第14章
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  FRIEDRICHWILHELM’SMETHOD;——PROVESREMEDIALINHEIDELBERG。

  FriedrichWilhelm’sfirststep,ofcourse,wastoremonstratepacificallywithhisSereneHighnessontheHeidelberg—Churchaffair:fromthisheprobablyexpectednothing;nordidhegetanything。Gettingnothingfromthis,andthecountenanceofexternalProtestantPowers,especiallyofGeorgeI。andtheDutch,beingpromisedhiminulteriormeasures,hedirectedhisAdministrativeOfficialsinMagdeburg,inMinden,inHamersleben,whereareCatholicFoundationsofimportance,toassembletheCatholicCanons,Abbots,chiefPriestsandallwhomitmightconcerninthesethreePlaces,andtosignifytothemasfollows:——

  \"Fromus,yourProtestantSovereign,youyourselvesandallmenwillwitness,youhavehithertohadthebestofusage,fair—play,accordingtotheLawsoftheREICH,andeven—more。WiththeProtestantsatHeidelberg,onthepartoftheCatholicPowers,itisdifferent。Itmustceasetobedifferent;itmustbecomethesame。Andtomakeitdoso,youaretheimplementIhave。

  Sorryforit,butthereisnootherhandy。FromthisdayyourChurchesalsoareclosed,yourPublicWorshipceases,andfurthermoreyourRevenuescease;andallmakesdeadhalt,andfallstorpidinrespectofyou。Fromthisday;andsocontinues,tilltheday(mayitbesoon!)whentheHeidelbergChurchoftheHolyGhostisopenedagain,andrightdoneinthatquestion。

  Beityourstospeedsuchday:itisyouthatcanandwill,youwhoknowthosehighCatholicregions,inaccessibletoyourProtestantSovereign。Tillthenyouareasdeadmen;temporarilyfallendeadforapurpose。AndherewithGodhaveyouinhiskeeping!\"[Mauvillon,i。347,349。]

  ThatwasFriedrichWilhelm’splan;thesimplest,butprobablytheoneeffectualplan。Infalliblethisplan,ifyoudarestanduponit;whichFriedrichWilhelmdoes。HehasaformidableArmy,readyforfight;aTreasuryorArmy—chestingoodorder。GeorgeI。

  seconds,accordingtobargain;shutstheCatholicChurchatZelleinhisLuneburgCountry,inlikefashion;Dutch,too,andSwisswillendorsethematter,shoulditgrowtooserious。Allwhich,involvingsomediplomacyandcorrespondence,ismanagedwiththeduepromptitude,moreover。[ChurchofZelleshutup,4thNovember;

  Minden,28thNovember;MonasteryofHamersleben,3dDecember,&c。

  (Putter,HistorischeEntwickelungderhautigenStaatsverfassungdesTeutschenReichs,Gottingen,1788,ii。384,390)。]Andsocertaindoorsarelocked;

  andFriedrichWilhelm’sword,unalterableasgravitation,hasgoneforth。InthismanneristhemadCatholicbulltakenbytheTAIL:

  keepfasthold,andapplyyourcudgeldulyinthatattitude,hewillnotgoreyouanymore!

  TheMagdeburg—Hamerslebenpeopleshriekedpiteously;nottoFriedrichWilhelm,whomtheyknewtobedeafonthatsideofhishead,buttotheKaiser,tothePope,totheSerenityofHeidelberg。SereneHighnessofHeidelbergwasmuchhuffed;

  Kaiserdreadfullyso,andwroteheavymenacingrebukes。TowhichFriedrichWilhelmlistenedwithaminimumofreply;keepingfirmholdofthetail,insuchbellowingoftheanimal。Theendwas,SereneHighnesshadtocomply;withinthreemonths,Kaiser,SereneHighnessandtheotherpartiesinterested,foundthattherewouldbenothingforitbuttocomposethemselves,anddowhatwasjust。

  April16th,1720,theProtestantsarereinstatedintheirHEILIGE—GEISTKIRCHE;HeidelbergCatechismgoesitsfreecourseagain,May16th;andoneBaronReck[Michaelis,ii。95;Putter,ii。384,390;Buchholz,pp。61—63。]isappointedCommissioner,fromtheCORPUSEVANGELICORUM,toHeidelberg;whocontinuesrigorouslyinspectingChurchmattersthereforaconsiderabletime,muchtothegriefofHighnessandJesuits,tillhecanreportthatallisasitshouldbeonthathead。KarlPhilipfeltsodisgustedwiththeseresults,heremovedhisCourt,thatsameyear,toMannheim;quittedHeidelberg;tothediscouragementandvisibledecayoftheplace;and,inspiteofhumblepetitionsandremonstrances,neverwouldreturn;neitherhenorthosethatfollowedhimwouldshiftfromMannheimagain,tothisday。

  PRUSSIANMAJESTYHASDISPLEASEDTHEKAISERANDTHEKINGOFPOLAND。

  FriedrichWilhelm’spraisesfromtheProtestantpublicweregreat,onthisoccasion。Norcanwe,wholiemuchfartherfromitineverysense,refusehimsomegrinofapproval。Act,andmannerofdoingtheact,arecreditablyofapiecewithFriedrichWilhelm;

  physiognomicoftheruggedveraciousman。Itisoneofseveralsuchactsdonebyhim:foritwasadutyapttorecurinGermany,inhisday。ThisdutyFriedrichWilhelm,asolidProtestantafterhissort,andconvincedofthe\"nothingnessandnonsensicality(UNGRUNDUNDABSURDITAT)ofPapistry,\"wasalwayshonorablyprompttodo。Thereisanhonestbacon—and—greensconscienceintheman;

  almosttheoneconscienceyoucanfindinanyroyalmanofthatday。Promptly,withouttremulouscountingofcosts,healwaysstartsup,solidasoak,ontheoccurrenceofsuchathing,andsays,\"Thatisunjust;contrarytotheTreatyofWestphalia;

  youwillhavetoputdownthat!\"——Andifwordsavailnot,hisplanisalwaysthesame:Clapasimilarthumbscrew,pressureequitablycalculated,ontheCatholicsofPrussia;thesecancomplaintotheirPopesandJesuitDignitaries:theseareunderthumbscrewtilltheProtestantpressureberemoved。Whichalwaysdidrectifythematterinalittletime。Oneotheroftheseinstances,thatoftheSalzburgProtestants,thelastsuchinstance,asthisofHeidelbergwasthefirst,willbyandbyclaimnoticefromus。

  Itisveryobservable,howFriedrichWilhelm,hatingquarrels,waseverreadytoturnoutforquarrelonsuchanoccasion;

  thoughotherwiseconspicuouslyaKingwhostayedwellathome,lookingafterhisownaffairs;meddlingwithnoneighborthatwouldbeatpeacewithhim。ThisproperlyisFriedrichWilhelm’s\"sphereofpoliticalactivity\"amonghiscontemporaries;

  thissmallquasi—domesticsphere,offorbiddinginjurytoProtestants。Amostsmallsphere,butthenagenuineone:nordidheseekeventhis,haditnotforceditselfuponhim。Andtrulywemightask,Whathasbecomeoftheothermoreconsiderable\"spheres\"inthatepoch?Thesupremestloud—trumpeting\"politicalactivities\"whichthenfilledtheworldanditsnewspapers,whathastheupshotofthemuniversallybeen?Zero,andoblivion;

  noother。WhilethispoorFriedrich—Wilhelmsphereisperhapsstillacountablequantity。Wiseishewhostayswellathome,anddoesthedutyhefindslyingthere!——

  GreatfavorfromtheProtestantpublic:but,ontheotherhand,hisMajestyhadgivenoffenceinhighplaces。Whathelpforit?

  Thethingwasapointofconsciencewithhim;naturaltothesurlyRoyalOverseer,goinghisroundsintheworld,stickinhand!

