　my　spies；　and　thanks　to　them；　the　king　knows　Saxony's；　Austria's；　and　Russia's　intentions。　I　paid　these　spies　with　my　own　gold。　Your　highness　may　thus　perceive　that　I　am　not　entirely　dependent　on　those　jewels　of　my　wife　which　are　said　to　be　in　the　Empress　of　Russia's　possession。〃

At　this　moment　the　Prince　of　Prussia；　who　had　been　a　silent　witness　to　this　scene；　approached　General　Winterfeldt。

〃General；〃　said　he；　in　a　loud；　solemn　voice；　〃you　are　the　cause　of　this　unfortunate　war　which　will　soon　devastate　our　poor　land。　The　responsibility　falls　upon　your　head；　and　woe　to　you　if　this　war；　caused　by　your　ambition；　should　be　the　ruin　of　our　beloved　country！　I　would；　if　there　were　no　punishment　for　you　on　earth；　accuse　you　before　the　throne　of　God；　and　the　blood　of　the　slaughtered　sons　of　my　country；　the　blood　of　my　future　subjects；　would　cry　to　Heaven　for　revenge！　Woe　to　you　it　this　war　should　be　the　ruin　of　Prussia！〃　repeated　Prince　Henry。　〃I　could　never　forgive　that；　I　would　hold　your　ambition　responsible　for　it；　for　you　have　access　to　the　king's　heart；　and　instead　of　dissipating　his　distrust　against　these　foreign　nations；　you　have　endeavored　to　nourish　itinstead　of　softening　the　king's　anger；　you　have　given　it　fresh　food。〃

〃What　I　have　done；〃　cried　Winterfeldt；　solemnly　raising　his　right　hand　heavenward〃what　I　have　done　was　done　from　a　feeling　of　duty；　from　love　of　my　country；　and　from　a　firm；　unshaken　trust　in　my　king's　star；　which　cannot　fade；　but　must　become　ever　more　and　more　resplendent！　May　God　punish　me　if　I　have　acted　from　other　and　less　noble　motives！〃

〃Yes；　may　God　punish　youmay　He　not　revenge　your　crime　upon　our　poor　country！〃　said　Prince　Augustus　William。　〃I　have　said　my　last　upon　this　sad　subject。　From　now　on；　my　private　opinions　are　subdued…　…I　but　obey　the　king's　commands。　What　he　requires　of　me　shall　be　donewhere　he　sends　me　I　will　go；　without　questioning　or　considering；　but　quietly　and　obediently；　as　it　becomes　a　true　soldier。　I　hope　that　you；　my　brother；　Marshal　Schwerin；　and　General　Retzow；　will　follow　my　example。　The　king　has　commanded；　we　have　but　to　obey　cheerfully。〃

Then；　arm　in　arm；　the　princes　left　the　audience…room　and　returned　to　Berlin。




CHAPTER　X。

THE　LAUREL…BRANCH。


While　this　last　scene　was　passing　in　the　audience…room；　the　king　had　retired　to　his　study；　and　was　walking　up　and　down　in　deep　thought。　His　countenance　was　stern　and　sorrowfula　dark　cloud　was　upon　his　browhis　lips　were　tightly　pressed　togetherpowerful　emotions　were　disturbing　his　whole　being。　He　stopped　suddenly；　and　raising　his　head　proudly；　seemed　to　be　listening　to　the　thoughts　and　suggestions　of　his　soul。

