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  whereyoureposeonyourlaurels,andcanphilosophizewithacalmmindonthedeliriumsofmen!Iwishyouallthehappinessimaginable。IfFortuneeverfavorusagain,countonallmygratitude。Iwillneverforgetthemarksofattachmentwhichyouhavegiven;mysensibilityisyourwarrant;Iamneverhalf—and—

  halfafriend,andIshallalwaysbewhollysoofBrotherVoltaire。——WILHELMINA。

  \"ManycomplimentstoMadameDenis。Continue,Iprayyou,towritetotheKing。\"[InVoltaire,ii。197—199;

  lxxvii。57。]

  VOLTAIRETOWILHELMINA(Dayuncertain:THEDELICES,SEPTEMBER,1757)。——\"Madam,myheartistouchedmorethaneverbythegoodnessandtheconfidenceyourRoyalHighnessdeignstoshowme。HowcanI

  bebutmeltedbyemotion!Iseethatitissolelyyournoblenessofsoulthatrendersyouunhappy。Ifeelmyselfborntobeattachedwithidolatrytosuperiorandsympatheticminds,whothinklikeyou。\"YouknowhowmuchIhavealways,essentiallyandatheart,beenattachedtotheKingyourBrother。Themoremyoldageistranquil,andcometorenounceeverything,andmakemyretreathereahomeandcountry,themoreamIdevotedtothatPhilosopher—King。

  IwritenothingtohimbutwhatIthinkfromthebottomofmyheart,nothingthatIdonotthinkmosttrue;andifmyLetter[dissuasiveofseekingDeath;wait,reader]appearstoyourRoyalHighnesstobesuitable,Ibegyoutoprotectitwithhim,asyouhavedonetheforegoing。\"[InVoltaire,

  lxxvii。37,39。]

  4。FRIEDRICHTOWILHELMINA,AND,BYANTICIPATION,HERANSWER(ThirdoftheProsePieces)。——\"KIRSCHLEBEN,NEARERFURT,17thSEPTEMBER,1757。——MydearestSister,IfindnootherconsolationbutinyourpreciousLetters。MayHeavenrewardsomuchvirtueandsuchheroicsentiments!

  \"SinceIwrotelasttoyou,mymisfortuneshavebutgoneonaccumulating。ItseemsasthoughDestinywoulddischargeallitswrathandfuryuponthepoorCountrywhichIhadtoruleover。

  TheSwedeshaveenteredPommern。TheFrench,afterhavingconcludedaNeutralityhumiliatingtotheKingofEnglandandthemselves[Kloster—Zeven,whichweknow],areinfullmarchuponHalberstadtandMagdeburg。FromPreussenIamindailyexpectationofhearingofabattlehavingbeenfought:theproportionofcombatantsbeing25,000against80,000[wasfought,Gross—Jagersdorf,30thAugust,andlostaccordingly]。TheAustrianshavemarchedintoSilesia,whitherthePrinceofBevernfollowsthem。IhaveadvancedthiswaytofalluponthecorpsofthealliedArmy;whichhasrunoff,andintrencheditself,behindEisenach,amongsthills,whithertofollow,stillmoretoattackthem,allrulesofwarforbid。

  ThemomentIretiretowardsSaxony,thiswholeswarmwillbeuponmyheels。Happenwhatmay,Iamdetermined,atallrisks,tofalluponwhatevercorpsoftheenemyapproachesmenearest。IshallevenblessHeavenforitsmercy,ifitgrantmethefavortodieswordinhand。

  \"Shouldthishopefailme,youwillallowthatitwouldbetoohardtocrawlatthefeetofacompanyoftraitors,towhomsuccessfulcrimeshavegiventheadvantagetoprescribethelawtome。How,mydear,myincomparableSister,howcouldIrepressfeelingsofvengeanceandofresentmentagainstallmyneighbors,ofwhomthereisnotonewhodidnotacceleratemydownfall,andwillnot,shareinourspoils?HowcanaPrincesurvivehisState,thegloryofhisCountry,hisownreputation?ABavarianElector,inhisnonage[SonofthelatepoorKaiser,andleft,shipwreckedinhisseventeenthyear],orratherinasortofsubjectiontohisMinisters,anddulltothebiddingsofhonor,maygivehimselfupasaslavetotheimperiousdominationoftheHouseofAustria,andkissthehandwhichoppressedhisFather:Ipardonittohisyouthandhisineptitude。Butisthattheexampleformetofollow?No,dearSister,youthinktoonoblytogivemesuchmean(LACHE)advice。

  IsLiberty,thatpreciousprerogative,tobelessdeartoaSovereignintheeighteenthcenturythanitwastoRomanPatriciansofold?Andwhereisitsaid,thatBrutusandCatoshouldcarrymagnanimityfartherthanPrincesandKings?Firmnessconsistsinresistingmisfortune:butonlycowardssubmittotheyoke,bearpatientlytheirchains,andsupportoppressiontranquilly。

  Never,mydearSister,couldIresolveuponsuchignominy……

  \"IfIhadfollowedonlymyowninclinations,Ishouldhaveendedit(JEMESERAISDEPECHE)atonce,afterthatunfortunateBattlewhichIlost。ButIfeltthatthiswouldbeweakness,andthatitbehoovedmetorepairtheevilwhichhadhappened。MyattachmenttotheStateawoke;Isaidtomyself,Itisnotinseasonsofprosperitythatitisraretofinddefenders,butinadversity。

  Imadeitapointofhonorwithmyselftoredressallthathadgotoutofsquare;inwhichIwasnotunsuccessful;notevenintheLausitz[afterthoseZittaudisasters]lastofall。ButnosoonerhadIhastenedthiswaytofacenewenemies,thanWinterfeldwasbeatenandkillednearGorlitz,thantheFrenchenteredtheheart,ofmyStates,thantheSwedesblockadedStettin。Nowthereisnothingeffectiveleftformetodo:therearetoomanyenemies。

  WereIeventosucceedinbeatingtwoarmies,thethirdwouldcrushme。TheenclosedNote[incipher]willshowyouwhatIamstillabouttotry:itisthelastattempt。

  \"Thegratitude,thetenderaffection,whichIfeeltowardsyou,thatfriendship,trueasthehills,constrainsmetodealopenlywithyou。No,mydivineSister,IshallconcealnothingfromyouthatIintendtodo;allmythoughts,allmyresolutionsshallbeopenandknowntoyouintime。Iwillprecipitatenothing:butalsoitwillbeimpossibleformetochangemysentiments……

  \"Asforyou,myincomparableSister,Ihavenotthehearttoturnyoufromyourresolves。Wethinkalike,andIcannotcondemninyouthesentimentswhichIdailyentertain(EPROUVE)。Lifehasbeengiventousasabenefit:whenitceasestobesuch\"——!\"Ihavenobodyleftinthisworld,toattachmetoit,butyou。Myfriends,therelationsIlovedmost,areinthegrave;inshort,Ihavelost,everything。IfyoutaketheresolutionwhichIhavetaken,weendtogetherourmisfortunesandourunhappiness;anditwillbetheturnofthemwhoremaininthisworld,toprovidefortheconcernsfallingtotheircharge,andtobeartheweight,whichhaslainonussolong。These,myadorableSister,aresadreflections,butsuitabletomypresentcondition。

  \"ThedaybeforeyesterdayIwasatGotha[yes,seeabove;——andto—morrow,ifIknewit,Seidlitzwithpictorialeffectswillbethere]……

  \"But,itistimetoendthislong,drearyLetter;whichtreatsalmostofnothingbutmyownaffairs。Ihavehadsomeleisure,andhaveusedittoopenonyouaheartfilledwithadmirationandgratitudetowardsyou。Yes,myadorableSister,ifProvidencetroubleditselfabouthumanaffairs,yououghttobethehappiestpersonintheUniverse。Yournotbeingsuch,confirmsmeinthesentimentsexpressedattheendofmyEPITRE。Inconclusion,believethatIadoreyou,andthatIwouldgivemylifeathousandtimestoserveyou。Thesearethesentimentswhichwillanimatemetothelastbreathofmylife;being,mybelovedSister,ever\"——

  Your——F。[OEuvres,xxvii。i,303—307。]

  WILHELMINA’SANSWER,——byanticipation,aswesaid:written\"15thSeptember,\"whileFriedrichwasdiningatGotha,inquestofSoubise。

  \"BAIREUTH,15thSEPTEMBER,1757。MydearestBrother,yourLetterandtheoneyouwrotetoVoltaire,mydearBrother,havealmostkilledme。Whatfatalresolutions,greatGod!Ah,mydearBrother,yousayyouloveme;andyoudriveadaggerintomyheart。

  YourEPITRE,whichIdidreceive,mademeshedriversoftears。

  Iamnowashamedofsuchweakness。Mymisfortunewouldbesogreat\"

  intheissuetherealludedto,\"thatIshouldfindworthierresourcesthantears。Yourlotshallbemine:IwillnotsurviveeitheryourmisfortunesorthoseoftheHouseIbelongto。Youmaycalculatethatsuchismyfirmresolution。

  \"But,afterthisavowal,allowmetoentreatyoutolookbackatwhatwasthepitiablestateofyourEnemywhenyoulaybeforePrag!

