frederick the great and his family-第77章

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　whom　I　make　general…in…　chief　of　the　army；　with　all　that　passes。　In　the　mean　time；　his　orders　must　be　obeyed。　The　army　must　swear　by　my　nephew。　This　is　the　only　advice　I　am　able　to　give。　Had　I　any　resources；　I　would　stand　fast　by　you。　FREDERICK。〃　＇Footnote：　The　king's　own　words。＇

〃Yes；　I　would　have　stood　by　them；〃　murmured　the　king；　as　he　folded　and　addressed　his　letter。　〃I　would　have　borne　still　longer　this　life　of　oppression　and　privation；　but　now；　honor　demands　that　I　should　die。〃

He　took　another　sheet　of　paper。　It　was　now　no　order　or　command；　but　a　tender；　loving；　farewell　letter　to　his　friend；　General　Finkenstein。

〃This　morning；　at　eleven　o'clock；　I　attacked　the　enemy；　we　drove　them　back　to　Gudenberg。　All　my　men　performed　deeds　of　daring　and　bravery；　but；　at　the　storming　of　Gudenberg；　a　terrific　number　of　lives　were　lost。　My　army　became　separated。　I　reassembled　them　three　times；　but　in　vain。　At　last；　they　fled　in　wild　disorder。　I　very　nearly　became　a　prisoner；　and　was　obliged　to　leave　the　field　to　the　enemy。　My　uniform　was　torn　by　the　cannon…balls；　two　horses　were　shot　underneath　me；　but　death　shunned　me；　I　seemed　to　bear　a　charmed　life；　I　could　not　die！　From　an　army　of　forty…eight　thousand　men；　there　now　remains　three　thousand。　The　consequences　of　this　battle　will　be　more　fearful　than　the　battle　itself。　It　is　a　terrible　misfortune；　and　I　will　not　survive　it。　There　is　no　one　to　whom　I　can　look　for　help。　I　cannot　survive　my　country's　ruin。　Farewell！〃

〃And　now；〃　said　the　king；　when　he　had　sealed　and　directed　his　letter；　〃now　I　am　ready；　my　worldly　affairs　are　settled。　I　am　at　the　end　of　my　sufferings；　and　dare　claim　that　last；　deep　rest　granted　by　Nature　to　us　all。　I　have　worked　enough；　suffered　enough；　and　if；　after　a　life　of　stormy　disasters；　I　seek　my　grave；　no　one　can　say　it　was　cowardly　not　to　livefor　all　the　weight　of　life　rolled　upon　me；　forced　me　to　the　ground；　and　the　grave　opened　beneath　my　feet。　I　continued　to　hope；　when　overwhelmed　with　defeat　at　every　point。　Every　morning　brought　new　clouds；　new　sorrows。　I　bore　it　courageously；　trusting　that　misfortune　would　soon　weary；　the　storms　blow　over；　and　a　clear；　cloudless　sky　envelop　me。　I　deceived　myself　greatly；　my　sorrows　increased。　And　now；　the　worst　has　happened；　my　country　is　lost！　Who　dares　say　I　should　survive　this　loss？　To　die　at　the　proper　time　is　also　a　duty。　The　Romans　felt　this；　and　acted　upon　it。　I　am　a　true　scholar　of　the　old　masters；　and　wish　to　prove　myself　worthy　of　them。　When　all　is　lost；　the　liberty　to　die　should　not　be　denied。　The　world　has　nothing　more　to　do　with　me；　and　I　laugh　at　her　weak；　unjust　laws。　Like　Tiberius；　will　I　live　and　die！　Farewell；　then；　thou　false　existence；　farewell；　weak　man！　Ah！　there　are　so　many　foolsso　few　men　amongst　you；　I　have　found　so　many　faithless　friends；　so　many　traitors；　so　few　honest　men！　In　the　hour　of　misfortune　they　all　deserted　me！　But；　no！〃　said　he；　〃one　remained　true。　D'Argens　never　deceived　me；　and　I　had　almost　forgotten　to　take　leave　of　him。　Well；　death　must　wait　for　me；　while　I　write　to　D'Argens！〃

A　heavenly　inspiration　now　beamed　on　his　countenance；　his　eyes　shone　like　stars。　The　holy　muse　had　descended　to　comfort　the　despairing　hero；　to　whisper　loving　and　precious　words　to　him。　Thus　standing　at　death's　portals；　Frederick　wrote　his　most　beautiful　poem；　called　〃Ami　le　sort　en　est　jete'。〃　A　great　wail　of　woe　burst　from　his　soul。　The　sorrows；　the　grievances　hid　until　now　from　all；　he　portrayed　in　touching；　beautiful　words　to　his　absent　friend。　lie　pictured　to　him　his　sufferings；　his　hopes；　his　struggles；　and　finally；　his　determination　to　die。　When　all　this　had　been　painted　in　the　most　glowing　colors；　when　his　wounds　were　laid　bare；　he　wrote　a　last　and　touching　farewell　to　his　friend：