〃Yes；〃　said　he；　〃these　were　his　very　words：　'I　protest　against　this　war　in　the　name　of　my　rights；　my　children；　and　my　country！'　Ah；　it　is　a　pleasant　thought　to　him　that　he　is　to　be　heir　to　my　throne。　He　imagines　that　he　has　rights　beyond　those　that　I　grant　him；　and　that　he　can　protest　against　an　action　of　mine！　He　is　a　rebel；　a　traitor。　He　dares　to　think　of　the　time　when　I　will　be　goneof　the　time　when　he　or　his　children　will　wear　this　crown！　I　feel　that　I　hate　him　as　my　father　hated　me　because　I　was　his　heir；　and　because　the　sight　of　me　always　reminded　him　of　his　death！　Yes；　I　hate　him！　The　effeminate　boy　will　disturb　the　great　work　which　I　am　endeavoring　to　perform。　Under　his　weak　hands；　this　Prussia；　which　I　would　make　great　and　powerful；　will　fail　to　pieces；　and　all　my　battles　and　conquests　will　be　in　vain。　He　will　not　know　how　to　make　use　of　them。　I　will　make　of　my　Prussia　a　mighty　and　much…feared　nation。　And　if　I　succeed；　by　giving　up　my　every　thought　to　this　one　object；　then　my　brother　will　come　and　destroy　this　work　which　has　cost　me　such　pain　and　trouble。　Prussia　needs　a　strong；　active　king；　not　an　effeminate　boy　who　passes　his　life　in　sighing　for　his　lost　love　and　in　grumbling　at　fate　for　making　him　the　son　of　a　king。　Yes；　I　feel　that　I　hate　him；　for　I　foresee　that　he　will　be　the　destroyer　of　my　great　work。　But　no；　noI　do　him　wrong；〃　said　the　king；　〃and　my　suspicious　heart　sees；　perhaps；　things　that　are　not。　Ah；　has　it　gone　so　far？　Must　I；　also；　pay　the　tribute　which　princes　give　for　their　pitiful　splendor？　I　suspect　the　heir　to　my　throne；　and　see　in　him　a　secret　enemy！　Mistrust　has　already　thrown　her　shadow　upon　my　soul；　and　made　it　dark　and　troubled。　Ah；　there　will　come　a　cold　and　dreary　night　for　me；　when　I　shall　stand　alone　in　the　midst　of　all　my　glory！〃

His　head　fell　upon　his　breast；　and　he　remained　silent　and　immovable。

〃And　am　I　not　alone；　now？〃　said　he；　and　in　his　voice　there　was　a　soft　and　sorrowful　sound。　〃My　brothers　are　against　me；　because　they　do　not　understand　me；　my　sisters　fear　me；　and；　because　this　war　will　disturb　their　peace　and　comfort；　will　hate　me。　My　mother's　heart　has　cooled　toward　me；　because　I　will　not　be　influenced　by　her；　and　Elizabeth　Christine；　whom　the　world　calls　my　wife；　weeps　in　solitude　over　the　heavy　chains　which　bind　her。　Not　one　of　them　loves　me！not　one　believes　in　me；　and　in　my　future！〃

The　king；　given　up　to　these　melancholy　thoughts；　did　not　hear　a　knock　at　his　door；　it　was　now　repeated；　and　so　loudly；　that　he　could　not　but　hear　it。　He　hastened　to　the　door　and　opened　it。　Winterfeldt　was　there；　with　a　sealed　paper　in　his　hand；　which　he　gave　to　the　king；　begging　him　at　the　same　time　to　excuse　this　interruption。

〃It　is　the　best　thing　you　could　have　done；〃　said　the　king；　entering　his　room；　and　signing　to　the　general　to　follow　him。　〃I　was　in　bad　company；　with　my　own　sorrowful　thoughts；　and　it　is　good　that　you　came　to　dissipate　them。〃

〃This　letter　will　know　well　how　to　do　that；〃　said　Winterfeldt　handing　him　the　packet；　〃a　courier　brought　it　to　me　from　Berlin。〃

〃Letters　from　my　sister　Wilhelmina；　from　Italy；〃　said　the　king；　joyfully　breaking　the　seal；　and　unfolding　the　papers。

There　were　several　sheets　of　paper　closely　written；　and　between　them　lay　a　small；　white　packet。　The　king　kept　the　latter　in　his　hand；　and　commenced　reading　eagerly。　As　he　read；　the　dark；　stern　expression　gradually　left　his　countenance。　His　brow　was　smooth　and　calm；　and　a　soft；　beautiful　smile　played　about　his　lips。　He　finished　the　letter；　and　throwing　it　hastily　aside；　tore　open　the　package。　In　it　was　a　laurel…branch；　covered　with　beautiful　leaves；　which　looked　as　bright　and　green　as　if　they　had　just　been　cut。　The　king　raised　it；　and　looked　at　it　tenderly。　〃Ah；　my　friend；〃　said　he；　with　a　beaming　smile；　〃see　how　kind　Providence　is　to　me！　On　this　painful　day　she　sends　me　a　glorious　token；　a　laurel…branch。　My　sister　gathered　it　for　me　on　my　birthday。　Do　you　know　where；　my　friend？　Bow　your　head；　be　all　attention；　for　know　that　it　is　a　branch　from　the　laurel…tree　that　grows　upon　Virgil's　grave！　Ah；　my　friend；　it　seems　to　me　as　if　the　great　and　glorious　spirits　of　the　olden　ages　were　greeting　me　with　this　laurel　which　came　from　the　grave　of　one　of　their　greatest　poets。　My　sister　sends　it　to　me；　accompanied　by　some　beautiful　verses　of　her　own。　An　old　fable　says　that　these　laurels　grew　spontaneously　upon　Virgil's　grave；　and　that　they　are　indestructible。　May　this　be　a　blessed　omen　for　me！　I　greet　you；　Virgil's　holy　shadow！　I　bow　down　before　you；　and　kiss　in　all　humility　your　ashes；　which　have　been　turned　into　laurels！〃