  However,theKaiserwasaltogethergloomyofbrowatsuchdisobedience。AKaiserunfriendlytoFriedrichWilhelm:witnessthatoftheRITTER—DIENST(ourunreasonableMagdeburgRitters,countenancedbyhim,onsuchterms,insuchstyletoo),andotheroffensiveinstancesthatcouldbegiven。PerhapstheKaiserwillnotalwayscontinuegloomyofbrow;perhapsthethoughtsoftheImperialbreastmayalter,onourbehalforhisown,oneday?——

  NorcouldKingAugustthePhysicallyStrongbegladtoseehis\"Director\"functionvirtuallysuperseded,inthistriumphantway。

  Ayearortwoago,FriedrichWilhelmhad,withtheduecautionsandpoliticreserves,inquiredoftheCORPUSEVANGELICORUM,\"IftheythoughtthepresentDirectorship(thatofAugustthePhysicallyStrong)agoodone?\"and\"Whetherhe,FriedrichWilhelm,oughtnotperhapshimselftobeDirector?\"——Towhich,thoughtheanswerwasclearasnoonday,thispoorCorpushadonlymumbledsome\"QUIETANONMOVERE,\"orotherwise—foolishsaw;

  andhelplesslyshruggeditsshoulders。[1717—1719,whenAugust’sKURPRINZ,Heir—Apparent,likewisedeclaredhimselfPapist,tothehorrorandastonishmentofpoorSaxony,andweddedthelateKaiserJoseph’sDaughter:——nottoFatherAugust’shorror;whowassteeringtowards\"popularityinPoland,\"\"hereditaryPolishCrown,\"&c。withtheyoungman。(Buchholz,i。53—56。)]ButKingAugusthimself,——thoughajovialsocialkindofanimal,quiteotherwiseoccupiedintheworld;busyproducinghisthreehundredandfifty—fourBastardsthere,andnotcarefulofChurchmattersatall,——hadexpressedhisindignantsurprise。Andnow,itwouldseemnevertheless,thoughthetitleremainswhereitwas,thefunctionhasfallentoanother,whoactuallydoesit:athingtoprovokecomparisonsinthepublic。

  Clement,theHungarianforger,venderoffalsestate—secrets,iswellhanged;wenttothegallows(18thApril,1720)withmuchcircumstance,justtwodaysbeforethatHeidelbergChurchwasgotreopened。ButthesuspicionssownbyClementcannotquitebeabolishedbythehangingofhim:Forgerindisputably;butwhoknowswhetherhehadnotsomethingoffactforhis?WhatwithClement,whatwiththisHeidelbergbusiness,theCourtofBerlinhasfallenwrongwithDresden,withViennaitself,andimportantcloudshaverisen。

  ThereisanabsurdFlameofWar,blownoutbyAdmiralByng;andanewManofGeniusannounceshimselftothedimPopulations。

  ThepoorKaiserhimselfisotherwiseintroubleofhisown,atthistime。TheSpaniardsandhehavefallenout,inspiteofUtrechtTreatyandRastadtditto;theSpaniardshavetakenSicilyfromhim;andpreciselyinthosedayswhileKarlPhiliptooktoshuttinguptheHEILIGE—GEISTChurchatHeidelberg,therewas,loudenoughinalltheNewspapers,silentasitnowis,a\"SiegeofMessina\"goingon;ImperialandPiedmontesetroopsdoingdutybyland,AdmiralByngstillmoreeffectivelybysea,forthepurposeofgettingSicilyback。Whichwasachievedbyandby,thoughatanextremelylanguidpace。[Byng’sSea—fight,10thAugust,1718(Campbell’sLivesoftheAdmirals,iii。468);whereupontheSpaniards,whohadhardlyyetcompletedtheircaptureofMessina,arebesiegedinit;——

  29thOctober,1719,Messinaretaken(thisisthe\"SiegeofMessina\"):February,1720,Peaceisclaptup(thechiefarticle,thatAlberonishallbepackedaway),anda\"CongressofCambrai\"

  istomeet,andsettleeverything。]OneofthemosttediousSieges;oneofthepaltriestlanguidWars(ofextremevirulenceandextremefeebleness,neitherpartyhavinganycashleft),andforanobjectwhichcouldnotbeexcelledininsignificance。

  ObjecthighlyinterestingtoKaiserKarlVI。andElizabethFarneseTermagantQueenofSpain。Thesetwowerered,orevenwerepale,withinterestinit;andtotherestofAdam’sPosterityitwasnotintrinsicallyworthanounceofgunpowder,manytonsofthatandofbettercommoditiesastheyhadtospenduponit。True,theSpanishNavygotwelllamedinthebusiness;SpanishFleetblownmostlytodestruction,——\"RoadsofMessina,10thAugust,1718,\"bythedexterousByng(acreditablehandyfigurebothinPeaceandWar)andhisconsiderableSea—fightthere:——ifthatwasanobjecttoSpainormankind,thatwasaccomplished。Butthe\"War,\"exceptthatmanymenwerekilledinit,andmuchvainbabblewasuttereduponit,ranksotherwisewiththatofDonQuixote,forconquestoftheenchantedHelmetofMambrino,whichwhenlookedintoprovedtobeaBarber’sBasin。

  CongressofCambrai,andotherhighGatheringsandconvulsiveDoings,whichallprovedfutile,andlookalmostlikeLaplandwitchcraftnowtous,willhavetofollowthisfutilityofaWar。

  Itisthefirstofalongseriesofenchantedadventures,onwhichKaiserKarl,——duellingwiththatSpanishVirago,Satan’sInvisibleWorldintherearofher,——hasnowembarked,tothewoeofmankind,fortherestofhislife。Thefirstofthoseterrifico—ludicrousparoxysmsofcrisisintowhichhethrowstheEuropeanUniverse;hewithhisEnchantedBarber’s—Basinenterprises;——asperhapswasfitenough,inanepochpresidedoverbytheNightmares。CongressofCambraiistofollow;andmuchelseequallyspectral。Aboutallwhichtherewillbeenoughtosayanon!Foritwasafearfuloperation,thoughaludicrousone,thisofthepoorKaiser;andittormentednotthebigNationsonly,andthrewanabsurdEuropeintoparoxysmafterparoxysm;butitwhirledup,initswide—weepingskirts,ourlittleFritzandhisSister,andalmostdashedthelivesoutofthem,asweshallsee!

  Whichlastisperhapstheoneclaimitnowhastoacursorymentionfrommankind。

  Byng’sSea—fight,donewithduedexterityofmanoeuvring,andthenwithdueemphasisofbroadsiding,decisiveofthatabsurdWar,andalmosttheonecreditableactioninit,datesitself10thAugust,1718。Andaboutthreemonthslater,onthemimicstageatParistherecameoutapiece,OEDIPEthetitleofit,[18thNovember,1718。]byoneFrancoisArouet,ayounggentlemanabouttwenty—two;

  andhadsucharunasseldomwas;——apprisingtheFrenchPopulationsthat,toallappearance,anewmanofgeniushadappearedamongthem(notintimatingwhatworkhewoulddo);

  andgreatlyangeringoldM。ArouetoftheChamberofAccouuts;

  whotherebyfoundhisSonasgoodascastintothewhirlpools,andasolidLaw—careerthenceforthimpossiblefortheyoungfool。——

  Thenameofthat\"M。Arouetjunior\"changesitself,someyearshence,intoM。DEVOLTAIRE;underwhichlatterdesignationhewillconspicuouslyreappearinthisNarrative。

  AndnowwewillgotoourlittleCrown—Princeagain;——ignorant,he,ofallthisthatismountingupinthedistance,andthatitwillenvelophimoneday。

  ChapterXI。

  ONTHECROWN—PRINCE’SPROGRESSINHISSCHOOLING。

  Wilhelminasays,[Memoires,i。22。]herBrotherwas\"slow\"inlearning:wemaypresume,shemeansidle,volatile,notalwayspromptinfixinghisattentiontowhatdidnotinteresthim。Moreover,hewasoftenweaklyinhealth,assheherselfadds;sothatexertionwasnotrecommendableforhim。

  HerrvonLoen(awittyPrussianOfficial,andfamedman—of—lettersonce,thoughforgottennow)testifiesexpresslythattheBoywasofbrightparts,andthathemaderapidprogress。\"TheCrown—Princemanifestsinthistenderage[hisseventhyear]anuncommoncapacity;naywemaysay,somethingquiteextraordinary(etwasganzAusserordentliches)。HeisamostalertandvivaciousPrince;hehasfineandsprightlymanners;andshowsacertainkindlysociality,andsoaffectionateadispositionthatallthingsmaybehopedofhim。TheFrenchLadywho[underRoucoulles]hashadchargeofhislearninghitherto,cannotspeakofhimwithoutenthusiasm。’C’estunespritange’lique(alittleangel),’sheiswonttosay。

  Hetakesup,andlearns,whateverisputbeforehim,withthegreatestfacility。\"[VanLoen,KleineSchriften,ii。27(ascitedinRodenbeck,No。iv。479)。]

  Fortherest,thatFriedrichWilhelm’sintentionsandRhadamanthineregulations,inregardtohim,werefulfilledineverypoint,wewillbynomeansaffirm。Rulesofsuchexceedingpreciseness,ifgroundedhereandthereonlyontheSIC—VOLO,howcouldtheybealwayskept,exceptonthesurfaceandtotheeyemerely?ThegoodDuhan,diligenttoopenhispupil’smind,andgiveNaturefair—play,hadpracticallyfounditinexpedienttotiehimtoorigorouslytothearbitraryformaldepartmentswherenonaturalcuriosity,butonlyorderfromwithout,urgestheingeniouspupil。Whatmaximumstrictnessinschool—drilltherecanhavebeen,wemayinferfromonething,weretherenoother:

  theingeniousPupil’smodeofSPELLING。Fritzlearnedtowriteafine,free—flowing,rapidandlegiblebusiness—hand;\"Arithmetic\"

  too,\"Geography,\"andmanyotherUsefulKnowledgesthathadsomegenialityofcharacter,orattractivenessinpractice,wereamonghisacquisitions;much,verymuchhelearnedinthecourseofhislife;buttoSPELL,muchmoretopunctuate,andsubduethehighermysteriesofGrammartohimself,wasalwaysanunachievableperfection。Hedidimprovesomewhatinafterlife;buthereisthelengthtowhichhehadcarriedthatnecessaryartinthecourseofnineyears’exertion,underDuhanandthesubsidiarypreceptors;

  itisinthefollowingwordsandalphabeticlettersthathegratefullybidsDuhanfarewell,——whosurelycannothavebeenaverystrictdrill—sergeantinthearbitrarybranchesofschooling!

