第11章
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  OneSon,ALBERTFRIEDRICH:born1553;followsasDuke1568,declaredMELANCHOLIC1573;died1618。HisCousinGeorgeFriedrichadministeredforhimtill1603;afterwhichJoachimFriedrich;

  andthen,lastly,JoachimFriedrich’sSon,JohannSigismundtheNinthKurfurst。HadmarriedtheHeiressofCleve(whencecameacelebratedCleveControversyinafter—times)。Noson;agoodmanydaughters;eldestofwhomwasmarriedtoKurfurstJohannSigismund;fromhercamethecontrovertedCleveProperty。

  7thKURFURST(1571—1598),JOHANNGEORGE。

  YOUNGERCULMBACHLINE。

  KurfurstJohannGeorgesettledBaireuthandAnspachonTwoofhisYoungerSons,whoareFoundersofthe\"YoungerCulmbachLine\"

  (SPLITLineorPairofLINES)。JagerndorfthenewKurfurst,JoachimFriedrich,kept;settleditononeofhisyoungersons。

  HerearethetwonewFoundersinBaireuthandAnspach,andsomeindicationoftheir\"Lines,\"sofarasimportanttousatpresent:

  BAIREUTH。

  (1。)CHRISTIAN,secondsonofKurfurstJohannGeorge:born1581;

  gotBaireuth1603;died1655。AdistinguishedGovernorinhissphere。Hadtwosons;theelderdiedbeforehim,butleftason,ChristianErnst;who(2。)succeeded,and(3。)whoseson,GeorgeWilhelm:1644,1655,1712;1678,1712,1726(areBIRTH,ACCESSION,ENDofthesetwo);thelatterofwhomhadnosonthatlived。

  UponwhichtheposterityofChristian’ssecondsonsucceeded。

  SecondsonofChristiannotabletousintwolittleways:

  FIRST,ThatHE,GeorgeAlbert,MargrafofCULMbach,istheinscrutable\"MarquisdeLULENbach\"ofBromley’sLetters(anteap。184,lettheCommentatorstakecomfort!);

  SECONDandbetter,ThatfromhimcameourlittleWilhelmina’sHusband,——aswillbeafterwardsexplained。Itwashisgrandson(4。)thatsucceededinBaireuth,GeorgeFriedrichKarl(1688,1726,1735);FatherofWilhelmina’sHusband。Afterwhom(5。)hisSonFriedrich(1711,1735,1763),Wilhelmina’sHusband;

  wholeaving(1763)nothinghutadaughter,BaireuthfelltoAnspach,1769,afteranoldUncle(6。),childless,hadalsodied。

  SIXBaireuthMargravesofthisLine;FIVEgenerations;andthentoAnspach,in1769。

  ANSPACH。

  (1。)JOACHIMERNST,thirdsonofKurfurstJohannGeorge:born1583;gotAnspach1603;died1625。Hadmilitarytendencies,experiences;didnotthriveasCaptainoftheEVANGELICALUNION

  (1619—1620)whenWINTER—KINGcameupandTHIRTY—YEARSWARalongwithhim。Lefttwosons;elderofwhom,(2。)Friedrich,nominallySovereign,agestillonlyeighteen,fellintheBattleofNordlingen(worstbattleoftheThirty—YearsWar,1634);andtheyoungerofwhom,(3。)Albert,succeeded(1620,1634,1667),andhisson,(4。)JohannFriedrich(1654,1667,1686);and(5,6,7。)

  nofewerthanthreegrandsons,——childrenmostly,thoughentitled\"sovereign\"——inaPARALLELway(ChristianAlbert,1675,1686,1692;GeorgeFriedrich,1678,1692,1703;WilhelmFriedrich,1685,1703,1723)。Twolittlepointsnotableherealso,andnothird:

  FIRST,Thatoneofthegrand—DAUGHTERS,full—sisterofthelastofthesethreeparallelfigures,half—sisterofthetwoformer,was——QueenCaroline,GeorgeII。’swife,whohasstillsomefamewithus。

  SECOND,Thattheyoungestofsaidthreegrandsons,QueenCaroline’sfull—brother,leftasonthenminor,whobecamemajor,(8。)andweddedaSisterofourdearlittleWilhelmina’s,ofwhomweshallhear(KarlWilhelmFriedrich,1712,1723,1757);

  unmomentousMargrafotherwise。Hisandheronesonitwas,(9。)ChristianFriedrichKarlAlexander(1736,1757,1806),whoinheritedBaireuth,inheritedActressClairon,LadyCraven,andatHammersmith(HouseonceBubbDoddington’s,ifthathasanycharm)

  endedtheaffair。

  NINEAnspachMargraves;inFIVEgenerations:end,1806。

  ENDOFBOOKIII

  HistoryofFriedrichIIofPrussiaV4

  byThomasCarlyleCarlyle’s\"HistoryofFriedrichIIofPrussia\"

  BOOKIV。

  FRIEDRICH’SAPPRENTICESHIP,FIRSTSTAGE。

  1713—1728。

  CHAPTERI。

  CHILDHOOD:DOUBLEEDUCATIONALELEMENT。

  OfFriedrich’schildhood,thereisnot,afterallourreading,muchthatitwouldinteresttheEnglishpublictoheartellof。

  Perhapsnotmuchofknowablethatdeservesanywheretobeknown。

  Booksonit,expresslyhandlingit,andBooksonFriedrichWilhelm’sCourtandHistory,ofwhichitisalwaysamainelement,arenotwanting:buttheyaremainlyofthesadsortwhich,withpainanddifficulty,teachusnothing,Booksdonebypedantsandtenebrificpersons,underthenameofmen;dwellingnotonthings,but,atendlesslength,ontheouterhusksofthings:ofunparalleledconfusion,too;——notsomuchasanIndexgrantedyou;

  tothepoorhalf—peckofcinders,hiddeninthesewagon—loadsofashes,nosieveallowed!Bookstendingreallytofillthemindwithmeredust—whirlwinds,——iftheminddidnotstraightwayblowthemoutagain;whichitdoes。Oftheseletussaynothing。

  SeldomhadsocuriousaPhenomenonworsetreatmentfromtheDryasdust,species。

  AmongtheseBooks,touchingonFriedrich’schildhood,andtreatingofhisFather’sCourt,thereishardlyaboveonethatwecancharacterizeasfairlyhuman:theBookwrittenbyhislittleSisterWilhelmina,whenshegrewtosizeandknowledgeofgoodandevil;[MemoiresdeFrederiqueSophieWilhelminedePrusse,MargravedeBareith(Brunswick,ParisetLondres,l8l2),2vols。8vo。]——andthis,ofwhatflightyuncertainnatureitis,theworldpartlyknows。AhumanBook,however,notapedantone:thereisamostshrillfemalesoulbusywithintenseearnestnesshere;looking,andteachingustolook。WefinditaVERACIOUSBook,donewithheart,andfromeyesightandinsight;

  ofaveracitydeeperthanthesuperficialsort。Itisfullofmistakes,indeed;andexaggeratesdreadfully,initsshrillfemaleway;butisaboveintendingtodeceive:deducttheduesubtrahend,——sayperhapstwenty—fivepercent,orinextremecasesashighasseventy—five,——youwillgetsomehumanimageofcredibleactualitiesfromWilhelmina。Practicallysheisouroneresourceonthismatter。OfthestrangeKingFriedrichWilhelmandhisstrangeCourt,withsuchanHeir—Apparentgrowingupinit,thereisnoreallighttobehad,exceptwhatWilhelminagives,——orkindlesdarkBooksofothersintogiving。Forthat,too,onlongstudy,istheresultofher,hereandthere。Withsoflickeryawax—taperheldoverFriedrich’schildhood,——andtheotherdirtytallow—dipsallgoingoutinintolerableodor,——judgeifoursuccesscanbeverytriumphant!

