frederick the great and his family-第8章

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　not　escape　his　punishment。　Let　him　but　try　to　cross　my　bordershe　will　find　a　snare　spread；　a　cage　from　which　he　cannot　escape。　Yes；　so　it　shall　be。　But　neither　the　world　nor　Trenck　shall　suspect　why　this　is　done。　If　my　brothers　and　envious　persons　hold　him　up　in　future　as　an　example　of　my　hardness　of　heart；　what　do　I　care　for　their　approval；　or　the　praise　of　short…sighted　men！　I　do　my　duty；　and　am　answerable　only　to　God　and　myself。　Trenck　intends　to　murder　meI　must　preserve　myself　for　my　people。　My　mission　is　not　yet　accomplished；　and　if　a　poisonous　insect　crosses　my　path；　I　must　crush　it。〃




CHAPTER　VIII。

THE　UNWILLING　BRIDEGROOM。


Prince　Henry　had　again　passed　eight　days　in　arresteight　tedious　days；　days　of　powerless　anger　and　painful　humiliation。　This　arrest　had　been；　by　the　king's　express　orders；　so　strict；　that　no　one　was　allowed　to　see　the　prince　but　Pollnitz；　who　belonged；　as　the　king　said；　to　the　inventory　of　the　house　of　Hohenzollern；　and；　therefore；　all　doors　were　open　to　him。

Pollnitz　alone　had；　therefore；　the　pleasure　of　hearing　the　complaints；　and　reproaches；　and　bitter　accusations　of　the　prince　against　his　brother。　Pollnitz　always　had　an　attentive　ear　for　these　complaints；　and　after　listening　to　the　prince　with　every　appearance　of　real　feeling　and　warm　sympathy；　he　would　hasten　to　the　king；　and　with　drooping　eyelids　and　rejoicing　heart　repeat　the　bitter　and　hateful　words　of　the　unsuspicious　princewords　that　were　well　calculated　to　increase　the　king's　displeasure。　The　prince　still　declared　that　he　would　not　marry；　and　the　king　insisted　that　he　must　submit　to　his　will　and　commands。

Thus　the　eight　days　had　passed；　and　Pollnitz　came　to…day　with　the　joyful　news　that　his　arrest　was　at　an　end；　and　he　was　now　free。

〃That　means；〃　said　the　prince；　bitterly；　〃that　I　am　free　to　wander　through　the　stupid　streets　of　Potsdam；　appear　at　his　table；　that　my　clothes　may　be　soiled　by　his　unbearable　four…legged　friends；　and　my　ears　deafened　by　the　dull；　pedantic　conversation　of　his　no　less　unbearable　two…legged　friends。〃

〃Your　highness　can　save　yourself　from　all　these　small　annoyances；〃　said　Pollnitz；　〃you　have　only　to　marry。〃

〃Marry；　bah！　That　means　to　give　my　poor　sister…in…law；　Elizabeth　Christine；　a　companion；　that　they　may　sing　their　sorrows　to　each　other。　No；　I　have　not　the　bravery　of　my　kingly　brother；　to　make　a　feeling；　human　being　unhappy　in　order　to　satisfy　state　politics。　No；　I　possess　not　the　egotism　to　purchase　my　freedom　with　the　life…long　misery　of　another。〃

〃But；　mon　Dieu！　my　prince；〃　said　Pollnitz；　in　his　cynical　way；　〃you　look　at　it　in　too　virtuous　a　manner。　All　women　are　not　as　good　and　pure　as　poor　Elizabeth　Christine；　and　know　how　to　compensate　themselves　in　other　quarters　for　the　indifference　of　their　husbands。　We　are　not　speaking　here　of　a　common　marriage；　but　of　the　betrothal　of　a　prince。　You　do　not　marry　your　heart；　but　your　hand。　Truly　such　a　marriage…ceremony　is　a　protecting　talisman；　that　may　be　held　up　to　other　women　as　an　iron　shield　upon　which；　all　their　egotistical　wishes；　all　their　extravagant　demands　must　rebound。　Moreover；　a　married　man　is　entirely　sans　consequence　for　all　unmarried　women；　and　if　they　should　love　such　a　one；　the　happy　mortal　may　be　convinced　that　his　love　is　really　a　caprice　of　the　heart；　and　not　a　selfish　calculation　or　desire　to　marry。〃

The　prince　regarded　the　smiling　courtier　earnestly；　almost　angrily。　〃Do　you　know；〃　he　said；　〃that　what　you　say　appears　to　me　very　immoral？〃

〃Immoral？〃　asked　Pollnitz；　astonished；　〃what　is　that？　Your　princely　highness　knows　that　I　received　my　education　at　the　French　court；　under　the　protection　of　the　Regent　of　Orleans　and　the　Princess　of　the　Palatinate；　and　there　I　never　heard　this　word　immoral。　Perhaps　your　highness　will　have　the　kindness　to　explain　it　to　me。〃

