frederick the great and his family-第74章
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rthe blood of our sons has not been shed in vain； they are the honored deadtheir death brought victory to the fatherland； they have drenched the soil with the blood of our barbarous enemies。 We whipped the French at Minden； the Russians at Kunersdorf； and now we have defeated the Austrians and won back the trophies of their victory at Hochkirch！〃
The people surrounded the castle shouting and triumphing。 The courier had entered to give to the queen the joyful news。 Soon the royal messengers were flying into every corner of the city to summon the ministers and officers of state to the castle。 On foot； on horseback； in carriages； they hastened on； and the people received them with joyful shouts。 〃The king is victorious； the Russians are defeated！〃
And now a door opened on a balcony； and Minister Herzberg stepped out。 He waved his hat joyfully high in the air。 The people returned this greeting with a roar like an exulting lion。 He waved his hand； and the lion ceased to roarthere was death…like silence。 He then told them that the king had offered battle to the Russians； yesterday； not far from Frankfort。 The Russian army was greatly superior in numbers； they received the Prussians with a fearful； deadly fire！ Unrestrainable； regardless of cannon…balls； or of death； the Prussians rushed on； stormed all the strongholds； and drove the Russian militia with fearful slaughter back to the graveyard of Kunersdorf。 At five o'clock the king sent off the courier and the victory was assured。
〃The victory was assured！〃 reechoed the mighty voice of the people。 With warm and kindly eyes they looked upon each other。 Proud； glad； happy； men who did not know each other； who had never met； now felt that they were brothers； the sons of one fatherland； and they clasped hands； and shouted their congratulations。
Suddenly； at the end of the street； another horseman appeared。 He drew nearer and nearer。 It is a second courier； a second message of our king to his family and his Berliners。
The people looked at him distrustfully； anxiously。 What means this second courier？ What news does he bring？
His countenance gay； his brow clear； with a flashing smile he greets the people。 He brings news of victorycomplete； assured victory。
Like the first courier； he dashed on to the castle； to give his dispatches to the queen and the ministers。 The people were drunk with joy。 The equipages of the nobles rolled by。 Every one whose rank gave him the privilege wished to offer his personal congratulations to the queen。
And now in the Konigstrasse was seen a venerable procession。 The magistrates of Berlinin front the burgomasters with their long periwigs and golden chains； behind them the worthy city councilall hastened to the castle to offer congratulations in the name of the city。
The crowd drew back respectfully before the worthy city fathers； and opened a path for them； then fixed their eyes again upon the balcony where Minister Her/。berg again appeared； and called for silence。
He will give us the news of the second courier。 The victory is absolute。 The Russians completely defeated。 They had retreated to Kunersdorf。 In this village they proposed to defend themselves。 But the Prussians were unceasingly pressing upon them。 Seven redoubts； Kirchhof； Spitzberg； and one hundred and eighty…six cannon had been taken。 The enemy had suffered a monstrous loss； and was in the greatest confusion。 The fate of the day seemed conclusive。 This was owing to the heroic courage of the army； whom neither the blazing heat of the sun nor the unexampled slaughter could for a moment restrain。 At six o'clock； when the king sent off this second courier； the enemy had retreated behind his last intrenchments； and taken refuge at Gudenberg。 ＇Footnote： Frederick the Great。 Thiebault＇
A loud hurrah broke from the people as Herzberg finished and left the balcony。 Now there was no room for doubt。 The enemy was overwhelmed and had fled to his last intrenchment。 Would the king leave him unmolested； and would he not still drive the hated enemy further？
While groups of men were assembled here and there； discussing these weighty questions； and others； intoxicated； drunk with joy at this great victory over their hereditary enemy； were making eloquent addresses to the people； a third courier appeared in sight。
Breathless with expectation and anxiety； they would not give him time to reach the castle。 They mustthey would know the news he brings。 There should be no delay； no temporizing； no mysteries。 The people were one great family。 They awaited the message of their father。 They demanded news of their distant sons and brothers。
The third courier brings renewed assurances。 The Russians are routed。 The king will give them no rest。 He will drive them from their last stronghold。 With his whole army； with cavalry and militia； with all his cannon； he was in the act of storming Gudenberg。 This is the message of the third courier。
The people are proud and happy。 No one thinks of going home。 In fact； they have no home but the streets。 Every house would be too small for this great family which feels a thirst to express its joy and its rapture to each other。 And then it was possible the king might send another courier。 Who could go home till they knew that the Russians were driven from their last stronghold； that Gudenberg was drenched in Russian blood？