　　　　　〃Adieu；　D'Argens！　dans　ce　tableau；　　　　　　De　mon　trepas　tu　vois　la　cause；　　　　　　Au　moins　ne　pense　pas　du　neant　du　caveau；　　　　　　Que　j'aspire　a　l'apotheose。　　　　　　Tout　ce　que　l'amitie　par　ces　vers　propose；　　　　　　C'est　que　tant　qu'ici…bas　le　celeste　flambeau；　　　　　　Eclairera　tes　jours　tandis　que　je　repose；　　　　　　Et　lorsque　le　printemps　paraissant　de　nouveau。　　　　　　De　son　sein　abondant　t'offre　les　fleurs　ecloses；　　　　　　Chaque　fois　d'un　bouquet　de　myrthes　et　de　roses；　　　　　　Tu　daignes　parer　mon　tombeau。〃

　　　　　＇Footnote：　　　　　　〃Adieu；　D'Argens！　In　this　picture　　　　　　Thou　wilt　see　the　cause　of　my　death；　　　　　　At　least；　do　not　think；　a　nothing　in　the　vault；　　　　　　That　I　aspire　to　apotheosis。　　　　　　All　that　friendship　by　these　lines　proposes　　　　　　Is　only　this　much；　that　here　the　celestial　torch　　　　　　May　clear　thy　days　while　I　repose；　　　　　　And　each　time　when　the　Spring　appears　anew　　　　　　And　from　her　abundant　breast　offers　thee　the　flowers　there　enclosed　　　　　　That　thou　with　a　bouquet　of　myrtle　and　rose　　　　　　Wilt　deign　to　decorate　my　tomb。〃＇

〃Ah！〃　murmured　the　king；　as　he　folded　and　addressed　his　poetical　letter；　〃how　lovely　it　must　now　be　at　Sans…Souci！　Well；　well！　my　grave　shall　be　there；　and　D'Argens　will　cover　it　with　flowers。　And　have　I　no　other　friends　at　Sans…Souci？　My　good　old　hounds；　my　crippled　soldiers！　They　cannot　come　to　me；　but　I　will　go　to　them。〃

The　king　then　arose；　opened　the　door；　and　asked　if　a　messenger　was　in　readiness；　receiving　an　answer　in　the　affirmative；　he　gave　the　three　letters　to　the　adjutant。　〃And　now　my　work　is　finished；〃　said　he；　〃now　I　can　die。〃　He　took　from　his　breast…pocket　a　small　casket　of　gold　which　he　always　carried　with　him；　and　which；　in　the　late　battle；　had　served　him　as　a　shield　against　the　enemy's　balls。　The　lid　had　been　hollowed　in　by　a　ball；　strange　to　say；　this　casket；　which　had　saved　his　life；　was　now　to　cause　his　death。　For　within　it　there　was　a　small　vial　containing　three　pills　of　the　most　deadly　poison；　which　the　king　had　kept　with　him　since　the　beginning　of　the　war。　The　king　looked　at　the　casket　thoughtfully。　〃Death　here　fought　against　death；　and　still　how　glorious　it　would　have　been　to　die　upon　the　battle…field　believing　myself　the　victor！〃　He　held　the　vial　up　to　the　light　and　shook　it；　and　as　the　pills　bounded　up　and　down；　he　said；　smiling　sadly；　〃Death　is　merry！　It　comes　eagerly　to　invite　me　to　the　dance。　Well；　well；　my　gay　cavalier；　I　am　ready　for　the　dance。〃

He　opened　the　vial　and　emptied　the　pills　into　his　hand。　Then　arose　and　approached　the　window　to　see　once　more　the　sky　with　its　glittering　stars　and　its　brightly…beaming　moon；　and　the　battle…field　upon　which　thousands　of　his　subjects　had　this　day　found　their　death。　Then　raised　the　hand　with　the　pills。　What　was　it　that　caused　him　to　hesitate？　Why　did　his　hand　fall　slowly　down？　What　were　his　eyes　so　intently　gazing　on？

The　king　was　not　gazing　at　the　sky；　the　stars；　or　the　moon；　but　far　off　into　the　distance；　at　the　Austrian　camp…fires。　There　were　the　conquerors；　there　was　Soltikow　and　Loudon　with　their　armies。　The　king　had　observed　these　fires　before　entering　the　hut；　but　their　number　had　now　increased；　a　sign　that　the　enemy　had　not　advanced；　but　was　resting。　How？　Was　it　possible　that　the　enemy；　not　taking　advantage　of　their　victory；　was　not　following　the　conquered　troops；　but　giving　them　time　to　rally；　to　outmarch　them；　perhaps　time　to　reach　the　Spree；　perhaps　Berlin？

〃If　this　is　so；〃　said　the　king；　answering　his　own　thoughts；　〃if　the　enemy　neglects　to　give　me　the　finishing…blow；　all　is　not　lost。　If　there　is　a　chance　of　salvation　for　my　country；　I　must　not　die；　she　needs　me；　and　it　is；　my　duty　to　do　all　in　my　power　to　retrieve　the　past。〃

