frederick the great and his family-第47章

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al　Daun。　They　had　fought　bravely；　desperately　for　this　victory；　and　when　all　was　over；　death　would　have　been　preferable　to　defeat。

The　Prussians　were　beaten；　though　their　king；　Ziethen；　and　Moritz　von　Dessauall　of　them　heroeswere　in　the　field。　At　the　first　thought　of　the　possibility　of　losing　the　battle；　there　was　a　fearful　panic　throughout　the　army。

〃We　are　lost！　lost！〃and　this　cry　caused　them　to　throw　down　their　arms　and　fly；　as　if　followed　by　a　thousand　furies；　as　victorywas　impossible；　they　wished　at　least　to　save　their　lives。

It　was　in　vain　that　the　officers　implored　them　to　rally　again　and　fall　upon　the　enemy。　They　did　not　heed。　In　vain　that　the　king　himself　rode　among　them；　pointing　with　his　sword　to　the　enemy；　and　crying：

〃Forward'　forward；　boys！　Would　you　live　forever？　Death　comes　to　all！〃

They　looked　at　him　stubbornly；　they　feared　not　now　his　piercing；　eagle　glance；　his　royal　countenance。　They　looked　and　said：

〃We　have　worked　hard　enough　to…day　for　eightpence；〃　and　then　continued　their　flight。

But　the　king　could　not　yet　be　brought　to　believe　the　truth。　He　still　trusted　in　the　possibility　of　victory。　He　clung　with　desperation　to　this　hope；　he　let　his　voice　be　heardthat　voice　that　generally　had　such　power　over　his　soldiers；　he　called　them　to　him；　and　pointed　out　to　them　the　enemy's　battery；　he　ordered　the　band　to　play　a　martial　air　to　inspire　the　men。　This　call　brought　a　few　faithful　soldiers　around　himonly　forty　warriors　were　ready　to　follow　their　king。

〃Forward！　we　will　take　the　battery！〃　cried　he；　as　he　pressed　on；　regardless　of　the　shower　of　the　enemy's　balls。

What　was　this　to　him？　what　had　he　to　do　with　deathhe　whose　only　thought　was　for　the　honor　and　glory　of　his　army？　If　he　succeeded　in　taking　this　battery；　it　would　encourage　his　desponding　soldiers。　They　would　once　more　believe　in　the　star　of　their　king；　and　assemble　bravely　around　him。　This　it　was　that　gave　hope　to　the　king。

Without　once　looking　back；　he　pressed　onward　to　the　batterywhen　suddenly；　amid　the　clatter　of　trumpets　and　the　roar　of　cannon；　this　fearful　question　reached　him：

〃Sire；　would　you　take　the　battery　alone？〃

The　king　reined　in　his　horse　and　looked　behind　him。　Yes；　he　was　alone；　no　one　was　with　him　but　his　adjutant；　Major　von　Grant；　who　had　asked　this　question。

A　deep　groan　escaped　the　king；　his　head　fell　upon　his　breast；　and　he　gave　himself　up　to　the　bitterness　of　despair。

A　cannon…ball　fell　beside　himhe　did　not　heed　it；　he　was　too　utterly　wretched。　Another　ball　struck　his　horse；　causing　it　to　prance　with　pain　and　terror。

Major　Grant　grasped　the　king's　bridle。

〃Sire；〃　said　he；　〃are　you　determined　to　be　shot？　If　so；　let　me　know　it；　and　with　your　majesty's　permission　I　will　withdraw。〃　The　king　raised　his　head；　and　looked　at　the　daring　adjutant　with　a　bitter　smile。

〃We　will　both　withdraw；〃　said　he；　gently；　advancing　toward　the　generals　who　had　been　seeking　him　throughout　the　battle…field。　He　greeted　them　with　a　silent　bow；　and　passed　without　a　word。　Whither　he　was　now　going；　none　of　the　generals　knew；　but　they　followed　him　in　silence。

The　king　rode　up　the　slight　eminence　from　which；　on　that　morning；　his　army　had　fallen　like　a　glittering　avalanche　upon　the　enemy。　This　avalanche　was　now　transformed　into　a　stream　of　blood；　and　corpse　upon　corpse　covered　the　ground。　He　reined　in　his　horse　and　gazed　at　the　Austrian　army；　who　were　now　withdrawing　to　their　camp；　midst　shoutings　and　rejoicings；　to　rest　after　their　glorious　victory。　Then；　turning　his　horse；　he　looked　at　the　remains　of　his　little　army　flying　hither　and　thither　in　the　disorder　of　defeat。　A　deep　sigh　escaped　him。　Throwing　his　head　back　proudly；　he　called　Prince　Moritz　von　Dessau　and　the　Duke　of　Bevern　to　his　side。

