louisa of prussia and her times-第108节

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Russia　a　passage　through　her　neutral　territory；　and　because　she
placed　her　army　in　a　menacing　position　against　Russia。　But　what
would　the　world　say　if　it　should　learn　what　has　now　occurred？〃

〃Well；　what　has　occurred？〃　asked　the　queen；　breathlessly。

〃The　Emperor　of　France　has　carried　out　what　Russia　only　threatened
to　do。　The　Emperor　of　France；　without　applying　for　permission；　has
marched　a　portion　of　his　army；　commanded　by　Bernadotte；　through
Prussian　territory。　He　has　marched　his　troops；　contrary　to　treaties
and　to　international　law；　through　Prussian　Franconia；　Anspach；　and
Baireuth。〃

The　queen　uttered　a　cry　of　surprise；　and　her　cheeks　turned　pale。
〃Does　the　king　already　know　it？〃　she　asked。

〃He　has　known　it　since　yesterday；〃　said　Hardenberg；　gravely。　〃We
kept　the　matter　secret；　because　we　would　only　lay　it　before　the
public　together　with　the　decision　of　his　majesty。〃

〃And　has　the　king　come　already　to　a　decision？〃　asked　the　queen。

〃He　has；　your　majesty；〃　said　Hardenberg；　solemnly。　〃When　Russia
threatened　to　violate　our　territory；　we　placed　our　army　on　the　war
footing；　and　it　is　still　in　arms。　Now　that　France　dares　to　do　what
Russia　only　threatened　to　do；　we　do　not　turn　our　arms　against　her　in
order　to　avenge　the　insult；　but　we　take　our　pen　and　write　and　ask
France　to　explain　her　startling　proceedings。　It　is　true　we　threaten；
but　do　not　strike！〃

〃No；　we　do　not　strike！〃　exclaimed　the　prince；　laughing　scornfully；
〃we　mobilize　our　army　against　our　natural　friends　and　allies；　but　we
do　not　draw　the　sword　against　our　natural　enemies　and　adversaries。
The　army　of　Frederick　the　Great　is　ready　for　war；　and　yet　it　remains
idle　and　looks　on　quietly　while　the　insatiable　conqueror　is
penetrating　farther　and　farther　into　the　heart　of　Germany；　while　he
is　scattering　broadcast　the　seeds　of　treachery；　discord；　and
mischief；　while　he　is　persuading　the　German　princes　to　turn　traitors
to　Germany；　while　he　is　poisoning　and　corrupting　the　hearts　of　the
people　and　degrading　their　characters　to　such　an　extent；　that　the
sense　of　fidelity；　honesty；　and　constancy　will　soon　become　extinct
in　Germany；　and　all　the　Germans　will　be　nothing　but　a　horde　of
slaves；　who　will　be　happy　if　this　tyrant　does　not　apply　the　lash　too
often　to　their　backs；　and　who　will　kiss　his　feet；　so　that　he　may
step　at　least　mildly　and　gently　on　their　necks！　If　the　tyrant　should
succeed　now　in　humiliating　Austria；　who　alone　has　been　courageous
enough　to　oppose　him；　if　Napoleon　should　defeat　the　Austrian　army；
Germany　would　be　lost　and　become　nothing　but　a　French　province　like
Italy　and　Holland：　all　the　German　princes　would　lay　their　crowns　at
the　feet　of　Napoleon；　and　be　glad　if　he　should　suffer　them　only　as
governors　in　their　former　states；　or　leave　them　at　least　their　empty
titles　after　depriving　them　of　their　possessions！〃