  \"MoncherDuhanJeVouspromais(PROMETS)quequandj’aurez(J’AURAI)monpropreargentenmain,jeVousdonnerez(DONNERAI)

  enuelement(ANNUELLEMENT)2400ecu(ECUS)paran,etjevousaimerais(AIMERAI)toujourencor(TOUJORSENCORE)unpeuplusq’asteure(QU’ACETTEHEURE)s’ilmel’est(M’EST)posible(POSSIBLE)。\"

  \"MYDEARDUHAN,——Ipromisetoyou,thatwhenIshallhavemymoneyinmyownhands,Iwillgiveyouannually2400crowns[say350

  pounds]EVERYYEAR;andthatIwillloveyoualwaysevenalittlemorethanatpresent,ifthatbepossible。

  \"FRIDERICP。R。[Prince—Royal]。\"

  \"POTSDAM,le20dejuin,1727。\"[Preuss,i。22。]

  TheDocumenthasotherwiseitsbeauty;butsuchisthespellingofit。InfacthisGrammar,ashewouldhimselfnowandthenregretfullydiscern,inriperyears,withsometransientattemptorresolutiontoremedyorhelpit,seemstohavecomemainlybynature;solikewisehis\"STYLUS\"bothinFrenchandGerman,——

  averyfairstyle,too,intheformerdialect:——butastohisspelling,lethimtryasheliked,henevercamewithinsightofperfection。

  Thethingsorderedwithsuchrigorousminuteness,ifbutarbitrarythings,wereapttobeneglected;thethingsforbidden,especiallyinthelikecase,wereapttobecomedoublytempting。Itappears,theprohibitionofLatingaverisetovariousattempts,onthepartofFriedrich,toattainthatdesirableLanguage。

  Secretlessons,notfromDuhan,butnodoubtwithDuhan’sconnivance,werefromtimetotimeundertakenwiththisview:

  once,itisrecorded,thevigilantFriedrichWilhelm,goinghisrounds,cameuponFritzandoneofhisPreceptors(notDuhanbutasubaltern)actuallyengagedinthisillicitemployment。

  Friedrichhimselfwaswonttorelatethisanecdoteinafter1ife。

  [Busching,BeitragezuderLebensgeschichtedenkwurdigerPersonen,v。33。Preuss,i。24。]TheyhadLatinbooks,dictionaries,grammarsonthetable,allthecontrabandapparatus;busywithitthere,likeapairofcoinerstakeninthefact。AmongotherBookswasacopyoftheGoldenBullofKaiserKarlIV。,——AureaBulla,fromthelittlegoldenBULLETSorpelletshungtoit,——bywhichsublimeDocument,asperhapswehintedlongago,certainso—calledFundamentalConstitutions,oratleastformalitiesandsolemnpractices,methodofelection,ruleofprecedence,andthelike,oftheHolyRomanEmpire,hadatlastbeensettledonasurefooting,bythatbusylittleKaiser,somethreehundredandfiftyyearsbefore;

  aDocumentvenerablealmostnexttotheBibleinFriedrichWilhelm’sloyaleyes,\"Whatisthis;whatareyouventuringuponhere?\"exclaimsPaternalVigilance,inanastonisheddangeroustone。\"IhroMajestat,ichexpliciredemPrinzenAureamBullam,\"exclaimedthetremblingpedagogue:\"YourMajesty,IamexplainingAUREABULLA[GoldenBull]tothePrince!\"——\"Dog,IwillGolden—Bullyou!\"saidhisMajesty,flourishinghisrattan,\"Ichwilldich,Schurke,be—auream—bullam!\"whichsenttheterrifiedwretchoffatthetopofhisspeed,andendedtheLatinforthattime。

  [Forster,i。356。]

  Friedrich’sLatincouldnevercometomuch,undertheseimpediments。Butheretainedsomesmatteringsofitinmaturelife;andwasratherfondofproducinghisclassicalscraps,——

  ofteninanaltogethermouldy,andindeedhithertoinexplicablecondition。\"Degustibusnonestdisputandus,\"\"BeatipossEdentes,\"\"CompIlleintrare,\"\"BeatUSpauperesspiritus;\"themeaningofthesecanbeguessed:but\"Totverbastotspondera,\"forexample,——whatcananycommentatormakeofthat?\"Festinalente,\"\"Dominusvobiscum,\"\"Flectamusgenua,\"\"Quodbenenotandum;\"

  thesephrasestoo,andsomethreeorfourothersofthelike,havebeenriddledfromhisWritingsbydiligentmen:[Preuss(i。24)

  furnishesthewholestockofthem。]\"Otempora,Omores!

  Yousee,Idon’tforgetmyLatin,\"writesheonce。

  Theworstfruitofthesecontrabandoperationswas,thattheyinvolvedtheBoyinclandestinepractices,secretdisobediences,apttobefoundoutfromtimetotime,andtendedtoalienatehisFatherfromhim。OfwhichsadmutualhumorwealreadyfindtracesinthatearlyWusterhausenDocument:\"Nottobesodirty,\"saysthereprovingFather。AndtheBoydoesnottaketohuntingatall,likesverses,story—books,flute—playingbetter;seemstobeofeffeminatetendencies,anEFFEMINIRTERKERL;affectsFrenchmodes,combsouthishairlikeacockatoo,thefoolishFrenchfop,insteadofconformingtotheArmy—regulation,whichprescribesclose—croppingandaclub!

  ThislattergrievanceFriedrichWilhelmdecided,atlast,toabate,andhavedonewith;this,forone。Itisanauthenticfact,thoughnotdated,——datingperhapsfromaboutFritz’sfifteenthyear。\"FritzisaQUERPFEIFERUNDPOET,\"notaSoldier!wouldhisindignantFathergrowl;lookingatthoseforeigneffeminatewaysofhis。QUERPFEIFE,thatissimply\"German—flute,\"\"CROSS—PIPE\"

  (orFIFEofanykind,forweEnglishhavethriftilymadetwousefulwordsoutoftheDeutschroot);\"Cross—pipe,\"beingheldacrossthemouthhorizontally。Worthlessemployment,ifyouarenotborntobeoftheregimentalband!thinksFriedrichWilhelm。

  Fritziscelebrated,too,forhisfinefoot;adapperlittlefellow,altogetherprettyintheeyesofsimplefemalecourtiers,withhisblondlockscombedoutatthetemples,withhisbrighteyes,sharpwit,andsparklingcapriciousways。Thecockatoolocks,theseatleastwewillabate!decidesthePaternalmind。

  Andso,unexpectedly,FriedrichWilhelmhascommandedthesebrightlocks,ascontrarytomilitaryfashion,ofwhichFritzhasnowunworthilythehonorofbeingaspecimen,toberuthlesslyshornaway。Inexorable:theHOF—CHIRURGUS(Court—Surgeon,ofthenatureofBarber—Surgeon),withscissorsandcomb,ishere;ruthlessFatherstandingby。Crophim,myjollyBarber;closedowntotheaccuratestandard;soapedclub,insteadofflowinglocks;

  wesuffernoexceptionsinthismilitarydepartment:Istandheretillitisdone。PoorFritz,theysay,hadtearsinhiseyes;

  butwhathelpintears?ThejudiciousChirurgus,however,provedmerciful。ThejudiciousChirurgusstruckinasifnothingloath,snack,snack;andmadeagreatshowofclipping。FriedrichWilhelmtookanewspapertillthejobweredone;thejudiciousBarber,stillmakingagreatshowofwork,combedbackratherthancutofftheseApollolocks;didFritzaccuratelyintosoapedclub,tothecursoryeye;butlefthimcapableofshakingouthischevelureagainonoccasion,——tothelastinggratitudeofFritz。[Preuss,i。16。]

  THENOLTENIUS—AND—PANZENDORFDRILL—EXERCISE。

  Onthewhole,aswesaid,ayouthneedsgoodassimilatingpower,ifheistogrowinthisworld!NolteniusaudPanzendorf,forinstance,theywerebusy\"teachingFriedrichreligion。\"Ratherastrangeoperationthistoo,ifweweretolookintoit。Wewillnotlooktooclosely。Anotherpairofexcellentmostsolemndrill—sergeants,inclericalblackserge;theyalsoarebusyinstillingdarkdoctrinesintothebrightyoungBoy,sofaraspossible;butdonotseematanytimetohavemadetoodeepanimpressiononhim。Maywenotsaythat,inmatterofreligiontoo,Friedrichwasbutill—bested?EnlightenedEdict—of—NantesProtestantism,acrossbetweenBayleandCalvin:thatwasbutindifferentbabe’smilktothelittlecreature。NorcouldNoltenius’sCatechism,andponderousdrill—exerciseinorthodoxtheology,muchinspireaclearsoulwithpieties,andtendenciestosoarHeavenward。

