第37章
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  \"AtBelgard,nextmorning,hereviewedtheDragoonRegimentvonPlaten;andwasveryillcontentwithit。Andnobody,withtheleastunderstandingofthatbusiness,butmustownthatneverdidPrussianRegimentmanoeuvreworse。Consciousthemselveshowbaditwas,theylosthead,andgotintoopenconfusion。TheKingdidallthatwaspossibletohelpthemintoorderagain。Hewithdrewthriceover,togivetheOfficerstimetorecoverthemselves;

  butitwasallinvain。TheKing,contrarytowont,restrainedhimselfamazingly,andwouldnotshowhisdispleasureinpublic。

  Hegotintohiscarriage,anddroveawaywiththeFurstofAnhalt,\"OldDessauer,\"andVonWinterfeld,\"CaptainintheGiantRegiment,\"whoisnowMajor—GeneralvonWinterfeld;[Major—Generalsince1743,ofhighfame;fellinfight,7thSeptember,1757。]notstayingtodinewithGeneralvonPlaten,aswasalwayshiscustomwithCommandantswhomhehadreviewed。HebadePrinceWilhelmandtherestofusstayanddine;hehimselfdroveaway,\"——towardsthegreatroadagain,andsomeuncertainlodgingthere。

  \"Westayedaccordingly;anddidfulljusticetothegoodcheer,\"——

  thoughpoorPlatenwouldcertainlylookflustered,onemayfancy。

  \"ButasthePrincewasanxioustocomeupwithhisMajestyagain,andknewnotwherehewouldmeethim,wehadtobeveryswiftwiththebusiness。

  \"WefoundtheKingwithAnhaltandWinterfeld,byandby;sittinginavillage,infrontofabarn,andeatingacoldpiethere,whichtheFurstofAnhalthadchancedtohavewithhim;hisMajesty,owingtowhathehadseenontheparade—ground,wasintheutmostill—humor(HOCHSTUBLERLAUNE)。Nextday,Saturday,hewentahundredandfiftyortwohundredmiles;andarrivedinBerlinattenatnight。Notexpectedtheretillthemorrow;sothathisroomswerelocked,——herMajestybeingoverinMonbijou,givingherchildrenaBall;\"[Pollnitz,ii。534—537。]——andwecanfancywhataframeofmindtherewas!

  Nobody,notatfirsteventheDoctors,muchheededthisnewfitofillness;whichwentandcame:\"changedtemper,\"deeperorlessdeepgloomof\"badhumor,\"beingthemainphenomenontoby—

  standers。Butthesadtruthwas,hisMajestyneverdidrecoverhissunshine;fromPillauonwardshewasslowlyenteringintotheshadowsofthetotalLastEclipse;andhisjourneyingsandreviewingsinthisworldwerealldone。Tenmonthshence,Pollnitzandothersknewbetterwhatithadbeen!——

  ChapterVII。

  LASTYEAROFREINSBERG:TRANSITOFBALTIMOREANDOTHERPERSONSANDTHINGS。

  FriedrichhadnotbeenlonghomeagainfromTrakehnenandPreussen,whentheroutineofthingsatReinsbergwasilluminatedbyVisitors,ofbrilliantandlearnedquality;someofwhom,acertainSignorAlgarottiforone,requirepassingmentionhere。

  Algarotti,whobecameapermanentfriendorsatellite,veryluminoustothePrince,andwasmuchabouthimincomingyears,firstshoneoutuponthesceneatthistime,——comingunexpectedly,andfromtheEastwardasitchanced。

  Onhisownscore,Algarottihasbecomeawearisomeliterarymantomodernreaders:oneofthosehalf—rememberedmen;whosebooksseemtoclaimareading,anddonotrepayityouwhengiven。Treatises,ofaseriousnature,ONTHEOPERA;settingforth,inearnest,thepotential\"moraluses\"oftheOpera,anddedicatedtoChatham;

  NeutonianismoperleDonne(AstronomyforLadies):themereTitlesofsuchthingsarefatallysufficienttous;andwecannot,withouteffort,norwithit,recallthebrilliancyofAlgarottiandthemtohiscontemporaryworld。

  AlgarottiwasarichVenetianMerchant’sSon,preciselyabouttheCrown—Prince’sage;shonegreatlyinhisstudiesatBolognaandelsewhere;hadwrittenPoesies(RIME);writtenespeciallythatNewtonianismfortheDames(equaltoFontenelle,saidFame,andorthodoxNewtonianwithal,notheterodoxorCartesian);andhadshone,respected,atParis,onthestrengthofit,forthreeorfouryearspast:friendofVoltaireinconsequence,ofVoltaireandhisdivineEmilie,andawelcomeguestatCirey;friendofthecultivatedworldgenerally,whichwasthenlaboring,divineEmilieinthevanofit,tounderstandNewtonandbeorthodoxinthisdepartmentofthings。

  AlgarottididfinePoesies,too,onceandagain;didClassicalScholarships,andmuchelse:everywhereaclear—headed,methodicallydistinct,concisekindofman。Ahighstyleofbreedingabouthim,too;hadpowersofpleasing,andusedthem:

  amanbeautifullylucentinsociety,gentleyetimpregnablethere;

  keepinghimselfunspottedfromtheworldanditsdiscrepancies,——

  reallywithconsiderableprudence,firstandlast。

  HeissomewhatoftheBielfeldtype;aMerchant’sSon,weobserve,likeBielfeld;butaVenetianMerchant’s,notaHamburg’s;andalsoofbetternaturalstuffthanBielfeld。Concentratedhimselfuponhistaskwithmoreseriousness,andmadeahigherthingofitthanBielfeld;though,afterall,itwasthesametaskthetwohad。Alas,our\"SwanofPadua\"(sotheysometimescalledhim)onlysailed,paddlinggrandly,no—whither,——astheSwan—GooseoftheElbedid,inalessstatelymanner!OnecannotwellbeartoreadhisBooks。ThereisnolightuponFriedrichtotemptus;

  betterlightthanBielfeld’stherecouldhavebeen,andmuchofit:butheprudently,aswellasproudly,forboresuchtopics。

  Heapproachesverynearfertilityandgenialityinhiswritings,butneverreachesit。Dilettantismbecomeseriousandstrenuous,inthosedepartments——Well,itwasbeautifultoyoungFriedrichandtheworldatthattime,thoughitisnottous!——YoungAlgarotti,twenty—seventhisyear,hasbeentouringaboutasacelebritythesefouryearspast,onthestrengthofhisfinemannersandNewtonianismfortheDames。

  ItwasunderescortofBaltimore,\"anEnglishMilord,\"recommendedfromPotsdamitself,thatAlgarotticametoReinsberg;theSignorhadmuchtodowithEnglishpeoplenowandafter。WhereBaltimorefirstpickedhimup,Iknownot:buttheyhavebeentoRussiatogether;Baltimorebytwelveyearstheelderofthetwo:andnow,gettinghometowardsEnglandagain,theycallatReinsberginthefineAutumnweather;——andconsiderablycaptivatetheCrown—Prince,Baltimoreplayingchief,inthatasinotherpoints。Thevisitlastedfivedays:[20th—25thSeptember,1739(OEuvresdeFrederic,xiv。p。xiv)。]therewascopiousspeechonmanythings;——discussionaboutPrintingoftheANTIMACHIAVEL;

  AlgarottitogetitprintedinEngland,AlgarottitogetPineandhisEngravedHENRIADEputunderway;neitherofwhichprojectstookeffect;——readerscanconceivewhatacharmingfivedaysthesewere。Here,intheCrown—Prince’sownwords,aresomebriefglimmeringswhichwillsufficeus:——

  REINSBERG,25thSEPT。1739(Crown—PrincetoPapa)……that\"nothingnewhasoccurredintheRegiment,andwehavefewsick。

  HerehastheEnglishMilord,whowasatPotsdam,passingthrough[stayedfivedays,thoughwecallitpassing,andsuppresstheAlgarotti,Baltimorebeingindeedchief]。HeisgonetowardsHamburg,totakeshipforEnglandthere。AsIheardthatmyMostAll—graciousFatherwishedIshouldshowhimcourtesy,IhavedoneforhimwhatIcould。ThePrinceofMirowhasalsobeenhere,\"——

  ouroldStrelitzfriend。OfBaltimorenothingmoretoPapa。ButtoanotherCorrespondent,tothegoodSuhm(whoisnowatPetersburg,andmuchinourintimacy,readytotransactloansforus,translateWolf,ordowhatiswanted),thereisthispassagenextday:——

