\"Haha,therearemyguests,\"saidhe;\"wemustseeifwecannotentertainthemright!\"sprangtohorseback,orderedon,double—
quick,thethreeregimentsnearesthim,andwasoffatthegallop,——toolate;or,alas,tooEARLYwemightrathersay!Arrivingatthegallop,Winterfeldfoundhisgrenadiersandtheirinsufficientreinforcementsrollingback,theHilllost;Winterfeld\"sprangtoafreshhorse,\"shothislightningglancesandenergies,tohishandandthat;stormfullyralliedthematter,recoveredtheHill;
andstormfullydefendedit,for,Ishouldguess,anhourormore;
andmightstillhavedoneoneknowsnotwhat,hadnotabulletstruckhimthroughthebreast,andsuddenlyendedallhisdoingsinthisworld。
ThreeotherreasonsthePrussiansgiveforlossoftheirHill,whichareofnoconsequencetothemortousincomparison。
First,thatBevern;onmessageaftermessage,sentnoreinforcement;thatWinterfeldwaslefttohisown10,000,andwhatheandtheycouldmakeofit。BevernisjealousofWinterfeld,hintthey,andwillingtoseehisimpetuousaudacitychecked。
Perhapsonlycautiousofgettingintoageneralactionforwhatwasintrinsicallynothing?Second,thattworegimentsofInfantry,whomWinterfelddetacheddouble—quicktoseizeacoupleofvillages(Leopoldshayn,Hermsdorf)onhisright,andtherefromfusilladeNadastionflank,foundthevillagesalreadyoccupiedbythousandsofCroats,withregularfootandcannon—batteries,andcouldinnowiseseizethem。Thiswasagreatreverseofadvantage。
Third,thatanAide—de—Campmadeasmallmisnomer,misreportofoneword,whichwasterriblyimportant:\"BringmehitherRegimentManteuffel!\"Winterfeldhadordered。TheAide—de—Campreportedit\"GrenadiersManteuffel:\"uponwhich,thegrenadiers,whowerepostedinawalledgarden,animportantpointtoWinterfeld’sright,cameinstantlytoorder;andAustriansinstantlyrushedintothevacantpost,andgalledWinterfeld’sotherflankbytheirfire。[AbundantAccountsinSeyfarth,ii。(Beylagen),162—163;Helden—Geschichte,iv。615—633;
Retzow,i。216—221。]
Enough,Winterfeldlaybleedingtodeath,theHillwaslost,Prussiansdrawingoffslowlyandback—foremost,abouttwointheafternoon;uponwhichtheAustriansalsodrewoff,leavingonlyasmallpartyontheHill,whovoluntarilyquitteditnextmorning。
Nextmorning,likewise,Winterfeldhaddied。TheHillwas,exceptasbravado,andbywayofcomforttoKaunitz,nothingfortheAustrians;butthedeathofWinterfeld,whichhadcomebychancetotheminthebusiness,wasprobablyagreatthing。Betterthantwopitchedbattlesgained:whoshallsay?Hewasashiningfigure,thisWinterfeld;dangeroustotheAustrians。ThemostshiningfigureinthePrussianArmy,exceptitsChief;andhadgreatthoughtsinhishead。PrussiaisnotskilfultocelebrateherHeroes,——thePrussianMuseofHistory,chokedwithdrymilitarypipe—clay,orwithhuskycobwebberyandacademicpedantry,howcanshe?——butifPrussiacanproduceheroesworthcelebrating,thatistheoneimportantpoint。Apartfromsoldiership,andtheoutwardfeatureswhicharewidelydifferent,thereistraceableinWinterfeldsomekinshipinsoultoEnglishChathamhiscontemporary;thoughhehasnothadthefameofChatham。
Winterfeldwasbynomeansuniversallyliked;aswhatbravemanisorcanbe?Toosusceptibletoflattery;toothis,toothat。Heis,onefeelsalways,exceptFriedrichonly,themostshiningfigureinthePrussianArmy:anditwasnotunnaturalheshouldbeFriedrich’sonefriend,——asseemstohavebeenthecase。
Friedrich,whenthisJob’s—messagereachedhim(inErfurtCountry,eightdayshence),wasdeeplyaffectedbyit。Totears,orbeyondtears,aswecanfancy。\"AgainstmymultitudeofenemiesImaycontriveresources,\"hewasheardtosay;\"butIshallfindnoWinterfeldagain!\"Adieu,myonefriend,realPeer,solecompaniontomylonelypilgrimageintheseperiloushighregions。
\"ThePrinceofPrussia,contrariwise,\"saysamiserablelittleNote,whichmustnotbewithheld,\"brightenedupatthenews:
’Ishallnowdiemuchmorecontent,knowingthatthereisonesobadanddangerousmanfewerintheArmy!’And,sixmonthsafter,inhisactualdeath—moments,heexclaimed:’Iendmylife,thelastperiodofwhichhascostmesomuchsorrow;butWinterfeldishewhoshortenedmydays!’\"[Preuss,ii。75;citingRetzow。]——VerybitterOppositionhumorscirculating,intheirfashion,thereaselsewhereinthisworld!
Bevern,themillstoneofWinterfeldbeingoffhisneck,hasbecomeamoreresponsible,thoughhefeelshimselfamuch—deliveredman。
HadnotlikedWinterfeld,theysay;orhadevenhatedhim,sincethosebadZittautimes。Cannow,atanyrate,makeforSchlesienandthemeal—magazines,whenheseesgood。Hewillfindmealreadierthere;mayhefindotherthingscorresponding!Nobodynowtokeephimpainfullymanoeuvringintheseparts;withtheKing’sArmynearertohim,butmealnot。
Onthethirddayafter(Septemberl0th),Bevern,havingfinishedpacking,tooktheroadforSchlesien;DaunandKarlattendinghim;
nothingleftofDaunandKarlinthoseSaxonCountries,——except,atStolpen,outDresden—wards,someReserve—PostorRear—guardof15,000,shouldwechancetohearofthatagain。AndfromtheendofSeptemberonwards,Bevern’sstar,oncesomewhatbrightatReichenberg,shotrapidlydownwards,underthehorizonaltogether;
andtherecame,postafterpost,suchnewsoutofSchlesien,——
tosaynothingofthatStolpenParty,——asFriedrichhadneverheardbefore。
ChapterVII。
FRIEDRICHINTHURINGEN,HISWORLDOFENEMIESALLCOME。
TheSoubise—HildburghausenpeoplehadgotrendezvousedatErfurtaboutAugust25th;50,000byaccount,andnoenemywithin200milesofthem;andintheVersaillescirclesithadbeenexpectedtheywouldproceedtothe\"DeliveranceofSaxony\"straightway。Whatistohinder?——Friedrich,hagglingwiththeAustriansatBernstadt,couldmusterbutapoor23,000,whenhedidmarchtowardsErfurt。
Inthosesameneighborhoods,withinreachofSoubise,istheRichelieu,lateD’Estrees,Army;elatedwithHastenbeck,comfortablypushingRoyalHighnessofCumberland,whomakesnoresistance,stepbystep,intothesea;victoriouslyplundering,farandwideinthosecountries,HanoveritselftheHead—quarter。
IntheVersaillescircles,itisfartherexpectedthatRichelieu,\"ConquerorofMinorca,\"willshortlybesiegeandconquerMagdeburg,andsocrownhisglories。Whynot;werethe\"DeliveranceofSaxony\"complete?
