history of friedrich ii of prussia v 18-第28节
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th you； that you deserve to have a Court…martial held over you； which would sentence you and all your Generals to death； but that his Majesty will not carry the matter so far； being unable to forget that in the Chief General he has a Brother！'〃 ＇Schmettau； pp。 384； 385。＇
The Prince answered； He wanted only a Court…martial； and the like； in stiff tone。 Here is the Letter he writes next day to his Brother； with the Answer：
PRINCE OF PRUSSIA TO THE KING。
〃BAUTERN； 30th July； 1757。
〃MY DEAR BROTHER；The Letters you have written me； and the reception I yesterday met with； are sufficient proof that； in your opinion； I have ruined my honor and reputation。 This grieves； but it does not crush me； as in my own mind I am not conscious of the least reproach。 I am perfectly convinced that I did not act by caprice： I did not follow the counsels of people incapable of giving good ones； I have done what I thought to be suitablest for the Army。 All your Generals will do me that justice。
〃I reckon it useless to beg of you to have my conduct investigated： this would be a favor you would do me； so I cannot expect it。 My health has been weakened by these fatigues； still more by these chagrins。 I have gone to lodge in the Town； to recruit myself。
〃I have requested the Duke of Bevern to present the Army Reports； he can give you explanation of everything。 Be assured； my dear Brother； that in spite of the misfortunes which overwhelm me； and which I have not deserved； I shall never cease to be attached to the State； and as a faithful member of the same； my joy will be perfect when I learn the happy issue of your Enterprises。 I have the honor to be〃
AUGUST WILHELM。 Main de Maitre； p。 21。＇
KING'S ANSWER； THE SAME DAY。
〃CAMP NEAR BAUTZEN； 30th July； 1757。 〃MY DEAR BROTHER；Your bad guidance has greatly deranged my affairs。 It is not the Enemy； it is your ill…judged measures that have done me all this mischief。 My Generals are inexcusable； either for advising you so ill； or in permitting you to follow resolutions so unwise。 Your ears are accustomed to listen to the talk of flatterers only。 Daun has not flattered you；behold the consequences。 In this aad situation； nothing is left for me but trying the last extremity。 I must go and give battle； and if we cannot conquer； we must all of us have ourselves killed。
〃I do not complain of your heart； but I do of your incapaciy； of your want of judgment in not choosing better methods。 A man who ＇like me； mark the phrase； from such a quarter！＇ has but a few days to live need not dissemble。 I wish you better fortune than mine has been： and that all the miseries and bad adventures you have had may teach you to treat important things with more of care； more of sense； and more of resolution。 The greater part of the misfortunes which I now see to be near comes only from you。 You and your Children will be more overwhelmed by them than I。 Be persuaded nevertheless that I have always loved you； and that with these sentiments I shall die。 FRIEDRICH。〃 ＇MAIN DE MAITRE； p。 22。＇
As the King went off to the Heights of Weissenberg； Zittau way； to encamp there against the Austrians； that same evening； the Prince did not answer this Letter；except by asking verbally through Lieutenant…Colonel Lentulus （a mute Swiss figure； much about the King； who often turns up in these Histories）； 〃for leave to return to Dresden by the first escort。〃〃Depends on himself；an escort is going this night！ answered Friedrich。 And the Prince went accordingly； and； by two stages； got into Dresden with his escort on the morrow。 And had； not yet conscious of it； quitted the Field of War altogether； and was soon about to quit the world； and die； poor Prince。 Died within a year； 12th June； 1758； at Oranienburg； beside his Family； where he had latterly been。 ＇Preuss； ii。 60 （ib。 78）。＇Winterfeld was already gone； six months before him； Goltz went； not long after him； the other Zittau Generals all survived this War。
The poor Prince's fate； as natural； was much pitied； and Friedrich； to this day； is growled at for 〃inhuman treatment〃 and so on。 Into which question we do not enter； except to say that Friedrich too had his sorrows； and that probably his concluding words； 〃with these sentiments I shall die；〃 were perfectly true。 MAIN DE MAITRE went widely abroad over the world。 The poor Prince's words and procedures were eagerly caught up by a scrutinizing public；and some of the former were not too guarded。 At Dresden； he said； one morning； calling on a General Finck whom we shall hear of again： 〃Four such disagreeing； thin…skinned； high…pacing （UNEINIGE； PIQUIRTE） Generals as Fouquet； Schmettau； Winterfeld and Goltz； about you； what was to be done！〃 said the Prince to Finck。 ＇Preuss； ii。 79 n。： see ib。 60； 78。＇
