history of friedrich ii of prussia v 17-第12章

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nenstein　to　Konigstein；　as　the　crow　flies；　may　be　five　miles　east　to　west；　but　by　Langen…　Hennersdorf；　and　the　elbow　there；　it　will　be　ten：　at　Konigstein；　moreover；　Elbe　makes　an　abrupt　turn　northward　for　a　couple　of　miles；　instead　of　westward　as　heretofore；　turning　abruptly　westward　again　after　that：　so　that　the　Saxon　'Camp'　or　Occupancy　here；　is　an　irregular　Trapezium；　with　Pirna　and　Konigstein　for　vertices；　and　with　area　estimable　as　above；ploughable；　a　fair　portion　of　it；　and　not　without　corn　of　its　own。　So　that　the　'two　weeks'　provision'　spun　themselves　out　（short　allowance　aiding）　to　two　months；　before　actual　famine　came。

。。。　〃The　High…road　from　the　Lausitz　parts　crosses　Elbe　at　Pirna；　falls　into　the　Dresden…Prag　High…road　there；　and　from　Pirna　towards　Toplitz；　for　the　first　few　miles；　this　latter　runs　through　the　Prussian　Posts；　but　we　may　guess　it　is　not　much　travelled　at　present。　North　of　Elbe；　too；　the　Prussians　have　batteries　on　the　fit　points；　detachments　of　due　force；　from　Gross…Sedlitz　Bridge…of…　Pontoons　all　round　to　Schandau；　or　beyond；　could　fire　upon　the　Konigstein；　across　the　River：　they　have　plugged　up　the　Saxon　position　everywhere。　They　have　a　Battery　especially；　and　strong　post；　to　cannonade　the　Bridge　at　Pirna；　should　the　Saxons　think　of　trying　there。　It　is　now　the　one　Saxon　or　even　Half…Saxon　Bridge；　Sonnenstein　and　Pirna　command　the　Saxon　end　of　it；　a　strong　battery　the　Prussian　end：　a　Bridge　lying　mainly　idle；　like　the　general　Highway　to　Toplitz　at　this　time。　Beyond　the　Konigstein；　again；　at　a　place　called　Wendisch…Fahre　（WENDS'…FERRY）；　the　Prussians　have；　by　means　of　boats　swinging　wide　at　anchor　on　the　swift　current；　what　is　called　a　Flying…bridge；　with　which　the　north　side　can　communicate　with　the　south。　They　have　a　post　at　Nieder…Raden　（OBER　Raden；　railway　station　in　our　time；　is　on　the　south　side）：　Nether　Raden　is　an　interesting　little　Hamlet；　mostly　invisible　to　mankind　（built　in　the　THROAT　of　the　stone　chasms　there）；　from　which　you　begin　mounting　to　the　BASTEI　far　aloft。　A　Raden　to　be　noted；　by　the　Tourist　and　us。〃

Little；　or　even　nothing；　of　fighting　there　is：　why　should　there　be？　The　military　operations　are　a　dead…lock；　and　require　no　word。　Thirty　thousand；　half　of　the　Prussian　Force；　lie；　vigilant　as　lynxes；　blockading　here；　other　half；　32；000；　under　Marshal　Keith；　have　marched　forward　to　Aussig；　to　Nollendorf　on　the　Bohemian　frontier；　to　clear　the　ways；　and　look　into　any　Austrian　motion　thereabouts；with　whom；　with　some　Pandour　detachment　of　whom；　Duke　Ferdinand；　leading　the　vanguard；　has　had　a　little　brush　among　the　Hills；　smiting　them　home　again；　in　his　usual　creditable　way　（September　13th）；　and　taking　Camp　at　Peterswalde；　he　and　others　of　the　Force；　that　night。　＇　OEuvres　de　Frederic；　　iv。　85；　ANONYMOUS　OF　HAMBURG；　i。　19。＇　It　is　with　this　Keith　Army；　with　this　if　with　any；　that　adventures　are　to　be　looked　for　at　present。

Polish　Majesty's　Head…quarters　are　at　Struppen；　well　in　the　centre　of　the　Saxon　lines；　〃goes　always　to　the　Konigstein　to　sleep。〃　Polish　Majesty's　own　table　is；　by　Friedrich's　permission　for　that　special　object；　supplied　AD　LIBITUM：　but　the　common　men　were　at　once　put　on　short　allowance；　which　grows　always　the　shorter。　Polish　Majesty　corresponds　with　Friedrich；　as　we　saw；　and　above　all；　sends　burning　Messages　to　Austria；　to　France；　to　every　European　Court；　charged　with　mere　shrieks：　〃Help　me；　a　robber　has　me！〃　In　which　sense；　Excellencies　of　all　kinds；　especially　one　Lord　Stormont；　the　English　Excellency；　daily　running　out　from　Dresden　to　Gross…Sedlitz；　are　passionately　industrious　with　Friedrich；　who　is　eager　enough　to　comply；　were　there　any　safe　means　possible。　But　there　are　none。　Unfortunately；　too；　it　appears　the　Austrians　are　astir；　Feldmarschall　Browne　actually　furbishing　himself　at　Prag　yonder　with　an　eye　hitherward；　and　extraordinary　haste　and　spirit　shown：　which　obliges　Friedrich　to　rise　in　his　demands；　ovine　obstinacy；　on　the　other　side；　naturally　increasing　from　the　same　cause。