  REINSBERG,26thSEPTEMBER,1739(toSuhm)。\"WehavehadMilordBaltimorehere,andtheyoungAlgarotti;bothofthemmenwho,bytheiraccomplishments,cannotbutconciliatetheesteemandconsiderationofallwhoseethem。Wetalkedmuchofyou[Suhm],ofPhilosophy,ofScience,Art;inshort,ofallthatcanbeincludedinthetasteofcultivatedpeople(HONNETESGENS)。\"

  [OEuvresdeFrederic,xvi。378。]Andagaintoanother,abouttwoweekshence:——

  REINSBERG,10thOCTOBER,1739(toVoltaire)。\"WehavehadMilordBaltimoreandAlgarottihere,whoaregoingbacktoEngland。

  ThisMilordisaverysensibleman(HOMMETRESSENSE);

  whopossessesagreatdealofknowledge,andthinks,likeus,thatsciencescanbenodisparagementtonobility,nordegradeanillustriousrank。IadmiredthegeniusofthisANGLAIS,asonedoesafinefacethroughacrapeveil。HespeaksFrenchveryill,yetonelikestohearhimspeakit;andasforhisEnglish,hepronouncesitsoquick,thereisnopossibilityoffollowinghim。

  HecallsaRussian’amechanicalanimal。’Hesays’PetersburgistheeyeofRussia,withwhichitkeepscivilizedcountriesinsight;ifyoutookthiseyefromit,Russiawouldfallagainintobarbarism,outofwhichitisjuststruggling。’[Ib。xxi。326,327。]……YoungAlgarotti,whomyouknow,pleasedmebeyondmeasure。Hepromisedthathe\"——ButBaltimore,promiseornot,isthechieffigureatpresent。

  Evidentlyanoriginalkindoffiguretous,CETANGLAIS。

  AndindeedthereisalreadyfinishedarhymedEPISTLEtoBaltimore;EpitresurlaLiberte(copygoesinthatsameLETTER,forVoltaire’sbehoof),whichdatesitselflikewiseOctober10th;beginning,——

  \"L’espritlibre,Milord,quiregneenAngleterre,\"

  which,thoughitisfulloffinesinceresentiments,abouthumandignity,papalsuperstition,Newton,Locke,andaspirationsforprogressofcultureinPrussia,noreadercouldstandatthisepoch。

  WhatBaltimoresaidinanswertotheEPITRE,wedonotknow;

  probablynotmuch:itdoesnotappearheeversaworspoketoFriedrichasecondtime。Threeweeksafter,FriedrichwritingtoAlgarotti,hasthesewords:\"IprayyoumakemyfriendshipstoMilordBaltimore,whosecharacterandmannerofthinkingItrulyesteem。Ihopehehas,bythistime,gotmyEPITREontheEnglishLibertyofThought。\"[29thOctober1739,ToAlgarottiinLondon(OEuvres,xviii。5)。]AndsoBaltimorepasseson,silentinHistoryhenceforth,——thoughFriedrichseemstohaverememberedhimtolatetimes,asakindoftype—figurewhenEnglandcameintohishead。Forthesakeofthissmalltransitoverthesun’sdisk,IhavemadesomeinquiryaboutBaltimore;butfoundverylittle;——perhapsenough:——

  \"HewasCharles,SixthLordBaltimore,itappears;Sixth,andlastbutone。FirstoftheBaltimores,weknow,wasSecretaryCalvert(1618—1624),whocolonizedMaryland;lastofthem(1774)wastheSonofthisCharles;somethingofafool,tojudgebythefaceofhiminPortraits,andbysomeofhisdoingsintheworld。He,thatSeventhBaltimore,printedoneortwolittleVolumes\"nowofextremerarity\"——cannotbetoorare);andwindedupbystandinganuglyTrialatKingstonAssizes(plaintiffanunfortunatefemale)。

  AfterwhichheretiredtoNaples,andthereended,1774,thelastoftheseMilords。[Walpole(byPark),CatalogueofRoyalandNobleAuthors(London,1806),v。278。]

  \"HeoftheKingstonAssizes,wesay,wasnotthisCharles;buthisSon,whomletthereaderforget。Charles,agefortyatthistime,hadtravelledabouttheContinentagooddeal:once,longago,weimaginedwehadgotaglimpseofhim(butitwasaguessmerely)

  loungingaboutLunevilleandLorraine,alongwithLyttelton,intheCongress—of—Soissonstime?Notlongafterthat,itiscertainenough,hegotappointedaGentlemanoftheBedchambertoPrinceFred;whowasafriendofspeculativetalkersandcultivatedpeople。InwhichsituationCharlesSixthBaronBaltimorecontinuedallhisdaysafter;andmighthaverisenbymeansofFred,ashewasanxiousenoughtodo,hadbothofthemlived;buttheybothdied;Baltimorefirst,in1751,ayearbeforeFred。BubbDoddington,diligentlaborerinthesameFredvineyard,wasmuchinfestedbythisBaltimore,——who,drunkorsober(forheoccasionallygetsintoliquor),isalwaysputtingoutBubb,andstandstoowellwithourRoyalMaster,onesecretlyfears!

  Baltimore’sfinances,Icanguess,werenotintoogoodorder;

  mostlyanAbsentee;IrishEstatesnotmanagedinthefirststyle,whileoneisbusyintheFredvineyard!’Thebestandhonestestmanintheworld,withagooddealofjumbledknowledge,’Walpolecallshimonce:’butnotcapableofconductingaparty。’\"

  [Walpole’sLetterstoMann(London,1843),ii。175;27thJanuary,1747。Seeib。i。82。]Ohno;——anddied,atanyrate,Spring1751:[PeerageofIreland

  (London,1768),ii。172—174。]andwewillnotmentionhimfarther。

  BIELFELD,WHATHESAWATREINSBERGANDAROUND。

  Directlyontherearofthesefinevisitors,came,byinvitation,apairoftheKorn’s—Hotelpeople;Masonicfriends;oneofwhomwasBielfeld,whosedaintyInstallationSpeechandwaysofprocedurehadbeenofpromisetothePrinceonthatoccasion。

  \"BaronvonOberg\"wastheother:——HanoverianBaron:thesamewhowentintotheWars,andwasa\"GeneralvonOberg\"twentyyearshence?Thesameoranother,itdoesnotmuchconcernus。Nordoesthevisitmuch,oratall;exceptthatBielfeld,beingofwritingnature,professestogiveocularaccountofit。HonesttranscriptofwhatahumancreatureactuallysawatReinsberg,andintheBerlinenvironmentatthatdate,wouldhavehadavaluetomankind:butBielfeldhasadoptedthefictitiousform;andprettymuchruinedforusanytranscriptthereis。Exaggeration,gesticulation,fantasticuncertaintyafflictthereader;

  andpreventcomfortablebelief,exceptwherethereisotherevidencethanBielfeld’s。

  AtBerlinthebeautifulstraightstreets,LindenAvenues(perhapsabettersamplethanthoseofourday),werenotabletoBielfeld;

  bridges,statuesveryfine;grandesplanades,andsuchmilitarydrillingandparadingaswasneverseen。Hehaddinner—

  invitations,too,inquantity;likesthisoneandthat(allinprudentasterisks),———likesTruchsessvonWaldburgverymuch,andhisstrangemodeofbachelorhousekeeping,andthewayhedinesandtalksamonghisfellow—creatures,orsitsstudiousamonghisMilitaryBooksandPaper—litters。Butallisloosefar—offsketching,inthestyleofAnacharsistheYounger;andmakesnosolidimpression。

  GettingtoReinsberg,totheTown,totheSchloss,hecrossestheesplanade,themoat;seeswhatweknow,beautifulsquareMansionamongitswoodsandwaters;——andalmostnothingthatwedonotknow,exceptthewaythemoat—bridgeislighted:\"Bridgefurnished,\"hesays,\"withsevenStatuesrepresentingthesevenPlanets,eachholdinginherhandaglasslampintheformofaglobe;\"——whichisaprettyobjectinthenight—time。TheHouseisnowfinished;Knobelsdorfrejoicinginhissuccess;Pesneandothersgivingthelasttouchtosomeceilingsofasublimenature。

  OnthelintelofthegateisinscribedFREDERICOTRANQUILLITATEM

  COLENTI(ToFriedrichcourtingTranquillity)。Thegardens,walks,hermitages,grottos,areveryspacious,fine:notyetcompleted,——

  perhapswillneverbe。ATempleofBacchusisjustnowonhand,somewhereinthoselabyrinthicwoods:\"twelvegiganticSatyrsascaryatides,crownedbyaninvertedPunch—bowlfordome;\"thatistheingeniousKnobelsdorf’sidea,pleasanttothemind。