  ItisthesuddenwhirlofFortuneforbothparties。Thelikecanoccuragain,whenoneisleastexpectingit,CaesarwastheslaveofPirates;andhebecamethemasteroftheworld。Agreatgeniuslikeyoursfindsresourcesevenwhenallislost;anditisimpossiblethisfrenzycancontinue。MyheartbleedstothinkofthepoorsoulsinPreussen[ApraxinandhisChristianCossacksthere,——who,itisnoted,farexceltheCalmuckworshippersoftheDalai—Lama]。Whathorridbarbarity,thedetailofcrueltiesthatgoonthere!Ifeelallthatyoufeelonit,mydearBrother。Iknowyourheart,andyoursensibilityforyoursubjects。

  \"IsufferathousandtimesmorethanIcantellyou;neverthelesshopedoesnotabandonme。IreceivedyourLetterofthe14thbyW。

  [whoW。is,nomortalknows]。Whatkindnesstothinkofme,whohavenothingtogiveyoubutauselessaffection,whichissorichlyrepaidbyyours!Iamobligedtofinish;butIshallneverceasetobe,withthemostprofoundrespect(TRES—PROFONDRESPECT,\"

  ——that,andsomethingstillbetter,ifmypoorpenwerenotembarrassed),\"your\"——WILHELMINA。

  5。FRIEDRICH’SRESPONSETOTHEDISSUASIVESOFVOLTAIRE(LastoftheLamentation—Psalms:\"Buttstadt,October9th\")。——Voltaire’sDissuasiveLetterisapoorPiece;[OEuvresdeVoltaire,lxxvii。80—85(LESDELICES,earlyinSeptember,1757:

  nodategiven)。]notworthgivinghere。RemarkableonlybyFriedrich’squietreceptionofit;whichreadersshallnowsee,asFinistothoseLamentation—Psalms。Thereisanotherofthem,widelyknown,whichwewillomit:theEPITRETOD’ARGENS;[In

  OEuvresdeFrederic,xii。50—56(\"Erfurt,23dSeptember,1757\")。]passionateenough,wanderingwildlyoverhumanlife,andsincerealmosttoshrillness,inparts;whichVoltairehasalsogotholdof。Omissiblehere;thefixityofpurposebeingplainotherwisetoVoltaireandus。Voltaire’scounter—argumentsareweak,orworse:\"ThatRomandeathisnotnowexpectedofthePhilosopher;thatyourMajestywill,intheworstevent,stillhaveconsiderableDominionsleft,allthatyourGreat—Grandfatherhad;

  stillplentyofresources;that,inParisSociety,anestimableminorityevennowthinkshighlyofyou;thatinParisitselfyourMajesty[doesnotsayexpressly,asdethronedandgoingonyourtravels]wouldhaveresources!\"TowhichbeautifulconsiderationsFriedrichanswers,notwithfireandbrimstone,asonemighthavedreaded,butinthisquietmanner(REPONSEAUSIEURVOLTAIRE):——

  \"Jesuishomme,ilsuffit,etnepourlasouffrance;

  Auxrigueursdudestinj’opposemaconstance。

  [\"Iamaman,andthereforeborntosuffer;todestiny’srigorsmysteadfastnessmustcorrespond。\"——QuotationfromIknownotwhom。]

  Butwiththesesentiments,IamfarfromcondemningCatoandOtho。

  Thelatterhadnofinemomentinhislife,exceptthatofhisdeath。[BreaksoffintoVerse:]

  \"Croyezquesij’etaisVoltaire,Etparticuliercommelui,Mecontentantdunecessaire,Jeverraisvoltigerlafortunelegere,\"——Or,towringthewaterandthejingleoutofit,andgivethesubstanceinProse:——

  \"Yes,ifIwereVoltaireandaprivateman,IcouldwithmuchcomposureleaveFortunetoherwhirlingsandherplungings;tome,contentedwiththeneedful,hermadcapricesandsuddentopsy—

  turvyingswouldbeamusingratherthantremendous。

  \"Iknowtheennuiattendingonhonors,theburdensomeduties,thejargonofgrinningflatterers,thosepitiabilitiesofeverykind,thosedetailsoflittleness,withwhichyouhavetooccupyyourselfifsetonhighonthestageofthings。Foolishgloryhasnocharmforme,thoughaPoetandKing:whenonceAtroposhasendedmeforever,whatwilltheuncertainhonoroflivingintheTempleofMemoryavail?OnemomentofpracticalhappinessisworthathousandyearsofimaginaryinsuchTemple。——Isthelotofhighpeoplesoverysweet,then?Pleasure,gentleease,trueandheartymirth,havealwaysfledfromthegreatandtheirpeculiarpompsandlabors。

  \"No,itisnotfickleFortunethathasevercausedmysorrows;

  lethersmileherblandest,letherfrownherfiercestonme,I

  shouldsleepeverynight,refusinghertheleastworship。Butourrespectiveconditionsareourlaw;weareboundandcommandedtoshapeourtempertotheemploymentwehaveundertaken。Voltaireinhishermitage,inaCountrywhereishonestyandsafety,candevotehimselfinpeacetothelifeofthePhilosopher,asPlatohasdescribedit。Butastome,threatenedwithshipwreck,Imustconsiderhow,lookingthetempestintheface,Icanthink,canliveandcandieasaKing:——

  Pourmoi,menacedunaufrage,Jedois,enaffrontantl’orage,Penser,vivreetmourirenroi。\"

  [OEuvres,xxiii。14。]

  ThisisofOctober9th;thisends,worthily,theLamentation—

  Psalms;workhavingnowturnedup,whichisafavorablechange。

  Friedrich’snotionofsuicide,weperceive,isbynomeansthatofpukingupone’sexistence,intheweaksickwayofFELODESE;

  but,fardifferent,thatofdying,ifheneedsmust,asseemstoolikely,inuttermostspasmofbattleforselfandrightstothelast。Fromwhichlatternotionnobodycanturnhim。Avaliantlydefinite,lucidandshininglypracticalsoul,——withsuchapowerofalwaysexpectoratinghimselfintoclearnessagain。Ifhedofranklywagerhislifeinthatmanner,beware,yeSoubises,Karlsandflaccidtrivialpersons,ofthestrokethatmaychancetolieinhim!——

  III。RUMOROFANINROADONBERLINSUDDENLYSETSFRIEDRICH

  ONMARCHTHITHER:INROADTAKESEFECT,——WITHIMPORTANTRESULTS,CHIEFLYINALEFT—HANDFORM。

  Octoberllth,expressarrived,importantexpressfromGeneralFinck(whoisinDresden,convalescentfromKolin,andisevenCommandantthere,ofanythingthereistocommand),\"ThattheconsiderableAustrianBrigadeorOutpost,whichwasleftatStolpenwhentheotherswentforSilesia,isallonmarchforBerlin。\"Hereisnews!

  \"Thewhole15,000ofthem,\"reportadds;——thoughitprovedtobeonlyaDetachment,pickedTolpatchesmostly,andofnothinglikethatstrength;shotoff,underaswiftGeneralHaddick,onthiserrand。BetweenthemandBerlinisnotavestigeofforce;

  andBerlinitselfhasnothingbutpalisades,andperhapsapoor4,000ofgarrison。\"Marchinstantly,youMoritz,wholienearest;

  crossElbeatTorgau;Ifollowinstantly!\"ordersFriedrich;

  [HisMessagetoMoritz,ORLICH,p。73;Rodenbeck,p。322(dubious,orwrong)。]——andthatsamenightisonmarch,orhascavalrypushedaheadforreinforcementofMoritz。

  Friedrich,notdoubtingbuttherewouldbecaptaincyandschemeamonghisEnemies,consideredthattheSwedes,andperhapstheRichelieuFrench,wereinconcertwiththisAustrianmovement,——

  fromeast,fromnorth,fromwest,threeInvasionscomingonthecoreofhisDominions;——andthathereatlastwasworkahead,andplentyofit!ThatwasFriedrich’sopinion,andmostotherpeople’s,whentheAustrianinroadwasfirstheardof:\"meretripleruincomingtothisKing,\"astheGazetteersjudged;——greatalarmprevailingamongtheKing’sfriends;inBerlin,verygreat。

  Friedrich,glad,atanyrate,tohavedonewiththatdismallingeringatButtelstadt,hastenstoarrangehimselfforthenewcontingencies;toposthisKeiths,hisFerdinands,withtheirhandfulsofforce,tobestadvantage;andpushaheadafterMoritz,byLeipzig,Torgau,Berlin—wards,withallhismight。AtLeipzig,insuchpressofbusinessandinterest,——judgebythefollowingphenomenon,whataclear—goingsoulthisis,andhowcompletelyonalevelwithwhateveritmaybethatheismarchingtowards:——

