第10章
加入书架 A- A+
点击下载App,搜索"History of Friedrich II of Prussia",免费读到尾

  Hewashimself,asappearedbyandby,afighterofthefirstquality,whenitcametothat:butneverwaswillingtofightifhecouldhelpit。Preferredrathertoshift,manoeuvreandnegotiate;whichhedidinamostvigilant,adroitandmasterlymanner。Butbydegreeshehadgrowntohave,andcouldmaintainit,anArmyof24,000men:amongthebesttroopstheninbeing。

  Withorwithouthiswill,hewasinallthegreatWarsofhistime,——thetimeofLouisXIV。,whokindledEuropefourtimesover,thriceinourKurfurst’sday。TheKurfurst’sDominions,alongstragglingcountry,reachingfromMemeltoWesel,couldhardlykeepoutofthewayofanywarthatmightrise。Hemadehimselfavailable,neveragainstthegoodcauseofProtestantismandGermanFreedom,yetalwaysintheplaceandwaywherehisownbestadvantagewastobehad。LouisXIV。hadoftenmuchneedofhim:

  stilloftener,andmorepressingly,hadKaiserLeopold,thelittleGentleman\"inscarletstockings,witharedfeatherinhishat,\"

  whomMr。Savageusedtoseemajesticallywalkingabout,withAustrianlipthatsaidnothingatall。[ACompleatHistoryofGermany,byMr。Savage(8vo,London,1702),p。553。WhothisMr。Savagewas,wehavenotrace。

  PrefixedtothevolumeisthePortraitofasolidGentlemanofforty:gloomilypolite,withamplewigandcravat,——inalllikelihoodsomestudioussubalternDiplomatistintheSuccessionWar。HislittleBookisveryleanandbarren:butfaithfullycompiled,——andmighthavesomeilluminationinit,whereutterdarknessissoprevalent。Mostlikely,AddisonpickedhisstoryoftheSiegeofWeinsberg(\"WomencarryingouttheirHusbandsontheirback,\"——oneofhisbestSPECTATORS)outofthispoorBook。]His24,000excellentfighting—men,throwninattherighttime,wereoftenathingthatcouldturnthebalanceingreatquestions。Theyrequiredtobeallowedforatahighrate,——whichhewellknewhowtoadjusthimselfforexactingandsecuringalways。

  WHATBECAMEOFPOMMERNATTHEPEACE;FINALGLANCEINTOCLEVE—JULICH。

  WhenthePeaceofWestphalia(1648)concludedthatThirty—YearsConflagration,andswepttheashesofitintoorderagain,FriedrichWilhelm’srighttoPommernwasadmittedbyeverybody:

  andwellinsistedonbyhimself:butrighthadtoyieldtoreasonofstate,andhecouldnotgetit。TheSwedesinsistedontheirexpenses:theSwedesheldPommern,hadallalongheldit,——inpawn,theysaid,fortheirexpenses。NothingforitbuttogivetheSwedesthebetterhalfofPommern。FORE—Pommern(sotheycallit,\"SwedishPomerania\"thenceforth),whichliesnexttheSea:

  this,withsomeTownsandcuttingsoverandabove,wasSweden’sshare:FriedrichWilhelmhadtoputupwithHINDER—Pommern,dockedfurthermoreoftheTownofStettin,andofothervaluablecuttings,infavorofSweden。MuchtoFriedrichWilhelm’sgriefandjustanger,couldhehavehelpedit。

  TheygavehimThreesecularizedBishoprics,Magdeburg,Halberstadt,Minden,withothersmallremnants,forcompensation;

  andhehadtobecontentwiththeseforthepresent。ButhenevergaveuptheideaofPommern:muchoftheeffortofhislifewasspentuponrecoveringFore—Pommern:thrice—eageruponthat,wheneverlawfulopportunityoffered。Tonopurposethen:henevercouldrecoverSwedishPommern;onlyhislatedescendants,andthatbyslowishdegrees,couldrecoveritall。ReadersrememberthatBurgermeisterofStettin,withthehelmetandswordflungintothegraveandpickedoutagain:——andcanjudgewhetherBrandenburggotitsgoodluckquitebylyinginbed!——

  Once,andonceonly,hehadavoluntarypurposetowardsWar,anditremainedapurposeonly。SoonafterthePeaceofWestphalia,oldPfalz—Neuburg,thesamewhogottheslapontheface,wentintotyrannousproceedingsagainsttheProtestantpartofhissubjectsinJulich—Cleve:whocalledtoFriedrichWilhelmforhelp。FriedrichWilhelm,azealousProtestant,maderemonstrances,retaliations:erelongthethoughtstruckhim,\"Suppose,backedbytheDutch,wethrewoutthisfantasticoldgentleman,hisPapistries,andpretendedclaimsandself,clearoutofit?\"

  ThiswasFriedrichWilhelm’sthought;andhesuddenlymarchedtroopsintotheTerritory,withthatview。ButEuropewasinalarm,theDutchgrewfaint:FriedrichWilhelmsawitwouldnotdo。HehadaconferencewitholdPfalz—Neuburg:\"Younggentleman,werememberhowyourGrandfathermadefreewithusandouraugustcountenance!Neverthelesswe——\"Infine,the\"statisticofTreaties\"wasincreasedbyOne:andtherethematterrestedtillcalmertimes。

  In1666,asalreadysaid,aneffectivePartitionoftheselitigatedTerritorieswasaccomplished:PrussiatohavetheDuchyofCleve—Proper,theCountiesofMarkandRavensburg,withotherPatchesandPertinents:Neuburg,whatwasthebettershare,tohaveJulichDuchyandBergDuchy。Furthermore,ifeitheroftheLinesfailed,innosortwasacollateraltobeadmitted:

  butBrandenburgwastoinheritNeuburg,orNeuburgBrandenburg,asthecasemightbe。[Pauli,v。120—129。]AclearBargainthisatlast:andinthetimesthathadcome,itprovedexecutablesofar。

  ButifthereaderfanciestheLawsuitwasatlastoutinthisway,hewillbeasimplereader!InthedaysofourlittleFritz,theLineofPfalz—Neuburgwasevidentlyending:butthatBrandenburgandnotacollateralshouldsucceedit,therelaythequarrel,——

  openstill,asifithadneverbeenshut:andweshallhearenoughaboutit!——

  THEGREATKURFURST’SWARS:WHATHEACHIEVEDINWARANDPEACE。

  FriedrichWilhelm’sfirstactualappearanceinWar,Polish—

  SwedishWar(1655—1660),wasinvoluntaryinthehighestdegree:

  forceduponhimforthesakeofhisPreussen,whichbadefairtobelostorruined,withoutblameofhisorits。Nevertheless,heretoohemadehisbenefitoftheaffair。ThebigKingofSwedenhadastandingquarrelwithhisbigCousinofPoland,whichbrokeoutintohotWar;littlePreussenlaybetweenthem,andwasliketobecrushedinthecollision。SwedishKingwasKarlGustav,Christina’sCousin,CharlesTwelfth’sGrandfather;agreatandmightyman,lionoftheNorthinhistime:PolishKingwasoneJohnCasimir;chivalrousenough,andwithcloudsofforwardPolishchivalryabouthim,glitteringwithbarbaricgold。FrederickIII。,DanishKingforthetimebeing,healsowasmuchinvolvedinthething。FainwouldFriedrichWilhelmhavekeptoutofit,buthecouldnot。KarlGustavasgoodasforcedhimtojoin:hejoined;

  foughtalongwithKarlGustavanillustriousBattle;\"BattleofWarsaw,\"threedayslong(28—30thJuly,l656),ontheskirtsofWarsaw,——crowds\"lookingfromtheupperwindows\"there;Polishchivalry,brokenatlast,goinglikechaffuponthewinds,andJohnCasimirnearlyruined。

  Shortlyafterwhich,FriedrichWilhelm,whohadshonemuchintheBattle,changedsides。Aninconsistent,treacherousman?

  Perhapsnot,Oreader;perhapsamanadvancing\"incircuits,\"theonlywayhehas;spirally,facenowtoeast,nowtowest,withhisownreasonableprivateaimsun—cleartohimallthewhile?

  JohnCasimiragreedtogiveupthe\"HomageofPreussen\"forthisservice;agrandprizeforFriedrichWilhelm。[TreatyofLabiau,10thNovember,1656(Pauli,v。73—75);20thNovember(Stenzel,iv。

  128,——whoalwaysusesNEWSTYLE)。]WhattheTeutschRittersstroveforinvain,andlosttheirexistenceinstrivingfor,theshiftyKurfursthasnowgot:DucalPrussia,whichisalsocalledEastPrussia,isnowafreesovereignty,——andwillbecomeas\"Royal\"astheotherPolishpart。Orperhapsevenmoreso,inthecourseoftime!——KarlGustav,inahighframeofmind,informstheKurfurst,thathehashimonhisbooks,andwillpaythedebtoneday!