〃Polish　Majesty；　we　say；　has　liberty　to　bring　in　proviant　for　self　and　suite；　rigorously　for　no　mortal　more；　and　he　lives　well；　in　the　culinary　sense；surely　for　most　part　'in　his　dressing…gown；'　too；　poor　loose　collapsed　soul！　Bruhl　and　he　have　plenty　of　formal　business：　but　their　one　real　business　is　that　of　crying；　by　estafettes　and　every　conceivable　method；　to　Austria；　'Get　us　out　of　this！'　To　which　Austria　has　answered；　'Yes；　only　patience；　and　be　steady！'Friedrich's　head…quarters　are　at　Sedlitz；　and　the　negotiating　and　responding　which　he　has；　transcends　imagination。　His　first　hope　was；　Polish　Majesty　might　be　persuaded　to　join　with　him；on　the　back　of　that；　certainty；　gradually　coming；　that　Polish　Majesty　never　would；　and　that　the　Austrians　would　endeavor　a　rescue；　were　they　once　ready。　Starvation；　or　the　Austrians；　which　will　be　first　here？　is　the　question；　and　Friedrich　studies　to　think　it　will　be　the　former。　At　all　events；　having　settled　on　the　starvation　method；　and　seen　that　all　his　posts　are　right；　we　perceive　he　does　not　stick　close　by　Sedlitz；　but　runs　now　hither　now　thither；　is　at　Torgau；　where　an　important　establishment；　kind　of　New　Government　for　Saxony；　on　the　Finance　side；　is　organizing　itself。　What　his　work　with　Ambassadors　was；　and　how　delicate　the　handling　needed；　think！〃Here　is　another　Clipping：

。。。　〃Polish　Majesty　passes　the　day　at　Struppen；　amid　many　vain　noises　of　Soldiering；　of　Diplomatizing；　the　night　always　at　Konigstein；　and　finally　both　day　and　night；quite　luxuriously　accommodated；　Bruhl　and　he；　to　the　very　end　of　this　Affair。　Towards　Struppen　＇this　is　weeks　farther　on；　but　we　give　it　here＇；　Comte　de　Broglio　＇Old　Broglio's　elder　Son；　younger　is　in　the　Military　line＇；　who　is　Ambassador　to　his　Saxon…Polish　Majesty；　sets　out　from　Dresden　for　an　interview　with　said　Majesty。　At　the　Prussian　lines；　he　is　informed；　'Yes；　you　can　go；　but；　without　our　King's　Order；　you　cannot　return。'　'What？　The　Most　Christian　Majesty's　Ambassador；　and　treated　in　this　way？　I　will　go　to　where　the　Polish　King　is；　and　I　will　return　to　my　own　King；　so　often　as　I　find　business：　stop　me　at　your　peril！'　and　threatened　and　argued；　and　made　a　deal　of　blusterous　noise；far　too　much；　thinks　Valori；　think　the　Prussian　Officers；　who　are　sorry；　but　inflexible。　Margraf　Karl；　Commandant　of　the　place；　in　absence　of　King　Friedrich　（who　is　gone　lately；　on　a　Business　we　shall　hear　of）；　earnestly　dissuaded　Excellency　Broglio；　but　it　was　to　no　purpose。　Next　day　Broglio　appeared　in　his　state…carriage；　formally　demanding　entrance；　free　thoroughfare：　'Do　you　dare　refuse　me？'　'Yes；'　answered　Margraf　Karl；　'we　do　and　must。'　Indignant　Broglio　reappeared；　next　day；　on　foot；　Lieutenant…General　Prince　Friedrich　Eugen　of　Wurtemberg　the　chief　man　in　charge：　'Do　you　dare？'　'Indubitably；　Yes；'and　Broglio　still　pushing　on　incredulous；　Eugen　actually　raised　his　arm；elbow　and　fore…arm　across　the　breast　of　Most　Christian　Majesty's　Ambassador；who　recoiled；　to　Dresden；　in　mere　whirlwinds　of　fire；　and　made　the　most　of　it　＇unwisely；　thinks　Valori＇　in　writing　to　Court。　＇Valori；　ii。　349；　209；　353　（〃Wednesday；　6th　October；〃　the　day　of　it；　seemingly）；　ib。　i。　312；　&c。＇　Court；　in　high　dudgeon；　commanded　Valori　to　quit　Berlin　without　taking　leave。　Valori；　in　his　private　capacity；　wrote　an　Adieu；　＇Friedrich's　kind　Letter　in　answer　to　it；　〃2d　November；　1756；〃　in　Valori；　i。　313。＇　and　in　his　public；　as　the　fact　stood；　That　he　was　gone　without　Adieu。〃