  Alas,itisadrearylitterindeed,merewagon—loadonwagon—loadofshot—rubbish,thatisheapedroundthisnewhumanplant,byNolteniusandCompany,amongothers。AwonderonlythattheydidnotextinguishallSenseoftheHighestinthepooryoungsoul,andleaveonlyaSenseoftheDreariestandStupidest。Butahealthyhumansoulcanstandagreatdeal。Thehealthysoulshakesoff,inanunexpectedlyvictoriousmanner,immensemassesofdryrubbishthathavebeenshotuponitbyitsassiduouspedagoguesandprofessors。Whatwouldbecomeofanyofusotherwise!Duhan,openingtheyoungsoul,bysuchmodestgiftasDuhanhad,torecognizeblackfromwhitealittle,inthisembroiledhighUniverse,isprobablyanexceptioninsomesmallmeasure。

  But,Duhanexcepted,itmaybesaidtohavebeeninspiteofmostofhisteachers,andtheirdiligentendeavors,thatFriedrichdidacquiresomehumanpiety;keptthesenseoftruthaliveinhismind;knew,inwhateverwordshephrasedit,thedivineeternalnatureofDuty;andmanaged,inthemuddiestelementandmosteclipsedAgeeverknown,tosteerbytheheavenlyloadstarsand(sowemustcandidlytermit)toFOLLOWGod’sLaw;insomemeasure,withorwithoutNolteniusforcompany。Noltenius’sCATECHISM,orghostlyDrill—manualforFritz,atleasttheCatechismhehadpliedWilhelminawith,whichnodoubtwasthesame,isstillextant。[Preuss,i。15;——specimensofitinRodenbeck。]AveryabstrusePiece;orthodoxLutheran—Calvinist,allprovedfromScripture;givingwhataccountitcanofthisunfathomableUniverse,totheyoungmind。TomodernPrussiansitbynomeansshinesastheindubitablestTheoryoftheUniverse。

  IndignantmodernPrussiansproduceexcerptsfromit,ofanabstrusenature;andendeavortodeducetherefromsomeofFriedrich’saberrationsinmattersofreligion,whichbecamenotoriousenoughbyandby。Alas,Ifear,itwouldnothavebeeneasy,evenforthemodernPrussian,toproduceaperfectCatechismfortheuseofFriedrich;thisUniversestillcontinuesalittleabstruse!

  Andthereisanotherdeeperthingtoberemarked:thenotionof\"teaching\"religion,inthewayofdrill—exercise;whichisaverystrangenotion,thoughacommonone,andnotpeculiartoNolteniusandFriedrichWilhelm。PietytoGod,thenoblenessthatinspiresahumansoultostruggleHeavenward,cannotbe\"taught\"bythemostexquisitecatechisms,orthemostindustriouspreachingsanddrillings。No;alas,no。Onlybyfarothermethods,——chieflybysilentcontinualExample,silentlywaitingforthefavorablemoodandmoment,andaidedthenbyakindofmiracle,wellenoughnamed\"thegraceofGod,\"——canthatsacredcontagionpassfromsoulintosoul。HowmuchbeyondwholeLibrariesoforthodoxTheologyis,sometimes,themuteaction,theunconsciouslookofafather,ofamother,whoHADinthem\"Devoutness,piousNobleness\"!Inwhomtheyoungsoul,notunobservant,thoughnotconsciouslyobserving,cameatlengthtorecognizeit;toreadit,inthisirrefragablemanner:aseedplantedthenceforthinthecentreofhisholiestaffectionsforevermore!

  Nolteniusworeblackserge;keptthecornersofhismouthwelldown;andhadwrittenaCatechismofrepute;butIknownotthatNolteniuscarriedmuchseedoflivingpietyaboutwithhim;

  muchaffectionfrom,orfor,youngFritzhecouldnotwellcarry。

  Onthewhole,itisabadoutlookonthereligiousside;

  andexceptinApprenticeshiptotheruggedandasyetrepulsiveHonestiesofFriedrichWilhelm,Iseenogoodelementinit。

  Bayle—Calvin,withNolteniusandCatechismsofrepute:thereisno\"religion\"tobehadforalittleFritzoutofallthat。

  EndlessDoubtwillbeprovidedforhimoutofallthat,probablydisbeliefofallthat;——and,onthewhole,ifanyformatall,averyscraggyformofmoralexistence;fromwhichtheHighestshallbehopelesslyabsent;andinwhichanythingHigh,anythingnotLowandLying,willhavedoublemerit。

  Itisindeedamazingwhatquantitiesandkindsofextinctideasapplyforbelief,sometimesinamenacingmanner,tothepoormindofman,andpoormindofchild,inthesedays。Theycomebullyinginuponhim,inmasses,asiftheywerequitelivingideas;

  ideasofadreadfullyindispensablenature,theevidentcounterpart,andsalutaryinterpretation,ofFactsroundhim,which,itispromisedthepooryoungcreature,heSHALLrecognizetocorrespondwiththem,oneday。Atwhich\"correspondence,\"whentheFactsareoncewellrecognized,hehasatlasttoaskhimselfwithamazement,\"DidIeverrecognizeit,then?\"Wherebycomeresultsincalculable;notgoodresultsanyofthem;——someofthemunspeakablybad!TheeaseofCrown—PrinceFriedrichinBerlinisnotsingular;allcitiesandplacescanstillshowthelike。

  Andwhenitwillend,isnotyetclear。Butthatitevershouldhavebegun,willonedaybetheastonishment。Asifthedivinestfunctionofahumanbeingwerenoteventhatofbelieving;

  ofdiscriminating,withhisGod—givenintellect,whatisfromwhatisnot;andasifthepointwere,torenderthateitheranimpossiblefunction,orelsewhatwemustsorrowfullycallarevolutionary,rebelliousandmutinousone。ONoltenius,OPanzendorf,doforpity’ssaketakeawayyourCatecheticalware;

  andsayeithernothingtothepooryoungBoy,orsomesmallthinghewillfindtobeBEYONDdoubtwhenhecanjudgeofit!

  Fever,pestilence,arebadforthebody;butDoubt,impiousmutiny,doublyimpioushypocrisy,arethesenothingforthemind?

  WhowouldgoaboutinculcatingDoubt,unlesshewerefarastrayindeed,andmuchatalossforemployment!

  ButthesorestfactinFriedrich’sschooling,theforest,forthepresent,thoughitultimatelyprovedperhapsthemostbeneficentone,beingwelldealtwithbytheyoungsoul,andnoblysubduedtohishigheruses,remainsstilltobesetforth。Whichwillbealongbusiness,firstandlast!

  ChapterXII。

  CROWN—PRINCEFALLSINTODISFAVORWITHPAPA。

  ThosevivacitiesofyoungFritz,histasteformusic,finery,thosefurtiveexcursionsintothedomainofLatinandforbiddenthings,weredistastefulandincomprehensibletoFriedrichWilhelm:Wherecansuchthingsend?Theybeginindisobedienceandintolerableperversity;theywillbetheruinofPrussiaandofFritz!——Here,infact,hasagreatsorrowrisen。Weperceivethefirstsmallcracksofincurabledivisionsintheroyalhousehold;

  thebreakingoutoffountainsofbitterness,whichbyandbyspreadwideenough。Ayoungsprightly,capricionsandvivaciousBoy,inclinedtoself—will,haditbeenpermitted;developinghimselfintoforeigntastes,intoFrenchairsandways;veryillseenbytheheavy—footedpracticalGermanicMajesty。

  ThebeginningsofthissaddiscrepancyaretraceablefromFriedrich’ssixthorseventhyear:\"Notsodirty,Boy!\"Andtherecouldbenolackofgrowthinthemutualill—humor,whiletheBoyhimselfcontinuedgrowing;enlarginginbulkandinactivityofhisown。Plentyofnewchildrencome,todivideourregardwithal,andmorearecoming;fivenewPrincesses,wiselittleUlriquetheyoungestofthem(namedofSwedenandthehappySwedishTreaty),whomwelovemuchforhergravestaidways。Nay,nextafterUlriquecomesevenanewPrince;AugustWilhelm,tenyearsyoungerthanFriedrich;andisgrowingupmuchmoreaccordingtothepaternalheart。Prettychildren,allofthem,moreorless;

  andtowardly,andcomfortabletoaFather;——andtheworstofthemaparagonofbeauty,incomparisontoperverse,clandestine,disobedientFritz,withhisFrenchfopperies,flutings,andcockatoofashionsofhair!——

  Andsothesilentdivulsion,silentonFritz’spart,explodingloudenoughnowandthenonhisFather’spart,goessteadilyon,splittingeverwider;newoffenceseversuperaddingthemselves。

  Till,atlast,theruggedFatherhasgrowntohatetheson;

  andlongs,withsorrowfulindignation,thatitwerepossibletomakeAugustWilhelmCrown—Princeinhisstead。ThisFritzoughttofashionhimselfaccordingtohisFather’spattern,awell—meanthonestpattern;andhedoesnot!Alas,yourMajesty,itcannotbe。

