\"AtBelgard,nextmorning,hereviewedtheDragoonRegimentvonPlaten;andwasveryillcontentwithit。Andnobody,withtheleastunderstandingofthatbusiness,butmustownthatneverdidPrussianRegimentmanoeuvreworse。Consciousthemselveshowbaditwas,theylosthead,andgotintoopenconfusion。TheKingdidallthatwaspossibletohelpthemintoorderagain。Hewithdrewthriceover,togivetheOfficerstimetorecoverthemselves;
butitwasallinvain。TheKing,contrarytowont,restrainedhimselfamazingly,andwouldnotshowhisdispleasureinpublic。
Hegotintohiscarriage,anddroveawaywiththeFurstofAnhalt,\"OldDessauer,\"andVonWinterfeld,\"CaptainintheGiantRegiment,\"whoisnowMajor—GeneralvonWinterfeld;[Major—Generalsince1743,ofhighfame;fellinfight,7thSeptember,1757。]notstayingtodinewithGeneralvonPlaten,aswasalwayshiscustomwithCommandantswhomhehadreviewed。HebadePrinceWilhelmandtherestofusstayanddine;hehimselfdroveaway,\"——towardsthegreatroadagain,andsomeuncertainlodgingthere。
\"Westayedaccordingly;anddidfulljusticetothegoodcheer,\"——
thoughpoorPlatenwouldcertainlylookflustered,onemayfancy。
\"ButasthePrincewasanxioustocomeupwithhisMajestyagain,andknewnotwherehewouldmeethim,wehadtobeveryswiftwiththebusiness。
\"WefoundtheKingwithAnhaltandWinterfeld,byandby;sittinginavillage,infrontofabarn,andeatingacoldpiethere,whichtheFurstofAnhalthadchancedtohavewithhim;hisMajesty,owingtowhathehadseenontheparade—ground,wasintheutmostill—humor(HOCHSTUBLERLAUNE)。Nextday,Saturday,hewentahundredandfiftyortwohundredmiles;andarrivedinBerlinattenatnight。Notexpectedtheretillthemorrow;sothathisroomswerelocked,——herMajestybeingoverinMonbijou,givingherchildrenaBall;\"[Pollnitz,ii。534—537。]——andwecanfancywhataframeofmindtherewas!
Nobody,notatfirsteventheDoctors,muchheededthisnewfitofillness;whichwentandcame:\"changedtemper,\"deeperorlessdeepgloomof\"badhumor,\"beingthemainphenomenontoby—
standers。Butthesadtruthwas,hisMajestyneverdidrecoverhissunshine;fromPillauonwardshewasslowlyenteringintotheshadowsofthetotalLastEclipse;andhisjourneyingsandreviewingsinthisworldwerealldone。Tenmonthshence,Pollnitzandothersknewbetterwhatithadbeen!——
ChapterVII。
LASTYEAROFREINSBERG:TRANSITOFBALTIMOREANDOTHERPERSONSANDTHINGS。
FriedrichhadnotbeenlonghomeagainfromTrakehnenandPreussen,whentheroutineofthingsatReinsbergwasilluminatedbyVisitors,ofbrilliantandlearnedquality;someofwhom,acertainSignorAlgarottiforone,requirepassingmentionhere。
Algarotti,whobecameapermanentfriendorsatellite,veryluminoustothePrince,andwasmuchabouthimincomingyears,firstshoneoutuponthesceneatthistime,——comingunexpectedly,andfromtheEastwardasitchanced。
Onhisownscore,Algarottihasbecomeawearisomeliterarymantomodernreaders:oneofthosehalf—rememberedmen;whosebooksseemtoclaimareading,anddonotrepayityouwhengiven。Treatises,ofaseriousnature,ONTHEOPERA;settingforth,inearnest,thepotential\"moraluses\"oftheOpera,anddedicatedtoChatham;
NeutonianismoperleDonne(AstronomyforLadies):themereTitlesofsuchthingsarefatallysufficienttous;andwecannot,withouteffort,norwithit,recallthebrilliancyofAlgarottiandthemtohiscontemporaryworld。
AlgarottiwasarichVenetianMerchant’sSon,preciselyabouttheCrown—Prince’sage;shonegreatlyinhisstudiesatBolognaandelsewhere;hadwrittenPoesies(RIME);writtenespeciallythatNewtonianismfortheDames(equaltoFontenelle,saidFame,andorthodoxNewtonianwithal,notheterodoxorCartesian);andhadshone,respected,atParis,onthestrengthofit,forthreeorfouryearspast:friendofVoltaireinconsequence,ofVoltaireandhisdivineEmilie,andawelcomeguestatCirey;friendofthecultivatedworldgenerally,whichwasthenlaboring,divineEmilieinthevanofit,tounderstandNewtonandbeorthodoxinthisdepartmentofthings。
AlgarottididfinePoesies,too,onceandagain;didClassicalScholarships,andmuchelse:everywhereaclear—headed,methodicallydistinct,concisekindofman。Ahighstyleofbreedingabouthim,too;hadpowersofpleasing,andusedthem:
amanbeautifullylucentinsociety,gentleyetimpregnablethere;
keepinghimselfunspottedfromtheworldanditsdiscrepancies,——
reallywithconsiderableprudence,firstandlast。
HeissomewhatoftheBielfeldtype;aMerchant’sSon,weobserve,likeBielfeld;butaVenetianMerchant’s,notaHamburg’s;andalsoofbetternaturalstuffthanBielfeld。Concentratedhimselfuponhistaskwithmoreseriousness,andmadeahigherthingofitthanBielfeld;though,afterall,itwasthesametaskthetwohad。Alas,our\"SwanofPadua\"(sotheysometimescalledhim)onlysailed,paddlinggrandly,no—whither,——astheSwan—GooseoftheElbedid,inalessstatelymanner!OnecannotwellbeartoreadhisBooks。ThereisnolightuponFriedrichtotemptus;
betterlightthanBielfeld’stherecouldhavebeen,andmuchofit:butheprudently,aswellasproudly,forboresuchtopics。
Heapproachesverynearfertilityandgenialityinhiswritings,butneverreachesit。Dilettantismbecomeseriousandstrenuous,inthosedepartments——Well,itwasbeautifultoyoungFriedrichandtheworldatthattime,thoughitisnottous!——YoungAlgarotti,twenty—seventhisyear,hasbeentouringaboutasacelebritythesefouryearspast,onthestrengthofhisfinemannersandNewtonianismfortheDames。
ItwasunderescortofBaltimore,\"anEnglishMilord,\"recommendedfromPotsdamitself,thatAlgarotticametoReinsberg;theSignorhadmuchtodowithEnglishpeoplenowandafter。WhereBaltimorefirstpickedhimup,Iknownot:buttheyhavebeentoRussiatogether;Baltimorebytwelveyearstheelderofthetwo:andnow,gettinghometowardsEnglandagain,theycallatReinsberginthefineAutumnweather;——andconsiderablycaptivatetheCrown—Prince,Baltimoreplayingchief,inthatasinotherpoints。Thevisitlastedfivedays:[20th—25thSeptember,1739(OEuvresdeFrederic,xiv。p。xiv)。]therewascopiousspeechonmanythings;——discussionaboutPrintingoftheANTIMACHIAVEL;
AlgarottitogetitprintedinEngland,AlgarottitogetPineandhisEngravedHENRIADEputunderway;neitherofwhichprojectstookeffect;——readerscanconceivewhatacharmingfivedaysthesewere。Here,intheCrown—Prince’sownwords,aresomebriefglimmeringswhichwillsufficeus:——
REINSBERG,25thSEPT。1739(Crown—PrincetoPapa)……that\"nothingnewhasoccurredintheRegiment,andwehavefewsick。
HerehastheEnglishMilord,whowasatPotsdam,passingthrough[stayedfivedays,thoughwecallitpassing,andsuppresstheAlgarotti,Baltimorebeingindeedchief]。HeisgonetowardsHamburg,totakeshipforEnglandthere。AsIheardthatmyMostAll—graciousFatherwishedIshouldshowhimcourtesy,IhavedoneforhimwhatIcould。ThePrinceofMirowhasalsobeenhere,\"——
ouroldStrelitzfriend。OfBaltimorenothingmoretoPapa。ButtoanotherCorrespondent,tothegoodSuhm(whoisnowatPetersburg,andmuchinourintimacy,readytotransactloansforus,translateWolf,ordowhatiswanted),thereisthispassagenextday:——