He　looked　again　at　the　camp…fires；　and　a　bright　smile　played　about　his　lips。

〃If　those　fires　speak　aright；〃　said　he；　〃my　enemies　are　more　generousor　more　stupidthan　I　thought；　and　many　advantages　may　still　be　derived　from　this　lost　battle。　If　so；　I　must　return　to　my　old　motto　that　'life　is　a　duty。'　And　so　long　as　good；　honorable　work　is　to　be　done；　man　has　no　right　to　seek　the　lazy　rest　of　the　grave。　I　must　ascertain　at　once　if　my　suspicions　are　correct。　Death　may　wait　awhile。　As　long　as　there　is　a　necessity　for　living；　I　cannot　die。〃

He　returned　the　pills　to　the　vial　and　hid　the　casket　in　its　former　resting…place。　Then　passing　hastily　through　the　room；　he　opened　the　door。　The　two　adjutants　were　sitting　upon　the　wooden　bench　in　front　of　the　hut；　both　were　asleep。　The　grenadiers　were　pacing　with　even　tread　up　and　down　before　the　house；　deep　quiet　prevailed。　The　king　stood　at　the　door　looking　in　amazement　at　the　glorious　scene　before　him。　He　inhaled　with　delight　the　soft　summer　air；　never　had　it　seemed　to　him　so　balmy；　so　full　of　strengthening　power；　and　he　acknowledged　that　never　had　the　stars；　the　moon；　the　sky　looked　as　beautiful。　With　lively　joy　he　felt　the　night…wind　toying　with　his　hair。　The　king　would　not　tire　of　all　this；　it　seemed　to　him　as　if　a　friend；　dead　long　since；　mourned　and　bewailed；　had　suddenly　appeared　to　him　beaming　with　health；　and　as　if　he　must　open　his　arms　and　say；　〃Welcome；　thou　returned　one。　Fate　separated　us；　but　now；　as　we　have　met；　we　will　never　leave　one　another；　but　cling　together　through　life　and　death；　through　good　and　evil　report。〃

Life　was　the　friend　that　appeared　to　Frederick；　and　he　now　felt　his　great　love　for　it。　Raising　his　eyes　in　a　sort　of　ecstasy　to　the　sky；　he　murmured；　〃I　swear　not　to　seek　death　unless　at　the　last　extremity；　if；　when　made　a　prisoner；　I　cannot　escape。　I　swear　to　live；　to　suffer；　so　long　as　I　am　free。〃

He　had　assumed　the　harness　of　life；　and　was　determined　to　battle　bravely　with　it。




CHAPTER　XIII。

THE　TWO　GRENADIERS。


Smiling；　and　with　elastic　step；　the　king　advanced　to　meet　the　two　grenadiers；　who　stood　rooted　to　the　spot　as　he　approached　them。　〃Grenadiers；〃　said　he；　〃why　are　you　not　with　your　comrades？〃

〃Our　comrades　fled；〃　said　one。

〃It　is　dishonorable　to　fly；〃　said　the　other。

The　king　was　startled。　These　voices　were　familiar；　he　had　surely　heard　them　before。

〃I　ought　to　know　you；〃　said　he；　〃this　is　not　the　first　time　we　have　spoken　together。　What　is　your　name；　my　son？〃

〃Fritz　Kober　is　my　name；〃　said　the　grenadier。

〃And　yours？〃

〃Charles　Henry　Buschman；〃　said　the　other。

〃You　are　not　mistaken；　sir　king！　we　have　met　and　spoken　before；　but　it　was　on　a　better　night　than　this。〃

〃Where　was　it？〃　said　the　king。

〃The　night　before　the　great；　the　glorious　battle　of　Leuthen；〃　said　Fritz　Kober；　gravely；　〃at　that　time；　sir　king；　you　sat　at　our　tent…　fire　and　ate　dumplings　with　us。　Charles　Henry　knows　how　to　cook　them　so　beautifully！〃

〃Ah！　I　remember；〃　said　the　king；　〃you　made　me　pay　my　share　of　the　costs。〃

〃And　you　did　so；　like　a　true　king；〃　said　Fritz　Kober。　〃Afterward　you　came　back　to　our　tent…fire；　and　Charles　Henry　Buschman　told　you　fairy　tales；　nobody　can　do　that　so　beautifully　as　Charles　Henry；　and　you　slept　refreshingly　throughout。〃

〃No；　no；　grenadier；〃　said　the　king；　〃I　did　not　sleep；　and　I　can　tell　you　to…day　all　that　Charles　Henry　related。〃

〃Well；　what　was　it？〃　said　Fritz　Kober；　with　great　delight。

The　king　reflected　a　moment；　and　then　said；　in　a　soft　voice：

〃He　told　of　a　king　who　was　so　fondly　loved　by　a　beautiful　fairy；　that　she　changed　herself　into　a　sword　when　the　king　went　to　war　and　helped　him　to　defeat　his　enemies！　Is　that　it。　Fritz　Kober？〃

〃Nearly　so；　sir　king；　I　wish　you　had　such　a　fairy　at　your　side　to…　day。〃

〃Still；　Fritz；〃　whispered　Charles　H