frederick the great and his family-第35章

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　　　　　　　Plein　d'une　vertu　plus　forte　　　　　　　　　　　J'epouse　la　pauvrete'　　　　　　　　　　　Si　pour　dot　elle　m'apporte　　　　　　　　　　　L'honneur　et　la　probite'〃

＇Footnote：　ODE　TO　COUNT　BRUHL。　Inscription。〃It　is　not　necessary　to　make　ourselves　uneasy　about　the　future。〃

　　　　　〃High　Destiny's　unhappy　slave；　　　　　　Absolute　lord　of　too　indolent　a　king；　　　　　　Oppressed　with　work　whose　care　importunes　him　　　　　　Bruhl；　leave　the　useless　perplexities　of　grandeur。　　　　　　　　　　　In　the　bosom　of　thine　opulence　　　　　　　　　　　I　see　the　God　of　the　wearied　ones；　　　　　　　　　　　And　in　thy　magnificence　　　　　　　　　　　Repose　makes　thy　nights。〃

　　　　　〃Descend　from　this　palace；　whose　haughty　dome　　　　　　Towering　o'er　Saxony；rises　to　the　skies；　　　　　　In　which　thy　fearful　mind　confines　the　tempest。　　　　　　Which　agitates　at　the　court；　a　nation　of　enviers。　　　　　　　　　　　Look　at　this　fragile　grandeur；　　　　　　　　　　　And　cease　at　last　to　admire　　　　　　　　　　　The　pompous　shining　of　a　city　　　　　　　　　　　Where　all　feign　to　adore　thee。〃

　　　　　〃Know　that　Fortune　is　light　and　inconstant；　　　　　　A　deceiver　who　delights　　　　　　in　cruel　reverses；　　　　　　She　is　seen　to　abuse　the　wise　man；　the　vulgar　　　　　　Insolently　playing　with　all　this　weak　universe。　　　　　　　　　　　To…day　it　is　on　my　head　　　　　　　　　　　That　she　lets　her　favors　fall；　　　　　　　　　　　By　to…morrow　she　will　be　prepared　　　　　　　　　　　To　carry　them　elsewhere。〃

　　　　　〃Does　she　fix　on　me　her　wayward　fickleness；　　　　　　My　heart　will　be　grateful　for　the　good　she　does　me；　　　　　　Does　she　wish　to　show　elsewhere　her　benevolence；　　　　　　I　give　her　back　her　gifts　without　painwithout　regret。　　　　　　　　　　　Filled　with　strongest　virtue；　　　　　　　　　　　I　will　espouse　Poverty；　　　　　　　　　　　If　for　dower　she　brings　me　　　　　　　　　　　Honor　and　probity。〃＇


The　paper　fell　from　the　count's　hand　and　he　looked　at　it　thoughtfully。　An　expression　of　deep　emotion　rested　upon　his　countenance；　which；　in　spite　of　his　fifty　years；　could　still　be　called　handsomeas　he　repeated　in　a　low；　trembling　voice：

〃J'epouse　la　pauvrete；　Si　pour　dot　elle　m'apporte　L'honneur　et　la　probite。〃

The　sun　coming　through　the　window　rested　upon　his　tall　form；　causing　the　many　jewels　upon　his　garments　to　sparkle　like　stars　on　the　blue　background；　enveloping　him　in　a　sort　of　glory。　He　had　repeated　for　the　third　time；　〃J'epouse　la　pauvrete；〃　when　the　door　leading　to　his　wife's　apartments　was　opened；　and　the　countess　entered　in　the　full　splendor　of　her　queenly　toilet；　sparkling　with　jewels。　The　count　was　startled　by　her　entrance；　but　he　now　broke　out　into　a　loud；　mocking　laugh。

〃Truly；　countess；〃　said　he；　〃you　could　not　have　found　a　better　moment　to　interrupt　me。　For　the　last　half　hour　my　thoughts　have　been　given　up　to　sentiment。　Wonderful　dreams　have　been　chasing　each　other　through　my　brain。　But　you　have　again　shown　yourself　my　good　angel；　Antonia；　by　dissipating　these　painful　thoughts。〃　He　pressed　a　fervent　kiss　upon　her　hand；　then　looking　at　her　with　a　beaming　countenance；　he　said：

〃How　beautiful　you　are；　Antonia；　you　must　have　found　that　mysterious　river　which；　if　bathed　in；　insures　perpetual　youth　and　beauty。〃

〃Ah！〃　said　the　countess；　smiling；　〃all　know　that　no　one　can　flatter　so　exquisitely　as　Count　Bruhl。〃

〃But　I　am　not　always　paid　with　the　same　coin；　Antonia；〃　said　the　count；　earnestly。　〃Look　at　this　poem；　that　the　King　of　Prussia　has　written　of　me。　Truly；　there　is　no　flattery　in　it。〃

While　reading；　the　countess's　countenance　was　perfectly　clear；　not　the　slightest　cloud　was　to　be　seen　upon　her　brow。

