frederick the great and his family-第39章

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in　this　evil…doer　who　threatens　us　all！'〃

With　a　fearful　groan；　the　queen　fell　fainting　into　the　arms　of　Countess　Ogliva。　But　the　sorrows　and　humiliations　of　this　day　were　not　the　only　ones　experienced　by　Maria　Josephine　from　her　victorious　enemy。

It　is　true　her　cry　for　help　resounded　throughout　Europe。　Preparations　for　war　were　made　in　many　places；　but　her　allies　were　not　able　to　prevent　the　fearful　blow　that　was　to　be　the　ruin　of　Saxony。　Though　the　Dauphine　of　France；　daughter　of　the　wretched　Maria　Josephine；　and　the　mother　of　the　unfortunate　King　of　France；　Louis　XVI。；　threw　herself　at　the　feet　of　Louis　XV。；　imploring　for　help　for　her　mother's　tottering　kingdom；　the　French　troops　came　too　late　to　prevent　this　disaster。　Even　though　Maria　Theresa；　Empress　of　Austria；　and　niece　to　the　Queen　of　Saxony；　as　her　army　were　in　want　of　horses；　gave　up　all　her　own　to　carry　the　cannon。　The　Austrian　cannon　was　of　as　little　help　to　Saxony　as　the　French　troops。

Starvation　was　a　more　powerful　ally　to　Prussia　than　Austria；　France；　Russia；　and　Sweden　were　to　Saxony；　for　in　the　Saxon　camp　also　a　cry　of　woe　resounded。

It　was　hunger　that　compelled　the　brave　Saxon　General　Rutrosky　to　capitulate。　It　was　the　same　cause　that　forced　the　King　of　Saxony　to　bind　himself　to　the　fearful　stipulations　which　the　victorious　King　of　Prussia；　after　having　tried　in　vain　for　many　years　to　gain　an　ally　in　Saxony；　made。

In　the　valley　of　Lilienstein　the　first　of　that　great　drama；　whose　scenes　are　engraved　in　blood　in　the　book　of　history；　was　performed；　and　for　whose　further　developments　many　sad；　long　years　were　necessary。

In　the　valley　of　Lilienstein　the　Saxon　army；　compelled　to　it　by　actual　starvation；　gave　up　their　arms；　and　as　these　true；　brave　soldiers；　weeping　over　their　humiliation；　with　one　hand　laid　down　their　weapons；　the　other　was　extended　toward　their　enemies　for　bread。

Lamentation　and　despair　reigned　in　the　camp　at　Lilienstein；　and　there；　at　a　window　of　the　castle　of　Konigstein；　stood　the　Prince…　Elector　of　Saxony；　with　his　favorite　Count　Bruhl；　witnesses　to　their　misery。

After　these　fearful　humiliations；　by　which　Frederick　punished　the　Saxons　for　their　many　intrigues；　by　which　he　revenged　himself　for　their　obstinate；　enmity；　their　proud　superiorityafter　these　humiliations；　after　their　complete　defeat；　the　King　of　Prussia　was　no　longer　opposed　to　the　King　of　Saxony's　journey。　He　sent　him　the　desired　passports；　he　even　extended　their　number；　and　not　only　sent　one　to　the　king　and　to　Count　Bruhl；　but　also　to　the　Countess　Bruhl；　with　the　express　command　to　accompany　her　husband。　He　also　sent　a　pass　to　Countess　Ogliva；　compelling　this　bigoted　woman　to　leave　her　mistress。

And　when　the　queen　again　raised　her　cry　of　woe；　to　call　her　allies　to　her　aid；　the　King　of　Prussia　answered　her　with　the　victorious　thunder　of　the　battle　of　Losovitz；　the　first　battle　fought　in　this　war；　and　in　which　the　Prussians；　led　by　their　king；　performed　wonders　of　bravery；　and　defeated　for　the　third　time　the　tremendous　Austrian　army；　under　the　command　of　General　Brown。

〃Never；〃　says　Frederick；　〃since　I　have　had　the　honor　to　command　the　Prussian　troops；　have　they　performed　such　deeds　of　daring　as　to…　day。〃

The　Austrians；　in　viewing　these　deeds；　cried　out：

〃We　have　found　again　the　old　Prussians！〃

And　still　they　fought　so　bravely；　that　the　Prussians　remarked　in　amazement：　〃These　cannot　be　the　same　Austrians！〃

This　was　the　first　act　of　that　great　drama　enacted　by　the　European　nations；　and　of　which　King　Frederick　II。　was　the　hero。




BOOK　III。


CHAPTER　I。

THE　MAIDEN　OF　BRUNEN。


The　sun　was　just　setting；　throwing　its　crimson　glow　upon　the　waters　of　the　Rhine；　which　appeared　to　flow　like　a　river　of　blood　between　the　green　meadows　on　either　side　of　it。

