第18章
加入书架 A- A+
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  George’spoorleanMistress,comingonattheusualrateoftheroad,wasmet,nextmorning,bythesadtidings。Shesprangfromhercarriageintothedustyhighway;toreherhair(orheaddress),half—frantic;declaredherselfaruinedwoman;anddrovedirecttoBerlin,theretocomposeheroldmind。ShewasnotillseenatCourtthere;hadherconnectionsintheworld。FieldmarshalSchulenburg,whooncehadthehonoroffighting(nottohisadvantage)withCharlesXII。,andhadsincegrownfamousbyhisAnti—TurkperformancesintheVenetianservice,isaBrotherofthispoorMaypole’s;andthereisaNephewofhers,oneofFriedrichWilhelm’sField—Officershere,whomweshallmeetbyandby。ShehasbeenobligingtoQueenSophieonoccasions;theycan,anddo,nowweepheartilytogether。IbelieveshereturnedtoEngland,beingDuchessofKendal,withheavypensionsthere;

  and\"assiduouslyattendeddivineordinances,accordingtotheGermanProtestantform,everafterwards。\"Poorfoolisholdsoul,whatisthisworld,withallitsdukeries!——

  TheotherorfatMistress,\"CataractoffluidTallow,\"CountessofDarlington,whomItaketohavebeenaHalf—Sisterrather,satsorrowfulatIsleworth;andkeptformanyyearsaBlackRaven,whichhadcomeflyinginuponher;whichshesomehowunderstoodtobethesoul,orconnectedwiththesoul,ofhisMajestyofhappymemory。[HoraceWalpole,Reminiscences。]

  GoodHeavens,whatfatfluid—tallowystupor,andentirelysordiddarkness,dwellsamongmankind;andoccasionallyfindsitselfliftedtotheverytop,bywayofsample!——

  FriedrichWilhelmwepttenderlytoBrigadierDubourgay,theBritishMinisteratBerlin(anoldmilitarygentleman,ofdiplomaticmerit,whospellsratherill),whentheyspokeofthissadmatter。MypooroldUncle;hewassogoodtomeinboyhood,inthoseolddays,whenIbloodedCousinGeorge’snose!

  Notunkind,ah,onlyproudandsad;andwascalledsulky,beingoffewwordsandheavy—laden。Ahme,yourExcellenz;ifthelittlenightingaleshavea11fallensilent,whatmaynotI,hisSonandsephew,do?——AndtheruggedMajestyblubberedwithgreattenderness;havingfountainsoftearswithal,hiddenintherockyheartofhim,notsuspectedbyeveryone。[Dubourgay’sDespatches,intheState—PaperOffice。]

  IaddonlythattheFabrice,whohadpoorGeorgeinhisarmsthatnight,isamanworthmentioning。ThesameFabrice(Fabricius,orperhapsGOLDSCHMIDTinGerman)whowentasEnvoyfromtheHolstein—GottorppeopletoCharlesXII。inhisTurkishtime;

  andstayedwithhisSwedishMajestythere,forayearortwo,indeedtillthecatastrophecame。HisOfficialLETTERSfromthatsceneareinprint,thislongwhile,thoughconsiderablyforgotten;[AnecdotesduSejourduRoideSuideaBender,ouLettresdeM。leBarondeFabricepourservird’elaircissemental’HistoiredeCharlesXII。(Hambourg,1760,8vo)。]

  alittleVolume,worthmanybigonesthathavebeenpublishedonthatsubject。ThesameFabrice,followingHanoverafterwards,cameacrosstoLondoninduecourse;andtherehedidanothermemorablething:madeacquaintancewiththeMonsieurArouet,thenayoungFrenchExilethere,ArouetJunior(\"LEJEUNEorL。J。\"),who,——

  byaningeniousanagram,contrivedinhisindignationatsuchbanishment,——writeshimselfVOLTAIREeversince;whohasbeenpublishingaHENRIADE,anddoingotherthings。NowitwasbyquestioningthisFabrice,andindustriouslypickingthememoryofhimclean,thatM。deVoltairewroteanotherbook,muchmoreofan\"Epic\"thanHenriIV。,——aHISTORY,namely,OFCHARLESXII。;[SeeVoltaire,OEuvresCompletes,ii。149,xxx。7,127。

  Cameoutin1731(ib。xxx。Avant—Propos,p。ii)。]whichseemstomethebest—writtenofallhisBooks,andwantsnothingbutTRUTH

  (indeedadreadfulwant)tomakeitapossessionforever。

  VOLTAIRE,ifyouwantfinewriting;ADLERFELDandFABRICE,ifyouwouldseethefeaturesoftheFact:thesethreearestilltheBooksuponCharlesXII。

  HISPRUSSIANMAJESTYFALLSINTOONEOFHISHYPOCHONDRIACALFITS。

  Beforethisevent,hisMajestywasingloomyhumor;andspecialvexationshadsuperaddedthemselves。EarlyintheSpring,adifficulthuffofquarrel,theconsummationofagoodmanygrudgeslongsubsisting,hadfallenoutwithhisneighborofSaxony,theMajestyofPoland,August,whomwehaveformerlyheardof,aconspicuousMajestyinthosedays;calledeven\"AugusttheGreat\"

  bysomepersonsinhisowntime;butnowchieflyrememberedbyhissplendorofupholstery,hisenormousexpenditureindrinkingandotherwise,alsobyhisthreehundredandfifty—fourBastards(probablythemaximumofanyKing’sperformanceinthatline),andcalledAugustDERSTARKE,\"AugustthePhysicallyStrong。\"

  ThisexemplarySovereigncouldnotwellbeamanaccordingtoFriedrichWilhelm’sheart:accordinglytheyhadtheirhuffsandlittlecollisionsnowandthen:thatoftheProtestantDirectorateandHeidelbergProtestants,forinstance;indeeditwasgenerallyaboutProtestantism;andmorelatelytherehadbeenhighwordsandcorrespondingsaboutthe\"ProtestantsofThorn\"(abadtragedy,ofJesuitintrusionandPolishferocity,enactedtherein1724);

  [AccountofitinBuchholz,i。98—102。]——inwhichsadbusinessFriedrichWilhelmloyallyinterfered,thoughBritannicGeorgeofblessedmemoryandotherswerebutlukewarm;andnothingcouldbedoneinit。NothingexceptangrycorrespondencewithKingAugust;

  veryprovokingtothepoorsoul,whohadnohandbutanominaloneintheThorncatastrophe,beingdrivenintoitbyhisunrulyDietalone。

  Infact,August,withhisglitteringeyesandexcellentphysicalconstitution,wasaverygood—humoredfellow;supremelypleasantinsociety;andbynomeanswishfultocheatyou,ordoyouamischiefinbusiness,——unlesshisnecessitiescompelledhim;

  whichoftenweregreat。ButFriedrichWilhelmalwayskeptagoodeyeonsuchpoints;andhadhimselfsufferednothingfromthegayeupepticSonofBelial,eitherintheiroldStralsundcopartneryorotherwise。Sothat,exceptfortheseProtestantaffairs,——andalas,oneotherlittlecause,——FriedrichWilhelmhadcontentedlyleftthePhysicallyStrongtohisowncourse,doingthecivilitiesoftheroadtohimwhentheymet;andnothingillhadfallenoutbetweenthem。Thisotherlittlecause——alas,itistheoldstoryofrecruiting;one’spoorHobbyagaingivingoffence!

  Specialrecruitingbrabblestherehadbeen;severelawspassedinSaxonyaboutthesekidnappingoperations:andalwaysintheDiets,whenquestionroseofthismatter,Augusthadbeenparticularlyloudinhisdenouncings。Whichwasunkind,thoughnotunexpected。

  Butnow,intheSpringof1727,herehasaworsecasethananyarisen。

  CaptainNatzmer,ofIknownotwhatPrussianRegiment,\"Sachsen—WeimarCuirassiers\"[Militair—Lexikon,iii。104。]oranother,haddroptoverintoSaxony,toseewhatcouldbedoneinpickingupatallmanortwo。Tallmen,oneortwo,CaptainNatzmerdidpickup,nayatalldeserterortwo(Saxonsoldier,inveigledtodesert);butfindinghisoperationsgetair,hehastilywithdrewintoBrandenburgterritoryagain。

  SaxonOfficialsfollowedhimintoBrandenburgterritory;snapthimbackintoSaxon;triedhimbySaxonlawthere;——Saxonlaw,expressinsuchcase,condemnshimtobehanged;andthatishisdoomaccordingly。

  \"CaptainNatzmertoswingonthegallows?TakenonBrandenburgterritorytoo,andnottheleastnoticegivenme?\"FriedrichWilhelmblazesintoflamingwhirlwind;sendsanOfficialGentleman,oneKatsch,tohisExcellenzBaronvonSuhm(theCrown—Prince’scultivatedfriend),withthisappallingmessage:

  \"IfNatzmerbehanged,forcertainIwillusereprisals;

  youyourselfshallswing!\"WhereuponSuhm,inpanic,fledoverthemarchestohisMaster;whobulliedhimforhispusillanimousterrors;andappliedtoFriedrichWilhelm,infinefrenzyofindignantastonishment,\"What,inHeaven’sname,suchmeditatedoutrageonthelawofnations,andflatinsulttotheMajestyofKings,canhavemeant?\"FriedrichWilhelm,thefirstfurybeingspent,seesthatheisquiteoutofsquare;disavowsthereprisalsuponSuhm。\"MessagemisdeliveredbymyOfficialGentleman,thatstupidKatsch;neverdidintendtohangSuhm;oh,no;\"withmuchothercorrespondence;[InMauvillon(ii。189—195)moreofitthananyonewillread。]——andisveryangryathimself,andattheNatzmeraffair,whichhasbroughthimintothisbadpass。

  Intoopenimpropriety;intodangerofanutterrupture,hadKingAugustbeenofquarrelsometurn。ButKingAugustwasnotquarrelsome;andthenSeckendorfandtheTobacco—Parliament,——ontheKaiser’sscore,whowantsPragmaticSanctionandmuchelseoutofthesetwoKings,andcanatnoratehavethemquarrelinthepresentjuncture,——wereeagertoquenchthefire。KingAugustletNatzmergo;Suhmreturnedtohispost;[Pollnitz,ii。254。]andthingshustledthemselvesintosomeuneasypostureofsilenceagain;——uneasytothesensitivefancyofFriedrichWilhelmaboveall。ThisishisworstcollisionwithhisNeighborofSaxony;

  andspringingfromone’sHobbyagain!——

  Thesesorrows,thedeathofGeorgeI。,withanxietiesastoGeorgeII。andthecoursehemighttake;allthis,itwasthought,preyeduponhisMajesty’sspirits;——Wilhelminasaysitwas\"thefrequentcarousalswithSeckendorf,\"andanaffairchieflyoftheroyaldigestive—apparatus。Likeenough;——orbothmightcombine。ItiscertainhisMajestyfellintooneofhishypochondriasatthistime;talkedof\"abdicating\"andothergloomythings,andwasveryblackindeed。SothatSeckendorfandGrumkowbegantobealarmed。

  ItisseveralmonthsagohehadFranketheHalleMethodistgivingghostlycounsel;hisMajestyceasedtohavetheNewspapersreadatdinner;andlistenedtolugubriousFranke’sexhortationsinstead。

  DidEnglishreaderseverhearofFranke?LetthemmakeamomentaryacquaintancewiththisfamousGermanSaint。AugustHermannFranke,aLubeckman,born1663;ProfessorofTheology,ofHebrew,LecturerontheBible;awandering,persecuted,piousman。

  Founderofthe\"Pietists,\"akindofGermanMethodists,whoarestillafamedSectinthatcountry;andoftheWAISENHAUS,atHalle,grandOrphan—house,builtbycharitablebeggingsofFranke,whichalsostillsubsists。Areverendgentleman,verymournfulofvisage,nowsixty—four;andforthepresent,atBerlin,discoursingofthingseternal,inwhatWilhelminathinksaverylugubriousmanner。Well;butsurelyinaveryseriousmanner!

  TheshadowsofdeathwerealreadyroundthispoorFranke;andinafewweeksmore,hehadhimselfdeparted。[Died8thJune,1727。]

  ButhearWilhelmina,whataccountshegivesofherownandtheyoungGrenadier—Major’sbehavioronthesemournfuloccasions。

  Seckendorf’sdinnerssheconsiderstobethecause;

  allspiritual,sorrowsonlyanadjunctnotworthmentioning。

  Itiscertainenough。

  \"HisMajestybegantobecomevaletudinary;andthehypochondriawhichtormentedhimrenderedhishumorverymelancholy。

  MonsieurFranke,thefamousPietist,founderoftheOrphan—houseatHalleUniversity,contributednotalittletoexaggeratethatlatterevil。ThisreverendgentlemanentertainedtheKingbyraisingscruplesofconscienceaboutthemostinnocentmatters。

  Hecondemnedallpleasures;damnableallofthem,hesaid,evenhuntingandmusic。YouweretospeakofnothingbuttheWordofGodonly;allotherconversationwasforbidden。Itwasalwayshethatcarriedontheimprovingtalkattable;wherehedidtheofficeofreader,asifithadbeenarefectoryofmonks。TheKingtreatedustoasermoneveryafternoon;hisvalet—de—chambregaveoutapsalm,whichweallsang;youhadtolistentothissermonwithasmuchdevoutattentionasifithadbeenanapostle’s。

  MyBrotherandIhadallthemindintheworldtolaugh;

  wetriedhardtokeepfromlaughing;butoftenweburstout。

  Thereuponreprimand,withalltheanathemasoftheChurchhurledoutonus;whichwehadtotakewithacontritepenitentair,athingnoteasytobringyourfacetoatthemoment。Inaword,thisdogofaFranke[hediedwithinfewmonths,poorsoul,CE

  CHIENDEFRANKE]ledusthelifeofasetofMonksofLaTrappe。

  \"SuchexcessofbigotryawakenedstillmoregothicthoughtsintheKing。HeresolvedtoabdicatethecrowninfavorofmyBrother。

  Heusedtotalk,Hewouldreserveforhimself10,000crownsayear;andretirewiththeQueenandhisDaughterstoWusterhausen。

  There,addedhe,IwillpraytoGod;andmanagethefarmingeconomy,whilemywifeandgirlstakecareofthehouseholdmatters。Youareclever,hesaidtome;Iwillgiveyoutheinspectionofthelinen,whichyoushallmendandkeepinorder,takinggoodchargeoflaundrymatters。Frederika[nowthirteen,marriedtoANSPACHtwoyearshence],whoismiserly,shallhavechargeofallthestoresofthehouse。Charlotte[noweleven,DuchessofBRUNSWICKbyandby]shallgotomarketandbuyourprovisions;andmyWifeshalltakechargeofthelittlechildren,[saysFriedrichWilhelm],andofthekitchen。\"[Littlechildrenare:1。SophieDorothee,noweight,whomarriedMargrafofSchwedt,andwasunhappy;2。Ulrique,agravelittlesoulofseven,QueenofSwedenafterwards;3。AugustWilhelm,agenowfive,becameFatherofanewFriedrichWilhelm,whowasKingbyandby,andproducedtheKingsthatstillare;4。Amelia,nowfour,borninthewaywesaw;and5。HENRI,stillinarms,justbeginningtowalk。TherewillbeaSixthandnomore(sonofthisSixth,aBerlinROUEwaskilled,in1806,attheBattleofJena,oradayortwobefore);buttheSixthisnotyetcometohand。]

  PoorFriedrichWilhelm;whataninnocentIDYLLIUM;——whichcannotbeexecutedbyaKing。\"HehadevenbeguntoworkatanInstruction,orFarewellAdvice,formyBrother;\"andtopointtowardsvarioussteps,whichalarmedGrumkowandSeckendorftoahighdegree。\"[Wilhelmina,MemoiresdeBareith,i。108。]

  \"Abdication,\"withaCrown—PrincereadytofallintothearmsofEngland,andasuddenfinistoourBlack—Art,willbynomeanssuitSeckendorfandGrumkow!YethereisWintercoming;

  solitaryWusterhausen,withthemistywindspipingroundit,willmakemattersworse:somethingmustbecontrived;andwhat?

  Thetwo,afterstudy,persuadeFieldmarshalFlemmingoveratWarsaw(AugusttheStrong’schiefman,theFlemmingofVoltaire’sCHARLESXII。;Prussianbybirth,thoughthislongwhileinSaxonservice),ThatifhetheFieldmarshalweretopay,accidentally,asitwere,alittlevisittohisnativeBrandenburgjustnow,itmighthavefineeffectsonthosefoolishBerlin—Warsawcloudsthathadrisen。TheFieldmarshal,wellaffectedinsuchacase,managesthelittlevisit,readilypersuadingthePolishMajesty;

  anddissipatesthecloudsstraightway,——beingwellreceivedbyFriedrichWilhelm,andsecondedbytheTobacco—Parliamentwithallitsmight。OutatWusterhauseneverythingiscomfortablysettled。

  NayMadamFlemming,young,brilliant,anddirectfromtheseatoffashion;itwasshethatfirst\"builtup\"Wilhelmina’shaironjustprinciples,andputsomelifeintoherappearance。