  Knobelsdorfisofaustereaspect;austere,yetbenevolentandfullofhonestsagacity;theverypictureofsoundsense,thinksBielfeld。M。Jordanishandsome,thoughofsmallstature;

  agreeableexpressionofface;eyeextremelyvivid;browncomplexion,bushyeyebrowsaswellasbeardareblack。[Bielfeld(abridged),i。45。]

  Ordidthereadereverhearof\"M。Fredersdorf,\"HeadValetatthistime?Fredersdorfwillbecome,asitwere,Privy—Purse,House—Friend,anddomesticFactotum,andplayagreatpartincomingyears。\"Atallhandsomeman;\"much\"silentsense,civility,dexterity;\"something\"magnificentlycleverinhim,\"thinksBielfeld(now,orelsetwentyyearsafterwards);whomwecanbelieve。[Ib。p。49。]HewasagiftfromGeneralSchwerin,thisFredersdorf;onceaPrivateinSchwerin’sregiment,atFrankfurt—

  on—Oder,——excellentontheflute,foronequality。Schwerin,whohadaneyeformen,senthimtoFriedrich,intheCustrintime;

  hopinghemightsuitinflutingandotherwise。Whichheconspicuouslydid。Bielfeld’saccount,wemustcandidlysay,appearstobeanafterthought;butreaderscanmaketheirprofitofit,allthesame。

  AstotheCrown—PrinceandPrincess,wordsfailtoexpresstheirgraciousperfections,theiraffabilities,politeingenuities:——

  Bielfeld’swordsdogiveussomepleasantshadowyconceivabilityoftheCrown—Princess:——

  \"Tall,andperfectinshape;bustsuchasasculptormightcopy;

  complexionofthefinest;featuresditto;nose,Iconfess,smallishandpointed,butexcellentofthatkind;hairofthesupremestflaxen,’shining’likeafloodofsunbeams,whenthepowderisoffit。AhumaneingenuousPrincess;littlenegligencesintoiletorthelike,ifsuchoccur,eventhesesetheroff,soingenuousarethey。Speakslittle;butalwaystothepurpose,inasimple,cheerfulandwiseway。Dancesbeautifully;heart(hersoubretteassuresme)isheavenly;——and’perhapsnoPrincesslivinghasafinersetofdiaonds。’\"

  OftheCrown—Princessthereissomepleasantshadowtracedasoncobweb,tothiseffect。ButoftheCrown—Princethereisnoformingtheleastconceptionfromwhathesays:——thisismerecobwebwithNothingelaboratelypaintedonit。Nordotheportraitsoftheothersattractbytheirverisimilitude。HereisColonelKeyserling,forinstance;thewittyCourlander,famousenoughintheFriedrichcircle;whowentonembassytoCirey,andmuchelse:he\"whirlsinwithuproar(FRACAS)likeBoreasintheBallet;\"fowling—pieceonshoulder,andinhis\"dressing—gown\"

  withal,whichisstillstranger;snatchesoffBielfeld,unknowntillthatmoment,tositbyhimwhiledressing;andthere,withmuchcapering,pirouetting,andindeedalmostground—and—loftytumbling,foraccompaniment,\"talksofHorses,Mathematics,Painting,Architecture,Literature,andtheArtofWar,\"whilehedresses。ThisgentlemanwasonceColonelinFriedrichWilhelm’sArmy;isnowfairlyturnedofforty,andhasbeenintroubles:

  wehopeheisnotLIKEintheBielfeldPortrait;——otherwise,howhappythatweneverhadthehonorofknowinghim!Indeed,theCrown—Prince’sHouseholdgenerally,asBielfeldpaintsitinflourishesofpanegyric,isbutunattractive;barrentothemodernon—looker;partlythePainter’sblame,wedoubtnot。Hegivesdetailsabouttheirmodeofdining,takingcoffee,doingconcert;

  ——anddescribesonceanincidentaldrinking—boutgotupaforethoughtbythePrince;whichisprobablyingoodpartfiction,thoughnotilldone。Thesefantasticsketchings,rigorouslywinnowedintothecredibleandactual,leavenogreatresidueinthatkind;butwhatlittletheydoleaveisoffavorableandpleasantnature。

  BielfeldmadeavisitprivatelytoPotsdam,too:sawtheGiantsdrill;madeacquaintancewithimportantCaptainsoftheirs(allinASTERISKS)atPotsdam;withwhomhedined,notinatoocrediblemanner,andevendanced。Amongtheasterisks,weeasilypickoutCaptainWartensleben(oftheKorn’s—Hoteloperation),andWinterfeld,astillmoreimportantCaptain,whomwesawdiningoncoldpiewithhisMajesty,atabarn—doorinPommern,notlongsince。OftheGiants,ortheirlifeatPotsdam,Bielfeld’swordisnotworthhearing,——worthsuppressingrather;hisknowledgebeingsosmall,andhungforthinsofantasticaway。ThistransientsighthehadofhisMajestyinperson;this,whichisworthsomethingtous,——factbeingevidentlylodgedinit,\"Afterchurch—parade,\"AutumnSundayafternoon(dayuncertain,Bielfeld’sdatebeingfictitious,andevenimpossible),MajestydroveouttoWusterhausen,\"wherethequantitiesofgamesurpassallbelief;\"

  andBielfeldhadoneglimpseofhim:——

  \"IsawhisMajestyonly,asitwere,inpassing。IfImayjudgebyhisPortraits,hemusthavebeenofaperfectbeautyinhisyoungtime;butitmustbeconfessedthereisnothingleftofitnow。

  Hiseyestrulyarefine;buttheglanceofthemisterrible:

  hiscomplexioniscomposedofthestrongesttintsofred,blue,yellow,green,\"——notalovelycomplexionatall;\"bighead;thethicknecksunkbetweentheshoulders;figureshortandheavy(COURTEETRAMASSEE)。\"[Bielfeld,p。35。]

  \"GoingouttoWusterhausen,\"then,thatafternoon,\"October,1739。\"HowhisMajestyiscrusheddown;quitebulgedoutofshapeinthatsadway,bytheweightoftimeanditspressures:

  histhoughts,too,mostlikely,ofaheavy—ladenandabstrusenature!TheoldPfalzControversyhasmisgonewithhim:Pfalz,andsomuchelseintheworld;——theworldinwhole,probablyenough,nearendingtohim;thefinalshadows,sombre,grandandmournful,closinginuponhim!

  TURKWARENDS;SPANISHWARBEGINS。AWEDDINGINPETERSBURG。

  LastnewscometoPotsdaminthesedaysis,TheKaiserhasendedhisdisastrousTurkWar;beenobligedtoendit;suddendownbreak,andasitwerepanicterror,havingatlastcomeuponhisunfortunateGeneralsinthoseparts。DukeFranzwaspassionatetobeoutofsuchathing;Franz,GeneralNeippergandothers;

  andnow,\"2dSeptember,1739,\"likelodgersleapingfromaburninghouse,theyareoutofit。TheTurkgetsBelgradeitself,nottomentionwideterritoriesfarthereast,——Belgradewithoutshotfired;——naytheTurkwashardlytobekeptfromhangingtheImperialMessenger(aGeneralNeipperg,DukeFranz’soldTutor,andchiefConfidant,whomweshallhearmoreofelsewhere),whosepassportwasnotquiterightonthisoccasion!——NeverwasamoredisgracefulPeace。Butalsoneverhadbeenworsefighting;

  planless,changeful,powerless,meltingintofutilityateverystep:——nottobemendedbyimprisonmentsinGratz,andstillharshertreatmentofindividuals。\"Hasallsuccessforsakenme,then,sinceEugenedied?\"saidtheKaiser;andsnatchedatthisTurkPeace;gladtohaveit,bymediationofFrance,andonanyterms。

  HasnotthisKaiserlosthisoutlyingpropertiesatafearfulrate?Naplesisgone;SpanishBourbonsitsinourNaples;

  comparativelylittleleftforusinItaly。AndnowtheveryTurkhasbeatenussmall;insolentlyfillipstheImperialnoseofus,——

  threateningtohangourNeipperg,andthelike。WereitnotforAnneofRussia,whosebighorse—whipfallsheavyonthisTurk,hemightalmostgettoViennaagain,foranythingwecoulddo!