〃That　would　be　preaching　to　deaf　ears；〃　said　the　prince；　shrugging　his　shoulders。　〃We　will　not　quarrel　about　the　meaning　of　a　word。　I　only　wish　to　make　you　understand　that　I　would　not　marry　at　my　brother's　bon　plaisir。　I　will　not　continue　this　race　of　miserable　princes；　that　are　entirely　useless；　and　consequently　a　burden　to　the　state。　Oh！　if　Heaven　would　only　give　me　the　opportunity　to　distinguish　myself　before　this　people；　and　give　to　this　name　that　is　go　small；　so　unworthy；　a　splendor；　a　color；　a　signification！〃

〃Your　highness　is　ambitous；〃　said　Pollnitz；　as　the　prince；　now　silent；　paced　his　room　with　deep　emotion。

〃Yes；　I　am　ambitiousI　thirst　for　action；　renown；　and　activity。　I　despise　this　monotonous；　colorless　existence；　without　end　or　aim。　By　God！　how　happy　I　should　be；　if；　instead　of　a　prince；　I　could　be　a　simple　private　man；　proprietor　of　a　small　landed　estate；　with　a　few　hundred　subjects；　that　I　should　endeavor　to　make　happy！　But　I　am　nothing　but　a　king's　brother；　have　nothing　but　my　empty　title　and　the　star　upon　my　coat。　My　income　is　so　small；　so　pitiful；　that　it　would　scarcely　suffice　to　pay　the　few　servants　I　have；　if；　at　the　same　time；　they　were　not　paid　by　the　king　as　his　spies。〃

〃But　all　this　will　cease　as　soon　as　you　speak　the　decisive　word；　as　soon　as　you　declare　yourself　prepared　to　marry。〃

〃And　you　dare　to　tell　me　this？〃　cried　the　prince；　with　flashing　eyes〃you；　that　know　I　love　a　lady　who　is　unfortunately　no　princess；　or　do　you　believe　that　a　miserable　prince　has　not　the　heart　of　a　manthat　he　does　not　possess　the　ardent　desire；　the　painful　longing　for　the　woman　he　loves？〃

〃Oh；　women　do　not　deserve　that　we　should　love　them　so　ardently；　they　are　all　fickle　and　inconstant；　believe　me；　my　prince。〃

The　prince　cast　a　quick；　questioning　glance　at　the　smiling　countenance　of　the　courtier。

〃Why　do　you　say　this　to　me？〃　he　asked；　anxiously。

〃Because　I　am　convinced　of　its　truth；　your　highness；　because　I　believe　no　woman　has　the　power　to　preserve　her　love　when　obstacles　are　placed　in　the　way；　or　that　she　can　be　faithful　for　the　short　space　of　eight　days；　if　her　lover　is　absent。〃

The　prince　was　startled；　and　looked　terrified　at　Pollnitz。

〃Eight　days；〃　he　murmured；　〃it　is　eight　daysno；　it　is　twelve　since　I　saw　Louise。〃

〃Ah；　twelve　daysand　your　highness　has　the　really　heroic　belief　that　she　still　loves　you？〃

The　prince　sighed；　and　his　brow　clouded；　but　only　for　a　few　moments；　and　his　countenance　was　again　bright　and　his　eyes　sparkled。

〃Yes；　I　have　this　belief；　and　why　should　I　not　have　it；　as　my　own　heart　had　stood　the　trial？　I　have　not　seen　her　for　twelve　days；　have　not　heard　of　her；　and　still　my　love　is　as　great　and　as　ardent　as　ever。　Yes；　I　believe　that　at　the　thought　of　her　my　heart　beats　more　quickly；　more　longingly　than　if　I　had　her　in　my　arms。〃

〃The　reason　of　this；〃　said　Pollnitz；　almost　sympathetically；　〃is　that　it　is　your　first　love。〃

Prince　Henry　looked　at　him　angrily。

〃You　are　wrong　and　most　unjust　to　this　beautiful　woman；　who　remained　good　and　pure　in　the　midst　of　the　corrupting　and　terrible　circumstances　in　which　destiny　placed　her。　She　preserved　a　chaste　heart；　an　unspotted　soul。　Her　misfortunes　only　refined　her；　and　therefore　I　love　her；　and　believe　that　God　has　placed　me　in　her　way　that；　after　all　her　sufferings；　I　might　make　her　happy。　Oh；　precisely　because　of　her　sorrows；　the　shameful　slanders　with　which　she　is　pursued；　and　all　for　which　she　is　reproached；　I　love　her。〃

〃Well；　my　prince；〃　sighed　Pollnitz；　with　a　tragical　expression；　〃I　never　saw　a　bolder　hero　and　a　more　pious　Christian　than　your　highness。〃