REINSBERG,26thSEPTEMBER,1739(toSuhm)。\"WehavehadMilordBaltimorehere,andtheyoungAlgarotti;bothofthemmenwho,bytheiraccomplishments,cannotbutconciliatetheesteemandconsiderationofallwhoseethem。Wetalkedmuchofyou[Suhm],ofPhilosophy,ofScience,Art;inshort,ofallthatcanbeincludedinthetasteofcultivatedpeople(HONNETESGENS)。\"
[OEuvresdeFrederic,xvi。378。]Andagaintoanother,abouttwoweekshence:——
REINSBERG,10thOCTOBER,1739(toVoltaire)。\"WehavehadMilordBaltimoreandAlgarottihere,whoaregoingbacktoEngland。
ThisMilordisaverysensibleman(HOMMETRESSENSE);
whopossessesagreatdealofknowledge,andthinks,likeus,thatsciencescanbenodisparagementtonobility,nordegradeanillustriousrank。IadmiredthegeniusofthisANGLAIS,asonedoesafinefacethroughacrapeveil。HespeaksFrenchveryill,yetonelikestohearhimspeakit;andasforhisEnglish,hepronouncesitsoquick,thereisnopossibilityoffollowinghim。
HecallsaRussian’amechanicalanimal。’Hesays’PetersburgistheeyeofRussia,withwhichitkeepscivilizedcountriesinsight;ifyoutookthiseyefromit,Russiawouldfallagainintobarbarism,outofwhichitisjuststruggling。’[Ib。xxi。326,327。]……YoungAlgarotti,whomyouknow,pleasedmebeyondmeasure。Hepromisedthathe\"——ButBaltimore,promiseornot,isthechieffigureatpresent。
Evidentlyanoriginalkindoffiguretous,CETANGLAIS。
AndindeedthereisalreadyfinishedarhymedEPISTLEtoBaltimore;EpitresurlaLiberte(copygoesinthatsameLETTER,forVoltaire’sbehoof),whichdatesitselflikewiseOctober10th;beginning,——
\"L’espritlibre,Milord,quiregneenAngleterre,\"
which,thoughitisfulloffinesinceresentiments,abouthumandignity,papalsuperstition,Newton,Locke,andaspirationsforprogressofcultureinPrussia,noreadercouldstandatthisepoch。
WhatBaltimoresaidinanswertotheEPITRE,wedonotknow;
probablynotmuch:itdoesnotappearheeversaworspoketoFriedrichasecondtime。Threeweeksafter,FriedrichwritingtoAlgarotti,hasthesewords:\"IprayyoumakemyfriendshipstoMilordBaltimore,whosecharacterandmannerofthinkingItrulyesteem。Ihopehehas,bythistime,gotmyEPITREontheEnglishLibertyofThought。\"[29thOctober1739,ToAlgarottiinLondon(OEuvres,xviii。5)。]AndsoBaltimorepasseson,silentinHistoryhenceforth,——thoughFriedrichseemstohaverememberedhimtolatetimes,asakindoftype—figurewhenEnglandcameintohishead。Forthesakeofthissmalltransitoverthesun’sdisk,IhavemadesomeinquiryaboutBaltimore;butfoundverylittle;——perhapsenough:——
\"HewasCharles,SixthLordBaltimore,itappears;Sixth,andlastbutone。FirstoftheBaltimores,weknow,wasSecretaryCalvert(1618—1624),whocolonizedMaryland;lastofthem(1774)wastheSonofthisCharles;somethingofafool,tojudgebythefaceofhiminPortraits,andbysomeofhisdoingsintheworld。He,thatSeventhBaltimore,printedoneortwolittleVolumes\"nowofextremerarity\"——cannotbetoorare);andwindedupbystandinganuglyTrialatKingstonAssizes(plaintiffanunfortunatefemale)。
AfterwhichheretiredtoNaples,andthereended,1774,thelastoftheseMilords。[Walpole(byPark),CatalogueofRoyalandNobleAuthors(London,1806),v。278。]
\"HeoftheKingstonAssizes,wesay,wasnotthisCharles;buthisSon,whomletthereaderforget。Charles,agefortyatthistime,hadtravelledabouttheContinentagooddeal:once,longago,weimaginedwehadgotaglimpseofhim(butitwasaguessmerely)
loungingaboutLunevilleandLorraine,alongwithLyttelton,intheCongress—of—Soissonstime?Notlongafterthat,itiscertainenough,hegotappointedaGentlemanoftheBedchambertoPrinceFred;whowasafriendofspeculativetalkersandcultivatedpeople。InwhichsituationCharlesSixthBaronBaltimorecontinuedallhisdaysafter;andmighthaverisenbymeansofFred,ashewasanxiousenoughtodo,hadbothofthemlived;buttheybothdied;Baltimorefirst,in1751,ayearbeforeFred。BubbDoddington,diligentlaborerinthesameFredvineyard,wasmuchinfestedbythisBaltimore,——who,drunkorsober(forheoccasionallygetsintoliquor),isalwaysputtingoutBubb,andstandstoowellwithourRoyalMaster,onesecretlyfears!
Baltimore’sfinances,Icanguess,werenotintoogoodorder;
mostlyanAbsentee;IrishEstatesnotmanagedinthefirststyle,whileoneisbusyintheFredvineyard!’Thebestandhonestestmanintheworld,withagooddealofjumbledknowledge,’Walpolecallshimonce:’butnotcapableofconductingaparty。’\"
[Walpole’sLetterstoMann(London,1843),ii。175;27thJanuary,1747。Seeib。i。82。]Ohno;——anddied,atanyrate,Spring1751:[PeerageofIreland
(London,1768),ii。172—174。]andwewillnotmentionhimfarther。
BIELFELD,WHATHESAWATREINSBERGANDAROUND。
Directlyontherearofthesefinevisitors,came,byinvitation,apairoftheKorn’s—Hotelpeople;Masonicfriends;oneofwhomwasBielfeld,whosedaintyInstallationSpeechandwaysofprocedurehadbeenofpromisetothePrinceonthatoccasion。
\"BaronvonOberg\"wastheother:——HanoverianBaron:thesamewhowentintotheWars,andwasa\"GeneralvonOberg\"twentyyearshence?Thesameoranother,itdoesnotmuchconcernus。Nordoesthevisitmuch,oratall;exceptthatBielfeld,beingofwritingnature,professestogiveocularaccountofit。HonesttranscriptofwhatahumancreatureactuallysawatReinsberg,andintheBerlinenvironmentatthatdate,wouldhavehadavaluetomankind:butBielfeldhasadoptedthefictitiousform;andprettymuchruinedforusanytranscriptthereis。Exaggeration,gesticulation,fantasticuncertaintyafflictthereader;
andpreventcomfortablebelief,exceptwherethereisotherevidencethanBielfeld’s。
AtBerlinthebeautifulstraightstreets,LindenAvenues(perhapsabettersamplethanthoseofourday),werenotabletoBielfeld;
bridges,statuesveryfine;grandesplanades,andsuchmilitarydrillingandparadingaswasneverseen。Hehaddinner—
invitations,too,inquantity;likesthisoneandthat(allinprudentasterisks),———likesTruchsessvonWaldburgverymuch,andhisstrangemodeofbachelorhousekeeping,andthewayhedinesandtalksamonghisfellow—creatures,orsitsstudiousamonghisMilitaryBooksandPaper—litters。Butallisloosefar—offsketching,inthestyleofAnacharsistheYounger;andmakesnosolidimpression。
GettingtoReinsberg,totheTown,totheSchloss,hecrossestheesplanade,themoat;seeswhatweknow,beautifulsquareMansionamongitswoodsandwaters;——andalmostnothingthatwedonotknow,exceptthewaythemoat—bridgeislighted:\"Bridgefurnished,\"hesays,\"withsevenStatuesrepresentingthesevenPlanets,eachholdinginherhandaglasslampintheformofaglobe;\"——whichisaprettyobjectinthenight—time。TheHouseisnowfinished;Knobelsdorfrejoicinginhissuccess;Pesneandothersgivingthelasttouchtosomeceilingsofasublimenature。
OnthelintelofthegateisinscribedFREDERICOTRANQUILLITATEM
COLENTI(ToFriedrichcourtingTranquillity)。Thegardens,walks,hermitages,grottos,areveryspacious,fine:notyetcompleted,——