  [Wilhelmina,i。117。]AndnowtheFieldmarshal(Tobacco—Parliamentsuggestingit)hintsfarther,\"IfhisPrussianMajesty,inthemeregreatnessofhismind,weretoappearsuddenlyinDresdenwhenhisroyalFriendwasnextthere,——whatasunburstaftercloudswerethat;howwelcometothePolishMajesty!\"——\"Hm,Na,wouldit,then?\"——ThePolishMajestyputsthatoutofquestion;

  speciallysendsinvitationfortheCarnival—timejustcoming;

  andFriedrichWilhelmwill,accordingly,seeDresdenandhimonthatoccasion。[Ib。i。108,109;Pollnitz,ii。254;Fassman,p。374。]Inthosedays,Carnivalmeans\"FashionableSeason,\"ruralnobilityrallyingtohead—quartersforawhile,andsocialgayetiesgoingon;andinProtestantCountriesitmeansnothingmore。

  This,insubstance,wastherealoriginofFriedrichWilhelm’ssuddenvisittoDresden,whichastonishedtheworld,inJanuarynext。ItmakesagreatfigureintheoldBooks。ItdidkindleDresdenCarnivalandthePhysicallyStrongintosupremeillumination,forthetimebeing;andprovedthesealofgoodagreement,andevenofakindoffriendlinessbetweenthisheteroclitepairofSovereigns,——ifanybodynowcaredforthosepoints。ItiswithourCrown—Prince’sshareinitthatwearealoneconcerned;andthatmayrequireaChaptertoitself。

  ChapterIII。

  VISITTODRESDEN。

  Oneofthemostimportantadventures,forouryoungCrown—Prince,wasthisvisitofhis,alongwithPapa,toDresdenintheCarnivalof1728。VisitcontrivedbySeckendorfandCompany,aswehaveseen,todiverttheKing’smelancholy,andwithoutviewtotheCrown—Princeatall。TheCrown—Prince,nowsixteen,andnotinthebestfavorwithhisFather,hadnotbeenintendedtoaccompany;

  wastostayatPotsdamanddiligentlydrill:neverthelessanestafettecameforhimfromthegallantPolishMajesty;——

  WilhelminahadspokenawordtogoodSuhm,whowrotetohisKing,andthehospitablemessagecame。Friedrichmadenoloitering,——toDresdenisbutahundredmiles,onegoodday;——hearrivedthereonthemorrowafterhisFather;King\"onthe14thJanuary,1728,\"

  datesFassmann;\"Crown—Princeonthe15th,\"whichIfindwasThursday。TheCrown—PrincelodgedwithFieldmarshalFlemming;

  FriedrichWilhelm,havingcomeinnostate,refusedKingAugust’spressings,andtookuphisquarterswith\"theGeneralFieldmarshalWackerbarth,CommandantinDresden,\"——pleasantoldmilitarygentleman,whohadbesiegedStralsundalongwithhimintimesgone。ExceptGrumkow,Derschauandoneortwooflessimportance,withthedueminimumofValetry,hehadbroughtnoretinue;

  theCrown—PrincehadFinkensteinandKalksteinwithhim,TutorandSub—Tutor,officiallythere。AndhelodgeswitholdCountFlemmingandhiscleverfashionableMadam,——thediligentbutunsuccessfulFlemming,acourtierofthehighestcivility,thoughiracund,and\"withapassionformakingTreaties,\"whomweknowsinceCharlesXII。’stime。

  Amongsttheroundofsplendorsnowsetonfoot,FriedrichWilhelmhad,byaccidentofNature,thespectacleofahouseonfire,——

  ratherasymboliconeinthoseparts,——affordedhim,almosttostartwith。DeepinthefirstSaturdaynight,orratherabouttwointhemorningofSunday,Wackerbarth’sgrandhouse,kindlingbynegligencesomewhereinthegarrets,blazedup,irrepressible;

  and,withitsendlessupholsteries,withafinelibraryeven,wentallintoflame:sothathisMajesty,scarcelysavinghisCHATOULLE

  (boxofpreciosities),hadtohurryoutinundress;——overtoFlemming’swherehisSonwas;wheretheybothcontinuedthenceforth。Thiswastheonetouchofrough,amidsomuchofdulcetthatoccurred:noevil,thistouch,almostratherotherwise,excepttopoorWackerbarth,whosefineHouselaywreckedbyit。

  ThevisitlastedtillFebruary12th,fourweeksandaday。

  Neverwassuchthrice—magnificentCarnivalamusements:

  illuminations,cannon—salvoingsandfire—works;operas,comedies,redoubts,sow—baitings,foxandbadger—baiting,reviewing,runningatthering:——dinnersofnever—imaginedquality,this,asadailyitem,needsnoexpressmention。

  TotheyoungSoldier—Apprenticeallthiswas,ofcourse,inpleasantcontrastwiththePotsdamGuard—house;andFriedrichWilhelmhimselfisunderstoodtohavelikedatleastthedinners,andtheairycourteousways,lighttable—witandextremegoodhumorofthehost。Asuccessfulvisit;burnsofflikesuccessfulfire—works,pieceafterpiece:andwhatmoreistobesaid?Ofallthisnothing;——nor,ifwecouldhelpit,ofanotherlittlecircumstance,notmentionedbytheNewspapersorFassmann,whichconstitutesthemeaningofthisVisitforusnow。Itisamatterdifficulttohandleinspeech。AnEnglishEditor,charyofsuchtopics,willlettwowitnessesspeak,credibleboth,thoughnoteye—witnesses;andleaveittothereaderso。BabblingPollnitzisthefirstwitness;hedeposes,afteralludingtothesumptuousdiningsanddrinkingsthere:——

  \"OnedaythetwoKings,afterdinner,wentindominototheredoubt[RIDOTTO,whatwenowcallROUToreveningparty]。

  Augusthadamindtotakeanopportunity,andtrywhetherthereportsofFriedrichWilhelm’sindifferencetothefairsexwerecorrectornot。Tothisend,hehadhadayoungdamsel(JUNGE

  PERSON)ofextraordinarybeautyintroducedintosomeside—room;

  wheretheynowentered。Shewaslyingonabed,inaloosegauzyundress;andthoughmasked,showedsomanycharmstotheeyethattheimaginationcouldnotbutjudgeveryfavorablyoftherest。

  TheKingofPolandapproached,inthatgallantwayofhis,whichhadgainedhimsuchfavorwithwomen。Hebeggedhertounmask;

  sheatfirstaffectedreluctance,andwouldnot。Hethentoldherwhohewas;andsaid,Hehopedshewouldnotrefuse,whentwoKingsbeggedhertoshowthemthiscomplaisance。Shethereupontookoffhermask,andshowedthemoneoftheloveliestfacesintheworld。Augustseemedquiteenchanted;andsaid,asifithadbeenthefirsttimeheeversawher,Hecouldnotcomprehendhowsobewitchingabeautyhadhithertoremainedunknowntohim。

  \"FriedrichWilhelmcouldnothelplookingather。HesaidtotheKingofPoland,’Sheisverybeautiful,itmustbeowned;’——butatthesameinstantturnedhiseyesawayfromher;andlefttheroom,andtheridottoaltogetherwithoutdelay;wenthome,andshuthimselfinhisroom。HethensentforHerrvonGrumkow,andbitterlycomplainedthattheKingofPolandwantedtotempthim。

  HerrvonGrumkow,whowasneithersochastenorsoconscientiousastheKing,wasformakingajestofthematter;buttheKingtookaveryserioustone;andcommandedhimtotelltheKingofPolandinhisname,’Thathebeggedhimverymuchnottoexposehimagaintoaccidentsofthatnature,unlesshewishedtohavehimquitDresdenatonce。’HerrvonGrumkowdidhismessage。

  TheKingofPolandlaughedheartilyatit;wentstraighttoFriedrichWilhelm,andexcusedhimself。TheKingofPrussia,however,kepthisgrimlook;sothatAugustceasedjoking,andturnedthedialogueonsomeothersubject。\"[Pollnitz,ii。256。]

  ThisisPollnitz’stestimony,gatheredfromthewhispersoftheTabagie,orrumorsintheCourt—circles,andmaybetakenasindisputableinthemain。Wilhelmina,derivingfromsimilarsources,andequallyuncertainindetails,paintsmoreartistically;norhassheforgottenthesequelforherBrother,whichatpresentistheessentialcircumstance:——

  \"Oneevening,whentheritesofBacchushadbeenwellattendedto,theKingofPolandledtheKing[myFather],strollingabout,bydegrees,intoaroomveryrichlyornamented,allthefurnitureandarrangementsofwhichwereinaquiteexquisitetaste。TheKing,charmedwithwhathesaw,pausedtocontemplatethebeautiesofitalittle;when,allonasudden,acurtainrose,anddisplayedtohimoneofthemostextraordinarysights。ItwasagirlintheconditionofourFirstParents,carelesslylyingonabed。

  ThiscreaturewasmorebeautifulthantheypaintVenusandtheGraces;shepresentedtoviewaformofivorywhiterthansnow,andmoregracefullyshapedthantheVenusde’MediciatFlorence。