  \"LEIPZIG,15thOCTOBER,1757(InterviewwithGottsched)。——At11

  thismorning,MajestycamemarchingintoLeipzig;multitudesofthingstosettlethere;thingsready,thingsnotyetready,inviewofthegreateventsahead。Seeingthathewouldhavetimeafterdinner,heatoncesentforProfessorGottsched,agiganticgentleman,ReigningKingofGermanLiteratureforthetimebeing,tocometohimat3P。M。ReigningKingatthattime;sincegonewhollytotheDustbins,——’PopularDelusion,’asoldSamueldefinesit,havingsinceawakenedtoitself,withscornfulhahasuponitspoorGottsched,andrushedintootherroadsworseandbetter;

  itspoorGottschedbecomeanamenowsignifyingPedantry,Stupidity,learnedInanityandtheWorshipofColoredWater,toeveryGermanmind。

  \"At3precise,theportlyoldgentleman(towardssixtynow,hugeofstature,withashriekyvoice,andspeaksuncommonlyfast)bowedhimselfin;andaColloquyensued,onLiteratureandsoforth,ofthekindwemayconceive。Colloquywhichhadgreatfameintheworld;Gottschedhimselfhaving——suchtheinaccuracyofrumorandDutchNewspapers,onthematter——publishedauthenticReportofit;

  [NextYear,inaprincipalLeipzigMagazine,withnamesigned:

  giveninHelden—Geschichte,iv。728—739(withmultifariouscommentariesandflourishings,denotinganattentiveworld)。Nicolai,Anekdoten,iii。286—290。]

  nowoneofthedullestbitsofreading,andworthnoman’sbitoftime。Colloquywhichlastedthreehours,withthegreatestvivacityonbothsides;Kingimpugning,foroneprincipalthing,theroughnessofGermanspeech;Gottsched,inswifttorrents(fartoocopiousinsuchcompany),readytodefend。’Thoseconsonantsofours,’saidtheKing,’theyafflictone’sear:whatNameswehave;

  allinmereK’sandP’s:KNAP—,KNIP—,KLOP—,KROTZ—,KROK——;

  ——yourownName,forexample!’\"——Yes,hisownName,unmusicalGottSCHED,andsignifyingGod’s—Damage(God’s—SKAITH)withal。

  \"Husht,don’ttakeaHolyNameinvain;callthemanSCHED

  (’Damage’byitself),can’twe!\"saidawitonce。[Nicolai,Anekdoten,iii。287。]——\"’Fiveconsonantstogether,TTSCH,TTSCH,whatatone!’continuedtheKing。’Hear,incontrast,themusicofthisStanzaofRousseau’s[Repeatsastanza]。WhocouldexpressthatinGermanwithsuchmelody?’Andsoon;branchingthroughagreatmanyprovinces;King’sknowledgeofallLiterature,newandancient,’perfectlyastonishingtome;’

  andImyself,theswift—speakingGottsched,rathercopiousthanotherwise。Catastrophe,andsummaryofthewhole,was:GottschedundertooktotranslatetheRousseauStanzaintoGermanofmoderatesoftness;andbytheaidofwaterdidso,thatverynight;

  [CopieddulyinHelden—Geschichte,iv。726。]

  sentitnextday,andhad’withinanhour’agraciousRoyalAnswerinverse;callingone,incidentally,’SaxonSwan,CYGNESAXON,’

  thoughoneissuchaGoose!’Majestytomarchat7to—morrowmorning,’saidaPostscript,——noInterviewingmore,atpresent。

  \"Abouttendaysafter[nottoletthisthinginterruptusagain],Friedrich,onhisreturntoLeipzig,hadanotherInterviewwithGottsched;ofonlyonehour,thistime;——butwithmanytopics:

  ReadingofsomeGottschedOde(ODE,verytedious,frothy,watery,ofTHANKStoMajestyforsuchgoodnesstotheSaxonSwan;reading,too,of’someofMadamGottsched’sPieces’)。Majestyconfessedafterwards,EveryhourfromtheveryfirsthadloweredhisopinionoftheSaxonSwan,tillatlengthGoosehoodbecametooapparent。

  Friedrichsenthimagoldsnuffboxbyandby,buthadnofartherdialoguing。

  \"AsayingofExcellencyMitchell’stoGottsched——forGottsched,onthatsecondLeipzigopportunity,wentswashingaboutamongtheKing’sSuiteaswell——isstillremembered。TheyweretalkingofShakspeare:’Genial,ifyouwill,’saidGottsched,’buttheLawsofAristotle;FiveActs,unitiesstrict!’——’Aristotle?WhatistohinderamanfrommakinghisTragedyinTenacts,ifitsuithimbetter?’’Impossible,yourExcellency!’——’Pooh,’saidhisExcellency;’supposeAristotle,andgeneralFashiontoo,hadorderedthattheclothesofeverymanweretobecutfromfiveellsofcloth:howwouldtheHerrProfessorlike[withthesehugelimbsofhis]ifhefoundtherewerenobreechesforhim,onAristotle’saccount?’AdieutoGottsched;mostvoluminousofmen;——whowroteaGrammaroftheGermanLanguage,which,theysay,didgood。

  IrememberalwayshispoorWifewithsomepathos;whowasafine,graceful,loyalcreature,oftentimeshisintelligence;anddidnoendofwritingandtranslatingandcompiling(Addison’sCATO,Addison’sSPECTATOR,thousandsofthingsfromalllanguages),onorderofherGottsched,tilllifeitselfsankinsuchenterprises;

  neverdoubting,tragicallyfaithfulsoul,butherGottschedwasanauthenticSeneschalofPhoebusandtheNine。\"[HerLETTERS,collectedbyasurvivingLady—Friend,\"BRIEFEDERFRAULUISE

  ADELGUNDEVIKTORIEGOTTSCHED,bornKULMUS(Dresden,1771—1772,3vols。8vo),\"are,Ishouldsuppose,theonlyGottschedPiecewhichanybodywouldnowthinkofreading。]——

  Monday,17th,atseven,hisMajestypushedoffaccordingly;

  cheeryheintheprospectofwork,whateverhisfriendsinthedistancebe。Here,fromEilenburg,hisfirststageTorgau—way,areaPairofLettersinnotablecontrast。

  WILHELMINATOTHEKING(onrumorofHaddick,swolnintoaTripleInvasion,Austrian,Swedish,French)。

  BAIREUTH,\"15thOctober,1757。

  \"MYDEARESTBROTHER,——DeathandathousandtormentscouldnotequalthefrightfulstateIamin。Thererunreportsthatmakemeshudder。Somesayyouarewounded;others,dangerouslyill。InvainhaveItormentedmyselftohavenewsofyou;Icangetnone。Oh,mydearBrother,comewhatmay,Iwillnotsurviveyou。IfIamtocontinueinthisfrightfuluncertainty,Icannotstandit;Ishallsinkunderit,andthenIshallbehappy。Ihavebeenonthepointofsendingyouacourier;but[environedasweare]Idurstnot。

  InthenameofGod,bidsomebodywritemeoneword。

  \"IknownotwhatIhavewritten;myheartistorninpieces;IfeelthatbydintofdisquietudeandalarmsIamlosingmywits。Oh,mydear,adorableBrother,havepityonme。HeavengrantIbemistaken,andthatyoumayscoldme;buttheleastthingthatconcernsyoupiercesmetotheheart,andalarmsmyaffectiontoomuch。MightIdieathousandtimes,providedyoulivedandwerehappy!

  \"Icansaynomore。Griefchokesme;andIcanonlyrepeatthatyourfateshallbemine;being,mydearBrother,your\"WILHELMINA。\"

  Whatashrillpenetratingtone,likethewildlyweepingvoiceofRachel;tragical,painful,gonequitetofalsettoandabovepitch;

  butwithamelodyinitsdissonancelikethesingingofthestars。

  MypoorshrillWilhelmina!——

  KINGTOWILHELMINA(hasnotyetreceivedtheAbove)。

  \"EILENBURG,17thOctober,1757。

  \"MYDEARESTSISTER,——Whatisthegoodofphilosophyunlessoneemployitinthedisagreeablemomentsoflife?Itisthen,mydearSister,thatcourageandfirmnessavailus。

  \"Iamnowinmotion;andhavingoncegotintothat,youmaycalculateIshallnotthinkofsittingdownagain,exceptunderimprovedomens。Ifoutrageirritatesevencowards,whatwillitdotoheartsthathavecourage?