  WeperceivethelittlecreaturehasgotmuchfromNature;notthebigarenaonly,butfineinwardgifts,forheiswell—borninmoresensesthanone;——andthatinthebreedingofhimtherearetwoelementsnoticeable,widelydiverse:theFrenchandtheGerman。

  Thisisperhapsthechiefpeculiarity;bestworthlayingholdof,withtheduecomprehension,ifourmeansallow。

  FIRSTEDUCATIONALELEMENT,THEFRENCHONE。

  Hisnurses,governesses,simultaneousandsuccessive,mostlyofFrenchbreed,aredulysetdowninthePrussianBooks,andheldinmindasapointofdutybyPrussianmen;but,inforeignparts,cannotbeconsideredotherwisethanasagroup,andmerelywithgenericfeatures。HehadaFrauvonKameckeforHeadGoverness,——

  theladywhomWilhelmina,inherfamedMemoires,alwayswritesKAMKEN;andofwhom,exceptthefloatinggossipfoundinthatBook,thereisnothingtoberemembered。

  Underher,aspracticalsuperintendent,SOUS—GOUVERNANTEandquasi—mother,wastheDamedeRoucoulles,amoreimportantpersonforushere。DamedeRoucoulles,oncedeMontbail,thesamerespectableEdict—of—NantesFrenchladywho,five—and—twentyyearsago,hadtakensimilarchargeofFriedrichWilhelm;afactthatspeakswellforthecharacterofherperformanceinthatoffice。

  ShehaddoneherfirsteditionofaPrussianPrinceinasatisfactorymanner;andnotwithoutdifficultaccidentsandsingularities,aswehaveheard:thelikeofwhichweresparedherinthishersecondedition(sowemaycallit);asecondand,inallmannerofways,animprovedone。TheyoungFritzswallowednoshoe—buckles;didnotleapoutofwindow,hangingonbythehands;

  norachieveanythingofturbulent,orotherwisememorable,inhisinfantinehistory;thecourseofwhichwasingeneralsmooth,andruns,happilyforit,belowthekenofrumor。TheBoy,itissaid,andiseasilycredible,wasofextraordinaryvivacity;quickinapprehendingallthings,andgracefullyrelatinghimselftothem。

  Oneoftheprettiest,vividestlittleboys;witheyes,withmindandways,ofuncommonbrilliancy;——onlyhetakeslesstosoldieringthanthepaternalheartcouldwish;andappearstofindotherthingsintheworldfullyasnotableaslouddrums,andstiffmendrawnupinrows。Moreover,heisapttobealittleunhealthynowandthen,andrequirescarefromhisnurses,overwhomthejudiciousRoucoulleshastobeveryvigilant。

  OfthisrespectableMadamedeRoucoullesIhaveread,atleastseventimes,whatthePrussianBookssayofherbywayofBiography;butitisalwaysgivenintheirdulltombstonestyle;

  ithasmoreovernexttonoimportance;andI,——alas,Idonotyettoowellrememberit!ShewasfromNormandy;ofgentleblood,neververyrich;Protestant,intheEdict—of—Nantestime;andhadtoflyhercountry,ayoungwidow,withdaughterandmother—in—lawhangingonher;thewholeofthemalmostpenniless。However,shewaskindlyreceivedattheCourtofBerlin,asusualinthatsadcase;andgotsomepracticalhelptowardslivinginhernewcountry。QueenSophieCharlottehadlikedhersociety;andfindingherofprudentintelligentturn,andwiththestyleofmannerssuitable,hadgivenherFriedrichWilhelmtotakechargeof。

  ShewasatthattimeMadamedeMontbail;widow,aswesaid:

  sheafterwardsweddedRoucoulles,arefugeegentlemanofherownNation,whohadgoneintothePrussianArmy,aswascommonforthelikeofhim:Shehadagainbecomeawidow,MadamedeRoucoullesthistime,withherdaughterMontbailstillabouther,when,bythegratefulgoodsenseofFriedrichWilhelm,shewasagainintrustedaswesee;——andsohadthehonorofgovernessingFredericktheGreatforthefirstsevenyearsofhislife。

  Respectablelady,sheoversawhisnurses,pap—boats,——\"beer—soupandbread,\"hehimselftellsusonce,washismaindietinboyhood,——beer—soups,dress—frocks,firstattemptsatwalking;

  andthenalsohislittlebitsofintellectualities,moralities;

  hisincipienciesofspeech,demeanor,andspiritualdevelopment;

  anddidherfunctionveryhonestly,thereisnodoubt。

  Wilhelminamentionsher,atasubsequentperiod;andwehaveaglimpseofthissameRoucoulles,glidingaboutamongtheroyalyoung—folk,\"withonlyonetoothleft\"(figurativelyspeaking),andsomewhatgiventotattle,inPrincessWilhelmina’sopinion。

  Grownveryoldnow,poorlady;andthedreadfulestbore,whenshegetsuponHanoverandherexperiences,andQueenSophieCharlotte’s,inthatstupendouslymagnificentcourtunderGentlemanErnst。Shunthattopic,ifyouloveyourpeaceofmind!

  [Memoires(abovecited)。]——ShedidcertainlysuperintendtheBoyFritzkinforhisfirstsevenyears;thatisaglorythatcannotbetakenfromher。Andherpupil,too,weagreeablyperceive,wasalwaysgratefulforherservicesinthatcapacity。Onceaweek,ifhewereinBerlin,duringhisyouthfultime,hewassuretoappearattheRoucoullesSoiree,andsayandlookvariouspleasantthingstohis\"CHERMAMAN(dearMamma),\"asheusedtocallher,andtotherespectablesmallpartsshehad。

  Nottospeakofothermoresubstantialservices,whichalsowerenotwanting。

  Roucoullesandtheotherfemalesouls,mainlyFrench,amongwhomtheincipientFritznowwas,appeartohavedonetheirpartaswellascouldbelookedfor。RespectableEdict—of—NantesFrenchladies,withhighhead—gear,widehoops;aclear,correct,butsomewhatbarrenandmeagrespecies,tight—lacedandhigh—frizzledinmindandbody。Itisnotaveryfertileelementforayoungsoul:notverymuchofsilentpietyinit;andperhapsofvocalpietymorethanenoughinproportion。Anelementfoundingonwhattheycall\"enlightenedProtestantism,\"\"freedomofthought,\"andthelike,whichisapttobecomeloquacious,andtooconsciousofitself;terming,onthewhole,rathertocontemptofthefalse,thantodeeporveryeffectiverecognitionofthetrue。

  Butitis,insomeimportantsenses,aclearandpureelementwithal。Atlowest,therearenoconscioussemi—falsities,orvolunteerhypocrisies,taughtthepoorBoy;honor,clearness,truthofwordatleast;adecorousdignifiedbearing;

  variousthingoodthings,arehonestlyinculcatedandexemplified;

  norisanybad,ungracefulorsuspiciousthingpermittedthere,ifrecognizedforsuch。Itmighthavebeenaworseelement;

  andwemustbethankfulforit。Friedrich,throughlife,carriesdeeptracesofthisFrench—Protestantincipiency:averybigwide—branchingroyaltree,intheend;butassmallandflexibleaseedlingonceasanyoneofus。

  ThegoodoldDamedeRoucoullesjustlivedtowitnesshisaccession;onwhichgrandjunctureandafterwards,ashehaddonebefore,hecontinuedtoexpress,ingracefulandusefulways,hisgratitudeandhonestaffectiontoherandhers。Teaservices,presentsincut—glassandotherkinds,withLettersthatwerestillmoreprecioustotheoldLady,hadcomealwaysatdueintervals:,andoneofhisearliestkinglygiftswasthatofsomesuitablesmallpensionforMontbail,theelderlydaughterofthispooroldRoucoulles,[Preuss,FriedrichderGrosse,eineLebensgeschichte(5vols。Berlin,1832—1834),v。(Urkundenbuch,p。4)。OEuvresdeFrederic

  (samePreuss’sEdition,Berlin,1846—1850,&c。),xvi。184,191。——

  TheHerrDoctorJ。D。E。Preuss,\"HistoriographerofBrandenburg,\"

  devotedwhollytothestudyofFriedrichforfive—and—twentyyearspast,andforaboveadozenyearsbusilyengagedineditingtheOEuvresdeFrederic,——has,besidesthatLebensgeschichtejustcited,threeorfoursmallerBooks,ofindistinctlydifferenttitles,onthesamesubject。Ameritoriouslyexactman;acquaintedwiththeouterdetailsofFriedrich’sBiography(hadheanywayofarranging,organizingorsettingthemforth)asfewmeneverwereorwillbe。

  WeshallmeanalwaysthisLebensgeschichte

  here,whennoothertitleisgiven:andOEuvresdeFredericshallsignifyHISEdition,unlessthecontrarybestated。]whowasjustsingingherDIMITTAESasitwere,stillinablitheandpiousmanner。Forshesawnow(in1740)herlittlenurslinggrowntobeabrilliantmanandKing;

  KinggoneouttotheWars,too,withallEuropeinquiringandwonderingwhattheissuewouldbe。Asforher,sheclosedherpooroldeyes,atthisstageofthebusiness;piously,inforeignparts,farfromhernativeNormandy;anddidnotseefartherwhattheissuewas。GoodoldDame,Ihave,aswasobserved,readsomeseventimesoverwhattheycallbiographicalaccountsofher;

  buthaveseventimes(byHeaven’sfavor,Idopartlybelieve)

  mostlyforgottenthemagain;andwouldnot,withoutcause,inflictonanyreaderthelikesorrow。Torememberoneworthything,howmanythousandunworthythingsmustamanbeabletoforget!

