history of friedrich ii of prussia v 16-第47章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


n　hands。　Latterly　he　has　delivered　the　Despatches　to　certain　Prussian　peasants；　who　stopped　at　Benoit's；　and　who　always　relieved　each　other；　and　every　time；　the　one　who　went　away　directed　Prisoner；　in　turn；　to　him　that　arrived。

〃He　received　from　Menzel；　yesterday　towards　noon；　a　small　sealed　packet；　which　he　was　to　convey　to　the　Prussian　peasant　who　had　made　an　appointment　with　him　at　the　Prussian　Office　（HOF）　here。　But　as　he　was　going　to　take　it；　and　had　just　got　outside　of　the　Palace　Court；　a　corporal　took　hold　of　him　and　arrested　him。　Confesses　having　concealed　the　parcel　in　his　trousers…pocket；　and　to　have　denied　that　he　had　anything　upon　him。　。。。　ACTUM　UT　SUPRA。〃　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Signed　〃GOTZE〃　（with　titles）。

〃Next　day；　September　26th；　Menzel　re…examined；　answers　in　effect　following：

〃Plessmann　never　himself　came　into　the　Archive　Office　at　Dresden；　except　the　one　time　＇a　time　that　will　be　notable　to　us！＇　when　the　Prussians　were　there　to　take　away　the　Papers　by　force；　then　Plessmann　was　with　them；〃and　we　will　remember　the　circumstance。

〃Before　leaving　Dresden　for　Poland；　last　Year　（1756）；　he；　Menzel；　had　returned　the　said　key　to　Plessmann；　who　gave　him　others　for　use　here。　After　his　arrival　here；　he　returned　these　keys　to　Benoit；　in　the　presence　of　Erfurth；　saying；　they　were　of　no　use　to　him；　and　that　he　could　not　get　at　the　Despatches　here。　Prisoner　farther　declares；　that　it　was　the　Minister　von　Mahlzahn　who；　of　his　own　accord；　and　quite　at　the　beginning；　made　the　proposal　concerning　the　keys；　and　when　Plessmann　brought　the　keys；　he　said　expressly　they　were　for　the　Minister；　along　with　fifty　thalers；　which　he；　Menzel；　received　at　the　same　time。　ACTUM　UT　SUPRA。〃　Signed　as　before。　＇　Helden…Geschichte；　　v。　677　（as　BEYLAGE　or　Appendix　to　the　Kur…Sachsen　〃PRO　MEMORIA　to　the　Reich's　Diet；〃　of　date；　Regensburg；　31st　January；　1758）。＇

We　could　give　some　of　the　stolen　Pieces；　too；　but　they　are　of　abstruse　tenor；　and　would　be　mere　enigmas　to　readers　here。　Enough　that　Friedrich　understands　them。　To　Friedrich's　intense　and　long…continued　scrutiny；　they　indicate；　what　is　next　to　incredible；　but　is　at　length　fatally　undeniable；　That　the　old　TREATY；　which　we　called　OF　WARSAW；　〃Treaty　for　Partitioning　Prussia；〃　is　still　（in　spite　of　all　subsequent　and　superincumbent　Treaties　to　the　contrary）　vigorously　alive　underground；　that　Saxon　Bruhl　and　her　Hungarian　Majesty；　to　whom　is　now　added　Czarish　Majesty；　are　fixed　as　ever　on　cutting　down　this　afflictive；　too　aspiring　King　of　Prussia　to　the　size　of　a　Brandenburg　Elector；　busy　（in　these　Menzel　Documents）　considering　how　it　may　be　done；　especially　how　the　bear…　skin　may　be　SHARED；and　that；　in　short；　there　lies　ahead；　inevitable　seemingly；　and　not　far　off；　a　Third　Silesian　War。

Which　punctually　came　true。　The　THIRD　SILESIAN　WARsince　called　SEVEN…YEARS　WAR；　that　proving　to　be　the　length　of　itis　now　near。　Breaks　out；　has　to　break　out；　August；　1756。　The　heaviest　and　direst　struggle　Friedrich　ever　had；　the　greatest　of　all　his　Prowesses；　Achievements　and　Endurances　in　this　world。　And；　on　the　whole；　the　last　that　was　very　great；　or　that　is　likely　to　be　memorable　with　Posterity。　Upon　which；　accordingly；　we　must　try　our　utmost　to　leave　some　not　untrue　notion　in　this　place：　and　that　once　DONE　Courage；　reader！


　　　　　　FRIEDRICH　IS　VISIBLE；　IN　HOLLAND；　TO　THE　NAKED　EYE；　FOR　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　SOME　MINUTES　（June　23d；　1755）。