  Itisthenewgenerationcome;whichcannotlivequiteastheoldonedid。Aperennialcontroversyinhumanlife;coevalwiththegenealogiesofmen。ThislittleBoyshouldhavebeentheexcellentpaternalMajesty’sexactcounterpart;resemblinghimatallpoints,\"asalittlesixpencedoesabighalf—crown:\"butweperceivehecannot。Thisisanewcoin,withastampofitsown。

  AsurprisingFRIEDRICHD’ORthis;andmayproveagoodpieceyet;

  butwillneverbethehalf—crownyourMajestyrequires!——

  Conceivearuggedthick—sidedSquireWestern,ofsupremedegree,——

  orthisSquireWesternisahotHohenzollern,andwearsacrownroyal;——conceivesuchaburlyNE—PLUS—ULTRAofaSquire,withhisbroad—basedrectitudesandsurlyirrefragabilities;thehonestGermaninstinctsoftheman,convictionscertainastheFates,butcapableofnoutterance,ornexttonone,inwords;andthatheproducesaSonwhotakesintoVoltairism,piping,fiddlingandbelles—lettres,withapparentlyatotalcontemptforGrumkowandthegiant—regiment!Sulphurousrage,ingustsorinlastingtempests,risingfromafundofjustimplacability,isinevitable。

  Suchasweshallsee。

  TheMother,asmotherswill,secretlyfavorsFritz;anxioustoscreenhiminthedayofhigh—wind。WithalshehasplansofherowninregardtoFritz,andtheothers;beingaladyofmanyplans。Thatofthe\"Double—Marriage,\"forexample;ofmarryingherPrinceandPrincesstoaPrincessandPrinceoftheEnglish—HanoverianHouse;itwasapleasanteligibleplan,consentedtobyPapaandtheotherparties;butwhenitcametobeperfectedbytreaty,amidtherubsofexternalandinternalpolitics,whatnewamazingdiscrepanciesroseuponherpoorchildrenandher!FearfullyaggravatingthequarrelofFatherandSon,almosttothefatalpoint。Ofthat\"Double—Marriage,\"whirledupinauniverseofintriguingdiplomacies,inthe\"skirtsoftheKaiser’shugeSpectre—Hunt,\"aswehavecalledit,therewillbesadthingstosaybyandby。

  PlansherMajestyhas;andsilentlyawillofherown。Shelovesallherchildren,especiallyFritz,andwouldsolovethattheylovedher。——Fortherest,allalong,FritzandWilhelminaaresureallies。Weperceivetheyhavefallenintoakindofcipher—speech;

  [MemoiresdeBareith,i。168。]theycommunicatewithoneanotherbytelegraphicsigns。Oneoftheirwords,\"RAGOTIN(Stumpy),\"whomdoesthereaderthinkitdesignates?Papahimself,theRoyalMajestyofPrussia,FriedrichWilhelmI。,hetohisrebelliouschildrenistyrant\"Stumpy,\"andnobetter;beingindeedshortofstature,andgrowingeverthicker,andsurlierintheseprovocations!——

  SuchincurablediscrepancieshaverisenintheBerlinPalace:

  fountainsofbitternessflowingeverwider,tilltheymadelifeallbitterforSonandforFather;necessitatingtheproudSontohypocrisiestowardshisterribleFather,whichwereveryforeigntotheproudyouth,hadtherebeenanyotherresource。Buttherewasnone,noworafterwards。Evenwhentheyoungman,driventoreflectionandinsightbyintolerablemiseries,hadbeguntorecognizetheworthofhissurlyRhadamanthineFather,andtheintrinsicwisdomofmuchthathehadmeantwithhim,theFatherhardlyevercould,orcouldonlybyfits,completelyrecognizetheSon’sworth。RuggedsuspiciousPaparequiresalwaystobehumored,cajoled,evenwhenourfeelingtowardshimisgenuineandloyal。

  Friedrich,tothelast,wecanperceive,hastoassumemasqueradeinaddressinghim,inwritingtohim,——andinspiteofreallove,musthavefeltitareliefwhensuchathingwasover。Thatis,allalong,asadelementofFriedrich’seducation!Outofwhichtheremighthavecomeincalculabledamagetotheyoungman,hadhisnaturalassimilativepowers,toextractbenefitfromallthings,beenlessconsiderable。Asitwas,hegainedself—helpfromit;gainedreticence,thepowertokeephisowncounsel;

  anddidnotletthehypocrisytakeholdofhim,orbeotherthanahatefulcompulsorymasquerade。Atanuncommonlyearlyage,hestandsbeforeusaccomplishedinendurance,foronething;averybrightyoungStoicofhissort;silentlypreparedfortheinjusticesofmenandthings。Andasforthemasquerade,letushopeitwasessentiallyforeigneventotheskinoftheman!Thereaderwilljudgeashegoeson。\"Jen’aijamaistrompepersonnedurantmavie,Ihaveneverdeceivedanybodyduringmylife;stilllesswillIdeceiveposterity,\"[

  MemoiresdepuislaPaixdeHuberrtsbourg,1763—1774

  (Avant—Propos),OEUVRES,vii。8。]writesFriedrichwhenhisheadwasnowgrownverygray。

  ChapterXIII。

  RESULTSOFTHECROWN—PRINCE’SSCHOOLING。

  Neitherastointellectualculture,inDuhan’sspecialsphere,andwithallDuhan’sgood—will,wastheopportunityextremelygolden。

  ItcannotbesaidthatFriedrich,whospellsinthewaywesaw,\"ASTEURE\"for\"ACETTEHEURE,\"hasmadeshiningacquisitionsontheliteraryside。However,inthelong—runitbecomesclear,hisintellect,rovingondeviouscourses,orploddingalongtheprescribedtram—roads,hadbeenwideawake;andbusyallthewhile,bringinginabundantpabulumofanirregularnature。

  Hedidlearn\"Arithmetic,\"\"Geography,\"andtheotherusefulknowledgesthatwereindispensabletohim。HeknowsHistoryextensively;thoughrathertheRoman,French,andgeneralEuropeanastheFrenchhavetaughtithim,thanthatof\"Hessen,Brunswick,England,\"oreventhe\"ElectoralandRoyalHouseofBrandenburg,\"

  whichPapahadrecommended。HereadHistory,wherehecouldfinditreadable,totheendofhislife;andhadearlybegunreadingit,——immenselyeagertolearn,inhislittlehead,whatstrangethingshadbeen,andwere,inthisstrangePlanethewascomeinto。

  WenoticewithpleasurealivelytasteforfactsinthelittleBoy;whichcontinuedtobethetasteoftheMan,inaneminentdegree。Fictionshealsoknows;aneagerextensivereaderofwhatiscalledPoetry,Literature,andhimselfaperformerinthatprovincebyandby:butitisobservablehowmuchofRealismtherealwaysisinhisLiterature;howclose,hereaselsewhere,healwayshangsonthepracticaltruthofthings;howFictionitselfiseitheranexpositoryillustrativegarmentofFact,orelseisofnovaluetohim。RomanticreadersofhisLiteraturearemuchdisappointedinconsequence,andpronounceitbadLiterature;——andsureenough,inseveralsenses,itisnottobecalledgood!BadLiterature,theysay;shallow,barren,mostunsatisfactorytoareaderofromanticappetites。Whichisacorrectverdict,astotheromanticappetitesandit。Buttothemanhimself,thisqualityofmindisofimmensemomentandadvantage;andformstrulythebasisofallhewasgoodforinlife。Onceforall,hehasnopleasureindreams,inparti—coloredcloudsandnothingnesses。Allhiscuriositiesgravitatetowardswhatexists,whathasbeingandrealityroundhim。Thatisthesignificantthingtohim;thathewouldrightgladlyknow,beingalreadyrelatedtothat,asfriendorasenemy;andfeelinganunconsciousindissolublekinship,whoshallsayofwhatimportance,towardsallthat。ForhetooisalittleFact,bigascanbetohimself;

  andinthewholeUniversethereexistsnothingasfactbutisafellow—creatureofhis。

  ThatourlittleFritztendsthatway,oughttogiveNoltenius,Finkensteinandotherinterestedparties,theveryhighestsatisfaction。Itisanexcellentsymptomofhisintellect,thisofgravitatingirresistiblytowardsrealities。Bettersymptomofitsquality(whateverQUANTITYtherebeofit),humanintellectcannotshowforitself。HoweveritmaygowithLiterature,andsatisfactiontoreadersofromanticappetites,thisyoungsoulpromisestobecomeasuccessfulWorkeroneday,andtoDO

  somethingundertheSun。Forworkisofanextremelyunfictitiousnature;andnomancanroofhishousewithcloudsandmoonshine,soastoturntherainfromhim。