Thewholeofwhichturnedoutgreatlyotherwise,andtothesaddisappointmentofVersailles。TheConquerorofMinorcaisprobablyawarethattheconqueringofMagdeburg,againstonewhoseplatformsarenotrotten,andwhodoesnot\"liealwaysinhisbed,\"aspooroldBlakeneydid,willbeaverydifferentmatter。Andtheprivatetruthis,MarrchaldeRichelieuneverturnedhisthoughtsuponMagdeburgatall,noruponanypointofwarthathaddifficulties,butsolelyuponcollectingplunderforhimselfinthoseCountries。
Oneofthemostmagnificentmaraudersonrecord;innodanger,he,ofbecomingmonitoryandapendulum,likethe1,000thatalreadyswinginthatcapacitytorearofhim!Andhedidmanage,inthisCampaign,whichwasthelastofhismilitaryservices,soastopayoffatParis\"above50,000poundsofdebts;andtobuildforhimselfabeautifulGardenMansionthere,whichthemockingpopulationscalled’HanoverPavilion(PAVILIOND’HANOVRE);’\"anamestillstickingtoit,Ibelieve。[Barbier,iii。256,271。]
OftheRichelieuCampaignwearehappilydeliveredfromsayingalmostanything:andthemaininterestforusturnsnowonthatSoubise—Hildburghausenwingofit,——whichalsoisasufficientlycontemptibleaffair;nottobespokenofbeyondthestrictlyunavoidable。
Friedrich,withhis23,000settingoutfromDresden,August30th,hasamarchofabout170milestowardsErfurt。Hemayexpecttofind——countingRichelieu,ifRoyalHighnessofCumberlandpersistinactingZEROashitherto——aconfusedmassofabout150,000
Enemies,ofonesortandother,waitinghimahead;nottothinkofthosehehasjustleftbehind;——andhecannotwellbeinatriumphanthumor!Behind,before,around,itisonegatheringofEnemies:onepointonlycertain,thathemustbeatthem,orelsedie。Readerswouldfainfollowhiminthisforlornmarch;him,theonepointofinterestnowinit:andreadersshall,ifwecanmanage,thoughitisextremelydifficult。For,ongettingtoErfurt,hefindshisSoubise—HildburghausenArmyoffonretreatamongtheinaccessibleHillsstillfartherwestward;andhastolingerpainfullythere,andtodetach,andeventomarchpersonallyagainstotherEnemies;andthen,thesefinished,tomarchbacktowardshisErfurtones,whoaretakingheartintheinterim:——and,inshort,fromSeptember1sttoNovember5th,therearetwomonthsofconfusedmanoeuvringandmarchingtoandfrointhatWest—Saxonregion,whichareveryintricatetoreaders。November5thisadayunforgettable:butanteriortothat,whatcanwedo?Here,dated,aretheThreegrandEpochsofthething;whichreadershadbetterfixinmindasapreliminary:——
1。SEPTEMBER13th,FriedrichhasgottoErfurtneighborhood;
butSoubiseandCompanyareoffwestwardtotheHillsofEisenach,won’tcomedown;Friedrichobligedtolingerthereabouts,painfullywaitingalmostamonth,till2。OCTOBER11th,hearingthat\"15,000Austrians\"(thatStolpenParty,leftasrear—guardatStolpen;Croatsmainly,underaGeneralHaddick)areonmarchforBerlin,herisesinhastethitherward,throughLeipzig,Torgau,say100miles;hearsthatHaddickHASbeeninBerlin(16th—17thOctober)foroneday,andthatheisoffagainfullspeedwitharansomof30,000pounds,whichtheyhavehadtopayhim:uponwhichFriedrichcallshaltintheTorgaucountry;——andwouldhavebeenuncertainwhattodo,hadnot3。SoubiseandCompany,extremelyelatedwiththisHaddickFeat,comeoutfromtheirHills,intenttodeliverSaxonyafterall。
SothatFriedrichhastoturnback(October26th—30th)throughLeipzigagain;towards,——infacttowardsROSSBACHandNOVEMBER5th,inhisoldSaaleCountry,whichdoesnotprovesowearisomeasformerly!
Thesearethecardinaldates;theseletthereaderrecurto,ifnecessary,andkeepsteadilyinmind:itwillthenperhapsbepossibletointercalate,inamannerintelligibletohim,whatotherlucentphenomenathereare;andthesedismalwanderings,andmiserablesttwomonthsofFriedrich’slife,willnotbewhollyaprovokingblotchofenigmaticdarkness,butinsomesortathingwithfeaturesinthetwilightofthePast。
I。FRIEDRICH’SMARCHTOERFURTFROMDRESDEN
(31stAugust—13thSeptember,1757)。
ThemarchtoErfurtwasoftwelvedays,andwithoutadventuretospeakof。MayerandFree—Battalionhadthevanguard,Friedrichthereasusual;mainbody,underKeithwithFerdinandandMoritz,followinginseveralcolumns:straighttowardstheirgoal;
withsteadydespatch;fortwelvedays;——weatheroftenverywet。
[Tempelhof,i。229;Rodenbeck,i。317(notverycorrect):
inWestphalen(ii。20&c。)apersonalDiaryofthisMarch,andofwhatfollowedonDukeFerdinand’spart。]Seidlitz,withcavalry,hadgoneahead,insearchofoneTurpin,amightyhunterandHussaramongtheFrench,whowasthreateningLeipzig,threateningHalle:
butTurpinmadeoffatsoundofhim,withouttryingfight;sothatSeidlitzhadonlytohalt,andrejoin,hopingbetterluckanothertime。
Amarchaltogetherofthecommontype,——thestagesofitnotworthmarkingexceptforspecialreaders;——andofmemorabletousoffersonlythis,ifeventhis:atRotha,inLeipzigCountry,theeighthstagefromDresden,Friedrichwrites,willingtotryforPeaceifitbepossible,TOTHEMARECHALDUCDERICHELIEU。
\"ROTHA,7thSeptember,1757。
\"Ifeel,M。leDuc,thatyouhavenotbeenputinthepostwhereyouareforthepurposeofNegotiating。Iampersuaded,however,thattheNephewofthegreatCardinalRichelieuismadeforsigningtreatiesnolessthanforgainingbattles。Iaddressmyselftoyoufromaneffectoftheesteemwithwhichyouinspireeventhosewhodonotintimatelyknowyou。
\"’Tisasmallmatter,Monsieur(ILS’AGITD’UNEBAGATELLE):onlytomakePeace,ifpeoplearepleasedtowishit!IknownotwhatyourInstructionsare:but,inthesuppositionthattheKingyourMaster,zowassuredbyyourSuccesses,willhaveputitinyourpowertolaborinthepacificationofGermany,IaddresstoyoutheSieurd’Elcheset\"(SieurBalbiistherealnameofhim,anItalianEngineerofmine,whoonceservedwithyouintheFontenoytimes,——
andsomesayhehasprivatelya15,000poundsforyourGrace’sacceptance,——\"theSieurd’Elcheset),inwhomyoumayplacecompleteconfidence。
\"ThoughtheeventsofthisYearaffordnohopethatyourCourtstillentertainsafavorabledispositionformyinterests,Icannotpersuademyselfthataunionwhichhaslastedbetweenusforsixteenyearsmaynothaveleftsometraceinthemind。PerhapsI
judgeothersbymyself。But,howeverthatmaybe,I,inshort,preferputtingmyinterestsintotheKingyourMaster’shandsratherthauintoanyother’s。Ifyouhavenot,Monsieur,anyInstructionsastotheProposalherebymade,Ibegofyoutoasksuch,andtoinformmewhatthetenorofthemis。
\"HewhohasmeritedstatuesatGenoa[tenyearsago,inthoseANTI—
Austriantimes,whenGenoaburstupinrevolt,andtheFrenchandRichelieubeautifullyintervenedagainsttheoppressors];hewhoconqueredMinorcainspiteofimmenseobstacles;hewhoisonthepointofsubjugatingLowerSaxony,——candonothingmoregloriousthantorestorePeacetoEurope。Ofallyourlaurels,thatwillbethefairest。WorkinthisCause,withtheactivitywhichhassecuredyousuchrapidprogressotherwise;andbepersuadedthatnobodywillfeelmoregratefultoyouthan,MonsieurleDuc,——
YourfaithfulFriend,——FREDERIC。\"
[GiveninRODENBECK,i。313(doubtlessfromMemoiresdeRichelieu,Paris,1793,ix。175,theonefountain—headinregardtothissmallaffair):for\"the15,000pounds\"andotherrumoredparticulars,seaRetzow,i。197;Preuss,ii。84;
OEuvresdeFrederic,iv。145。]
Richelieu,itappearsbyanyevidencethereis,wentwillinglyintothisscheme;andappliedatVersailles,asdesired;withaperemptorynegativeforresult。NothingcameoftheRichelieuattemptthere;norof\"CEM。DEMIRABEAU,\"ifheeverwent;norofanyotheronthaterrand。NeedlesstoapplyforPeaceatVersailles(andamerewasteofyour\"sumof15,000pounds,\"whichonehopesisfabulousinthepresentscarcityofmoney):——orshouldweperhapshavementionedthethingatall,exceptforthesakeofWilhelmina,whosefondschemeitisinthisextremityoffate;
schemewhichshetriesinstillotherdirections,asweshallsee;
herBrotherwillingtoo,butprobablywithmuchlesshope。IfacivilLetterandabribeofMoneywilldoit,theseneednotbespared。
ThisatRothaisthedaywhileWinterfeld,onMoysHill,ismeetinghisdeath。To—dayatPegau,inthisneighborhood,Seidlitz,whocouldnotfallinwithTurpin,hasgiventheHussarsofLoudonabeautifulslap;thefirstenemywehaveseenonthismarch;andthelast,——nothingbutLoudonandHussarsvisiblyabout,therestofthoseSoubise—Reichspeopledormant,aswouldseem。\"D’Elcheset,\"
Balbi,orwhoeverhewas,wouldnotfindRichelieuatHanover;
butataplacecalledKloster—Zeven,inBremenCountry,fiftyorsixtymilesfartheron。There,thisday,areRichelieuwithoneSporckenaHanoverian,andoneLynaraDane,rapidlyfinishingathingtheywerepleasedtocall\"ConventionofKloster—Zeven;\"
whichFriedrichregardedasanotherhugemisfortunefallenonhim,——thoughitprovedtohavebeenfarthereverseawhileafter。
ConcerningwhichtakethisbriefNote;cannotbetoobriefonsuchatopic:——
\"NeverwasthereamorefutileConventionthanthatofKloster—
Zeven;whichfilledallEuropewithlamentablenoises,indignationsandanxieties,duringtheremainderofthatYear;andisnowreduced,forEuropeandtheUniverse,toasilentmathematicalpoint,ormeremarkofposition,requiringstilltobeattendedtointhatcharacter,thoughitselfzeroinanyother。Herearethemainparticulars,intheirsequence。
\"August3d,towardsmidnight,’11P。M。’saytheBooks,MarechaldeRichelieuarrivesintheD’EstreesCamp(’CampofOldendorf,’stillonlyonemarchwestofHastenbeck);towhomD’EstreesontheinstantloftilydeliversuphisArmy;explainswithloyalty,forafewdaysmore,allthingsneedfultothenewCommander;declinestobehimselfSecond;andloftilywithdrawstotheBathsofAachen’forhishealth。’
\"RoyalHighnessofCumberlandis,bythistime,wellonElbe—ward,Ocean—ward。TillAugust1st;foroneweek,RoyalHighnessofCumberlandlayatMinden,somethirtyoddmilesfromHastenbeck;
deploringthatsadmistake;butunpersuadabletostand,andtryamendmentofit:Augustlst,theFrenchadvancingonhimagain,hemovedoffnorthward,seaward。ByNienburg,Verden,Rothenburg,Zeven,Bremenvorde,Stade;——arrivedatStade,onthetidalWatersoftheElbe,August5th;andbynecessitydidhaltthere。
FromMindenonwards,Richelieu,notD’Estrees,hashadthechasingofRoyalHighness:oneofthesimplestfunctions;onlythatthecountryisgettingmuddy,difficultforartillery—carriage(thinksRichelieu),withanArmysodilapidated,hungry,shortofpay;
andthatRoyalHighness,averyfuriouspersontoourformerknowledge,mightturnonuslikeaboaratbay,endangeringeverything;andfinally,thatone’sdesireisnotforbattle,butforafairchanceofplundertopayone’sdebts。
\"BritannicMajesty,inthisawfulstateofhisHanoverArmaments,hasbeenapplyingattheDanishCourt;Richelieutoosendsoffanapplicationthither:’Mediatebetweenus,spareuselessbloodshed!’
