frederick the great and his family-第98章

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eat　service　he　has　rendered。〃

〃I　can　never　believe　that　he　is　a　great　man；　or　a　poet。　He　had　the　audacity　to　speak　of　the　golden　era　of　literature　which　bloomed　in　the　time　of　my　grandfather；　Frederick　I。；　in　Germany；　and　he　was　so　foolhardy　as　to　mention　some　German　scribblers　of　that　time；　whose　barbarous　names　no　one　knows；　as　the　equals　of　Racine；　and　Corneille；　and　even　of　Virgil。　Repeat　to　me；　once　more；　the　names　of　those　departed　geniuses；　that　I　may　know　the　rivals　of　the　great　writers　of　the　day！〃

〃He　spoke　of　Bessen　and　Neukirch；〃　said　Quintus；　〃I　must　confess　it　savors　of　audacity　to　compare　these　men　with　Racine　and　Corneille；　he　did　this；　perhaps；　to　excite　the　interest　of　your　majesty；　as　it　is　well　known　that　the　great　Frederick；　to　whom　all　Germany　renders　homage；　attributes　all　that　is　good　and　honorable　to　the　German；　but　has　a　poor　opinion　of　his　intellect；　his　learning；　and　his　wit。〃

The　king　was　about　to　reply；　when　a　servant　entered　and　gave　him　a　letter　from　the　professor；　Gottsched。

〃I　find；　Quintus；〃　said　the　king；　〃that　my　brother　in　Apollo　does　me　the　honor　to　treat　me　with　confidence。　If　I　was　at　all　disposed　to　be　arrogant；　I　might　finally　imagine　myself　to　be　his　equal。　Let　us　see　with　what　sort　of　dedication　the　Cygne　des　Saxons　has　honored　us。〃　He　opened　the　letter；　and　while　reading；　his　countenance　cleared；　and　he　burst　out　into　a　loud；　joyous　laugh。　〃Well；　you　must　read　this　poem；　and　tell　me　if　it　is　pure　German　and　true　poetry。〃　The　king；　assuming　the　attitude　of　a　great　tragedian；　stepped　forward　with　a　nasal　voice；　and　exactly　in　the　pompous　manner　of　Gottsched；　he　read　the　poem　aloud。　〃Be　pleased　to　remark；〃　said　the　king；　with　assumed　solemnity；　〃that　Gottsched　announces　himself　as　the　Pindar　of　Germany；　and　he　will　have　the　goodness　to　commend　me　in　his　rhymes　to　after…centuries。　And　now；　tell　me；　Quintus；　if　this　is　German　poetry？　Is　your　innermost　soul　inspired　by　these　exalted　lines？〃

〃Sire；〃　said　Quintus　Icilius；　〃I　abandon　my　renowned　scholar；　and　freely　confess　that　your　majesty　judged　him　correctly；　he　is　an　insufferable　fool　and　simpleton。〃

〃Not　so；　but　he　is　a　German　scholar；〃　said　the　king；　pathetically；　〃one　of　the　great　pillars　which　support　the　weight　of　the　great　temple　of　German　science　and　poetry。〃

〃Sire。　I　offer　up　my　German　scholar；　I　lay　him　upon　the　altar　of　your　just　irony。　You　may　tear　him　to　pieces；　he　is　yours。　But　I　pray　you；　therefore；　to　be　gracious；　sire；　and　promise　me　to　receive　my　poet　kindly。〃

〃I　promise；〃　said　the　king：　〃I　wish　also　to　become　acquainted　with　this　model。〃

〃Promise　me；　however；　one　thing。　If　the　German　poet　resembles　the　German　scholar；　you　will　make　me　no　reproaches　if　I　turn　away　from　all　such　commodities　in　future？〃




CHAPTER　XII。

GELLERT。


Gellert　was　just　returning　from　the　university；　where；　in　the　large　hall；　he　had　recommenced　his　lectures　on　morality。　A　large　audience　had　assembled；　who　had　given　the　most　undivided　attention　to　their　beloved　master。　As　he　left　the　rostrum　the　assembly；　entirely　contrary　to　their　usual　custom；　burst　forth　in　loud　applause；　and　all　pressed　forward　to　welcome　the　beloved　teacher　on　his　return　to　his　academic　duties　after　his　severe　illness。

These　proofs　of　love　had　touched　the　sensitive　German　poet　so　deeply　in　his　present　nervous　and　suffering　condition；　that　he　reached　his　lodging　deathly　pale　and　with　trembling　knees：　utterly　exhausted；　he　threw　himself　into　his　arm…chair；　the　only　article　of　luxury　in　his　simple　study。

The　old　man；　who　sat　near　the　window　in　this　study；　was　busily　engaged　in　reading；　and　paid　him　no　attention；　although　Gellert　coughed　several　times；　he　did　not　appear　to　remark　his　presence；　and　continued　to　read。