  ItisalsotobenotedthathisstyleofFrench,thoughhespeltitsoill,andneverhadtheleastmasteryofpunctuation,hasrealmerit。Rapidity,easyvivacity,perfectclearness,hereandthereacertainquaintexpressiveness:onthewhole,hehadlearnedtheArtofSpeech,fromthoseoldFrenchGovernesses,inthoseoldandnewFrenchBooksofhis。WecanalsosayofhisLiterature,ofwhathehastilywroteinmaturelife,thatithasmuchmoreworth,evenasLiterature,thanthecommonromanticappetiteassignstoit。Aveinofdistinctsense,andgoodinteriorarticulation,isneverwantinginthatthin—flowingutterance。Thetrueiswellriddledoutfromamidthefalse;

  theimportantandessentialarealonegivenus,theunimportantandsuperfluoushonestlythrownaway。Aleanwiryveracity(animmenseadvantageinanyLiterature,goodorbad!)iseverywherebeneficentlyobservable;theQUALITYoftheintellectalwaysextremelygood,whateveritsquantitymaybe。

  Itistrue,hisspelling——\"ASTEURE\"for\"ACETTEHEURE\"——isverybad。Andasforpunctuation,henevercouldunderstandthemysteryofit;hemerelyscattersafewcommasanddashes,asiftheywereshakenoutofapepper—boxuponhispage,andsoleavesit。

  Thesearedeficiencieslyingverybaretocriticism;andIconfessInevercouldcompletelyunderstandtheminsuchaman。Hethatwouldhaveorderedarrestforthesmallestspeckofmudonaman’sbuff—belt,indignantthatanypipe—clayedportionofamanshouldnotbeperfectlypipeclayed:howcouldhetoleratefalsespelling,andcommasshakenasoutofapepper—boxoverhispage?ItisprobablehecaredlittleaboutLiterature,afterall;cared,atleast,onlyabouttheessentialsofit;hadpracticallynoambitionforhimself,ornoneconsiderable,inthatkind;——andsomightreckonexactobedienceandpunctuality,inasoldier,moreimportantthangoodspellingtoanamateurliteraryman:Henevermindedsnuffuponhisownchin,notevenuponhiswaistcoatandbreeches:Amerelysuperficialthing,notworthbotheringabout,inthepressofrealbusiness!——

  ThatFriedrich’sCourseofEducationdidonthewholeprosper,inspiteofeverydrawback,isknowntoallmen。Hecameoutofitamanofclearandever—improvingintelligence;equippedwithknowledge,trueinessentials,ifnotpunctiliouslyexact,uponallmannerofpracticalandspeculativethings,toadegreenotonlyunexampledamongmodernSovereignPrincessocalled,butsuchastodistinguishhimevenamongthestudiousclass。Naymany\"Men—of—Letters\"havemadeareputationforthemselveswithbutafractionoftherealknowledgeconcerningmenandthings,pastandpresent,whichFriedrichwaspossessedof。Alreadyatthetimewhenactioncametobedemandedofhim,hewaswhatwemustcallawell—informedandcultivatedman;whichcharacterheneverceasedtomeritmoreandmore;andasfortheaction,andtheactions,——

  weshallseewhetherhewasfitfortheseornot。

  Onepointofsupremeimportanceinhiseducationwasallalongmadesureof,bythemerepresenceandpresidenceofFriedrichWilhelminthebusiness:Thattherewasaninflexiblelawofdisciplineeverywhereactiveinit;thattherewasaSpartanrigor,frugality,veracityinculcateduponhim。\"Economyheistostudytothebottom;\"andnotonlyso,but,inanothersenseoftheword,heistopractiseeconomy;anddoes,orelsesuffersfornotdoingit。Economicofhistime,firstofall:generallyeveryothernobleeconomywillfollowoutofthat,ifamanonceunderstandandpractisethat。Herewasatrulyvaluablefoundationlaid;andasfortherest,Nature,inspiteofshot—rubbish,hadtodowhatshecouldintherest。

  ButNaturehadbeenverykindtothisnewchildofhers。

  Andamong,theconfusedhurtfulelementsofhisSchooling,therewasalways,aswesay,thiseminentlysalutaryandmostpotentone,ofitsbeing,inthegross,APPRENTICESHIPTOFRIEDRICH

  WILHELMtheRhadamanthineSpartanKing,whohatesfromhisheartallemptyNonsense,andUnveracitymostofall。Whichoneelement,wellaidedbydocility,byopennessandloyaltyofmind,onthePupil’spart,provedatlengthsufficienttoconquertheothers;

  asitweretoburnupalltheothers,andreducetheirsourdarksmoke,aboundingeverywhere,intoflameandilluminationmostly。

  Thisradiantswift—pacedSonowedmuchtothesurly,irascible,sure—footedFatherthatbredhim。FriedrichdidatlengthseeintoFriedrichWilhelm,acrosstheabstruse,thunderous,sulphurousembodimentsandaccompanimentsoftheman;——andprovedhimself,inallmannerofimportantrespects,thefilialsequelofFriedrichWilhelm。TheseremarksofacertainEditorareperhapsworthadding:——

  \"FriedrichWilhelm,KingofPrussia,didnotsetupforaPestalozzi;andtheplanofEducationforhisSonisopentomanifoldobjections。Nevertheless,asSchoolmastersgo,Imuchpreferhimtomostotherswehaveatpresent。Thewildmanhaddiscerned,withhisruggednaturalintelligence(notwastedawayintheidleelementofspeakingandofbeingspokento,butkeptwholesomelysilentformostpart),Thathumaneducationisnot,andcannotbe,athingofVOCABLES。Thatitisathingofearnestfacts;ofcapabilitiesdeveloped,ofhabitsestablished,ofdispositionswelldealtwith,oftendenciesconfirmedandtendenciesrepressed:——alaboriousseparatingofthecharacterintotwoFIRMAMENTS;shuttingdownthesubterranean,welldownanddeep;anearthandwaters,andwhatliesunderthem;thenyoureverlastingazuresky,andimmeasurabledepthsofaether,hangingsereneoverhead。TomakeofthehumansoulaCosmos,sofaraspossible,thatwasFriedrichWilhelm’sdumbnotion:nottoleavethehumansoulamereChaos;——howmuchlessaSingingoreloquentlySpoutingChaos,whichistentimesworsethanaChaosleftMUTE,confessedlychaoticandnotcosmic!TodevelopthemanintoDOINGsomething;andwithalintodoingitastheUniverseandtheEternalLawsrequire,——whichisbutanothernameforreallydoingandnotmerelyseemingtodoit:——thatwasFriedrichWilhelm’sdumbnotion:anditwas,Icanassureyou,veryfarfrombeingafoolishone,thoughtherewasnoLatininit,andmuchofPrussianpipe—clay!\"

  ButtheCongressofCambraiismet,andmuchelseismetandparted:andtheKaiser’sSpectre—Hunt,especiallyhisDuelwiththeShe—DragonofSpain,isinfullcourse;anditistimeweweresayingsomethingoftheDouble—Marriageinadirectlynarrativeway。

  ENDOFBOOKIV,HistoryofFriedrichIIofPrussiaV5

  byThomasCarlyleCarlyle’s\"HistoryofFriedrichIIofPrussia\"

  BOOKV。

  DOUBLE—MARRIAGEPROJECT,ANDWHATELEMENTITFELLINTO。

  1723—1726。

  ChapterI。

  DOUBLE—MARRIAGEISDECIDEDON。

  WesawGeorgeI。atBerlininOctober,1723,lookingoutuponhislittleGrandsondrillingtheCadetsthere;butwedidnotmentionwhatimportanterrandhadbroughthisMajestythither。

  VisitsbetweenHanoverandBerlinhadbeenfrequentforalongtimeback;theyoungQueenofPrussia,sometimeswithherhusband,sometimeswithout,runningoftenovertoseeherFather;who,evenafterhisaccessiontotheEnglishcrown,wasgenerallyforsomemonthseveryyeartobemetwithinthosefavoriteregionsofhis。

  Hehimselfdidnotmuchvisit,beingoftaciturnspleneticnature:

  butthisoncehehadagreedtoreturnavisittheyhadlatelymadehim,——whereacertainweightyBusinesshadbeenagreedupon,withal;whichhisBritannicMajestywastoconsummateformally,bytreaty,whenthemeetinginBerlintookeffect。HisBritannicMajesty,accordingly,iscome;thebusinessinhandisnootherthanthatthrice—famous\"Double—Marriage\"ofPrussiawithEngland;

  whichoncehadsuchasoundintheearofRumor,andstillbulkssobiginthearchivesoftheEighteenthCentury;whichworkedsuchwoetoallpartiesconcernedinit;andis,infact,afirst—ratenuisanceintheHistoryofthatpoorCentury,aswrittenhitherto。Nuisancedemandingurgentlytobeabated;——

  werethatwellpossibleatpresent。Which,alas,itisnot,toanygreatdegree;therebeinganimportantyoungFriedrichinextricablywraptupinit,towhomitwasofsuchvitaloralmostfatalimportance!WithoutaFriedrich,theaffaircouldbereducedtosomethinglikeitsrealsize,andrecordedinafewpages;ormighteven,withadvantage,beforgottenaltogether,andbecomezero。Moregiganticinstanceofmuchadoaboutnothinghasseldomoccurredinhumanannals;——hadnottherebeenaFriedrichintheheartofit。

  Crown—PrinceFriedrichisstillveryyoungformarriage—speculationsonhisscore:butMammahasthoughtgoodtotakemattersintime。Andsoweshall,inthenextensuingpartsofthispoorHistory,havetohearalmostasmuchaboutMarriageasinthefoolishestThree—volumeNovel,andalmosttostilllesspurpose。Forindeed,inthatparticular,Friedrich’syoungLifemaybecalledaROMANCEFLUNGHELLS—OVER—HEAD;——Marriagebeingtheoneeventthere,roundwhichalleventsturn,——butturnintheinverseorreverseway(asiftheDevilwereinthem);notonlytowardsnohappygoalforhimorMamma,orus,butatlasttowardshardlyanygoalatallforanybody!Somaddidtheaffairgrow;——

  andissomadlyrecordedinthoseinextricable,dateless,chaoticBooks。WehavenowcometoregionsofNarrative,whichseemtoconsistofmurkyNothingnessputonboil;notland,orwater,orair,orfire,butatumultuouslywhirlingcommixtureofallthefour;——ofimmenseextenttoo。Whichmustbegotcrossed,insomehumanmanner。Courage,patience,goodreader!