  \"IforeseeIshallnotbeabletowriteagainforperhapssixweeks:whichfailsnottobeasorrowtome:butIentreatyoutobecalmduringtheseturbulentaffairs,andtowaitwithpatiencethemonthofDecember;payingnoregardtotheNurnbergNewspapersnortothoseoftheReich,whicharetotallyAustrian。

  \"Iamtiredasadog(COMMEUNCHIEN)。Iembraceyouwithmywholeheart;beingwiththemostperfectaffection(TENDRESSE),mydearestSister,your\"——FRIEDRICH……(ATSOMEOTHERHOUR,SAMEPLACEANDDAY。)\"’NopossibilityofPeace,’sayyouraccounts[Letterlost];’theFrenchwon’thearmynamementioned。’Well;frommetheyshallnotfarther。Thewaywillbe,tospeaktothembyaction,sothattheymayrepenttheirimpertinencesandpride。\"[OEuvresdeFrederic,xxvii。i。308,309,310。]’

  TheHaddickaffair,afteralltherumoraboutit,provedtobeaverysmallmatter。NoSwedeorRichelieuhaddreamtofco—operating;Haddick,intheend,wasscarce4,000withfourcannon;GeneralRochow,CommandantofBerlin,withhissmallgarrison,hadnotHaddickskilfullysliddenthroughwoods,andbeensomagnifiedbyrumor,mighthavemarchedout,andbeatenacoupleofHaddicks。Asitwas,Haddickskilfullyemerging,attheSilesianGateofBerlin,16thOctober,abouteleveninthemorning,demandedransomof300,000thalers(45,000pounds);wasrefused;

  beganshootingonthepoorpalisades,onthepoordrawbridgethere;

  \"atthethirdshotbroughtdownthedrawbridge;\"rushedintothesuburb;andwasnottobepushedoutagainbytheweakpartyRochowsenttotryit。Rochow,ignorantofHaddick’sforce,marchedoffthereuponforSpandauwiththeRoyalFamilyandeffects;leavingHaddickmasterofthesuburb,andBerlintomakeitsownbargainwithhim。Haddick,hisCroatsnottobequitekeptfrommischief,remainedmasterofthesuburb,minatoryuponBerlin,fortwelvehoursormore:andafteragooddealofbargaining,——ransomof45,000pounds,of90,000pounds,finallyof27,000poundsand\"twodozenpairofglovestotheEmpressQueen,\"——madeoffaboutfiveinthemorning;windofMoritz’sadvanceaddingwingstothespeedofHaddick。[Helden—Geschichte,iv。715—723

  (Haddick’sownAccount,andtheBerlinone)。]

  Moritzdidarrivenextevening(18th);butwithhistiredtroopstherewasnocatchingofHaddick,nowthreemarchesahead。

  RoyalFamilyandeffectsreturnedfromSpandauthedayfollowing;

  butinadayortwomore,removedtoMagdeburgtilltheCapitalweresafefromsuchaffronts。MuchgrumblingagainstRochow。

  \"WhatcouldIdo?HowcouldIknow?\"answeredRochow,whoseeyesightindeedhadbeennoneofthebest。Berlinsmartstothelengthof27,000poundsandanalarm;butasserts(notquitemythically,thinksRetzow),that\"thetwodozenpairofgloveswereallglovesforthelefthand,\"——Berlinhavingwit,andatouchofABSINTHEinit,capableofsuchthings!FriedrichheardthenewsatAnnaburg,amarchbeyondTorgau;andtherepaused,againuncertain,foraboutaweekcoming;afterwhich,hediscoveredthatLeipzigwouldbetheplace;andreturnedthither,appointingageneralrendezvousandconcentrationthere。

  SCENEATREGENSBURGINTHEINTERIM。

  JustwhileHaddickwasslidingswiftlythroughthewoods,Berlinnownigh,thereoccurredathingatRegensburg;tragicthing,butendinginfarce,——FinaleofREICHS—ACHT,inshort;——aboutwhichallRegensburgwasloud,wailingorhaha—ingaccordingtohumor;

  whileBerlinwaspayingitsransomandleft—handgloves。

  Onemoment’spauseuponthis,thoughourhasteisgreat。

  \"ReichsDiethadgotitsBanoftheReichreadyforFriedrich;

  CITATIO(solemnSummons)andallelsecomplete;nothingnowwantedbuttoserveCitatioonhim,or’insinuate’itintohim,astheirphraseis;——whichlatteressentialpointoccasionssomeshakingofwigs。Dangerous,servingCitatiointhatquarter:andbywhatarttrytosmuggleitintothehandsofsuchaone?’Insinuateithereintohis,Plotho’s,hand;thatisthemethod,andthatwillsuffice!’saythewigs,andchooseanunfortunateReichsNotary,Dr。Aprill,todoit;who,inponderousChancery—style,givesthefollowingaffectingreport,——wonderful,butintelligible(whenabridged):——

  \"Citatio\"tocomeandreceiveyourBan,——averysolemn—soundingDocument,commencing(orperhapsitisAprillhimselfthatsocommences,nomatterwhich),\"’IntheNameoftheMostHighGod,theFather,SonandHolyGhost,Amen,’——wasgiven,Wednesday,12thOctober,intheYearafterChristourdearLordandSaviour’sBirth,1757Years,TomeGeorgiusMathiasJosephusAprill,swornKaiserlichNotariusPublicus;InmyLodging,first—floorfrontingsouth,inJacobVirnrohrtheInnkeeper’sHousehereatRegensburg,calledtheRed—Star,\"forinsinuationintoPlotho:

  WithwhichsolemnPiece,Aprillproceedednextday,Thursday,half—past2P。M。,toPlotho’sdwelling—place,describedwithequalirrefragability;and,continuesAprill,\"didthere,byaservantoftheHerrAmbassadorvonPlotho’s,announcemyself;addingthatI

  hadsomethingtosaytohisExcellency,ifhewouldpleasetoadmitme。TowhichtheHerrAmbassadorbythesameservantsentanswer,thathewasillwithacold,andthatImightspeaktohisSecretariuswhatIhadtosay。But,asIrepliedthatmymessagewastohisExcellenzinperson,thesameservantcamebackwithintimationthatImightcallagainto—morrowatnoon。\"

  To—morrow,atthestrokeofnoon,Friday,14thOctober,Aprillpunctuallyappearsagain,withrecapitulationofthepledgegivenhimyesterday;andisinformedthathecanwalkup—stairs。

  \"Iproceededthereupon,theservantgoingbefore,uponepairofstairs,orwiththeappurtenances(GEZEUGEN)rathermorethanonepair,intotheHerrAmbassadorFreiherrvonPlotho’sAnteroom;

  who,justaswewereentering,steptinhimself,throughaside—

  door;inhisdressing—gown,andwiththewords,’Speaknowwhatyouhavetosay。’

  \"IthereuponsliptintohishandCITATIOFISCALIS,andsaid\"——saidatfirstnothing,Plothoavers;merelymumbled,lookedlikesomepoorcaitiff,comewithLaw—papersonatriflingSuitwehappentohaveintheCourtshere;——andonlybydegreessaid(letusabridge;

  SCENE,AprillandPlotho,AnteroominRegensburg,first—floorandratherhigher):——

  APTILL。\"’IhavetogiveyourExcellenzthisWriting,——[whichprivately,couldyourExcellenzguessit,is]CITATIOFISCALISfromtheReichstag,summoninghisMajestytoshowcausewhyBanoftheReichshouldnotpassuponhim!’HisExcellenzatfirsttooktheCITATIOandadjunctsfromme;andlookingintothemtoseewhattheywere,hisExcellenz’sfacebegantocolor,andsoonaftertocoloralittlemore;andonhislookingattentivelyatCITATIO

  FISCALIS,hebrokeintoviolentangerandrage,sothathecouldnotstandstillanylonger;butwithburningface,andbotharmsheldaloft,rushedclosetome,CITATIOandadjunctsinhisrighthand,andbrokeoutinthisform:——

  PLOTHO。\"’What;insinuate(INSINUIEREN),youscoundrel!’