  Adangerousdebtorinsuchmatters,thisKarlGustav。Inthesesamemonths,busywiththeDanishpartoftheControversy,hewasdoingafeatofwar,whichsetallEuropeinastonishment。

  InJanuary,1658,KarlGustavmarcheshisArmy,horse,footandartillery,totheextentoftwentythousand,acrosstheBalticice,andtakesanIslandwithoutshipping,——IslandofFunen,acrosstheLittleBelt;threemilesofice;andapartoftheseaopen,whichhastobecrossedonplanks。Nay,forwardfromFunen,whenoncethere,heachievestenwholemilesmoreofice;

  andtakesZealanditself,[Holberg’sDanemarkischeReichs—Historie,pp。406—409。]——tothewonderofallmankind。Animperious,stern—browed,swift—strikingman;whohaddreamedofanewGothEmpire:ThemeanHypocritesandFribblesoftheSouthtobecoercedagainbynobleNorsevalor,andtaughtanewlesson。HasbeenknowntolayhishandonhisswordwhileapprisinganAmbassador(DutchHigh—Mightiness)whathisroyalintentionswere:\"Notthesaleorpurchaseofgroceries,observeyou,Sir!Myaimsgohigher!\"——CharlesTwelfth’sGrandfather,andsomewhatthesametypeofman。

  ButKarlGustavdied,shortwhileafter;[13thFebruary,1660,age38。]lefthisbigwide—ragingNorthernControversytocollapseinwhatwayitcould。Swedenandthefighting—partiesmadetheir\"PeaceofOliva\"(AbbeyofOliva,nearDantzig,1stMay,1660);

  andthisofPreussenwasratified,inallform,amongtheotherpoints。Nohomagemore;nothingnowaboveDucalPrussiabuttheHeavens;andgreattimescomingforit。ThiswasoneofthesuccessfuleststrokesofbusinesseverdonebyFriedrichWilhelm;

  whohadbeenforced,bysheercompulsion,toembarkinthatbiggame。——\"RoyalPrussia,\"theWesternorPOLISHPrussia:thistoo,asallNewspapersknow,has,inourtimes,gonethesameroadastheother。Whichprobably,afterall,itmayhavehad,inNature,sometendencytodo?Cutaway,forreasons,bythePolishsword,inthatBattleofTannenberg,longsince;andthen,alsoforreasons,cutbackagain!Thatisthefact;——notunexampledinhumanHistory。

  OldJohannCasimir,notlongafterthatPeaceofOliva,gettingtiredofhisunrulyPolishchivalryandtheirways,abdicated;——

  retiredtoParis;and\"livedmuchwithNinonde1’Enclosandhercircle,\"fortherestofhislife。HeusedtocomplainofhisPolishchivalry,thattherewasnosolidityinthem;nothingbutoutsideglitter,withtumultandanarchicnoise;fatalwantofoneessentialtalent,thetalentofObeying;andhasbeenheardtoprophesythatagloriousRepublic,persistinginsuchcourses,wouldarriveatresultswhichwouldsurpriseit。

  Onwardfromthistime,FriedrichWilhelmfiguresintheworld;

  publicmenwatchinghisprocedure;Kingsanxioustosecurehim,——

  DutchprintsellersstickinguphisPortraitsforahero—

  worshippingPublic。Fightinghero,hadthePublicknownit,wasnothisessentialcharacter,thoughhehadtofightagreatdeal。

  HewasessentiallyanIndustrialman;greatinorganizing,regulating,inconstrainingchaoticheapstobecomecosmicforhim。Hedrainsbogs,settlescoloniesinthewaste—placesofhisDominions,cutscanals;unweariedlyencouragestradeandwork。

  TheFRIEDRICH—WILHELM’SCANAL,whichstillcarriestonnagefromtheOdertotheSpree,[Executed,1662—1668;fifteenEnglishmileslong(Busching,ERDBESCHREIBUNG,vi,2193)。]isamonumentofhiszealinthisway;creditable,withthemeanshehad。TothepoorFrenchProtestants,intheEdict—of—NantesAffair,hewaslikeanexpressBenefitofHeaven:oneHelperappointed,towhomthehelpitselfwasprofitable。HemunificentlywelcomedthemtoBrandenburg;showedreallyanoblepietyandhumanpity,aswellasjudgment;nordidBrandenburgandhewanttheirreward。

  Some20,000nimbleFrenchsouls,evidentlyofthebestFrenchquality,foundahomethere;——made\"wastesandsaboutBerlinintopotherbgardens;\"andinthespiritualBrandenburg,too,didsomethingofhorticulture,whichisstillnoticeable。[Erman(weakBiographerofQueenSophie—Charlotte,alreadycited),

  Memoirespourseviral’HistoiredenRefugiesFrancaisdanslesEtatsduRoidePrusse(Berlin,1782—1794),8tt。8vo。]

  CertainlythisElectorwasoneoftheshiftiestofmen。Notanunjustmaneither。Apious,God—fearingmanrather,stanchtohisProtestantismandhisBible;notunjustbyanymeans,——nor,ontheotherhand,byanymeansthick—skinnedinhisinterpretingsofjustice:Fair—playtomyselfalways;oroccasionallyeventheHeightofFair—play!Onthewhole,byconstantenergy,vigilance,adroitactivity,byanever—readyinsightandaudacitytoseizethepassingfactbyitsrighthandle,hefoughthiswaywellintheworld;leftBrandenburgaflourishingandgreatlyincreasedCountry,andhisownnamefamousenough。

  Athick—setstalwartfigure;withbriskeyes,andhighstrongirregularlyRomannose。GoodbronzeStatueofhim,bySchluter,onceafamedman,stillridesontheLANGE—BRUCKE(Long—Bridge)atBerlin;andhisPortrait,inhugefrizzledLouis—Quatorzewig,isfrequentlymetwithinGermanGalleries。CollectorsofDutchPrints,too,knowhim:hereagallant,eagle—featuredlittlegentleman,briskinthesmilesofyouth,withplumes,withtruncheon,capriolingonhiswar—charger,viewoftentsinthedistance;——thereasedate,ponderous,wrinklyoldman,eyesslightlypuckered(eyesBUSIERthanmouth);afacewell—ploughedbyTime,andnotfoundunfruitful;oneofthelargest,mostlaborious,potentfaces(inanoceanofcircumambientperiwig)tobemetwithinthatCentury。[BothPrintsareDutch;theYounger,mycopyoftheYounger,haslosttheEngraver’sName(Kurfurst’sageistwenty—seven);theElderisbyMASSON,1633,whenFriedrichWilhelmwassixty—three。]TherearemanyHistoriesabouthim,too;

  buttheyarenotcomfortabletoread。[G。D。Geyler,

  LebenundThatenFriedrichWihelmsdesGrossen

  (FrankfortandLeipzig,1703),folio。FranzHorn,DasLebenFriedrichWilhelmsdesGrossen(Berlin,1814)。

  Pauli,Staats—Geschichte,Bandv。(Halle,1764)。Pufendorf,DerebusgestisFridericiWilhelmiMagniElectorisBrandenburgensisCommentaria(Lips。

  etBerol。1733,fol。)]HealsohaswantedasacredPoet;andfoundonlyabewilderingDryasdust。

  HisTwograndFeatsthatdwellinthePrussianmemoryareperhapsnoneofhisgreatest,butwereofakindtostriketheimagination。Theybothrelatetowhatwasthecentralproblemofhislife,——therecoveryofPommernfromtheSwedes。ExploitFirstisthefamed\"BattleofFEHRBELLIN(FerryofBellEEN),\"foughtonthe18thJune,1675。FehrbellinisaninconsiderableTownstillstandinginthosepeatyregions,somefive—and—thirtymilesnorthwestofBerlin;andhadforagesplieditspoorFerryovertheoily—looking,brown,sluggishstreamcalledRhin,orRheininthoseparts,withouttheleastnoticefrommankind,tillthisfellout。ItisaplaceofpilgrimagetopatrioticPrussians,eversinceFriedrichWilhelm’sexploitthere。Thematterwentthus:——

  FriedrichWilhelmwasfighting,farsouthinAlsace,onKaiserLeopold’sside,intheLouis—FourteenthWar;thatsecondone,whichendedinthetreatyofNimwegen。Doinghisbestthere,——whentheSwedes,eggedonbyLouisXIV。,madewaruponhim;crossedthePomeranianmarches,troopaftertroop,andinvadedhisBrandenburgTerritorywithaforcewhichatlengthamountedtosome16,000

  men。Nohelpforthemoment:FriedrichWilhelmcouldnotbesparedfromhispost。TheSwedes,whohadatfirstprofessedwell,graduallywentintoplunder,roving,harrying,attheirownwill;

  andamelancholytimetheymadeofitforFriedrichWilhelmandhisPeople。Luckyiftemporaryharmwerealltheilltheywerelikelytodo;luckyif——!Hestoodsteady,however;inhissolidmanner,finishingthethinginhandfirst,sincethatwasfeasible。Hethenevenretiredintowinter—quarters,toresthismen;andseemedtohavelefttheSwedish16,000autocratsofthesituation;whoaccordinglywentstormingaboutatagreatrate。