〃Conrad；〃　said　Gellert；　at　length；　in　a　friendly；　pleading　tone。

〃Professor；〃　answered　the　old　man；　as　he　looked　up　unwillingly　from　his　book。

〃Conrad；　it　seems　to　me　that　you　might　stand　up　when　I　enter；　not；　perhaps；　so　much　out　of　respect　for　your　master；　as　because　he　is　delicate　and　weak；　and　needs　your　assistance。〃

〃Professor；〃　said　the　old　man；　with　composure；　〃I　only　intended　finishing　the　chapter　which　I　have　just　commenced；　and　then　I　should　have　risen。　You　came　a　little　too　soon。　It　was　your　own　fault　if　I　was　compelled　to　read　after　you　came。〃

Gellert　smiled。　〃What　book　were　you　reading　so　earnestly；　my　old　friend？〃

〃The　'Swedish　Countess；'　professor。　You　know　it　is　my　favorite　book。　I　am　reading　it　now　for　the　twelfth　time；　and　I　still　think　it　the　most　beautiful　and　touching；　as　well　as　the　most　sensible　book　I　ever　read。　It　is　entirely　beyond　my　comprehension；　professor；　how　you　made　it；　and　how　you　could　have　recollected　all　these　charming　histories。　Who　related　all　that　to　you？〃

〃No　one　related　it　to　me；　it　came　from　my　own　head　and　heart；〃　said　Gellert；　pleasantly。　〃But　no；　that　is　a　very　presumptuous　thought；　it　did　not　come　from　myself；　but　from　the　great　spirit；　who　occasionally　sends　a　ray　of　his　Godlike　genius　to　quicken　the　hearts　and　imaginations　of　poets。〃

〃I　do　not　understand　you；　professor；〃　said　Conrad；　impatiently。　〃Why　do　you　not　talk　like　the　bookI　understand　all　that　the　'Swedish　Countess'　says；　for　she　speaks　like　other　people。　She　is　an　altogether　sensible　and　lovely　woman；　and　I　have　thought　sometimes；　professor〃

Old　Conrad　hesitated　and　looked　embarrassed。

〃Well；　Conrad；　what　have　you　thought？〃

〃I　have　thought　sometimes；　sir；　perhaps　it　would　be　best　for　you　to　marry　the　'Swedish　Countess；'〃

Gellert　started　slightly；　and　a　light　flush　mounted　to　his　brow。

〃I　marry！〃　he　exclaimed；〃　Heaven　protect　me　from　fastening　such　a　yoke　upon　myself；　or　putting　my　happiness　in　the　power　of　any　creature　so　fickle；　vain；　capricious；　haughty；　obstinate；　and　heartless　as　a　woman。　Conrad；　where　did　you　get　this　wild　idea？　you　know　that　I　hate　women；　no；　not　hate；　but　fear　them；　as　the　lamb　fears　the　wolf。〃

〃Oh；　sir；〃　cried　Conrad；　angrily；　〃was　your　mother　not　a　woman？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Gellert；　softly；　after　a　pause〃yes；　she　was　a　woman；　a　whole…hearted；'　noble　woman。　She　was　the　golden　star　of　my　childhood；　the　saintly　ideal　of　the　youth；　as　she　is　now　in　heaven　the　guardian　angel　of　the　man；　there　is　no　woman　like　her；　Conrad。　She　was　the　impersonation　of　love；　of　self…sacrifice；　of　goodness；　and　of　devotion。〃

〃You　are　right；〃　said　Conrad；　softly；　〃she　was　a　true　woman；　the　entire　village　loved　and　honored　her　for　her　benevolence　and　piety；　when　she　died；　it　seemed　as　though　we　had　all　lost　a　mother。〃

〃When　she　died；〃　said　Gellert；　his　voice　trembling　with　emotion；　〃my　happiness　and　youth　died　with　her；　and　when　the　first　handful　of　earth　fell　upon　her　coffin　I　felt　as　if　my　heart…strings　broke；　and　that　feeling　has　never　left　me。〃

〃You　loved　your　mother　too　deeply；　professor；〃　said　Conrad；　〃that　is　the　reason　you　are　determined　not　to　love　and　marry　some　other　woman。〃

〃Why；　man；　do　not　talk　to　me　again　of　marrying；〃　cried　Gellert。　〃What　has　that　fatal　word　to　do　in　my　study？〃

〃A　great　deal；　sir；　only　look　how　miserable　every　thing　is　here；　not　even　neat　and　comfortable；　as　it　should　certainly　be　in　the　room　of　so　learned　and　celebrated　a　professor。　Only　think　of　the　change　that　would　be　made　by　a　bright　young　wife。　You　must　marry；　professor；　and　the　lady　must　be　rich。　This　state　of　things　cannot　continue；　you　must　take　a　wife；　for　you　cannot　live　on　your　celebrity。〃