  FromthisEdict—of—Mantesenviroument,whichtaughtouryoungFritzhisfirstlessonsofhumanbehavior,——apolitesharplittleBoy,wedohopeandunderstand,——helearnedalsotoclothehisbitsofnotions,emotions,andgarrulousutterabilities,intheFrenchdialect。Learnedtospeak,andlikewise,whatismoreimportant;toTHINK,inFrench;whichwasotherwisequitedomesticatedinthePalace,andbecamehissecondmother—tongue。

  Notabaddialect;yetalsononeofthebest。Veryleanandshallow,ifveryclearandconvenient;leavingmuchinpoorFritzunuttered,unthought,unpractised,whichmightotherwisehavecomeintoactivityinthecourseofhislife。Helearnedtoreadverysoon,Ipresume;buthedidnot,noworafterwards,everlearntospell。HespellsindeeddreadfullyILL,athisfirstappearanceonthewritingstage,asweshallseebyandby;andhecontinued,tothelast,oneofthebadspellersofhisday。AcircumstancewhichInevercanfullyaccountfor,andwillleavetothereader’sstudy。

  Fromallmannerofsources,——frominferiorvaletaille,PrussianOfficials,RoyalMajestyitselfwhennotingala,——helearned,notlessrootedly,thecorruptPrussiandialectofGerman;andusedthesame,allhisdays,amonghissoldiers,nativeofficials,commonsubjectsandwhereveritwasmostconvenient;speakingit,andwritingandmisspellingit,withgreatfreedom,thoughalwayswithacertainaversionandundisguisedcontempt,whichhassincebroughthimblameinsomequarters。Itistrue,thePrussianformofGermanisbutrude;andprobablyFriedrich,exceptsometimesinLuther’sBible,neverreadanyGermanBook。What,ifwewillthinkofit,couldheknowofhisfirstmother—tongue!German,tothisday,isafrightfuldialectforthestupid,thepedantanddullardsort!Onlyinthehandsofthegifteddoesitbecomesupremelygood。IthadnotyetbeenthelanguageofanyGoethe,anyLessing;

  thoughitstoodontheeveofbecomingsuch。IthadalreadybeenthelanguageofLuther,ofUlrichHutten,FriedrichBarbarossa,Charlemagneandothers。Andseveralextremelyimportantthingshadbeensaidinit,andsomepleasantonesevensunginit,fromanolddate,inaveryappropriatemanner,——hadCrown—PrinceFriedrichknownallthat。Buthecouldnotreasonablybeexpectedtoknow:——andthewiserGermansnowforgivehimfornotknowing,andareeventhankfulthathedidnot。

  ChapterII。

  THEGERMANELEMENT。

  Sothat,aswesaid,therearetwoelementsforyoungFritz,andhighlydiverseones,frombothofwhichheistodrawnourishment,andassimilatewhathecan。BesidesthatEdict—of—NantesFrenchelement,andincontinualcontactandcontrastwithit,whichprevailschieflyintheFemaleQuartersofthePalace,——thereisthenativeGermanelementforyoungFritz,ofwhichthecentreisPapa,nowcometobeKing,andpowerfullymanifestinghimselfassuch。AnabruptperemptoryyoungKing;andGermantothebone。

  Alongwithwhom,companionstohiminhissocialhours,andfellow—workersinhisbusiness,areasetofveryruggedGermansonsofNature;differingmuchfromtheFrenchsonsofArt。

  BaronGrumkow,LeopoldPrinceofAnhalt—Dessau(notyetcalledthe\"OLDDessauer,\"beingunderfortyyet),GeneralGlasenap,ColonelDerschau,GeneralFlans;these,andtheothernamelessGeneralsandOfficials,areacuriouscounterparttotheCamases,theHautcharmoysandForcades,withtheirnimbletonguesandrapiers;

  stillmoretotheBeausobres,Achards,fullofecclesiasticallogic,madeofBayleandCalvinkneadedtogether;andtothehigh—frizzledladiesrustlinginstiffsilk,withtheshadowofVersaillesandoftheDragonnadesalikepresenttothem。

  BornHyperboreanstheseothers;roughashemp,andstoutoffibreashemp;nativeproductsoftherigorousNorth。Ofwhom,afterallourreading,weknowlittle。——OHeaven,theyhavehadlonglinesofruggedancestors,castinthesamerudestalwartmould,andleadingtheirroughlifethere,ofwhomweknowabsolutelynothing!Dumballthoseprecedingbusygenerations;andthisofFriedrichWilhelmisgrownalmostdumb。Grimsemi—articulatePrussianmen;gonealltopipe—clayandmustacheforus。

  Strangeblond—complexioned,notunbeautifulPrussianhonorablewomen,inhoops,brocades,andunintelligiblehead—gearandhair—towers,——ACHGOTT,theytooaregone;andtheirmusicaltalk,intheFrenchorGermanlanguage,thatalsoisgone;andthehollowEternitieshaveswallowedit,astheirwontis,inaverysurprisingmanner!——

  Grumkow,acunning,greedy—hearted,long—headedfellow,oftheoldPomeranianNobilitybybirth,hasakindofsuperficialpolishputuponhisHyperboreanisms;hehasbeeninforeigncountries,doinglegations,diplomacies,forwhich,atleastforthevulpinepartsofwhich,hehasaturn。HewritesandspeaksarticulategrammaticalFrench;butneitherinthat,norinnativePommerishPlatt—Deutsch,doesheshowusmuch,exceptthedepthsofhisowngreed,ofhisownastucitiesandstealthyaudacities。Ofwhichweshallhearmorethanenoughbyandby。

  OFTHEDESSAUER,NOTYET\"OLD。\"

  AstothePrinceofAnhalt—Dessau,ruggedman,whoseveryfaceisthecolorofgunpowder,healsoknowsFrench,andcanevenwriteinit,ifhelike,——havingdulyhadaTutorofthatnation,andstrangeadventureswithhimonthegrandtourandelsewhere;——butdoesnotmuchpractisewriting,whenitcanbehelped。

  Hischildren,Ihaveheard,heexpresslydidnotteachtoreadorwrite,seeingnobenefitinthateffeminateart,butleftthemtopickitupastheycould。HisPrincess,allrightlyennoblednow,——whomhewouldnotbutmarry,thoughsentonthegrandtourtoavoidit,——wasthedaughterofoneFosanApothecaryatDessau;

  andisstillabeautifulandprudentkindofwoman,whoseemstosuithimwellenough,noworsethanifshehadbeenbornaPrincess。Muchtalkhasbeenofher,inprincelyandothercircles;norishismarriagetheonlystrangethingLeopoldhasdone。Heisamantokeeptheworld’stonguewagging,nottoomusicallyalways;thoughhimselfofveryunvocalnature。

  Perhapsthebiggestmassofinarticulatehumanvitality,certainlyoneofthebiggest,thengoingaboutintheworld。Amanofvastdumbfaculty;dumb,butfertile,deep;noendofingenuitiesintheroughheadofhim:——asmuchmother—wit,there,Ioftenguess,ascouldbefoundinwholetalkingparliaments,spoutingthemselvesawayinvocablesandeloquentwind!

  Amanofdreadfulimpetuositywithal。SetuponhiswillastheonelawofNature;stormingforwardwithincontrollableviolence:

  averywhirlwindofaman。Hewasleftaminor;hisMotherguardian。NothingcouldpreventhimfrommarryingthisFostheApothecary’sDaughter;notearsnorcontrivancesofhisMother,whomhemuchloved,andwhotookskilfulmeasures。FourteenmonthsoftravelinItaly;grandtour,witheligibleFrenchTutor,——whomheoncedrewswordupon,gettingsomerebukefromhimonenightinVenice,andwouldhavekilled,hadnotthemanbeennimble,atoncedexterousandsublime:——itavailednot。Thefirstthinghedid,onre—enteringDessau,withhisTutor,wastocallatApothecaryFos’s,andseethecharmingMamsell;togoandseehisMother,wssthesecondthing。MotevenhisgrandpassionforwarcoulderadicateFos:hewenttoDutohWilliam’swars;thewisemotherstillcounselling,whowasownaunttoDutohWilliam,andlikedthescheme。HebesiegedNamur;foughtandbesiegedupanddown,——withinsatiableappetiteforfightingandsieging;

  withgreathonor,too,andambitionsawakeninginhim;——campaignaftercampaign:butalongwiththeflamy—thunderyidealbride,figurativelycalledBellona,therewasalwaysasoftrealone,MamsellFosofDessau,towhomhecontinuedconstant。

  TheGovernmentofhisDominionsheleftcheerfullytohisMother,evenwhenhecameofage:\"IamforlearningWar,astheonerighttrade;dowithallthingsasyouplease,Mamma,——onlynotwithMamsell,notwithher!\"——

  Readersmayfigurethisscenetoo,andshudderoverit。

  SomeratherhandsomemaleCousinofMamsell,MedicalGraduateorwhateverhewas,hadappearedinDessau:——\"Seems,toadmireMamsellmuch;ofcourse,inaPlatonicway,\"saidrumor:——