  QUEENSOPHIEDOROTHEEHASTAKENTIMEBYTHEFORELOCK。

  Already,foradozenyears,thismatterhasbeentreatedof。

  QueenSophieDorothee,eversincethebirthofherWilhelmina,hashadthenotionofit;and,onherfirstvisitafterwardstoHanover,proposeditto\"PrincessCaroline,\"——QueenCarolineofEnglandwhowastobe,andwhoinduecoursewas;——anexcellentaccomplishedBrandenburg—AnspachLady,familiarfromofoldinthePrussianCourt:\"You,Caroline,Cousindear,havealittlePrince,Fritz,orletuscallhimFRED,sinceheistobeEnglish;littleFred,whowilloneday,ifallgoright,beKingofEngland。HeistwoyearsolderthanmylittleWilhelmina:whyshouldnottheywed,andthetwochiefProtestantHouses,andNations,therebybeunited?\"PrincessCarolinewasverywilling;sowasElectressSophie,theGreat—Grandmotherofboththeparties;soweretheGeorges,FatherandGrandfatherofFred:littleFredhimselfwashighlycharmed,whentoldofit;evenlittleWilhelmina,withherdolls,lookedpleasantlydemureontheoccasion。Soitremainedsettledinfact,thoughnotinform;andlittleFred(afloridmilk—facedfoolishkindofBoy,Iguess)madepresentstohislittlePrussianCousin,wrotebitsoflove—letterstoher;andallalongafterwardsfanciedhimself,andatlengthardentlyenoughbecame,herlittleloverandintended,——alwaysratheralittlefellow:——towhichsentimentsWilhelminasignifiesthatsherespondedwiththeduemaidenlyindifference,butnotinanoffensivemanner。

  AfterourPrussianFritz’sbirth,themattertookastillcloserform:\"You,dearPrincessCaroline,youhavenowtwolittlePrincessesagain,eitherofwhommightsuitmylittleFritzchen;

  letustakeAmelia,thesecondofthem,whoisnearesthisage?\"

  \"Agreed!\"answeredPrincessCarolineagain。\"Agreed!\"answeredallthepartiesinterested:andsoitwassettled,thattheMarriageofPrussiatoEnglandshouldbeaDoubleone,FredofHanoverandEnglandtoWilhelmina,FritzofPrussiatoAmelia;andchildrenandparentslivedthenceforthintheconstantunderstandingthatsuch,induecourseofyears,wastobethecase,thoughnothingyetwasformallyconcludedbytreatyuponit。[Pollnitz,

  Memoiren,ii。193。]

  QueenSophieDorotheeofPrussiawasalwayseagerenoughfortreaty,andconclusiontoherscheme。Truetoit,she,asneedletothepoleinallweathers;sometimesinthewildestweather,poorlady。NordidtheHanoverSereneHighnesses,atanytime,drawbackorfalter:buthavingverysoongotwaftedacrosstoEngland,intonewmorecomplexconditions,andwideranxietiesinthatnewcountry,theywerenotsoimpressivelyeagerasQueenSophie,onthisinterestingpoint。ElectressSophie,judiciousGreat—Grandmother,wasnotnowthere:ElectressSophiehaddiedaboutamonthbeforeQueenAnne;andneversawtheEnglishCanaan,muchasshehadlongedforit。GeorgeI。,herson,ataciturn,ratherspleneticelderlyGentleman,veryforeigninEngland,andoftenestrathersulkythereandelsewhere,wasnotinahumortobeforwardinthatparticularbusiness。

  GeorgeI。hadgotintoquarrelwithhisPrinceofWales,Fred’sFather,——himwhoisonedaytobeGeorgeII。,alwaysaratherfoolishlittlePrince,thoughhisWifeCarolinewasWisdom’sselfinamanner:——GeorgeI。hadothermuchmoreurgentcaresthanthatofmarryinghisdisobedientfoolishlittlePrinceofWales’soffspring;andhealwayspleadeddifficulties,ActsofParliamentthatwouldbeneeded,andthelike,wheneverSophieDorotheecametovisithimatHanover,andurgethismatter。Thetaciturn,inarticulatelythoughtful,rathersulkyoldGentleman,hehadweightyburdenslyingonhim;feltfrettedandgalled,inmanyways;andhadfoundlife,ElectoralandevenRoyal,adeceptivesumptuosity,littlebetterthanamoreorlessextensive\"feastofSHELLS,\"nexttonorealmeatordrinkleftinittothehungryheartofman。Wifesittinghalf—franticintheCastleofAhlden,waxingmoreandmoreintoagray—hairedMegaera(withwhomSophieDorotheeundersevensealsofsecrecycorrespondsalittle,andeventhePrinceofWalesissuspectedofwishingtocorrespond);

  afoolishdisobedientPrinceofWales;JacobitePretenderpeoplewiththeirMarRebellions,withtheirAlberonicombinations;

  anEnglishParliamentjanglinganddebatingunmelodiously,whoseverylanguageisamysterytous,nothingbutWalpoleindog—latintohelpusthroughit:trulyitisnotaHeaven—on—Earthaltogether,muchasMotherSophieandherfoolishfavorite,ourdisobedientPrinceofWales,mightlongforit!AndtheHanoverTail,theRobethons,Bernstorfs,Fabrices,eventheBlackamoorPorters,——theyarenotbeautifuleither,toataciturnMajestyofsomesense,ifhecaredabouttheirdoingsorthem。Voracious,plunderous,allofthem;likehounds,longhungry,gotintoarichhousewhichhasnomaster,oramereimaginaryone。\"MENTERIS

  IMPUDENTISSIME,\"saidWalpoleinhisdog—latinonce,inourRoyalpresence,tooneoftheseofficialplunderousgentlemen,\"Youtellanimpudentlie!\"——atwhichweonlylaughed。[HoraceWalpole,ReminiscencesofGeorgeI。andGeorgeII。

  (London,1786。)]

  HisBritannicMajestybynomeanswantedsense,hadnothissituationbeenincurablyabsurd。InhisyoungtimehehadservedcreditablyenoughagainsttheTurks;twicecommandedtheREICHS—ArmyintheMarlboroughWars,anddidatleasttestifyhisindignationattheinefficientstateofit。HisForeignPolitics,socalled,werenotmadderthanthoseofothers。BremenandVerdenhehadboughtabargain;anditwasnaturaltoprotectthembysuchresourcesashehad,Englishorother。ThentherewastheWorld—SpectreofthePretender,stretchinghugeoverCreation,liketheBrocken—Spectreinhazyweather;——againstwhomhowprotectyourself,exceptbycannonadingfortheKaiseratMessina;

  byrushingintoeverybrabblethatrose,andhiringthepartieswithmoneytofightitoutwell?Itwastheestablishedmethodinthatmatter;methodnotofGeorge’sinventing,nordiditceasewithGeorge。AstoDomesticPolitics,exceptitweretokeepquiet,andeatwhatthegodshadprovided,onedoesnotfindthathehadany。——ThesageLeibnitzwouldveryfainhavefollowedhimtoEngland;but,forreasonsindifferentlygood,couldneverbeallowed。Ifthetruthmustbetold,thesageLeibnitzhadawisdomwhichnowlooksdreadfullylikethatofawiseacre!InMathematicseven,——hedidinventtheDifferentialCalculus,butitiscertainalsohenevercouldbelieveinNewton’sSystemoftheUniverse,norwouldreadthePRINCIPIAatall。Fortherest,hewasinquarrelaboutNewtonwiththeRoyalSocietyhere;illseen,itisprobable,bythissageandtheother。TotheHanoverOfficialGentlemendevouringtheirEnglishdead—horse,itdidnotappearthathispresencecouldbeusefulintheseparts。[Guhrauer,GottfriedFreiherrvonLeibnitz,eineBiographie(Breslau,1842);KerofKersland,MemoirsofSecretTransactions(London,1727)。