〃No；　Conrad；　but　on　my　salary；〃　said　Gellert。　〃I　receive　two　hundred　and　fifty　thalers　from　my　professorship；　only　think；　two　hundred　and　fifty　thalers！　That　is　a　great　deal　for　a　German　poet；　Conrad；　I　should　consider　myself　most　fortunate。　It　is　sufficient　for　my　necessities；　and　will　certainly　keep　me　from　want。〃

〃It　would　be　sufficient；　professor；　if　we　were　not　so　extravagant。　I　am　an　old　man；　and　you　may　very　well　listen　to　a　word　from　me。　I　served　your　father　for　fifteen　yearsin　fact；　you　inherited　me　from　him。　I　have　the　right　to　speak。　If　it　goes　so　far；　I　will　hunger　and　thirst　with　you；　but　it　makes　me　angry　that　we　should　hunger　and　thirst　when　there　is　no　necessity。　Have　you　dined　today？〃

〃No；　Conrad；〃　said　Gellert；　looking　embarrassed。　〃I　had；　accidentally；　no　money　with　me　as　I　came　out　of　the　academy；　and　you　know　that　I　do　not　like　to　go　to　the　eating…house　without　paying　immediately。〃

〃Accidentally　you　had　no　money？　You　had　probably　left　it　at　home。〃

〃Yes；　Conrad；　I　had　left　it　at　home。〃

〃No；　sir；　you　gave　your　last　thaler　to　the　student　who　came　this　morning　and　told　you　of　his　necessities；　and　complained　so　bitterly　that　he　had　eaten　nothing　warm　for　three　days。　You　gave　your　money　to　him；　and　that　was　not　right；　for　now　we　have　nothing　ourselves。〃

〃Yes；　Conrad；　it　was　right；　it　was　my　duty；　he　hungered　and　I　was　full；　he　was　poor　and　in　want；　and　I　had　money；　and　sat　in　my　warm；　comfortable　room；　it　was　quite　right　for　me　to　help　him。〃

〃Yes；　you　say　so　always；　sir；　and　our　money　all　goes　to　the　devil；〃　muttered　Conrad。　〃With　what　shall　we　satisfy　ourselves　to…day？〃

〃Well；〃　said　Gellert；　after　a　pause；　〃we　will　drink　some　coffee；　and　eat　some　bread　and　butter。　Coffee　is　an　excellent　beverage；　and　peculiarly　acceptable　to　poets；　for　it　enlivens　the　fancy。〃

〃And　leaves　the　stomach　empty；〃　said　Conrad。

〃We　have　bread　and　butter　to　satisfy　that。　Ah；　Conrad；　I　assure　you　we　would　often　have　been　very　happy　in　my　father's　parsonage　if　we　had　had　coffee　and　bread　and　butter　for　our　dinner。　We　were　thirteen　children；　besides　my　father　and　mother；　and　my　father's　salary　was　not　more　than　two　hundred　thalers。　Conrad；　he　had　less　than　I；　and　he　had　to　provide　for　thirteen　children。〃

〃As　if　you　had　not　provided　for　yourself　since　you　were　eleven　years　oldas　if　I　had　not　seen　you　copying　late　into　the　night　to　earn　money；　at　an　age　when　other　children　scarcely　know　what　money　is；　and　know　still　less　of　work。〃

〃But　when　I　carried　the　money　which　I　had　earned　to　my　mother；　she　kissed　me　so　tenderly；　and　called　me　her　brave；　noble　sonthat　was　a　greater　reward　than　all　the　money　in　the　world。　And　when　the　next　Christmas　came；　and　we　were　all　thirteen　so　happy；　and　each　one　received　a　plate　filled　with　nuts　and　apples　and　little　presents；　I　received　a　shining　new　coat。　It　was　the　first　time　I　had　ever　had　a　coat　of　new　cloth。　My　mother　had　bought　the　material　with　the　money　I　had　earned。　She　had　kept　it　all；　and　now　my　writings　had　changed　into　a　beautiful　coat；　which　I　wore　with　pride　and　delight。　No　coat　is　so　comfortable　as　one　we　have　earned　ourselves。　The　self…earned　coat　is　the　royal　mantle　of　the　poor。〃

〃But　we　need　not　be　poor；〃　scolded　Conrad。　〃It　is　that　which　makes　me　angry。　If　we　were　careful；　we　could　live　comfortably　and　free　from　care　on　two　hundred　and　fifty　thalers。　But　every　thing　is　given　away；　and　every　thing　is　done　for　others；　until　we　have　nothing　left　for　ourselves。〃

〃　We　have　never　gone　hungry　to　bed；　Conrad；　and　we　need　not　hunger。　To…day　we　have　coffee；　and　bread　and　butter；　and　to…morrow　I　will　receive　something　from　my　publishers　from　the　fourth　edition　of　my　fables。　It　is　not　much；　it　will　be　about　twenty　thalers；　but　we　will　be　able　to　live　a　long　time　on　that。　Be　content；　Conrad；　and　go　now　into　the　kitchen　and　prepare　the　cof