  \"He?Admire?\"thinksLeopold;——thinksagooddealofit,notinthephilosophicmood。AshewasonedaypassingFos’s,MamsellandtheMedicalGraduatearevisible,standingtogetheratthewindowinside。PleasantlylookingoutuponNature,——ofcoursequitecasually,saysomeHistorieswithasneer。Infact,itseemspossiblethisMedicalGraduatemayhavebeensettoactshoeing—

  horn;buthehadbetternot。LeopoldstormsintotheHouse,\"Draw,scandalouscanaille,anddefendyourself!\"——Andinthis,orsomesuchway,aconfidenttraditionsays,hekilledthepoorMedicalGraduatethereandthen。Onetriesalwaystohopenot:

  butVarnhagenispositive,thoughtheotherHistoriessaynothingofit。Godknows。ThemanwasaPrince;noReichshofrath,Speyer—WetzlarKAMMER,orotherSupremeCourt,wouldmuchtroubleitself,exceptwithformalshakingsofthewig,aboutsuchapeccadillo。Infine,itwasbetterforLeopoldtomarrytheMissFos;whichheactuallydid(1698,inhistwenty—secondyear),\"withtheleft—hand,\"——andthenwiththerightandbothhands;

  havinggotherproperlyennobledbeforelong,byhissplendidmilitaryservices。Shemade,aswehavehinted,anexcellentWifetohim,forthefiftyorsixtyensuingyears。

  Thisisastrangeruggedspecimen,thisinarticulateLeopold;

  alreadygettingmythic,aswecanperceive,tothepolishedvocalages;whichmixallmanneroffableswiththeconsiderablehistoryhehas。Readerswillseehimturnupagaininnotableforms。Amanhithertounknownexceptinhisowncountry;andyetofveryconsiderablesignificancetoallEuropeancountrieswhatsoever;

  thefruitofhisactivities,withouthisnameattached,beingnowmanifestinallofthem。Heinventedtheironramrod;heinventedtheequalstep;infact,heistheinventorofmodernmilitarytactics。Evenso,ifweknewit:theSoldieryofeverycivilizedcountrystillreceivesfromthisman,onparade—fieldsandbattle—fields,itswordofcommand;outofhisroughheadproceededtheessentialofallthattheinnumerableDrill—sergeants,invariouslanguages,dailyrepeatandenforce。

  Suchamanisworthsometransientglancefromhisfellow—creatures,——especiallywithalittleFritztrottingathisfoot,anddrawinginferencesfromhim。

  Dessau,weshouldhavesaidfortheEnglishreader’sbehoof,wasandstillisalittleindependentPrincipality;aboutthesizeofHuntingdonshire,butwithwoodsinsteadofbogs;——revenueofit,atthisday,is60,000pounds,wasperhapsnot20,oreven10,000

  inLeopold’sfirsttime。ItliessomefourscoremilessouthwestofBerlin,attainablebypost—horsesinaday。Leopold,ashisFatherhaddone,stoodbyPrussiaasifwhollynativetoit。Leopold’sMotherwasSisterofthatfineLouisa,theGreatElector’sfirstWife;hisSisterisweddedtotheMargrafofSchwedt,FriedrichWilhelm’shalf—uncle。Lyinginsuchneighborhood,andbeinginsuchaffinitytothePrussianHouse,theDessauersmaybesaidtohave,inlatetimes,theirheadquartersatBerlin。LeopoldandLeopold’ssons,ashisfatherbeforehimhaddone,withoutneglectingtheirDessauandPrincipality,holdbythePrussianArmyastheirmainemployment。NotneglectingDessaueither;

  butgoingthitherinwinter,oroncallotherwise;Leopoldleastofallneglectingit,whoneglectsnothingthatcanbeusefultohim。

  HeisGeneralField—MarshalofthePrussianArmies,theforemostmaninwar—matterswiththisnewKing;andwellworthytobeso。

  Heisinventing,orbroodinginthewaytoinvent,avarietyofthings,——\"ironramrods,\"forone;averygreatimprovementonthefragileineffectivewoodenimplement,sayalltheBooks,butgivenodatetoit;thatisthefirstthing;andtherewillbeothers,likewiseundated,butposterior,requiringmentionbyandby。

  Inventingmanythings;——andalwayswellpractisingwhatisalreadyinvented,andknownforcertain。Inaword,heisdrillingtoperfection,withassiduousrigor,thePrussianInfantrytobethewonderoftheworld。Hehasfoughtwiththem,too,inaconclusivemanner;andisatalltimesreadyforfighting。

  HewasinMalplaquetwiththem,ifonlyasvolunteeronthatoccasion。HecommandedtheminBlenheimitself;stood,intherightorEugenewingofthatfamedBattleofBlenheim,fiercelyatbay,whentheAustrianCavalryhadallfled;——fiercelyvolleying,charging,dexterouslywheelingandmanoeuvring;stickingtohisgroundwithamastiff—liketenacity,——tillMarlborough,andvictoryfromtheleft,relievedhimandothers。HewasattheBridgeofCassano;whereEugeneandVendomecametohand—grips;——

  whereMirabeau’sGrandfather,COL—D’ARGENT,gothissix—and—thirtywounds,andwas\"killed\"asheusedtotermit。[Carlyle’sMiscellanies,v。?Mirabeau。]\"ThehottestfireIeversaw,\"saidEugene,whohadnotseenMalplaquetatthattime。WhileCol—d’ArgentsankcollapsedupontheBridge,andthehorsechargedoverhim,andagaincharged,andbeatandwerebeatenthreeseveraltimes,——Anhalt—Dessau,impatientofsuchfiddlinghitherandthither,swashedintothestreamitselfwithhisPrussianFoot:swashedthroughit,waist—deeporbreast—deep;

  andmighthavesettledthematter,hadnothiscartridgesgotwetted。OldKingFriedrichrebukedhimangrilyforhisimpetuosityinthismatter,andthesadlossofmen。

  ThenagainhewasattheStormingoftheLinesofTurin,——Eugene’sfeatof1706,andamostvolcanicbusiness;——wasthefirstmanthatgot—overtheentrenchmentthere。Foremostman;faceallblackwiththesmokeofgunpowder,onlychannelledhereandtherewithrivuletsofsweat;——notalovelyphenomenontotheFrenchintheinterior!Whostillfoughtlikemadmen,butwereatlengthdrivenintoheaps,andobligedtorun。Awhilebeforetheyran,Anhalt—Dessau,noticingsomeCaptainpostedwithhiscompanyinalikelysituation,steptasidetohimforamoment,andasked,\"AmIwounded,thinkyou。?——No?Thenhaveyouanythingtodrink?\"

  anddeliberately\"drankaglassofaqua—vitae,\"thejudiciousCaptaincarryingapocket—pistolofthatsort,incaseofaccident;andlikewise\"eat,withgreatappetite,abitofbreadfromoneofthesoldiers’haversacks;saying,Hebelievedtheheatofthejobwasdone,andthattherewasnofearnow!\"——

  DesweltberumktenLeopoldi,&c。(Anonymous,byRanfft,citedabove),pp。42—45,52,65。]

  Amanthathasbeeninmanywars;inwhoseroughhead,areschemeshatching。AnyreligionhehasisofProtestantnature;buthehasnotmuch,——onthedoctrinalside,verylittle。Luther’sHymn,EinefesteBurgistunserGott,hecalls\"GodAlmighty’sgrenadier—march。\"Onjoiningbattle,heaudiblyutters,withbaredhead,somegrowlofruggedprayer,farfromorthodoxattimes,butmuohinearnest:thatliftingofhishatforprayer,ishislastsignalonsuchoccasions。Heisverycunningasrequired,withal;notdisdainingtheserpentinemethodwhennootherwilldo。WithFriedrichWilhelm,whoishissecond—cousin(Mother’sgrand—nephew,ifthereadercancountthat),heisfromofoldonthebestfooting,andcontrivestobehisMentorinmanythingsbesidesWar。TillhisquarrelwithGrumkow,ofwhichweshallhear,hetooktheleadinpoliticaladvising,too;andhadschemes,orwasthoughttohave,ofwhichQueenSophiewasinmuchterror。

  Atall,strong—boned,hairyman;withcloudybrows,vigilantswifteyes;has\"abluishtintofskin,\"saysWilhelmina,\"asifthegunpowderstillstucktohim。\"Hewearslongmustaches;triangularhat,plumeandotherequipments,areofthriftypracticalsize。

  Canbepoliteenoughinspeech;buthidesmuchofhismeaning,whichindeedismostlyinarticulate,andnotalwaysjoyfultotheby—stander。Heplaysroughpranks,too,onoccasion;andhasabighorse—laughinhim,wherethereisafoptoberoasted,orthelike。Wewillleavehimforthepresent,inhopeofothermeetings。