From　the　little　village　of　Brunen；　whose　red　chimneys　were　visible　above　a　group　of　oak　and　beech　trees；　the　sound　of　the　evening　bell　was　heard；　reminding　the　pious　peasants；　engaged　in　cutting　and　garnering　their　golden　corn；　of　the　hour　for　devotion。

With　the　sweet　sounds　of　the　bell　mingled　the　joyous　mountain　yodel　of　the　cowherd；　who　had　just　descended　the　little　hill　yonder；　with　his　herd　straying　here　and　there；　in　picturesque　confusion。　Upon　the　green　meadow　in　the　foreground；　the　flocks　of　the　village　were　pasturing；　strictly　guarded　by　a　large　white　dog；　whose　stern；　martial　glance　not　the　slightest　movement　among　his　army　contrary　to　discipline；　escaped。　As　soon　as　one　of　the　sheep　committed　to　his　care　left　the　fold　and　approached　the　field　where　the　reapers　were　mowing　the　corn；　which　was　bound　at　once　in　sheaves　by　busy　maidens；　the　stern　Phylax　barking；　growling；　and　snarling；　rushed　after　the　audacious　wanderer　who　sought　to　appease　the　anger　of　his　inexorable　overseer　by　a　speedy　return。

The　old　shepherd；　sitting　not　far　off　upon　a　little　wooden　stool；　with　his　long；　silver　hair　falling　about　him；　was　engaged　in　weaving　a　graceful　basket　of　some　meadow　roots；　at　every　bark　of　his　Phylax　he　looked　up　and　smiled　his　approval　at　his　faithful　steward；　occasionally　he　gazed　across　the　meadow　at　the　reapers　and　busy　maidens；　then　there　came　upon　his　venerable　old　countenance　an　expression　of　great　interest。　And　well　he　might　be　pleased　with　what　he　saw　there；　for　that　tall；　sturdy　youth；　standing　in　the　wagon；　waiting　with　outstretched　arms　to　catch　the　sheaves　which　are　skilfully　thrown　him；　that　youth　with　the　bright　rosy　face；　the　sparkling　eye；　the　full　red　lip；　upon　which　there　is　always　a　merry　smile；　the　ivory　white　teeththat　youth　is　his　beloved　son；　Charles　Henry。　And　yonder　maiden；　not　far　from　the　wagon；　binding　up　the　corn；　in　whose　tall；　proud　form；　in　spite　of　her　plain　peasant…gown；　there　is　something　imposing；　that　maiden　with　the　youthful；　blooming；　lovely　face；　is　his　son's　betrothed；　whom　all　in　the　village　called　the　beautiful　Anna　Sophia；　and　for　whose　love　Charles　Henry　was　envied　by　all　the　village　boys。　It　is　true　she　was　a　penniless　orphan；　but　in　her　busy；　industrious　hands　there　was　a　better　and　surer　treasure　than　in　a　purse　of　gold；　and　her　ability　and　goodness　would　be　a　much　better　dowry　to　her　husband；　for　Anna　Sophia　Detzloff　could　do　almost　every　thing；　and　the　villagers　knew　not　whether　to　respect　her　more　for　her　great　knowledge；　or　love　her　more　for　her　kind；　good　heart。　Anna　could　read　and　write　like　a　school…teacher。　She　wrote　every　letter　which　the　women　of　the　village　sent　to　their　sons　and　husbands；　now　far　away　with　the　King　of　Prussia's　army；　and　read　to　them　the　answers；　and　in　so　beautiful　and　winning　a　manner　did　she　read　them；　that　to　the　happy　women　it　almost　seemed　as　if　they　were　hearing　the　voices　of　their　loved　ones。　But；　notwithstanding　her　learning；　she　was　well　versed　in　every　sort　of　work　that　beseemed　a　woman。　None　in　the　village　could　prepare　more　delightful　dishes　than　she；　no　one　could　equal　her　beautiful；　rapid　sewing　and　knitting。　Anna　Sophia　learned　all　these　things　from　her　mother；　who　had　lived　and　worked　for　many　long　years　in　Brunen。　Her　father　had　been　the　village　school…teacher；　and　it　was　owing　to　his　diligence　and　activity　that　the　women　could　now　receive　letters　from　their　sons　and　husbands。　He　had　taught　the　boys　to　read　and　write；　and　though　the　girls　did　not　learn；　the　example　of　his　daughter　showed　that　it　was　not　owing　to　inability；　but　for　a　want　of　time　and　desire。　From　her　mother；　Anna　had　learned　all　her　womanly　duties。　She　had　taught　her　to　be　amiable；　ready　with　help　for　all；　kind　and　sympathetic；　and　to　strive　by　her　good　deeds　to　gain　the　love　of　her　fellow…creatures。