〃Sirs；〃　said　he；　firmly；　〃the　fate　of　to…day　is　decided。　All　that　now　remains　for　us　to　do；　is　to　deprive　the　enemy　of　the　advantages　of　this　victory。　Collect　our　scattered　regiments；　and　lead　the　army　through　the　defile　of　Plainan；　back　to　Nimburg。　There　we　will　decide　what　is　best　to　do。　I　go　on　before　you；　and　wish　no　one　to　accompany　me。〃

He　turned　his　horse；　rode　slowly　down　the　hill；　then　took　the　road　leading　to　Nimburg。　Lost　in　deep　thought；　he　continued　his　way。　He　was　followed　by　his　faithful　body…guard；　who；　at　a　sign　from　Prince　von　Dessau；　had　hastened　after　him。　A　few　flying　officers　and　sergeants　joined　him。　These　were　the　followers　of　Prussia's　hero…　king；　but　they　were　suddenly　scattered。　A　soldier　galloped　up　to　them；　and　stated　that　he　had　just　encountered　a　regiment　of　the　enemy's　hussars；　who　were　pursuing　them。　There　was　a　cry　of　terror　throughout　the　guards；　and　then；　as　if　with　one　accord；　putting　spurs　to　their　horses；　they　fled　in　wild　disorder。

The　king　continued　his　way；　slowly　and　quietlyslowly　and　quietly　a　few　of　his　guard　followed　him。　In　funereal　silence　they　passed　through　the　defile　of　Plainan；　and　reached　at　last　Nimburg；　the　king's　appointed　place　of　meeting。

The　king　now　reined　in　his　horse；　and；　looking　back；　he　became　aware　of　his　followers。　Beckoning　to　his　adjutant；　he　ordered　him　to　get　quarters　for　the　soldiers；　and　then　to　inform　the　generals　that　he　awaited　them。

〃Where？〃　asked　the　astonished　adjutant。

〃Here！〃　said　the　king；　pointing　to　a　fallen　pump；　a　few　steps　from　where　he　stood。　He　dismounted；　and；　when　the　adjutant　had　disappeared；　he　threw　himself　upon　the　old　pump；　and　rested　his　head　upon　his　cane。　Thus　he　remained　a　long　while；　thinking　painfully　of　the　occurrences　of　the　past　day。　He　remembered　that　he　had　appointed　the　site　of　to…day's　battle；　without　listening　to　the　warnings　of　his　experienced　generals；　and　that　Moritz　von　Dessau　had　implored　him　to　put　his　army　in　another　position；　before　attacking　the　enemy。　He　remembered　the　prince　saying　to　him〃It　would　be　impossible　for　an　attack　from　this　point　to　succeed；〃　and　his　entreating　him　to　draw　back　and　change　his　position。　He　remembered；　also；　his　riding　up　to　the　prince；　with　his　naked　sword；　and　inquiring；　in　a　threatening　tone；　〃whether　he　meant　to　obey　or　not？〃　And　Prince　Moritz　von　Dessau　had　obeyed；　his　prophecy　had　been　fulfilledthe　battle　was　lost。

〃Ah；〃　whispered　the　king；　〃how　poor；　how　weak　is　man！　The　happiness　of　an　hour　intoxicates　him；　and　he　defies　his　coming　fate；　he　should　know　that　happiness　is　a　fleeting　guest；　but　that　misfortune　is　the　constant　companion　of　man。　I　have　allowed　myself　to　be　deceived　by　fortune；　and　she　has　turned　against　me。　Fortune　is　a　woman；　and　I　am　not　gallant。　The　fickle　goddess　watches　carefully；　and　makes　good　use　of　my　faults。　It　was　a　great　fault　to　dare；　with　twenty…three　battalions　of　infantry；　to　attack　an　army　of　sixty　thousand　men；　half　of　whom　are　cavalry。　Ah！　my　great　ancestor；　Frederick　William；　what　have　you　to　say　of　your　poor　nephew；　who；　with　his　little　host；　is　fighting　against　Russia；　Austria；　a　large　part　of　Germany；　and　a　hundred　thousand　French　troops？　Will　you　assist　me？　Will　you　be　my　guardian　angel；　praying　for　me　above？　Yes；　yes！　you　will　assist　me　if　I　assist　myself；　and　do　not　give　way　to　my　faults。　Had　I　been　killed　in　to…day's　battle；　I　would　now　be　in　a　safe　haven；　beyond　the　reach　uf　storms。　But　now　I　must　swim　still　farther　into　the　stormy　sea；　until　at　last　I　find　in　the　grave　that　rest　and　peace　which　I　shall　never　attain　in　this　world。　This　is　a　consoling　thought；　it　shall　rouse　me　again　to　life。　I　am　glad　I　did　not　die　to…day。　I　can　still　repair　my　fault。　All　the　responsibility　will　be　thrown　on　me；　it　will　be　said；　the　battle　would　have　been　won；　but　for　Frederick's　obstinacy。　But　let　this　be！　It　is　a　necessary　consequence　that　a　warrior　should　suffer　for　the　faults　of　his　followers。　Through　me　this　battle　was　lost；　and　in　history　it　will　go　down　thus　to　future　generations。　But　many　a　victory　shall　still　be　recorded；　and　as　the　defeat　was　owing　to　me；　so　shall　the　victory　also　come　through　me　alone。　I　alone　will　bear　upon　my　shoulders　Prussia's　honor；　Prussia's　glory。　It　lies　now；　with　me；　bleeding　on　the　ground。　It　shall　be　lifted　and　sustained　by　me　alone！〃　And　raising　his　burning　eyes　heavenward；　he　seemed　to　see　these　future　victories　branded　upon　the　skies。　Gradually　the　inspiration　left　his　countenance；　giving　place　to　deep　thought。　He　had　delivered　his　funeral　oration　to　the　lost　battle；　and　now　gave　his　thought　to　his　future　victories。　He　drew　lines　and　figures　upon　the　sand　with　his　cane。　It　may　have　been　a　drawing　of　the　last　or　a　sketch　of　the　next　battle。