  Remarkablemen,manyofthoseoldPrussiansoldiers:ofwhomonewishes,tonopurpose,thattherehadmoreknowledgebeenattainable。ButtheBooksaresilent;nopainter,nogenialseeing—mantopaintwithhispen,wasthere。GrimhirsuteHyperboreanfigures,theypassmostlymutebeforeus:burly,surly;inmustaches,indimuncertaingarniture,ofwhichthebuff—beltsandthesteel,arealoneconspicuous。GrowlingingutturalTeutsohwhatlittlearticulatemeaningtheyhad:

  spending,oftheinarticulate,aproportioningames,ofchance,probablytooindrinkingbeer;yethavinganimmenseoverpluswhichtheydonotsospend,butendeavortoutterinsuchworkingastheremaybe。SohavetheHyperboreanslivedfromofold。

  FromthetimesofTacitusandPytheas,nottospeakofOdinandJaphet,whathostsofthemhavemarchedacrossExistence,inthatmanner;——andwhereisthememorythatwould,evenifitcould,speakofthemall!——

  WewillhopethemindofourlittleFritzhaspowersofassimilation。Bayle—Calvinlogics,andshadowsofVersailles,onthishand,andgunpowderLeopoldsandinarticulateHyperboreansonthat:hereisawidediversityofnutriment,allrathertoughinquality,providedfortheyoungsoul。Innumerableunconsciousinferenceshemusthavedrawninhislittlehead!PrinceLeopold’sface,withthewhiskersandblueskin,Ifindhewaswont,atafterperiods,todoincaricature,underthefigureofaCat’s;——

  horrorandadmirationnotthesolefeelingsraisedinhimbytheField—Marshal。——Forbodilynourishmenthehad\"beer—soup;\"

  adecidedSpartantoneprevailing,whereverpossible,inthebreedingandtreatmentofhim。

  Andweneednotdoubt,byfarthemostimportantelementofhiseducationwastheunconsciousApprenticeshiphecontinuallyservedtosuchaSpartanasKingFriedrichWilhelm。Ofwhoseworksandwayshecouldnothelptakingnote,angryorother,everydayandhour;norintheend,ifhewereintelligent,helpunderstandingthem,andlearningfromthem。AharshMasterandalmosthalf—mad,asitmanytimesseemedtothepoorApprentice;yetatrueandsolidone,whoserealwisdomwasworththatofalltheothers,ashecameatlengthtorecognize。

  ChapterIII。

  FBIEDRICHWILHELMISKING。

  WiththedeathofoldKingFriedrich,thereoccurredatoncevastchangesintheCourtofBerlin;atotalanduniversalchangeinthemodeoflivinganddoingbusinessthere。FriedrichWilhelm,outoffilialpiety,woreathisfather’sfuneralthegrandFrenchperukeandothersublimitiesofFrenchcostume;butitwasforthelasttime:thatsaddutyoncedone,heflungthewholeaside,notwithoutimpatience,andonnooccasionworesuchcostumeagain。

  HewasnotafriendtoFrenchfashions,norhadeverbeen;farthecontrary。Inhisboyhood,saytheBiographers,therewasonceagrandembroideredcloth—of—gold,orotherwisesupremelymagnificent,littleDressing—gowngivenhim;buthewouldatnorateputiton,orbeconcernedwithit;onthecontrary,stuffeditindignantly\"intothefire;\"anddemandedwholesomeusefulduffelinstead。

  Hebeganhisreformliterallyattheearliestmoment。

  BeingsummonedintotheapartmentwherehispoorFatherwasinthelaststruggle,hecouldscarcelygetacrossforKAMMERJUNKER,KAMMERHERRN,Goldsticks,Silversticks,andtheothersolemnhistrionicfunctionaries,allcrowdingtheretodotheirsadmimicryontheoccasion:notalovelyaccompanimentinFriedrichWilhelm’seyes。HispoorFather’sdeath—struggleoncedone,andallreducedtoeverlastingrestthere,FriedrichWilhelmlookedinsilenceovertheUnutterable,foraShortspace,disregardfuloftheGoldsticksandtheireagernewhomaging;walkedswiftlyawayfromittohisownroom,shutthedoorwithaslam;andthere,shakingthetearsfromhiseyes,commencedbyanotableduty,——thedutynearesthand,andthereforefirsttobedone,asitseemedtohim。Itwasaboutoneintheafternoon,25thFebruary,1713;

  hisFatherdeadhalfanhourbefore:\"TearsataFather’sdeath—bed,musttheybedashedwithragebysuchasetofgreedyHistrios?\"thoughtFriedrichWilhelm。HesummonedthesehisCourt—people,thatistosay,summonedtheirOBER—HOFMARSCHALLandrepresentative;andthroughhimsignifiedtothem,That,tilltheFuneralwasover,theirservicewouldcontinue;andthatonthemorrowaftertheFuneral,theywere,everysoulofthem,discharged;andfromthehighestGoldstickdowntothelowestPage—in—waiting,theKing’sHouseshouldbesweptentirelycleanofthem;——saidHouseintendingtostartafreshuponaquitenewfooting。[Forster,i。174;Pollnitz,Memoiren,ii。4。]Whichspreadsuchaconsternationamongthecourtierpeople,saytheHistories,aswasneverseenbefore。

  Thethingwasdone,however;andnobodydurstwhisperdiscontentwithit;thisruggedyoungKing,withhisplangentmetallicvoice,withhissteady—beamingeyes,seemingdreadfullyinearnestaboutit,andapersonthatmightprovedangerousifyoucrossedhim。

  HereducedhisHouseholdaccordingly,atonce,tothelowestfootingoftheindispensable;anddischargedawholeregimentofsuperfluousofficialpersons,court—flunkies,inferior,superiorandsupreme,inthemostruthlessmanner。HedoesnotintendkeepinganyOBER—HOFMARSCHALL,orthelikeidleperson,henceforth;thinksaminimumoftheGoldsticksoughttosufficeeveryman。

  EightLackeys,intheante—chambersandelsewhere,these,witheachaJAGERBURSCH(whatweshouldcallanUNDER—KEEPER)toassistwhennothunting,willsuffice:Lackeysat\"eightTHALERS

  monthly,\"whichissixshillingsaweek。ThreeactivePages,sometimestwo,insteadofperhapsthreedozenidlethatthereusedtobe。InKingFriedrich’stime,therewerewonttobeathousandsaddle—horsesatcornandhay:buthowmanyofthemwereinactualuse?Verymanyofthemweremereimaginaryquadrupeds;theirpriceandkeeppocketedbysomeknavishSTALLMEISTER,EquerryorHead—groom。FriedrichWilhelmkeepsonlythirtyHorses;buttheseareveryactual,notimaginaryatall;theircornnotrunningintoanyknave’spocket;butlyingactuallyinthemangershere;

  gettinggroundforyouintoactualfour—footedspeed,when,onturforhighway,yourequiresuchathing。About,thirtyforthesaddle,——withafewcarriage—teams,arewhatFriedrichWilhelmcanemployinanyreasonablemeasure:andmorehewillnothaveabouthim。

  InthelikeruthlesshumorhegoesoverhisPension—list;

  strikesthreefourthsofthataway,reducestheremainingfourthtotheverybone。Inlikehumor,hegoesovereverydepartmentofhisAdministrative,HouseholdandotherExpenses:shearseverythingdown,herebythehundredthalers,therebytheten,willingeventosaveHALFATHALER。Hegoesoverallthisthreeseveraltimes;——hisPapers,thethreesuccessiveListsheusedonthatoccasion,havebeenprinted。[Rodenbeck,BeitragezurBereicherungderLebembeschreibungenFriedrichWilhelmsI。undFriedrichsdesGrossen(Berlin,1836),pp。99—127。]

  Hehassatisfiedhimself,inabouttwomonths,what,theeffectiveminimumis;andleavesitso。Reducedtobelowthefifthofwhatitwas;55,000THALERS,insteadof276,000。[Stenzel,iii。237。]

  Bydegreeshewentover,wentintoandthrough,everydepartmentofPrussianBusiness,inthatfashion;steadily,warily,irresistiblycompellingeveryitemofit,largeandlittle,totakethatsamecharacterofperfecteconomyandsolidity,ofutilitypureandsimple。Needfulworkistoberigorouslywelldone;needlesswork,andineffectualorimaginaryworkers,toberigorouslypitchedoutofdoors。WhatablessingonthisEarth;

  worthpurchasingalmostatanyprice!Themoneysavedissomething,nothingifyouwill;buttheamountofmendacityexpunged,hasanyonecomputedthat?Mendacitynotoftongue;

  butthefarfellersort,ofhand,andofheart,andofhead;

  shortsummaryofallDevil’s—worshipwhatsoever。Whichspreadssilentlyalong,onceyouletitin,withfullpurseorwithempty;

  somefoolsevenpraisingit:thequietDRY—ROTofNations!