  Thecabinetwhichcontainedthistreasurewaslightedbysomanywax—candlesthattheirbrilliancydazzledyou,andgaveanewsplendortothebeautiesofthegoddess。

  \"TheAuthorsofthisfinecomedydidnotdoubtbuttheobjectwouldmakeanimpressionontheKing’sheart;butitwasquiteotherwise。Nosoonerhadhecasthiseyesonthebeautythanhewhirledroundwithindignation;andseeingmyBrotherbehindhim,hepushedhimroughlyoutoftheroom,andimmediatelyquittedithimself;veryangryatthescenetheyhadbeengivinghim,Hespokeofit,thatsameevening,toGrumkow,inverystrongterms;

  anddeclaredwithemphasisthatifthelikefrolicsweretriedonhimagain,hewouldatoncequitDresden。

  \"WithmyBrotheritwasotherwise。InspiteoftheKing’scare,hehadgotafullviewofthatCabinetVenus;andthesightofherdidnotinspireinhimsomuchhorrorasinhisfather。\"

  [Wilhelmina,i。112。]——Verylikelynot!——Andinfact,\"heobtainedherfromtheKingofPoland,inarathersingularway(d’unefaconassezsinguliere)\"——describable,incondensedterms,asfollows:——

  Wilhelminasays,herpoorBrotherhadbeenalreadycharmedoverheadandearsbyagayyoungbaggageofaCountessOrzelska;

  averyhighandairyCountessthere;whosehistoryisnottobetouched,exceptuponcompulsion,andasifwithapairoftongs,——

  thricefamousassheoncewasinthisSaxonCourtofBeelzebub。

  ShewasKingAugust’snaturaldaughter;aFrenchmillinerinWarsawhadproducedherforhimthere。Induetime,amaleofthethreehundredandfifty—four,oneRutowski,soldierbyprofession,whomweshallagainhearof,tookherformistress;regardlessofnaturalhalf—sisterhood,whichperhapshedidnotknowof。

  TheadmiringRutowski,beingofaparticipativeturn,introducedher,afterawhile,tohishonoredparentandhers;bywhomnext——

  Heavens,humanlanguageisunequaltothehistoryofsuchthings!

  AnditisinthiscapacityshenowshinessupremeintheSaxonCourt;oglingpooryoungFritz,anddrivinghimdistracted;——whichphenomenontheBeelzebubParent—Lovernoticedwithpainandjealousy,itwouldappear。

  \"HisPolishMajestydistinguishedherextremely,\"saysPollnitz,[Memoires,ii。261。]\"andwascontinuallyvisitingher;sothattheuniversalinferencewas\"——totheaboveunspeakableeffect。\"Shewasoffinefigure;hadsomethinggrandinherairandcarriage,andtheprettiesthumorintheworld。

  Sheoftenappearedinmen’sclothes,whichbecameherverywell。

  Peoplesaidshewasextremelyopen—handed;\"asindeedtheBeelzebubParent—Loverwasofthelikequality(whenhehadcashabouthim),andtoher,atthistime,hewasprofusebeyondlimit。

  TrulyatemptingaspectoftheDevil,thisexpensiveOrzelska:

  somethingbeautifulinher,iftherearenoLawsinthisUniverse;

  notsobeautiful,ifthereare!EnoughtoturntheheadofapoorCrown—Prince,ifshelike,forsometime。Heisjustsixteengone;

  oneoftheprettiestladsandsprightliest;hishomage,clearlyenough,isnotdisagreeabletothebaggage。WhereforejealousAugust,theBeelzebub—Parent,takeshismeasures;signifiestoFritz,indirectterms,orbydiscreetdiplomatichintsandinnuendoes,ThathecanhavetheCabinetVenus(Formerahername,ofOpera—singerkind);——hopingtherebythattheOrzelskawillbeleftaloneintimecoming。A\"faconassezsinguliere\"

  foraSovereignMajestyandBeelzebubParent—Lover,thinksWilhelmina。

  ThushasourpoorFritzfallenintothewakeofBeelzebub;andisnotinagoodway。Undersuchandnobetterguidance,inthisillicitprematuremanner,hegetshisintroductiontotheparadiseoftheworld。TheFormera,beautifulaspaintedChaos;yes,her;——

  andwhynot,afterawhile,theOrzelskatoo,allthesame?

  AwonderfulArmida—Garden,sureenough。Andcannotoneadorethepainteddivinebeautiesthere(lovelyascertainapplesoftheDeadSea),forsometime?——Themiseriesallthisbroughtintohisexistence,——intohisrelationswithaFatherveryrigorousinprinciple,andwithaUniversestillmoreso,——foryearstocome,wereneitherfewnorsmall。AndthatisthemainoutcomeoftheDresdenvisitingsforhimandus。——

  GreatpledgespassbetweenthetwoKings;PrussianCrown—PrincedecoratedwiththeOrderoftheSaxonEagle,orwhatsupremedistinctiontheyhad:RutowskitakenovertoBerlintolearnwaranddrill,wherehedidnotremainlong:infactacertainlikingseemstohaverisenbetweenthetwoheterocliteindividualities,whichisperhapsworthrememberingasapointinnaturalhistory,ifnototherwise。Oneothersmallresultofthevisitisofpictorialnature。InthefamedDresdenGallerythereisstillaPicture,highup,visibleifyouhaveglasses,wheretheSaxonCourt—Painter,onFriedrichWilhelm’sbiddingitissaid,soonaftertheseauspiciousoccurrences,representsthetwoMajestiesaslargeaslife,intheirrespectivecostumesandfeatures(shortPotsdamGrenadier—ColonelandtallSaxonDariusorSardanapalus),intheactofshakinghands;symbolicallyburyingpastgrudges,andswearingeternalfriendship,sotospeak。[Forster,i。226。]

  TothisEditorthePicturedidnotseemgoodformuch;

  butFriedrichWilhelm’sPortraitinit,noneofthebest,maybeofusetotravellingfriendsofhiswhohavenoother。

  Thevisitendedonthe12thofFebruary,astheNewspaperstestify。Longbeforedaybreak,atthreeinthemorning,FriedrichWilhelm,\"whohadsmokedafterdinnertillninethenightbefore,\"

  andtakenleaveofeverybody,wasontheroad;butwasastonishedtofindKingAugustandtheElectoralPrinceorHeir—Apparent(whohadprivatelysatupforthepurpose)insistonconductinghimtohiscarriage。[Boyer,xxxv。l98。]\"Greattokensofaffection,\"

  knowntotheNewspapers,therewere;andonetokennotyetknown,apromiseonKingAugust’spartthathewouldreturnthisever—memorablecomplimentinpersonatPotsdamandBerlininafewmonths。Remember,then!——

  AsforthepoorCrown—Prince,whomalreadyhisFatherdidnotlike,henowfellintocircumstancesmoreabstrusethaneverinthatandotherrespects。Badhealth,adangerouslingeringfitofthat,soonafterhisreturnhome,wasoneofthefirstconsequences。Frequentfitsofbadhealth,forsomeyearscoming;

  withominousrumors,consultationsofphysicians,andreportstothepaternalMajesty,whichproducedsmallcomfortinthatquarter。Thesadtruth,dimlyindicated,issufficientlyvisible:

  hislifeforthenextfourorfiveyearswas\"extremelydissolute。\"Pooryoungman,hehasgotintoadisastrouscourse;

  consortschieflywithdebauchedyoungfellows,asLieutenantsKatte,Keith,andothersoftheirstamp,wholeadhimonwaysnotpleasanttohisFather,norconformabletotheLawsofthisUniverse。Health,eitherofbodyorofmind,isnottobelookedforinhispresentwayoflife。Thebrightyoungsoul,withitsfinestrengthsandgifts;wallowinglikeayoungrhinocerosinthemud—bath:——somesay,itiswholesomeforahumansoul;notwe!

