history of friedrich ii of prussia v 16-第3章
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at； whenever the noises and scenic etiquettes were not inexorable。 〃SANS…SOUCI；〃 which we may translate 〃No…Bother。〃 A busy place this too； but of the quiet kind； and more a home to him than any of the Three fine Palaces （ultimately Four）； which lay always waiting for him in the neighborhood。 Berlin and Charlottenburg are about twenty miles off； Potsdam； which； like the other two； is rather consummate among Palaces； lies leftwise in front of him within a short mile。 And at length； to RIGHT hand； in a similar distance and direction； came the 〃NEUE SCHLOSS〃 （New Palace of Potsdam）； called also the 〃PALACE of Sans…Souci；〃 in distinction from the Dwelling…House； or as it were Garden…House； which made that name so famous。
Certainly it is a significant feature of Friedrich； and discloses the inborn proclivity he had to retirement； to study and reflection； as the chosen element of human life。 Why he fell upon so ambitious a title for his Royal Cottage？ 〃No…Bother〃 was not practically a thing he； of all men； could consider possible in this world： at the utmost perhaps； by good care； 〃LESS…Bother〃！ The name； it appears； came by accident。 He had prepared his Tomb； and various Tombs； in the skirts of this new Cottage： looking at these； as the building of them went on； he was heard to say； one day （Spring 1746）； D'Argens strolling beside him： 〃OUI； ALORS JE SERAI SANS SOUCI （Once THERE； one will be out of bother）！〃 A saying which was rumored of； and repeated in society； being by such a man。 Out of which rumor in society； and the evident aim of the Cottage Royal； there was gradually born； as Venus from the froth of the sea； this name； 〃Sans…Souci；〃which Friedrich adopted； and； before the Year was out； had put upon his lintel in gold letters。 So that； by 〃Mayday； 1747；〃 the name was in all men's memories； and has continued ever since。 ＇Preuss； i。 268； &c。； Nicolai； iii。 1200。＇ Tourists know this Cottage Royal： Friedrich's 〃Three Rooms in it； one of them a Library； in another； a little Alcove with an iron Bed〃 （iron； without curtains； old softened HAT the usual royal nightcap）altogether a soldier's lodging：all this still stands as it did。 Cheerfully looking down on its garden…terraces； stairs； Greek statues； and against the free sky：perhaps we may visit it in time coming； and take a more special view。 In the Years now on hand； Friedrich； I think； did not much practically live there； only shifted thither now and then。 His chief residence is still Potsdam Palace； and in Carnival time； that of Berlin； with Charlottenburg for occasional festivities； especially in summer； the gardens there being fine。
This of Sans…Souci is but portion of a wider Tendency； wider set of endeavors on Friedrich's part； which returns upon him now that Peace has returned： That of improving his own Domesticities； while he labors at so many public improvements。 Gazing long on that simmering 〃Typhoon of Marine…stores〃 above mentioned； we do trace Three great Heads of Endeavor in this Peace Period。 FIRST； the Reform of Law； which； as above hinted； is now earnestly pushed forward again； and was brought to what was thought completion before long。 With much rumor of applause from contemporary mankind。 Concerning which we are to give some indications； were it only dates in their order： though； as the affair turned out not to be completed； but had to be taken up again long after； and is an affair lying wide of British ken；there need not； and indeed cannot； be much said of it just now。 SECONDLY； there is eager Furthering of the Husbandries； the Commerces； Practical Arts； especially at present； that of Foreign Commerce； and Shipping from the Port of Embden。 Which shall have due notice。 And THIRDLY； what must be our main topic here； there is that of Improving the Domesticities； the Household Enjoyments such as they were； especially definable as Renewal of the old Reinsberg Program； attempt more strenuous than ever to realize that beautiful ideal。 Which； and the total failure of which； and the consequent quasi… abandonment of it for time coming； are still； intrinsically and by accident； of considerable interest to modern readers。
Curious； and in some sort touching； to observe how that old original Life…Program still re…emerges on this King： 〃Something of melodious possible in one's poor life； is not there？ A Life to the Practical Duties； yes； but to the Muses as well！〃Of Friedrich's success in his Law…Reforms； in his Husbandries； Commerces and Furtherances； conspicuously great as it was； there is no possibility of making careless readers cognizant at this day。 Only by the great resultsa 〃Prussia QUADRUPLED〃 in his time； and the likecan studious readers convince themselves； in a cold and merely statistic way。 But in respect of Life to the Muses； we have happily the means of showing that in actual vitality； in practical struggle towards fulfillment；and how extremely disappointing the result was。 In a word； Voltaire pays his Fifth and final Visit in this Period； the Voltaire matter comes to its consummation。 To that； as to one of the few things which are perfectly knowable in this Period of TEN…YEARS PEACE； and in which mankind still take interest； we purpose mostly to devote ourselves here。
