frederick the great and his family-第50章

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　me。　I　am　dishonored；　and　with　a　dishonored　culprit　your　majesty　cannot　contend。　I　will　therefore　withdraw。　No　one　will　see　the　wounds　you　have　inflictedwhich　have　pierced　my　heart；　but；　I　tell　you；　my　brother；　I　will　die　of　these　wounds。〃

〃And　in　heaven；　I　suppose；　you　will　accuse　me　as　your　murderer？〃　said　the　king；　ironically。

〃No！　in　heaven　I　will　pray　for　my　fatherland；〃　said　Prince　Augustus　William；　mildly。　He　bowed　respectfully；　turned；　and　left　the　room。

Without　stood　the　generals；　maintaining　a　solemn　silence。　When　they　saw　the　prince　appear　at　the　door　of　the　king's　tent；　so　pale；　so　suffering；　a　prophetic　warning　filled　every　breast。　It　seemed　to　them　that　a　dying　man　approached　them；　and　with　inexpressible　sorrow　held　out　his　hand　for　a　last　farewell。

〃It　is　passed！　The　battle　is　ended！〃

At　this　moment　the　adjutant　of　the　king　left　the　tent；　and　approached　the　generals；　who　stood　near　the　prince。

〃His　majesty　commands　you　to　see　that　the　soldiers　of　the　third　army　corps　are　kept；　as　far　as　it　is　possible；　entirely　separated　from　the　rest　of　the　army。　You　will　immediately　convey　the　order　to　the　king's　army；　that　all　intercourse　between　them　and　the　third　army　corps　is　forbidden；　as　this　corps　seems　to　have　lost　all　courage　and　all　honorable　feeling。〃

＇Footnote：　Kustrin；　〃Characteristics　from　the　Life　of　Frederick　the　Great〃＇

〃The　king's　commands　shall　be　obeyed；〃　said　the　generals；　coldly。

The　prince　was　completely　overcome　by　this　last　blow；　and　leaned　for　a　moment　upon　the　arm　of　the　Duke　of　Wurtemberg；　he　soon　recovered　himself；　and　turning　to　General　Schultz；　he　said：

〃Go　and　bring　me；　from　the　king；　the　watchword　of　the　third　army　corps。〃

General　Schultz　withdrew；　but　returned　quickly　from　the　king's　tent；　with　a　dark　frown　upon　his　face。

〃Well；〃　said　the　prince；　〃have　you　the　watchword？〃

〃No；　your　royal　highness！　The　king　says；　that　for　cowards　and　fugitives　he　has　no　watchword；　and　he　commanded　me　to　go　to　the　devil。〃

A　murmur　of　rage　was　heard　amongst　the　generals。　The　prince　let　his　glance　wander　from　one　to　the　other　of　these　dark　faces。

〃Gentlemen；〃　said　he；　〃the　tempest　will　soon　be　over；　and　the　sun　will　shine　again　for　you；　I　am　the　only　cloud　now　round　about　you；　and　I　will　withdraw。〃

〃What！　will　you　desert　us？〃　said　the　generals；　sadly。

〃Do　I　not　belong　to　the　third　army　corps？〃　said　the　prince；　with　a　painful　smile。　〃It　may　be　that　the　king　will　command　his　soldiers　to　have　no　intercourse　with　the　commander　of　the　third　army　corps；　and　you　can　understand　that　I　prefer　to　anticipate　him。〃

〃Will　your　highness　allow　me　to　accompany　you？〃　said　the　Duke　of　Bevern。　〃I　also　will　not　allow　myself　to　be　despised　and　railed　at　without　any　opportunity　accorded　me　of　explanation。〃

The　prince　shook　his　head。

〃You　must　remain；　general；　the　army　cannot　spare　its　brave　leaders。　I；　howeverI　must　go。　I　will　be　the　peace…offering　for　you　all。　I　am　sure　this　will　content　my　brother　the　king。〃

〃Allow　me；　at　least；　to　accompany　your　royal　highness；〃　said　General　Schmettau。　〃The　king　commanded　me；　through　his　adjutant；　to　withdraw；　and　never　dare　to　present　myself　before　his　eyes　again。　I　also　must　leave　the　army。〃

The　prince　gave　him　his　hand。

〃You　are；　then；　a　welcome　companion。　Let　us　ride　on　to　Bautzen；　where　we　can　refresh　ourselves；　and　then　go　on　to　Dresden。〃

〃Will　you　really　leave　us？〃　said　the　Duke　of　Wurtemberg；　sadly。

〃Would　you　have　me　wait　for　still　further　degradation？〃　said　the　prince。　〃No；　it　is　enoughmore　than　I　can　bear。My　horse！　General；　let　us　mount。〃

The　two　horses　were　brought　forward。　The　generals　placed　themselves　in　front；　to　take　leave　of　their　former　commander…in…chief；　with　all　military　honor。