perhapswillneverbe。ATempleofBacchusisjustnowonhand,somewhereinthoselabyrinthicwoods:\"twelvegiganticSatyrsascaryatides,crownedbyaninvertedPunch—bowlfordome;\"thatistheingeniousKnobelsdorf’sidea,pleasanttothemind。
Knobelsdorfisofaustereaspect;austere,yetbenevolentandfullofhonestsagacity;theverypictureofsoundsense,thinksBielfeld。M。Jordanishandsome,thoughofsmallstature;
agreeableexpressionofface;eyeextremelyvivid;browncomplexion,bushyeyebrowsaswellasbeardareblack。[Bielfeld(abridged),i。45。]
Ordidthereadereverhearof\"M。Fredersdorf,\"HeadValetatthistime?Fredersdorfwillbecome,asitwere,Privy—Purse,House—Friend,anddomesticFactotum,andplayagreatpartincomingyears。\"Atallhandsomeman;\"much\"silentsense,civility,dexterity;\"something\"magnificentlycleverinhim,\"thinksBielfeld(now,orelsetwentyyearsafterwards);whomwecanbelieve。[Ib。p。49。]HewasagiftfromGeneralSchwerin,thisFredersdorf;onceaPrivateinSchwerin’sregiment,atFrankfurt—
on—Oder,——excellentontheflute,foronequality。Schwerin,whohadaneyeformen,senthimtoFriedrich,intheCustrintime;
hopinghemightsuitinflutingandotherwise。Whichheconspicuouslydid。Bielfeld’saccount,wemustcandidlysay,appearstobeanafterthought;butreaderscanmaketheirprofitofit,allthesame。
AstotheCrown—PrinceandPrincess,wordsfailtoexpresstheirgraciousperfections,theiraffabilities,politeingenuities:——
Bielfeld’swordsdogiveussomepleasantshadowyconceivabilityoftheCrown—Princess:——
\"Tall,andperfectinshape;bustsuchasasculptormightcopy;
complexionofthefinest;featuresditto;nose,Iconfess,smallishandpointed,butexcellentofthatkind;hairofthesupremestflaxen,’shining’likeafloodofsunbeams,whenthepowderisoffit。AhumaneingenuousPrincess;littlenegligencesintoiletorthelike,ifsuchoccur,eventhesesetheroff,soingenuousarethey。Speakslittle;butalwaystothepurpose,inasimple,cheerfulandwiseway。Dancesbeautifully;heart(hersoubretteassuresme)isheavenly;——and’perhapsnoPrincesslivinghasafinersetofdiaonds。’\"
OftheCrown—Princessthereissomepleasantshadowtracedasoncobweb,tothiseffect。ButoftheCrown—Princethereisnoformingtheleastconceptionfromwhathesays:——thisismerecobwebwithNothingelaboratelypaintedonit。Nordotheportraitsoftheothersattractbytheirverisimilitude。HereisColonelKeyserling,forinstance;thewittyCourlander,famousenoughintheFriedrichcircle;whowentonembassytoCirey,andmuchelse:he\"whirlsinwithuproar(FRACAS)likeBoreasintheBallet;\"fowling—pieceonshoulder,andinhis\"dressing—gown\"
withal,whichisstillstranger;snatchesoffBielfeld,unknowntillthatmoment,tositbyhimwhiledressing;andthere,withmuchcapering,pirouetting,andindeedalmostground—and—loftytumbling,foraccompaniment,\"talksofHorses,Mathematics,Painting,Architecture,Literature,andtheArtofWar,\"whilehedresses。ThisgentlemanwasonceColonelinFriedrichWilhelm’sArmy;isnowfairlyturnedofforty,andhasbeenintroubles:
wehopeheisnotLIKEintheBielfeldPortrait;——otherwise,howhappythatweneverhadthehonorofknowinghim!Indeed,theCrown—Prince’sHouseholdgenerally,asBielfeldpaintsitinflourishesofpanegyric,isbutunattractive;barrentothemodernon—looker;partlythePainter’sblame,wedoubtnot。Hegivesdetailsabouttheirmodeofdining,takingcoffee,doingconcert;
——anddescribesonceanincidentaldrinking—boutgotupaforethoughtbythePrince;whichisprobablyingoodpartfiction,thoughnotilldone。Thesefantasticsketchings,rigorouslywinnowedintothecredibleandactual,leavenogreatresidueinthatkind;butwhatlittletheydoleaveisoffavorableandpleasantnature。
BielfeldmadeavisitprivatelytoPotsdam,too:sawtheGiantsdrill;madeacquaintancewithimportantCaptainsoftheirs(allinASTERISKS)atPotsdam;withwhomhedined,notinatoocrediblemanner,andevendanced。Amongtheasterisks,weeasilypickoutCaptainWartensleben(oftheKorn’s—Hoteloperation),andWinterfeld,astillmoreimportantCaptain,whomwesawdiningoncoldpiewithhisMajesty,atabarn—doorinPommern,notlongsince。OftheGiants,ortheirlifeatPotsdam,Bielfeld’swordisnotworthhearing,——worthsuppressingrather;hisknowledgebeingsosmall,andhungforthinsofantasticaway。ThistransientsighthehadofhisMajestyinperson;this,whichisworthsomethingtous,——factbeingevidentlylodgedinit,\"Afterchurch—parade,\"AutumnSundayafternoon(dayuncertain,Bielfeld’sdatebeingfictitious,andevenimpossible),MajestydroveouttoWusterhausen,\"wherethequantitiesofgamesurpassallbelief;\"
andBielfeldhadoneglimpseofhim:——
\"IsawhisMajestyonly,asitwere,inpassing。IfImayjudgebyhisPortraits,hemusthavebeenofaperfectbeautyinhisyoungtime;butitmustbeconfessedthereisnothingleftofitnow。
Hiseyestrulyarefine;buttheglanceofthemisterrible:
hiscomplexioniscomposedofthestrongesttintsofred,blue,yellow,green,\"——notalovelycomplexionatall;\"bighead;thethicknecksunkbetweentheshoulders;figureshortandheavy(COURTEETRAMASSEE)。\"[Bielfeld,p。35。]
\"GoingouttoWusterhausen,\"then,thatafternoon,\"October,1739。\"HowhisMajestyiscrusheddown;quitebulgedoutofshapeinthatsadway,bytheweightoftimeanditspressures:
histhoughts,too,mostlikely,ofaheavy—ladenandabstrusenature!TheoldPfalzControversyhasmisgonewithhim:Pfalz,andsomuchelseintheworld;——theworldinwhole,probablyenough,nearendingtohim;thefinalshadows,sombre,grandandmournful,closinginuponhim!
TURKWARENDS;SPANISHWARBEGINS。AWEDDINGINPETERSBURG。
LastnewscometoPotsdaminthesedaysis,TheKaiserhasendedhisdisastrousTurkWar;beenobligedtoendit;suddendownbreak,andasitwerepanicterror,havingatlastcomeuponhisunfortunateGeneralsinthoseparts。DukeFranzwaspassionatetobeoutofsuchathing;Franz,GeneralNeippergandothers;
andnow,\"2dSeptember,1739,\"likelodgersleapingfromaburninghouse,theyareoutofit。TheTurkgetsBelgradeitself,nottomentionwideterritoriesfarthereast,——Belgradewithoutshotfired;——naytheTurkwashardlytobekeptfromhangingtheImperialMessenger(aGeneralNeipperg,DukeFranz’soldTutor,andchiefConfidant,whomweshallhearmoreofelsewhere),whosepassportwasnotquiterightonthisoccasion!——NeverwasamoredisgracefulPeace。Butalsoneverhadbeenworsefighting;
planless,changeful,powerless,meltingintofutilityateverystep:——nottobemendedbyimprisonmentsinGratz,andstillharshertreatmentofindividuals。\"Hasallsuccessforsakenme,then,sinceEugenedied?\"saidtheKaiser;andsnatchedatthisTurkPeace;gladtohaveit,bymediationofFrance,andonanyterms。
HasnotthisKaiserlosthisoutlyingpropertiesatafearfulrate?Naplesisgone;SpanishBourbonsitsinourNaples;
comparativelylittleleftforusinItaly。AndnowtheveryTurkhasbeatenussmall;insolentlyfillipstheImperialnoseofus,——
threateningtohangourNeipperg,andthelike。WereitnotforAnneofRussia,whosebighorse—whipfallsheavyonthisTurk,hemightalmostgettoViennaagain,foranythingwecoulddo!