  Notso,however;veryfarindeedfromso。Havingrestedhismenforcertainmonths,FriedrichWilhelmsilentlyinthefirstdaysofJune(1675)getsthemundermarchagain;marches,hisCavalryandheasfirstinstalment,withbestspeedfromSchweinfurt,[Stenzel,ii。347。]whichisontheriverMain,toMagdeburg;

  adistanceoftwohundredmiles。AtMagdeburg,wherehereststhreedays,waitingforthefirsthandfuloffootandafield—

  pieceortwo,helearnsthattheSwedesareinthreepartieswideasunder;themiddlepartyofthemwithinfortymilesofhim。

  Probablystronger,eventhismiddleone,thanhissmallbody(of\"sixthousandHorse,twelvehundredFootandthreeguns\");——

  stronger,butcapableperhapsofbeingsurprised,ofbeingcutinpieces,beforetheotherscancomeup?Rathenauisthenearestskirtofthismiddleparty:thithergoestheKurfurst,softly,swiftly,intheJunenight(16—17thJune,1675);getsintoRathenau,bybriskstratagem;tumblesouttheSwedishHorse—

  regimentthere,drivesitbacktowardsFehrbellin。

  Hehimselffollowshard;——swiftridingenough,inthesummernight,throughthosedampHavellands,intheoldHohenzollernfashion:andindeedoldFreisackCastle,asitchances,——Freisack,sceneofDietrichvonQuitzowandLAZYPEGlongsince,——iscloseby!Followshard,wesay:strikesinuponthismidmostparty(nearlytwicehisnumber,butInfantryforthemostpart);

  andafterfiercefight,donewithgoodtalentonbothsides,cutsitintoutterruin,asproposed。TherebyhehaslefttheSwedishArmyasamereheadandtailWITHOUTbody;hasentirelydemolishedtheSwedishArmy。[Stenzel,ii。350—357。]SamefeatintrinsicallyasthatdonebyCromwell,onHamiltonandtheScots,in1648。

  Itwas,sotospeak,thelastvisitSwedenpaidtoBrandenburg,orthelastofanyconsequence;andendedthedominationoftheSwedesinthosequarters。AthingjustlytobeforeverrememberedbyBrandenburg;——onasmallishmodernscale,theBannockburn,Sempach,Marathon,ofBrandenburg。[SeePauli,v。161—169;

  Stenzel,ii。335,340—347,354;Kausler,AtlasdesplusmemorablesBatailles,CombatsetSieges,orAtlasdermerkwurdigstenSchlachten,TreffenundBelagerungen(GermanandFrench,CarlsruheandFreiburg,1831),p。417,Blatt62。]

  ExploitSecondwasfouryearslater;insomesortacorollarytothis;andawinding—upoftheSwedishbusiness。TheSwedes,infartherprosecutionoftheirLouis—Fourteenthspeculation,hadinvadedPreussenthistime,andweredoingsadhavocthere。Itwasinthedeadofwinter,Christmas,1678,morethanfourhundredmilesoff;andtheSwedes,tosaynothingoftheirotherhavoc,wereinacasetotakeKonigsberg,andruinPrussiaaltogether,ifnotprevented。FriedrichWilhelmstartsfromBerlin,withtheopeningYear,onhislongmarch;theHorse—troopsfirst,Foottofollowattheirswiftest;hehimself(hisWife,hisever—true\"Louisa,\"accompanying,asherwontwas)travels,towardstheend,attherateof\"sixtymilesaday。\"Hegetsinstillintime,findsKonigsbergunscathed。Nayitisevensaid,theSwedesareextensivelyfallingsick;having,afteralongfamine,foundinfinite\"pigs,nearInsterburg,\"inthoseremoteregions,andindulgedinthefreshporkovermuch。

  Iwillnotdescribethesubsequentmanoeuvres,whichwouldinterestnobody:enoughifIsaythatonthe16thofJanuary,1679,ithadbecomeofthehighestmomentforFriedrichWilhelmtogetfromCarwe(VillagenearElbing)ontheshoreoftheFRISCHE

  HAF,wherehewas,throughKonigsberg,toGilgeontheCURISCHE

  HAF,wheretheSwedesare,——inaminimumoftime。Distance,asthecrowflies,isaboutahundredmiles;road,whichskirtsthetwoHAFS[Pauli,v。215—222;Stenzel,ii。392—397。](wideshallowWASHES,asweshouldnamethem),isofroughquality,andnaturallycircuitous。Itisringingfrostto—day,andfordaysback:——FriedrichWilhelmhastilygathersallthesledges,allthehorsesofthedistrict;mountssomefourthousandmeninsledges;

  starts,withthespeedoflight,inthatfashion。Scoursalongallday,andaftertheinterveningbitofland,againalong;awakeningtheice—boundsilences。GloomyFrischeHaf,wraptinitsWintercloud—coverlids,withitswastesoftumbledsand,itspoorfrost—

  boundfishing—hamlets,pine—hillocks,——desolate—looking,sternasGreenlandormoreso,saysBusching,whotravelledthereinwinter—time,[Busching’sBeitrage(Halle,1789),vi。160。]——hearsunexpectedhumannoises,andhugegrindingandtrampling;thefourthousand,inlongfleetofsledges,scouringacrossit,inthatmanner。Alldaytheyrushalong,——outoftherimyhazesofmorningintotheolive—coloredcloudsofeveningagain,——withhugeloud—grindingrumble;——anddoarriveintimeatGilge。Anotablestreakofthings,shootingacrossthosefrozensolitudes,intheNew—Year,1679;——littleshortofKarlGustav’sfeat,whichweheardof,intheotherorDanishendoftheBaltic,twentyyearsago,whenhetookIslandswithoutships。

  ThisSecondExploit——suggestedornotbythatprioroneofKarlGustavontheice——isstillathingtoberememberedbyHohenzollernsandPrussians。TheSwedeswerebeatenhere,onFriedrichWilhelm’srapidarrival;weredrivenintodisastrousrapidretreatNorthward;whichtheyexecuted,inhungerandcold;

  fightingcontinually,likeNorthernbears,underthegrimsky;

  FriedrichWilhelmstickingtotheirskirts,——holdingbytheirtail,likeanangrybear—wardwithsteelwhipinhishand。Athingwhich,onthesmallscale,remindsoneofNapoleon’sexperiences。

  NottillNapoleon’shugefighting—flight,ahundredandthirty—

  fouryearsafter,didIreadofsuchatransactioninthoseparts。

  TheSwedishinvasionofPreussenhasgoneutterlytoruin。

  Andthis,then,istheendofSweden,anditsbadneighborhoodontheseshores,whereithastyrannouslysatonourskirtssolong?

  SwedishPommerntheElectoralreadyhad:lastyear,comingtowardsiteversincetheExploitofFehrbellin,hehadinvadedSwedishPommern;hadbesiegedandtakenStettin,nayStralsundtoo,whereWallensteinhadfailed;——clearedPommernaltogetherofitsSwedishguests。WhohadtriednextinPreussen,withwhatluckwesee。

  OfSwedishPommerntheElectormightnowsay:\"Surelyitismine;

  againmine,asitlongwas;wellwonasecondtime,sincethefirstwouldnotdo!\"Butno:——LouisXIV。provedagentlemantohisSwedes。Louis,nowthatthePeaceofNimwegenhadcome,andonlytheElectorofBrandenburgwasstillinharness,saidsteadily,thoughanxiousenoughtokeepwellwiththeElector:\"Theyaremyallies,theseSwedes;itwasonmybiddingtheyinvadedyou:canI

  leavetheminsuchapass?Itmustnotbe!\"SoPommernhadtobegivenback。AmisswhichwasinfinitelygrievoustoFriedrichWilhelm。ThemostvictoriousElectorcannothitalways,werehisrightneversogood。

  Anothermisswhichhehadtoputupwith,inspiteofhisrights,andhisgoodservices,wasthatoftheSilesianDuchies。

  TheHeritage—FraternitywithLiegnitzhadatlength,in1675,cometofruit。ThelastDukeofLiegnitzwasdead:DuchiesofLiegnitz,ofBrieg,Wohlau,areBrandenburg’s,iftherewererightdone!