  Toexpungesuchisgreatlythedutyofeveryman,especiallyofeveryKing。Unconsciously,notthinkingofDevil’s—worship,orspiritualdry—rot,butofmoneychiefly,andledbyNatureandthewaysshehaswithus,itwasthetaskofFriedrichWilhelm’slifetobringaboutthisbeneficentresultinalldepartmentsofPrussianBusiness,greatandlittle,publicandevenprivate。

  Yearafteryear,hebringsittoperfection;pushesitunweariedlyforwardeverydayandhour。SothathehasPrussia,atlast,allaPrussiamadeafterhisownimage;themostthrifty,hardy,rigorousandSpartancountryanymodernKingevertiedover;

  andhimself(ifhethoughtofthat)aKingindeed。HethatmodelsNationsaccordingtohisownimage,heisaKing,thoughhissceptrewereawalking—stick;and,properlynootheris。

  FriedrichWilhelmwaswonderedat,andlaughedat,byinnumerablemortalsforhiswaysofdoing;whichindeedwereverystrange。

  NotthathefiguredmuchinwhatiscalledPublicHistory,ordesiredtodoso;for,thoughavigilantruler,hedidnotdealinprotocollingandcampaining,——heletaminimumofthatsufficehim。Butincourtsoirees,whereelegantemptytalkgoeson,andofallmaterialsforitscandalisfoundincomparablythemostinteresting。IsupposethereturnedupnonameoftenerthanthatofhisPrussianMajesty;andduringthesetwenty—sevenyearsofhisReign,hiswildpranksandexplosionsgavefoodforcontinualtalkinsuchquarter。

  ForhewaslikenootherKingthatthenexisted,orhadeverbeendiscovered。WilderSonofNatureseldomcameintotheartificialworld;intoaroyalthronethere,probablynever。Awildman,whollyinearnest,veritableastheoldrocks,——andwithaterriblevolcanicfireinhimtoo。Hewouldhavebeenstrangeanywhere;butamongthedapperRoyalgentlemenoftheEighteenthCentury,whatwastobedonewithsuchanOrsonofaKing?——ClaphiminBedlam,andbringouttheballot—boxesinstead?Themoderngeneration,too,stilltakesitsimpressionofhimfromtheserumors,——stillmorenowfromWilhelmina’sBook;whichpaintstheoutsidesavageryoftheroyalman,inamoststrikingmanner;

  andleavestheinsidevacant,undiscoveredbyWilhelminaortherumors。

  Neverthelessitappearstherewereafewobservanteyesevenofcontemporaries,whodiscernedinhimasurprisingtalentfor\"NationalEconomics\"atleast。OneLeipzigProfessor,Saxon,notPrussianbynationorinterest,recognizesinFriedrichWilhelm\"DENGROSSENWIRTH(thegreatManager,Husbandry—man,orLandlord)

  oftheepoch;\"andlecturesonhisadmirable\"works,arrangementsandinstitutions\"inthatkind。[Rodenbeck’sBeitrage(p。14),——Year,orNameofLecturer,notmentioned。]

  NaythedapperRoyalgentlemensaw,withenvy,theindubitablegrowthofthismadsavageBrother;andascribeditto\"hisavarice,\"tohismeanways,whichwereinsuchcontrasttotheirsublimeones。ThatheunderstoodNationalEconomicshasnowbecomeverycertain。Hisgrimsemi—articulatePapersandRescripts,onthesesubjects,arestillalmostworthreading,byaloverofgenuinehumantalentinthedumbform。Forspelling,grammar,penmanshipandcomposition,theyresemblenothingelseextant;

  areasifdonebythepawofabear:indeedtheutterancegenerallysoundsmorelikethegrowlingofabearthananythingthatcouldbehandilyspeltorparsed。Butthereisadecisivehumansenseintheheartofit;andthereissuchadirehatredofemptybladders,unrealitiesandhypocriticalformsandpretences,whathecalls\"windandhumbug(WINDUNDBLAUERDUNST),\"asisverystrangeindeed。Strangeamongallmankind;doublyandtreblystrangeamongtheunfortunatespeciescalledKingsinourtime。

  Towhom,——forsadreasonsthatcouldbegiven,——\"windandbluevapor(BLAUERDUNST),\"artisticallymanagedbytherulesofAcousticsandOptics,seemtobeallwehaveleftus!——

  Itmustbeownedthatthismanisinflexibly,andwithafierceslowinexorabledetermination,setuponhavingrealitiesroundhim。Thereisadivineideaoffactputintohim;thegenusshamwasneverhatefulertoanyman。Letitkeepoutofhisway,wellbeyondtheswingofthatrattanofhis,oritmaygetsomethingtoremember!Ajustman,too;wouldnotwronganyman,norplayfalseinwordordeedtoanyman。WhatisJusticebutanotherformoftheREALITYwelove;atruthactedout?Ofallthehumbugsor\"paintedvapors\"known,Injusticeistheleastcapableofprofitingmenorkings!Ajustman,Isay;andavaliantandveracious:butruggedasawildbear;entirelyinarticulate,asifdumb。Noburstsofparliamentaryeloquenceinhim,northeleasttendencythatway。HistalentforStump—Oratorymaybereckonedtheminimumconceivable,orpracticallynotedaZERO。AmanwhowouldnothaveriseninmodernPoliticalCircles;manunchoosableathustingsorincaucus;manforeverinvisible,andveryunadmirableifseen,totheAbleEditorandthosethathangbyhim。Infact,akindofsavageman,aswesay;buthighlyinteresting,ifyoucanreaddumbhumanworth;andofinexpressibleprofittothePrussianNation。

  Forthefirsttenyearsofhisreign,hehadaheavy,continualstruggle,gettinghisfinanceandotherbranchesofadministrationextricatedfromtheirstranglingimbrogliosofcoilednonsense,andputuponarationalfooting。Hislaborintheseyears,thefirstoflittleFritz’slife,musthavebeengreat;thepushingandpullingstrongandcontinual。Thegoodplanitself,thiscomesnotofitsownaccord;itisthefruitof\"genius\"(whichmeanstranscendentcapacityoftakingtrouble,firstofall):givenahugestackoftumbledthrums,itisnotinyoursleepthatyouwillfindthevitalcentreofit,orgetthefirstthrumbytheend!Andthentheexecution,therealizing,amidthecontradiction,silentorexpressed,ofmenandthings?ExplosiveviolencewasbynomeansFriedrichWilhelm’smethod;theamountofslowstubbornbroad—shoulderedstrength,inallkinds,expendedbytheman,strikesusasverygreat。Theamountofpatienceeven,thoughpatienceisnotreckonedhisforte。

  ThatoftheRITTER—DIENST(Knights’—Service),forexample,whichisbutonesmallitemofhisbusiness,thecommutingoftheoldfeudaldutyofhisLandholderstodoServiceinWartime,intoafixedmoneypayment:nothingcouldbefairer,moreclearlyadvantageoustobothparties;andmostofhis\"Knights\"gladlyacceptedtheproposal:yetacertainfactioussetofthem,theMagdeburgset,stirredupbysomesevenoreightoftheirnumber,\"hardlyabovesevenoreightreallyagainstme,\"sawgoodtostandout;remonstrated,recalcitrated;complainedintheDiet(Kaisertoohappytohearofit,thathemighthaveahookonFriedrichWilhelm);andforlongyearsthatpaltrymatterwasaprovocationtohim。[1717—1725。Forster,ii。162—165,iv。31—34;Stenzel,iii。316—319;SamuelBuchholz,NeuestePreussisch—

  BrandenburgischeGeschichte(Berlin,1775),i。197。]

  Butifyourplanisjust,andabitofNature’splan,persistinitlikealawofNature。ThissecrettoowasknowntoFriedrichWilhelm。Inthespaceoftenyears,byactualhumanstrengthloyallyspent,hehadmanagedmanythings;sawallthingsinacoursetowardsmanagement。Allthings,asitwere,fairlyontheroad;themultiplexteampullingoneway,inrationalhumanharness,notinimbrogliosofcoiledthrumsmadebytheNightmares。

  HowheintroducedanewmodeoffarminghisDomainLands,whichareamainbranchofhisrevenue,andshallbefarmedonregularleasehenceforth,andnotwastedinpeculationandindolentmismanagementasheretofore;[Forster,ii。206,216。]newmodesoflevvinghistaxesandrevenuesofeverykind:[Ib。ii。190,195。]

  Howheatlastconcentrated,andharmonizedintooneeasy—goingeffectiveGENERALDIRECTORY,[Completedd19thJanuary,1723