  AKaiserworthytobepitied;——whomFriedrichWilhelm,weperceive,doeshonestlypity。AKaisermuchbeggared,muchdisgraced,inlateyears;whohasplayedahugelife—gamesolong,diplomatizing,warring;and,excepttheShadowofPragmaticSanction,hasnothingtoretireupon。

  TheRussiansprotested,withastonishment,againstsuchTurkPeaceontheKaiser’spart。Buttherewasnohelpforit。Oneallyisgone,theKaiserhasletgothisWesternskirtoftheTurk;

  and\"ThamasKouliKhan\"(calledalsoNadirShah,famedOrientalslasherandslayerofthattime)nolongerstandsupontheEasternskirt,but\"hasenteredIndia,\"itappears:theRussians——theircash,too,runninglow——dothemselvesmakepeace,\"aboutamonthafter;\"restoringAzophandnearlyalltheirconquests;puttingofftheruinoftheTurktillabettertime。

  WarisoverintheEast,then;butanotherintheWest,EnglandagainstSpain(SpainandFrancetohelp),isaboutbeginning。

  ReadersrememberhowJenkins’sEarre—emerged,Springgoneayear,inablazingcondition?Here,throughSYLVANUSURBANhimself,aretwodirectglimpses,atwelve—monthnearerhand,whichshowushowthematterhasbeenproceedingsince:——

  \"LONDON,19thFEBRUARY,1739。TheCityAuthorities,\"——layingorgoingtolay\"thefoundationoftheMansion—House\"(Edificenowveryblackinourtime),anddoingotherthingsoflittlemomenttous,\"hadaMasqueradeattheGuildhallthisnight。TherewasaverysplendidappearanceattheMasquerade;butamongthemanyhumorousandwhimsicalcharacters,whatseemedmosttoengageattentionwasaSpaniard,whocalledhimself’KnightoftheEar;’

  asBadgeofwhichOrderheworeonhisbreasttheformofaStar,withitspointstingedinblood;andonthebodyofitanEarpainted,andincapitallettersthewordJENKINSencirclingit。

  Acrosshisshouldertherehung,insteadofribbon,alargeHalter;

  whichhehelduptoseveralpersonsdressedasEnglishSailors,whoseemedingreatterrorofhim,andfallingontheirkneessufferedhimtorummagetheirpockets;whichdone,hewouldinsolentlydismissthemwithstrokesofhishalter。SeveraloftheSailorshadabloodyEarhangingdownfromtheirheads;andontheirhatswerethesewords,EARFOREAR;onothers,NOSEARCHOR

  NOTRADE;withthelikesentences。\"[Gentleman’sMagazinefor1739,p。103;——ourDATES,asalways,areN。8。]

  Theconflagrationevidentlygoingon;notlikelytobedampeddownagain,byministerialart!——

  \"LONDON,19thMARCH,1739。\"GrandDebateinParliament,onthelate\"SpanishConvention,\"pretendedBargainofredresslatelygotfromSpain:ApprovetheConvention,orNotapprove?\"AhundredMemberswereintheHouseofCommonsbeforeseven,thismorning;

  andfourhundredhadtakentheirseatbyten;whichisanunheard—

  ofthing。PrinceofWales,\"Fredinperson,\"wasinthegallerytilltwelveatnight,andhadhisdinnersenttohim。SirRobertWalpolerose:’Sir,thegreatpainsthathavebeentakentoinfluenceallranksanddegreesofmeninthisNation——……

  Butgivemeleaveto’\"——applyawetclothtoHonorableGentlemen。

  Whichhedoes,reallywithskillandsense。Franceandtheothersaresostrong,heurges;Englandsounprepared;Kaiseratsuchapass;’Warliketobe,aboutthePalatinateDispute[ourfriendFriedrichWilhelm’s]:WhereisEnglandtoget,allies?’——andhourslongofthelikesort。Ajudiciouswetcloth;whichprovedunavailing。

  For\"WilliamPitts\"(sotheyspellthegreatChathamthatistobe)waseloquentontheotherside:\"DespairingMerchants,\"\"VoiceofEngland,\"andsoon。Andtheworldwasallinaninflamedstate。AndMr。Pulteneyexclaimed:Palatinate?Allies?\"Weneednoallies;thecaseofMr。Jenkinswillraiseusvolunteerseverywhere!\"Andinshort,——aftereightmonthsmoreofhaggling,andapplyingwetcloths,——Walpole,inthenameofEngland,hastodeclareWaragainstSpain;[\"3dNovember(23dOctober),1739。\"]

  thepublichumorprovingunquenchableonthatmatter。War;andnoPeacetobe,\"tillourundoubtedright,\"toroadwayontheoceansofthisPlanet,becomepermanentlymanifesttotheSpanishMajesty。

  SuchtheeffectofasmallEar,keptaboutoneincotton,fromursinepietyorotherfeelings。HasnotJenkins’sEarre—emerged,withavengeance?IthaskindledaWar:dangerousforkindlingotherWars,andsettingthewholeworldonfire,——aswillbetooevidentinthesequel!TheEAROFJENKINSisasingularthing。

  Mighthavemountedtobeaconstellation,likeBERENICE’SHAIR,andothersmallfactsbecomemythical,hadtheEnglishPeoplebeenofpoeticturn!EnoughofIT,forthetimebeing。——

  ThisSummer,AntonUlrich,atPetersburg,didwedhisSereneMecklenburgPrincess,HeiressofalltheRussias:\"July14th,1739,\"——threemonthsbeforethatDrivetoWusterhausen,whichwesawlately。LittleAntonUlrich,CadetofBrunswick;

  ourFriedrich’sBrother—in—Law;——anoticeablysmallmanincomparisontosuchbulkofdestiny,thinksFriedrich,thoughthecaseisnotwithoutexample![ALetterofhistoSuhm;touchingonFranzofLorraineandthisAntonUlrich。]

  \"AntonUlrichisnowfive—and—twenty,\"saysoneofmyNotebooks;

  \"ayounggentlemanofsmallstature,shiningcourageinbattle,butsomewhatshyandbashful;whohashadhistroublesinPetersburgsociety,tillthetrialcame,——andwillhave。HerearethestagesofAntonUlrich’sfelicity:——

  \"WINTER,1732—1733。HewassentfortoPetersburg(hisSereneAunttheGermanKaiserinn,andKaiserKarl’sdiplomatists,suggestingitthere),withtheviewofhispayingcourttotheyoungMecklenburgPrincess,HeiressofalltheRussias,ofwhomwehaveoftenheard。February,1733,hearrivedonthiserrand;——notapprovedofatallbytheMecklenburgPrincess,byCzarinaAnneoranybodythere:whatcanbedonewithsuchanuncomfortablelittlecreature?TheygavehimtheColonelcyofCuirassiers:’Drillthere,andendure。’

  \"SPRING,1737。Much—enduring,diligentlydrilling,forfouryearspast,hewentthisyeartotheTurkWarunderMunnich;——muchpleasedMunnich,atOczakowandelsewhere;whoreportsintheWar—

  Officehighthingsofhim。Andonthewhole,——thesereneViennapeoplenowagainbestirringthemselves,withwhomweareincopartneryinthisTurkbusiness,——littleAntonUlrichisencouragedtoproceed。Proceeds;formallydemandshisMecklenburgPrincess;and,\"JULY14th,1739,wedsher;thehappiestlittlemaninalltheRussias,andwiththebiggestdestiny,ifitprosper。Nextyear,too,therecameasonandheir;whomtheycalledIwan,inhonorofhisRussianGreat—grandfather。ShallweaddthesubsequentfelicitiesofAntonUlrichhere;orwaittillanotheropportunity?\"

  Betterwait。Thisisall,andmorethanall,hisPrussianMajesty,rollingoutofWusterhausenthatafternoon,everknewofthem,orneededtoknow!——

  ChapterVIII。

  DEATHOFFRIEDRICHWILHELM。

  AtWusterhausen,thisAutumn,thereisgameasusual,butlittleornohuntingfortheKing。Hehastositdrearilywithindoors,formostpart;listeningtotherustleoffallingleaves,todimWintercomingwithitsrainsandwinds。Field—sportsarearumorfromwithout:forhimnownojoyoussow—baiting,deer—chasing;——

  that,likeotherthings,ispast。

  InthebeginningofNovember,hecametoBerlin;wasworsethere,andagainwasbetter;——strovetodotheCarnival,ashadbeencustomary;but,inalanguid,lamedmanner。Onenighthelookedinuponanevening—partywhichGeneralSchulenburgwasgiving:

  hereturnedhome,chilled,shivering;,couldnot,allnight,bebroughttoheatagain。Itwasthelastevening—partyFriedrichWilhelmeverwentto。[Pollnitz(ii。538);whogivesnodate。]

  Lieutenant—GeneralSchulenburg:thesamewhodoomedyoungFriedrichtodeath,asPresidentoftheCourt—Martial;

  andthenwrotetheThreeLettersabouthimwhichweoncelookedinto:illuminateshimselfinthismannerinBerlinsociety,——