  Allthisistoocertain;risingtoitsheightintheyearswearenowgotto,andnotendingforfourorfiveyearstocome:andthereadercanconceiveallthis,andwhetheritseffectsweregoodornot。FriedrichWilhelm’sold—standingdisfavorisconvertedintoopenaversionandprotest,manytimesintofitsofsorrow,rageanddespair,onhislucklessSon’sbehalf;——anditappearsdoubtfulwhetherthisbrightyounghumansoul,comparableforthepresenttoarhinoceroswallowinginthemud—bath,withnothingbutitssnoutvisible,andadirtygurgleallthesounditmakes,willevergetoutagainornot。

  Therhinocerossoulgotout;butnotuninjured;alas,no;

  bitterlypolluted,tragicallydimmedofitsfinestradiancesfortheremainderoflife。ThedistinguishedSauerteig,inhisSPRINGWURZELN,hasthesewords:\"Toburnaway,inmadwaste,thedivinearomasandplainlycelestialelementsfromourexistence;

  tochangeourholy—of—holiesintoaplaceofriot;tomakethesoulitselfhard,impious,barren!Surelyadayiscoming,whenitwillbeknownagainwhatvirtueisinpurityandcontinenceoflife;howdivineistheblushofyounghumancheeks;howhigh,beneficent,sternlyinexorableifforgotten,isthedutylaid,notonwomenonly,butoneverycreature,inregardtotheseparticulars?Well;ifsuchadaynevercomeagain,thenIperceivemuchelsewillnevercome。Magnanimityanddepthofinsightwillnevercome;heroicpurityofheartandofeye;noblepiousvalor,toamendusandtheageofbronzeandlacquer,howcantheyevercome?Thescandalousbronze—lacquerage,ofhungryanimalisms,spiritualimpotenciesandmendacities,willhavetorunitscourse,tillthePitswallowit。\"——

  InthecaseofFriedrich,itiscertainsuchadayneverfullycame。The\"ageofbronzeandlacquer,\"soasitthenstood,——

  relievedtrulybyabackboneofrealSpartanIRON(ofrightbattleSTEELwhenneeded):thiswasalltheworldheevergottodreamof。Hisideal,comparedtothatofsome,wasbutlow;

  hisexistenceahardandbarren,thoughagenuineone,andonlyworthmuchmemoryintheabsenceofbetter。Enoughofallthat。

  THEPHYSICALLYSTRONGPAYSHISCOUNTER—VISIT。

  AugusttheStrongpaidhisReturn—visitinMayfollowing。Ofwhichsublimetransaction,stupendousasitthenwastotheJournalisticmind,weshouldnowmakenomention,exceptforitsconnectionwiththosepoints,——andmoreespeciallyforafoolishrumor,whichnowroseaboutPrinceFredandtheDouble—Marriage,onoccasionofit。Themagnificenceofthisvisitandreceptionbeingsoextreme,——KingAugust,foroneitem,sailingtoit,withsoundoftrumpetandhautbois,insilkenflotillasgayerthanCleopatra’s,downtheElbe,——therewasarushtowardsBerlinofwhatwewillnotcallthescum,butmustcallthefoamofmankind,rushoftheidlemoneyedpopulationsfromallcountries;andsuchacrowdthere,forthethreeweeks,aswasseldomseen。Foameverywhereisstirredup,andencouragedtogetunderway。

  PrinceFrederickofHanoverandEngland,\"DukeofEdinburgh\"astheynowcallhim,\"DukeofGloucester\"nolonger,itwouldseem,nor\"PrinceofWales\"asyet;he,foamyasanother,hadthoughtsofcoming;andrumorofhimroseveryhighinBerlin,——howhighwehavestillsingularproof。Hereisamyth,generatedinthebusyCourt—ImaginationofBerlinatthistime;writtendownbyPollnitzasplainfactafterwards;andfromhimidlycopiedintoCOXE

  [Coxe’sWalpole(London,1798),i。520。]andotherEnglishBooks。WeabridgefromwateryPollnitz,takingcareofanysensehehas。Thisiswhatranincertainhigh—frizzledheadsthenandthere:andwasdealtoutinwhisperstoaprivilegedfew,wateryPollnitz’sinformersamongthem,tilltheygotamythmadeofit。FrederickDukeofEdinburgh,secondhopeofEnglandatthistime,heisthehero。

  Itappears,thislooseyounggentleman,standinginnofavorwithhissovereignFather,hadneveryetbeenacrosstoEngland,theroyalParentpreferringrathernottohavehiminsight;andwaslivingidleatHanover;veryeagertobeweddedtoWilhelmina,asonegrandandatpresentgrandestresourceofhisexistence。ItisnowMay,1728;andFrederickDukeofEdinburghistwenty—one。

  HewritestohisAuntandintendedMother—in—law,QueenSophie(datenotascertainabletoaday,Noteburntassoonasread):

  \"Thathecanendurethistantalizingsuspensenolonger;

  suchendlesshigglingaboutasupremeblessedness,virtuallyagreedupon,maybesporttoothers,butisdeathtohim。Thathewillcomeprivatelyatonce,andwedhisWilhelmina;andsomakeanend;thebig—wigstoadjustitafterwardsastheycanandmay。\"

  WhereuponSophieDorothee,gladdestofwomen,sendsforDubourgaytheBritishAmbassador(BrigadierDubourgay,therespectableoldgentlemanwhospellsill,whoisstrongfortheDouble—Marriagealways),totellhimwhatfinenewsthereis,andwhatanswershehassent。RespectableDubourgaystandssilent,withlengtheningface:\"YourMajesty,howunfortunatethatIofallmennowhearit!ImustinstantlydespatchacourierwiththenewstoLondon!\"

  Andtherespectableman,stoicallydeaftoherMajesty’sentreaties,toallconsiderationsbutthatofhisevidentduty,\"sendsthecourier\"(thinksPollnitz);——nipstherebythatfineHanoverspeculationinthebud,seesPrinceFredatoncesummonedovertoEngland,andproducesseveraleffects。Nearlythewholeofwhich,onexaminingtheDocuments,[Dubourgay’sDespatches(1728:

  29May,1June,5October),intheState—PaperOfficehere。]

  provestobemyth。

  Pollnitzhimselfaddstwocircumstances,inregardtoit,whichareprettyimpossible:as,first,thatFriedrichWilhelmhadjoyfullyconsentedtothisclandestinemarriage,andwaseagerlywaitingforit;second,thatGeorgeII。toohadprivatelyfavoredoreveninstigatedtheadventure,beingatheartwillingtoescapethetroubleofMessagestoParliament,toputhisSoninthewrong,andIknownotwhat。[Pollnitz,ii。272—274。]Theparticlesoffactintheaffairarelikewisetwo:First,thatQueenSophie,andfromhertheCourtierPublicgenerally,expectedtheHanoverRoyalHighness,whoprobablyhadrealthoughtsofseeingBerlinandhisIntended,onthisoccasion;DubourgayreportsdailyrumorsoftheRoyalHighnessbeingactually\"seen\"thereinanevanescentmanner;andWilhelminasays,herMotherwassocertainofhim,\"shetookeveryassormulefortheRoyalHighness,\"——heartilyindifferenttoWilhelmina。Thisisthefirstparticleoffact。

  TheSecondis,thatasubalternOfficialabouttheRoyalHighness,oneLamotheofHanover,whohadappearedinBerlinaboutthattime,wasthrownintoprisonnotlongafter,forwhatmisbehaviornoneknew,——forencouragingdissoluteRoyalHighnessinwildschemes,itwasguessed。AndsotheMythgrew,andwasfoundreadyforPollnitzandhisfollowers。RoyalHighnessdidcomeovertoEngland;notthenastheMythbears,butninemonthsafterwardsinDecembernext;andfoundothermeansofirritatinghisimperative,flighty,irascibleandratherfoolishlittleFather,inanever—increasingdegree。\"VerycoldlyreceivedatCourt,\"itissaid:illseenbyWalpoleandthePowers;beingtoolikelytobecomeafocusofOppositionthere。

  TheVisit,meanwhile,thoughtherecamenoDukeofEdinburghtoseeit,wassublimeintheextreme;PolishMajestybeingmagnificenceitself;andthefrugalFriedrichWilhelmlightinguphisdimCourtintoinsurpassablebrilliancy,regardlessofexpense;sothateventheSmokingParliament(whereAugustattendednowandthen)becameluminous。TheCrown—Prince,whoinlatemonthshadlanguishedinastateofmiserablehealth,inamannerominoustohisphysicians,confinedmostlytohisroomorhisbed,wasnowhappilyonfootagain;——andWilhelminanotesonecircumstancewhichmuchcontributedtohisrecovery:ThatthefairOrzelskahadattendedhernatural(orunnatural)Parent,onthisoccasion;andseemedtobe,asWilhelminathinks,uncommonlykindtotheCrown—Prince。TheHeir—ApparentofSaxony,ataciturn,inoffensive,ratheropaque—lookinggentleman,nowturnedofthirty,andgoneovertoPapistrylongsince,withviewstobeKingofPolandbyandby,whichprovedeffectualasweshallfind,wasalsohere:CountBruhl,too,stillinaverysubalterncapacity,andotherswhomweandtheCrown—Princeshallhavetoknow。TheHeir—Apparent’sWife(actualKaiser’sNiece,lateKaiserJoseph’sDaughter,asevereAustrianlady,haughtierthanlovely)

  hasstayedathomeinDresden。

  Buthere,atfirsthand,isaslightviewofthatuniquePolishMajesty,theSaxonManofSin;whichthereadermaybepleasedtoacceptoutofidlecuriosity,iffornobetterreason。WeabridgefromWilhelmina;[i。124。]whomFassmann,kindledtotripleaccuracybythisgrandbusiness,isathandtocorrectwhereneedful:[DesglorwurdigstenFurstenundHerrn,HerrnFriedrichAugustidesGrossenLebenundHelden—Thaten