〃No；　no；〃　exclaimed　the　queen；　〃we　must　not；　we　shall　not　permit
that！　Prussia　is　ready　to　maintain　the　honor　of　Germany；　Prussia
will　rise　like　a　hero　accustomed　to　victory；　she　will　drive　the
invader　from　her　territory；　and　compel　him；　with　arms　in　her　hands；
to　keep　the　peace；　if　she　is　unable　to　obtain　it　with　her　pen。　You
are　right；　the　time　of　neutrality　and　hesitation　is　past；　and
henceforth　we　must　act。　I　shall　no　longer　remain　neutral；　I　shall
act　too。　You　have　appealed　to　the　mother　and　wife　and　shown　her　the
danger　threatening　her　children　and　her　husband；　you　have　reminded
the　daughter　of　Germany　of　the　horrors　menacing　her　fatherland；　you
have　pointed　out　to　the　Queen　of　Prussia　the　evils　impending　over
her　people；　the　mother；　the　wife；　and　the　queen　has　heard　and
understood　you。　The　time　of　neutrality　is　past；　we　must　move　the
heart　of　the　best　and　most　magnanimous　king　by　our　prayers　and
remonstrances；　in　order　that　he　may　listen　to　us；　and　no　longer　to
the　insinuations　and　flatteries　of　his　enemies；　so　that　he　may
discern　his　friends　as　well　as　his　enemies。　The　king　is　hesitating
only　because；　in　generous　self…abnegation；　he　prefers　the　happiness
of　his　people　to　his　own　wishes　and　to　the　gratification　of　his　own
desires。　A　soldier　by　nature　and　predilection；　he　compels　himself　to
be　a　peaceable　ruler；　because　he　believes　it　is　necessary　for　the
happiness　of　his　people。　Let　us　prove　to　him　that　his　subjects
refuse　to　accept　this　generous　sacrifice；　and　that　they　are　joyfully
ready　to　remove　the　stains　from　their　honor　with　their　heart's
blood。　Let　public　opinion　speak　out　and　come　to　our　assistance。　I
say；　'to　OUR　assistance；'　for　henceforth　I　shall　side　with　you；　I
shall　be　a　member　of　your　party；　and　a　determined　and　outspoken
enemy　of　France！〃

〃May　God　bless　your　majesty　for　these　words！〃　said　Hardenberg；
deeply　moved；　〃I　am　once　again　in　hopes　that　Prussia　will　be　saved；
for　she　has　now　won　an　ally　who　brings　more　to　her　than　armies　and
arms；　and　who　places　the　enthusiasm　and　indomitable　determination　of
a　great　chieftain　at　the　head　of　our　people。〃

〃And　with　this　chieftain　at　our　head　we　shall　vanquish　every　French
army；〃　exclaimed　Prince　Louis；　enthusiastically；　〃with　this
chieftain　at　our　head　we　shall　triumphantly　march　against　the　enemy；
and　one　idea；　one　sentiment　will　animate　all　of　us：　Queen　Louisa　is
watching　and　praying　for　us！　Oh；　my　queen；　would　that　that　blessed
day　of　battle　could　dawn　for　us！　Command　the　sun　of　that　day　to　rise
and　to　shine　into　all　Prussian　hearts；　and　to　fire　them　with
patriotism　so　as　to　shrink　back　no　longer　from　death　and　wounds；　but
only　from　dishonor　and　degradation！　Oh；　my　blood　burns　like　fire　in
my　veins；　it　would　like　to　burst　forth　in　a　fiery　torrent　and　drown
and　burn　every　Frenchman。　Queen；　have　mercy　on　melet　the　solemn
day　when　I　may　shed　my　blood　for　the　fatherland　dawn　without　delay！〃