AKaiserworthytobepitied;——whomFriedrichWilhelm,weperceive,doeshonestlypity。AKaisermuchbeggared,muchdisgraced,inlateyears;whohasplayedahugelife—gamesolong,diplomatizing,warring;and,excepttheShadowofPragmaticSanction,hasnothingtoretireupon。
TheRussiansprotested,withastonishment,againstsuchTurkPeaceontheKaiser’spart。Buttherewasnohelpforit。Oneallyisgone,theKaiserhasletgothisWesternskirtoftheTurk;
and\"ThamasKouliKhan\"(calledalsoNadirShah,famedOrientalslasherandslayerofthattime)nolongerstandsupontheEasternskirt,but\"hasenteredIndia,\"itappears:theRussians——theircash,too,runninglow——dothemselvesmakepeace,\"aboutamonthafter;\"restoringAzophandnearlyalltheirconquests;puttingofftheruinoftheTurktillabettertime。
WarisoverintheEast,then;butanotherintheWest,EnglandagainstSpain(SpainandFrancetohelp),isaboutbeginning。
ReadersrememberhowJenkins’sEarre—emerged,Springgoneayear,inablazingcondition?Here,throughSYLVANUSURBANhimself,aretwodirectglimpses,atwelve—monthnearerhand,whichshowushowthematterhasbeenproceedingsince:——
\"LONDON,19thFEBRUARY,1739。TheCityAuthorities,\"——layingorgoingtolay\"thefoundationoftheMansion—House\"(Edificenowveryblackinourtime),anddoingotherthingsoflittlemomenttous,\"hadaMasqueradeattheGuildhallthisnight。TherewasaverysplendidappearanceattheMasquerade;butamongthemanyhumorousandwhimsicalcharacters,whatseemedmosttoengageattentionwasaSpaniard,whocalledhimself’KnightoftheEar;’
asBadgeofwhichOrderheworeonhisbreasttheformofaStar,withitspointstingedinblood;andonthebodyofitanEarpainted,andincapitallettersthewordJENKINSencirclingit。
Acrosshisshouldertherehung,insteadofribbon,alargeHalter;
whichhehelduptoseveralpersonsdressedasEnglishSailors,whoseemedingreatterrorofhim,andfallingontheirkneessufferedhimtorummagetheirpockets;whichdone,hewouldinsolentlydismissthemwithstrokesofhishalter。SeveraloftheSailorshadabloodyEarhangingdownfromtheirheads;andontheirhatswerethesewords,EARFOREAR;onothers,NOSEARCHOR
NOTRADE;withthelikesentences。\"[Gentleman’sMagazinefor1739,p。103;——ourDATES,asalways,areN。8。]
Theconflagrationevidentlygoingon;notlikelytobedampeddownagain,byministerialart!——
\"LONDON,19thMARCH,1739。\"GrandDebateinParliament,onthelate\"SpanishConvention,\"pretendedBargainofredresslatelygotfromSpain:ApprovetheConvention,orNotapprove?\"AhundredMemberswereintheHouseofCommonsbeforeseven,thismorning;
andfourhundredhadtakentheirseatbyten;whichisanunheard—
ofthing。PrinceofWales,\"Fredinperson,\"wasinthegallerytilltwelveatnight,andhadhisdinnersenttohim。SirRobertWalpolerose:’Sir,thegreatpainsthathavebeentakentoinfluenceallranksanddegreesofmeninthisNation——……
Butgivemeleaveto’\"——applyawetclothtoHonorableGentlemen。
Whichhedoes,reallywithskillandsense。Franceandtheothersaresostrong,heurges;Englandsounprepared;Kaiseratsuchapass;’Warliketobe,aboutthePalatinateDispute[ourfriendFriedrichWilhelm’s]:WhereisEnglandtoget,allies?’——andhourslongofthelikesort。Ajudiciouswetcloth;whichprovedunavailing。
For\"WilliamPitts\"(sotheyspellthegreatChathamthatistobe)waseloquentontheotherside:\"DespairingMerchants,\"\"VoiceofEngland,\"andsoon。Andtheworldwasallinaninflamedstate。AndMr。Pulteneyexclaimed:Palatinate?Allies?\"Weneednoallies;thecaseofMr。Jenkinswillraiseusvolunteerseverywhere!\"Andinshort,——aftereightmonthsmoreofhaggling,andapplyingwetcloths,——Walpole,inthenameofEngland,hastodeclareWaragainstSpain;[\"3dNovember(23dOctober),1739。\"]
thepublichumorprovingunquenchableonthatmatter。War;andnoPeacetobe,\"tillourundoubtedright,\"toroadwayontheoceansofthisPlanet,becomepermanentlymanifesttotheSpanishMajesty。
SuchtheeffectofasmallEar,keptaboutoneincotton,fromursinepietyorotherfeelings。HasnotJenkins’sEarre—emerged,withavengeance?IthaskindledaWar:dangerousforkindlingotherWars,andsettingthewholeworldonfire,——aswillbetooevidentinthesequel!TheEAROFJENKINSisasingularthing。
Mighthavemountedtobeaconstellation,likeBERENICE’SHAIR,andothersmallfactsbecomemythical,hadtheEnglishPeoplebeenofpoeticturn!EnoughofIT,forthetimebeing。——
ThisSummer,AntonUlrich,atPetersburg,didwedhisSereneMecklenburgPrincess,HeiressofalltheRussias:\"July14th,1739,\"——threemonthsbeforethatDrivetoWusterhausen,whichwesawlately。LittleAntonUlrich,CadetofBrunswick;
ourFriedrich’sBrother—in—Law;——anoticeablysmallmanincomparisontosuchbulkofdestiny,thinksFriedrich,thoughthecaseisnotwithoutexample![ALetterofhistoSuhm;touchingonFranzofLorraineandthisAntonUlrich。]
\"AntonUlrichisnowfive—and—twenty,\"saysoneofmyNotebooks;
\"ayounggentlemanofsmallstature,shiningcourageinbattle,butsomewhatshyandbashful;whohashadhistroublesinPetersburgsociety,tillthetrialcame,——andwillhave。HerearethestagesofAntonUlrich’sfelicity:——
\"WINTER,1732—1733。HewassentfortoPetersburg(hisSereneAunttheGermanKaiserinn,andKaiserKarl’sdiplomatists,suggestingitthere),withtheviewofhispayingcourttotheyoungMecklenburgPrincess,HeiressofalltheRussias,ofwhomwehaveoftenheard。February,1733,hearrivedonthiserrand;——notapprovedofatallbytheMecklenburgPrincess,byCzarinaAnneoranybodythere:whatcanbedonewithsuchanuncomfortablelittlecreature?TheygavehimtheColonelcyofCuirassiers:’Drillthere,andendure。’
\"SPRING,1737。Much—enduring,diligentlydrilling,forfouryearspast,hewentthisyeartotheTurkWarunderMunnich;——muchpleasedMunnich,atOczakowandelsewhere;whoreportsintheWar—
Officehighthingsofhim。Andonthewhole,——thesereneViennapeoplenowagainbestirringthemselves,withwhomweareincopartneryinthisTurkbusiness,——littleAntonUlrichisencouragedtoproceed。Proceeds;formallydemandshisMecklenburgPrincess;and,\"JULY14th,1739,wedsher;thehappiestlittlemaninalltheRussias,andwiththebiggestdestiny,ifitprosper。Nextyear,too,therecameasonandheir;whomtheycalledIwan,inhonorofhisRussianGreat—grandfather。ShallweaddthesubsequentfelicitiesofAntonUlrichhere;orwaittillanotheropportunity?\"
Betterwait。Thisisall,andmorethanall,hisPrussianMajesty,rollingoutofWusterhausenthatafternoon,everknewofthem,orneededtoknow!——