  ButKaiserLeopoldinthescarletstockingswillnothearofHeritage—Fraternity。\"Nonsense!\"answersKaiserLeopold:\"Athingsuppressedatonce,agesago;byImperialpower:flatZEROofathingatthistime;——andyou,Iagainbidyou,returnmeyourPapersuponit!\"ThislatteractofdutyFriedrichWilhelmwouldnotdo;butcontinuedinsisting。[Pauli,v。321。]\"Jagerndorfatleast,OKaiseroftheworld,\"saidhe;\"Jagerndorf,thereisnocolorforyourkeepingthat!\"TowhichtheKaiseragainanswers,\"Nonsense!\"——andevenfallsuponastonishingschemesaboutit,asweshallsee;——butgivesnothing。DucalPreussenissovereign,CleveisatPeace,Hinter—Pommernours;——thisElectorhasconqueredmuch:buttheSilesianHeritagesandVor—Pommern,andsomeotherthings,hewillhavetodowithout。LouisXIV。,itisthought,onceofferedtogethimmadeKing;[Ib。vii。215。]butthathedeclinedforthepresent。

  Hismarriedanddomesticlifeisveryfineandhuman;especiallywiththatOranien—NassauPrincess,whowashisfirstWife(1646—1667);PrincessLouisaofNassau—Orange;AunttoourownDutchWilliam,KingWilliamIII。,intimecoming。AnexcellentwisePrincess;fromwhomcametheOrangeHeritages,whichafterwardsproveddifficulttosettle:——OrangewasatlastexchangedforthesmallPrincipalityofNeufchatelinSwitzerland,whichisPrussia’seversince。\"Oranienburg(ORANGE—BURG),\"aRoyalCountry—house,stillstanding,sometwentymilesnorthwardsfromBerlin,wasthisLouisa’splace:shehadtrimmeditupintoalittlejewel,oftheDutchtype,——potherbgardens,training—

  schoolsforyounggirls,andthelike;——afavoriteabodeofhers,whenshewasatlibertyforrecreation。Butherlifewasbusyandearnest:shewashelpmate,notinnameonly,toanever—busyman。

  Theyweremarriedyoung;amarriageoflovewithal。

  YoungFriedrichWilhelm’scourtship,weddinginHolland;

  thehonesttrustfulwalkandconversationofthetwoSovereignSpouses,theirjourneyingstogether,theirmutualhopes,fearsandmanifoldvicissitudes;tillDeath,withsternbeauty,shutitin:

  ——allishuman,trueandwholesomeinit;interestingtolookupon,andrareamongsovereignpersons。

  Notbutthathehadhistroubleswithhiswomankind。EvenwiththishisfirstWife,whomhelovedtruly,andwhotrulylovedhim,therewerescenes;theLadyhavingajudgmentofherownabouteverythingthatpassed,andtheManbeingcholericwithal。

  Sometimes,Ihaveheard,\"hewoulddashhishatatherfeet,\"

  sayingsymbolically,\"Governyou,then,Madam!NottheKurfurst—Hat;aCoifismywear,itseems!\"[Forster,

  FriedrichWilhelmI。KonigvonPreussen(Potsdam,1834),i。177。]Yetherjudgmentwasgood;andhelikedtohaveitontheweightiestthings,thoughherpowersofsilencemighthaltnowandthen。Hehasbeenknown,onoccasion,torunfromhisPrivy—Counciltoherapartment,whileacomplexmatterwasdebating,toaskheropinion,herstoo,beforeitwasdecided。

  ExcellentLouisa;Princessfullofbeautifulpiety,good—senseandaffection;atouchoftheNassau—Heroicinher。Atthemomentofherdeath,itissaid,whenspeechhadfled,hefelt,fromherhandwhichlayinhis,threeslight,slightpressures:\"Farewell!\"

  thricemutelyspokeninthatmanner,——noteasytoforgetinthisworld。[Wegfuhrer,LebenderKurfurstinLuise(Leipzig,1838),p。175。]

  HissecondWife,Dorothea,——whoplantedtheLindensinBerlin,anddidotherhusbandries,ofwhomwehaveheard,fellfarshortofLouisainmanythings;butnotintendencytoadvise,toremonstrate,andplaintivelyreflectonthefinishedandunalterable。Dreadfullythriftylady,moreover;didmuchindairyproduce,farmingoftown—rates,provision—taxes:nottospeakagainofthatTavernshewasthoughttohaveinBerlin,andtodrawcustomtoinanobliquemanner!WhatscenesshehadwithFriedrichherstepson,wehaveseen。\"Ah,IhavenotmyLouisanow;towhomnowshallIrunforadviceorhelp!\"wouldthepoorKurfurstattimesexclaim。

  Hehadsometrouble,considerabletroublenowandthen,withmutinousspiritsinPreussen;menstandingonantiquePrussianfranchisesandparchments;refusingtoseethatthesamewerenowantiquated,incompatible,nottosayimpossible,asthenewSovereignalleged;andcarryingthemselvesverystifflyattimes。

  ButtheHohenzollernshadbeenusedtosuchthings;aHohenzollernlikethisonewouldevidentlytakehismeasures,softbutstrong,andeverstrongertotheneedfulpitch,withmutinousspirits。

  OneBurgermeisterofKonigsberg,aftermuchstrokingontheback,wasatlengthseizedinopenHall,byElectoralwrit,——soldiershavingfirstgentlybarricadedtheprincipalstreets,andbroughtcannontobearuponthem。ThisBurgermeister,seizedinsuchbriefway,layprisonerforlife;refusingtoaskhisliberty,thoughitwasthoughthemighthavehaditonasking。[Horn,DasLebenFriedrichWilhelmsdesGrossen(Berlin,1814),p。68。]

  Anothergentleman,aBaronvonKalkstein,ofoldTeutsch—Bitterkin,ofveryhighways,intheProvincialEstates(STANDE)andelsewhere,gotintoloftyalmostsolitaryopposition,andatlengthintomutinyproper,againstthenew\"Non—PolishSOVEREIGN,\"

  andflatlyrefusedtodohomageathisaccessioninthatnewcapacity。[Supra,pp。383,etseqq。]Refused,Kalksteindid,forhisshare;fledtoWarsaw;andveryfiercely,inaloudmanner,carriedonhismutiniesintheDietsandCourt—Conclavesthere;

  hispleabeing,orpleaforthetime,\"Polandisourliegelord[whichitwasnotalways],andwecannotbetransferredtoyou,exceptbyourconsentaskedandgiven,\"whichtoohadbeenalittleneglectedontheformeroccasionoftransfer。SothattheGreatElectorknewnotwhattodowithKalkstein;andatlength(asthecasewaspressing)hadhimkidnappedbyhisAmbassadoratWarsaw;hadhim\"rolledintoacarpet\"there,andcarriedswiftlyintheAmbassador’scoach,intheformofluggage,overthefrontier,intohisnativeProvince,theretobejudged,and,intheend(sincenothingelsewouldservehim),tohavethesentenceexecuted,andhisheadcutoff。Forthecasewaspressing![Horn,pp。80—82。]——Thesethings,especiallythisofKalkstein,withaboisterousPolishDietandparliamentaryeloquenceintherearofhim,gaverisetocriticism;andrequiredmanagementonthepartoftheGreatElector。

  OfallhisAncestors,ourlittleFritz,whenhegrewbig,admiredthisoue。Amanmadelikehimselfinmanypoints。Heseemsreallytohavelovedandhonoredthisone。Intheyear1750therehadbeenanewCathedralgotfinishedatBerlin;theancestralboneshadtobeshiftedoverfromthevaultsoftheoldone,——theburying—placeeversinceJoachimII。,thatJoachimwhodrewhisswordonAlba。\"KingFriedrich,withsomeattendants,witnessedtheoperation,January,1750。WhentheGreatKurfurst’scoffincame,hemadethemopenit;gazedinsilenceonthefeaturesforsometime,whichwereperfectlyrecognizable;laidhishandonthehandlongdead,andsaid,’Messieurs,celui—ciafaitdegrandeschoses(Thisonedidagreatwork)!’\"[SeePreuss,i。270。]

  Hedied29thApril,1688;——lookingwithintenseinterestuponDutchWilliam’spreparationstoproduceaGloriousRevolutioninthisIsland;beingalwaysofanardentProtestantfeeling,andasincerelyreligiousman。Friedrich,Crown—Prince,agethenthirty—one,andalreadymarriedasecondtime,wasofcourseleftChiefHeir;——who,aswesee,hasnotdeclinedtheKingship,whenachanceforitoffered。TherewerefourHalf—brothersofFriedrich,too,whogotapanages,appointments。Theyhadatonetimeconfidentlylookedformuchmore,theirMotherbeingbusy;

  butwereobligedtobecontent,andconformtotheGERABONDandfundamentalLawsoftheCountry。TheyareentitledMargraves;

  twoofwhomleftchildren,MargravesofBrandenburg—Schwedt,HEERMEISTERS(HeadoftheMalta—Knighthood)atSonnenburg,StatthaltersinMagdeburg,orIknownotwhat;whosenamesturnupconfusedlyinthePrussianBooks;and,exceptastemporarygenealogicalpuzzles,arenotofmuchmomenttotheForeignreader。HappilythereisnothingelseinthewayofPrincesoftheBlood,inourlittleFriedrich’stime;andhappilywhatconcernhehadwiththese,orhowhewasrelatedtothem,willnotbeabstrusetous,ifoccasionrise。