  APRILL。\"’ItismyNotarialOffice;Imustdoit。’InspiteofwhichtheFreiherrvonPlothofellonmewithallrage;graspedmebythefrontofthecloak,andsaid:——

  PLOTHO。\"’Takeitback,wiltthou!’AndasIresisteddoingso,hestuckitinuponme,andshoveditdownwithallviolencebetweenmycoatandwaistcoat;and,stillholdingmebythecloak,calledtothetwoservantswhohadbeenthere,’Flinghimdownstairs!’——

  whichthey,beingdiscreetfellows,andinnoflurry,didnotquite,norneededquitetodo(’Must,sir,yousee,unless!’),andsoforcedmeoutofthehouse;ExcellenzPlothoretiringthroughhisAnteroom,andhisBody—servant,whoatfirsthadbeenonthestairs,likewisedisappearingasIgotunderway,\"——andhavetoreport,insuchmanner,totheUniverseandReichsDiet,withtearsinmyeyes。[Preuss,ii。397—401;inHelden—Geschichte,iv。745—749,Plotho’sAccount。]

  WhatbecameofReichsBanafterthis,asknot。ItfelldeadbyFriedrich’svictoriesnowathand;roseagainintolifeonFriedrich’smisfortunes(August,1758),threateningtoincludeGeorgeSecondinit;uponwhichtheCORPUSEVANGELICORUMmadesomecounter—mumblement;——and,Ihaveheard,theFrenchprivatelyadvised:\"Betterdropit;thesetwoKingsarecapableofwalkingoutofyou,anddangerouslykickingthetableoverastheygo!\"——

  Wherebyitagainfelldead,positivelyforthelasttime,and,inshort,isworthnomentionorremembrancemore。

  CORPUSEVANGELICORUMhadalwaysbeenagainstReichsBan:afewDissentients,orHalf—Dissentientsexcepted,——asMecklenburgwhollyandwithawill;foolishAnspachwholly;andtheAnhaltshagglingsomedissent,andretractingit(why,Ineverknew);——forwhichMecklenburgandtheAnhalts,lyingwithinclutchofone,hadtorepentbitterlyintheyearscoming!Enoughofallthat。

  TheHaddickinvasion,,whichhadgotitsgloves,left—handornot,andpartofitsroad—expenses,broughtanotherconsequencemuchmoreimportantonthePER—CONTRAside。Thetriumphing,TE—DEUM—ingandjubilationoverit,——\"HisMetropoliscaptured;RoyalFamilyinflight!\"——raisedtheDauphinessArmy,andespeciallyVersailles,intosuchenthusiasm,thatDauphinesscamebodilyout(onorderfromVersailles);spreadovertheCountry,plunderingandinsultingbeyondexample;gotherselfreinforcedbya15,000fromtheRichelieuArmy;crossedtheSaale;determinedontakingLeipzig,beatingFriedrich,andIknownotwhat。Keith,inLeipzigwithasmallParty,hadsummonsfromSoubise’svanguard(October24th):

  Keithanswered,Hewouldburnthesuburbs;——uponwhich,saidvanguard,hearingofFriedrich’sadventwithal,tookitselfrapidlyaway。AndSoubiseanditwouldfainhaverecrossedSaale,Ihaveunderstood,hadnotVersaillesbeenperemptory。

  Inaword,FriedrioharrivedatLeipzigOctober26th;Ferdinand,Moritzandalltheotherscomingoralreadycome:andthereissomethinggreatjustathand。Friedrich’sstayinLeipzigwasonlyfourdays。Cheeringprospectofworknowaheadhere;——addtothis,assurancefromPreussenthatApraxinisfairlygoinghome,andLehwaldcomingtolookaftertheSwedes。WereitnotthatthereisbadnewsfromSilesia,thingsgenerallyarebeginningtolookup。

  OfthehourspentonGottsched,inthesefourdays,weexpresslytakenonoticefarther;buttherewasanothervisitmuchlessconspicuous,andinfinitelymoreimportant:thatofacertainHanoverianGrafvonSchulenburg,notinredorwithplumes,likeaMajor—Generalashewas,but\"intheblacksuitofaCountryParson,\"——coming,inthatunnoticeableguise,toinformFriedrichofficially,\"ThattheHanoveriansandMajestyofEnglandhaveresolvedtorenouncetheConventionofKloster—Zeven;tobringtheirpoorStadeArmyintothefieldagain;anddonowrequesthim,KingFriedrich,tograntthemDukeFerdinandofBrunswicktoheGeneralofthesame。\"[Mauvillon,i。256;Westphalen,i。315:

  indistinctboth,andwithslightvariations。MitchellPapers(inBritishMuseum),likewiseindistinct:AdditionalMSS。6815,pp。96

  and108(\"LordHoldernesstoMitchell,\"doubtlessonPitt’sinstigation,\"10thOctober,1757,\"isthebeginningofit,——twodaysbeforeRoyalHighnessgothomefromStade);seeib。6806,pp。241—252。]

  Hereisanunnoticeablemessage,ofveryhighmomentindeed。

  TowhichFriedrich,alreadyprepared,giveshischeerfulconsent;

  nominationsandpracticalitiestofollow,theinstantthesepresenthurriesareover。Whoitwasthathadpreparedallthis,whosesuggestionitfirstwas,Friedrich’s,Mitchell’s,George’s,Pitt’s,Idonotknow,——IcannothelpsuspectingPitt;PittandFriedrichtogether。Andcertainlyofalllivingmen,Ferdinand——relatedtotheEnglishandPrussianroyalties,asoldierofapprovedexcellence,andlikewiseanoble—minded,prudent,patientandinvinciblyvaliantandsteadfastman——was,beyondcomparison,thefittestforthisoffice。Pittisnowfairlyinpower;andperceives,——suchPitt’soriginalityofview,——thatanArmywithaCaptaintoitmaydifferbeautifullyfromonewithout。Andinfactwemaytakethisasthefirsttwitchatthereins,onPitt’spart;

  whosedelicatestronghand,allEnglandrunningtoitwithoneheart,willbefeltattheendsoftheearthbeforemanymonthsgo。

  TothegreatandunexpectedjoyofFriedrich,forone。\"Englandhastakenlongtoproduceagreatman,\"hesaidtoMitchell;\"buthereisoneatlast!\"

  BOOKXVIII(CONTINUED)

  SEVEN—YEARSWARRISESTOAHEIGHT。

  1757—1759。

  ChapterVIII。

  BATTLEOFROSSBACH。

  FriedrichleftLeipzigSunday,October30th;encamped,thatnight,onthefamousFieldofLutzen,withthevanguard,he(asusual,andMayerwithhim,whodidsomebrisksmitinghomeofwhatFrenchtherewere);KeithandDukeFerdinandfollowing,withmainbodyandrear。

  MovementsontheSoubise—Hildburghausenpartareallretrogradeagain;——canDauphinessBellonadonothing,then,exceptshuttleforwardsandthenbackwardsaccordingtoFriedrich’sabsenceorpresence?TheSoubise—HildburghausenArmydoesimmediatelywithdrawonthisoccasion,asontheformer;andmakesforthesafesideoftheSaaleagain,rapidlyretreatingbeforeFriedrich,whoisnotaboveonetotwoofthem,——morelikeonetothree,nowthatBroglio’sDetachmentiscometohand。BrogliogottoMerseburgOctober26th,——guess15,000strong;——considerablyoutofrepair,andgladtohavedonewithsuchamarch,andbewithinreachofSoubise。ThisistheSecondSonofouroldBlusterousFriend;amanwhocametosomemark,andtoagreatdealoftrouble,inthisWar;

  andended,readersknowhow,attheSiegeoftheBastillethirty—

  twoyearsafterwards!

  Sosoonasrested,Broglio,byorder,movesleftwardstoHalle,toguardSaaleBridgethere;SoubisehimselfedgingafterhimtoMerseburg,onasimilarerrand;andleavingHildburghausentotakechargeofWeissenfelsandtheThirdSaaleBridge。ThatisDauphiness’sposturewhileFriedrichencampsatLutzen:——letimpatienthumannaturefixthesethreeplacesforitself,andhastentothecatastropheofwretchedDauphiness。Soubise,itoughttoberemembered,isnotinthehighestspirits;buthisOfficersinover—high,\"DoingthisPETITMARQUISDEBRANDEBOURGthehonortohaveakindofWarwithhim(DELUIFAIREUNEESPECEDEGUERRE),\"

  astheytermit。Beingpuffedupwithgeneralvanity,andthenewspaperrumoraboutHaddick’sfeat,——which,liketheglovesitgot,isgoingalltoleft—handinthisway。HildburghausenandtheothersoverruleSoubise;andindeedthereisnoremedy;

  \"Provisionalmostout;——howretreattoourmagazinesandourfastnesses,withFriedrichonceacrossSaale,andstickingtotheskirtsofus?\"Here,fromeye—witnesseswherepossible,arethesuccessivestepsofDauphinesstowardsherdoom,whichisfamousintheworldeversince。

  \"Monday,31stOctober,1757,\"astheTown—SyndicofWeissenfelsrecords,\"abouteightinthemorning,[Muller,SCHLACHTBEI

  ROSSBACH(\"aCentenaryPiece,\"Berlin,1857,——containingseveralcuriousExtracts),p。44,Helden—Geschichte,

  iv。643,651—668。]theKingofPrussia,withhiswholeArmy\"(orwhatseemedtousthewhole,thoughitwasbutahalf;Keithwiththeotherhalfbeingwithinreachtonorthward,marchingMerseburgway),\"camebeforethisTown。\"Hasbeenherebefore;asKeithhas,asSoubiseandothershave:atownmuchagitatedlatelybytransitoftroops。Itwasfromtheeastern,orhighlandwardside,wheretheso—calledCastleis,thatFriedrichcame:Castlebuiltoriginallyonsome\"WhiteCrag(WEISSEFELS\"notnowconspicuous),fromwhichthetownandwhilomDuchytaketheirname。