[Valfons,p。291。]——WhereuponDanishMajesty(Britannic’sson—in—
law)cheerfullyundertakesit;bidsoneLynarbestirhimselfuponit。CountLynar,anesteemedOfficialofhis,wholivesinthoseneighborhoods;DanishViceroyinOldenburg,——muchconcernedwiththeScriptures,theSacredLanguagesandotherseraphicstudies,——
andachangedmansincewesawhimlastinthePetersburgregions,makinglovetoMrs。AntonUlrichlongago!Lynar,feelingtheaxisoftheworldlaidonhisshoulderinthismanner,losesnotamoment;invokestheHeavenlyPowers;goesonitwithanalacrityandadespatchbeyondpraise。RunstotheDukeofCumberlandatStade;thencetoRichelieuatZeven;backtotheDuke,backtoZeven:’Won’tyou;andwon’tYOU?’andinfourshortdayshastheonceworld—famed’ConventionofKloster—Zeven’standingonparchment,——signed,readyforratifying:’RoyalHighness’sArmytogohometotheircountriesagain[routes,methods,times:
when,how,andwhatnext,allleftunsettled],andnoiseofWartoceaseinthoseparts。’Signedcheerfullyonbothsides9thSeptember,1757;andLynarstrikingthestarswithhissublimehead。[Busching(whoaloneisexactinthematter),
Beitrage,iv。167,168,?Lynar:seeScholl,iii。49;
Valfons,pp。202,203;OEuvresdeFrederic,
iv。143(withcorrectionofPreuss’sNotethere)。]
\"UnaccountablehowLynarhadmanagedsuchadifficulty。Hesaysseraphically,inaLettertoafriend,whichthePrussianhussarsgotholdof,’TheideaofitwasinspiredbytheHolyGhost:’
atwhichthewholeworldhaha’dagain。ForitwasaConventionvague,absurd,notcapableofbeingexecuted;ratificationofitrefusedbybothCourts,bytheFrenchCourtfirst,ifthatwasanymatter:——andtheonlythingnowmemorableofitis,thatITwasatotalFutility;but,thatthereensuedfromitaFactstillofimportance;namely:——
\"Thatonthe5thofOctoberfollowing,RoyalHighnessquittedStade,andhiswreckedArmyhangingsorrowfulthere,likeaflightofpluckedcranesinmid—air;——arrivedatKensington,October12th;
heardthepaternalMajestysay,thatevening,’Hereismysonwhohasruinedme,anddisgracedhimself!’——andthereuponindignantlylaiddownhismilitaryoffices,allandsundry;andceasedaltogethertocommandArmies,Englishorother,inthisworld。
[InWALPOLE(iii。59—64)theamplestminutenessofdetail。]
Whereby,inthethenandnowdiagramofthings,Kloster—Zeven,asamathematicalpoint,continuesmemorableinHistory,thoughshrunkotherwisetozero!
\"Pitt’smagnanimitytoRoyalHighnesswasconspicuous。
RoyalHighness,itissaid,hadbeenverybadlyusedinthismatterbyhispoorpeddlingFatherandtheHanoverMinisters;thematterbeingonepuddleofimbecilitiesfrombeginningtoend。Hewasthesoulofhonor;braveasaWelflion;but,ofdimpoorhead;andhadnotthefaintestvestige[ALLERGERINGSTEsaysMauvillon]ofmilitaryskill:awfulintheextremetoseeincommandofBritishArmies!Adieutohim,foreverandaday。\"
EversinceJuly29th,threedaysafterHastenbeck,PitthadbeeninOfficeagain;suchthebombardmentbyCorporation—BoxesandEventsimpingingonBritannicMajesty:butnottillnow,asIfancy,hadPitt’sway,inregardtothoseGermanmatters,beencleartohim。
ThequestionofaGermanArmy,ifyoumust,haveaNo—Generalatthetopofit,mightwellbeproblematicaltoPitt。Toequipyourstrongfightingman,andsendhimonyourerrand,regardlessofexpense;and,bywayofpreliminary,cuttheheadoffhim,beforesaying\"Good—speedtoyou,strongman!\"ButwithaGeneral,Pittseesthatitcanbedifferent;thatperhaps\"AmericacanbeconqueredinGermany,\"andthat,withaBritannicMajestysodisposed,thereisnootherwayoftryingit。TothiscoursePittstandshenceforth,heedlessofthegazetteercackle,\"Hah,ourPitttoobecomeGerman,afterallhistalking!\"——likeaseventy—fourunderfullsail,withsea,wind,pilotallofonemind,andonlycertainwater—fowlobjecting。AndisKingofEnglandforthenextFourYears;theoneKingpoorEnglandhashadthislongwhile;——hishandfeltshortlyattheendsoftheEarth。AndprovessuchablessingtoFriedrich,amongothers,asnothingelseinthisWar;
prettymuchhisoneblessing,littleasheexpectedit。
Beforelong,ExcellencyMitchellbeginsconsultingaboutaGeneral,——andFriedrichdimlyseesbetterthingsinthedistance,andthatKloster—Zevenhadnotbeenthemisfortuneheimagined,butonly\"Thedarkesthour,\"which,itissaid,lies\"nearesttothedawn。\"
II。THESOUBISEHILDBURGHAUSENPEOPLETAKEINTOTHEHILLS;
FRIEDRICHINERFURTNEIGHBORHOOD,HANGINGON,WEEKAFTER
WEEK,INANAGONYOFINACTION(13thSeptember—10thOctober)。
Friedrich’smarchhasgonebyDobeln,Grimma,toPegauandRotha,Leipzigway,but,withLeipzigwelltoright:itjustbrushesWeissenfelstorightward,nextdayafterRotha;crossesSaaleRivernearNaumburg,whencestraightthroughWeimarCountry,WeimarCityonyourleft,toErfurtonthenorthernside;——and,\"ERFURT,TUESDAY13thSEPTEMBER,1757,About10inthemorning[listentoafaithfulWitness],thereappearedHussarsontheheightstonorthward:——’VanguardofhisPrussianMajesty!’saidErfurtwithalarm,andourFrenchguestswithalarm。Andscarcelywerethewordsuttered,whensaidVanguard,andgraduallythewholePrussianArmy[onlysome9,000,thoughweallthoughtitthewhole],cametosight;postingitselfinhalf—moonshaperoundusthere;FrenchandReichsfolkhurryingoffwhattheycouldfromtheCyriaksbergandPetersberg,bytheoppositegates,\"——towardsGotha,andtheHillsofEisenach。
\"ThinkwhatadilemmaforErfurt,jammedbetweentwohornsinthisway,shouldonehornenterbeforetheothergotout!MuchparleyingandsupplicatingonthepartofErfurt:Tillatlast,about4P。M。,Frenchbeingalloff,Erfurtflungitsgatesopen;andthenewPowerdidenter,withsomeduestate:PrussianMajestyinPerson(whocouldhavehopedit!)andPrinceHenribesidehim;
Cavalrywithdrawnswords;Infantrywithfield—pieces,andthebandplaying\"——Prussiangrenadiermarch,Ishouldhope,orsomethingequallycheering。\"TherestoftheVanguard,and,insuccession,theArmyaltogether,hadtakenCampoutside,lookingdownontheNorthernGate,overatIlgertshofen,avillageintheneighborhood,abouttwomilesoff。\"[Helden—Geschichte,iv。
636,637。]
ThatisthefirstsightFriedrichhasof\"LADAUPHINE,\"astheVersaillespeoplecallthisBellona,cometo\"deliverSaxony;\"
andsheisconsiderablycoyerthanhadbeenexpected。Manysaddays,andardentvainvowsofFriedrich,beforehecouldseetheskirtofheragain!FromIlgertshofen,northwestwardtoDittelstadt,Gamstadt,andotherpoorspecksofvillagesinGothaTerritory,istenorfifteenmiles;fromDittelstadteastwardtoButtstadtandButtelstadt,inWeimarCountry,maybetwenty—five:
inthisarea,Friedrich,shiftingabout,chieflyforconvenienceofquarters,——head—quarterKirschlebenforawhile,Buttelstadtfinallyandlongest,——hadtowanderimpatientlytoandfroforfourweeksandmore;noworkprocurable,ornoneworthmentioning:——inthehumorofamanwhoseHouseisonfire,flamingoutofeverywindow,frontandrear;whohasrunupwithquenchingapparatus;
andcannot,beingspell—bound,gettheleastbucketofitapplied。
Andisbynaturetherapidestsoulnowalive。Figurehissituationthere,asitgraduallybecomesmanifesttohim!