ChapterVIII。
DEATHOFFRIEDRICHWILHELM。
AtWusterhausen,thisAutumn,thereisgameasusual,butlittleornohuntingfortheKing。Hehastositdrearilywithindoors,formostpart;listeningtotherustleoffallingleaves,todimWintercomingwithitsrainsandwinds。Field—sportsarearumorfromwithout:forhimnownojoyoussow—baiting,deer—chasing;——
that,likeotherthings,ispast。
InthebeginningofNovember,hecametoBerlin;wasworsethere,andagainwasbetter;——strovetodotheCarnival,ashadbeencustomary;but,inalanguid,lamedmanner。Onenighthelookedinuponanevening—partywhichGeneralSchulenburgwasgiving:
hereturnedhome,chilled,shivering;,couldnot,allnight,bebroughttoheatagain。Itwasthelastevening—partyFriedrichWilhelmeverwentto。[Pollnitz(ii。538);whogivesnodate。]
Lieutenant—GeneralSchulenburg:thesamewhodoomedyoungFriedrichtodeath,asPresidentoftheCourt—Martial;
andthenwrotetheThreeLettersabouthimwhichweoncelookedinto:illuminateshimselfinthismannerinBerlinsociety,——
Carnivalseason,1740,weatherfiercelycold。MaypoleSchulenburgtheleanAunt,Ex—MistressofGeorgeI。,overinLondon,——Ithinkshemustnowbedead?Orifnotdead,whynot!Memory,forthetenthtime,failsme,ofthehumanlyunmemorable,whomperhapsevenflunkiesshouldforget;andIwilltryitnomore。
ThestalwartLieutenant—Generalwillreappearonusonce,twiceattheutmost,andneveragain。Hegavethelastevening—partyFriedrichWilhelmeverwentto。
PoorFriedrichWilhelmisintruthveryill;tossesaboutallday,inandoutofbed,——bedandwheeled—chairdrearilyalternating;
suffersmuch;——andagain,inDiplomaticcircles,therumorsarerifeandsinister。EverfromthischillatSchulenburg’sthemedicinesdidhimnogood,saysPollnitz:ifherallied,itwastheeffectofNature,andonlytemporary。Hedoesdaily,withpunctuality,hisOfficialbusiness;perhapsthebesttwohourshehasofthefour—and—twenty,forthetimehangsheavyonhim。HisoldGeneralssitroundhisbed,talking,smoking,asitwasfiveyearsago;hisFeekinandhisChildrenmuchabouthim,outandin:
theheavy—laden,wearyhoursrollroundastheycan。IngeneralthereisakindofconstantTabaks—Collegium,oldFlans,Camas,Hacke,Pollnitz,Derschau,andtherestbyturnsalwaysthere;
theroyalPatientcannotbeleftalone,withoutfaceshelikes:
otherGenerals,estimableintheirway,haveaphysiognomydispleasingtothesickman;andwillsmartforitiftheyenter,——\"AtsightofHIMeverypaingrowspainfuler!\"——thepoorKingbeingofpoetictemperament,asweoftensay。Friendsareencouragedtosmoke,especiallytokeepupastreamoftalk;ifatanytimehefallintoadozeandtheyceasetalking,thesilencewillawakenhim。
Heisworstoffinthenight;sleepverybad:andamonghissorebodilypains,ennuifallsveryheavytoamindsorestless。Hecanpaint,hecanwhittle,chisel:atlasttheyevenmounthimatable,inhisbed,withjoiner’stools,mallets,glue—pots,wherehemakessmallcarpentry,——thetalktogoonthewhile;——oftenatnightisthesoundofhismalletaudibleinthePalaceEsplanade;
andBerlintownsfolkpausetolisten,withmanythoughtsofasympatheticoratleastinarticulatecharacter:\"HM,WEH,IHRO
MAJESTAT:ACHGOTT,paleDeathknockswithimpartialfootatthehutsofpoormenandthePalacesofKings!\"[Pollnitz,ii。539。]
ReverendHerrRoloff,whomtheycallProvost(PROBST,ChiefClergyman)Roloff,apioushonestmanandpreacher,he,Icouldguess,hasalreadybeengivingspiritualcounselnowandthen;
laterinterviewswithRoloffareexpresslyonrecord:foritistheKing’sprivatethought,everandanonborneinuponhim,thatdeathitselfisinthisbusiness。
QueenandChildren,mostlyhopinghitherto,thoughfearingtoo,liveinmuchanxietyandagitation。TheCrown—PrinceisoftenoverfromReinsberg;mustnotcometoooften,noreveninquiretoomuch:hisaffectionatesolicitudemightbemistakenforsolicitudeofanotherkind!ItiscertainheisinnohastetobeKing;
toquitthehauntsoftheMuses,andembarkonKingship。
Certain,too,heloveshisFather;shuddersatthethoughtoflosingHIM。Andyetagaintherewillgleamsintrudeofacontrarythought;whichthefilialheartdisowns,withakindofhorror,\"Down,thouimpiousthought!\"——Weperceivehemanagesingeneraltopushthecrisisawayfromhim;tobelievethatrealdangerisstilldistant。Hisdemeanor,sofaraswecangatherfromhisLettersorotherevidence,isamiable,prudent,natural;
altogetherthatofahumanSoninthosedifficultcircumstances。
PoorPapaisheavy—laden:letushelptobearhisburdens;——
letushopethecrisisisstillfaroff!——
Once,onafavorableevening,probablyaboutthebeginningofApril,whenhefeltasifimproving,FriedrichWilhelmresolvedtodress,andholdTobacco—Parliamentagaininaformalmanner,Letuslookinthere,throughtheeyesofPollnitz,whowasofit,uponthelastTobacco—Parliament:——
\"Anumerousparty;Schwerin,Hacke,Derschau,allthechiefsandcommandantsoftheBerlinGarrisonarethere;theoldcirclefull;
socialhumanspeechoncemore,andpipesalight;pleasanttotheKing。Hedoesnothimselfsmokeonthisoccasion;butheisunusuallylivelyintalk;muchenjoysthereturningglimpseofolddays;andtheTobaccocirclewasproceedingthroughitsphases,successfulbeyondcommon。AllatoncetheCrown—Princestepsin;
directfromReinsberg:[12thApril,1740?(OEuvres,xxvii。partlst,p。29);Pollnitzisdateless]anunexpectedpleasure。AtsightofwhomtheTobaccocircle,takenonthesudden,simultaneouslystartedup,andmadehimabow。
Ruleis,inTobacco—Parliamentyoudonotrise——foranybody;
andtheyhaverisen。Whichstruckthesickheartinastrangepainfulway。’Hm,theRisingSun?’thinkshe;’Rulesbrokenthrough,fortheRisingSun。ButIamnotdeadyet,asyoushallknow!’ringingforhisservantsingreatwrath;andhadhimselfrolledout,regardlessofprotestationsandexcuses。
’Hither,youHacke!’saidhe。
\"Hackefollowed;butitwasonlytoreturnontheinstant,withtheKing’sorder,’ThatyouinstantlyquitthePalace,allofyou,anddon’tcomeback!’SolemnrespectfulmessagetohisMajestywasofnoeffect,orofless;theyhadtogo,onthoseterms;
andPollnitz,makingforhisMajesty’sapartmentnextmorningasusual,wastwitchedbyaGens—d’arme,’Noadmittance!’Anditwasdaysbeforethematterwouldcomeroundagain,underearnestprotestationsfromtheoneside,andtruculentrebukesfromtheother。\"[Pollnitz(abridged),ii。50。]FiguretheCrown—Prince,figurethepoorsickMajesty;andwhatatimeinthoselocalities!