  \"WehaveoftenheardofWeissenfels,whilethepoorolddrunkenDukelived,whousedtobeaSuitorofWilhelmina’s,liabletohardusage;andhavemarchedthroughit,withtheSalzburgers,inpeaceabletimes。Asolidpleasant—enoughlittleplace(6,000soulsorso);liesleantagainsthighground(WhiteCrags,orwhateveritoncewas)ontheeasternorrightbankoftheSaale;aTowninpartflat,inpartverysteep;thestreetsofit,ormainstreetandsecondaries,runningofflevelenoughfromtheRiverandBridge;

  risingbyslowdegrees,butatlastrapidlyagainstthehighgroundorcliffs,justmentioned;astiffacclivityofstreets,tillcrownedbytheso—calledCastle,the’AugustusBurg’inthosedays,the’Friedrich—WilhelmBarrack’inours。ItwasonthiscrownofthecliffsthathisPrussianMajestyappeared。

  \"Saaleisofgoodbreadthhere;hasdoneperhapstwohundredmiles,sincehestarted,intheFichtelgebirge(PINEMOUNTAINS),onhislongcourseElbe—ward;received,onlytenmilesago,hislastbigbranch,thewide—wanderingUnstrut,cominginwithmuchdrainagefromthenorthernparts:——inbreadth,SaalemaybecomparedtoThames,toTayorBeauley;hisdepthnotfordable,thoughnothinglikesodeepasThames’s;maincargovisibleisraftsoftimber:

  banksgreen,definite,scantofwood;riverofratherdarkcomplexion,mainlynoiseless,butofusefulpleasantqualitiesotherwise。\"

  FromthisCastleorlandwardsidecomeFriedrichandhisPrussians,onMondaymorningabouteight。\"Thegarrison,some4,000ReichsfolkandaFrenchBattalionortwo,shuttheGates,andassembledintheMarket—place,\"——abigsquare,closeatthefootoftheHeights;\"ontheotherhand,fromthetopoftheHeights[KLAMMERK

  theparticularspot],thePrussianscannonadedTownandGates;

  tospeedyburstingopenofthesame;andrushedinoverthewallsoftheCastle—court,andbyotheropeningsintotheTown:sothatthegarrisonabovesaidhadtoquit,androllwithallspeedacrosstheSaaleBridge,andsetthesameonfirebehindthem。\"ThiswastheirremedyforalltheThreeBridges,whenattacked;butitsucceedednowheresowellashere。

  \"Thefirewasofextremerapidity;preparedbeforehand:\"Bridgeallofdrywoodcoatedwithpitch;——\"firereinforcedtoo,inviewofsuchevent,byallthesuet,lardandoleaginousmattertheGarrisoncouldfindinWeissenfels;somehundredweightsoftallow—

  dips,foroneitem,goinguponthisoccasion。\"Bridge,\"worth100,000thalers,\"isinstantlyablaze:some400findingthebridgesoflamy,andthePrussiansattheirskirts,wereobligedtosurrender;——FeldmarschallHildburghausen,sleepingabouttwomilesoff,getshimselfawakenedinthisunpleasantmanner。

  FlyinggarrisonhaltontheothersideoftheRiver,wheretherestoftheirArmyis;plantcannonthereagainstquenchingoftheBridge;andsokeepfiring,answeredbythePrussians,withmuchnoiseandnogreatmischief,till3P。M。,whentheBridgeisquitegone(Toll—keeper’sLodgeandall),andtheenterpriseofcrossingtherehadplainlybecomeimpossible。

  Friedrichquickly,aboutamilefartherdowntheRiver,haspickedoutanothercrossing—place,intheinterim,andfoundedsomenewadequateplankorraftbridgethere;which,bydiligenceallnight,willbecrossableto—morrow。Sothat,exceptforamusingtheenemy,thecannonadingmayceaseatWeissenfels。AcertainDucdeCrillon,incommandatthisWeissenfelsBridge—burningandcannonade,hasachivalrousAnecdote(amountingnearlytozerowhenwellexamined)

  aboutsavingorsparingFriedrich’slifeonthisinterestingoccasion:How,beingnowonthesafesideoftheRiver,heCrillonwithhisstafftakingsomerefectionofbreakfastafterthefuriousflurrytherehadbeen;therecametohimoneofhisArtilleryCaptains,stationedinanIslandintheRiver,asking,\"ShallI

  shoottheKingofPrussia,Monseigneur?HeisdownreconnoitringhisendoftheBridge:sha’n’tI,then?\"TowhomCrillongivesaglassofwineandsmilinglymagnanimousanswertoanegativeeffect。[\"MemoiresmilitairesdeLouis&c。DucdeCrillon(Paris,1791),p。166;\"——ascitedbyPreuss,ii。88。]

  Concerningwhich,onehastoremark,Notonly,FIRST,thattheArtilleryCaptain’spowerofseeingFriedrich(whichisitselfuncertain)wouldindeedmeanthepowerofaimingathim,butdiffersimmenselyfromthatofhittinghimwithshot;sothatthis\"ShallIkilltheKing?\"wasmainlythrasonicwindfromCaptainBertin。ButSECONDLY,thatthereisno\"Island\"intheRiverthereabouts,forCaptainBertintofirefrom!Sothatprobablythewholestoryiswindorlittlemore:dreamlike,oratbestsomeidlethrasonic—theoreticquestion,onthepartofBertin;properanswerthereto(consistingmainlyinaglassofwine)fromMonseigneur:——

  allwhich,onretrospection,Monseigneurfeels,orwouldfainfeel,tohavebeennottheoretic—thrasonicbutpractical,andofarathergodlikenature。Zeromainly,aswesaid;Friedrichthanksyouforzero,Monseigneur。

  \"ThePrussianswerebilletedintheTownthatnight,\"saysourSyndic;\"andinmanyahousetherecametobetwentymen,andeventhirtyandaboveit,lodged。Allwasquietthroughthenight;

  theFrenchandtheReichsfolkweredrawnbackuponthehighergrounds,aboutBurgwerbenandontoTagwerben;andwesawtheirwatch—firesburning。\"Friedrich’sBridgemeanwhile,unmolestedbytheenemy,isgettingready。

  Keith,lookingacrosstoMerseburgonthemorrowmorning(Tuesday,Nov。1st),whitherhehadmarcheddirectwiththeotherHalfoftheArmy,findsMerseburgBridgedestroyed,orbroken;andSoubisewithbatteriesonthefartherside,intendingtodisputethepassage。

  KeithdespatchesDukeFerdinandtoHalle,anothertwelvemilesdown,whofindsHalleBridgedestroyedinlikemanner,andBrogliointendingtodispute;which,however,onsecondthoughts,neitherofthemIdid。Friedrich’snewBridgeatHerren—Muhle(LORDSHIPS’

  MILL)isofcourseanimportantpointtothem;Friedrich’spassagenowpastdispute!\"Letusfallback,\"saythey,\"andrankourselvesalittle;weare50or60,000strong;illoffforprovisions;

  butwellabletoretreat;andhavepermissiontofightonthissideoftheRiver。\"

  ThecombinedArmy,\"Dauphiness,\"orwhateverwearetocallit,doesonWednesdaymorning(November2d)gatherinitscannonandoutskirts,andgiveuptheSaalequestion;retirelandwardstothehighergroundssomemiles;anddiligentlygetitselfunited,andintoorderofbattlebetterorworse,neartheVillageofMucheln(whichmeansKirkMICHAEL,andisstillwritten\"SANCTMICHEL\"bysomeonthisoccasion)。ThereDauphinesstakespost,leaningontheheights,notinaveryscientificway;leavingKeithandFerdinandtorebuildtheirBridgesunmolested,andallPrussianstocomeacrossatdiscretion。Whichtheyhavediligentlydone(2d—3dNovember),bytheirrespectiveBridges;andonThursdayafternoonareallacross,encampedatBedra,incloseneighborhoodtoMucheln;whichFriedrichhasbeenoutreconnoitringandfindsthathecanattacknextmorningveryearly。

  Nextmorning,accordingly,\"by2o’clock,withabrightmoonshining,\"Friedrichisonhorseback,hisArmyfollowing。Butonexaminingbymoonlight,theenemyhaveshiftedtheirposition;

  turnedontheiraxis,moreorless,intonewwood—patches,newbatteriesandbogs;whichhasgreatlymendedtheiraffair。Nogoodattackingthemso,thinksFriedrich;andreturnstohisCamp;

  slightlycannonaded,onewingofhim,fromsomebatteryoftheenemy;andimmoderatelycrowedoverbythem:\"Darenot,yousee!