Forthepresent,DAUPHINESSBellona,hurryingtotheHills,hasleftsometagragofremnantinGotha。Whereupon,thesecondday,hereisan\"OwnCorrespondent\"again,——notcomingbyelectrictelegraph,but(whatisasensibleadvantage)credibleineverypoint,whenhedoescome:——
\"GOTHA,THURSDAY,15thSEPTEMBER。Grand—DukeandDuchess,likeeverybodyelse,havebeenmuchoccupiedallmorningwiththefact,thatthePrussianArmy[Seidlitzandaregimentortwo,nothingmore]isactuallyhere;tookpossessionoftheTown—GatesandMainGuardthismorning,——certainHungarian—Frenchhussarrabble,hatefultoeveryoneinGotha,havingmadeoffintime,rapidlytowardsEisenachandtheHills。
\"Towardsnoon,hisRoyalMajestyinhighestperson,withhisLordBrotherthePrinceHenri’sRoyalHighness,arrivedinGotha;
sentstraightway,byoneofhisOfficers,acomplimenttotheGrand—Duke;and’wouldhavethepleasuretocomeanddine,ifhisSereneHighnesspermitted。’SereneHighness,selfandHouseholdalwayscordiallyFriedrich’s,wasjustaboutsittingdowntodinner;andansweredwithexuberantlygladsurprise,——orwasanswering,whenRoyalMajestyhimselfsteptinwithsmilingface;
andembracingtheDuke,said:’Itimedmyselftoarriveatthismoment,thinkingyourDurchlauchtwouldbeatdinner,thatImightbereceivedwithoutceremony,anddinelikeaneighboramongyou。’
Unexpectedasthisvisitwas,thejoyofDukeandDuchess,\"alwaysfastfriendstoFriedrich,andthelattereverafterwardshiscorrespondent,\"maybeconceived,butnotadequatelyexpressed;
asboththeSerenitiesweretouched,inthemostaffectingmanner,bythehonorofsogreataKing’ssuddenpresenceamongthem。
\"HisMajestyrequestedthattheFrauvonBuchwald,ourMostGraciousDuchess’sHof—Dame,whosequalitieshemuchvalued,mightdinewiththem,\"——beingalwaysfondofsensiblepeople,especiallysensiblewomen。\"ThewholeHighestandHighcompany[Royal,thatis,andDucal]was,duringtable,uncommonlymerry。TheKingshowedhimselfaltogethercontent;andhisbrightclevertalkandsprightlysallies,awakeningeverybodytothelike,leftnottheleasttracevisibleoftheweightytoilshewasthenengagedin;——
asiftheweightierthesewere,thelessshouldtheyfetterthenobleopenness(FREYMUTHIGKEIT)ofthishighsoul,whichisnottobecastdownbytheheaviestburden。
\"HisMajestyhavingtakenleaveofDukeandDuchess,andgraciouslypermittedthechiefestpersonsoftheGothaCourttopaytheirrespects,withdrewtohisArmy。\"[LetterinHelden—
Geschichte,iv。638,639。]Slept,Ifindelsewhere,\"atGamstadt,onthefloorofalittleInn;\"meaningtoexaminePostsinthatpart,nextmorning。
HerehasbeenacheerfullittlesceneforFriedrich;thelasthehasintheseblackweeks。AlaboriousPredecessor,strivingtoelucidate,leavesmethisNote:——
\"Whatapityoneknowsnothing,norcanknow,aboutthisDukeandDuchess,thoughtheirnames,especiallythelatter’sname,aremuchtossedtoandfrointheBooks!Weheardofthem,favorably,inVoltaire’stime;andmayagain,atleastoftheLady,whoishenceforthaCorrespondentofFriedrich’s。Theaboveisadimdirectviewofthem,probablyourlastaswellasfirst。Duke’snameisFriedrichIII。;Idobelieve,amanofsolidity,honorandpolitedignifiedsense,ahighlyrespectableDukeofSachsen—Gotha,contentedtobeobscure,andquietlydowhatwasstilldo—ableinthatenigmaticsituation。HeisUncletoourGeorgeIII。;——hisSisteristhenowPrincess—DowagerofWales,withaLordBute,andIknownotwhatquestionablefiguresandintrigues,orsuspicionsofintrigue,muchabouther。HisDuchess,LouisaDorothee,isaPrincessofdistinguishedqualities,literarytastes,——Voltaire’sHostess,Friedrich’sCorrespondent:abrightandquietlyshiningilluminationtothecirclesheinhabits。Dukeisnowfifty—eight,Duchessforty—seven;andtheylosttheireldestSonlastyear。
TherehasbeenlatelyaconsiderableprivatebrabbleastoTutorageoftheDukeofWeimar(Wilhelmina’smaddishDuke,whoisdeadlately;andaPrinceleft,whosoondiedalso,butleftaSon,whogrewtobeGoethe’sfriend);TutorageclaimedbyvariousCousins,hasbeenadjudgedtothisone,KingFriedrichco—operatinginsuchresult。
\"AstothefamedGrand—Duchess,sheisaSachsen—MeiningenPrincess,comeofErnstthePious,ofJohanntheMagnanimous,asherHusbandandalltheseSachsensare:whenVoltairewentprecipitant,withsuchvelocity,fromthePotsdamHeaven,shereceivedhimatGotha;sethimonwritinghisHISTORYOFTHE
EMPIRE,andendeavoredtobreakhisfall。ShewasnobletoVoltaire,andwellhonoredbythatuncertainSpirit。ThereisafineLibraryatGotha;andtheLadybrightlovesBooks,andthosethatcanwritethem;——afriendoftheLight,aDaughteroftheSunandtheEmpyrean,notofDarknessandtheStygianFens。\"
[Michaelis,i。517;&c。&c。]
Friedrich’sfirstLettertoherHighnesswasoneofthanks,aboveayearago,foranactofkindness,actofjusticewithal,whichshedidtooneofhisOfficialpeople。Here,onthemorrowofthatdinner,isthesecondLetter,muchmoreaerialandcordial,inwhichstyletheyallcontinue,nowthathehasseentheadmiredPrincess。
TOTHEMOSTSERENEGRAND—DUCHESSOFSACHSEN—GOTHA。
DITTELSTADT,\"16thSeptember,1757。
\"MADAM,——YesterdaywasaDayIshallneverforget;whichsatisfiedajustdesireIhavehad,thislongwhile,toseeandhearaPrincesswhomallEuropeadmires。Iamnotsurprised,Madam,thatyousubduepeople’shearts;youaremadetoattracttheesteemandthehomageofallwhohavethehappinesstoknowyou。Butitisincomprehensibletomehowyoucanhaveenemies;andhowmenrepresentingCountriesthatbynomeanswishtopassforbarbarous,canhavebeensobasely(INDIGNEMENT)wantingintherespecttheyoweyou,andintheconsiderationwhichisduetoallsovereigns[FrenchnotfamousfortheirrefineddemeanorinSaxonythistime]。
WhycouldnotIflytopreventsuchdisorders,suchindecency!