  ChapterXIX。

  KINGFRIEDRICHI。AGAIN。

  WesaidtheGreatElectornevercouldworkhisSilesianDuchiesoutofKaiserLeopold’sgrip:toallhisurgenciesthelittleKaiserinredstockingsansweredonlyinevasions,refusals;

  andwouldquitnothing。WenoticedalsowhatquarrelstheyoungElectoralPrince,Friedrich,afterwardsKing,hadgotintowithhisStepmother;suddenlyfeelingpoisonedafterdinner,runningtohisAuntatCassel,comingbackontreaty,andthelike。Thesearetwofactswhichthereaderknows:andoutofthesetwogrewathird,whichitisfitheshouldknow。

  Inhislastyears,theGreatElector,wornoutwithlabor,andharassedwithsuchdomestictroublesoverandabove,hadevidentlyfallenmuchunderhisWife’smanagement;cuttingoutlargeapanages(clearagainsttheGERABOND)forherchildren;——longingprobablyforquietinhisfamilyatanyprice。AstothepooryoungPrince,negotiatedbackfromCassel,helivedremote,andhadfallenintoopendisfavor,——withaveryilleffectuponhisfunds,foronething。Hisfatherkepthimsomewhattightonthemoney—side,itisalleged;andhehadratheraturnforspendingmoneyhandsomely。HewasalsoinsomealarmabouttheproposedapanagestohisHalf—brothers,theMargravesabovementioned,ofwhichtherewererumorsgoing。

  HOWAUSTRIASETTLEDTHESILESIANCLAIMS。

  NowinthesecircumstancestheAustrianCourt,whoatthistime(1685)greatlyneededtheElector’shelpagainstTurksandothers,andfoundhimveryurgentabouttheseSilesianDuchiesofhis,felluponwhatImustcallaveryextraordinaryshiftforgettingridoftheSilesianquestion。\"SereneHighness,\"saidthey,bytheirAmbassadoratBerlin,\"toendthesetroublesometalks,andtoliquidateallclaims,admissibleandinadmissible,aboutSilesia,theImperialMajestywillgiveyouanactualbitofTerritory,valuable,thoughnotsolargeasyouexpected!\"

  TheElectorlistenswithbothears:WhatTerritory,then?

  The\"CircleofSchwiebus,\"hangingonthenorthwesternedgeofSilesia,contiguoustotheElector’sownDominionsintheseFrankfurt—on—Oderregions:thisthegenerousImperialMajestyproposestogiveinfee—simpletoFriedrichWilhelm,andsotoendthematter。TrulyamostsmallpatchofTerritoryincomparison;

  notbiggerthananEnglishRutlandshire,tosaynothingofsoilandclimate!Butthenagainitwasanactualpatchofterritory;

  notamereparchmentshadowofone:thislastwasatemptingpointtotheoldharassedElector。Suchfriendlyoffertheymadehim,Ithink,in1685,atthetimetheyweregetting8,000ofhistroopstomarchagainsttheTurksforthem;averyneedfulserviceatthemoment。\"Bythebye,donotmarchthroughSilesia,you!——

  Ormarchfaster!\"saidthecautiousAustriansonthisoccasion:

  \"OtherroadswillanswerbetterthanSilesia!\"saidthey。[Pauli,v。327,332。]BaronFreytag,theirAmbassadoratBerlin,hadnegotiatedtheaffairsofar:\"CircleofSchwiebus,\"saidFreytag,\"andletushavedonewiththesethornytalks!\"

  ButBaronFreytaghadbeenbusy,inthemeanwhile,withtheyoungPrince;secretlyofferingSympathy,counsel,help;ofallwhichthepoorPrincestoodinneedenough。\"WewillhelpyouinthatdangerousmatteroftheApanages,\"saidFreytag;\"Helpyouinallthings,\"——Isupposehewouldsay,——\"necessarypocket—moneyisnotathingyourHighnessneedwant!\"AndthusBaronFreytag,whatisverycurious,hadmanagedtobargainbeforehandwiththeyoungPrince,Thatdirectlyoncomingtopower,hewouldgiveupSchwiebusagain,SHOULDtheofferofSchwiebusbeacceptedbyPapa。TowhicheffectBaronFreytagheldasignedBond,dulyexecutedbytheyoungman,beforePapahadconcludedatall。

  Whichisverycuriousindeed!——

  PooroldPapa,wornoutwithtroubles,acceptedSchwiebusinliquidationofallclaims(8thApril,1686),andafewdaysaftersethismenonmarchagainsttheTurks:——and,exactlytwomonthsbeforehand,onthe8thofFebruarylast,thePrincehadsignedHIS

  secretengagement,ThatSchwiebusshouldbeamerephantasmtoPapa;thathe,thePrince,wouldrestoreitonhisaccession。

  BoththesesingularParcbments,signed,sealedanddoneintheduelegalform,laysimultaneouslyinFreytag’shand;andprobablyenoughtheyexistyet,insomedustycorner,amongthesolemnsheepskinsoftheworld。ThisisliterallytheplanhituponbyanImperialCourt,toassistayoungPrinceinhispecuniaryandotherdifllculties,andgetridofSilesianclaims。

  Planactuallynotunlikethatofswindlingmoney—lenderstoayounggentlemanindifficulties,andofmanageableturn,whohasgotintotheirhands。

  TheGreatElectordiedtwoyearsafter;Schwiebustheninhishand。ThenewElector,onceinstructedastothenatureoftheaffair,refusedtogiveupSchwiebus;[19thSeptember,1689

  Pauli,vii。74)。]declaredthetransactionaswindle:——andinfact,forsevenyearsmore,retainedpossessionofSchwiebus。

  ButtheAustrianCourtinsisted,withemphasis,atlengthwiththreats(noinsuperablepressurefromLouis,ortheTurks,atthistime);thepoorcheatedElectorhad,atlast,togiveupSchwiebus,intermsofhispromise。[31stDecember,1694。]Hetookactthatithadbeenasurreptitioustransaction,palmeduponhimwhileignorant,andwhilewithouttheleastauthorityorpowertomakesuchapromise;thathewasnotboundbyit,norwouldbe,exceptoncompulsionthusfar:andastobindingBrandenburgbyit,howcouldhe,atthatperiodofhishistory,bindBrandenburg?

  Brandenburgwasnotthenhistobind,anymorethanChinawas。

  HisRathshadadvisedFriedrichagainstgivingupSchwiebusinthatmanner。Buthisanswerisonrecord:\"Imust,Iwillandshallkeepmyownword。ButmyrightsonSilesia,whichIcouldnot,anddonotintheseunjustcircumstances,compromise,Ileaveintactformyposteritytoprosecute。IfGodandthecourseofeventsorderitnootherwisethannow,wemustbecontent。ButifGodshallonedaysendtheopportunity,thosethatcomeaftermewillknowwhattheyhavetodoinsuchcase。\"[Pauli,vii。150。]

  AndsoSchwiebuswasgivenup,theAustrianspayingbackwhatBrandenburghadlaidoutinimprovingit,\"250,000GULDEN(25,000

  pounds);\"——andtheHandofPowerhadinthisway,finallyasithoped,settledanoldtroublesomeaccountofBrandenburg’s。

  SettledtheSilesian—DuchiesClaim,bythetemporaryPhantasmofaGiftofSchwiebus。ThatisliterallytheLiegnitz—Jagerndorfcase;

  andthereaderistonoteitandrememberit。ForitwillturnupagaininHistory。TheHandofPowerisverystrong:butastrongermayperhapsgetholdofitsknucklesoneday,atanadvantageoustime,anddoafeatuponit。

  The\"eventualsuccessiontoEastFriesland,\"whichhadbeenpromisedbytheReich,sometenyearsago,totheGreatElector,\"forwhathehaddoneagainsttheTurks,andwhathehadsufferedfromthoseSwedishInvasions,intheCommonCause:\"thisshadowofSuccession,theKaisernowsaid,shouldnotbehaggledwithanymore;butbeactuallyrealized,andtheImperialsanctiontoitnowgiven,——effecttofollowIFtheFrieslandLinediedout。