〃Live　and　labor　for　the　fatherland！〃　said　the　queen；　with　flaming
eyes；　and　her　face　radiant　with　enthusiasm。　〃It　is　not　the　most
exalted　and　difficult　task　to　die　an　heroic　death　for　a　great　idea；
but　it　is　even　more　noble　and　difficult　to　nourish　and　preserve　this
idea　in　the　gloomy　days　of　adversity；　and　not　to　abandon　it　and　give
it　up　in　a　period　of　affliction；　but　to　remain　its　guardian　and
priest；　even　though　fate　may　seem　to　reject　it　and　to　humiliate　us
with　it。　Now　that　I　am　entering　a　new　life…path；　I　say　to　you；　from
the　bottom　of　my　heart；　we　will　struggle　for　the　honor；　liberty；　and
independence　of　Prussia　and　Germany；　but　we　will　be　determined；　too；
not　only　to　die　for　these　ideas；　but　also　to　suffer　and　bear
affliction　for　them。　Oh；　it　seems　to　me　as　though　I　were　looking　at
this　moment　into　the　future；　and　as　though　I　did　see　there　much
misery　and　distress　in　store　for　us；　many　storms　and　thunder…
clouds！〃

〃But　the　sun　is　hidden　behind　the　thunder…clouds；　and　when　the
thunder　has　died　away　it　will　shine　again；〃　said　Hardenberg。

〃And　it　will　then　shine　on　the　heads　of　my　husband　and　of　my
children！〃　exclaimed　the　queen；　raising　her　radiant　eyes　to　heaven。
〃Above　all；　it　will　shine　on　the　Prussian　people　from　the　face　of
their　adored　Queen　Louisa；〃　said　the　prince。

The　queen　smiled　sadly。　〃Let　us　not　speak　of　the　sun；　but　of　the
thunder…clouds　preceding　it。　They　are　gathering　around　us；　let　us
see　how　we　can　break　through　them。　You　may　count　on　my　earnest
assistance。　My　husband　and　my　children　are　in　danger；　I　feel　and　see
it。　France　is　the　enemy　menacing　them。　Henceforward　we　will　oppose
this　enemy　with　open　visor。　I　promise　it　to　you　in　the　name　of
Prussia；　in　the　name　of　my　husband；　and　of　my　children。　Here；　take
my　hand；　we　will　stand　by　each　other；　and　struggle　together　against
France　for　the　honor　and　glory　of　Prussia。　You　will　fight　with　your
sword　and　with　your　pen；　and　I　shall　do　so　with　my　word　and　my　love。
May　the　people　support　us；　may　God　bless　us！〃

〃May　God　bless　us！〃　repeated　the　prince　and　the　minister；
reverentially　kissing　the　queen's　hands。

〃And　now；　gentlemen；　go；〃　said　the　queen；　after　a　short　pause　〃Let
us　not　desecrate　this　solemn　moment　by　any　additional　words。　Every
thing　for　Prussia！　Let　that　be　our　watchword！　and　so　I　bid　you
farewell　for　to…day。　Every　thing　for　Prussia！〃

〃Every　thing　for　Prussia！〃　repeated　the　two　gentlemen；　taking　leave
of　the　queen。

Louisa　sent　a　long；　melancholy　look　after　them；　then　she　turned
hastily　around　and　crossed　the　room　with　rapid　steps；　the　sudden
draught　produced　by　her　quick　passage　blew　the　music…paper　from　the
piano　to　the　floor；　it　fell　exactly　at　the　queen's　feet。

She　picked　it　up；　it　was　the　song　she　had　sung　an　hour　ago。　A
painful　smile　played　on　the　lips　of　the　queen；　and　raising　her　eyes
sadly　to　heaven；　she　whispered；　in　a　low　voice：

〃Oh；　my　God；　grant　that　this　may　not　be　an　omen；　and　that　I　may　not
be　compelled　to　eat　my　bread　with　tears；　and　to　weep　through　nights
of　affliction！　But　if　it　must　be；　O　God；　give　me　strength　to　bear　my
misfortunes　uncomplainingly；　and　to　be　a　comfort　to　my　husband；　a
mother　to　my　children！〃




CHAPTER　XLVI。

THE　OATH　AT　THE　GRAVE　OF　FREDERICK　THE　GREAT。


The　wishes　of　the　queen　had　rapidly　been　fulfilled；　public　opinion
had　declared　in　Berlin　with　rare　energy　and　emphasis　against　France；
and　the　people　had　received　th