Icanonlyofferyouagreatdealofgood—will;butIfeelwellthat,inpresentcircumstances,thethingwantediseffectiveresultsandreality。MayI,Madam,besohappyastorenderyousomeservice!Mayyourfortunebeequaltoyourvirtues!Iamwiththehighestconsideration,Madam,yourHighness’sfaithfulCousin,——F。\"[OEuvresdeFrederic,xvii。166。]
ToWilhelminahesaysofit,nextday,stillgratified,thoughsadnewshavecomeintheinterim;——deathofWinterfeld,foroneblackitem:——……\"ThedaybeforeyesterdayIwasinGotha。Itwasatouchingscenetoseethepartnersofone’smisfortunes,withlikegriefsandlikecomplaints。TheDuchessisawomanofrealmerit,whosefirmnessputsmanyamantoshame。MadamdeBuchwaldappearstomeaveryestimableperson,andonewhowouldsuityoumuch:
intelligent,accomplished,withoutpretensions,andgood—humored。
MyBrotherHenriisgonetoseethemto—day。Iamsooppressedwithgrief,thatIwouldratherkeepmysadnesstomyself。IhavereasontocongratulatemyselfmuchonaccountofmyBrotherHenri;hehasbehavedlikeanangel,asasoldier,andwelltowardsmeasaBrother。Icannot,unfortunately,saythesameoftheelder。
Hesulksatme(ILMEBODE),andhassulkilyretiredtoTorgau,fromwhence,Ihear,heisgonetoWittenberg。Ishallleavehimtohiscapricesandtohisbadconduct;andIprophesynothinggoodforthefuture,unlesstheyoungerguidehim。\"[\"Kirschleben,nearErfurt,17thSeptember,1757\"(OEuvresdeFrederic,xxvii。i。306)。]……
ThisispartofalongsadLettertoWilhelmina;partsofwhichwemayrecurto,asotherwiseillustrative。Butbeforegoingintothattragicbudgetofbadnews,letusgivethefinaleofGotha,whichoccurredthenextday,——tragi—comicinpart,——andisthelastbitofactioninthosedrearyfourweeks。
GOTHA,18thSEPTEMBER。\"SinceThursday15th,Major—GeneralSeidlitz,\"youngestMajor—GeneraloftheArmy,butarapidlyrisingman,\"hasbeenCommandantinGotha,underflourishingcircumstances;popularandsupreme,thoughonlywithaforceof1,500,dragoonsandhussars。Mondaymorningearly,Seidlitz’sscoutsbringwordthattheSoubise—Hildburghausenpeopleareinmotionhitherward;FrenchhussarsandAustrian,Turpin’s,Loudon’s,allthatare;grenadiersinmass;——total,say,8,000horseandfoot,withabundanceofartillery;——havebeenonmarchallnight,toretakeGotha;withalltheChiefGeneralsandDignitariesoftheArmyfollowingintheircarriages,forsomehourspast,toseeitdone。Seidlitz,ascertainingthesethings,hasbutonecourseleft,——thatofclearinghimselfout,whichhedoeswithorderlyvelocity:andat9A。M。theDignitariesandtheir8,000findopengates,Seidlitzcleanoff;occupytheposts,withdueemphasisandflourish;andproceedtotheSchlossinagrandtriumphantway,——
whereprivatelytheyarenotverywelcome,thoughoneputsthebestfaceonit,andadinnerofimportanceisthefirstthingimperativetobesetinprogress。AflurriedCourt,thatofGotha,andmuchswashingofFrenchplumesthroughit,allthismorning,sinceSeidlitzhadtoflit。
\"Seidlitzhasnotflittedveryfar。Seidlitzhasrankedhissmalldragoon—hussarforceinahollow,twomilesoff;hasgotwarningsenttoathirdregimentwithinreachofhim,’Cometowardsme,andinacertaindefile,visiblefromGothaeastward,spreadyourselvessoandso!’——andjudgesbytheswashinghehearsofupyonder,thatperhapssomethingmaystillbedone。Dinner,upintheSchloss,isjustbeingtakenfromthespit,andtheswashingatitsheight,when——’Hahwhatisthat,though?’andallplumespause。ForitisSeidlitz,artisticallyspreadintosinglefiles,ontheprominentpointsofvision;advancingagain,morelike15,000than1,500:
’AndintheDefileyonder,thatregiment,doyoumarkit;theKing’svanguard,Ishouldsay?——Tohorse!’
\"ThatisSeidlitz’sfineBitofPainting,hungoutyonder,hookedontheskyitself,astemporarybackgroundtoGotha,tobejudgedofbytheconnoisseurs。Forpictorialeffect,breadthoftouch,truthtoNatureandrealpowerontheconnoisseur,Ihaveheardofnothingequalbyanyartist。ThehighGeneralcy,Soubise,Hildburghausen,Darmstadt,mountinthehighesthaste;everybodymounts,happyhewhohasanythingtomount;thegrenadierstumbleoutoftheSchloss;dragoons,artillerytumbleout;Dauphinesstakeswhollytoherheels,atanextraordinarypace:sothatSeidlitz’shussarscouldhardlygetastrokeather;caughtsixtyandodd,nineofthemOfficersnotofmark;didkillthirty;andhadsuchahaulofequipagesandvaluableeffects,cosmeticagoodfewofthem,habilatory,artistic,ascausedthehussarhearttosingforjoy。Amongotherplunder,wasLoudon’sCommissionofMajor—General,justonitsroadfromVienna[poorMannstein’sdeaththesuggestingcause,saysome];——undoubtedlyashiningLoudon;
towhomFriedrich,nextday,forwardedtheDocumentwithapoliteNote。\"[Helden—Geschichte,iv。640;
Westphalen,ii。37;OEuvresdeFrederic,
iv,147。]’
ThedayafterthisbrightfeatofSeidlitz’s,whichwasaslightconsolationtoFriedrich,therecameaLetterfromtheDuchess,notofcomplimentonly;theLetteritselfhadtobeburntonthespot,being,aswouldseem,dangerousfortheHighLady,whowasmuchafriendofFriedrich’s。TheirCorrespondence,verypoliteandgraceful,butformostpartgonetotheunintelligiblestate,andbecomevacantandspectral,figuresconsiderablyintheBooks,andwas,nodoubt,aconsiderablefacttoFriedrich。HisAnsweronthisoccasionmaybegiven,sincewehaveit,——lestthereshouldnotelsewherebeopportunityforasecondspecimen。
FRIEDRICHTOTHEGRAND—DUCHESSOFSACHSEN—GOTHA。
\"KIRSCHLEBEN,NEABERFURT,20thSeptember,1757。
\"MADAM,——Nothingcouldhappenmoreglorioustomytroopsthanthatoffighting,Madam,underyoureyesandforyourdefence。Iwishtheirhelpcouldbeusefultoyou;butIforeseethereverse。IfI
wereobstinatelytoinsistonmaintainingthepostofGothawithInfantry,IshouldruinyourCityforyou,Madam,byattractingthitherandfixingtherethetheatreoftheWar;whereas,bythepresentcourse,youwillonlyhavetosufferlittlerubs(PASSADES),whichwillnotlastlong。
\"Athousandthanksthatyoucould,inadaylikeyesterday,findthemomenttothinkofyourFriends,andtoemployyourselfforthem。[Seidlitz’sattackwasbrisk,quitesudden,withaneffectlikeHarlequin’sswordinPantomimes;andGothaineverycorner,especiallyintheSchlossbelowandahovestairs,——dinnercookedforA,andeatenbyB,inthatmanner,——musthavebeenthemostagitatedoflittleCities。]Iwillneglectnothingofwhatyouhavethegoodnesstotellme;Ishallprofitbythesenotices。
HeavengrantitmightbeforthedeliveranceandthesecurityofGermany!
