frederick the great and his family-第34章
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o the ruler of a king； and reigned over Spain； as Bruhl over Saxony。 All had succumbed to his power and influence； even the royal family trembled when he frowned； and felt themselves honored by his smile。 What was it that caused the ruin of this all…powerful； irreproachable favorite？ A little note which King Philip found between his napkin one day； upon which was this address： 〃To Philip IV。； once King of Spain； and Master of both the Indies； but now in the service of Count Lerma！〃 This it was that caused the count's ruin； Philip was enraged by this note； and the powerful favorite fell into disgrace。
Count Bruhl knew this history； and was on his guard。 He knew that even the air which he breathed was poisoned by the malice of his enemies； that those who paused in the streets to greet him reverentially when he passed in his gilded carriage； cursed him in their inmost hearts； that those friends who pressed his hand and sung songs in his praise； would become his bitterest enemies so soon as he ceased paying for their friendship with position； with pensions； with honors； and with orders。 He spent hundreds of thousands yearly to gain friends and admirers； but still he was in constant fear that some enemy would undermine him。 This had indeed once happened。 During the time that the king's favor was shared equally with Count Bruhl； Count Sulkovsky； and Count Hennicke； whilst playing cards； a piece of gold was given to the king； upon which was represented the crown of Poland； resting upon the shoulders of three men； with the following inscription： 〃There are three of us； two pages and one lackey！〃 The King of Poland was as much enraged by this satirical piece of gold as was the King of Spain by his satirical note。 But Count Bruhl succeeded in turning the king's anger upon the two other shoulder…bearers of his crown。 Counts Sulkovsky and Hennicke fell into disgrace； and were banished from the court； Count Bruhl remained； and reigned as absolute master over Poland and Saxony！
But reigning； he still trembled； and therefore he favored the queen's fancy for the strictest etiquette； therefore； no one but Count Bruhl was to eat at the royal table； he himself took their napkins from their plates and handed them to the royal couple； no one was to approach the sovereigns who was not introduced by the prime minister； who was at once master of ceremonies； field…marshal； and grand chamberlain； and received for each of these different posts a truly royal salary。 Etiquette and the fears of the powerful favorite kept the royal pair almost prisoners。
But for to…day etiquette was to be done away with； the crowned heads were to be gracious； so as to lend a new glory to their favorite's house。 To…day the count was fearless； for there was no danger of a traitor being among his guests。 His wife and himself had drawn up the list of invitations。 But still； as there might possibly be those among them who hated the count； and would very gladly injure him； he had ordered some of the best paid of his friends to watch all suspicious characters； not to leave them alone for a moment； and not to overlook a single word of theirs。 Of course； it was understood that the count and his wife must remain continually at the side of the king and queen； that all who wished to speak to them must first be introduced by the host or hostess。
The count was perfectly secure to…day； and therefore gay and happy。 He had been looking at the different arrangements for this feast； and he saw with delight that they were such as to do honor to his house。 It was； to be a summer festival： the entire palace had been turned into a greenhouse； that served only for an entrance to the actual scene of festivities。 This was the immense garden。 In the midst of the rarest and most beautiful groups of flowers； immense tents were raised； they were of rich； heavy silk； and were festooned at the sides with golden cords and tassels。 Apart from these was a smaller one； which outshone them all in magnificence。 The roof of this tent rested upon eight pillars of gold； it was composed of a dark…red velvet； over which a slight gauze； worked with gold and silver stars； was gracefully arranged。 Upon the table below this canopy； which rested upon a rich Turkish carpet； there was a heavy service of gold； and the most exquisite Venetian glass； the immense pyramid in the middle of the table was a master…work of Benevenuto Cellini； for which the count had paid in Rome one hundred thousand thalers。 There were but seven seats； for no one was to eat at this table but the royal pair； the prince…elector and his wife； the Prince Xavier； and the Count and Countess Bruhl。 This was a new triumph that the count had prepared for himself； he wished his guests to see the exclusive royal position he occupied。 And no one could remain in ignorance of this triumph； for from every part of the garden the royal tent could be seen； being erected upon a slight eminence。 It was like a scene from fairyland。 There were rushing cascades； beautiful marble statues； arbors and bowers； in which were birds of every color from every clime。 Behind a group of trees was a lofty structure of the purest marble； a shell； borne aloft by gigantic Tritons and mermaids； in which there was room for fifty musicians； who were to fill the air with sweet sounds； and never to become so loud as to weary the ear or disturb conversation。 If the tents； the rushing cascades； the rare flowers； the many colored birds； were a beautiful sight by daylight； how much more entrancing it would be at night； when illuminated by thousands of brilliant lamps！