The　king　was　so　absorbed　in　this　occupation；　that　he　did　not　perceive　his　generals；　who；　having　reached　Nimburg　with　the　wreck　of　the　army；　hastened　to　the　place　of　appointment；　and　were　now　assembled　at　a　respectful　distance　from　him。

Frederick　continued　to　sketch。　The　generals　gazed　at　him　in　silence；　anxiously　awaiting　the　moment　when　he　would　arouse　himself。　He　suddenly　looked　up；　and　did　not　seem　surprised　to　see　them；　lifting　his　hat　slightly；　he　greeted　them；　and　rose　from　his　lowly　seat。

〃It　is　well；　sirs；　that　you　are　here；〃　said　he。　〃We　must　now　make　our　preparations　for　the　future；　for　our　enemies；　having　beaten　us　once；　will　think　us　no　longer　capable　of　resisting　them；　and　will　fall　upon　us　with　renewed　courage。　We　will　convince　them；　gentlemen；　that　though　we　are　stricken　to　the　ground　for　a　moment；　we　are　not　crushed；　not　dead。　We　will　convince　them　that　we　still　live　to　tear　from　them　the　laurels　they　have　taken　from　us　this　day。　Prince　von　Dessau；　hasten　immediately　to　our　army　at　Prague。　I　command　the　Prince　of　Prussia　to　raise　the　siege　there　at　once。　He　shall　call　all　his　generals　together；　and　hold　council　with　them　as　to　the　most　suitable　mode　of　retreat。　He　shall　determine　with　them　how　the　siege　can　best　be　raised；　to　avoid；　as　far　as　possible；　the　appearance　of　flying　from　their　enemy。　With　gay　music　they　should　leave　their　posts；　they　should　not　all　leave　together；　but　in　groups；　so　as　to　mislead　the　enemy。　In　small　companies　should　also　the　retreat　through　Bohemia　to　Lausitz　be　made；　for　it　would　be　difficult　for　a　large　army　to　pass　this　mountainous　district；　but　they　should　remain　as　near　together　as　possible；　choosing　the　widest；　most　convenient　roads。　These　are　the　orders　you　are　to　deliver　my　brother；　the　Prince　of　Prussia；　and　his　generals。　I　give　to　the　prince　the　command　of　this　portion　of　my　army；　and　require　of　him　to　hasten　to　Lausitz。　I　will　join　him　in　Bautzen。　And　then；　gentlemen；　we　will　seek　an　occasion　to　repay　our　enemies　for　their　civilities　of　to…　day。〃

The　generals　had　listened　to　him　with　breathless　attention；　and　as　he　now　dismissed　them；　with　a　glorious　smile　upon　his　lips；　they　repeated　unanimously　his　last　words；　〃We　will　repay　our　enemies　for　their　civilities。〃

As　if　inspired　by　this　shout；　the　soldiers；　lying　about　the　market　place；　at　a　slight　distance　from　the　king；　broke　into　a　loud　hurrah；　and　shouted；　〃Long　live　our　king！〃

The　king　turned　slowly　toward　them；　hut　when　he　saw　all　that　remained　of　his　noble　army；　he　became　pale；　and　pressed　his　lips　tightly　together；　as　if　to　suppress　a　cry　of　horror。　Then　advancing；　followed　by　his　generals；　to　where　his　weary；　wounded　soldiers　were　lying；　he　said：

〃Children；　is　this　all　that　is　left　of　you？〃

〃Yes；　father；　we　are　the　last；〃　said　an　old　gray…heade