In　1755　it　was　that　Voltaire　wrote；　not　the　first　Letter；　but　the　first　very　notable　one；　to　his　Royal　Friend；　after　their　great　quarrel：　＇Dated　〃The　DELICES；　near　Geneva；　4th　August；　1755〃　（in　Rodenbeck；　i。　287；　in　　OEuvres　de　Frederic；　　xxiii。　7；　not　given　by　any　of　the　French　Editors）。＇　seductively　repentant；　and　oh；　so　true；　so　tender；Royal　Friend　still　obstinate；　who　answers　nothing；　or　answers　only　through　De　Prades：　〃Yes；　yes；　we　are　aware！〃　And　it　was　in　the　same　Year　that　Friedrich　first　saw　D'Alembert；Voltaire's　successor；　in　a　sense。　And　farther　on　（1st　November；　1755）；　that　the　Earthquake　of　Lisbon　went；　horribly　crashing；　through　the　thoughts　of　all　mortals；　thoughts　of　King　Friedrich；　among　others；　whose　reflections　on　it；　I　apprehend；　are　stingy；　snarlingly　contemptuous；　rather　than　valiant　and　pious；　and　need　not　detain　us　here。　One　thing　only　we　will　mention；　for　an　accidental　reason：　That　Friedrich；　this　Year；　made　a　short　run　to　Holland；and　that　actual　momentary　sight　of　him　happens　thereby　to　be　still　possible。

In　Summer；　1755；　after　the　West…Country　Reviews；　and　a　short　Journey　into　Ost…Friesland；　whence　to　Wesel　on　the　Rhine；whither　Friedrich　had　invited　D'Alembert　to　meet　him；　whom　he　finds　〃UN　TRES…AIMABLE　GARCON；〃　likely　for　the　task　in　hand；Friedrich　decided　on　a　run　into　Holland：　strictly　INCOGNITO；　accompanied　only　by　Balbi　（Engineer；　a　Genoese）　and　one　page。　Bade　his　D'Alembert　adieu；　and　left　Wesel　thitherward　June　19th。　＇Rodenbeck；　i。　287。＇　At　Amsterdam　he　viewed　the　Bramkamp　Picture…Gallery；　the　illustrious　Country…house　of　Jew　Pinto　at　TULPENBURG　（Tulip…　borough！）　。。。　〃I　saw　nothing　but　whim…whams　（COLIFICHETS）；〃　says　he：　〃I　gave　myself　out　for　a　Musician　of　the　King　of　Poland；〃　wore　a　black　wig　moreover；　〃and　was　nowhere　known：〃　＇　OEuvres；　　xxvii。　i。　268　（〃Potsdam；　28th　June；　1755；〃　and　ib。　p。　270）；　to　Wilhelmina；　who　is　now　on　the　return　from　her　Italian　Journey。　UNCERTAIN　Anecdotes　of　adventures　among　the　whim…whams；　in　Rodenbeck；　&c。＇and；　for　finis；　got　into　the　common　Passage…Boat　（TREKSCHUIT；　no　doubt）　for　Utrecht；　that　he　might　see　the　other　fine　Country…houses　along　the　Vechte。　Fine　enough　Country…houses；not　mud　and　sedges　the　main　thing；　as　idle　readers　think。　To　Arnheim　up　the　Vechte　in　this　manner；　Wesel　and　his　own　Country　just　at　hand　again。

Now　it　happened　that　a　young　Swisspoor　enough　in　purse；　but　not　without　talent　and　eyesight；　assistant　Teacher　in　some　Boarding…　school　thereabouts；　name　of　him　De　Catt；　age　twenty…seven；　〃born　at　Morges　near　Geneva　1728〃had　got　holiday；　or　had　got　errand；　poor　good　soul；　had　decided；　on　this　same　day　（23d　June；　1755）；　to　go　to　Utrecht；　and　so　stept　into　the　very　boat　where　Friedrich　was。　He　himself　（in　a　Letter　written　long　after　to　Editor　LAVEAUX）　shall　tell　us　the　rest：

〃As　I　could　n't　get　into　the　ROEF　（cabin）　because　it　was　all　engaged；　I　stayed　with　the　other　passengers　in　the　Steerage　（DANS　LA　BARQUE　MEME）；　and　the　weather　being　fine；　came　up　on　deck。　After　some　time；　there　stept　out　of　the　Cabin　a　man　in　cinnamon…　colored　coat　with　gold　button…HOLES；　in　black　wig；　face　and　coat　considerably　dusted　with　Spanish　snuff。　He　looked　fixedly　at　me；　for　a　while；　and　then　said；　without　farther　preface；　'Who　are　you；　Monsieur？'　This　cavalier　tone　from　an　unknown　person；　whose　exterior　indicated　nothing　very　important；　did　not　please　me；　and　I　declined　satisfying　his　curiosity。　He　was　silent。　But；　some　time　after；　he　took　a　more　courteous　tone；　and　said：　'Come　in　here　to　me；　Monsieur！　You　will　be　better　here　than　in　the　Steerage；　amid　the　tobacco…smoke。'　This　polite　address　put　an　end　to　all　anger；　and　as　the　singular　manner　of　the　man　excited　my　curiosity；　I　took　advantage　of　his　invitation。　We　sat　down；　and　began　to　speak　confidentially　with　one　another。

