louisa of prussia and her times-第17节
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day what I am in the habit of doing every day at this hourI am
going to pay a visit to my wife。〃
〃To your WIFE！〃 exclaimed the mistress of ceremonies； in dismay。
〃But； your majesty； a king has no WIFE！〃
〃Ah！ in that case a king would be a very wretched being；〃 said the
king； smiling； 〃and； for my part； I would sooner give up my crown
than my beloved wife。〃
〃Good Heaven； your majesty； you may certainly have a wife； but let
me implore you not to apply that vulgar name to her majesty in the
presence of other people。 It is contrary to etiquette and injurious
to the respect due to royalty。〃
〃My dear countess；〃 said the young king； gravely； 〃I believe； on the
contrary； that it will only increase the respect which people will
feel for us； if her majesty remains a woman in the noblest and
truest meaning of the word； and my wifeI beg your pardon； I was
going to say the queenis such a woman。 And now； my dear countess；
permit me to go to her。〃
〃No；〃 exclaimed the mistress of ceremonies； resolutely。 〃Your
majesty must first condescend to listen to me。 For an hour already I
have been waiting here for your majesty's arrival； and you must now
graciously permit me to speak to you as frankly and sincerely as is
required by my duty and official position。〃
〃Well； I will listen to you； my dear countess；〃 said the king； with
an inaudible sigh。
〃Your majesty；〃 said the mistress of ceremonies； 〃I consider it my
duty to beseech your majesty on this memorable day to confer upon me
the power of enforcing the privileges of my office with more
severity and firmness。〃
〃And to submit myself to your sceptre。 That is what you want me to
do； I suppose； dear countess？〃 asked the king； smiling。
〃Sire； at all events it is impossible to keep up the dignity and
majesty of royalty if the king and queen themselves openly defy the
laws of etiquette。〃
〃Ah！〃 exclaimed the king； sharply； 〃not a word against the queen； if
you please； my dear mistress of ceremonies！ You may accuse me just
as much as you please； but pray let me hear no more complaints about
my Louisa！ Well； then； tell me now what new derelictions I have been
guilty of。〃
〃Sire；〃 said the countess； who did not fail to notice the almost
imperceptible smile playing on the king's lips〃sire； I perceive
that your majesty is laughing at me； nevertheless； I deem it
incumbent on me to raise my warning voice。 Etiquette is something
sublime and holyit is the sacred wall separating the sovereign
from his people。 If that ill…starred queen； Marie Antoinette； had
not torn down this wall； she would probably have met with a less
lamentable end。〃
〃Ah！ countess； you really go too far； you even threaten me with the
guillotine；〃 exclaimed the king； good…naturedly。 〃Indeed； I am
afraid I must have committed a great crime against etiquette。 Tell
me； therefore； where you wish to see a change； and I pledge you my
word I shall grant your request if it be in my power to do so。〃
〃Sire；〃 begged the mistress of ceremonies； in a low and impressive
voice；〃 let me implore you to be in your palace less of a father and
husband； and more of a king； at least in the presence of others。 It
frequently occurs that your majesty； before other people； addresses
the queen quite unceremoniously with 'thou；' nay； your majesty even
in speaking of her majesty to strangers or servants； often briefly
calls the queen 'my wife。' Sire； all that might be overlooked in the
modest family circle and house of a crown prince； but it can…not be
excused in the palace of a king。〃
〃Then；〃 asked the king； smiling； 〃this house of mine has been
transformed into a palace since yesterday？〃
〃Assuredly； sire； you do not mean to say that you will remain in
this humble house after your accession to the throne？〃 exclaimed the
mistress of ceremonies； in dismay。
〃Now tell me sincerely； my dear countess； cannot we remain in this
house？〃
〃I assure your majesty it is altogether out of the question。 How
would it be possible to keep up the court of a king and queen in so
small a house with becoming dignity？ The queen's household has to be
largely increased； hereafter we must have four ladies of honor； four
ladies of the bedchamber； and other servants in the same pro…
portion。 According to the rules of etiquette； Sire； you must like…
wise enlarge your own household。 A king must have two adjutant…
generals； four chamberlains； four gentlemen of the bedchamber； and
〃
〃Hold on；〃 exclaimed the king； smiling； 〃MY household fortunately
does not belong to the department of the mistress of ceremonies； and