Prince　Augustus　rode　slowly　on。　Everywhere　he　met　sad　faces　and　eyes　filled　with　tears。　Tears　indeed　were　in　his　own　eyes；　but　he　would　not　weepnot　now；　there　was　time　enough　for　tears。　He　could　weep　during　the　sad　remainder　of　his　life。　He　forced　his　voice　to　be　firm；　and；　waving　his　sword　to　the　generals；　as　a　last　greeting；　he　said：

〃I　hope　no　one　of　you　will　hold　me　for　a　coward。　I　am　forced　by　the　king　to　leave　the　army。〃　He　turned　his　horse；　and；　followed　by　Schmettau；　with　head　erect；　he　moved　slowly　off。

〃Now；　by　Heaven；〃　cried　Ziethen；　〃he　shall　not　leave　the　camp　in　this　contemptible　way！　I　will　give　him　a　suitable　guard。　Let　the　king　rage；　I　can　stand　it！〃　He　nodded　to　an　officer。　〃Listen；　Von　Wendt；　take　half　a　company　for　a　guard；　and　follow　immediately　behind　the　prince；　to　Bautzen。〃

A　few　moments　later；　an　officer　sprang　along　the　highway　to　Bautzen；　accompanied　by　his　hussars；　they　soon　overtook　the　prince；　who　greeted　them　kindly。

〃Schmettau；〃　said　he；　〃Death　avoided　me　so　long　as　I　was　on　the　battle…field；　now　I　bear　him　along　with　me；　and　thus　must　it　be；　till　the　pale　king　of　terrors　carries　me　to　another　world。〃　He　turned　his　eyes　away　from　the　Prussian　camp；　and　rode　slowly　to　Bautzen。




CHAPTER　IX。

THE　LETTERS。


A　few　hours　later　a　courier　rode　into　the　camp。　He　came　from　Bautzen；　and　had　a　letter　from　the　Prince　of　Prussia　to　his　royal　brother。　The　king　was　still　in　his　tent；　busily　engaged　in　looking　over　the　army　list。　He　took　his　brother's　letter；　and；　opening　it　with　evident　anger；　read：

〃Your　majesty's　commands；　and　the　incidents　of　our　last　meeting；　have　taught　me　that　I　have　lost　my　honor　and　my　reputation。　As　I　have　nothing　to　reproach　myself　with；　this　causes　me　much　sorrow；　but　no　humiliation。　I　am　convinced　that　I　was　not　actuated　by　obstinacy；　and　that　I　did　not　follow　the　advice　of　incompetent　men。　All　the　generals　in　the　third　army　corps　commanded　by　me；　will　testify　to　this。　I　consider　it　necessary　to　request　your　majesty　to　have　my　conduct　investigated。　Your　majesty　would　thereby　do　me　a　kindness。　I　have；　therefore；　no　right　to　count　upon　it。　My　health　is　much　impaired　since　the　war。　I　have　withdrawn　to　Bautzen　for　its　restoration；　and　have　requested　the　Duke　of　Bevern　to　give　you　all　the　information　relative　to　the　army。　In　spite　of　my　unhappiness；　my　daily　prayer　is；　and　shall　be；　that　every　undertaking　of　your　majesty　shall　be　crowned　with　glory。〃

〃Your　unhappy　brother；　AUGUSTUS　WILLIAM。〃

The　king　read　this　letter　several　times；　then　taking　up　his　pen；　he　wrote　hastily：　〃MY　DEAR　BROTHER：　Your　improper　conduct　has　greatly　disturbed　my　equanimity。　Not　my　enemies；　but　your　want　of　principle；　has　caused　all　these　disasters。　My　generals　are　not　to　be　excused。　They　have　either　given　you　bad　advice；　or　have　agreed　too　readily　to　your　foolish　plans。　The　one　is　as　bad　as　the　other。　Your　ears　are　accustomed　to　flattery；　my　brother。　Daun　did　not　flatter　you；　and　you　now　see　the　consequences。　But　little　hope　remains。　I　shall　commence　the　attackif　we　do　not　conquer；　we　shall　die　together。　I　do　not　bewail　the　loss　of　your　heart；　but　rather　your　utter　incapacity　and　want　of　judgment。　I　tell　you　this　plainly；　for　with　one　who　has　perhaps　but　a　few　days　to　live；　there　is　no　use　of　deception。　I　wish　you　more　happiness　than　has　fallen　to　my　lot；　and　hope　that　your　misfortunes　and　disappointments　may　teach　you　to　act　with　more　wisdom　and　judgment　where　matters　of　importance　are　concerned。　Many　of　the　painful　events　I　now　look　forward　to；　I　ascribe　to　you。　You　and　your　children　will　suffer　from　their　results　much　more　than　myself。　Be　assured　that　I　have　always　loved　you；　and　will　continue　to　do　so　until　my　death。　Your　brother；　FREDERICK。〃