No one doubted that this news would comemust come。 Not the slightest fear； the least doubt troubled the proud； pure joy of this hour。 The victory was achieved； but it was still charming to hear it confirmed； to receive these heavenly messages。 Every open space was filled with men。 Each one would see and hear for himself。 No man thought himself too distinguished； too sick； too weak； to stand for hours in the burning sun； carried about involuntarily by this fluctuating wave of humanity。 Side by side with the laborer stood the elegant lady in her silk robes； near the poor beggar in his ragged jacket were seen the high official and the wealthy banker in their rich dresses。
Move than fifty thousand men were now assembled and waitingwaiting for what they knew notfor newsfor a courier who could give the details。 It was not enough to know that the king had conquered； they wished to know the extent and the significance of this victory； and lastly； they would know the bloody offering which this victory had cost。 The dinner…hour was passed。 What cared this happy people for dinner？ They hungered for no earthly food； they thirsted for no earthly drink； they were satisfied with the joy of victory。 The clock struck three。 Yes； there comes a horseman； his bridle is hanging loosehe is covered with dustbut how； what means this？ His face is pale as death； his eyes are misty； he looks around shame…faced and confused。 No happy news is written upon this dark and clouded brow。 What means this messenger of death in the midst of joy； triumph； and proud consciousness of victory？ They seek to hold him； to question him； but he gives no answer。 He spurs his wearied horse till he springs aloft； and the men in rash terror are crushed against each other； but the horseman makes no sign。 Silently he dashes on through the laughing； chatting crowd； but wherever he passes； laughter and smiles disappear； and speech is silenced。
It seemed as if the angel of death had touched his brow； and the happy ones shuddered at his untimely presence。 Now he has reached the castle； he descends from his horse。 In breathless silence； pallid； trembling they know not why； those who have seen this dumb messenger look up shudderingly to the balcony。 At last； after long waiting； the Minister Herzberg appeared once more。
But； O God！ what means this？ he is palehis eyes are filled with tears。 He opens his mouth to speak； but strength has left him。 He holds on to the bars of the balcony； otherwise he would sink。 At last he collects himself。 It is not necessary to ask for silence； the silence of the grave is upon those torpid men。 He speaks！ his voice is faint and weak； and tremblesoh； so fearfully！ only a few in the first rank can hear his words。
〃The battle is lost！ The Russians have conquered！ The Austrians came to their assistance！ The presence of the Austrians was not known； they had their tents in holes in the ground！ As our militia rushed upon the last intrenchment at Judenberg and were only a hundred steps distant； Loudon suddenly advanced with his fresh troops； against the worn…out and exhausted victors。 He received the Prussians with so murderous a fire； that their ranks faltered； wavered； and； at last； broke loose in wild flight； pursued furiously by the raging enemy。 The fortunes of the day had turned； we lost the battle。 But all is not lost。 The king lives！ he is slightly wounded； three horses were shot under him。 He lives； and so long as he lives； there is hope。 In the far distance； in the midst of the terrible disaster？ which have befallen himself and his army； he thinks of his Berliners。 He sends you a father's greeting； and exhorts every one of you to save his possessions； as far as possible。 Those who do not feel safe in Berlin； and who fear the approaching enemy； the king counsels to withdraw； if possible； with their money； to Magdeburg； where the royal family will take refuge this evening。〃
The minister was silent； and the people who had listened； dumb with horror； now broke out in wild cries of anguish and despair。 Terror was written in every face； tears gushed from every eye。 Cries of unspeakable agony burst from those lips； which； a few moments before； were eloquent with hope and gladness。
As if it were impossible to believe in these misfortunes without further confirmation； some men called loudly for the messenger； and the distant crowd； as if inspired with new hope； roared louder and louder：
〃The courier！ the courier！ we will ourselves speak with the courier！〃
The demand was so threatening； so continuous； it must be complied with。 Herzberg stepped upon the balcony； and informed the crowd that the courier would at once descend to the public square。 A breathless silence succeeded； every eye was fixed upon the castle…gate； through which the courier must come。 When he appeared； the crowd rushed forward toward him in mad haste。 Cries of woe and suffering were heard。 The people； withmad with pain； beside themselves with despair； had no longer any mercy； any pity for each other。 They rushed upon the messenger of misfortune； without regarding those who； in the midst of this wild tumult； were cast down； and trodden under foot。
The messenger began his sad story。 He repeated all that the minister had said； he told of the deadly strife； of the bloody havoc； of the raging advance of the Austrians； and of the roar for vengeance of the reassured Russians。 He told how the cannon…balls of the enemy had stricken down whole ranks of Prussians； that more than twenty thousand dead and wounded Prussians lay upon the battle…field； that all the cannon and all the colors had fallen into the hands of the enemy。
The people received this news with tears； cries； and lamentations。 The courier spoke also of the king。 He； himself； had belonged to the body…guard of the kinghad been ever near him。 He had seen the king standing in the midst of the thickest shower of balls； when his two adjut