therefore we need not allude to it。 As to your other propositions
and wishes； I shall take them into consideration； for I hope you are
through now。〃
〃No； your majesty； I am not。 I have to mention a good many other
things； and I must do so to…daymy duty requires it；〃 said the
mistress of ceremonies； in a dignified manner。
The king cast a wistful glance toward the door。
〃Well； if your duty requires it； you may proceed；〃 he said； with a
loud sigh。
〃I must beseech your majesty to assist me in the discharge of my
onerous duties。 If the king and queen themselves will submit to the
rigorous and just requirements of etiquette； I shall be able to
compel the whole court likewise strictly to adhere to those salutary
rules。 Nowadays； however； a spirit of innovation and disinclination
to observe the old…established ceremonies and customs； which deeply
afflicts me； and which I cannot but deem highly pernicious； is
gaining ground everywhere。 It has even now infected the ladies and
gentlemen of the court。 And having often heard your majesty； in
conversation with her majesty the queen； contrary to etiquette； use
the vulgar German language instead of the French tongue； which is
the language of the courts throughout Germany； they believe they
have a perfect right to speak German whenever they please。 Yes； it
has become a regular custom among them to salute each other at
breakfast with a German 'Guten Morgen！' ＇Footnote： Vide Ludwig
Hausser's 〃History of Germany；〃 vol； ii。＇ That is an innovation
which should not be permitted to anybody； without first obtaining
the consent of her majesty's mistress of ceremonies and your
majesty's master of ceremonies。〃
〃I beg your pardon；〃 said the king； gravely； 〃as to this point； I
altogether differ from you。 No etiquette should forbid German
gentlemen or German ladies to converse in their mother tongue； and
it is unnatural and mere affectation to issue such orders。 In order
to become fully conscious of their national dignity； they should
especially value and love their own language； and no longer deign to
use in its place the tongue of a people who have shed the blood of
their king and queen； and whose deplorable example now causes all
thrones to tremble。 Would to God that the custom of using the German
language would become more and more prevalent at my court； for it
behooves Germans to feel and think and speak like Germans； and that
will also be the most reliable bulwark against the bloody waves of
the French Republic； in case it should desire to invade Germany。 Now
you know my views； my dear mistress of ceremonies； and if your book
of ceremonies prescribes that all court officers should converse in
French； I request you to expunge that article and to insert in its
place the following： 'Prussia； being a German state； of course
everybody is at liberty to speak German。' This will also be the rule
at court； except in the presence of persons not familiar with the
German language。 Pray don't forget that； my dear countess； and now；
being so implacable a guardian of that door； and of the laws of
etiquette； I request you to go to her majesty the queen； and ask her
if I may have the honor of waiting upon her majesty。 I should like
to present my respects to her majesty； and I trust she will
graciously grant my request。〃 ＇Footnote： The king's own words。Vide
Charakterzuge und Historische Fragmente aus dem Leben des Konigs von
Preussen； Friedrich Wilhelm III。 Gesammelt und herausgegeben von B。
Fr。 Eylert； Bishop； u。s。w。 Th。 ii。； p。 21。＇ The mistress of
ceremonies bowed deeply； her face radiant with joy； and then rapidly
entered the adjoining room。
The king looked after her for a moment； with a peculiar smile。
〃She has to pass through six large rooms before reaching Louisa's
boudoir；〃 he murmured： 〃this door； however； directly leads to her
through the small hall and the other anteroom。 That is the shortest
road to her； and I shall take it。〃
Without hesitating any longer； the king hastily opened the small
side door； slipped through the silent hall and across the small
anteroom； and knocked at the large and heavily…curtained door。
A sweet female voice exclaimed； 〃Come in！〃 and the king immediately
opened the door。 A lady in deep mourning came to meet him； extending
her hands toward him。
〃Oh； my heart told me that it was you； my dearest！〃 she exclaimed；
and her glorious blue eyes gazed upon him with an indescribable
expression of impassioned tenderness。
The king looked at her with a dreamy smile； quite absorbed in her
aspect。 And indeed it was a charming and beautiful sight presented
by this young q