The count； having taken a last look at the arrangements and seen that they were perfect； now retired to his rooms； and there； with the aid of his twelve valets； he commenced his toilet。 The countess had already been in the hands of her Parisian coiffeur for some hours。
The count wore a suit of blue velvet。 The price of embroidery in silver and pearls on his coat would have furnished hundreds of wretched； starving families with bread。 His diamond shoe…buckles would almost have sufficed to pay the army； which had gone unpaid for months。 When his toilet was finished； he entered his study to devote a few moments； at least； to his public duties； and to read those letters which to…day's post had brought him from all parts of the world； and which his secretary was accustomed to place in his study at this hour。 He took a letter； broke the seal hastily； and skimming over it quickly； threw it aside and opened another； to read anew the complaints； the prayers； the flatteries； the assurances of love； of his correspondents。 But none of them were calculated to compel the minister's attention。 He had long ago hardened his heart against prayers and complaints； as for flattery； he well knew that he had to pay for it with pensions； with position； with titles； with orders； etc。； etc。 But it seemed as if the letters were not all of the usual sort； for the expression of indifference which had rested upon his countenance while reading the others； had vanished and given place to one of a very different character。 This letter was from Flemming； the Saxon ambassador in Berlin； and contained strange； wild rumors。 The King of Prussia； it seemed； had left Berlin the day before； with all the princes and his staff officers； and no one knew exactly where he was going！ Rumor said； though； that he and his army were marching toward Saxony！ After reading this； Count Bruhl broke out into a loud laugh。
〃Well；〃 said he； 〃it must be granted that this little poet…king； Frederick； has the art of telling the most delightful fairy…tales to his subjects； and of investing every action of his with the greatest importance。 Ah； Margrave of Brandenburg！ we will soon be in a condition to take your usurped crown from your head。 Parade as much as you likemake the world believe in you and your absurd manoeuvresthe day will soon come when she will but see in you a poor knight with naught but his title of marquis。〃 With a triumphant smile he threw down the letter and grasped the next。 〃Another from Flemming？〃 said he。 〃Why； truly； the good count is becoming fond of writing。 Ah；〃 said he； after reading it carelessly； 〃more warnings！ He declares that the King of Prussia intends attacking Saxonythat he is now already at our borders。 He then adds； that the king is aware of the contract which we and our friends have signed； swearing to attack Prussia simultaneously。 Well； my good Flemming； there is not much wisdom needed to tell me that if the king knows of our contract； he will be all the more on his guard； and will make preparations to defend himself； for he would not be so foolhardy as to attempt to attack our three united armies。 No； no。 Our regiments can remain quietly in Poland； the seventeen thousand men here will answer all purposes。〃
〃There is but one more of these begging letters；〃 said he； opening it； but throwing it aside without reading it。 Out of it fell a folded piece of paper。 〃Why；〃 said the count； taking it up； 〃there are verses。 Has Flemming's fear of the Prussian king made a poet of him？〃 He opened it and read aloud：
〃'A piece of poetry which a friend； Baron Pollnitz； gave me yesterday。 The author is the King of Prussia。'〃
〃Well；〃 said the count； laughing； 〃a piece of poetry about methe king does me great honor。 Let us see； perhaps these verses can be read at the table to…day； and cause some amusement。 'Ode to Count Bruhl；' with this inscription： 'il ne faut pas s'inquieter de I'avsnir。' That is a wise philosophical sentence； which nevertheless did not spring from the brain of his Prussian majesty。 And now for the verses。〃 And straightening the paper before him； he commenced。
〃Esclave malheureux de la haute fortune； D'un roi trop indolent souverain absolu； Surcharge de travaux dont le soin L'importune。 Bruhl； quitte des grandeurs L'embarras superflu。 Au sein de ton opulence Je vois le Dieu des ennuis； Et dans ta magnificence Le repos fait tes units。
〃Descend de ce palais dont le superbe faite Domine sur la Saxe； s'elevent aux cieux。 D'ou ton esprit craintif conjure la tempete Que souleve ala cour un peuple d'envieux： Vois cette grandeur fragile Et cesse enfln d'admirer L'eclat pompeux d'une ville Ou tout feint de t'adorer。〃
The count's voice had at first been loud； pathetic； and slightly ironical； hut it became gradually lower； and sank at last almost to a whisper。 A deep； angry red suffused his face； as he read on。 Again his voice became louder as he read the last two verses：
〃Connaissez la Fortune inconstante et legere； La perflde se plait aux plus cruels revers； On la voit； abuber le sage； le vulgaire； Jouer insolemment tout ce faible univers； Aujourd'hui c'est sur ma tete Qu'elle repand des faveurs； Des demain elle s'apprete A les emporter ailleurs。〃
〃Fixe…t…elle sur moi sa bizarre inconstance； Mon cocur lui saura gre' du bien qu'elle me fait Veut'elle en d'autres lieux marquer sa bienvellance； Je lui remets ses dons sans chagrin； sans regret。 Plein d'une vertu plus forte J'epouse la pauvrete' Si pour dot elle m'app