〃Do　you　not　think　it　a　good　poem？〃　said　she；　indifferently。

〃Well；〃　said　he；　〃I　must　acknowledge　that　there　was　a　certain　fire　in　it　that　touched　my　heart。〃

〃I　find　it　stupid；〃　said　she；　sternly。　〃There　is　but　one　thing　in　it　that　pleases　me；　and　that　is　the　title…'il　ne　faut　pas　s'inquieter　de　l'avenir。'　The　little　King　of　Prussia　has　done　well　to　choose　this　for　his　motto；　for　without　it；　it　strikes　me；　his　peace　would　be　forever　gone；　for　his　future　will　surely　be　a　humiliating　one。〃

The　count　laughed。

〃How　true　that　is！〃　said　he　〃and　a　just　answer　to　his　stupid　poem。　Speak　of　something　else。〃

He　tore　the　paper　into　small　pieces；　which；　with　a　graceful　bow；　he　laid　at　the　feet　of　the　countess。

〃A　small　sacrifice；〃　said　he；　〃which　I　bring　to　my　goddess。　Tread　upon　it；　and　destroy　the　king's　words　with　your　fairy　foot。〃　The　countess　obeyed　him；　laughingly。

〃But　now；　count；〃　said　she；　〃we　will；　for　a　moment；　speak　of　graver　things。　I　have　received　letters　from　Loudon…from　our　son。　Poor　Henry　is　in　despair；　and　he　has　requested　me　to　intercede　for　him。　You　were　always　very　stern　with　him；　my　friend；　therefore　he　fears　your　anger；　now　that　he　has　been　a　little　imprudent。〃

〃Well；　what　is　it？〃　said　the　count；　〃I　hope　it　is　no　duel；　for　that　would　make　me　extremely　angry。〃

〃It　is　nothing　of　that　kind。　His　imprudence　is　of　another　sort；　He　is　in　want　of　money。〃

〃Money！〃　said　the　count；　in　amazement；　〃why；　barely　a　month　ago；　I　sent　him　six　hundred　thousand　thalers。　That；　and　what　he　took　with　him；　three　months　ago；　is　quite　a　large　sum；　for　it　amounts　to　more　than　a　million　of　thalers。〃

〃But；　my　dear　husband；　in　England　every　thing　is　so　dear！　and　there；　to　move　amongst　and　impress　those　rich　lords；　he　must　really　have　more。　It　seems　that　our　Charles　Joseph　has　fallen　in　love　with　a　lady　whom　all　Loudon　worships　for　her　surpassing　beauty。　But　she；　having　a　cold　heart；　will　listen　to　no　one。　She　laughs　at　those　who　flatter　her；　and　will　receive　no　presents。　She　seemed　an　invincible　fortress；　but　our　son；　thanks　to　stratagem；　has　taken　it。〃

〃I　am　curious　to　know　how；〃　said　the　count；　laughing。

〃He　played　a　game　of　ecarte　with　her。　He　played　for　notes　to　the　amount　of　ten　pounds；　and；　at　first；　Charles　won；　much　to　the　displeasure　of　the　proud　lady；　who　did　not　relish　being　beaten；　even　in　a　game　of　cards。　Charles；　perceiving　this；　played　badly。　The　lady　won　from　him　eighty　thousand　pounds。〃

〃Eighty　thousand　pounds；〃　cried　the　count；　〃why；　that　is　a　half　a　million　of　thalers！〃

〃And　do　you　mean　to　say；〃　said　the　countess；　angrily；　〃that　that　is　too　much　to　gain　the　favor　of　a　beautiful　lady？〃

〃No！　it　is　not　too　much；　but　it　is　certainly　enough。　I　hope；　at　least；　it　was　not　in　vain。〃

〃No；　no！　and　Loudon　is　now　raving　about　the　intellectual；　genial　and　generous　son　of　Count　Bruhl。　I　trust；　count；　that　you　instantly　sent　him　a　check〃

〃Yes；〃　said　the　count；　shrugging　his　shoulders。　〃But；　countess；　if　the　king　were　to　hear　this　story；　it　would　cause　much　evil；　for　you　know　that　he　believes　in　economy；　luckily　for　me；　he　believes　me　to　be　an　economical　man。　Those　enemies　who　would　not　dare　to　accuse　us；　would　have　no　fears　of　saying　evil　of　our　son；　he　will　certainly　hear　this　eighty…thousand…pound　story。〃

〃We　will　tell　him　ourselves；　but　say　that　the　story　is　much　exaggerated。〃

〃What　a　wonderful　woman　you　are；　Antonia！〃　said　her　husband；　〃your　counsel　is　wise；　we　will　follow　it。〃

At　this　moment　a　slight　knocking　was　heard　at　the　door；　and　the　secretary　entered　with　a　sealed　letter。

〃A　courier　from　Torgau　just　arrived　with　this　from　the　commandant。〃　The　count's　brow　became　clouded。

〃Business！　forever　business！〃　said　he。　〃How　dared　you　annoy　me　with　this；　upon　the　birthday　of　my　wife？〃