  (Ib。ii。172)。]themultifariousconflictingBoards,thatwerejoltingandjanglinginadarkuse—and—wontmanner,andleavingtheirworkhalfdone,whenhefirstcameintopower:[Dohm,DenkwurdigkeitenmeinerZeit(LemgoundHanover,1814—1819),iv。88。]Howheinsistedonhavingdaylightintroducedtotheverybottomofeverybusiness,fair—and—squareobservedastheruleofit,andtheshortestroadadoptedfordoingit:Howhedrainedbogs,plantedcolonies,establishedmanufactures,madehisownuniformsofPrussianwool,inaLAGERHAUSofhisown:HowhedealtwiththeJewGompertaboutfarminghisTobacoo;——how,frommanyacrookedcaseandcharacterhe,bysloworshortmethods,broughtoutsomethingstraight;

  wouldtakenodenialofwhatwashis,normakeanydemandofwhatwasnot;anddidprovereallyaterrortoevildoersofvariouskinds,especiallytoprevaricators,defalcators,imaginaryworkers,andslipperyunjustpersons:Howheurgeddiligenceonallmortals,wouldnothavetheveryApple—womensit\"withoutknitting\"attheirstalls;andbrandishedhisstick,orstruckitfiercelydown,overtheincorrigiblyidle:——Allthis,aswellashisludicrousexplosionsandunreasonableviolences,isonrecordconcerningFriedrichWilhelm,thoughitistothelatterchieflythattheworldhasdirecteditsunwiseattention,injudgingofhim。HewasaveryarbitraryKing。Yes,butthenagooddealofhisARBITRIUM,orsovereignwill,wasthatoftheEternalHeavensaswell;anddidexceedinglybehoovetobedone,iftheEarthwouldprosper。Whichisanimmenseconsiderationinregardtohissovereignwillandhim!Hewaspromptwithhisrattan,inurgentcases;hadhisgallowsalso,promptenough,whereneedful。

  Lethimseethatnomistakeshappen,ascertainlyhemeansthatnoneshall!

  Yearlyhemadehiscountryricher;andthisnotinmoneyalone(whichisofveryuncertainvalue,andsometimeshasnovalueatall,andevenless),butinfrugality,diligence,punctuality,veracity,——thegrandfountainsfromwhichmoney,andallrealvaluesandvalorsspringformen。ToFriedrichWilhelminhisrustiosimplicity,moneyhadnolackofvalue;ratherthereverse。

  Tothehomespunmanitwasasuccessofmostexcellentquality,andthechiefsymbolofsuccessinallkinds。Yearlyhemadehisownrevenues,andhispeople’salongwiththemandasthesourceofthem,larger:andinallstatesofhisrevenue,hehadcontrivedtomakehisexpenditurelessthanit;andyearlysavedmassesofcoin,and\"repositedtheminbarrelsinthecellarsofhisSchloss,\"——wheretheyprovedveryuseful,oneday。MuchinFriedrichWilhelmproveduseful,beyondevenhisexpectations。

  AsaNation’sHUSBANDheseekshisfellowamongKings,ancientandmodern。HappytheNationwhichgetssuchaHusband,onceinthehalf—thousandyears。TheNation,asfoolishwivesandNationsdo,repinesandgrudgesagooddeal,itsweakwhimsandwillbeingthwartedveryoften;butitadvancessteadily,withconsciousnessornot,inthewayofwell—doing;andafterlongtimestheharvestofthisdiligentsowingbecomesmanifesttotheNationandtoallNations。

  StrangeasitsoundsintheRepublicofLetters,wearetemptedtocallFriedrichWilhelmamanofgenius;——geniusfatedandpromotedtoworkinNationalHusbandry,notinwritingVersesorthree—volumeNovels。Asilentgenius。Hismelodiousstanza,whichhecannotbeartoseehaltinanysyllable,isaroughfactreducedtoorder;factmadetostandfirmonitsfeet,withtheworld—rocksunderit,andlookingfreetowardsallthewindsandallthestars。Hegoesaboutsuppressingplatitudes,rippingofffutilities,turningdeceptionsinsideout。TherealmofDisorder,whichisUnveracity,Unreality,whatwecallChaos,hasnofiercerenemy。Honestsoul,andheseemedtohimselfsuchastupidfellowoften;notongue—learningatall;littlecapabletogiveareasonforthefaiththatwasinhim。Hecannotargueinarticulatelogic,onlyininarticulatebellowings,orworse。HemustDOathing,leaveitundemonstrated;oncedone,itwillitselftellwhatkindofthingitis,byandby。Menofgeniushaveahardtime,Iperceive,whetherbornonthethroneoroffit;andmustexpectcontradictionsnexttounendurable,——thepluralityofblockheadsbeingsoextreme!

  Ifind,exceptSamuelJohnson,nomanofequalveracitywithFriedrichWilhelminthatepoch:andJohnsontoo,withallhistongue—learning,hadnotlogicenough。Infact,itdependsonhowmuchconvictionyouhave。BlessedbeHeaven,thereishereandthereamanbornwholovestruthastruthshouldbeloved,withallhisheartandallhissoul;andhatesuntruthwithacorrespondingperfecthatred。Suchmen,inpolitecircles,whichunderstandthatcertainlytruthisbetterthanuntruth,butthatyoumustbepolitetoboth,areliabletogettotheendoftheirlogic。EvenJohnsonhadabellowinhim;thoughJohnsoncouldatanytimewithdrawintosilence,HISkingdomlyingallunderhisownhat。HowmuchmoreFriedrichWilhelm,whohadnologicwhatever;andwhosekingdomlaywithouthim,farandwide,athinghecouldnotwithdrawfrom。TheruggedOrson,heneededtoberight。FromutmostMemeldowntoWeselagain,rankedinastragglingmannerroundthehalf—circumferenceofEurope,allmannerofthingsandpersonsweredependingonhim,andonhisbeingright,notwrong,inhisnotion。

  Amanofcleardiscernment,verygoodnaturaleyesight;

  andirrefragablyconfidentinwhathiseyestoldhim,inwhathisbeliefwas;——yetofhugesimplicitywithal。Capableofbeingcoaxedabout,andledbythenose,toastrangedegree,iftherewereanartistdexterousenough,daringenough!Hisownnaturaljudgmentwasgood,and,thoughapttobehastyandheadlong,wasalwayslikelytocomerightintheend;butinternally,wemayperceive,hismodesty,self—distrust,anxietyandotherunexpectedqualities,musthavebeengreat。Andthenhisexplosiveness,impatience,excitability;hisconsciousdumbignoranceofallthingsbeyondhisownsmallhorizonofpersonalsurvey!AnOrsoncapableenoughofbeingcoaxedandtickled,bysomefirst—rateconjurer;——first—rate;asecond—ratemighthavefailed,andgottorntopiecesforhispains。ButSeckendorfandGrumkow,whatadancetheyledhimonsomematters,——asweshallsee,andaspoorFritzandotherswillsee!

  Hewasfullofsensitiveness,roughashewasandshaggyofskin。

  Hiswildimaginationsdrovehimhitherandthitheratasadrate。

  Heoughttohavetheprivilegesofgenius。HistallPotsdamRegiment,hismad—lookingpassionforenlistingtallmen;

  thisalsoseemstomeoneofthewhimsofgenius,——anexaggeratednotiontohavehis\"stanza\"polishedtothelastpunctilioofperfection;andmightbeparalleledinthehistoryofPoets。

  Stranger\"manofgenius,\"orinmorepeculiarcircumstances,theworldneversaw!

  FriedrichWilhelm,inhisCrown—Princedays,andnowstillmorewhenhewashimselfinthesovereignplace,hadseenallalong,withnaturalarithmeticalintellect,Thathisstrengthinthisworld,asatpresentsituated,wouldverymuchdependupontheamountofpotential—battlethatlayinhim,——onthequantityandqualityofSoldiershecouldmaintain,andhavereadyforthefieldatanytime。Amostindisputabletruth,andaheartfeltoneinthepresentinstance。Toaugmentthequantity,toimprovethequality,inthisthrice—essentialparticular:herelaythekeystoneandcrowningsummitofallFriedrichWilhelm’sendeavors;towhichhedevotedhimself,asonlythebestSpartancouldhavedone。Ofwhichtherewillbeotheropportunitiestospeakindetail。Foritwasathingworld—notable;

  world—laughable,aswasthenthought;theextremelyseriousfruitofwhichdidatlengthalsobecomenotableenough。

  IntheMalplaquettime,onceonsomeoccasion,itissaid,twoEnglishOfficers,notwellinformeduponthematter,andprovokingenoughintheircontemptuousignorance,werereasoningwithoneanotherinFriedrichWilhelm’shearing,astothewarlikepowersofthePrussianState,andWhethertheKingofPrussiacouldonhisownstrengthmaintainastandingarmyof15,000?Withoutsubsidies,doyouthink,somanyas15,000?FriedrichWilhelm,incensedatthethingandatthetone,isreportedtohavesaidwithheat:\"Yes,30,000!\"[Forster,i。138。]whereatthemilitarymenslightlywaggedtheirheads,lettingthematterdropforthepresent。Buthemakesitgoodbydegrees;twofoldorthreefold;——

  andwillhaveanarmyoffromseventytoahundredthousandbeforehedies,[\"72,000field—troops,30,000garrison—troops\"

  (GestandnisseeinesOEsterreichischenVeterans,

  Breslau,1788,i。64)。]thebest—drilledoffightingmen;andwhataddsmuchtothewonder,afullTreasurywithal。ThisistheBrandenburgSpartanKing;acquaintedwithNationalEconomics。