When　the　king　had　finished　his　letter；　he　read　it　over。　〃I　cannot　take　back　one　word　I　have　said；〃　murmured　he；　softly。　〃Were　he　not　my　brother；　he　should　be　court…martialled。　But　history　shall　not　have　to　relate　more　than　one　such　occurrence　of　a　Hohenzollern。　Enough　family　dramas　and　tragedies　have　occurred　in　my　reign　to　furnish　scandalous　material　for　future　generations；　I　will　not　add　to　them。　My　brother　can　withdraw　quietly　from　these　sceneshe　can　pray　while　we　fighthe　can　cultivate　the　peaceful　arts　while　we　are　upon　the　battle…field；　offering　up　bloody　sacrifices　to　Mars。　Perhaps　we　will　succeed　in　gaining　an　honorable　peace　for　Prussia；　and　then　Augustus　William　may　be　a　better　king　than　I　have　been。　Prussia　still　clings　to　meshe　needs　me。〃

He　sealed　the　letter；　then　calling　his　valet；　ordered　him　to　send　it　off　immediately。　As　he　disappeared；　the　king's　countenance　became　once　more　clouded　and　disturbed。　〃Life　makes　a　man　very　poor；〃　said　he；　softly；　〃the　longer　he　lives；　the　more　solitary　he　becomes。　How　rich　I　was　when　I　began　lifehow　rich　when　I　mounted　the　throne！　Possessing　many　friends；　sisters；　brothers；　and　many　charming　illusions。　The　world　belonged　to　me　then；　with　all　its　joy；　all　its　glory。　And　now？　Where　are　these　friends？　Lost　to　me；　either　by　death　or　inconstancy！　Where　are　my　brothers；　sisters？　Their　hearts　have　turned　from　metheir　love　has　grown　cold！　Where　are　my　joyous　illusions？　Scattered　to　the　winds！　Alas；　I　am　now　undeceived；　and　if　the　whole　world　seemed　at　one　time　to　belong　to　me；　that　little　spot　of　earth；　paid　for　with　blood　and　anguish；　is　no　longer　mine。　Every　illusion　but　one　has　been　torn　from　my　heartthe　thirst　for　glory　still　remains。　I　have　bid　adieu　to　love；　to　happiness；　but　I　still　believe　in　fame；　and　must　at　least　have　one　laurel…wreath　upon　my　coffin。　May　death　then　strike　me　at　his　willthe　sooner　the　better；　before　my　heart　has　become　perfectly　hardened！　And　I　feel　that　time　is　not　far　distant。〃

The　curtain　of　his　tent　was　at　this　moment　drawn　back；　and　his　secretary；　Le　Catt；　whose　acquaintance　he　had　made　during　his　visit　to　Amsterdam；　entered　with　several　letters　in　his　hand。　The　king　advanced　eagerly　to　meet　him。

〃Well；　Le　Catt；〃　said　he；　〃has　the　courier　come　from　Berlin？〃

〃Yes；　sire；　he　has　come；〃　said　Le　Catt；　sighing；　〃but　I　fear　he　brings　no　good　news。〃

〃No　good　news？　Has　the　enemy　forced　his　way　so　far？〃

〃An　enemy　has；　sire；　but　not　the　one　your　majesty　is　thinking　of！〃

〃How　know　you　what　enemy　I　mean？〃　said　the　king；　impatiently。　〃Is　it　the　Russians；　or　the　French？〃

〃None　of　your　mortal　enemies；　sire；　and　the　mourning　which　now　reigns　in　Berlin　and　will　soon　reign　throughout　Prussia；　is　caused　by　no　enemy　of　your　majesty　but　by　Providence。〃

The　king　looked　at　him　earnestly　for　a　moment。　〃I　understand；〃　said　he。　〃Some　one　of　my　family　has　died；　is　it　not　so？〃

〃Yes；　sire；　your〃

〃Be　still！〃　said　the　king；　sternly。　〃I　do　not　yet　wish　to　knowI　have　not　the　strength　to　bear　itwait　a　while。〃

Folding　his　hands　upon　his　breast；　he　paced　up　and　down　his　tent　several　times；　laboring　hard　for　breath。　He　stood　still；　and　leaning　against　the　window；　said：　〃Now；　Le　Catt；　I　can　endure　any　thing；　speakwho　is　it？〃

〃Sire；　it　is　her　majesty。〃

〃My　wife？〃　interrupted　the　king。

〃　No；　sire；　her　majesty〃

〃My　mother！〃　cried　the　king；　in　a　heart…broken　voice。　〃My　mother！〃

He　stood　thus　for　a　while；　with　his　hands　before　his　face；　his　form　bowed　down　and　trembling　like　an　oak　swayed　by　a　storm。　Tears　escaped　through　his　hands　and　fell　slowly　to　the　groundgroans　of　agony　were　wrung　from　him。

Le　Catt　could　stand　it　no　longer；　he　approached　the　king　and　ventured　to　say　a　few　consoling　words。

〃Do　not　seek　to　comfort　me；〃　said　the　king；　〃you　do　not　know　what　inexpre