〃Do　you　see　the　man　in　the　garden　yonder；　sitting　smoking　his　pipe？'　said　he　to　me：　'That　man；　you　may　depend　upon　it；　is　not　happy。''I　know　not；'　answered　I：　'but　it　seems　to　me；　until　one　knows　a　man；　and　is　completely　acquainted　with　his　situation　and　his　way　of　thought；　one　cannot　possibly　determine　whether　he　is　happy　or　unhappy。'

〃My　gentleman　admitted　this　＇very　good…natured！＇；　and　led　the　conversation　on　the　Dutch　Government。　He　criticised　it；probably　to　bring　me　to　speak。　I　did　speak；　and　gave　him　frankly　to　know　that　he　was　not　perfectly　instructed　in　the　thing　he　was　criticising。'You　are　right；'　answered　he；　'one　can　only　criticise　what　one　is　thoroughly　acquainted　with。'He　now　began　to　speak　of　Religion；　and　with　eloquent　tongue　to　recount　what　mischief　Scholastic　Philosophy　had　brought　upon　the　world；　then　tried　to　prove　'That　Creation　was　impossible。'　At　this　last　point　I　stood　out　in　opposition。　'But　how　can　one　create　Something　out　of　Nothing？'　said　he。　'That　is　not　the　question；'　answered　I；　'the　question　is；　Whether　such　a　Being　as　God　can　or　cannot　give　existence　to　what　has　yet　none。'　He　seemed　embarrassed；　and　added；　'But　the　Universe　is　eternal。''You　are　in　a　circle；'　said　I；　'how　will　you　get　out　of　it？''I　skip　over　it〃　said　he；　laughing；　and　then　began　to　speak　of　other　things。

〃'What　form　of　Government　do　you　reckon　the　best？'　inquired　he；　among　other　things。　'The　monarchic；　if　the　King　is　just　and　enlightened。''Very　well；'　answered　he；　'but　where　will　you　find　Kings　of　that　sort？'　And　thereupon　went　into　such　a　sally　upon　Kings；　as　could　not　in　the　least　lead　me　to　the　supposition　that　he　was　one。　In　the　end　he　expressed　pity　for　them；　that　they　could　not　know　the　sweets　of　friendship；　and　cited　on　the　occasion　these　verses　（his　own；　I　suppose）：

　'Amitie；　plaisir　des　grandes　ames；　　　　　　　　　　　Amitie；　que　les　Rois；　ces　illustres　ingrats；　　　　　　　　　　　Sont　assez　malheureux　de　ne　connaitre　pas！'　　

'I　have　not　the　honor　to　be　acquainted　with　Kings；'　said　I；　'but　to　judge　by　what　one　has　read　in　History　of　several　of　them；　I　should　believe；　Monsieur；　that　you；　on　the　whole；　are　right。''AH；　OUI；　OUI；　I　am　right；　I　know　the　gentlemen！'

〃We　now　got　to　speak　of　Literature。　The　stranger　expressed　himself　with　enthusiastic　admiration　of　Racine。　A　droll　incident　happened　during　our　dialogue。　My　gentleman　wanted　to　let　down　a　little　sash…window；　and　could　n't　manage　it。　'You　don't　understand　that；'　said　I；　'let　me　do　that。'　I　tried　to　get　it　down；　but　succeeded　no　better　than　he。　'Monsieur；'　said　he；　'allow　me　to　remark；　on　my　side；　that　you；　upon　my　honor；　understand　as　little　of　it　as　I！'　'That　is　true；　and　I　beg　your　pardon；　I　was　too　rash　in　accusing　you　of　want　of　expertness。''Were　you　ever　in　Germany？'　he　now　asked　me。　'No；　but　I　should　like　to　make　that　journey：　I　am　very　curious　to　see　the　Prussian　States；　and　their　King；　of　whom　one　hears　so　much。'　And　now　I　began　to　launch　out　on　Friedrich's　actions；　but　he　interrupted　me　rapidly；　with　the　words：　'Nothing　more　of　Kings；　Monsieur！　What　have　we　to　do　with　them？　We　will　spend　the　rest　of　our　voyage　on　more　agreeable　and　cheering　objects。'　And　now　he　spoke　of　the　best　of　all　possible　worlds；　and　maintained　that；　in　our　Planet　Earth；　there　was　more　Evil　than　Good。　I　maintained　the　contrary；　and　this　dispute　brought　us　to　the　end　of　our　voyage。

〃On　quitting　me；　he　said；　'I　hope；　Monsieur；　you　will　leave　me　your　name：　I　am　very　glad　to　have　made　your　acquaintance；　perhaps　we　shall　see　one　another　again。'　I　replied；　as　was　fitting；　to　the　compliment；　and　begged　him　to　excuse　me　for　contradicting　him　a　little。　'Ascribe　this；'　I　concluded；　'to　the　ill…humor　which　various　little　journeys　I　had　to　make　in　these　days　have　given　me。'　I　then　told　him　my　name；　and　we　parted。〃　＇Laveaux；　　Histoire　de　Frederic　　（2d　edition；　Strasbourg；　1789；　and　blown　now　into　SIX　vols。　instead　of　four；　dead　all；　except　this　fraction）；　vi。　365。　Seyfarth；　ii。　234；　is　right；