history of friedrich ii of prussia v 18-第45节
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considerable beauty in that quarter of the human figure； when it turns on you opportunely。 A most cynical profane affair： yet； we must say by way of parenthesis； one which gives no countenance to Voltaire's atrocities of rumor about Friedrich himself in this matter； the reverse rather； if well read； being altogether theoretic； scientific； sings with gusto the glow of beauty you find in that unexpected quarter；while KICKING it deservedly and with enthusiasm。 〃To see the〃what shall we call it： seat of honor； in fact； 〃of your enemy：〃 has it not an undeniable charm？ 〃I own to you in confidence； O Soubise and Company； this fine laurel I have got； and was so in need of； is nothing more or other than the sight of your〃FOUR ASTERISKS。 〃Oblige me； whenever clandestine Fate brings us together； by showing me that〃always that； if you would give me pleasure when we meet。 〃And oh；〃 next stanza says； 〃to think what our glory is founded on；〃on view of that unmentionable object； I declare to you！And through other stanzas； getting smutty enough （though in theory only）； which we need not prosecute farther。 ＇ OEuvres de Frederic； xii。 70…73 （WRITTEN at Freiburg； 6th November； when his Majesty got thither； and found the Bridge burnt）。＇ A certain heartiness and epic greatness of cynicism； life's nakedness grown almost as if innocent again； an immense suppressed insuppressible Haha； on the part of this King。 Strange TE…DEUM indeed。 Coming from the very heart； truly； as few of them do； but not； in other points； recommendable at all！Here； of the night before； is something better：
TO WILHELMINA。
〃NEAR WEISSENFELS ＇OBSCHUTZ； in fact； does not know yet what the Battle will be CALLED＇； 5th November； 1757。
〃At last； my dear Sister； I can announce you a bit of good news。 You were doubtless aware that the Coopers with their circles had a mind to take Leipzig。 I ran up； and hove them beyond Saale。 The Duc de Richelieu sent them a reinforcement of twenty battalions and fourteen squadrons ＇say 15；000 horse and foot＇； they then called themselves 63；000 strong。 Yesterday I went to reconnoitre them； could not attack them in the post they held。 This had rendered them rash。 Today they came out with the intention of attacking me； but I took the start of them （LES AI PREVENU）。 It was a Battle EN DOUCEUR （soft to one's wish）。 Thanks to God I have not a hundred men killed； the only General ill wounded is Meinecke。 My Brother Henri and General Seidlitz have slight hurts ＇gun…shots； not so slight； that of Seidlitz＇ in the arm。 We have all the Enemy's cannon； all the 。。。 I am in full march to drive them over the Unstrut ＇already driven； your Majesty； bridge burning＇。
〃You； my dear Sister； my good； my divine and affectionate Sister ＇faithful to the bone； in good truth； poor Wilhelmina＇； who deign to interest yourself in the fate of a Brother who adores you； deign also to share in my joy。 The instant I have time； I will tell you more。 I embrace you with my whole heart； Adieu。 F。〃 ＇ OEuvres de Frederic； xxvii。 i。 310。＇
ULTERIOR FATE OF DAUPHINESS； FLIES OVER THE RHINE IN BAD FASHION： DAUPHINESS'S WAYS WITH THE SAXON POPULATION IN HER DELIVERANCE…WORK。
Friedrich had no more fighting with the French。 November 9th； at Merseburg； in all stillness； Duke Ferdinand got his Britannic Commission； his full Powers； from Friedrich and the parties interested； in all stillness made his arrangements； as if for Magdeburg and his Governorship there；Friedrich hastening off for Silesia the while。 Duke Ferdinand did stay six days in Magdeburg； inspecting or pretending to inspect； very pleasant with his Sister and the Royalties that； are now there； but； at midnight of day sixth shot off silently on wider errand。 And； in sum； on Thursday； 24th November； 1757； appeared in Stade； on horseback at morning parade there； intimating； to what joy of the poor Brunswick Grenadiers and others； That he was come to take command； that Kloster…Zeven is abolished； that we are not an 〃Observation Army；〃 rotting here in the parish pound； any longer； but an 〃Allied Army〃 （such now our title）； intending to strike for ourselves； and get out of pound straightway！