  LetthisbesomeconsolationforthelossofSchwiebusandyourSilesianDuchies。HereinFrieslandistheghostofacomingpossession;thereinSchwiebuswastheghostofagoingone:

  phantasmsyoushallnotwantfor;buttheHandofPowerpartsnotwithitsrealities,howevercomeby。

  HISREALCHARACTER。

  PoorFriedrichledaconspicuouslifeasElectorandKing;butnopublicfeathedidnowconcernsuslikethisprivateoneofSchwiebus。Historicallyimportant,this,andrequiringtoberemembered,whilesomuchelsedemandsmereoblivionfromus。

  Hewasaspiritedman;didsoldierings,fineSiegeofBonn(July—October,1689),siegesandcampaignings,inperson,——valiantinaction,royalespeciallyinpatiencethere,——duringthatThirdWarofLouis—Fourteenth’s,theTreaty—of—Ryswickone。AllthroughtheFourth,orSpanishSuccession—War,hisPrussianTen—Thousand,ledbyfitgenerals,showedeminentlywhatstufftheyweremadeof。WitnessLeopoldofAnhalt—Dessau(stillaYOUNGDessauer)onthefieldofBlenheim;——Leopoldhadtherightwingthere,andsavedPrinceEugenewhowasotherwiseblowntopieces,whileMarlboroughstormedandconqueredontheleft。WitnessthesameDessaueronthefieldofHochstadttheyearbefore,[VarnhagenvonEnse,BiographischeDenkmale(Berlin,1845),ii,155。]howhemanagedtheretreatthere。OrseehimattheBridgeofCassano(1705);intheLinesofTurin(1706);[

  DesweltberuhndenFurstensLeopoldivonAnhult—DessauLebenundThaten(Leipzig,1742,anonymous,byoneMICHAEL

  RANFFT),pp。53,61。]whereverhotservicewasonhand。

  AtMalplaquet,inthosemurderousinexpugnableFrenchLines,bloodiestofobstinateFights(upwardsofthirtythousandleftontheground),thePrussiansbragthatitwastheywhopickedtheirwaythroughacertainpeat—bog,reckonedimpassable;andgotfairlyinupontheFrenchwing,——tothehugecomfortofMarlborough,andlittleEugenehisbriskcomradeonthatoccasion。

  MarlboroughknewwelltheworthofthesePrussiantroops,andalsohowtostrokehisMajestyintocontinuingtheminthefield。

  HewasanexpensiveKing,surroundedbycabals,byWartenbergsmaleandfemale,bywhirlpoolsofintrigues,which,nowthatthegameisover,becomeveryforgettable。Butonefindshewasastrictlyhonorableman;withacertainheightandgenerosityofmind,capableofothernoblenessthantheupholsterykind。Hehadwhatwemaycallahardlifeofit;didandsufferedagooddealinhisdayandgeneration,notatallinadishonestorunmanfulmanner。Infact,heisquiterecognizablyaHohenzollern,——withhisbackhalfbroken。Readersrecollectthatsadaccident:howtheNurse,inoneofthoseheadlongjourneyswhichhisFatherandMotherwerealwaysmaking,letthepoorchildfallorjerkbackward;andspoiledhimmuch,andindeedwasthoughttohavekilledhim,bythatpieceofinattention。HewasnotyetHereditaryPrince,hewasonlysecondson:buttheelderdied;

  andhebecameElector,King;andhadtogowithhisspinedistorted,——distortionnotglaringlyconspicuous,thoughundeniable;——andtoacttheHohenzollernSO。Naywhoknowsbutitwasthisveryjerk,andthehalf—ruinofhisnervoussystem,——thisdoubledwishtobebeautiful,andthiscrookedbackcapableofbeinghidordecoratedintostraightness,——thatfirstsetthepoormanonthinkingofexpensiveornamentalities,andKingshipsinparticular?HistorywillforgivetheNurseinthatcase。

  PerhapsHistoryhasdwelttoomuchontheblindsideofthisexpensiveKing。Toland,onenteringhiscountry,wasstruckratherwiththesignsofgoodadministrationeverywhere。NosoonerhaveyoucrossedthePrussianBorder,outofWestphalia,saysToland,thansmoothhighways,well—tilledfields,andageneralairofindustryandregularity,areevident:solidmilestones,brass—bound,andwithbrassinscription,tellthetravellerwhereheis;whofindsdueguidanceoffinger—posts,too,andtheblessingofhabitableinns。Thepeopleseemalltobebusy,diligentlyoccupied;villagesreasonablysweptandwhitewashed;——

  neverwasabettersetofParishChurches;whethernew—builtorold,theyareallinbrand—newrepair。ThecontrastwithWestphaliaisimmediateandgreat;butindeedthatwasasadcountry,toanybodybutapatientToland,whoknowsthecausesofphenomena。Noinnsthere,exceptofthenaturallysavagesort。

  \"Amanisveryhappyifhefindscleanstrawtosleepon,withoutexpectingsheetsorcoverings;lethimreadilydispensewithplates,forksandnapkins,ifhecangetanythingtoeat……

  Hemustbecontenttohavethecows,swineandpoultryforhisfellow—lodgers,andtogoinatthesamepassagethatthesmokecomesoutat,forthere’snootherventforitbutthedoor;

  whichmakesforeignerscommonlysaythatthepeopleofWestphaliaentertheirhousesbythechimney。\"Andobservewithal:\"Thisisthereasonwhytheirbeefandhamsaresofinelypreparedandripened;forthefireplacebeingbackwards,thesmokemustspreadoverallthehousebeforeitgetstothedoor;whichmakeseverythingwithinofarussetorsablecolor,notexceptingthehandsandfacesofthemeanersort。\"[AnAccountoftheCourtsofPrussiaandHanover,byMr。Toland(citedalready),p。4。]IfPrussiayieldtoWestphaliainham,inallelsesheisstrikinglysuperior。

  HefoundedUniversities,thispoorKing;UniversityofHalle;

  RoyalAcademyofBerlin,Leibnitzpresiding:hefoughtforProtestantism;——didwhathecouldforthecauseofCosmosVERSUS

  Chaos,afterhisfashion。ThemagnificencesofhisCharlottenburgs,OranienburgsandnumerousCountry—housesmakeTolandalmostpoetic。Anaffablekindlymanwithal,thoughquickoftemper;hiswordsacredtohim。Amanofmanytroubles,andacquaintedwith\"theinfinitelylittle(L’INFINIMENTPETIT),\"

  ashisQueentermedit。

  ChapterXX。

  DEATHOFKINGFRIEDRICHI。

  OldKingFriedrichI。hadnotmuchmoretodointheworld,afterwitnessingthechristeningofhisGrandsonoflikename。

  Hisleadingforthorsendingforthoftroops,hismultiplexnegotiations,solemnceremonials,sadchangesofministry,sometimestransacted\"withtears,\"aremostlyended;

  theever—whirlingdust—vortexofintrigues,ofwhichhehasbeenthecentreforafive—and—twentyyears,issettlingdownfinallytowardseverlastingrest。NomorewillMarlboroughcomeanddexterouslytalkhimover,——proudto\"serveascupbearer,\"onoccasion,tosohighaKing——fornewbodiesofmentohelpinthenextcampaign:wehaveceasedtobeaKingworthyofsuchacupbearer,andMarlborough’scampaignstooareallended。

  Muchisended。TheyaredoingthesorrowfulTreatyofUtrecht;

  LouisXIV。himselfisending;mournfullyshrunkintothecorner,withhisMissalandhisMaintenon;lookingbackwithjusthorroronEuropefourtimessetablazeforthesakeofonepoormortalinbigperiwig,tonopurpose。LuckyifperhapsMissal—work,orthodoxlitanies,andevenProtestantDragonnades,canhavevirtuetowipeoutsuchascoreagainstaman!UnhappyLouis:thesun—brightgoldhasbecomedimascopper;weroseinstorms,andwearesettinginwateryclouds。TheKaiserhimself(KarlVI。,Leopold’sSon,JosephI。’syoungerBrother)willhavetoconformtothisTreatyofUtrecht:whatotherpossibilityforhim?

  TheEnglish,alwaysawonderfulNation,foughtandsubsidiedfromsidetosideofEuropeforthisSpanish—Suceessionbusiness;

  foughttenyears,suchfightingastheyneverdidbeforeorsince,under\"JohnDukeofMarlborough,\"who,asiswellknown,\"beattheFrenchthoroughandthorough。\"Frenchentirelybeatenatlast,notwithoutheroicdifficultyandasnobletalentaswasevershownindiplomacyandwar,arereadytodoyourwillinallthings;

  inthisofgivingupSpain,amongothers:——whereupontheEnglishturnround,withasuddennewthought,\"No,wewillnothaveourWILLdone;itshallbetheotherway,thewayitWAS,——nowthatwebethinkourselves,afterallthisfightingforourwill!\"

  AndmakePeaceonthoseterms,asifnowarhadbeen;andaccusethegreatMarlboroughofmanythings,oftheftforone。

  AwonderfulPeople;andintheirContinentalPolitics(whichindeedconsistchieflyofSubsidies)thricewonderful。SotheTreatyofUtrechtistransactingitself;whichthatofRastadt,onthepartofKaiserandEmpire,unabletogetonwithoutSubsidies,willhavetofollow:andaftersuchquantitiesofpowderburnt,andcourageousliveswasted,generalAS—YOU—WEREistheresultarrivedat。

  OldFriedrich’sAmbassadorsarepresentatUtrecht,janglingandpleadingamongtherest;atBerlintoothedespatchofbusinessgoeslumberingon;butwhatthing,intheshapeofbusiness,atUtrechtoratBerlin,isofmuchimportancetotheoldman?