His Wife； when at last he came to Oranienburg； nursed him fondly； that is one comfortable fact。 Prince Henri； to the last； had privately a grudge of peculiar intensity； on this score； against all the peccant parties； King not excepted。 As indeed he was apt to have； on various scores； the jealous； too vehement little man。
Friedrich's humor at this time I can guess to have been well…nigh desperate。 He talks once of 〃a horse； on too much provocation； getting the bit between its teeth； regardless thenceforth of chasms and precipices：〃 ＇Letter to Wilhelmina； 〃Linay； 22d July〃 （cited above）。＇though he himself never carries it to that length； and always has a watchful eye； when at his swiftest！ From Weissenberg； that night； he drives in the Pandours on Zittau and the Eckartsbergbut the Austrians don't come out。 And； for three weeks in this fierce necessity of being speedy； he cannot get one right stroke at the Austrians； who sit inexpugnable upon their Eckart's Hill； bristling with cannon； and can in no way be manoeuvred down； or forced or enticed into Battle。 A baffling； bitterly impatient three weeks；two of them the worst two； he spends at Weissenberg itself； chasing Pandours； and scuffling on the surface； till Keith and the Magazine…train come up； even writing Verses now and then； when the hours get unendurable otherwise！
The instant Keith and the Magazines are come he starts for Bernstadt； 56；000 strong after this junction：and a Prussian Officer； dating 〃Bernstadtel ＇Bernstadt on the now Maps＇； 21st August； 1757；〃 sends us this account； which also is but of preliminary nature：
〃AUGUST 15th； Majesty left Weissenberg； and marched hither； much to the enemy's astonishment； who had lain perfectly quiet for a fortnight past； fancying they were a mastiff on the door…sill of Silesia： little thinking to be trampled on in this unceremonious way！ General Beck； when our hussars of the vanguard made appearance； had to saddle and ride as for life； leaving every rag of baggage； and forty of his Pandours captive。 Our hussars stuck to him； chasing him into Ostritz； where they surprised General Nadasti at dinner； and did a still better stroke of business： Nadasti himself could scarcely leap on horseback and get off； left all his field equipage； coaches； horses； kitchen…utensils； flunkies seventy…two in number；and； what was worst of all； a secret box； in which were found certain Dresden Correspondences of a highly treasonous character； which now the writers there may quake to think of；〃if Friedrich； or we； could take much notiee of them； in this press of hurries！ ＇ Helden…Geschichte； iv。 595…599。＇
Next day； August 16th； Friedrich detached five battalions to Gorlitz；Prince Karl （he calls it DAUN） still camping on the Eckartsberg；and himself； about 4 P。M。； with the main Army； marched up to those Austrians on their Hill； to see if they would fight。 ＇ OEuvres de Frederic； iv。 137。＇ No； they would n't： they merely hustled themselves round so as to face him； face him； and even flank him with cannon…batteries if he came too near。 Steep ground； 〃precipitons front of rocks；〃 in some places。 〃A hollow before their front； Village of Wittgenau there； and three roads through it； ONE of them with width for wheels；〃 Daun sitting inaccessible； in short。 Next day； Winterfeld； with a detached Division； crossed the Neisse； tried Nadasti： 〃Attack Nadasti； on his woody knoll at Hirschfeld yonder； they will have to rise and save him！〃 In vain； that too； they let Nadasti take his own luck： for four days （16th…20th August） everything was tried； in vain。
No Battle to be had from these Austrians。 And it would have been so infinitely convenient to us： Reich's Army and Soubise's French are now in the actual precincts of Erfurt （August 25th； Soubise took quarter there）； Royal Highness of Cumberland is staggering back into the Sea； Richelieu's French （not D'Estrees any more； D'Estrees being superseded in this strange way） are aiming； it is thought； towards Magdeburg； had they once done with Royal Highness； Swedes are getting hold of Pommern； Russians； in huge force； of Preussen： how comfortable to have had our Austrians finished before going upon the others！ For four days more （August 20th…24th）； Friedrich arranges his Army for watching the Austrians； and guarding Silesia；Bevern and Winterfeld to take command in his absence：and； August 25th； has to march； with a small Division； which； at Dresden