\"ThemostsignalmarkofobedienceIcangiveyouconsistsunquestionablyindoingyourbiddingwiththisLetter。[Burnit,sosoonasread。]Ishouldhavekeptitasamonumentofyourgenerosityandcourage:but,Madam,sinceyoudisposeofitotherwise,yourordersshallbeexecuted;persuadedthatifonecannotserveone’sfriends,onemustatleastavoidhurtingthem;
thatonemaybelesscircumspectforone’sowninterest,butthatonemustbeprudentandeventimidfortheirs。Iam,withthehighestesteemandthemostperfectconsideration,Madam,yourHighness’smostfaithfulandaffectionateCousin,——F。\"
[OEuvresdeFrederic,xvii。167。]
FromErfurt,onthenightofhisarrival,findingtheDauphinessinsuchhumor,FriedrichhadorderedFerdinandofBrunswickwithhisDivisionandPrinceMoritzwithhis,bothofwhomwerestillatNaumburg,togoondifferenterrands,——FerdinandoutHalberstadt—
Magdeburgway,whitherRichelieu,vulture—like,ifnoteagle—like,isonwing;MoritztoTorgau,tosecureourmagazineandbeontheoutlookthere。Bothofthemmarchedonthemorrow(November14th):
andaresendinghimnews,——seldomcomfortablenews;mainlythat,inspiteofallonecando(anditisnotlittleonFerdinand’spart,theRichelieuvultures,80,000ofthem,floatingonward,leaguesbroad,arenottobekeptoutofHalberstadt,wellifoutofMagdeburgitself;——andthat,inshort,thegeneralconflagration,inthosepartstoo,isprogressive。[InOrlich’sFirstMoritz,pp。71—89;andinWestphalen,ii。23—143(aboutFerdinand):interestingDocumentarydetails,AutographsofFriedrich,&c。,inregardtoboththeseExpeditions。]Moritz,peaceableforsomeweeksinTorgauCountry,wastohaveaneyeonBrandenburgwithal,onBerlinitself;andbeforelongMoritzwillseesomethingnoticeablethere!
FromPreussen,Friedrichhearsofmereravagingsandhorridcruelties,Cossack—Calmuckatrocities,whichmakehumannatureshudder:[InHelden—Geschichte,iv。427—437,thehideousdetails。]\"Fightthosemonsters;gointothematallhazards!\"hewritestoLehwaldperemptorily。Lehwald,25,000
against80,000,doesso;drawsup,infrontofWehlau,notfareastofKonigsberg,amongwoodyswamps,AUGUST30th,ataHamletcalledGROSS—JAGERSDORF,withhisbestskill;fightswell,thoughnotwithoutmistakes;andisbeatenbycannonandnumbers。
[Tempelhof,i。299;Retzow,i。212;&c。&c。(\"Russianslostabout9,000,\"bytheirowntale5,000;\"thePrussians3,000\"andtheField)。]PreussennowliesatApraxin’sdiscretion。ThisbitofnewstooisontheroadforErfurtCountry。Suchasixweeksfortheswiftman,obligedtostandspell—bound,——idleposterityneverwillconceiveit;anddescriptionisuseless。
Letusaddhere,thatApraxindidnotadvanceonKonigsberg,orfartherintoPreussenatall;but,aftersomeloitering,turned,toeverybody’ssurprise,andwendedslowlyhome。\"Couldgetnoprovision,\"saidApraxinforhimself。\"ThoughttheCzarinawasdying,\"saidtheworld;\"andthatPeterhersuccessorwouldtakeitwell!\"Ploddedslowlyhome,forcertain;Lehwaldfollowinghim,nottooclose,tillovertheborder。NothingleftofApraxin,andhishugeExpedition,butMemelalone;Memel,andagreatmanygravesandruins。SothatLehwaldcouldberecalled,toattendontheSwedes,beforeWintercame。AndFriedrich’sworstforebodingsdidnottakeeffectinthiscase;——norinsomeothers,asweshallsee!
LAMENTATION—PSALMSOFFRIEDRICH。
Meanwhile,isitnotremarkablethatFriedrichwrotemoreVerses,thisAutumn,thanalmostinanyotherthreemonthsofhislife?
Singular,yes;thoughperhapsnotinexplicable。Andifreaderscouldfairlyunderstandthatfact,insteadofrunningawaywiththeshellofit,andleavingtheessence,itwouldthrowagreatlightonFriedrich。Heisnotabroodinginarticulateman,then;butabright—glancing,articulate;nottobestruckdumbbythefaceofDeathitself。Flashesclear—eyedintothephysiognomyofDeath,andRuin,andtheAbysmalHorrorsopening;andhasasharpwordtosaytothem。TheexplanationofhislargecargoofVersesthisAutumnis,Thatalways,alternatingwithsuchfieryvelocity,hehadintolerableperiodsofwaitingtillthingswereready。Andtooktoverses,bywayofexpectoratinghimself,andkeepingdownhisdevils。Notabadplan,inthecircumstances,——especiallyifyouhavesowonderfulaturnforexpectorationbyspeech。\"AllbadasPoetry,thoseVerses?\"asksthereader。Well,someofthemarenotoffirst—rategoodness。Shouldhavebeenburnt;orthetimemarkedwhichtheytookup,andwhetheritwasgoodtimewasted(whichI
supposeitalmostneverwas),orbadtimeskilfullygotover。
Time,thatisthegreatpoint;andtheheart—truthofthem,ormerelip—truth,another。Wemustgivesomespecimens,atanyrate。
EspeciallythatnotableSpecimenfromtheZittauCountries:
the\"EpistletoWilhelmina(EPITREAMASOEUR[OEuvresdeFrederic,xii。36—42。];\"whichisthekey—note,asitwere;thefountain—headofmuchotherverse,andofmuchprosewithal,andCorrespondencingnotwithWilhelminaalone,ofwhichalsosometastemustbegiven。PrimaryEPITRE;written,Iperceive,inthatintervalofwaitingforKeithandthemagazines,——thoughthefinaldateis\"Bernstadt,August24th。\"Concerningwhich,Smelfungustakes,over—hastily,thelibertytosay:\"Strange,isitnot,tobeonthepointoffightingforone’sexistence;
overwhelmedwithsomanybusinesses;anddisposedtogointoverseinaddition!CONCEIVEthatformofmind;itwouldilluminatesomethingofFriedrich’scharacter:Icannotyetrightlyunderstandsuchanaspectofstructure,andknownotwhattosayofit,except’Strange!’\"——
Understanditornot,wedogatherbymeansofitsomeindisputableglimpses,nearlyallthedirectinsightallowedusoutofanysource,intoFriedrich’sinnerman;whathisthoughtswere,whathishumorwasinthatuniquecrisis;andtoreadersinquestofthat,thesePieces,fallenobsoleteandfrostytoallotherkindsofreaders,arewellworthperusing,andagainperusing。
MostveraciousDocuments,wecanobserve;nothingcouldbetruer;
Confessionstheyare,inthemostemphaticsense;notruerevermadetoaPriestinthenameoftheMostHigh。LikeasoliloquyofNight—Thoughts,accidentallybecomingaudibletous。Mahomet,I
find,wrotetheKoraninthismanner。FromthesepoorPoems,whicharevoicesDEPROFUNDIS,theremight,bypropercareandselection,beconstructedaFriedrich’sKoran;and,withcommentaryandelucidation,itwouldbepleasanttoread。TheKoranofFriedrich,ortheLamentation—PsalmsofFriedrich!ButitwouldneedanEditor,——otherthanDryasdust!Mahomet’sKoran,treatedbytheArabDryasdust(merelyturningupthebottomofthatBoxofShoulder—
blades,andprintingthem),hasbecomedreadfullytoughreading,onthissideoftheGlobe;andhasgivenrisetotheimpossiblestnotionsaboutMahomet!Indisputableitis,Heroes,intheiraffliction,MahometandDavid,havesolacedthemselvesbysnatchesofPsalms,bySuras,burstsofUtterancerisingintoSong;——andifFriedrich,onfarotherconditions,didthelike,whathasHistorytosayofblametohim?