  NoraretheHanoverwomankindhisMajestyhasabouthim,quasi—wivesornot,ofasoul—entrancingcharacter;farindeedfromthat。Twoinchiefthereare,afatandalean:thelean,called\"Maypole\"bytheEnglishpopulace,is\"DuchessofKendal,\"

  withexcellentpension,intheEnglishPeeragy;SchulenburgtheformerGermannameofher;decidedlyaquasi—wife(influential,againstherwill,inthatsadKonigsmarkTragedy,atHanoverlongsince),whoisfallenthinandold。\"Maypole,\"——orbareHop—pole,withtheleavesallstript;lean,long,hard;——thoughsheoncehadhersummerverdurestoo;andstill,asanoldquasi—wife,orwereitonlyasanoldarticleoffurniture,hasherworthtotheroyalmind,Schulenburgs,kindredofhers,arehighinthemilitaryline;someofwhomwemaymeet。

  Thenbesidesthisleanone,thereisafat;ofwhomWalpole(Horace,whohadseenherinboyhood)givesdescription。

  Bigstaringblackeyes,withrimofcirculareyebrow,likeacoach—wheelrounditsnave,veryblacktheeyebrowsalso;vastredface;cheeksrunningintoneck,neckblendingindistinguishablywithstomach,——amerecataractoffluidtallow,skinnedoverandcuriouslydizened,accordingtoWalpole’sportraiture。

  Thischarmingcreature,KielmannseggebyGermanname,wascalled\"CountessofDarlington\"inthiscountry——withexcellentpension,aswasnatural。Theyallhadpensions:evenQueenSophieDorothee,IhavenoticedinourState—PaperOffice,hashersmallpension,\"800poundsayearontheIrishEstablishment:\"IrishEstablishmentwillnevermisssuchapittanceforourpoorChild,anditmaybeusefuloveryonder!——ThisKielmannsegge,CountessofDarlingtonwas,andis,believedbythegossipingEnglishtohavebeenasecondsimultaneousMistressofhisMajesty’s;butseems,afterall,tohavebeenhisHalf—Sisterandnothingmore。

  Half—Sister(duetoGentlemanErnstandaCountessPlatenofbadHanoverfame);growndreadfullyfat;butnotwithoutshrewdness,perhapsaffection;andworthsomethinginthisdullforeigncountry,merecataractofanimaloilsasshehasbecome。TheseTwoaretheamountofhisBritannicMajesty’sresourcesinthatmatter;resourcessurelynotextensive,afterall!——

  HisBritannicMajesty’sday,inSt。James’s,isnotofaninterestingsorttohim;andeveryeveninghecomespreciselyatacertainhourtodrinkbeer,seasonedwithalittletobacco,andthecompanyofthesetwowomen。Drinksdiligentlyinasippingway,saysHorace;andsmokes,withsuchdullspeechastheremaybe,——nottillheisdrunk,butonlyperceptiblydrunkish;raisedintoakindofcloudynarcoticOlympus,andopaquelysuperiortotheillsoflife;inwhichstatehewalksuncomplaininglytobed。

  Government,whenitcanbyanyartbeavoided,herarelymeddleswith;showsaruggedsagacity,wherehedoesandmustmeddle:

  consignsittoWalpoleindog—latin,——laughsathis\"MENTIRIS。\"

  ThisistheFirstGeorge;firsttriumphoftheConstitutionalPrinciple,whichhassincegonetosuchsublimeheightsamongus,——heightswhichweatlastbegintosuspectmightbedepths,leadingdown,allmennowask:Whitherwards?Amuch—admiredinventioninitstime,thatoflettinggotherudder,orsettingawoodenfigureexpensivelydressedtotakechargeofit,anddiscerningthattheshipwouldsailofitselfsomuchmoreeasily!

  Whichitwill,ifapeculiarlygoodseaboat,incertainkindsofsea,——foratime。TilltheSinbad\"MagneticMountains\"begintobefeltpulling,orthecirclesofCharybdisgetyouintheirsweep;

  andthenwhataninventionitwas!——This,wesay,isthenewSovereignMan,whomtheEnglishPeople,beinginsomeperplexityaboutthePopeaudotherpoints,havecalledinfromHanover,towalkbeforetheminthewaysofheroism,andbycommandandbyexampleguideHeavenwardstheiraffairsandthem。Andtheyhopethathewilldoit?Orperhapsthattheiraffairswillgothitheroftheirownaccord?AlwaysasingularPeople!——

  PoorGeorge,carelessoftheseulteriorissues,hasalwaystroubleenoughwiththemeredailydetails,Parliamentaryinsolences,Jacobiteplottings,South—SeaBubbles;andwishestohunt,whenhegetsovertoHanover,ratherthantomakeMarriage—Treaties。

  Besides,asWilhelminatellsus,theyhavefilledhimwithlies,theseHanoverWomenandtheiremissaries:\"YourPrincessWilhelminaisamonsterofill—temper,crookedinthebackandwhatnot,\"saythey。IfthereistobeaMarriage,doubleorsingle,theseImproperFemalesmustfirstbepersuadedtoconsent。

  [MemoiresdeBareith。]Difficultiesenough。

  Andthereisnonetohelp;FriedrichWilhelmcareslittleaboutthematter,thoughhehasgivenhisYes,——Yes,sinceyouwill。

  ButSophieDorotheeisdiligentandurgent,byallopportunities;

  ——and,atlength,in1723,theconjunctureispropitious。

  DomesticJacobitism,intheshapeofBishopAtterbury,hasgot,itselfwellbanished;Alberoniandhisbigschemes,yearsagotheyareblownintoouterdarkness;CharlesXII。iswelldead,andofourBremenandVerdennoquestionhenceforth;eventheKaiser’sSpectre—Hunt,orSpanishDuel,isatrestforthepresent,andtheCongressofCambraiissitting,ortryingallitcantosit:

  athomeorabroad,thereisnothing,notevenWood’sIrishHalfpence,asyetmakingnoise。Andontheotherhand,CzarPeterisrumored(notwithoutfoundation)tobecomingwestward,withsomehugearmament;which,whether\"intendedforSweden\"ornot,rendersaPrussianalliancedoublyvaluable。

  Andsonowatlast,inthisfavorableaspectofthestars,KingGeorge,overatHerrenhausen,wasbymuchmanagementofhisDaughterSophie’s,andaftermanyhitches,broughttothemark。

  AndFriedrichWilhelmcameovertoo;ostensiblytobringhomehisQueen,butinrealitytohearhisFather—in—law’scompliancetotheDouble—Marriage,——forwhichhisPrussianMajestyiswillingenough,ifothersarewilling。PraisedbeHeaven,KingGeorgehasagreedtoeverything;consents,onepropitiousday(Autumn1723,daynototherwisedated),——CzarPeter’sArmament,andthequestionableaspectsinFrance,perhapsquickeninghisvolitionsalittle。UponwhichFriedrichWilhelmandQueenSophiehavereturnedhome,contentinthatmatter;andexpectshortlyhisBritannicMajesty’scounter—visit,toperfectthedetails,andmakeaTreatyofit。

  HisBritannicMajesty,wesay,hasinsubstanceagreedtoeverything。Andnow,inthesilenceofNature,thebrownleavesofOctoberstillhangingtothetreesinapicturesquemanner,andWood’sHalfpencenotyetbeguntojingleintheDrapier’sLettersofDeanSwift,——hisBritannicMajestyisexpectedatBerlin。

  AtBerlin;properlyatCharlottenburgapleasantruralorsuburbanPalace(builtbyhisBritannicMajesty’slatenobleSister,SophieCharlotte,\"theRepublicanQueen,\"andnamedafterher,aswasoncementioned),amileortwoSouthwestofthatCity。TheretheyawaitKingGeorge’scounter—visit。

  PoorWilhelminaisinmuchtrepidationaboutit;andimpartsherpoorlittlefeelings,heranticipationsandexperiences,inreadableterms:——

  \"Therecame,inthoseweeks,oneoftheDukeofGloucester’sgentlementoBerlin,\"——DUKEOFGLOUCESTERisFredourintended,notyetPrinceofWales,andifthereadershouldeverhearofaDUKEOFEDINBURGH,thattooisFred,——\"DukeofGloucester’sgentlementoBerlin,\"saysWilhelmina:\"theQueenhadSoiree(APPARTEMENT);hewaspresentedtoheraswellastome。HemademeaveryobligingcomplimentonhisMaster’spart;Iblushed,andansweredonlybyacourtesy。TheQueen,whohadhereyeonme,wasveryangryIhadansweredtheDuke’scomplimentsinmeresilence;

  andratedmesharply(MELAVALATETED’IMPORTANCE)forit;andorderedme,underpainofherindignation,torepairthatfaultto—morrow。Iretired,allintears,tomyroom;exasperatedagainsttheQueenandagainsttheDuke;IsworeIwouldnevermarryhim,wouldthrowmyselfatthefeet——\"Andsoon,asyoungladiesofvivacioustemper,inextremecircumstances,arewont:

  ——didspeak,however,nextday,tomyHanovergentlemanabouthisDuke,alittle,thoughinanembarrassedmanner。Alas,Iamyetbutfourteen,gonethe3dofJulylast:tremulousasaspen—leaves;

  orsay,assheet—lightningbottledinoneofthethinnesthumanskins;andhavenoexperienceoffoolishDukesandaffairs!——

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