  (OfthatmostgloriousPrinceandLord,LordFriedrichAugusttheGreat,KingofPoland,&c。,theLifeandHeroicDeeds),byD。F。

  (DavidFassmann),FrankfurtandLeipzig,1734;12mo,pp。1040。

  Aworkwrittenwithupturnedeyesofprostrateadmirationfor\"DEROMAJESTAT\"(’Theiro’Majesty)AUGUSTTHEGREAT;\"exacttoo,butdealingmerelywiththeCLOTHESofthematter,andsuchamatter:workunreadable,exceptoncompulsion,tothestupidestmortal。ThesameFassmann,whowasattheFairofSt。Germain,wholodgedsometimeswiththePotsdamGiant,andwhosewaysareallfallendarktous。]\"TheKingofPolandarriveduponusatBerlinonthe29thofMay,\"saysWilhelmina;hadbeenatPotsdam,underFriedrichWilhelm’scare,forthreedayspast:Saturdayafternoon,29thMay,1728;thatiswithexactitudetheever—memorabledate。

  HepaidhisrespectsinherMajesty’sapartment,foraninstant,thatevening;butmadehisformalvisitnextday。Verygrandindeed。Carriedbytwoshiningparti—coloredcreatures,heyducsso—called,throughdoublerowsofmerepeeragesandsublimities,inasublimesedan(beinglameofafoot,footlatelyamputatedoftwotoes,sorestillopen):\"inasedancoveredwithredvelvetgalloonedwithgold,\"saysthedevoutFassmann,tremblinglyexact,\"upthegrandstaircasealongthegrandGallery;\"inwhichsupremeregion(ApartmentsofthelateKingFriedrichofgorgeousmemory)

  herMajestynowisfortheoccasion。\"TheQueenreceivedhimatthedoorofherthirdAntechamber,\"saysWilhelmina;thirdoroutmostAntechamber,endofthatgrandGalleryanditspeeragesandshiningcreatures:\"hegavetheQueenhishand,andledherin。\"WePrincesseswerethere,atleastthegrownonesofuswere。

  Allstanding,excepttheQueenonly。\"Herefusedtosit,andagainrefused;\"stoicallytalkedgraciosities,disregardingthepainofhisfoot;anddidnot,tillrefusalthreatenedtobecomeuncivil,complywithherMajesty’sentreaties。\"Howunpolite!\"smiledhetousyoungones。\"Hehadamajesticportandphysiognomy;anaffablepoliteairaccompaniedallhismovements,allhisactions。\"

  Kindofstereotypedsmileonhisface;nothingoftheinnergloomvisibleonourCharlesII。andsimilarmenofsin。HelookedoftenatWilhelmina,andwascomplimentarytoadegree,——forreasonsundivinabletoWilhelmina。Fortherest,\"muchbrokenforhisage;\"theterribledebaucheries(LESDEBAUCHESTERRIBLES)havinghadtheireffectonhim。HehasfallenWidowerlastyear。HispoorWifewasaBrandenburg—BaireuthPrincess;adevoutkindofwoman;

  austerelywitnessingtheirremediableinherlot。Hehasgotfaronwithhisthreehundredandfifty—four;isnowgoingfifty—five;——lameofafoot,aswesee,whichthegreatPetitofPariscannotcure,neitherhenoranySurgeon,butcanonlyalleviatebycuttingofftwotoes。Pinkofpoliteness,nodoubtofit;butotherwisethestrangestdilapidatedhulkofatwo—leggedanimalwithoutfeathers;probably,infact,thechiefNaturalSolecismundertheSunatthatepoch;——extremelycomplimentarytousPrincesses,tomeespecially。\"HequittedherMajesty’sApartmentafteranhour’sconversation:sherosetoreconducthim,buthewouldbynomannerofmeanspermitthat,\"——andsovanished,carriedoffdoubtlessbytheshiningcreaturesagain。

  The\"ElectoralPrince\"Heir—Apparent,nextmadehisvisit;

  buthewasadrysubjectincomparison,ofwhomnoPrincesscansaymuch。PrinceFriedrichwillknowhimbetterbyandby。

  YoungMaurice,\"CountofSaxony,\"famedafterwardsasMARECHALDE

  SAXE,healsoisherewithhisHalf—SisterOrzelskaandtheothers,inthetrainofthepaternalManofSin;andmakesacquaintancewithFriedrich。HeissonofthefemaleKonigsmarkcalledAurora(\"whoaloneofmortalscouldmakeCharlesTwelfthflyhisground\");nephew,therefore,ofthemaleKonigsmarkwhowascutdownlongagoatHanover,andburiedinthefireplace。

  HeresembleshisFatherinstrength,vivacity,aboveallthingsindebauchery,anddisregardoffinance。Theymarriedhimatthedueyearstosomepoorrichwoman;butwithherhehasalreadyended;

  withherandwithmanyothers。Courland,AdrienneLecouvreur,AnneIwanownawiththebigcheek:——thereaderhasperhapssearchedoutthesethingsforhimselffromthedullHistory—Books;——orperhapsitwasbetterforhimifheneversoughtthem?DukedomofCourland,connectedwithPolishsovereignty,andnowabouttofallvacant,wasoneofCountMaurice’sgrandsalliesintheworld。

  AdrienneLecouvreur,foolishFrenchActress,lenthimallthe30,000poundsshehadgatheredbyholdingthemirroruptoNatureandotherwise,toprosecutethisCourlandbusiness;whichprovedimpossibleforhim。Hewasadventurousenough,audaciousenough;

  foughtwell;buttheproblemwas,TofallinlovewiththeDowagerAnneIwanowna,CousinofCzarPeterII。;bigbrazenRussianwoman(suchacheekthePicturesgiveher,insizeandsomewhatinexpressionlikeaWestphaliaham!),whowasWidowofthelastactiveDuke:——andthis,withallhisadventurousaudacity,CountMauricecouldnotdo。ThebigWidowdiscoveredthathedidnotlikeWestphaliahamsinthatparticularform;thatheonlypretendedtolikethem;uponwhich,injustindignation,shedisownedanddismissedhim;andfallingherselftobeCzarinanotlongafterwards,andtakingBierentheCourlanderforherbeloved,shemadeBierenDuke,andCourlandbecameimpossibleforCountMaurice。

  However,hetooisadashingyoungfellow;\"circularblackeyebrows,eyesglitteringbright,partlywithanimalvivacity,partlywithspiritual;\"standssixfeetinhisstockings,breakshorse—shoeswithhishands;fullofirregularingenuityandaudacity;hasbeensoldieringabout,eversincebirthalmost;

  andunderstandsmanyathing,thoughtheworstSPELLEReverknown。

  WithhimtooyoungFritzismuchcharmed:theflower,he,oftheillegitimatethreehundredandfifty—four,andprobablythechiefachievementoftheSaxonManofSininthisworld,wherehetooksuchtrouble。Friedrichandhemaintainedsomeoccasionalcorrespondenceafterwards;but,tojudgebyFriedrich’spartofit(merepolitecongratulationsonFontenoy,andthelike),itmusthavebeenofthelastvacuity;andtousitisnowabsolutezero,howeverclearlyspeltandprinted。[Givenaltogetherin

  OEuvresdeFredericleGrand,xvii。300—309。

  Seefarther,whoeverhascuriosity,Preuss,FriedrichsLebensgeschichte,iii。167—169;Espagnac,

  VieduComtedeSaxe(agoodlittlemilitaryBook,doneintoGerman,Leipzig,1774,2vols。);Cramer,

  DenkwurdigkeitenderGrafinAuroravonKonigsmark

  (Leipzig,1836);&c。&c。]

  ThePhysicallyStrong,insomethreeweeks,afterkindlingsuchaneffulgenceaboutBerlinaswasneverseenbeforeorsinceinFriedrichWilhelm’sreign,wenthiswayagain,——\"towardsPolandfortheDiet,\"ornoneofuscareswhitherorforwhat。HereatBerlinhehasbeensublimeenough。SomeofthephenomenasurpassedanythingWilhelminaeversaw:suchfloodsandrowsofresplendentpeoplecrowdingintodinner;andshecouldnotbutcontrastthesplendorofthePolishretinuesandtheirplumagesanddraperies,withthestrait—buttonedPrussiandignitaries,allinmeresoldieruniform,succinct\"bluecoat,whitelinengaiters,\"andnosuperfluityevenintheepaulettesandredfacings。Attable,shesays,theydrankmuch,talkedlittle,andboredoneanotheragreatdeal(S’ENNUYOIENTBEAUCOUP)。

  OFPRINCESSWHILHELMINA’SFOURKINGSANDOTHERINEFFECTUALSUITORS。

  DilapidatedPolishMajesty,weobserved,wasextremelyattentivetoWilhelmina;norcouldsheascertain,forlongafter,whattheparticularreasonwas。Longafter,Wilhelminaascertainedthattherehadbeenthewonderfulestschemeconcocting,orasgoodasconcocted,intheseswearingsofeternalfriendship:nootherthanthatofmarryingher,Wilhelmina,nowaslimmaidencomingnineteen,tothisdilapidatedSaxonManofSingoing(orlimping)

  fifty—five,andbrokenbyDEBAUCHESTERRIBLES(riversofchampagneandtokay,foroneitem),whohadfallenaWidowerlastyear!