  AloneofexistingKingshelaysbymoneyannually;andislayingbymanyotherandfarmorepreciousthings,forPrussiaandthelittleBoyhehashere。

  FriedrichWilhelm’spassionfordrilling,recruitingandperfectinghisarmyattractedmuchnotice:laughingsatiricalnotice;inthehundredmonthsofcommonrumor,whichheregardedlittle;andnoticeiracundandminatory,whenitledhimintocollisionwiththeindependentportionsofmankind,nowandthen。

  Thislattersortwasnotpleasant,andsometimeslookedratherserious;butthistoohecontrivedalwaystodigestinsometolerablemanner。Hecontinueddrillingandrecruiting,——wemaysaynothisArmyonly,buthisNationinalldepartmentsofit,——

  asnomanbeforeorsinceeverdid:increasing,byeverydevisablemethod,theamountofpotential—battlethatlayinhimandit。

  Inamilitary,andalsoinamuchdeepersense,hemaybedefinedasthegreatDrill—sergeantofthePrussianNation。IndeedthishadbeenthefunctionoftheHohenzollernsallalong;thisdifficult,unpleasantandindispensableoneofdrilling。FromthefirstappearanceofBurggrafFriedrich,withgoodwordsandwithHEAVYPEG,inthewreckofanarchicBrandenburg,anddownwardseversince,thishassteadilyenoughgoneon。Andnotalittlegooddrillingthesepopulationshavehad,firstandlast;

  justordersgiventhem(wiseandjust,whichtoarespectabledegreewereHeaven’sordersaswell):andcertainlyHeavyPeg,forinstance,——HeavyPeg,bringingQuitzow’sstrongHouseabouthisears,——wasarespectabledrummer’scattoenforcethesame。

  Thishasbeengoingonthesethreehundredyears。ButFriedrichWilhelmcompletestheprocess;finishesitofftothelastpitchofperfection。FriedrichWilhelmcarriesitthrougheveryfibreandcrannyofPrussianBusiness,andsofaraspossible,ofPrussianLife;sothatPrussiaisalladrilledphalanx,readytothewordofcommand;andwhatweseeintheArmyisbutthelastconsummateessenceofwhatexistsintheNationeverywhere。

  ThatwasFriedrichWilhelm’sfunction,madereadyforhim,laidtohishandbyhisHohenzollernforegoers;andindeeditprovedamostbeneficentfunction。

  ForIhaveremarkedthat,ofallthings,aNationneedsfirsttobedrilled;andnoNationthathasnotfirstbeengovernedbyso—called\"Tyrants,\"andheldtighttothecurbtillitbecameperfectinitspacesandthoroughlyamenabletoruleandlaw,andheartilyrespectfulofthesame,andtotallyabhorrentofthewantofthesame,evercametomuchinthisworld。Englanditself,infoolishquartersofEngland,stillhowlsandexecrateslamentablyoveritsWilliamConqueror,andrigorouslineofNormansandPlantagenets;butwithoutthem,ifyouwillconsiderwell,whathaditeverbeen?AgluttonousraceofJutesandAngles,capableofnograndcombinations;lumberingaboutinpot—belliedequanimity;notdreamingofheroictoilandsilenceandendurance,suchasleadstothehighplacesofthisUniverse,andthegoldenmountain—topswheredwelltheSpiritsoftheDawn。Theirveryballot—boxesandsuffrages,whattheycalltheir\"Liberty,\"ifthesemean\"Liberty,\"andaresucharoadtoHeaven,Anglo—Saxonhigh—roadthither,——couldneverhavebeenpossibleforthemonsuchterms。Howcouldthey?Nothingbutcollision,intolerableinterpressure(asofmennotperpendicular),andconsequentbattleoftensupervening,couldhavebeenappointedthoseundrilledAnglo—Saxons;theirpot—belliedequanimityitselfcontinuingliabletoperpetualinterruptions,asintheHeptarchytime。

  AnenlightenedPublicdoesnotreflectonthesethingsatpresent;

  butwillagain,byandby。LookingwithhumaneyesovertheEnglandthatnowis,andovertheAmericaandtheAustralia,frompoletopole;andthenlisteningtotheConstitutionallitaniesofDryasaust,andhislamentationsontheoldNormanandPlantagenetKings,andhisrecognitionofdepartedmeritandcausesofeffects,——themindofmanisstruckdumb!

  ChapterIV。

  HISMAJESTY’SWAYS。

  FriedrichWilhelm’sHistoryisoneofECONOMICS;whichstudy,sosoonasthereareKingsagaininthisworld,willbeprecioustothem。Inthathappystateofmatters,FriedrichWilhelm’sHistorywillwellrewardstudy;andteachbyexample,inaverysimpleanddirectmanner。InwhatiscalledthePolitical,Diplomatic,\"Honor—to—be\"department,thereisnot,norcaneverbe,muchtobesaidofhim;thisEconomistKinghavingalwayskepthimselfwellathome,andlookedsteadilytohisownaffairs。Sothatforthepresenthehas,asaKing,nexttonothingofwhatiscalledHistory;anditisonlyasafellow—man,ofsingularfaculty,andinamostpeculiarandconspicuoussituation,thathecanbeinterestingtomankind。Toushehas,asFatheranddailyteacherandmasterofyoungFritz,acontinualinterest;andwemustnotethemaster’sways,andthemainphenomenaoftheworkshopastheysuccessivelyturnedup,forthesakeofthenotableApprenticeservingthere。

  Hewasnottallofstature,thisarbitraryKing:

  aflorid—complexionedstout—builtman;ofserious,sincere,authoritativeface;hisattitudesandequipmentsverySpartanintype。Manofshortfirmstature;stands(inPesne’sbestPortraitsofhim)athisease,andyetlikeatower。Mostsolid;\"plumbandrathermore;\"eyessteadfastlyawake;cheeksslightlycompressed,too,whichflingthemouthratherforward;asifaskingsilently,\"Anythingastir,then?Allrighthere?\"Face,figureandbearing,allinhimisexpressiveofrobustinsight,anddirectdetermination;ofhealthyenergy,practicality,unquestionedauthority,——acertainairofroyaltyreducedtoitssimplestform。

  ThefaceinPicturesbyPesneandothers,isnotbeautifuloragreeable;healthy,genuine,authoritative,isthebestyoucansayofit。Yetitmayhavebeen,whatitisdescribedasbeing,originallyhandsome。Highenougharchedbrow,rathercopiouscheeksandjaws;nosesmallish,incliningtobestumpy;largegrayeyes,brightwithsteadyfireandlife,oftenenoughgloomyandsevere,butcapableofjollylaughtertoo。Eyes\"naturallywithakindoflaughinthem,\"saysPollnitz;——whichlaughcanblazeoutintofearfulthunderousrage,ifyougivehimprovocation。

  Especiallyifyoulietohim;forthathehatesaboveallthings。

  Lookhimstraightintheface:hefancieshecanseeinyoureyes,ifthereisaninternalmendacityinyou:whereforeyoumustlookathiminspeaking;suchishisstandingorder。

  Hishairisflaxen,fallingintotheash—grayordarker;

  finecopiousflowinghair,whileheworeitnatural。Butitsoongottiedintoclubs,inthemilitarystyle;andatlengthitwasaltogethercroppedaway,andreplacedbybrown,andatlastbywhite,roundwigs。Whichlatteralso,thoughbadwigs,becamehimnotamiss,underhiscocked—hatandcockade,saysPollnitz。

  [Pollnitz,Memoiren(Berlin,1791),ii。568。]Thevoice,Iguess,evenwhennotloud,wasofclangorousandpenetrating,quasi—metallicnature;andIlearnexpresslyonce,thatithadanasalqualityinit。[Busching,Beitrage,i。568。]HisMajestyspokethroughthenose;snuffledhisspeechinanearnestominouslyplangentmanner。Inangrymoments,whichwerefrequent,itmusthavebeen——

  unpleasanttolistento。Fortherest,ahandsomemanofhisinches;conspicuouslywell—builtinlimbsandbody,anddelicatelyfinishedofftotheveryextremities。Hisfeetandlegs,saysPollnitz,wereveryfine。Thehands,ifhewouldhavetakencareofthem,werebeautifullywhite;fingerslongandthin;ahandatoncenimbletograsp,delicatetofeel,andstrongtoclutchandhold:whatmaybecalledabeautifulhand,becauseitistheusefulest。

  NothingcouldexceedhisMajesty’ssimplicityofhabitudes。

  Butonelovesespeciallyinhimhisscrupulousattentiontocleanlinessofpersonandofenvironment。HewashedlikeaveryMussulman,fivetimesaday;lovedcleanlinessinallthings,toasuperstitiousextent;whichtraitispleasantintheruggedman,andindeedofapiecewiththerestofhischaracter。Heisgraduallychangingallhissilkandotherclothroom—furniture;

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