  SeemsasifEnropeitselfwerewaxingdim,andsinkingtostupidsleep,——aswe,inourpoorroyalperson,fullsurelyare。ACrownhasbeenachieved,anddiamondbuttonsworth1,500poundsapiece;

  butwhatisaCrown,andwhatarebuttons,afterall?——IsupposethetattleandSINGERIESoflittleWilhelmina,whomhewouldspendwholedayswith;thisandoccasionalvisitstoayoungFritzchen’scradle,whoisthrivingmoderately,andwillspeakanddoaperiesoneday,——arehismainsolacementsinthedaysthatarepassing。

  MuchofthisFriedrich’slifehasgoneofflikethesmokeoffire—works,hasfadedsorrowfully,andprovedphantasmal。HereisanoldAutographNote,writtenbyhimatthesideofthatCradle,andtouchingonaslighteventthere;which,asitconnectstwovenerableCorrespondentsandtheirSeventeenthCenturywithagrandPhenomenonoftheEighteenth,wewillinserthere。TheoldKingaddresseshisolderMother—in—law,famedElectressSophieofHanover,intheseterms(spellingcorrected):——

  \"CHARLOTTENBURG,den30August,1712。

  \"Ew。Churf。Durchlauchtwerdensichzweifelsohnemitunserfreuen,dassderkleinePrintz(PRINZ)Fritznuhnmero(NUNMEHR)

  6Zehne(ZAHNE)hatundohnediegeringsteincommoditet(—TAT)。

  DarauskannmanauchdiePREDESTINATIONsehen,dassalleseineBruderhabendaransterbenmussen,dieseraberbekommtsieohneMuhewieseineSchwester。Gotterhalteihnunsnochlangezumtrohst(TROST),indessenSchutzichdieselbeergebeundlebenslangverbleibe,\"Ew。Churf。Durchl。gehorsamsterDienerundtreuerSohn,\"FRIEDRICHR。\"

  [Preuss,FriedrichderGrosse(HistorischeSkizze,Berlin,1838),p。380。

  OfwhichthisistheliteralEnglish:——

  \"YourElectoralSerenitywilldoubtlessrejoicewithusthatthelittlePrinceFritzhasnowgothissixthtoothwithouttheleastINCOMMODITE。Andthereinwemaytraceapre—destination,inasmuchashisBrothersdiedofteething[Notofcannon—soundandweightofhead—gear,then,yourMajestythinks?Thatwereapainfulthought?];andthisone,ashisSister[WILHELMINA]did,getsthem[THETEETH]withouttrouble。

  Godpreservehimlongforacomforttous:——towhoseprotectionIcommitDIESELBE[YourElectoralHighness,inthethirdperson],andremainlifelong,\"YourElectoralHighness’smostobedientServantandtrueSon,\"FRIEDRICHREX。\"

  OneofFriedrichRex’sworstadventureswashislatest;commencedsomefiveorsixyearsago(1708),andnownotfarfromterminating。HewasaWidower,ofweaklyconstitution,towardsfifty:hisbeautifulingenious\"Serena,\"withallherTheologies,pinch—of—snuffCoronationsandotherearthlytroubles,wasdead;

  andthetaskofcontinuingtheHohenzollernprogeny,givenovertoFriedrichWilhelmthePrinceRoyal,wasthoughttobeingoodhands。MajestyFriedrichwiththeweakbackhadretired,in1708,toKarlsbad,torestfromhiscares;totakethesalutarywaters,andrecruithisweaknervesalittle。Here,inthecourseofconfidentialpromenadings,itwashinted,itwasrepresentedtohimbysomepickthankofacourtier,ThatthetaskofcontinuingtheHohenzollernprogenydidnotseemtoprosperinthepresentgoodhands;thatSophieDorothee,PrincessRoyal,hadalreadybornetworoyalinfantswhichhadspeedilydied:thatinfactitwastobegatheredfromthemedicalmen,ifnotfromtheirwords,thenfromtheirlooksandcautiousinnuendoes,thatSophieDorothee,PrincessRoyal,wouldneverproduceaPrinceorevenPrincessthatwouldlive;whichtask,therefore,didnowagainseemtodevolveuponhisMajesty,ifhisMajestyhadnotinsuperableobjections?Majestyhadnoinsuperableobjections;

  oldMajestylistenedtotheflatteringtale;and,sureenough,hesmartedforitinasignalmanner。

  Bydueindustry,aPrincesswasfixeduponforBride,PrincessSophieLouisaofMecklenburg—Schwerin,agenowtwenty—four:

  shewasgotasWife,andcamehometoBerlininallpomp;——butgoodcamenotwithhertoanybodythere。Notonlydidshebringthepooroldmannochildren,whichwasafaulttobeoverlooked,consideringSophieDorothee’ssuccess;butshebroughtaquerulous,weakandself—sufficientfemalehumor;foundhisreligionheterodox,——hebeingCalvinist,andperhapsevenlax—Calvinist,sheLutheranasthePrussianNationis,andstricttothebone:——heterodoxwholly,tothelengthofnosalvationpossible;andtimesroseontheBerlinCourtsuchashadneverbeenseenbefore!\"Nosalvationpossible,saysmyDearest?Hah!

  AndaninnocentCourt—MaskorDancingSoireeiscriminalinthesightofGodandoftheQueen?Andwearechildrenofwrathwholly,andafrivolousgeneration;andtheQueenwillseeusall——!\"

  Theendwas,hisMajesty,throughsadsolitarydaysandnights,repentedbitterlythathehadweddedsuchaShe—Dominic;

  grewquiteestrangedfromher;thepoorShe—Dominicgivinghimduereturninherway,——namely,livingaltogetherinherownapartments,uponorthodoxy,jealousyandotherbadnourishment。

  Tillatlengthshewentquitemad;and,excepttheduemedicalandotherattendants,nobodysawher,orspokeofher,atBerlin。

  WasthisacheeringissueofsuchanadventuretothepooroldexpensiveGentleman?Heendeavoredtodigestinsilencethebittermorselhehadcookedforhimself;butreflectedoften,asanoldKingmight,WhatdirthaveIeaten!

  InthiswaystandsthatmatterintheSchlossofBerlin,whenlittleFriedrich,whowillonedaybecalledtheGreat,isborn。

  HabitsoftheexpensiveKing,hoursofrising,modesofdressing,andsoforth,aretobefoundinPollnitz;[Pollnitz,

  MemoirenzurLebens—undRegierungs—GeschichtederVierletztenRegentendesPreussischenStaats(Berlin,1791)。

  Avague,inexact,butnotquiteuninstructiveoruninterestingBook:PrintedalsoinFRENCH,whichwastheOriginal,sameplaceandtime。]butwecharitablyomitthemall。EvenfromfoolishPollnitzagoodeyewillgather,whatwasaboveintimated,thatthisfeeble—backed,heavy—ladenoldKingwasofhumaneandjustdisposition;haddignityinhisdemeanor;hadreticence,patience;

  and,thoughhot—temperedlikealltheHohenzollerns,thatheborehimselflikeaperfectgentlemanforonething;andtotteredalonghishigh—lyinglonesomeroadnotinanunmanfulmanneratall。

  Hadnothisnervesbeendamagedbythatfallininfancy,whoknowsbutwemighthavehadsomethingelsetoreadofhimthanthathewasregardlessofexpenseinthisworld!