Ten years of a great King's life； ten busy years too； and nothing visible in them； of main significance； but a crash of Author's Quarrels； and the Crowning Visit of Voltaire？ Truly yes； reader； so it has been ordered。 Innumerable high…dressed gentlemen； gods of this lower world； are gone all to inorganic powder； no comfortable or profitable memory to be held of them more； and this poor Voltaire； without implement except the tongue and brain of him；he is still a shining object to all the populations； and they say and symbol to me； 〃Tell us of him！ He is the man！〃 Very strange indeed。 Changed times since； for dogs barking at the heels of him； and lions roaring ahead；for Asses of Mirepoix； for foul creatures in high dizenment； and foul creatures who were hungry valets of the same；this man could hardly get the highways walked！ And indeed had to keep his eyes well open； and always have covert within reach；under pain of being torn to pieces； while he went about in the flesh； or rather in the bones； poor lean being。 Changed times； within the Century last past！ For indeed there was in that man what far transcends all dizenment； and temporary potency over valets； over legions； treasure…vaults and dim millions mostly blockhead： a spark of Heaven's own lucency； a gleam from the Eternities （in small measure）；which becomes extremely noticeable when the Dance is over； when your tallow…dips and wax…lights are burnt out； and the brawl of the night is gone to bed。
Chapter II。
PEEP AT VOLTAIRE AND HIS DIVINE EMILIE （BY CANDLELIGHT） IN THE TIDE OF EVENTS。
Public European affairs require little remembrance； the War burning well to leeward of us henceforth。 A huge world of smoky chaos； the special fires of it； if there be anything of fire； are all the more clear far in the distance。 Of which sort； and of which only； the reader is to have notice。 Marechal de SaxeKing Louis oftenest personally there； to give his name and countenance to things done is very glorious in the Netherlands； captures； sometimes by surprisal； place after place （beautiful surprisal of Brussels last winter）； with sieges of Antwerp； Mons； Charleroi； victoriously following upon Brussels： and； before the end of 1746； he is close upon Holland itself； intent on having Namur and Maestricht； for which the poor Sea…Powers； with a handful of Austrians； fight two Battles； and are again beaten both times。 ＇1。 Battle of Roucoux； 11th October； 1746； Prince Karl commanding； English taking mainly the stress of fight；Saxe having already outwitted poor Karl； and got Namur。 2。 Battle of Lawfelt； or Lauffeld； called also of VAL； 2d July； 1747； Royal Highness of Cumberland commanding （and taking most of the stress； Ligonier made prisoner； &c。）；Dutch fighting ill； and Bathyani and his Austrians hardly in the fire at all。＇ A glorious； ever…victorious Marechal； and has an Army very 〃high…toned；〃 in more than one sense： indeed； I think； one of the loudest…toned Armies ever on the field before。 Loud not with well… served Artillery alone； but with play…actor Thunder…barrels （always an itinerant Theatre attends）； with gasconading talk； with orgies； debaucheries；busy service of the Devil； AND pleasant consciousness that we are Heaven's masterpiece； and are in perfect readiness to die at any moment；our ELASTICITY and agility （〃ELAN〃 as we call it） well kept up； in that manner； for the time being。
Hungarian Majesty； contrary to hope； neglects the Netherlands； 〃Holland and England； for their own sake； will manage there！〃and directs all her resources； and her lately Anti…Prussian Armies （General Browne leading them） upon Italy； as upon the grand interest now。 Little to the comfort of the Sea…Powers。 But Hungarian Majesty is decided to cut in upon the French and Spaniards； in that fine Country；who had been triumphing too much of late； Maillebois and Senor de Gages doing their mutual exploits （though given to quarrel）； Don Philip wintering in Milan even （1745…1746）； and the King of Sardinia getting into French courses again。
Strong cuts her Hungarian Majesty does inflict； on the Italian side； tumbles Infant Philip out of Milan and his Carnival gayeties； in plenty of hurry； besieges Genoa； Marquis Botta d'Adorno （our old acquaintance Botta） her siege…captain； a native of this region； brings back the wavering Sardinian Majesty； captures Genoa； and much else。 Captures Genoa； we say；had not Botta been too rigorous on his countrymen； and provoked a revolt again； Revolt of Genoa； which proved difficult to settle。 In fine； Hungarian Majesty has； in the course of this year 1746； with aid of the reconfirmed Sardinian Majesty； satisfactorily beaten the French and Spaniards。 Hasafter two murderous Battles gained over the Maillebois…Gages peopledriven both French and Spaniards into corners； Maillebois altogether home again across the Var；nay has descended in actual Invasion upon France itself。 And； before New…year's day； 1747； General Browne is busy besieging Antibes； aided by English Seventy… fours； so that 〃sixty French Battalions〃 have to hurry home； from winter…quarters； towards those Provencal Countries； and Marechal de Belleisle； who commands there； has his hands full。 Triumphant enough her Hungarian Majesty； in Italy； while in the Netherlands； the poor Sea…Powers have met with no encouragement from the Fates or her。 ＇〃Battle of Piacenza〃 （Prince Lichtenstein； with whom is Browne； VERSUS Gages and Maillebois）； 16th June； 1746 （ADELUNG； v。 427）； 〃Battle of Rottofreddo〃 （Botta chief Austrian there； and our old friend Barenklau getting killed there）； 12th August； 1746 （IB。 462）； whereupon； 7th SEPTEMBER； Genoa （which had declared itself Anti…Austrian latterly； not without cause； and brought the tug of War into those parts） is coerced by Botta to open its gates； on grievous terms （IB。 484…489）； so that； NOVEMBER 30th； Browne； no Bourbon Army now on the field； enters Provence （crosses the Var； that day）； and tries Antibes： 5th…11th DECEMBER； Popular Revolt in Genoa； and Expulsion of proud Botta and his Austrians （IB。 518…523）； u