  Tried,andwasdefeated!\"crytheirnewspapersandthey,——foroneday。FriedrichlodgesagaininBedrathisnight,otherssayinRossbach;shiftshisownCampalittle;leftwingofitnowatRossbach(HOME—BROOK,orBECK,soontobeaworld—famousHamlet):

  theeffectsofhungerontheDauphiness,sofarfromhersupplies,will,hecalculates,bestrongerthanonhim,andwillbringhertobettertermsshortly。Dauphinessneedsbread;onemayhavefineclippingattheskirtsofher,ifshetryretreat。ThatDauphinesswouldplaytheprankshedidnextmorning,Friedrichhadnotventuredtocalculate。

  CATASTROPHEOFDAUPHINESS(Saturday,5thNovember,1757)。

  MeanderingSaaleisononeofhisbigturns,ashepassesWeissenfels;turning,prettyrapidlyhere,fromsoutheastward,whichhewasadozenmilesago,roundtonortheastwardagainornorthwardaltogether,whichhegetstobeatMerseburg,adozenfartherdown。RightacrossfromWeissenfels,lappedinthiscrookoftheSaale,orwashedbyitonsouthsideandoneast,rises,withextremelaziness,adullcircularlumpofcountry,sixoreightmilesindiameter;withRossbachandhalfadozenotherscraggysleepyHamletsscatteredonit;——which,tillthemorningofSaturday,5thNovember,1757,hadnotbeennotabletoanyvisitor。

  Thetopmostpointorpoints,fortherearetwo(notdiscoverableexceptbytraditionandguess),thecountrypeopledocallHills,JANUS—HUGEL,POLZEN—HUGEL——Hillsensibletowagon—horsesinthosebadloosetracksofsandymud,butunimpressiveontheTourist,whohastoadmitthatthereseldomwassoflataHill。Rising,letusguess,fortyyardsinthethreeorfourmilesithashad。Mightbecalledaperceptiblypot—belliedplain,withmorepropriety;

  flatcountry,slightlypuffedup;——inshapenotsteeperthanthemouldofanimmensetea—saucerwouldbe。Tea—saucer6milesindiameter,100feetindepth,andofirregularcontour,whichindeedwillsufficientlyrepresentittothereader’smind。

  Saale,atfourorfivemilesdistance,boundsthisscraggylumpontheeastandonthesouth。Westwardandnorthward,springingaboutMuchelnoneachhand,andsettingofftorightandtoleftSaale—

  ward,arewhatwetaketobetwobrooks;atleastaretwohollows:

  andbehindthese,thecountryriseshigher;undulatingstillonlazyterms,butnowpaintedazurebythedistance,notunpleasanttobehold,withitslitteralllappedoutofsight,anditspoorbrookstinklingforward(aswejudge)intotheSaale,Merseburgway,orreverse—wiseintotheUnstrut,thelastbigbranchofSaale。SouthwardfromourJanusHeight,eightorninemilesoff,maybeseensomevestigeofFreiburg;steepleorgiltweathercockfaintlyvisible,ontheUnstrutyonder;——whichItaketobeSoubise’sbread—basketatpresent。Andfartheroff,andoppositetheMOUTHoftheUnstrut,wellacrosstheSaale,liesanothernamableTown(visibleinclearweather,asasmoke—cloudatcertainhours,aboutmeal—time,whenthekettlesareonboil),theTownofNaumburg,——oneofseveralGermanNaumburgs,——theNaumburgofGustafAdolf;wherehisslainbodylay,onthenightofLutzenBattle,withhispoorQueenandothersweepingoverit。NaumburgisontheothersideofSaale,notofimportancetoSoubiseinsuchposture。

  Thisisthecircularblockorlumpofcountry,onthenorthornorthwestsideofwhichFriedrichnowlies,andwhichwillbecome,helittlethinkshowmemorableonthemorrow。Overtheheights,immediatelyeastwardofFriedrich,thereisakindofhollow,orscooped—outplace;shallowvalleyofsomeextent,whichdeservesnoticeagainstto—morrow:butingeneralthegroundislazilyspherical,andwithoutnoticeablehollowsorvalleyswhenfairlyawayfromtheRiver。Adullbluntlumpofcountry;madeofsandandmud,——mayhavebeengrassyonce,withbroomonit,inthepastoraltimes;isnowunderpoorplough—husbandry,arableorscratchableinallparts,andlooksrathermiserableinwinter—time。Novestigeofhedgeonit,ofshruborbush;onetree,uglybutbig,whichmayhavebeenaliveinFriedrich’stime,standsnotfarfromRossbachHamlet;one,andnomore,discoverableintheseareas。

  VariousHamletsliesprinkledabout:verysleepy,rusty,irregularlittleplaces;hutsandcattle—stallshuddleddown,asifshakenfromabag;muchstraw,thickthatchandcrumblymud—brick;

  butlookingwarmandpeaceable,fortheFour—footedandtheTwo—

  footed;whichlatter,ifyouspeaktothem,aresolidreasonablepeople,withenergeticGermaneyesandhearts,thoughsoill—

  lodged。TheseHamlets,needingshelterandspring—water,standgenerallyinsomeslighthollow,ifwelluptheHeight,asRorschachis;sometimes,ifnearthebottom,theyarenestledinasuddendellorgash,——workoftheprimevalrains,accumulatingfromabove,andploughingouttheirway。Therains,wecansee,havebeenbusy;

  butthereisseldomtheleaststreamvisible,bottombeingtoosandyandporous。Onthewesternslope,thereisinourtimeakindofcoal,orcoal—dust,dugup;inthewayofquarrying,notofmining;andoneortwobigchasmsofthissortareconfusedlybusy:

  thenativesmixthisvaluablecoal—dustwithwater,moulditintobricks,andsouseasfuel:oneofthefeaturesofthesehamletsisthestrangeblackbricks,standingonedgeaboutthecottage—doors,todrip,anddryinthesun。Forthisorforotherreasons,thewestwardslopeappearstobethebest;andhasamajorshareofhamletsonit:Rossbachishighup,andlooksoveruponMucheln,anditsdimbelfryandappurtenances,whichliesafeacrossthehollow,perhapstwomilesoff,——safefromFriedrich,iftherewereeatablesandlodgingtobehadinsuchaplace。Friedrich’sleftwingisinRossbach。BedrawhereFriedrich’srightwingis;

  BranderodewheretheSoubiserightis;thenGrost;Schevenroda,Zeuchfeld,Pettstadt,Lunstadt,——especiallyReichartswerben,whereSoubise’srightwillcometobe:thesethereadermaytakenoteofinhisMap。Severalofthemlieinashesjustthen;plundered,replundered,andatlastsetfireto;sobusyhaveSoubise’shungrypeoplebeen,oflate,intheCountrytheycameto\"deliver。\"

  TheFreiburgroad,theNaumburgroad,bothtowardsMerseburg,crossthisHeight;straightlikethestring,SaalebyWeissenfelsbeingthebow。

  TheHERRENHAUS(Squire’sMansion)stillstandsinRossbach,withthelitteryHamletatitsflank:ahigh,pavilion—roofed,andthoughdilapidated,pretentiouskindofHouse;somekindofcourtroundit,somekindofhedgeorscreenofbrushwoodandbrick—wall:

  terriblyinneedofthebesom,itanditsenvironmentthroughout。

  King,Isuppose,didlodgethereovernight:certainitistheSquirewasabsent;andtheSquire’sMan,threedaysafterwards,reportedtohimasfollows:……\"Saturday,the5th,about8A。M。,hisMajestymountedtotheroofoftheHerrenhaushere,sometileshavingbeenremoved[forthatend,orbyaccident,isnotsaid],andsawhowtheFrenchandReichsArmyweregettinginmovement\"——

  wrigglingoutoftheirCampleftwards,evidentlyaimingtowardsGrost。\"Inaboutanhour,nearhalftheirArmywasthroughGrost,andhadturnedsouthward,rathersoutheastward,fromGrost,outintheRossbachandAlmsdorfregion,andproceedingstilltowardsPettstadt,\"——towardsSchevenrodamoreprecisely,nottowardsPettstadtyet。\"HisMajestylookedalwaysthroughtheperspective:

  andtomewasthegracedonetobeeverathisside,andtonameforhimtheroadstheFrenchandReichsArmywasmarching。\"

  [Muller,p。50;Rodenbeck,p。326。]

  TheKinghadheardofthisphenomenonhoursbefore,andhadsentoutHussarsandscoutsuponit;butnowseesitwithhiseyes:——

  \"GoingforFreiburg,andtheirbread—cupboard,\"thinkstheKing;

  whodoesnotasyetmakemuchofthemovement;butwillwatchitwell,andcalculatestohaveastrokeattherearendofit,indueseason。Withwhichview,thecavalry,SeidlitzandMayer,areorderedtosaddle;footregiments,andallelse,tobeinreadiness。ThisFrench—ReichsDauphinessisnotrapidinherfield—

  exercise;andhasagreatdealofwrigglingandunwindingbeforeshecanfairlypickherselfout,andgetforwardtowardsSchevenrodaontheFreiburgroad。Inthreeorintwoparallelcolumns,artillerybetweenthem,horseahead,horsearear;

  hagglingalongthere;——makingfortheirbread—baskets,thinkstheKing。AbodyofFrench,horsechiefly,underSt。Germain,comeout,intheSchortau—Almsdorfpart,withsomesalvoingandprancing,asifintendingtoattackaboutRossbach,whereourleftwingis:

  buthisMajestyseesittobeapretencemerely;andSt。Germain,motionless,anddoingnothingbutcannonadealittle,seemstoagreethatitisso。Dauphinesscontinuesherslowmovements;