〃THURSDAY； 24th NOVEMBER…TUESDAY； 29th。 Duke Ferdinand did accordingly pick up the reins of this distracted Affair； and； in a way wonderful to see； shot sanity into every fibre of it； and kept it sane and road…worthy for the Five Years coming。 With a silent velocity； an energy； an imperturbable steadfastness and clear insight into cause and effect； which were creditable to the school he came from； and were a very joyful sight to Pitt and others concerned。 So that from next Tuesday； 'November 29th； before daylight；' when Ferdinand's batteries began playing upon Harburg （French Fortress nearest to Stade）； the reign of the French ceased in those Countries； and an astonished Richelieu and his French； lying scattered over all the West of Germany； in readiness for nothing but plunder； had to fall more or less distracted in their turn； and do a number of astonishing things。 To try this and that； of futile； more or less frantic nature； be driven from post after post； be driven across the Aller first of all；Richelieu to go home thereupon； and be succeeded by one still more incompetent。
〃DECEMBER 13th； a fortnight after Ferdinand's appearance； Richelieu had got to the safe side of the Aller （burning of Zelle Bridge and Zelle Town there； his last act in Germany）； Ferdinand's quarters now wide enough； and vigorous speed of preparation going on for farther chase； were the weather mended。 FEBRUARY 17th； 1758； Ferdinand was on foot again； Prince de Clermont； the still more incompetent successor of Richelieu； gazing wide…eyed upon him； but doing nothing else： and for the next six weeks there was seen a once triumphant Richelieu…D'Estrees French Army； much in rags； much in disorder； in terror； and here and there almost in despair； winging their way； like clouds of draggled poultry caught by a mastiff in the corn。 Across Weser； across Ems； finally across the Rhine itself； every feather of them；their long…drawn cackle； of a shrieky type； filling all Nature in those months； the mastiff steadily following。 ＇Mauvillon； i。 252…284 （〃9th November； 1757…1st April； 1758〃）； Westphalen； i。 316…503 （abundantly explicit； authentic and even entertaining；with the ample Correspondences； ib。 ii。 147…350）； Schaper； Vie militaire du Marechal Prince Ferdinand （2 tomes； 8vo； Magdebourg； 1796； 1799）； i。 7…100 （a careful Book； of an official exactitude； like Westphalen's；and appears to be left incomplete like his）。＇ To the astonishment of Pitt and mankind。 Can this be the same Army that Royal Highness led to the Sea and the Parish Pound？ The same identically； wasted to about two…thirds by Royal Highness； not a drum in it changed otherwise； only One Man different；and he is the important one！
〃Pitt； when the news of Rossbach came； awakening the bonfires and steeple…bells of England to such a pitch； had resolved on an emphatic measure： that of sending English Troops to reinforce our Allied Army； and its new General；such an Ally as that Rossbach one being rare in the eyes of Pitt。 'Postpone the meeting of Parliament； yet a few days； your Majesty；' said Pitt； 'till I get the estimates ready！' ＇Thackeray； i。 310。＇ To which Majesty assented； and all England with him： 'England's own Cause；' thinks Pitt； with confidence： 'our way of Conquering America；and； in the circumstances； our one way！' English did land； accordingly； first instalment of them； a 12；000 （in August next）； increased gradually to 20；000； with no end of furnishings to them and everybody； with results again satisfactory to Pitt； and very famous in the England that then was； dim as they are now grown。〃
The effect of all which was； that Pitt； with his Ferdinands and reinforcements； found work for the French ever onwards from Rossbach； French also turning as if exclusively upon perfidious Albion： and the thing became； in Teutschland； as elsewhere； a duel of life and death between these natural enemies；Teutschland the centre of it；Teutschland and the accessible French Sea…Towns； but the circumference of it going round from Manilla and Madras to Havana and Quebec again。 Wide…spread furious duel； prize； America and life。 By land and sea； handsomely done by Pitt on both elements。 Land part； we say； was always mainly in Germany； under Ferdinand；in Hessen and the Westphalian Countries； as far west as Minden； as far east as Frankfurt…on…Mayn； generally well north of Rhine； well south of Elbe： that was； for five years coming； the cockpit or place of deadly fence between France and England。 Friedrich's arena lies eastward of that； occasionally playing into it a little； and played into by it； and always in lively sympathy and consultation with it： but； except the French subsidizings； diplomatizings。 and great diligenae against him in foreign Courts； Friedrich is； in practical respects； free of the French； and ever after Rossbach； Ferdinand and the English keep them in full work； growing yearly too full。 A heavy Business for England and Ferdinand； which is happily kept extraneous to Friedrich thenceforth； to him and us； which is not on the stage of his affairs and ours； b