  Hislastscene,ofdateFebruary,1713,isthetragicalultimatumofthatfineKarlsbadadventureoftheSecondmarriage,——Thirdmarriage,infact,thoughtheFirst,anteriorto\"Serena,\"isapttobeforgotten,havinglastedshortwhile,andproducedonlyaDaughter,notmemorableexceptbyaccident。ThisThirdmarriage,whichhadbroughtsomanysorrowstohim,provedatlengththedeathoftheoldman。Forhesatonemorning,inthechillFebruarydaysoftheYear1713,inhisApartment,asusual;

  weakofnerves,butthinkingnospecialevil;when,suddenlywithhugejingle,theglassdoorofhisroomwenttosherds;andthererushedin——bleedinganddishevelled,thefatal\"WhiteLady\"

  (WEISSEFRAU),whoisunderstoodtowalkthatSchlossatBerlin,andannounceDeathtotheBoyalinhabitants。Majestyhadfainted,orwasfainting。\"WeisseFrau?Ohno,yourMajesty!\"——notthat;

  butindeedsomethingalmostworse。——MadQueen,inherApartments,hadbeenseized,thatday,whenhalforquarterdressed;

  withunusualorthodoxyorunusualjealousy。Watchingheropportunity,shehadwhiskedintothecorridor,inextremedeshabille;andgone,likethewildroe,towardsMajesty’sSuiteofRooms;throughMajesty’sglassdoor,likeacatapult;

  andemergedaswesaw,——inpetticoatandshift,withhairstreaming,eyesglittering,armscut,andtheothersadtrimmings。

  OHeaven,whocouldlaugh?TherearetearsduetoKingsandtoallmen。Itwasdeepmisery;deepenough\"SINandmisery,\"asCalvinwellsays,ontheonesideandtheother!ThepooroldKingwascarriedtobed;andneverroseagain,butdiedinafewdays。

  ThedateoftheWEISSEFRAU’Sdeath,onemighthavehoped,wasnotdistanteither;butshelasted,inhersadstate,forabovetwentyyearscoming。

  OldKingFriedrich’sdeath—daywas25thFebruary,1713;

  theunconsciouslittleGrandsonbeingtheninhisFourteenthmonth。Towhom,afterthislong,voyageroundtheworld,wenowgladlyreturn。

  *BywayofreinforcementtoanyrecollectionthereadermayhaveoftheseTwelveHohenzollernKurfursts,Iwillappendacontinuouslistofthem,withhereandthereanindication。

  THETWELVEHOHENZOLLERNELECTORS。

  1。FRIEDRICHI。(asBurggraf,wasFriedrichVI。):born,itisinferred,1372(Rentsch,p。350);accession,18thApril,1417;

  died21stSeptember,1440。HadcometoBrandenburg,1412,asStatthalter。TheQuitzowsandHEAVYPEG。

  2。FRIEDRICHII。:19thNovember,1413;21stSeptember,1440;

  10thFebruary,1472。FriedrichIRONTEETH;tamestheBerlinBurghers。SpokePolish,wastohavebeenPolishKing。Cannon—shotuponhisdinner—tableshattershisnervesso,thatheabdicates,andsoondies。JOHANNESALCHYMISTAhiselderBrother;ALBERT

  ACHILLEShisyounger。

  3。ALBERT(Achilles):24thNovember,1414;10thFebruary,1471;

  11thMarch,1486。ThirdsonofFriedrichI。;islinealProgenitorofalltherest。

  EldestSon,JOHANNCICERO,followsasKurfurst;aYoungerSon,FRIEDRICH(byadifferentMother),gotCulmbach,andproducedtheElderLinethere。(SeeGenealogicalDiagram。)

  4。JOHANN(Cicero):2dAugust,1455;11thMarch,1486;9thJanuary,1499。BigJohn。FriedrichofCulmbach’selder(Half—)

  Brother。

  5。JOACHIMI。:21stFebruary,1484;9thJanuary,1499;11thJuly,1535。LoudintheReformationtimes;finallydeclaresperemptorilyfortheConservativeside。Wife(SisterofChristianII。ofDenmark)runsaway。

  YoungerBrotherAlbertKur—Mainz,whomHuttencelebrated;born1490;ArchbishopofMagdeburgandHalberstadt1513,ofMaim1514;

  died1545:setTetzel,andtheIndulgence,onfoot。

  6。JOACHIMII。(Hector):9thJanuary,1505;11thJuly,1535;

  3dJanuary,1571。SworddrawnonAlbaonce。ERBVERBRUDERUNGwithLiegnitz。StaircaseatGrimnitz。AweightyindustriousKurfurst。

  DeclaredhimselfProtestant,1539。FirstWife(motherofhisSuccessor)wasDaughtertoDukeGeorgeofSaxony,Luther’s\"IfitrainedDukeGeorges。\"——JohannofCustrinwasayoungerBrotherofhis:diedtendaysafterJoachim;leftnoSon。

  7。JOHANNGEORGE:11thSeptember,1525;3dJanuary,1571;

  8thJanuary,1598。Cannon—shot,atSiegeofWittenberg,uponKaiserKarlandhim。GeraBond。

  MarriedaSilesianDukeofLiegnitz’sDaughter(resultoftheERBVERBRUDERUNGthere,——Antea,p。231)。Hadtwenty—threechildren。

  ItwastohimthatBaireuthandAnspachfellhome:hesettledthemonhissecondandhisthirdsons,ChristianandJoachimErnst;

  foundersoftheNewLineofBaireuthandAnspach。(SeeGenealogicalDiagram。)

  8。JOACHIMFRIEDRICH:27thJanuary,1546;8thJanuary,1598;

  18thJuly,1608。ArchbishopofMagdeburgfirstofall,——tokeeptheplacefilled。JoachimsthalSchoolatoldCastleofGrimnitz。

  VeryvigilantforPreussen;whichwasnearfallingdue。

  TwoofhisYoungerSons,JohannGeorge(1577—1624)towhomhegaveJAGERNDORF,andthatArchbishopofMagdeburg,whowaspresentinTilly’sstorm,gotbothwreckedintheThirty—YearsWar;——notwithoutresults,intheJagerndorfcase。

  9。JOHANNSIGISMUND:8thNovember,1572;18thJuly,1608;

  23dDecember,1619。Preussen:Cleve;SlaponthefacetoNeuburg。

  10。GEORGEWILHELM:3dNovember,1595;22dNovember,1619;

  21stNovember,1640。TheunfortunateoftheThirty—YearsWar。

  \"Quefaire;ilsontdescanons!\"

  11。FRIEDRICHWILHELM:6thFebruary,1620;21stNovember,1640;

  29thApril,1688。TheGreatElector。

  12。FRIEDRICHIII。:1stJuly,1657;29thApril,1688;

  25thFebruary,1713。FirstKing(18thJanuary,1701)。

  GENEALOGICALDIAGRAM:THETWOCULMBACHLINES。

  3dKURFURST(1471—1486)

  ALBERTACHILLES。

  ELDERCULMBACHLINE。

  FRIEDRICH,secondsonofKurfurstAlbertAchilles,youngerBrotherofJohannesCicero,gotCULMBACH:Anspachfirst,thenBaireuthonthedeathofayoungerBrother。Born1460;gotAnspach1486;

  Baireuth1495;followedMaxinhisVENETIANCAMPAIGN,1508;

  fellIMBECILE1515;died1536。HadaPolishWife;fromwhomcameinterestsinHungaryaswellasPolandtohischildren。FriedrichhadThreenotableSons,1。CASIMIR,whogotBAIREUTH(1515):born1481;died1527。

  VerytruculentinthePeasants’War。

  ALBERTALEIBIADES:amanofgreatmarkinhisday(1522—1557);

  nevermarried。TwoSisters,withoneofwhomhetookshelteratlast;noBrother。

  2。GEORGETHEPIOUS,whogotANSPACH(1515):born1484;died1543;

  gotJagerndorf,bypurchase,fromhisMother’sHungarianconnection,1524。Protestantdeclared,1528;andmakeshonorablefigureintheHistoriesthenceforth。TheGeorgeofKaiserKarl’s\"Nit—Kop—ab。\"OneSon,GEORGEFRIEDRICH;born1539;wenttoadministerPreussenwhenCousinbecameincompetent;died1603。HeirtohisFatherinANSPACHandJAGERNDORF;alsotohisCousinAlcibiadesinBAIREUTH。

  Hadbeenleftaminor(boyof4,asthereadersees);

  AlcibiadeshisGuardianforalittlewhile:fromwhichcamegreatdifficulties,andunjustruinwouldhavecome,hadnotKurfurstJoachimI。beenhelpfulandvigorousinhisbehalf。

  GeorgeFriedrichgotatlengthmostofhisTerritoriesintohand:

  AnspachandBaireuthunimpaired,Jagerndorftoo,exceptthatRatiborandOppelnweremucheatenintobytheImperialchicaneriesinthatquarter。Died1603,withoutchildren;——uponwhichhisTerritoriesallrevertedtothemainBrandenburgline,namely,toJohannGeorgeSeventhKurfurst,orhisrepresentatives,accordingtotheGERABOND;andthe\"ElderCulmbachLine\"hadendedinthismanner。

  3。ALBERT;born1490;HochmeisteroftheTeutschRitters,1511;

  declareshimselfProtestant,andDukeofPrussia,1525;died1568。

点击下载App,搜索"History of Friedrich II of Prussia",免费读到尾