  Theyhadschemeditallout,Wilhelminaunderstands:FriedrichWilhelmtoadvancesuchandsuchmoneysasdowry,andothersfurthermoreasloan,fortheoccasionsofhisPolishMajesty,whicharemanifold;WilhelminatohaveTheLausitz(LUSATIA)forjointure,LausitztobeFriedrichWilhelm’spledgewithal;

  andotherintricateconditions;[Wilhelmina,i。114。]whatwouldWilhelminahavethought?Oneshudderstocontemplate;——hopesitmightmostlybeloosebrain—webandcourtierspeculation,neversettledtowardsfact。

  Itiscertain,thedilapidatedPolishMajestyhavingbecomeaWidower,questionswouldrise,Willnothemarryagain?Andwithwhom?Certainalso,hewantsFriedrichWilhelm’salliance;

  havinggreatschemesontheanvil,whichareliketobedelicateandperilous,——schemesof\"partitioningPoland,\"noless;thatistosay,cuttingofftheoutskirtsofPoland,flingingthemtoneighboringSovereignsaspropitiation,orpriceofgood—will,andrenderingtheresthereditaryinhisfamily。PragmaticSanctiononceaccededto,wouldprobablypropitiatetheKaiser?Forwhich,andotherreasons,PolishMajestystillkeepsthatcardinhishand。FriedrichWilhelm’salliance,withsuchanarmyandsuchatreasury,theusesofthatareevidenttothePolishMajesty。——

  BytheblessingofHeaven,however,hismarriagewithWilhelminanevercametoanything:hisElectoralPrince,Heir—Apparent,objectedtothejointuresandalienations,softly,steadily;

  andtheprojecthadtodropbeforeWilhelminaeverknewofit。

  Andthismanisprobablyoneofthe\"FourKings\"shewastobeaskedby?ASwedishOfficer,withsomeskillinpalmistry,manyyearsago,lookedintoherinnocentlittlehand,andprophesied,\"Shewastobeintermsofcourtship,engagementorasgoodasengagement,withFourKings,andtowednoneofthem。\"Wilhelminacountstheminhermaturedays。TheFIRSTwillsurpriseeverybody,——CharlesXII。ofSweden;——whonevercanhavebeenmuchofasuitor,theratherastheyoungLadywasthenonlysixgone;

  butwho,might,likeenough,betalkedof,bytransientthird—parties,inthoseoldStralsundtimes。TheSECOND,——cannotWEguesswhothesecondis?TheTHIRDisthisAugustthedilapidatedStrong。AstotheSECOND,Wilhelminaseesalready,incredulousmoments,thatitmaybeHanoverFred,whomshewillnevermarryeither;——anddoesnotsee(nordid,atthetimeofwritingherMemoires,\"in1744\"saytheBooks)thatFredneverwouldcometoKingship,andthatthePalmistrywasincompleteinthatpoint。TheFOURTH,again,isclearlyyoungCzarPeterII。;ofwhomtherewastransienttalkorproject,someshorttimeafterthisofthedilapidatedTHIRD。

  Butthattoocametonothing;thepooryoungladdiedwhileonlyfifteen;nayhehadalready\"falleninlovewithhisAuntElizabeth\"(INFAMECATINDUNORDintimecoming),andgivenupthePrussianprospect。[HewastheGreatPeter’sGrandson(Sonhavinggoneatragicalroad);Czar,May,1727——January,1730:

  AnneIwanowna(GreatPeter’sNiece,elderBrother’sDaughter),ourCourlandfriendwiththebigcheek,succeeded;tillherdeath,October,1740:then,aftersomeslightshockofrevolution,theElizabethjustmentioned,whowasDaughteroftheGreatPeterbyhislittlebrownCzarinaCatherinewhomweoncemet。

  SeeMannstein,MemoirsofRussia(London,1770),pp。1—23,forsomeaccountofPeterII。;andtherestoftheVolumeforareallyintelligentHistoryofthisAnne,atleastofherWars,whereMannsteinhimselfusuallyhadpart。

  Allwhichwouldbenothing,oralmostless,toWilhelmina,walkingfancy—freethere,——wereitnotforPapaandMamma,andtheimportunateinsidiousby—standers。Whodomakeathingofit,firstandlast!Neverinanyromanceorstage—playwasyoungLady,withoutblame,withoutfurtheranceandwithouthindranceofherown,sotormentedaboutasettlementinlife;——passiveshe,allthewhile,mereclayinthehandsofthepotter;andbeggingtheUniversetohavetheextremegoodnessonlytoleaveheralone!——

  Thustoo,amongthetrainofKingAugustinthisBerlinvisit,acertainSoldierOfficialofhis,DukeofSachsenWeissenfels,JohannAdolfbyname,apoorCadetCousinoftheSaxonHouse,——

  anotherelderlyRoyalHighnessofsmallpossibility,——wasparticularlyattentivetoWilhelmina;nowandonsubsequentoccasions。TitularDukeofWeissenfels,BrotheroftherealDuke,andnotevensureofthesuccessionasyet;butlivingonKingAugust’spay;notwithoutcapacityofdrinkandthelike,someallege:——otherwiseamerebetitled,betasselledelderlymilitarygentleman,ofnospecialqualities,evilorgood;——whowilloftenturnupagaininthisHistory;butfailsalwaystomakeanyimpressiononusexceptthatofaSereneHighnessintheabstract;

  unexceptionableHumanMask,ofpoliteturn,behungwithtitles,andnodoubtastomachintheinsideofit:henow,andafterwards,byallopportunities,diligentlycontinuedhisattentionsintheWilhelminaquarter。Foragoodwhileitwasneverguessedwhathecouldbedrivingat;tillatlastQueenSophie,becomingawareofit,tookhimtotask;withcoldseverity,remindedhimthatsomethingsareonone’slevel,andsomethingsnot。Towhichhumblybowing,inunfeignedpenitence,heretiredfromtheaudacity,backforemost:Wouldneverevenindreamshavepresumed,hadnothisPrussianMajestyauthorized;

  wouldnow,sinceHERPrussianMajestyhadthatfeeling,withdrawsilently,andliveforgotten,asanobscureRoyalHighnessintheabstract(thoughfallenWidowerlately)oughttodo。Andsoatleasttherewasanendofthatmatter,onemighthope,——thoughineffectitstillabortivelystartedupnowandthen,onPapa’spart,inhisfrantichumors,foryearstocome。

  ThenthereistheMargrafofSchwedt,FriedrichWilhelmbyname,chiefPrinceoftheBlood,hisMajesty’sCousin,andtheOldDessauer’sNephew;noneofthelikeliestofmen,intrinsicallytaken:heandhisDowagerMother——theDessauer’sSister,ahigh—going,tacitlyobstinateoldDowager(whodresses,ifI

  recollect,inflagrantcolors)——areverytroublesometoWilhelmina。TheflagrantDame——shemighthavebeen\"Queen—Mother\"

  onceforsooth,hadPapaandmyBrotherbutbeenmadeawaywith!——

  watcheshertime,andisdiligentbyallopportunities。

  ChapterIV。

  DOUBLE—MARRIAGEPROJECTISNOTDEAD。

  AndtheDouble—Marriage,insuchcircumstances,arewetoconsideritasdead,then?InthesoulofQueenSophieandthoseshecaninfluence,itlivesflame—bright;butwithallothersithasfallenintoaverydimstate。FriedrichWilhelmisstillprivatelywilling,perhapsinadegreewishful;butthedelays,thesuperciliousneglectshavemuchdisgustedhim;andhe,inthemeanwhile,entertainsthosenewspeculations。GeorgeII。,neveraloverofthePrussianMajesty’snorlovedbyhim,hasbeenveryhighanddistanteversincehisAccession;offensiveratherthanotherwise。Healsoisunderstoodtobevaguelywillingforthething;willingenough,woulditbesokindasaccomplishitselfwithouttroubletohim。Butthesettlements,theapplicationstoParliament:——andallforthisperverseFred,whohasbecomeunlovely,andirritatesourroyalmind?Georgepushesthematterintoitspigeon—holesagain,whenbroughtbeforehim。

  HigherthoughtsoccupythesouloflittleGeorge。CongressofSoissons,ConventionofthePardo,[Or,ineffect,\"TreatyofMadrid,\"6thMarch,1728。ThiswasthePREFACEtoSoissons;

  Termagantatlengthconsentingthere,\"atherPalaceofthePardo\"

  (Kaiserandalltheworldurgingherfortenmonthspast),toacceptthePeace,andleaveoffbesiegingGibraltartonopurpose(Coxe,i。303)。]TreatyofSeville;aparttobeactedontheworld—theatre,withapplauses,withenvies,almostfromtheverydemi—gods?GreatKaisers,overshadowingNaturewiththeirPragmaticSanctions,theirpreternaturalDiplomacies,andmakingtheTerrestrialBalancereelhitherandthither;——Kaiserstobeclenchedperhapsbyone’sdexterityofgrasp,andtheBalancesteadiedagain?PrussianDouble—Marriage!