Withthebrightspringweatherheseemedtorevive;towardstheendofAprilheresolvedforPotsdam,everybodythinkinghimmuchbetter,andtheouterPublicreckoningthecrisisoftheillnessover。Hehimselfknewother。Itwasonthe27thofthemonththathewent;hesaid,\"Faretheewell,then,Berlin;IamtodieinPotsdam,then(ICHWERDEINPOTSDAMSTERBEN)!\"TheMay—flowerscamelate;theweatherwaschangeful,ungenialforthesickman:
thiswinterof1740hadbeenthecoldestonrecord;itextendeditselfintotheverysummer;andbroughtgreatdistressofeverykind;——ofwhichsomeoralrumorstillsurvivesinallcountries。
FriedrichWilhelmheardcomplaintsofscarcityamongthepeople;
admonitionstoopenhisCorn—granaries(suchashealwayshasinstoreagainstthatkindofaccident);buthestillhesitatedandrefused;unabletolookintoithimself,andfearingdeceptions。
Fortherest,heisstrugglingbetweendeathandlife;ingeneralpersuadedthattheendisfasthasteningon。HesendsforChiefPreacherRoloffouttoPotsdam;hassomenotabledialogueswithRoloff,andwithtwootherPotsdamClergymen,ofwhichthereisrecordstillleftus。Inthese,asinallhisdemeanoratthissupremetime,weseethebigruggedblockofmanhoodcomeoutveryvividly;stronginhissimplicity,inhisveracity。
FriedrichWilhelm’swishistoknowfromRoloffwhatthechancesareforhimintheotherworld,——whichisnotlesscertainthanPotsdamandthegiantgrenadierstoFriedrichWilhelm;andwhere,heperceives,neverhalfsoclearlybefore,heshallactuallypeeloffhisKinghood,andstandbeforeGodAlmighty,nobetterthananakedbeggar。Roloff’sprognosticsarenotsoencouragingastheKinghadhoped。SurelythisKing\"nevertookorcovetedwhatwasnothis;kepttruetohismarriage—vow,inspiteofhorribleexampleseverywhere;believedtheBible,honoredthePreachers,wentdiligentlytoChurch,andtriedtodowhatheunderstoodGod’scommandmentswere?\"ToallwhichRoloff,acourageouspiousman,answerswithdiscreetwordsandshakingsofthehead,\"DidIbehaveill,then;didIeverdoinjustice?\"
RoloffmentionsBaronSchlubhutthedefalcatingAmtmann,hangedatKonigsbergwithoutevenatrial。\"Hehadnotrial;butwasthereanydoubthehadjustice?Apublicthief,confessinghehadstolenthetaxeshewassettogather;insolentlyoffering,asifthatwereall,torepaythemoney,andsaying,ItwasnotMANIER(goodmanners)tohanganobleman!\"Roloffshakeshishead,Tooviolent,yourMajesty,andsavoringofthetyrannous。ThepoorKingmustrepent。
\"Well,——isthereanythingmore?Outwithit,then;betternowthantoolate!\"——Muchoppression,forcingmentobuildinBerlin。——
\"Oppression?wasitnottheirbenefit,aswellasBerlin’sandtheCountry’s?Ihadnointerestinitother。Derschau,youwhomanagedit?\"andhisMajestyturnedtoDerschau。Forallthesmokinggeneralsandcompanyarestillhere;norwillhisMajestyconsenttodismissthemfromthepresenceandbealonewithRoloff:\"Whatistheretoconceal?Theyarepeopleofhonor,andmyfriends。\"Derschau,whosefeatsinthebuildingwayarenotunknowneventous,answerswithahardface,Itwasallrightandorderly;nothingoutofsquareinhisbuildingoperations。
TowhichRoloffshakeshishead:\"Athingofpublicnotoriety,HerrGeneral。\"——\"IwillproveeverythingbeforeaCourt,\"answerstheHerrGeneralwithstillharderface;Roloffstillausterelyshakinghishead。Hm!——Andthenthereisforgivenessofenemies;
yourMajestyisboundtoforgiveallmen,orhowcanyouasktobeforgiven?\"Well,Iwill,Ido;youFeekin,writetoyourBrother(unforgivablestofbeings),afterIamdead,thatIforgavehim,diedinpeacewithhim。\"——BetterherMajestyshouldwriteatonce,suggestsRoloff。——\"No,afterIamdead,\"persiststheSonofNature,——thatwillbesafer![Wroteaccordingly,\"notabletofinishwithoutmanytears;\"honestsensibleLetter(thoughindifferentlyspelt),\"Berlin,1stJune,1740;\"——liesnowinState—PaperOffice:\"ROYALLETTERS,vol。xciv。,Prussia,1689—1777。\"]Anunwedgeableandgnarledbigblockofmanhoodandsimplicityandsincerity;suchaswerarelygetsightofamongthemodernsonsofAdam,amongthecrownedsonsnearlynever。
AtpartinghesaidtoRoloff,\"You(ER,He)donotspareme;itisright。YoudoyourdutylikeanhonestChristianman。\"
[NotataexoreRoloffi(\"foundamongtheSeckendorfPapers,\"nodatebut\"May1740\"),inForster,ii。154,155;inafragmentarystate:completedinPollnitz,ii。545—549。]
Roloff,Iperceive,hadseveralDialogueswiththeKing;
andstayedinPotsdamsomedaysforthatobject。TheabovebitofjottingisfromtheSeckendorfPapers(probablypickedupbySeckendorfJunior),andisdatedonly\"May。\"OfthetwoPotsdamPreachers,oneofwhomis\"Oesfeld,ChaplainoftheGiantGrenadiers,\"andtheotheris\"Cochius,CalvinistHofprediger,\"
eachpublishedonhisownscoresomeNotesofdialogueandcircumstance;[CochiustheHOFPREDIGER’S(CalvinistCourt—
Chaplain’s)ACCOUNTofhisInterviews(firstofthem\"Friday,27thMay,1740,about9P。M。\");followedbydittofromOesfeld(ChaplainoftheGiants),whousuallyaccompaniedCochius,——areinSeyfarth,GeschichteFriedrichdesGrossen
(Leipzig,1783—1788),i。(Beylage)24—40。Seyfarthwas\"Regiments—
Auditor\"inHalle:hisWork,solidthoughstupid,consistsnearlyaltogetherofmultifariousBEYLAGEN(Appendices)andNOTES;
whicharecreditablyaccurate,andoftencurious;and,asusual,havenoIndexforanunfortunatereader。]whicharetothesameeffect,sofarastheyconcernus;andexhibitthesameruggedSonofNature,lookingwithallhiseyesightintothenearEternity,andsinkinginahumanandnotinhumanmanneramidthefloodsofTime。\"Wa,Wa,whatgreatGodisthis,thatpullsdownthestrengthofthestrongestKings!\"——
ThepoorKing’sstateisveryrestless,fluctuatesfromdaytoday;heisimpatientofbed;sleepsveryill;isupwheneverpossible;rollsaboutinhiswheeled—chair,andevengetsintotheair:atonetimelookingstrong,asiftherewerestillmonthsinhim,andanonsunkinfaintingweakness,asifhehadfewminutestolive。FriedrichatReinsbergcorrespondsverysecretlywithDr。Eller;hasotherfriendsatPotsdamwhosesecretnewsheveryanxiouslyreads。Tothelasthecannotbringhimselftothinkitserious。\"[LettertoEller,25thMay,1740(OEuvres),xvi。184。]
OnThursday,26thofMay,anexpressfromEller,orthePotsdamfriends,arrivesatReinsberg:Heistocomequickly,ifhewouldseehisFatheragainalive!Thestepmayhavedanger,too;butFriedrich,aworldoffeelingsurginghim,isontheroadnextmorningbeforethesun。Hisjourneymaybefancied;thelikeofitfallstoallmen。Arrivingatlast,turninghastilyacornerofthePotsdamSchloss,Friedrichseessomegatheringinthedistance:itishisFatherinhisROLLWAGEN(wheeled—chair),——notdying;butoutofdoors,givingordersaboutfoundingaHouse,orseeingitdone。HouseforonePhilips,acrabbedEnglishmanhehas;whosetongueisnoneofthebest,noteventoMajestyitself,butwhosemeritsasaGroom,ofEnglishandotherHorses,arewithoutparallelinthoseparts。Withoutparallel,anddeserveaHousebeforewedie。Letusseeitsetagoing,thisblessedMayday!OfPhilips,whosurviveddeepintoFriedrich’stime,andutteredroughsayings(inmixedintelligibledialect)whenputuponinhisgrooming,orotherwisedisturbed,Icouldobtainnofartheraccount:themandidnotcaretobeputinHistory(averysmallservicetoaman);caredtohaveahousewithtrimfittings,andtodohisgroomingwell,thefortunatePhilips。
AtsightofhisSon,FriedrichWilhelmthrewouthisarms;theSonkneelingsankuponhisbreast,andtheyembracedwithtears。
MyFather,myFather;MySon,mySon!Itwasascenetomakeallby—standersandevenPhilipsweep。——ProbablytheemotionhurttheoldKing;hehadtobetakeninagainstraightway,hisshowofstrengthsuddenlygone,andbedtheonlyplaceforhim。ThissameFridayhedictatedtooneofhisMinisters(Boden,whowasincloseattendance)theInstructionforhisFuneral;arudecharacteristicPiece,whichperhapstheEnglishreaderknows。
Toolongandrudeforreprintinghere。[Copyofit,inSeyfarth(ubisupra),i。19—24。TranslatedinMauvillon(ii。432—437);
in&c。&c。]
Heistobeburiedinhisuniform,thePotsdamGrenadiershisescort;withmilitarydecorum,threevolleysfired(andtakecaretheybewellfired,\"NICHTPLACKEREN\"),somanycannon—salvos;——
andnofussorflauntingceremony:simplicityanddecencyiswhatthetenantofthatoakcoffinwants,ashealwaysdidwhenownerofwiderdominions。Thecoffin,whichhehasreadyandbesidehiminthePalacethisgoodwhile,isastoutpieceofcarpentry,withleatherstrapsandotherimprovements;heviewsitfromtimetotime;solaceshistruculentimaginationwiththelookofit:
\"Ishallsleeprightwellthere,\"hewouldsay。TheimagehehasofhisBurial,weperceive,isofperfectvisuality,equaltowhataDefoecoulddoinimagining。Allisseen,settledtothelastminuteness:thecoffinistobeborneoutbysoandso,atsuchandsuchadoor;thisdetachmentistofall—inhere,thatthere,intheattitudeof\"coverarms\"(musketinvertedunderleftarm);
andthebandistoplay,withallitsblackamoors,OHauptvollBlutundWunden(OHead,allbleedingwounded);aDirgehisMajestyhadliked,whoknewmusic,andhadaloveforit,afterhissort。GoodSonofNature:adumbPoet,asIsayalways;mostdumb,butreal;thevalueofhimgreat,andunknowninthesebabblingtimes。ItwasonthissameFridaynightthatCochiuswasfirstsentfor;Cochius,andOesfeldwithhim,\"aboutnineo’clock。\"
Forthenextthreedays(SaturdaytoMonday)whenhiscoughandmanysufferingswouldpermithim,FriedrichWilhelmhadlongprivatedialogueswithhisSon;instructinghim,aswasevident,inthemysteriesofState;inwhatknowledge,astopersonsandtothings,hereckonedmightbeusefulesttohim。Whatthelessonswere,weknownot;thewayoftakingthemhadgivenpleasuretotheoldman:hewasheardtosay,perhapsmorethanonce,whentheGeneralswerecalledin,andthedialogueinterruptedforawhile:
\"AmnotIhappytohavesuchaSontoleavebehindme!\"AndthegrimlysympatheticGeneralstestifiedassent;endeavoredtotalkalittle,couldatleastsmoke,andlookfriendly;tilltheKinggatheredstrengthforcontinuinghisinstructionstohisSuccessor。Allelsewasasifsettledwithhim;thishadstillremainedtodo。Thisoncedone(finished,Mondaynight),whynotabdicatealtogether;anddiedisengaged,beitinadayorinamonth,sincethatisnowtheoneworkleft?FriedrichWilhelmdoessopurpose。
Hisstate,nowasallalong,wasfluctuating,uncertain,restless。
Hewasheardmurmuringprayers;hewouldsaysometimes,\"Prayforme;BETETBETET。\"Andmorethanonce,indeeptone:\"Lord,enternotintojudgmentwithThyservant,forinThysightshallnomanlivingbejustified!\"ThewildSonofNature,lookingintoLifeandDeath,intoJudgmentandEternity,findsthatthesethingsareverygreat。Thistooisacharacteristictrait:InacertainGermanHymn(Whyfretormurmur,then?thetitleofit),whichtheyoftensangtohim,oralongwithhim,ashemuchlovedit,arethesewords,\"NakedIcameintotheworld,andnakedshallIgo,\"——\"No,\"saidhe\"alwayswithvivacity,\"atthispassage;\"notquitenakid,Ishallhavemyuniformon:\"
Letusbeexact,sinceweareatit!Afterwhichthesingingproceededagain。\"ThelateGrafAlexandervonWartenberg\"——CaptainWartenberg,whomweknow,andwhoseopportunities——\"waswonttorelatethis。\"[Busching(in1786),Beitrage,
iv。100。]
Tuesday,31stMay,\"aboutoneinthemorning,\"Cochiuswasagainsentfor。HefoundtheKinginverypiousmood,butingreatdistress,andafraidhemightyethavemuchpaintosuffer。
Cochiusprayedwithhim;talkedpiously。\"Icanremembernothing,\"
saidtheKing;\"Icannotpray,Ihaveforgottenallmyprayers。\"——
\"Prayerisnotinwords,butinthethoughtoftheheart,\"saidCochius;andsoothedtheheavy—ladenmanashecould。\"Fareyouwell,\"saidFriedrichWilhelm,atlength;\"mostlikelyweshallnotmeetagaininthisworld。\"WhereatCochiusburstintotears,andwithdrew。Aboutfour,theKingwasagainoutofbed;wishedtoseehisyoungestBoy,whohadbeenillofmeasles,butwasdoingwell:\"PoorlittleFerdinand,adieu,then,mylittlechild!\"
ThisistheFatherofthatfineLouisFerdinand,whowaskilledatJena;concerningwhomBerlin,incertainemancipatedcirclesofit,stillspeakswithregret。He,theLouisFerdinand,hadfinequalities;butwentfara—roving,intoradicalism,intoromanticlove,intochampagne;andwascutdownonthethresholdofJena,desperatelyfighting,——perhapshappilyforhim。
FromlittleFerdinand’sroomFriedrichWilhelmhashimselfrolledintoQueenSophie’s。\"Feekin,OmyFeekin,thoumustrisethisday,andhelpmewhatthoucanst。ThisdayIamgoingtodie;
thouwiltbewithmethisday!\"ThegoodWiferises:Iknownotthatitwasthefirsttimeshehadbeensocalled;butitdidprovethelast。FriedrichWilhelmhasdecided,asthefirstthinghewilldo,toabdicate;andalltheOfficialpersonsandcompanionsofthesick—room,Pollnitzamongthem,notlongaftersunrise,arecalledtoseeitdone。Pollnitz,huddlingonhisclothes,arrivedaboutfive:inacorridorheseesthewheeled—
chairandpoorsickKing;stepsasidetolethimpass:\"’Itisover(DASISTVOLLBRACHT),’saidtheKing,lookinguptomeashepassed:hehadonhisnightcap,andabluemantlethrownroundhim。\"Hewaswheeledintohisanteroom;thereletthecompanyassemble;manyofthemarealreadythere。
Theroyalstablesarevisiblefromthisroom:FriedrichWilhelmordersthehorsestoberiddenout:youoldFurstofAnhalt—Dessaumyoldestfriend,youColonelHackefaithfulestofAdjutant—
Generals,takeeachofyouahorse,thebestyoucanpickout:
itismylastgifttoyou。Dessau,insilence,withdumb—showofthanks,pointstoahorse,anyhorse:\"Youhavechosentheveryworst,\"saidFriedrichWilhelm:\"Takethatother,Iwillwarranthimagoodone!\"ThegrimoldDessauerthanksinsilence;
speechlessgriefisonthatsterngunpowderface,andheseemseventobestrugglingwithtears。\"Nay,nay,myfriend,\"FriedrichWilhelmsaid,\"thisisadebtwehavealltopay。\"
TheOfficialpeople,Queen,Friedrich,MinisterBoden,MinisterPodewils,andevenPollnitz,beingnowallpresent,FriedrichWilhelmmakeshisDeclaration,atconsiderablelength;oldGeneralBredowrepeatingitaloud,[Pollnitz,ii。561。]sentencebysentence,theKing’sownvoicebeingtooweak;sothatallmayhear:\"Thatheabdicates,givesupwholly,infavorofhisgoodSonFriedrich;thatforeignAmbassadorsaretobeinformed;
thatyouarealltobetrueandloyaltomySonasyouweretome\"——andwhatelseisneedful。TowhichthejudiciousPodewilsmakesanswer,\"ThattheremustfirstbeawrittenDeedofhishighTransactionexecuted,whichshallbestraightwaysetabout;
theDeedonceexecuted,signedandsealed,——thehighRoyalwill,inallpoints,takeseffect。\"Alas,beforePodewilshasdonespeaking,theKingislikefallingintoafaint;doesfaint,andiscarriedtobed:toounlikelyanyDeedofAbdicationwillbeneeded。
Upsanddownstherestillwere;sorefluctuatinglabor,asthepoorKingstrugglestohisfinalrest,thismorning。Hewasatthewindowagain,whentheWACHT—PARADE(GrenadiersonGuard)turnedout;hesawthemmaketheirevolutionsforthelasttime。[Pauli,viii。280。]Afterwhich,newrelapse,newfluctuation。Itwasabouteleveno’clock,whenCochiuswasagainsentfor。TheKinglayspeechless,seeminglystillconscious,inbed;Cochiusprayswithfervor,inaloudtone,thatthedyingKingmayhearandjoin。\"Notsoloud!\"saystheKing,rallyingalittle。Hehadrememberedthatitwastheseasonwhenhisservantsgottheirnewliveries;theyhadbeenorderedtoappearthisdayinfullnewcostume:\"Ovanity!Ovanity!\"saidFriedrichWilhelm,atsightoftheornamentedplush。\"Prayforme,prayforme;mytrustisintheSaviour!\"heoftensaid。Hispains,hisweaknessaregreat;
thecordageofamosttoughheartrendingitselfpiecebypiece。
Atonetime,hecalledforamirror:thatiscertain:——ruggedwildman,sonofNaturetothelast。Themirrorwasbrought;whathesaidatsightofhisfaceisvariouslyreported:\"NotsowornoutasIthought,\"isPollnitz’saccount,andthelikeliest;——thoughperhapshesaidseveralthings,\"uglyface,\"\"asgoodasdeadalready;\"andcontinuedtheinspectionforsomemoments。
[Pollnitz,ii。564;Wilhelmina,ii。321。]Agrim,strangething。
\"Feelmvpulse,Pitsch,\"saidhe,noticingtheSurgeonofhisGiants:\"tellmehowlongthiswilllast。\"——\"Alas,notlong,\"
answeredPitsch。——\"Saynot,alas;buthowdoyou(He)know?\"——
\"Thepulseisgone!\"——\"Impossible,\"saidhe,liftinghisarm:
\"howcouldImovemyfingersso,ifthepulseweregone?\"
Pitschlookedmournfullysteadfast。\"HerrJesu,totheeIlive;
HerrJesu,totheeIdie;inlifeandindeaththouartmygain(DUBISTMEINGEWINN)。\"ThesewerethelastwordsFriedrichWilhelmspokeinthisworld。Heagainfellintoafaint。
EllergaveasignaltotheCrown—PrincetotaketheQueenaway。
Scarcelyweretheyoutoftheroom,whenthefainthaddeepenedintodeath;andFriedrichWilhelm,atrestfromallhislabors,sleptwiththeprimevalsonsofThor。
NoBaresarkofthem,norOdin’sself,Ithink,wasabitoftruerhumanstuff;——Iconfesshisvaluetome,inthesesadtimes,israreandgreat。ConsideringtheusualHistrionic,Papin’s—
Digester,Truculent—Charlatanandotherspeciesof\"Kings,\"aloneattainableforthesunkflunkypopulationsofanEragivenuptoMammonandtheworshipofitsownbelly,whatwouldnotsuchapopulationgiveforaFriedrichWilhelm,toguideitontheroadBACKfromOrcusalittle?\"Wouldgive,\"Ihavewritten;butalas,itoughttohavebeen\"SHOULDgive。\"WhatTHEY\"would\"giveistoomournfullyplaintome,inspiteofballot—boxes:asteadyandtremendoustruthfromthedaysofBarabbasdownwardsandupwards!