  King,inthisSquire’sMansionofRossbach,sitsdowntodinner,dinnerwithOfficersattheusualhourofnoon,——littledreamingwhattheDauphinesshasinherhead。

  Truthis,theDauphinessisinexultantspirits,thismorning;

  intendinggreatthingsagainstacertain\"littleMarquisofBrandenburg,\"towhomonedoessomuchhonor。GeneralslookingdownyesterdayontheKingofPrussia’sCamp,abletocounteverymaninit(andhalfthemenbeinginvisible,owingtobendsoftheground),countedhimto10,000orso;andhadsaid,\"Pshaw,arenotweabove50,000;letusendit!Takehimonhisleft。Roundyonder,tillwegetuponhisleft,andevenuponhisrearwithal,St。

  Germainco—operatingontheothersideofhim:onleft,onrear,onfront,atthesamemoment,isnotthatasuregame?\"Averyticklishgame,answerssurlysagaciousLloyd:\"Nogeneralwillpermithimselftobetakeninflankwithhiseyesopen;andtheKingofPrussiaistheunlikeliestyoucouldtryitwith!\"

  Tryingitmeanwhiletheyare;marchingalongbythelowgroundshere,intendingtosweepgraduallyleftwardstowardsJanus—Hillquarter;theretosweephomeuponhim,coilhimup,leftandrearandfront,intheirboa—constrictorfolds,andendhistrifleofanArmyandhim。\"Whynot,ifwedoourdutyatall,annihilatehistrifleofanArmy;takehimselfprisoner,andsoendit?\"

  Reportsays,Soubisehadreally,insomemomentofenthusiasmlately,warnedtheVersaillespopulationstoexpectsuchathing;

  andthattheDuchessofOrleans,forgetfulofpoorKingLouis’spresence,hadinHERenthusiasm,exclaimed:\"TANTMIEUX,IshallatlastseeaKing,then!\"ButperhapsitisamereFrenchepigram,suchasthewindsoftengeneratethere,andputdownforfact。——

  Friedrich’sretreattoWeissenfelsiscutoffforFriedrich:

  anAustrianpartyhasbeenattheHerren—MuhleBridgethismorning,hastornitupandpitcheditintotheriver;planksfarontoMerseburgbythistime。And,infact,unlessFriedrichbenimble——

  Butthatheusuallyis。

  Friedrich’sdinnerhadgoneonwithdeliberationforabouttwohours,Friedrich’sintentionsnotyetknowntoany,buteverybody,greatandsmall,waitingeagerlyforthem,likegreyhoundsontheslip,——whenAdjutantGaudi,whohadbeenontheHouse—topthewhile,rushesintotheDining—roomfasterthanheought,and,withsometremorinhisvoiceandeyes,reportshastily:

  \"AtSchevenroda,atPettstadtyonder!Enemyhasturnedtoleft。

  Clearlyfortheleft。\"——\"Well,andifhedo?Noflurryneeded,Captain!\"answeredFriedrich,——(NOTintheseprecisewords;

  butrebukingGaudi,withalooknotoflaughterwholly,andwithacertainquestion,astothestateofGaudi’sstomachicpart,whichisstillknownintraditionarycircles,butisnotmentionablehere);——andwent,withduegravity,himselftotheroof,withhisOfficers。\"Totheleft,sureenough;meaningtoattackusthere:\"

  thethingFriedrichhaddespairedofisvoluntarilycoming,then;——

  anditisathingofsternqualitieswithal;awageroflife,withgloriouspossibilitiesbehind。

  Friedrichearnestlysurveysthephenomenonforsomeminutes;

  insomeminutes,Friedrichseeshiswaythroughit,atleastintoit,andhowhewilldoit。Off,eastward;march!Swiftarehisorders;almoststillswifterthefulfillmentofthem。PrussianArmyisanimblearticleincomparisonwithDauphiness!Inhalfanhour’stime,allispackedandtotheroad;and,exceptMayerandcertainFree—CorpsorLight—Horse,toamuseSt。GermainandhisAlmsdorfpeople,thereisnotaPrussianvisibleintheselocalitiestoFrencheyes。\"Athalf—pasttwo,\"saystheSquire’sMan,——orletustakehimasentenceearlier,tolosenothingofsuchaDocument:\"AtnoonhisMajestytookdinner;sattillabouttwoo’clock;thenagainwenttotheroof;andperceivedthattheEnemy’sArmyatPettstadtwereturningaboutthelittleWoodtherenortheastward,asifforLunstadt[intotheLunstadtroad];——suchcannonadingtoo,\"fromthoseAlmsdorfpeople,\"thattheballsflewoverourheads,\"——orItremulouslythoughtso。\"Athalf—pasttwo,thewordwasgiven,March!Andgoodspeedtheymadeaboutit,inthisHerrenhaus,andoutofdoorstoo,strikingtheirtents,andcordingupandtrimlyshoulderingeverythingwithincrediblebrevity,\"asifmachineryweredoingit;\"andatthree,onthePrussianpart,allwaspackedandoutintothecourtforbeingcarriedoff;and,infact,thePrussianArmywasonmarchatthree。\"Seidlitz,withallhisHorse,vanishingroundthecorneroftheHeight;speedingalong,invisibleonhisnorthernslopethere,straightfortheJanus—PolzenHillpart;theInfantryfollowing,double—quick;——wellknowing,each,whathehasgottodo。

  Butatthisinterestingpoint,theEditors——smallthankstothem,authenticbutthrice—stupidmortals——cutshortourEye—witness,notsomuchastellingushisname,someofthemnotevenhisdateorwhereabouts;andsothecurtaintumblesdown(asifitsstringhadbeencut,orsuddenlyeatenbyunwiseanimals),andwearelefttograyhubbub,andourownresourcesatsecond—hand。ExceptonlythataFrenchOfficer——oneofthosecannonadingfromAlmsdorf,nodoubt——declaresthat\"itwaslikeachangeofsceneintheOpera(DECORATIOND’OPERA),\"[LetterinMULLER:p。60。InWESTPHALEN

  (ii。128—133)isamuchsuperiorFrenchLetter,interceptedsomewhere,andfallentoDukeFerdinand;wellworthreading,onRossbachandthepreviousAffairs。]soveryrapid;andthat\"theyallrolledoffeastwardatquicktime。\"Atextremelyquicktime;

  ——andsoon,intheslighthollowbehindJanusHugel,vanishedfromsightoftheseAlmsdorfFrench,andoftheSoubise—HildburghausenArmyingeneral。Whichlatterisagreeablysurprisedatthephenomenon;anddrawsahighlyflatteringconclusionfromit。

  \"Gone,then;offatdouble—quickforMerseburg;aha!\"thinktheSoubise—Hildburghausenpeople:\"Double—quickyoutoo,myprettymen,lesttheydowhiskaway,andwenevergetastrokeatthem,!\"——

  Seidlitzmeanwhile,withhiscavalry(thirty—eightsquadrons,about4,000horse),israpidlydoingtheorderhehashad。Seidlitzatasharpmilitarytrot,andtheinfantryatdoublequicktokeepupnearhim,whichtheycannotquitedo,are,aswehavesaid,makingrightacrossforthePolzen—HillandJanus—Hillquarter;

  theirroutethestring,Frenchroutethebow;andareinvisibletotheFrench,owingtotheheightsbetween。Seidlitz,whenhegetstotheproperpointeastward,willwheelabout,fronttosouthward,andbeourleftwing;infantry,ascentreandright,willappearinlikemanner;and——weshallsee!

  TheexultantDauphiness,orSoubise—HildburghausenArmy(letuscallit,forbrevity’ssake,DauphinessorFrench,whichitmainlywas),onthatrapiddisappearanceofthePrussians,neverdoubtedbutthePrussianswereoffonflightforMerseburg,togetacrossbytheBridgethere。WhereatDauphiness,doublyexultant,mendedherownpace,cavalryatasharptrot,infantrydouble—quick,butunabletokeepup,——forthepurposeofcapturingorinterceptingtherunawayPrussians。Speed,myfriends,——ifyouwoulddoastrokeuponFriedrich,andshowtheVersaillespeopleaKingatlast!

  Thusthey,hurryingon,intwoparallelcolumns,——infantry,longfloodsofit,comingdouble—quickbutsomewhatfallenbehind;

  cavalry7,000orso,asvanguard,——fasterandfaster;

  sweepingforwardontheirsouthernsideoftheJanus—and—Polzenslope,andnowratherclimbingthesame。

  Seidlitzhashishussarpicketsonthetop,tokeephiminformedastotheirmotions,andhowfartheyaregot。Seidlitz,invisibleonthesouthslopeofthePolzenHugel,findsabouthalf—pastthreeP。M。thatheisnowfairlyaheadofDauphiness;Seidlitzhalts,wheels,comestothetop,\"Gottheflankofthem,sureenough!\"——

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