  OneroyalsoulthereiswhoneverwillconsenttohavetheDouble—Marriagedie:QueenSophie。Shehadpassedherownprivateact—of—parliamentforit;shewasaveryobstinatewife,toahusbandequallyobstinate。\"JEBOULEVERSERAIL’EMPIRE,\"writessheonce;\"IwilloverturntheGermanEmpire,\"iftheydrivemetoit,inthismatter。[LettercopiedbyDubourgay(inDespatch,markedPRIVATE,toLordTownshend,3d—14thMay,1729);noclearaddressgiven,——probablytoDubourgayhimself,CONVEYEDby\"aLady\"(oneoftheQueen’sLadies),ashedimlyintimates。]WhatsecretmanoeuvringandendeavoringwentonunweariedlyonroyalSophie’spart,weneednotsay;norinwhatbadelement,ofdarknessandmendacity,ofeavesdropping,rumoring,backstairsintriguing,theaffairnowmoved。ShecorrespondsonitwithQueenCarolineofEngland;shekeepshertwochildrentruetoit,especiallyherSon,themoreimportantofthem。

  CROWN—PRINCEFRIEDRICHWRITESCERTAINLETTERS。

  QueenSophiedidnotoverturntheEmpire,butshedidalmostoverturnherownandherfamily’sexistence,bythesecourses;

  whichwerenotwiseinhercase。ItiscertainshepersuadedCrown—PrinceFriedrich,whowasalwayshisMother’sboy,andwhoperhapsneededlittlebiddinginthisinstance,\"towritetoQueenCarolineofEngland;\"Lettersoneorseveral:thrice—dangerousLetters;settingforth(insubstance),HisdeathlessaffectiontothatBeautyoftheworld,herMajesty’sdivineDaughterthePrincessAmelia(averyparagonofyoungwomen,tojudgebyherpictureandone’sownimagination);andlikewisethefirmresolutionhe,FriedrichCrown—Prince,hasformed,andthevowheherebymakes,Eithertowedthatcelestialcreaturewhenpermitted,orelseneveranyoftheDaughtersofEveinthisworld。CongressesofSoissons,SmokingParliaments,PreliminariesofthePardoandTreatiesofSevillemaygohowtheycan。Ifwell,itshallbewell:ifnotwell,hereismyvow,solemnpromiseandunchangeabledetermination,whichyourgraciousMajestyishumblyentreatedtolayupinthetabletsofyourroyalheart,andtorememberonmybehalf,shouldbaddaysarise!——

  ItisclearsuchLettersweresent;atwhatdatefirstbeginning,wedonotknow;——possiblybeforethisdate?Norwouldmattersrisetothevowingpitchallatonce。OneLetter,supremelydangerousshoulditcometobeknown,Wilhelminahascopiedforus,[Wilhelmina,i。183。]——inOfficialstyle(foritistheMother’scompositionthisone)andwithoutdatetoit:——theguessabledateisabouttwoyearshence;andwewillgivethepoorDocumentfartheron,iftherebeplaceforit。

  SuchparticularsareyetdeeplyunknowntoFriedrichWilhelm;

  buthesurmisesthegeneraldriftofthingsinthatquarter;

  andhowadisobedientSon,crossinghisFather’swillineverypoint,abetshisMother’sdisobedience,itselfaudaciousenough,inregardtothisone。ItisafearfulaggravationofFriedrichWilhelm’sill—humorwithsuchaSon,whichhaslongbeenuponthegrowinghand。Hisdislikes,weknow,wereotherwiseneitherfewnorsmall。Mere\"disLIKES\"properlysocalled,ordissimilaritiestoFriedrichWilhelm,agoodmanyofthem;dissimilaritiesalsotoaHigherPattern,some!ButthesetroublesoftheDouble—Marriagewillnowhurrythem,thejustandtheunjustofthem,towardstheflamingpitch。Thepooryouthhasabadtime;andthepoorFathertoo,whosehumorweknow!Surlygustsofindignation,notunfrequentlycuffsandstrokes;orstillworse,asettledaversion,andrageofthechronickind;studiedneglectandcontempt,——soasnoteventohelphimattable,butleavehimfastingwhiletheotherseat;[Dubourgay,SCAPIUS。]thistheyoungmanhastobear。Theinnumerablemaltreatments,authenticallychronicledinWilhelmina’sandtheotherBooks,thoughinadateless,unintelligiblemanner,wouldmakeatragicsum!——

  HerearetwoBillets,copiedfromthePrussianState—Archives,whichwillshowustowhatheightmattershadgone,inthistheyoungman’sseventeenthyear。

  TOHISMAJESTY(fromtheCrown—Prince)。

  \"WUSTERHAUSEN,11thSeptember,1728。

  MYDEARPAPA,——Ihavenot,foralongwhile,presumedtocometomydearPapa;partlybecauseheforbademe;butchieflybecauseI

  hadreasontoexpectastillworsereceptionthanusual:and,forfearofangeringmydearPapabymypresentrequest,Ihavepreferredmakingitinwritingtohim。

  IthereforebegmydearPapatobegracioustome;andcanheresaythat,afterlongreflection,myconsciencehasnotaccusedmeofanytheleastthingwithwhichIcouldreproachmyself。ButifIhave,againstmywillandknowledge,doneanythingthathasangeredmydearPapa,Iherewithmostsubmissivelybegforgiveness;andhopemydearPapawilllayasidethatcruelhatredwhichIcannotbutnoticeinallhistreatmentofme。

  Icouldnototherwisesuitmyselftoit;asIalwaysthoughtIhadagraciousPapa,andnowhavetoseethecontrary。Itakeconfidence,then,andhopethatmydearPapawillconsiderallthis,andagainbegracioustome。And,inthemeanwhile,I

  assurehimthatIwillnever,allmydays,failwithmywill;

  and,notwithstandinghisdisfavortome,remain\"MydearPapa’s\"MostfaithfulandobedientServantandSon,\"FRIEDRICH。\"

  TowhichFriedrichWilhelm,byreturnofmessenger,writeswhatfollows。Veryimplacable,wemayperceive;——notcallinghisPetitioner\"Thou,\"askindPaternitymighthavedictated;

  infinitelylessbythepolitetitle\"They(SIE),\"whichlatterindeed,thedistinguishedtitleof\"SIC,\"hisPrussianMajesty,wecanremark,reservesforForeignersofthesupremestquality,anddomesticPrincesoftheBlood;namingallotherPrussiansubjects,andpoorFritzinthisplace,\"He(ER),\"inthestyleofagentlemantohisvalet,——whichstyleevenavaletofthesenewdaysofourswouldbeunwillingtoputupwith。\"ER,He,\"\"His\"

  andtheotherderivativessoundloftilyrepulsiveintheGermanear;andlayopenimpassablegulfsbetweentheSpeakerandtheSpoken—to。\"Hisobstinate\"——Butwemust,afterall,sayTHYandTHOUforintelligibility’ssake:——

  \"Thyobstinateperversedisposition[KOPF,head],whichdoesnotlovethyFather,——forwhenonedoeseverything[everythingcommanded]andreallylovesone’sFather,onedoeswhattheFatherrequires,notwhileheistheretoseeit,butwhenhisbackisturnedtoo[HisMajesty’sstyleisveryabstruse,ill—spelt,intricate,andinthisinstancetripsitself,andfallsonitsfacehere,amereintricatenominativewithoutaverb!]——Fortherest,thouknow’stverywellthatIcanendurenoeffeminatefellow(EFEMINIRTENKERL),whohasnohumaninclinationinhim;

  whoputshimselftoshame,cannotridenorshoot;andwithalisdirtyinhisperson;frizzleshishairlikeafool,anddoesnotcutitoff。AndallthisIhave,athousandtimes,reprimanded;

  butallinvain,andnoimprovementinnothing(KEINEBESSERUNGIN

  NITSIST)。Fortherest,haughty,proudasachurl;speakstonobodybutsomefew,andisnotpopularandaffable;andcutsgrimaceswithhisface,asifhewereafool;anddoesmywillinnothingunlessheldtoitbyforce;nothingoutoflove;——andhaspleasureinnothingbutfollowinghisownwhims[ownKOPF],——nousetohiminanythingelse。Thisistheanswer。

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