——Tuesday,31stMay,1740,betweenoneandtwoo’clockintheafternoon,FriedrichWilhelmdied;agefifty—two,coming15thAugustnext。Sameday,FriedrichhisSonwasproclaimedatBerlin;
quiltedheralds,withsoundoftrumpetandthelike,doingwhatiscustomaryonsuchoccasions。
OnSaturday,4thJune,theKing’sbodyislaidoutinstate;
allPotsdamatlibertytocomeandsee。Heliesthere,inhisregimentals,inhisoakencoffin,onaraisedplaceinthemiddleoftheroom;decentmortuarydraperies,lamps,garlands,banderolsfurnishingtheroomandhim:athisfeet,onablack—velvetTABOURET(stool),arethechivalryemblems,helmet,gauntlets,spurs;andonsimilarstools,attherighthandandtheleft,liehismilitaryinsignia,hatandsash,sword,guidon,andwhatelseisfit。Around,insilence,sitnineveteranmilitarydignitaries;
Buddenbrock,Waldau,Derschau,Einsiedel,andfiveotherswhomweomittoname。Silenttheysit。Agrimearnestsightintheshineofthelamplight,asyoupassoutoftheJunesun。Manywent,allday;lookedonceagainonthefacethatwastovanish。
Preciselyattenatnight,thecoffin—lidisscreweddown:
twelvePotsdamCaptainstakethecoffinontheirshoulders;
four—and—twentyCorporalswithwaxtorches,four—and—twentySergeantswithinvertedhalbertslowered;certainGeneralsonorder,andverymanyfollowingasvolunteers;theseperformtheactualburial,——carrythebodytotheGarrisonChurch,whereareclergywaiting,whichisbutasmallstepoff;seeitlodged,oakcoffinandall,inamarblecoffininthesidevaultthere,whichisknowntoTourists。[Pauli,viii。281。]Itistheendoftheweek,andtheactualburialisdone,——hastenedforwardforreasonswecanguess。
FilialpietybynomeansintendstodefraudalovedFatheroftheSpartanceremonialcontemplatedasobsequiesbyhim:veryfarfromit。Filialpietywillconformtothatwithrigor;onlyaddingwhatmusicalandothersplendorsarepossible,totestifyhislovestillmore。Andso,almostthreeweekshence,onthe23dofthemonth,withtheaidofDresdenArtists,ofLatinCantatasandotherpomps(notinexcusable,thoughsomewhatoutofkeeping),thedueFuneralisdone,noCorpsebutaWaxEffigypresentinit;——
andinallpoints,thatofthePotsdamGrenadiersnotforgotten,therewasrigorousconformitytotheInstructionleft。Inallpoints,eventotheextensivefuneraldinner,anddrinkingoftheappointedcaskofwine,\"thebestcaskinmycellar。\"Adieu,OKing。
ThePotsdamGrenadiersfiredtheirthreevolleys(not\"PLACKERING,\"asIhavereasontobelieve,butwell);gottheirallowance,dinner—liquor,andappointedcoinofmoney:itwasthelastservicerequiredoftheminthisworld。Thatsamenighttheyweredissolved,thewholeFourThousandofthem,atastroke;
andceasedtoexistasPotsdamGrenadiers。Colonels,Captains,alltheOfficersknowntobeofmerit,wereadvanced,atleasttransferred。Ofthecommonmen,aminority,ofnotinhumanheightandofworthotherwise,wereformedintoanewRegimentonthecommonterms:thestupidsplay—footedeight—feetmasswereallowedtostalkoffwhithertheypleased,orvegetateonfrugalpensions;
IrishKirkman,andafewothersneitherknock—kneednorwithouthead,wereappointedHEYDUCS,thatis,porterstotheKing’sorotherPalaces;anddidthatdutyinwhatwasconsideredanornamentalmanner。
Herearestilltwothingscapableofbeingfishedupfromtheseaofnugatorymatter;andmeditatedonbyreaders,tillthefollowingBooksopen。
ThelastbreathofFriedrichWilhelmhavingfled,Friedrichhurriedtoaprivateroom;satthereallintears;lookingbackthroughthegulfsofthePast,uponsuchaFathernowraptawayforever。Sadall,andsoftinthemoonlightofmemory,——thelostLovedOneallintherightaswenowsee,weallinthewrong!——
this,itappears,wastheSon’sfixedopinion。Sevenyearshence,hereishowFriedrichconcludestheHISTORYofhisFather,writtenwithaloyaladmirationthroughout:\"WehaveleftundersilencethedomesticchagrinsofthisgreatPrince:readersmusthavesomeindulgenceforthefaultsoftheChildren,inconsiderationofthevirtuesofsuchaFather。\"[OEuvres,i。174
(MemoiresdeBrandebourg:finishedabout1747)。]Allintearshesitsatpresent,meditatingthesesadthings。
InalittlewhiletheOldDessauer,abouttoleaveforDessau,venturesintotheCrown—Prince,Crown—Princenolonger;
\"embraceshisknees;\"offers,weeping,hiscondolence,hiscongratulation;——hopeswithalthathissonsandhewillbecontinuedintheiroldposts,andthathe,theOldDessauer,\"willhavethesameauthorityasinthelatereign。\"Friedrich’seyes,atthislastclause,flashouttearless,strangelyOlympian。
\"InyourpostsIhavenothoughtofmakingchange:inyourposts,yes;——andastoauthority,IknowofnonetherecanbebutwhatresidesintheKingthatissovereign!\"Which,asitwere,struckthebreathoutoftheOldDessauer;andsenthimhomewithapainfulmiscellanyoffeelings,astonishmentnotwantingamongthem。
Atanafterhour,thesamenight,FriedrichwenttoBerlin;metbyacclamationenough。Hesleptthere,notwithouttumultofdreams,onemayfancy;andonawakeningnextmorning,thefirstsoundheheardwasthatoftheRegimentGlasenapunderhiswindows,swearingfealtytothenewKing。Hesprangoutofbedinatempestofemotion;bustleddistractedlytoandfro,wildlyweeping。
Pollnitz,whocameintotheanteroom,foundhiminthisstate,\"half—dressed,withdishevelledhair,intears,andasifbesidehimself。\"\"ThesehuzzaingsonlytellmewhatIhavelost!\"saidthenewKing。——\"HEwasingreatsuffering,\"suggestedPollnitz;
\"heisnowatrest。\"\"True,hesuffered;buthewasherewithus:
andnow——!\"[Ranke(ii。46,47),fromcertainFragments,still,inmanuscript,ofPollnits’sMemoiren。
ENDOFBOOKX
HistoryofFriedrichIIofPrussiaV11
byThomasCarlyleBOOKXI。