And　the　Dauphiness；　daughter　of　those　injured　Polish　Majesties；　fell　on　her　knees　（Pompadour　permitting　and　encouraging）　at　the　feet　of　Most　Christian　Majesty；　on　her　knees；　all　in　passion　of　tears；　craved　help　and　protection　to　her　loved　old　Mother；　in　the　name　of　Nature　and　of　all　Kings：　could　any　King　resist？　And　his　Pompadour　was　busy：　〃Think　of　that　noble　Empress；　who　calls　me　COUSIN　AND　DEAR　PRINCESS；　think　of　that　insolent　Prussian　Robber：　Ah；　your　Majesty：〃　…and　King　Louis；　though　not　a　hating　man；　did　privately　dislike　Friedrich；　and　evil　speeches　of　Friedrich's　had　been　reported　to　him。　And；　in　short；　the　upshot　was：　King　Louis；　bound　only　to　24；000　for　help　of　Austria；　determined　to　send；　and　did　send；　above　100；000　across　the　Rhine；　next　Year；　for　that　object；　as　will　be　seen。　And　all　Frenchmenall　except　Belleisle；　who　is　oldare　charmed　with　these　new　energetic　measures；　and　beautiful　new　Austrian　connections。

Certain　it　is；　the　Austrians　are　coming；　her　Imperial　Majesty　bent　with　all　her　might　on　relief　of　those　Saxon　martyrs；　which　indeed　is　relief　of　herself；　as　she　well　perceives：　〃Courage；　my　friends；　endure　yet　a　little！〃　Messengers　smuggle　themselves　through　the　Mountain　paths；　and　go　and　return；　though　with　difficulty。

Since　September　19th；　the　Correspondence　with　Polish　Majesty　has　ceased：　no　persuading　of　the　Polish　Majesty。　Winterfeld　went　twice　to　him；　conferred　at　large；　Bruhl　forbidden　to　be　there；　on　the　actual　stringencies　and　urgencies　of　Fact　between　the　Two　Countries；　but　it　was　with　no　result　at　all。　Polish　Majesty　has　not　the　least　intention　that　Saxony　shall　be　even　a　Highway　for　Friedrich；　if　at　any　time　Polish　Majesty　can　hinder　it：　〃Neutrality；〃　therefore；　will　not　do　for　Friedrich；　he　demands　Alliance；　practical　Partnership；　and　to　that　his　Polish　Majesty　is　completely　abhorrent。　Diplomatizing　may　cease；　nothing　but　wrestle　of　fight　will　settle　this　matter。

Friedrich；　able　to　get　nothing　from　the　Sovereign　of　Saxony；　is　reduced　to　grasp　Saxony　itself：　and　we　can　observe　him　doing　it；　always　the　closer；　always　the　more　carefully；　as　the　complicacy　deepens；　and　the　obstinacy　becomes　more　dangerous　and　provoking。　What　alternative　is　there？　On　first　entering　Saxony；　Friedrich　had　made　no　secret　that　he　was　not　a　mere　bird　of　passage　there。　At　Torgau；　there　was　at　once　a　〃Field…Commissariat〃　established；　with　Prussian　Officials　of　eminence　to　administer；　the　Military　Chest　to　be　deposited　there；　and　Torgau　to　be　put　in　a　state　of　defence。　Torgau；　our　Saxon　Metropolis　of　War…Finance；　is　becoming　more　and　more　the　Metropolis　of　Saxon　Finance　in　general。　Saxon　Officials　were　liable；　from　the　first；　to　be　suspended；　on　Friedrich's　order。　Saxon　Finance…Officials；　of　all　kinds；　were　from　the　first　instructed；　that　till　farther　notice　there　must　be　no　disbursements　without　King　Friedrich's　sanction。　And；　in　fact；　King　Friedrich　fully　intends　that　Saxony　is　to　help　him　all　it　can；　and　that　it　either　will　or　else　shall；　in　this　dire　pressure　of　perplexity；　which　is　due　in　such　a　degree　to　the　conduct　of　the　Saxon　Government　for　twelve　years　past。　Would　Saxony　go　with　him　in　any　form　of　consent；　how　much　more　convenient　to　Friedrich！　But　Saxony　will　not；　Polish　Majesty；　not　himself　suffering　hunger；　is　obstinate　as　the　decrees　of　Fate　（or　as　sheep；　when　too　much　put　upon）；　regardless　of　considerations；and；　in　fine；　here　is　Browne　actually　afoot；　coming　to　relieve　Polish　Majesty！The　Austrians　had　uncommonly　bestirred　themselves：

The　activity；　the　zeal　of　all　ranks；　ever　since　this　expedition　into　Saxony；　and　clutching　of　Saxony　by　the　throat；　contemporary　witnesses　declare　to　have　been　extraordinary。　〃Horses　for　Piccolomini's　Cavalry；they　had　scarcely　got　their　horses；　not　to　speak　of　training　them；　not　to　speak　of　cannon　and　the　heavier　requ