〃Pardon；　your　excellency；　but　the　courier　brought　with　this　packet　such　strange　news；　that　I　ventured　to　disturb　you；　to　communicate〃

The　beating　of　drums　and　the　thunder　of　cannon　interrupted　him。

〃The　king　and　queen　are　now　entering　their　carriage；〃　cried　the　count。　〃No　more　business　to…day；　my　friend。　It　will　keep　till　tomorrow。　Come；　Antonia；　we　must　welcome　their　majesties。〃　And　taking　his　wife's　hand；　he　passed　out　of　the　study。




CHAPTER　XII。

THE　INTERRUPTED　FEAST。


As　the　Count　Bruhl　and　his　wife　entered　the　saloon；　it　almost　seemed　as　if　they　were　the　royal　couple　for　whom　all　this　company　was　waiting。　Every　one　of　any　rank　or　position　in　Dresden　was　present。　There　were　to　be　seen　the　gold　and　silver　embroidered　uniforms　of　generals　and　ambassadors；　jewelled　stars　were　sparkling　upon　many　breasts；　the　proudest；　loveliest　women　of　the　court；　bearing　the　noblest　Saxon　names；　were　there；　accompanied　by　princes；　counts；　dukes；　and　barons；　and　one　and　all　were　bowing　reverentially　to　the　count　and　his　wife。　And　now；　at　a　sign　from　the　grand　chamberlain；　the　pages　of　the　countess；　clothed　in　garments　embroidered　with　silver　and　pearls；　approached　to　carry　her　train；　beside　them　were　the　count's　officers；　followed　by　all　the　noble　guests。　Thus　they　passed　through　the　third　room；　where　the　servants　of　the　house；　numbering　upward　of　two　hundred；　were　placed　in　military　order；　and　then　on　until　they　came　to　the　grand　entrance；　which　had　been　turned　into　a　floral　temple。

The　royal　equipage　was　at　the　gate；　the　host　and　hostess　advanced　to　welcome　the　king　and　queen；　whose　arrival　had　been　announced　by　the　roar　of　cannon。

The　king　passed　through　the　beautiful　avenue；　and　greeted　the　company　placed　on　either　side　of　him；　gayly。　The　queen；　sparkling　with　diamonds；　forcing　herself　also　to　smile；　was　at　his　side；　and　as　their　majesties　passed　on；　saying　here　and　there　a　kind；　merry　word；　it　seemed　as　if　the　sun　had　just　risen　over　all　these　noble；　rich；　and　powerful　guests。　This　was　reflected　upon　every　countenance。　The　gods　had　demanded　from　Olympus　to　favor　these　mortals　with　their　presence；　and　to　enjoy　themselves　among　them。　And　truly；　even　a　king　might　spend　some　happy　hours　in　this　delightful　garden。

The　air　was　so　soft　and　mild；　so　sweet　from　the　odor　of　many　flowers；　the　rustling　of　the　trees　was　accompanied　by　soft　whispers　of　music　that　seemed　floating　like　angels'　wings　upon　the　air。　Every　countenance　was　sparkling　with　happiness　and　content；　and　the　king　could　but　take　the　flattering　unction　to　his　soul　that　all　his　subjects　were　equally　as　happy　as　the　elite　by　which　he　was　surrounded。

Pleased　with　this　thought　and　delighted　with　all　the　arrangements　for　the　fete；　the　king　gave　himself　up　to　an　enjoyment　which；　though　somewhat　clouding　his　character　as　a　deity；　was　immensely　gratifying　to　him。

He　abandoned　himself　to　the　delights　of　the　table！　He　devoured　with　a　sort　of　amiable　astonishment　the　rare　and　choice　dishes　which；　even　to　his　experienced　and　pampered　palate；　appeared　unfathomable　mysteries；　luxuries　had　been　procured；　not　only　from　Loudon　and　Paris；　but　from　every　part　of　the　world。　He　delighted　himself　with　the　gold　and　purple　wines；　whose　vintage　was　unknown　to　him；　and　whose　odor　intoxicated　him　more　than　the　perfume　of　flowers。　He　requested　the　count　to　give　the　name　and　history　of　all　these　wines。

The　count　obeyed　in　that　shy；　reverential　manner　in　which　he　was　accustomed　to　speak。　He　charmed　him　by　relating　the　many　difficulties　he　had　overcome　to　obtain　this　wine　from　the　Cape　of　Good　Hope；　which　had　to　cross　the　line　twice　to　arrive　at　its　highest　perfection。　He　said　that　for　two　years　he　had　been　thinking　of　this　gloriously　happy　day；　and　had　had　a　ship　upon　the　sea　for　the　purpose　of　perfecting　this　wine。　He　bade　the　king　notice　the　strangely　formed　fish；　which　could　only　be　obtained　from　the　Chinese　sea。　Then；　following　up　the　subject；　he　spoke　of　the　peculiar　and　laughable　customs　and　habits　of　the　Chinese；　thus　causing　even　the　proud　queen　to　l