Wilhelminacomesoutverystrong,inthisseasonoftrouble;
almostthelastweseeofourexcellentWilhelmina。Likealioness;
likeashrillmotherwhenherchildrenareinperil。AnoblesisterlyaffectionisinWilhelmina;shrillPythianvehemencetryingtheimpossible。ThataBrother,andsuchaBrother,themostheroicnowbreathing,braveandtrue,andthesoulofhonorinallthings,shouldhavethewholeworldriseroundhim,likeadeliriousSorcerer’s—Sabbath,intenttohurlthemountainsonhim,——seemssuchahorrorandamadnesstoWilhelmina。Likethebrood—
henflyinginthefaceofwilddogs,andpacksofhoundsinfulltrail!MostChristianPompadourKings,enragedCzarinas,implacableEmpress—Queens;awholeworldinarmeddeliriumrusheson,regardlessofWilhelmina。Nevermind,mynobleone;yourBrotherwillperhapsmanagetocomeupwiththisleviathanorthatamongtheheapofthem,atagoodtime,andsmiteintothefifthribofhim。YourBrotherdoesnottheleastshapetowardsgivingin;
thanktheHeavens,hewillstandtohimselfatleast;hisownpoorstrengthwillallbeonhisownside。
Wilhelmina’shopesofaPeacewithFrance;missionofherMirabeau,missionsandschemesnotafew,wehaveheardofonWilhelmina’spartwiththisview;butthenotablestisstilltomention:thatofstirringup,byVoltaire’smeans,animportant—lookingCardinaldeTencintolaborinthebusiness。EminencyTencinlivesinLyon,knowntothePrincessonherItalianTour;——shyofaskingVoltairetodinneronthatfineoccasion,——but,exceptOfficially,isnototherwisethanwell—affectedtoVoltaire。WasonceChiefMinisterofFrance,andwouldfainagainbe;doesnotliketheseBernisnoveltiesandAustrianAlliances,hadhenowanypowertooversetthem。LethimcorrespondwithMostChristianMajesty,atleast;
pleadforaPeacewithPrussia,Prussiabeingsoreadythatway。
EminencyTencin,onVoltaire’ssuggestion,didso,perhapsisevennowdoingso;tillorderedtoholdHISpeaceonsuchsubjects。
Thisiscertainandwellknown;butnothingelseisknown,ortousknowable,aboutit;Voltaire,invagueform,beingouroneauthority,throughwhomitisvaintohunt,andagainhunt。
[OEuvres(Memoires),ii。92,93;IB。i。143;
Preuss,ii。84。]TheDates,muchmorethefeaturesandcircumstances,alllieburiedfromus,and——tillperhapstheLamentation—Psalmsarewelledited——mustcontinuelying。Asafactcertain,butundeniablyvague。
Voltaire’sprocedure,onecangather,ispolite,buttwo—faced;
notsublimeonthisoccasion。Infact,isintendedtoservehimself。TothehighPrincesshewritesdevotionally,readytoobeyinallthings;andthentohisEminencyCardinalTencin,itratherseemsasifthetonewere:\"Pooh!yes,yourEminency;sucharethepoorLady’snotions。ButdoesyourEminencytakenoticehowhighmyconnectionsare;whatserviceapoorobscurecreaturemightperhapsdotheStatesomeday?\"Friedrichhimselfis,intheseways,broughtintocorrespondencewithVoltaireagain;andoccasionallywritestohiminthisWar,andeverafterwards:Voltairerespondswithfinesympathy,alwaysprettily,intheenthusiasmofthemoment;——andatothertimeshewritesagooddealaboutFriedrich,oftenestinratheramischievousdialect。\"Thetraitor!\"exclaimsomePrussianwriters,notmanyorimportant,inourtime。Infact,thereisaconsiderabletouchofgrinningmalice(asofMonkeyVERSUSCat,whohadonceburntHISpaw,insteadofgettinghisownburnt),inthoseutterancesofVoltaire;someofwhichthereaderwillgrinovertoo,withoutmuchtragicfeeling,——theratherastheydidourFelisLeonomannerofill,andshowourincomparableSINGEwithasparkleoftheTIGREinhim;theoreticsparklemerelyandformoments,whichmakeshimallthemoreentertainingandinterestingatthedomestichearth。
OfFriedrich’sLamentation—PsalmsweproposetogivetheFirstandtheLast:these,withcertainProsePieces,intermediateandconnecting,mayperhapsbemadeintelligibletoreaders,andthrowsomelightonthesetragicweeksoftheKing’sHistory:——
1。EPITREAMASOEUR(FirstoftheLamentation—Psalms)。——Thisisthefamed\"EpistletoWilhelmina,\"alreadyspokenof;whichtheKingdespatchedfromBernstadt\"August24th,\"justwhilequittingthoseparts,ontheErfurtErrand;——thoughwrittenbefore,inthetediumofwaitingforKeith。ThePieceislong,vehement,altogethersincere;lyricallysingsaloud,ordeclaimsinrhyme,whatone’sindignantthoughtreallyisonthesurroundingwoesandatrocities。Wefaithfullyabridge,andcondenseintoourbriefestProse;——readerscanaddwaterandthejingleofFrenchrhymesAD
LIBITUM。Itstartsthus:——
\"Osweetanddearhopeofmyremainingdays;OSister,whosefriendship,sofertileinresources,sharesallmysorrows,andwithahelpfularmassistsmeinthegulf!ItisinvainthattheDestinieshaveoverwhelmedmewithdisasters:ifthecrowdofKingshaveswornmyruin;iftheEarthhaveopenedtoswallowme,——
youstillloveme,nobleandaffectionateSister:lovedbyyou,whatisthereofmisfortune?[Branchesoffintosomesurveyofit,nevertheless。]
\"Hugecontinentsofthunder—cloud,plotsthickeningagainstme[inthoseMenzelDocuments],Iwatchedwithterror;theskygettingblacker,nocovertformevisible:onasudden,fromthedeepsofHell,startsforthDiscord[withcapitalletter],andthetempestbroke。
CefutdanstonSenat,OfouqueuseAngleterre!
Oucemonstreinhumainfiteclaterlaguerre:
ItwasfromthySenate,stormfulEngland,thatshefirstlaunchedoutWar。Inremoteclimatesfirst;inAmerica,faraway;——betweenFranceandthee。OldOceanshookwithit;Neptune,inthedepthsofhiscaves(SESGROTTESPROFONDES),sawtheEnglishsubjectinghiswaves(SESONDES):thewildIroquois,prizeofthesecrimes(FORFAITS),burstsout;detestingthetyrantswhodisturbhisForests,\"——andscalpingBraddock’speople,andthelike。
\"Discord,charmedtoseesuchanAmerica,andfeeblemortalscrossingtheOceantoexterminateoneanother,addressestheEuropeanKings:’Howlongwillyoubeslavestowhatarecalledlaws?Isitforyoutobendunderworn—outnotionsofjustice,right?MarsistheoneGod:MightisRight。AKing’sbusinessistodosomethingfamousinthisworld。’
\"OdaughteroftheCaesars,\"MariaTheresa,\"how,atthesewords,ambition,burninginthysoul,breaksoutuncontrollable!
Probity,honor,treaties,duty:feebleconsiderationsthese,toaheartlettinglooseitsflamypassions;determiningtorobthegenerousGermansoftheirliberties;todegradethyequals;
toextinguish’Schism’(socalled),andsetupdespotismonthewrecksofall。\"
\"Hugeproject\"——\"FIERTRIUMVIRAT,\"——whatnot:\"FromRoussillonandthesunnyPyreneestofrozenRussia,allarmforAustria,andmarchatherbidding。Theyconcertmydownfall,trampleonmyrights。
\"TheDaughteroftheCaesars,proudlycertainofvictory,——’tisthewayoftheGreat,whosecommonplacevirtue,pusillanimousinreverses,overbearinginsuccess,cannotbridletheircupidity,——
designatestotheTriumviratewhatKingsaretobeproscribed[BritannicGeorgeandme,Reichbusyonusbothevennow],andthoseungratefultyrants,byunitedcrime,immolatetoeachother,withoutremorse,theirdearestallies。\"Forinstance:——
\"Ojourdigned’oubli!Quelleatroceimprudence!
Therese,c’estl’AnglaisquetuvendsalaFrance:
Theresa!itisEnglandthouartsellingtoFrance;\"——Yes,athingworthnoting。\"Thygeneroussupportinthyfirstadversities;
thyonefriendthen,whenaworldhadrisentodevourthee。
Thoureignestnow:——butitwasEnglandalonethatsavedtheeanythingtoreignover!
Turegnes,matsluiseulasauvetesetats:
Lesbienfaitschezlesroisnefontquedesingrats。
\"Andthou,lazyMonarch,\"——stupidLouis,letusomithim:——
\"Pompadour,sellingherlovertothehighestbidder,makesFrance,inourday,Austria’sslave!\"WeomitKolinBattle,too,spokenofwithaproudmodesty(Pragisnotspokenofatall);andhowtheneighboringravenousPowers,on—lookershitherto,haveopenedtheirthroatswithoneaccordtoswallowPrussia,thinkingitsdownfallcertain:\"PoormercenarySweden,oncesofamousunderitssoldierKings,nowdebasedbyavenalSenate;\"——Sweden,\"whatsayI?myownkindred[foolishAnspachandothers],drivenbyperversemotives,joinintheplotofhorrors,andbecomesatellitesoftheprosperingTriumvirs。
\"Andthou,lovedPeople[myownPrussians],whosehappinessismycharge[notablehowoftenherepeatsthis]itisthylamentabledestiny,itisthedangerwhichhangsoverthee,thatpiercesmysoul。ThepompsofmyrankIcouldresignwithoutregret。Buttorescuethee,inthisblackcrisis,Iwillspendmyheart’sblood。
WhoseISthatbloodbutthine?WithjoywillIrallymywarriorstoavengethyaffront;defydeathatthefootoftheramparts[ofDaunandhisEckartsberg,aheadyonder],andeitherconquer,orbeburiedunderthyruins。\"Verywell;butah,——
\"Preparingwithsuchpurpose,yeHeavens,whatmournfulcriesarethosethatreachus:’DeathhaalaidlowthyMother!’——Hah,thatwasthelaststroke,then,whichangryFatehadreservedforme。——
OMother,Deathfliesmymisfortunes,andspreadshislividhorrorsoverthee![Verytender,verysad,whathesaysofhisMother;
butmustbeomittedandimagined。Generalfinaleis:]
\"ThusDestinywithadelugeoftormentsfillsthepoisonedremnantofmydays。Thepresentishideoustome,thefutureunknown:
what,yousayIamthecreatureofaBENEficentBeing?——
Quoiserais—feformeparunDieubienfaisati?
