“Ifyourmajestycommandsit，thenIwillacknowledgeit。Yes，IdidwishthatyourmajestyhadnotempoweredBaronvonThuguttoreturnforfurthernegotiations。ItwouldhavebeenwellifyourmajestyhadmarchedvictorioustoVienna，tolettheproudHapsburgersseeforoncethatFrederickofPrussiadoesnotstandbehindthem，butattheirside；thathehascreatedaneworderofthings；thattheold，mouldy，rottenstatutesoftheimperialsovereigntyhavefalleninthedustbeforeFredericktheGreat；thatGermanymustbenewlymappedout，inordertogiveroomneartheoldmanAustriaforyoungPrussia。Yes，yourmajesty，Icouldhavewishedthatyouhadevenbeenlessgenerous，lessnobletowardthesupercilious，insolentenemy，andhaveacceptednoconditionsbutthoseof\'equalityforPrussiawithAustriaintheGermanempire！\'“
“Mydearsir，Iamtrulyastonishedatthevigorwithwhichyouexpressyourself；Iamverygladtofindyousoenthusiastic，“saidFrederick，noddingtohisminister；“butlisten——IwillconfidetoyouthatwhichIdonotwishyoutorepeat:Iamnolonger，tomyregret，whatyousoflatteringlycallme，\'FredericktheGreat，\'butonly\'OldFritz。\'Doyouunderstandme?thelatterisadeplorable，worn-outsoldier，whonolongerfeelspowerorvigor。ThelinesofBoileauoftenrecurtomeonmountingmyhorse:
\'Unfortunateone，leavethysteedgrowingoldinpeace，Forfear，that，pantingandsuddenlyoutofbreath，Infalling，hemaynotleavehismasteruponthearena！\'
Itisthemiseryoflifethatmanwillgrowold，andthatthebody，whenwornandweary，willevensubduethespirit，andforcehertofoldherwingsandsuffer。Ididnotrealizethatithadgonesofarwithme，andIimaginedthatthewingedsoulcouldraisetheold，decayedbody。ThereforeIrisked，inspiteofmylazyoldage，toundertakethiswar，forIrecognizeditasaholydutytoenterintoit，forthehonorandjusticeofourcountry，andprovetotheEmperorofGermanythathecouldnotmanageandruleathiswillintheGermanempire。I1ongnotforthehonorofnewlaurels，butI
shouldbesatisfied，asfatherofmysubjects，togainacivilcrown。