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!——