〃What　do　you　mean　by　that；　Pollnitz？〃

〃That　an　enormous　amount　of　bravery　is　necessary；　prince；　to　believe　Madame　von　Kleist　chaste　and　innocent；　and　that　only　a　pious　Christian　can　count　himself　so　entirely　among　those　of　whom　Christ　says；　'Blessed　are　they　that　have　not　seen　and　yet　have　believed。'　May　a　good　fairy　long　preserve　you　your　bravery　and　your　Christianity！　But　surely　your　highness　must　have　important　and　convincing　proofs　to　believe　in　the　innocence　and　faithfulness　of　this　woman。　I　confess　that　any　other　man　would　have　been　discouraged　in　his　godlike　belief　by　facts。　It　is　a　fact　that　for　twelve　days　Madame　von　Kleist　has　sent　you　no　message　through　me；　it　is　a　fact　that　she　was　not　at　the　masked　ball；　that　as　often　as　I　have　been　to　her　in　these　last　days；　to　deliver　letters　for　your　highness；　and　to　obtain　hers　in　return；　she　has　never　received　me；　always　excused　herself；　and；　therefore；　I　could　not　receive　her　letters；　nor　deliver　those　of　your　highness。〃

〃And　were　you　not　in　Berlin　early　this　morning！　Did　you　not　go　to　her　as　I　ordered　you；　and　tell　her　she　might　expect　me　this　evening？〃

〃I　went　to　her　house；　but　in　vain；　she　was　with　the　queen…mother；　and　I　was　told　that　she　would　not　return　until　late　in　the　evening；　I　therefore　could　not　deliver　the　message；　your　highness。〃

The　prince　stamped　his　foot　impatiently；　and　walked　hastily　to　and　fro；　his　brow　was　clouded；　his　lips　trembled　with　inward　emotion。　The　sharp　eye　of　the　baron　followed　with　an　attentive；　pitiless　glance　every　movement　of　his　face；　noted　every　sigh　that　came　from　his　anxious　heart；　that　he　might　judge　whether　the　seeds　of　mistrust　that　he　had　sown　in　the　breast　of　the　prince　would　grow。　But　Prince　Henry　was　still　young；　brave；　and　hopeful；　it　was　his　first　love　they　wished　to　poison；　but　his　young；　healthy　nature　withstood　the　venom；　and　vanquished　its　evil　effects。　His　countenance　resumed　its　quiet；　earnest　expression；　and　the　cloud　disappeared　from　his　brow。

〃Do　you　know；〃　he　said；　standing　before　Pollnitz；　and　looking　smilingly　into　his　cunning　face〃do　you　know　that　you　do　not　descend；　as　the　rest　of　mankind；　from　Adam　and　Eve；　but　in　a　direct　line　from　the　celebrated　serpent？　And　truly　you　do　honor　to　your　ancestor！　No　paradise　is　holy　to　you；　and　to　do　evil　gives　you　pleasure。　But　you　shall　not　disturb　my　paradise；　and　as　much　of　the　old　Adam　as　is　still　in　me；　I　will　not　be　foolish　enough　to　eat　of　the　bitter　fruit　that　you　offer　me。　No；　you　shall　not　succeed　in　making　me　jealous　and　distrustful；　you　shall　not　destroy　my　faith：　and　see　you；　those　that　believe　are　still　in　paradise；　notwithstanding　your　ancestor；　the　serpent。〃

〃My　prince；〃　said　Pollnitz；　shrugging　his　shoulders；　〃your　highness　looks　upon　me　as　a　kind　of　Messiahat　least　it　pleases　you　to　give　me　a　mother　and　no　father。　But　oh；　my　prince！　if　you　are　right　about　my　descent；　philosophers　are　certainly　wrong；　for　they　maintain　that　the　serpent　of　paradise　left　gold　as　a　fearful　inheritance　to　mankind。　I　shall　accuse　my　great…grandmother　the　serpent　of　disinheriting　me　and　condemning　me　to　live　upon　the　generosity　of　my　friends　and　patrons。〃

He　looked　at　the　prince；　with　a　sly；　covetous　glance；　but　he　had　not　understood　him；　engaged　in　deep　thought；　he　had　stepped　to　the　window；　and　was　gazing　up　at　the　heavens；　where　the　clouds　were　chasing　each　other。

〃She　will　be　the　entire　day　with　my　mother；　and　I　shall　not　see　her；〃　he　murmured。　Then；　turning　hastily　to　Pollnitz；　he　asked；　〃How　is　the　queen…mother？　Did　I　not　hear　that　she　was　suffering？〃

〃Certainly；　your　highness；　a　severe　attack　of　gout　confines　her　to　her　chair；　and　holds　her　prisoner。〃

〃Poor　mother！　it　is　long　since　I　saw　you。〃

〃It　is　true；　the　queen　complained　of　it　the　last　time　I　spoke　with　her；〃　said　Pollnitz；　with　a　perfectly　serious　face；　bu