Thus　speaking；　the　king　bowed　his　head；　and　pressed　a　fervent　kiss　upon　the　laurel。　He　then　handed　it　to　Winterfeldt。　〃Do　likewise；　my　friend；〃　said　he；　〃your　lips　are　worthy　to　touch　this　holy　branch；　to　inhale　the　odor　of　these　leaves　which　grew　upon　Virgil's　grave。　Kiss　this　branchand　now　let　us　swear　to　become　worthy　of　this　kiss；　swear　that　in　this　war；　which　will　soon　begin；　laurels　shall　either　rest　upon　our　brows　or　upon　our　graves！〃

Winterfeldt　having　sworn；　repeated　these　words　after　him；　〃Amen！〃　said　the　king；　〃God　and　Virgil　have　heard　us。〃




CHAPTER　XI。

THE　BALL　AT　COUNT　BRUHL'S。


Count　Bruhl；　first　minister　to　the　King　of　Saxony；　gave　to…day　a　magnificent　fete　in　his　palace；　in　honor　of　his　wife；　whose　birthday　it　was。　The　feast　was　to　be　honored　by　the　presence　of　the　King　of　Poland；　the　Prince　Elector　of　Saxony；　Augustus　III。；　and　Maria　Josephine；　his　wife。　This　was　a　favor　which　the　proud　queen　granted　to　her　favorite　for　the　first　time。　For　she　who　had　instituted　there　the　stern　Spanish　etiquette　to　which　she　had　been　accustomed　at　the　court　of　her　father；　Joseph　I。；　had　never　taken　a　meal　at　the　table　of　one　of　her　subjects；　so　holy　did　she　consider　her　royal　person；　that　the　ambassadors　of　foreign　powers　were　not　permitted　to　sit　at　the　same　table　with　her。　Therefore；　at　every　feast　at　the　court　of　Dresden；　there　was　a　small　table　set　apart　for　the　royal　family；　and　only　the　prime　minister；　Count　Bruhl；　was　deserving　of　the　honor　to　eat　with　the　king　and　queen。　This　was　a　custom　which　pleased　no　one　so　well　as　the　count　himself；　for　it　insured　him　from　the　danger　that　some　one　might　approach　the　royal　pair；　and　inform　them　of　some　occurrence　of　which　the　count　wished　them　to　remain　in　ignorance。

There　were　many　slanderers　in　this　wretched　kingdommany　who　were　envious　of　the　count's　high　positionmany　who　dared　to　believe　that　the　minister　employed　the　king's　favor　for　his　own　good；　and　not　for　that　of　his　country。　They　said　that　he　alone　lived　luxuriously　in　this　miserable　land；　while　the　people　hungered；　that　he　spent　every　year　over　a　million　of　thalers。　They　declared　that　he　had　not　less　than　five　millions　now　lying　in　the　banks　of　Rotterdam；　Venice；　and　Marseilles；　others　said　that　he　had　funds　to　the　amount　of　seven　millions。　One　of　these　calumniators　might　possibly　approach　the　king's　table　and　whisper　into　the　royal　ear　his　wicked　slanders；　one　of　these　evil…doers　might　even　have　the　audacity　to　make　his　unrighteous　complaints　to　the　queen。　This　it　was　that　caused　Count　Bruhl　to　tremble；　this　it　was　that　robbed　him　of　sleep　at　night；　of　peace　by　day；　this　fear　of　a　possible　disgrace。

He　was　well　acquainted　with　the　history　of　Count　Lerma；　minister　to　King　Philip　IV。　of　Spain。　Lerma　was　also　the　ruler　of　a　king；　and　reigned　over　S