  Carnivalseason,1740,weatherfiercelycold。MaypoleSchulenburgtheleanAunt,Ex—MistressofGeorgeI。,overinLondon,——Ithinkshemustnowbedead?Orifnotdead,whynot!Memory,forthetenthtime,failsme,ofthehumanlyunmemorable,whomperhapsevenflunkiesshouldforget;andIwilltryitnomore。

  ThestalwartLieutenant—Generalwillreappearonusonce,twiceattheutmost,andneveragain。Hegavethelastevening—partyFriedrichWilhelmeverwentto。

  PoorFriedrichWilhelmisintruthveryill;tossesaboutallday,inandoutofbed,——bedandwheeled—chairdrearilyalternating;

  suffersmuch;——andagain,inDiplomaticcircles,therumorsarerifeandsinister。EverfromthischillatSchulenburg’sthemedicinesdidhimnogood,saysPollnitz:ifherallied,itwastheeffectofNature,andonlytemporary。Hedoesdaily,withpunctuality,hisOfficialbusiness;perhapsthebesttwohourshehasofthefour—and—twenty,forthetimehangsheavyonhim。HisoldGeneralssitroundhisbed,talking,smoking,asitwasfiveyearsago;hisFeekinandhisChildrenmuchabouthim,outandin:

  theheavy—laden,wearyhoursrollroundastheycan。IngeneralthereisakindofconstantTabaks—Collegium,oldFlans,Camas,Hacke,Pollnitz,Derschau,andtherestbyturnsalwaysthere;

  theroyalPatientcannotbeleftalone,withoutfaceshelikes:

  otherGenerals,estimableintheirway,haveaphysiognomydispleasingtothesickman;andwillsmartforitiftheyenter,——\"AtsightofHIMeverypaingrowspainfuler!\"——thepoorKingbeingofpoetictemperament,asweoftensay。Friendsareencouragedtosmoke,especiallytokeepupastreamoftalk;ifatanytimehefallintoadozeandtheyceasetalking,thesilencewillawakenhim。

  Heisworstoffinthenight;sleepverybad:andamonghissorebodilypains,ennuifallsveryheavytoamindsorestless。Hecanpaint,hecanwhittle,chisel:atlasttheyevenmounthimatable,inhisbed,withjoiner’stools,mallets,glue—pots,wherehemakessmallcarpentry,——thetalktogoonthewhile;——oftenatnightisthesoundofhismalletaudibleinthePalaceEsplanade;

  andBerlintownsfolkpausetolisten,withmanythoughtsofasympatheticoratleastinarticulatecharacter:\"HM,WEH,IHRO

  MAJESTAT:ACHGOTT,paleDeathknockswithimpartialfootatthehutsofpoormenandthePalacesofKings!\"[Pollnitz,ii。539。]

  ReverendHerrRoloff,whomtheycallProvost(PROBST,ChiefClergyman)Roloff,apioushonestmanandpreacher,he,Icouldguess,hasalreadybeengivingspiritualcounselnowandthen;

  laterinterviewswithRoloffareexpresslyonrecord:foritistheKing’sprivatethought,everandanonborneinuponhim,thatdeathitselfisinthisbusiness。

  QueenandChildren,mostlyhopinghitherto,thoughfearingtoo,liveinmuchanxietyandagitation。TheCrown—PrinceisoftenoverfromReinsberg;mustnotcometoooften,noreveninquiretoomuch:hisaffectionatesolicitudemightbemistakenforsolicitudeofanotherkind!ItiscertainheisinnohastetobeKing;

  toquitthehauntsoftheMuses,andembarkonKingship。

  Certain,too,heloveshisFather;shuddersatthethoughtoflosingHIM。Andyetagaintherewillgleamsintrudeofacontrarythought;whichthefilialheartdisowns,withakindofhorror,\"Down,thouimpiousthought!\"——Weperceivehemanagesingeneraltopushthecrisisawayfromhim;tobelievethatrealdangerisstilldistant。Hisdemeanor,sofaraswecangatherfromhisLettersorotherevidence,isamiable,prudent,natural;

  altogetherthatofahumanSoninthosedifficultcircumstances。

  PoorPapaisheavy—laden:letushelptobearhisburdens;——

  letushopethecrisisisstillfaroff!——

  Once,onafavorableevening,probablyaboutthebeginningofApril,whenhefeltasifimproving,FriedrichWilhelmresolvedtodress,andholdTobacco—Parliamentagaininaformalmanner,Letuslookinthere,throughtheeyesofPollnitz,whowasofit,uponthelastTobacco—Parliament:——

  \"Anumerousparty;Schwerin,Hacke,Derschau,allthechiefsandcommandantsoftheBerlinGarrisonarethere;theoldcirclefull;

  socialhumanspeechoncemore,andpipesalight;pleasanttotheKing。Hedoesnothimselfsmokeonthisoccasion;butheisunusuallylivelyintalk;muchenjoysthereturningglimpseofolddays;andtheTobaccocirclewasproceedingthroughitsphases,successfulbeyondcommon。AllatoncetheCrown—Princestepsin;

  directfromReinsberg:[12thApril,1740?(OEuvres,xxvii。partlst,p。29);Pollnitzisdateless]anunexpectedpleasure。AtsightofwhomtheTobaccocircle,takenonthesudden,simultaneouslystartedup,andmadehimabow。

  Ruleis,inTobacco—Parliamentyoudonotrise——foranybody;

  andtheyhaverisen。Whichstruckthesickheartinastrangepainfulway。’Hm,theRisingSun?’thinkshe;’Rulesbrokenthrough,fortheRisingSun。ButIamnotdeadyet,asyoushallknow!’ringingforhisservantsingreatwrath;andhadhimselfrolledout,regardlessofprotestationsandexcuses。

  ’Hither,youHacke!’saidhe。

  \"Hackefollowed;butitwasonlytoreturnontheinstant,withtheKing’sorder,’ThatyouinstantlyquitthePalace,allofyou,anddon’tcomeback!’SolemnrespectfulmessagetohisMajestywasofnoeffect,orofless;theyhadtogo,onthoseterms;

  andPollnitz,makingforhisMajesty’sapartmentnextmorningasusual,wastwitchedbyaGens—d’arme,’Noadmittance!’Anditwasdaysbeforethematterwouldcomeroundagain,underearnestprotestationsfromtheoneside,andtruculentrebukesfromtheother。\"[Pollnitz(abridged),ii。50。]FiguretheCrown—Prince,figurethepoorsickMajesty;andwhatatimeinthoselocalities!

  Withthebrightspringweatherheseemedtorevive;towardstheendofAprilheresolvedforPotsdam,everybodythinkinghimmuchbetter,andtheouterPublicreckoningthecrisisoftheillnessover。Hehimselfknewother。Itwasonthe27thofthemonththathewent;hesaid,\"Faretheewell,then,Berlin;IamtodieinPotsdam,then(ICHWERDEINPOTSDAMSTERBEN)!\"TheMay—flowerscamelate;theweatherwaschangeful,ungenialforthesickman:

  thiswinterof1740hadbeenthecoldestonrecord;itextendeditselfintotheverysummer;andbroughtgreatdistressofeverykind;——ofwhichsomeoralrumorstillsurvivesinallcountries。

  FriedrichWilhelmheardcomplaintsofscarcityamongthepeople;

  admonitionstoopenhisCorn—granaries(suchashealwayshasinstoreagainstthatkindofaccident);buthestillhesitatedandrefused;unabletolookintoithimself,andfearingdeceptions。

  Fortherest,heisstrugglingbetweendeathandlife;ingeneralpersuadedthattheendisfasthasteningon。HesendsforChiefPreacherRoloffouttoPotsdam;hassomenotabledialogueswithRoloff,andwithtwootherPotsdamClergymen,ofwhichthereisrecordstillleftus。Inthese,asinallhisdemeanoratthissupremetime,weseethebigruggedblockofmanhoodcomeoutveryvividly;stronginhissimplicity,inhisveracity。

  FriedrichWilhelm’swishistoknowfromRoloffwhatthechancesareforhimintheotherworld,——whichisnotlesscertainthanPotsdamandthegiantgrenadierstoFriedrichWilhelm;andwhere,heperceives,neverhalfsoclearlybefore,heshallactuallypeeloffhisKinghood,andstandbeforeGodAlmighty,nobetterthananakedbeggar。Roloff’sprognosticsarenotsoencouragingastheKinghadhoped。SurelythisKing\"nevertookorcovetedwhatwasnothis;kepttruetohismarriage—vow,inspiteofhorribleexampleseverywhere;believedtheBible,honoredthePreachers,wentdiligentlytoChurch,andtriedtodowhatheunderstoodGod’scommandmentswere?\"ToallwhichRoloff,acourageouspiousman,answerswithdiscreetwordsandshakingsofthehead,\"DidIbehaveill,then;didIeverdoinjustice?\"