A　joyous　family　had　lived　in　the　little　village　school…house；　though　they　had　poverty　and　want　to　fight　against；　these　three　happy　human　beings　did　not　consider　this　a　misfortune；　but　a　necessary　evil　of　life。　They　loved　each　other；　and　when　the　parents　looked　upon　the　lovely；　rosy　countenance　of　their　only　child；　they　did　not　perceive　that　their　bread　was　hard　and　heavy；　they　did　not　miss　the　butter　and　cheese　without　which　the　rich　villagers　seldom　took　a　meal。　And　when；　on　Sundays；　Anna　went　with　her　parents　to　church；　in　the　faded　red　skirt；　neat　white　body；　and　black　bodice；　which　had　been　her　mother's　wedding…dress；　she　heard　the　boys　whisper　amongst　themselves　about　her　beauty　and　sweetness；　and　casting　her　eyes　down　with　timid　blushes　she　did　not　perceive　the　jeering　smiles　of　the　other　girls　who；　though　not　as　pretty；　were　proud　that　they　were　richer　and　better　dressed　than　the　school…teacher's　daughter。

But　Death；　in　his　inexorable　manner；　had　disturbed　this　modest　happiness。　In　a　year　he　took　the　schoolmaster　Detzloff　and　his　wife　from　the　little　house　which；　to　any　one　else；　would　have　appeared　a　pitiful　hut；　but　which；　to　them；　seemed　a　paradise。　In　one　year　Anna　became　an　orphan；　she　was　entirely　alone　in　the　world；　and；　after　she　had　given　to　her　dear　departed　ones　the　tribute　of　her　sorrows　and　tears；　she　had　to　arouse　herself　and　create　a　new　future。　After　death　only；　the　villagers　became　aware　of　the　great　worth　of　the　departed；　they　now　admitted　to　the　full　the　school…teacher's　merits；　and　were　anxious　to　pay　to　the　daughter　the　debt　owing　to　the　father。　As　he　had　died　partly　from　starvation；　sorrow；　and　work；　they　wished　to　prove　themselves　generous　to　his　daughter；　and　preserve　her　from　the　want　and　misery　which　had　caused　the　death　of　her　parents。

But　Anna　Sophia　would　be　dependent　on　no　one。　To　those　who　came　in　the　name　of　the　villagers　to　notify　her　that　she　would　receive　from　them　a　monthly　allowance；　she　showed　her　able　hands；　her　brown；　muscular　arms；　and；　raising　her　sparkling　eyes　proudly　to　the　new　school…teacher；　she　said；　〃From　these　alone　will　I　receive　help；　they　shall　give　me　food　and　clothing；　on　them　alone　will　I　be　dependent。〃

She　then　went　to　seek　work。　The　rich　burgher　of　the　village　would　gladly　have　taken　so　smart　and　industrious　a　girl　into　his　house　and　paid　her　handsomely　for　her　services。　But　Anna　Sophia　declared　proudly　that；　though　she　was　willing　to　work；　she　would　be　no　slave；　that　she　would　sell　her　hands；　but　not　her　freedom。

Another　house　had　been　built　and　furnished　for　the　school…teacher；　because　there　was　danger　of　the　old　one；　in　which　the　Detzloff　family　had　lived；　falling　to　pieces。

Anna　Sophia；　by　the　sale　of　some　of　the　furniture；　had　bought　the　old；　dilapidated　hut　for　herself。　And　there；　in　her　hours　of　leisure；　she　lived　over　the　happy　past。　There　she　felt　that　she　was　still　with　her　parents；　and　not　alone　and　orphaned。　In　the　morning；　before　leaving　her　home　to　go　at　her　daily　work；　she　entered　the　little　garden　at　the　back　of　the　hut；　where　in　the　arbor；　laden　with　dark…red　blossoms；　were　the　three　chairs　her　father　had　woven　in　his　idle　moments；　and　the　roughly…hewn　deal　table　made　by　his　axe。　She　took　her　seat　for　a　moment　upon　the　chair　standing　in　the　centre；　and　laid　one　hand　upon　the　one　to　either　side　of　her　Thus　she　had　sat　in　the　past；　with　her　hands　clasped　in　those　of　her　parents。　The　Rhine　flowed　on　as　melodiously　as　before　in　the　dim　distance；　the　trees　were　as　green；　the　flowers　and　blossoms　as　sweet；　the　sky　as　blue。　There　was　no　change；　all　around　her　was　as　in　former　days；　except　these　empty　chairs。　But　Anna　had　only　to　close　her　eyes　t