Ah!s’iletaitsibon,tendrepoursonouvrage\"——
——Husht,mylittleTitan!
\"Andnow,yepromotersofsacredlies,goonleadingcowardsbythenose,inthedarkwindingsofyourlabyrinth:——tometheenchantmentisended,thecharmdisappears。IseethatallmenarebutthesportofDestiny。Andthat,iftheredoexistsomeGloomyandInexorableBeing,whoallowsadespisedherdofcreaturestogoonmultiplyinghere,hevaluesthemasnothing;looksdownonaPhalariscrowned,onaSocratesinchains;onourvirtues,ourmisdeeds,onthehorrorsofwar,andallthecruelplagueswhichravageEarth,asathingindifferenttohim。Wherefore,mysolerefugeandonlyhaven,lovedSister,isinthearmsofDeath:——
AinsimonseulasileetmonuniqueportSetrouve,cheresoeur,danslesbrasdelamort。\"
[OEuvres,xii。36—42;issentofftoWilhelmina24thAugust。]
2。WILHELMINATOVOLTAIRE,WITHSOMETHINGOFANSWER(FirstofcertainintercalaryProsePieces)。——WilhelminahasbeenwritingtoVoltairebefore,andgettingconsolationssinceKolin;butherLettersarelost,tillthistheearliestthatisleftus:——
BAIREUTH,19thAUGUST,1757(TOVOLTAIRE)。——\"Onefirstknowsone’sfriendswhenmisfortunesarrive。TheLetteryouhavewrittendoeshonortoyourwayofthinking。IcannottellyouhowmuchIamsensibletowhatyouhavedone[setCardinalTencinastir,withresultwewillhope]。TheKing,myBrother,isasmuchsoasI。
YouwillfindaNotehere,whichhebidsmetransmittoyou[Notelost]。Thatgreatmanisstillthesame。Hesupportshismisfortuneswithacourageandafirmnessworthyofhim。HecouldnotgettheNotetranscribed。Itbeganbyverses。Insteadofthrowingsandonit,hetooktheink—bottle;thatisthereasonwhyitiscutintwo。\"
——ThisNote,wesay,islosttous;——allbutaccidentallythus:
Voltaire,12thSeptember,writestwicetofriends。WritingtohisD’Argentals,hesays:\"TheaffairsofthisKing[Friedrich]gofrombadtoworse。IknownotifItoldyouoftheLetterhewrotetomeaboutthreeweeksago[sayAugust17th—18th:thissameNotethroughWilhelmina,evidently]:’Ihavelearned,’sayshe,’thatyouhadinterestedyourselfinmysuccessesandmisfortunes。Thereremainstomenothingbuttosellmylifedear,’&c。HisSisterwritesmeonemuchmorelamentable;\"theonewearenowreading:——
\"Iaminafrightfulstate;andwillnotsurvivethedestructionofmyHouseandFamily。Thatistheoneconsolationthatremainstome。YouwillhavefinesubjectsformakingTragediesof。Otimes!
Omanners!Youwill,bytheillusoryrepresentation,perhapsdrawtears;whileallcontemplatewithdryeyestherealityofthesemiseries:thedownfallofawholeHouse,againstwhich,ifthetruthwereknown,thereisnosolidcomplaint。Icannotwritefartherofit:mysoulissotroubledthatIknownotwhatIamdoing。Butwhateverhappen,bepersuadedthatIammorethaneveryourfriend,——WILHELMINA。\"[InOEuvresdeFrederic,lxxvii。30。]
Friedrich,whileWilhelminawritesso,isatthefootoftheEckartsberg,eagerlymanoeuvringwiththeAustrians,inhopesofgettingbattleoutofthem,——whichhecannot。Friedrich,whilehewrotethatNotetoVoltaire,andinsteadofsand—boxshooktheink—bottleoverit,wasjustgoingoutonthaterrand。
VOLTAIRE,12thSEPTEMBER(toaLadywhoseSonisintheD’Estreeswars)。[Ib。lxxii。55。56。]——\"Herearemightyrevolutions,Madame;
andwearenotattheendyet。Theysaytherehave18,000
HanoveriansbeendisposedofatStade[ConventionofKloster—
Zeven]。Thatisnosmallmatter。IcanhopeM。Richelieu[whois\"MONHEROS,\"whenIwritetohimself]willadornhisheadwiththelaurelstheyhavestuckinhispocket。IwishMonsieuryourSonabundanceofhonorandglorywithoutwounds,andtoyou,Madame,unalterablehealth。TheKingofPrussiahaswrittenmeaverytouchingLetter[onelineofwhichwehaveread];butIhavealwaysMadameDenis’sadventureonmyheart,\"atFrankfurtyonder。\"IfI
werewell,IwouldtakearuntoFrankfurtmyselfonthebusiness,\"
——nowthatSoubise’sreservesareinthoseparts,andcouldgiveFreytagandSchmidtsuchadustingforme,iftheyliked!ShallI
writetoCollinionit?Doeswrite,andagainwrite,thesecondyearhence,asstillbetterchancesrise。[Collini,pp。208—211
(\"January—May,1759\")。]
3。WILHELMINATOVOLTAIREAGAIN,WITHANSWER(SecondoftheProsePieces)。——NotaveryzealousfriendofFriedrich’s,afterall,thisVoltaire!PoorWilhelmina,terrifiedbythatEPITREofherBrother’s,andhisfixedpurposeofseekingDeath,has,inherdespair(thoughherLetterislost),beenurgingVoltairetowritedissuadinghim;——asVoltairedoes。Ofwhichpresently。HerLettertoVoltaireonthisthrice—importantsubjectislost。ButintheveryhourswhileVoltairesatwritingwhatwehavejustread,\"alwayswithMadameDenis’sadventureonmyheart,\"Wilhelmina,atBaireuth,isagainwritingtohimasfollows:——
BAIREUTH,12thSEPTEMBER,1757(TOVOLTAIRE)。——\"YourLetterhassensiblytouchedme;thatwhichyouaddressedtomefortheKing[bothLetterslosttous]hasproducedthesameeffectonhim。
IhopeyouwillbesatisfiedwithhisAnswerastowhatconcernsyourself;butyouwillbeaslittlesoasIamwiththeresolutionshehasformed。Ihadflatteredmyselfthatyourreflectionswouldmakesomeimpressiononhismind。YouwillseethecontrarybytheLetteradjoined。\"Tomethereremainsnothingbuttofollowhisdestinyifitisunfortunate。Ihaveneverpiquedmyselfonbeingaphilosopher;thoughIhavemademyeffortstobecomeso。ThesmallprogressImadedidteachmetodespisegrandeursandriches:butI
couldneverfindinphilosophyanycureforthewoundsoftheheart,exceptthatofgettingdonewithourmiseriesbyceasingtolive。ThestateIaminisworsethandeath。Iseethegreatestmanofhisage,myBrother,myfriend,reducedtothefrightfulestextremity。IseemywholeFamilyexposedtodangersandperhapsdestruction;mynativeCountrytornbypitilessenemies;theCountrywhereIam[ReichsArmy,Anspach,whatnot]menacedbyperhapssimilarmisfortune。WouldtoHeavenIwerealoneloadedwithallthemiseriesIhavedescribedtoyou!Iwouldsufferthem,andwithfirmness。
\"Pardonthesedetails。Youinviteme,bythepartyoutakeinwhatregardsme,toopenmyhearttoyou。Alas,hopeiswell—nighbanishedfromit。Fortune,whenshechanges,isasconstantinherpersecutionsasinherfavors。Historyisfullofthoseexamples:——
butIhavefoundnoneequaltotheonewenowsee;noranyWarasinhumanandascruelamongcivilizednations。YouwouldsighifyouknewthesadsituationofGermanyandPreussen。ThecrueltieswhichtheRussianscommitinthatlatterCountrymakenatureshudder。
[Details,horriblebutauthentic,inHelden—Geschichte,alreadycited。]HowhappyyouinyourHermitage;