  RoloffmentionsBaronSchlubhutthedefalcatingAmtmann,hangedatKonigsbergwithoutevenatrial。\"Hehadnotrial;butwasthereanydoubthehadjustice?Apublicthief,confessinghehadstolenthetaxeshewassettogather;insolentlyoffering,asifthatwereall,torepaythemoney,andsaying,ItwasnotMANIER(goodmanners)tohanganobleman!\"Roloffshakeshishead,Tooviolent,yourMajesty,andsavoringofthetyrannous。ThepoorKingmustrepent。

  \"Well,——isthereanythingmore?Outwithit,then;betternowthantoolate!\"——Muchoppression,forcingmentobuildinBerlin。——

  \"Oppression?wasitnottheirbenefit,aswellasBerlin’sandtheCountry’s?Ihadnointerestinitother。Derschau,youwhomanagedit?\"andhisMajestyturnedtoDerschau。Forallthesmokinggeneralsandcompanyarestillhere;norwillhisMajestyconsenttodismissthemfromthepresenceandbealonewithRoloff:\"Whatistheretoconceal?Theyarepeopleofhonor,andmyfriends。\"Derschau,whosefeatsinthebuildingwayarenotunknowneventous,answerswithahardface,Itwasallrightandorderly;nothingoutofsquareinhisbuildingoperations。

  TowhichRoloffshakeshishead:\"Athingofpublicnotoriety,HerrGeneral。\"——\"IwillproveeverythingbeforeaCourt,\"answerstheHerrGeneralwithstillharderface;Roloffstillausterelyshakinghishead。Hm!——Andthenthereisforgivenessofenemies;

  yourMajestyisboundtoforgiveallmen,orhowcanyouasktobeforgiven?\"Well,Iwill,Ido;youFeekin,writetoyourBrother(unforgivablestofbeings),afterIamdead,thatIforgavehim,diedinpeacewithhim。\"——BetterherMajestyshouldwriteatonce,suggestsRoloff。——\"No,afterIamdead,\"persiststheSonofNature,——thatwillbesafer![Wroteaccordingly,\"notabletofinishwithoutmanytears;\"honestsensibleLetter(thoughindifferentlyspelt),\"Berlin,1stJune,1740;\"——liesnowinState—PaperOffice:\"ROYALLETTERS,vol。xciv。,Prussia,1689—1777。\"]Anunwedgeableandgnarledbigblockofmanhoodandsimplicityandsincerity;suchaswerarelygetsightofamongthemodernsonsofAdam,amongthecrownedsonsnearlynever。

  AtpartinghesaidtoRoloff,\"You(ER,He)donotspareme;itisright。YoudoyourdutylikeanhonestChristianman。\"

  [NotataexoreRoloffi(\"foundamongtheSeckendorfPapers,\"nodatebut\"May1740\"),inForster,ii。154,155;inafragmentarystate:completedinPollnitz,ii。545—549。]

  Roloff,Iperceive,hadseveralDialogueswiththeKing;

  andstayedinPotsdamsomedaysforthatobject。TheabovebitofjottingisfromtheSeckendorfPapers(probablypickedupbySeckendorfJunior),andisdatedonly\"May。\"OfthetwoPotsdamPreachers,oneofwhomis\"Oesfeld,ChaplainoftheGiantGrenadiers,\"andtheotheris\"Cochius,CalvinistHofprediger,\"

  eachpublishedonhisownscoresomeNotesofdialogueandcircumstance;[CochiustheHOFPREDIGER’S(CalvinistCourt—

  Chaplain’s)ACCOUNTofhisInterviews(firstofthem\"Friday,27thMay,1740,about9P。M。\");followedbydittofromOesfeld(ChaplainoftheGiants),whousuallyaccompaniedCochius,——areinSeyfarth,GeschichteFriedrichdesGrossen

  (Leipzig,1783—1788),i。(Beylage)24—40。Seyfarthwas\"Regiments—

  Auditor\"inHalle:hisWork,solidthoughstupid,consistsnearlyaltogetherofmultifariousBEYLAGEN(Appendices)andNOTES;

  whicharecreditablyaccurate,andoftencurious;and,asusual,havenoIndexforanunfortunatereader。]whicharetothesameeffect,sofarastheyconcernus;andexhibitthesameruggedSonofNature,lookingwithallhiseyesightintothenearEternity,andsinkinginahumanandnotinhumanmanneramidthefloodsofTime。\"Wa,Wa,whatgreatGodisthis,thatpullsdownthestrengthofthestrongestKings!\"——

  ThepoorKing’sstateisveryrestless,fluctuatesfromdaytoday;heisimpatientofbed;sleepsveryill;isupwheneverpossible;rollsaboutinhiswheeled—chair,andevengetsintotheair:atonetimelookingstrong,asiftherewerestillmonthsinhim,andanonsunkinfaintingweakness,asifhehadfewminutestolive。FriedrichatReinsbergcorrespondsverysecretlywithDr。Eller;hasotherfriendsatPotsdamwhosesecretnewsheveryanxiouslyreads。Tothelasthecannotbringhimselftothinkitserious。\"[LettertoEller,25thMay,1740(OEuvres),xvi。184。]

  OnThursday,26thofMay,anexpressfromEller,orthePotsdamfriends,arrivesatReinsberg:Heistocomequickly,ifhewouldseehisFatheragainalive!Thestepmayhavedanger,too;butFriedrich,aworldoffeelingsurginghim,isontheroadnextmorningbeforethesun。Hisjourneymaybefancied;thelikeofitfallstoallmen。Arrivingatlast,turninghastilyacornerofthePotsdamSchloss,Friedrichseessomegatheringinthedistance:itishisFatherinhisROLLWAGEN(wheeled—chair),——notdying;butoutofdoors,givingordersaboutfoundingaHouse,orseeingitdone。HouseforonePhilips,acrabbedEnglishmanhehas;whosetongueisnoneofthebest,noteventoMajestyitself,butwhosemeritsasaGroom,ofEnglishandotherHorses,arewithoutparallelinthoseparts。Withoutparallel,anddeserveaHousebeforewedie。Letusseeitsetagoing,thisblessedMayday!OfPhilips,whosurviveddeepintoFriedrich’stime,andutteredroughsayings(inmixedintelligibledialect)whenputuponinhisgrooming,orotherwisedisturbed,Icouldobtainnofartheraccount:themandidnotcaretobeputinHistory(averysmallservicetoaman);caredtohaveahousewithtrimfittings,andtodohisgroomingwell,thefortunatePhilips。

  AtsightofhisSon,FriedrichWilhelmthrewouthisarms;theSonkneelingsankuponhisbreast,andtheyembracedwithtears。

  MyFather,myFather;MySon,mySon!Itwasascenetomakeallby—standersandevenPhilipsweep。——ProbablytheemotionhurttheoldKing;hehadtobetakeninagainstraightway,hisshowofstrengthsuddenlygone,andbedtheonlyplaceforhim。ThissameFridayhedictatedtooneofhisMinisters(Boden,whowasincloseattendance)theInstructionforhisFuneral;arudecharacteristicPiece,whichperhapstheEnglishreaderknows。

  Toolongandrudeforreprintinghere。[Copyofit,inSeyfarth(ubisupra),i。19—24。TranslatedinMauvillon(ii。432—437);

  in&c。&c。]

  Heistobeburiedinhisuniform,thePotsdamGrenadiershisescort;withmilitarydecorum,threevolleysfired(andtakecaretheybewellfired,\"NICHTPLACKEREN\"),somanycannon—salvos;——

  andnofussorflauntingceremony:simplicityanddecencyiswhatthetenantofthatoakcoffinwants,ashealwaysdidwhenownerofwiderdominions。Thecoffin,whichhehasreadyandbesidehiminthePalacethisgoodwhile,isastoutpieceofcarpentry,withleatherstrapsandotherimprovements;heviewsitfromtimetotime;solaceshistruculentimaginationwiththelookofit:

  \"Ishallsleeprightwellthere,\"hewouldsay。TheimagehehasofhisBurial,weperceive,isofperfectvisuality,equaltowhataDefoecoulddoinimagining。Allisseen,settledtothelastminuteness:thecoffinistobeborneoutbysoandso,atsuchandsuchadoor;thisdetachmentistofall—inhere,thatthere,intheattitudeof\"coverarms\"(musketinvertedunderleftarm);

  andthebandistoplay,withallitsblackamoors,OHauptvollBlutundWunden(OHead,allbleedingwounded);aDirgehisMajestyhadliked,whoknewmusic,andhadaloveforit,afterhissort。GoodSonofNature:adumbPoet,asIsayalways;mostdumb,butreal;thevalueofhimgreat,andunknowninthesebabblingtimes。ItwasonthissameFridaynightthatCochiuswasfirstsentfor;Cochius,andOesfeldwithhim,\"aboutnineo’clock。\"

  Forthenextthreedays(SaturdaytoMonday)whenhiscoughandmanysufferingswouldpermithim,FriedrichWilhelmhadlongprivatedialogueswithhisSon;instructinghim,aswasevident,inthemysteriesofState;inwhatknowledge,astopersonsandtothings,hereckonedmightbeusefulesttohim。Whatthelessonswere,weknownot;thewayoftakingthemhadgivenpleasuretotheoldman:hewasheardtosay,perhapsmorethanonce,whentheGeneralswerecalledin,andthedialogueinterruptedforawhile:

  \"AmnotIhappytohavesuchaSontoleavebehindme!\"AndthegrimlysympatheticGeneralstestifiedassent;endeavoredtotalkalittle,couldatleastsmoke,andlookfriendly;tilltheKinggatheredstrengthforcontinuinghisinstructionstohisSuccessor。Allelsewasasifsettledwithhim;thishadstillremainedtodo。Thisoncedone(finished,Mondaynight),whynotabdicatealtogether;anddiedisengaged,beitinadayorinamonth,sincethatisnowtheoneworkleft?FriedrichWilhelmdoessopurpose。

  Hisstate,nowasallalong,wasfluctuating,uncertain,restless。

  Hewasheardmurmuringprayers;hewouldsaysometimes,\"Prayforme;BETETBETET。\"Andmorethanonce,indeeptone:\"Lord,enternotintojudgmentwithThyservant,forinThysightshallnomanlivingbejustified!\"ThewildSonofNature,lookingintoLifeandDeath,intoJudgmentandEternity,findsthatthesethingsareverygreat。Thistooisacharacteristictrait:InacertainGermanHymn(Whyfretormurmur,then?thetitleofit),whichtheyoftensangtohim,oralongwithhim,ashemuchlovedit,arethesewords,\"NakedIcameintotheworld,andnakedshallIgo,\"——\"No,\"saidhe\"alwayswithvivacity,\"atthispassage;\"notquitenakid,Ishallhavemyuniformon:\"

  Letusbeexact,sinceweareatit!Afterwhichthesingingproceededagain。\"ThelateGrafAlexandervonWartenberg\"——CaptainWartenberg,whomweknow,andwhoseopportunities——\"waswonttorelatethis。\"[Busching(in1786),Beitrage,

  iv。100。]

  Tuesday,31stMay,\"aboutoneinthemorning,\"Cochiuswasagainsentfor。HefoundtheKinginverypiousmood,butingreatdistress,andafraidhemightyethavemuchpaintosuffer。

  Cochiusprayedwithhim;talkedpiously。\"Icanremembernothing,\"

  saidtheKing;\"Icannotpray,Ihaveforgottenallmyprayers。\"——

  \"Prayerisnotinwords,butinthethoughtoftheheart,\"saidCochius;andsoothedtheheavy—ladenmanashecould。\"Fareyouwell,\"saidFriedrichWilhelm,atlength;\"mostlikelyweshallnotmeetagaininthisworld。\"WhereatCochiusburstintotears,andwithdrew。Aboutfour,theKingwasagainoutofbed;wishedtoseehisyoungestBoy,whohadbeenillofmeasles,butwasdoingwell:\"PoorlittleFerdinand,adieu,then,mylittlechild!\"

  ThisistheFatherofthatfineLouisFerdinand,whowaskilledatJena;concerningwhomBerlin,incertainemancipatedcirclesofit,stillspeakswithregret。He,theLouisFerdinand,hadfinequalities;butwentfara—roving,intoradicalism,intoromanticlove,intochampagne;andwascutdownonthethresholdofJena,desperatelyfighting,——perhapshappilyforhim。

  FromlittleFerdinand’sroomFriedrichWilhelmhashimselfrolledintoQueenSophie’s。\"Feekin,OmyFeekin,thoumustrisethisday,andhelpmewhatthoucanst。ThisdayIamgoingtodie;

  thouwiltbewithmethisday!\"ThegoodWiferises:Iknownotthatitwasthefirsttimeshehadbeensocalled;butitdidprovethelast。FriedrichWilhelmhasdecided,asthefirstthinghewilldo,toabdicate;andalltheOfficialpersonsandcompanionsofthesick—room,Pollnitzamongthem,notlongaftersunrise,arecalledtoseeitdone。Pollnitz,huddlingonhisclothes,arrivedaboutfive:inacorridorheseesthewheeled—

  chairandpoorsickKing;stepsasidetolethimpass:\"’Itisover(DASISTVOLLBRACHT),’saidtheKing,lookinguptomeashepassed:hehadonhisnightcap,andabluemantlethrownroundhim。\"Hewaswheeledintohisanteroom;thereletthecompanyassemble;manyofthemarealreadythere。

  Theroyalstablesarevisiblefromthisroom:FriedrichWilhelmordersthehorsestoberiddenout:youoldFurstofAnhalt—Dessaumyoldestfriend,youColonelHackefaithfulestofAdjutant—

  Generals,takeeachofyouahorse,thebestyoucanpickout:

  itismylastgifttoyou。Dessau,insilence,withdumb—showofthanks,pointstoahorse,anyhorse:\"Youhavechosentheveryworst,\"saidFriedrichWilhelm:\"Takethatother,Iwillwarranthimagoodone!\"ThegrimoldDessauerthanksinsilence;

  speechlessgriefisonthatsterngunpowderface,andheseemseventobestrugglingwithtears。\"Nay,nay,myfriend,\"FriedrichWilhelmsaid,\"thisisadebtwehavealltopay。\"

  TheOfficialpeople,Queen,Friedrich,MinisterBoden,MinisterPodewils,andevenPollnitz,beingnowallpresent,FriedrichWilhelmmakeshisDeclaration,atconsiderablelength;oldGeneralBredowrepeatingitaloud,[Pollnitz,ii。561。]sentencebysentence,theKing’sownvoicebeingtooweak;sothatallmayhear:\"Thatheabdicates,givesupwholly,infavorofhisgoodSonFriedrich;thatforeignAmbassadorsaretobeinformed;

  thatyouarealltobetrueandloyaltomySonasyouweretome\"——andwhatelseisneedful。TowhichthejudiciousPodewilsmakesanswer,\"ThattheremustfirstbeawrittenDeedofhishighTransactionexecuted,whichshallbestraightwaysetabout;

  theDeedonceexecuted,signedandsealed,——thehighRoyalwill,inallpoints,takeseffect。\"Alas,beforePodewilshasdonespeaking,theKingislikefallingintoafaint;doesfaint,andiscarriedtobed:toounlikelyanyDeedofAbdicationwillbeneeded。

  Upsanddownstherestillwere;sorefluctuatinglabor,asthepoorKingstrugglestohisfinalrest,thismorning。Hewasatthewindowagain,whentheWACHT—PARADE(GrenadiersonGuard)turnedout;hesawthemmaketheirevolutionsforthelasttime。[Pauli,viii。280。]Afterwhich,newrelapse,newfluctuation。Itwasabouteleveno’clock,whenCochiuswasagainsentfor。TheKinglayspeechless,seeminglystillconscious,inbed;Cochiusprayswithfervor,inaloudtone,thatthedyingKingmayhearandjoin。\"Notsoloud!\"saystheKing,rallyingalittle。Hehadrememberedthatitwastheseasonwhenhisservantsgottheirnewliveries;theyhadbeenorderedtoappearthisdayinfullnewcostume:\"Ovanity!Ovanity!\"saidFriedrichWilhelm,atsightoftheornamentedplush。\"Prayforme,prayforme;mytrustisintheSaviour!\"heoftensaid。Hispains,hisweaknessaregreat;

  thecordageofamosttoughheartrendingitselfpiecebypiece。

  Atonetime,hecalledforamirror:thatiscertain:——ruggedwildman,sonofNaturetothelast。Themirrorwasbrought;whathesaidatsightofhisfaceisvariouslyreported:\"NotsowornoutasIthought,\"isPollnitz’saccount,andthelikeliest;——thoughperhapshesaidseveralthings,\"uglyface,\"\"asgoodasdeadalready;\"andcontinuedtheinspectionforsomemoments。

  [Pollnitz,ii。564;Wilhelmina,ii。321。]Agrim,strangething。

  \"Feelmvpulse,Pitsch,\"saidhe,noticingtheSurgeonofhisGiants:\"tellmehowlongthiswilllast。\"——\"Alas,notlong,\"

  answeredPitsch。——\"Saynot,alas;buthowdoyou(He)know?\"——

  \"Thepulseisgone!\"——\"Impossible,\"saidhe,liftinghisarm:

  \"howcouldImovemyfingersso,ifthepulseweregone?\"

  Pitschlookedmournfullysteadfast。\"HerrJesu,totheeIlive;

  HerrJesu,totheeIdie;inlifeandindeaththouartmygain(DUBISTMEINGEWINN)。\"ThesewerethelastwordsFriedrichWilhelmspokeinthisworld。Heagainfellintoafaint。

  EllergaveasignaltotheCrown—PrincetotaketheQueenaway。

  Scarcelyweretheyoutoftheroom,whenthefainthaddeepenedintodeath;andFriedrichWilhelm,atrestfromallhislabors,sleptwiththeprimevalsonsofThor。

  NoBaresarkofthem,norOdin’sself,Ithink,wasabitoftruerhumanstuff;——Iconfesshisvaluetome,inthesesadtimes,israreandgreat。ConsideringtheusualHistrionic,Papin’s—

  Digester,Truculent—Charlatanandotherspeciesof\"Kings,\"aloneattainableforthesunkflunkypopulationsofanEragivenuptoMammonandtheworshipofitsownbelly,whatwouldnotsuchapopulationgiveforaFriedrichWilhelm,toguideitontheroadBACKfromOrcusalittle?\"Wouldgive,\"Ihavewritten;butalas,itoughttohavebeen\"SHOULDgive。\"WhatTHEY\"would\"giveistoomournfullyplaintome,inspiteofballot—boxes:asteadyandtremendoustruthfromthedaysofBarabbasdownwardsandupwards!

  ——Tuesday,31stMay,1740,betweenoneandtwoo’clockintheafternoon,FriedrichWilhelmdied;agefifty—two,coming15thAugustnext。Sameday,FriedrichhisSonwasproclaimedatBerlin;

  quiltedheralds,withsoundoftrumpetandthelike,doingwhatiscustomaryonsuchoccasions。

  OnSaturday,4thJune,theKing’sbodyislaidoutinstate;

  allPotsdamatlibertytocomeandsee。Heliesthere,inhisregimentals,inhisoakencoffin,onaraisedplaceinthemiddleoftheroom;decentmortuarydraperies,lamps,garlands,banderolsfurnishingtheroomandhim:athisfeet,onablack—velvetTABOURET(stool),arethechivalryemblems,helmet,gauntlets,spurs;andonsimilarstools,attherighthandandtheleft,liehismilitaryinsignia,hatandsash,sword,guidon,andwhatelseisfit。Around,insilence,sitnineveteranmilitarydignitaries;

  Buddenbrock,Waldau,Derschau,Einsiedel,andfiveotherswhomweomittoname。Silenttheysit。Agrimearnestsightintheshineofthelamplight,asyoupassoutoftheJunesun。Manywent,allday;lookedonceagainonthefacethatwastovanish。

  Preciselyattenatnight,thecoffin—lidisscreweddown:

  twelvePotsdamCaptainstakethecoffinontheirshoulders;

  four—and—twentyCorporalswithwaxtorches,four—and—twentySergeantswithinvertedhalbertslowered;certainGeneralsonorder,andverymanyfollowingasvolunteers;theseperformtheactualburial,——carrythebodytotheGarrisonChurch,whereareclergywaiting,whichisbutasmallstepoff;seeitlodged,oakcoffinandall,inamarblecoffininthesidevaultthere,whichisknowntoTourists。[Pauli,viii。281。]Itistheendoftheweek,andtheactualburialisdone,——hastenedforwardforreasonswecanguess。

  FilialpietybynomeansintendstodefraudalovedFatheroftheSpartanceremonialcontemplatedasobsequiesbyhim:veryfarfromit。Filialpietywillconformtothatwithrigor;onlyaddingwhatmusicalandothersplendorsarepossible,totestifyhislovestillmore。Andso,almostthreeweekshence,onthe23dofthemonth,withtheaidofDresdenArtists,ofLatinCantatasandotherpomps(notinexcusable,thoughsomewhatoutofkeeping),thedueFuneralisdone,noCorpsebutaWaxEffigypresentinit;——

  andinallpoints,thatofthePotsdamGrenadiersnotforgotten,therewasrigorousconformitytotheInstructionleft。Inallpoints,eventotheextensivefuneraldinner,anddrinkingoftheappointedcaskofwine,\"thebestcaskinmycellar。\"Adieu,OKing。

  ThePotsdamGrenadiersfiredtheirthreevolleys(not\"PLACKERING,\"asIhavereasontobelieve,butwell);gottheirallowance,dinner—liquor,andappointedcoinofmoney:itwasthelastservicerequiredoftheminthisworld。Thatsamenighttheyweredissolved,thewholeFourThousandofthem,atastroke;

  andceasedtoexistasPotsdamGrenadiers。Colonels,Captains,alltheOfficersknowntobeofmerit,wereadvanced,atleasttransferred。Ofthecommonmen,aminority,ofnotinhumanheightandofworthotherwise,wereformedintoanewRegimentonthecommonterms:thestupidsplay—footedeight—feetmasswereallowedtostalkoffwhithertheypleased,orvegetateonfrugalpensions;

  IrishKirkman,andafewothersneitherknock—kneednorwithouthead,wereappointedHEYDUCS,thatis,porterstotheKing’sorotherPalaces;anddidthatdutyinwhatwasconsideredanornamentalmanner。

  Herearestilltwothingscapableofbeingfishedupfromtheseaofnugatorymatter;andmeditatedonbyreaders,tillthefollowingBooksopen。

  ThelastbreathofFriedrichWilhelmhavingfled,Friedrichhurriedtoaprivateroom;satthereallintears;lookingbackthroughthegulfsofthePast,uponsuchaFathernowraptawayforever。Sadall,andsoftinthemoonlightofmemory,——thelostLovedOneallintherightaswenowsee,weallinthewrong!——

  this,itappears,wastheSon’sfixedopinion。Sevenyearshence,hereishowFriedrichconcludestheHISTORYofhisFather,writtenwithaloyaladmirationthroughout:\"WehaveleftundersilencethedomesticchagrinsofthisgreatPrince:readersmusthavesomeindulgenceforthefaultsoftheChildren,inconsiderationofthevirtuesofsuchaFather。\"[OEuvres,i。174

  (MemoiresdeBrandebourg:finishedabout1747)。]Allintearshesitsatpresent,meditatingthesesadthings。

  InalittlewhiletheOldDessauer,abouttoleaveforDessau,venturesintotheCrown—Prince,Crown—Princenolonger;

  \"embraceshisknees;\"offers,weeping,hiscondolence,hiscongratulation;——hopeswithalthathissonsandhewillbecontinuedintheiroldposts,andthathe,theOldDessauer,\"willhavethesameauthorityasinthelatereign。\"Friedrich’seyes,atthislastclause,flashouttearless,strangelyOlympian。

  \"InyourpostsIhavenothoughtofmakingchange:inyourposts,yes;——andastoauthority,IknowofnonetherecanbebutwhatresidesintheKingthatissovereign!\"Which,asitwere,struckthebreathoutoftheOldDessauer;andsenthimhomewithapainfulmiscellanyoffeelings,astonishmentnotwantingamongthem。

  Atanafterhour,thesamenight,FriedrichwenttoBerlin;metbyacclamationenough。Hesleptthere,notwithouttumultofdreams,onemayfancy;andonawakeningnextmorning,thefirstsoundheheardwasthatoftheRegimentGlasenapunderhiswindows,swearingfealtytothenewKing。Hesprangoutofbedinatempestofemotion;bustleddistractedlytoandfro,wildlyweeping。

  Pollnitz,whocameintotheanteroom,foundhiminthisstate,\"half—dressed,withdishevelledhair,intears,andasifbesidehimself。\"\"ThesehuzzaingsonlytellmewhatIhavelost!\"saidthenewKing。——\"HEwasingreatsuffering,\"suggestedPollnitz;

  \"heisnowatrest。\"\"True,hesuffered;buthewasherewithus:

  andnow——!\"[Ranke(ii。46,47),fromcertainFragments,still,inmanuscript,ofPollnits’sMemoiren。

  ENDOFBOOKX

  HistoryofFriedrichIIofPrussiaV11

  byThomasCarlyleBOOKXI。

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