louisa of prussia and her times-第20节

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day；　because　it　was　the　first　day　of　my　real　life。　It　was　at
Frankfort…on…the…Main；　during　the　campaign　on　the　Rhine。　My　father；
the　king；　accompanied　by　myself；　returned　the　visit　that　the　Duke　of
Mecklenburg；　your　excellent　father；　had　paid　on　the　previous　day。　We
met　in　a　small　and　unpretending　villa；　situated　in　the　midst　of　a
large　garden。　The　two　sovereigns　conversed　long　and　seriously；　and　I
was　listening　to　them；　in　silence。　This　silence　was；　perhaps；
disagreeable　to　my　father　the　king。〃

〃'What　do　you　think；　your　Highness？'　he　suddenly　asked　your　father。
'While　we　are　talking　about　the　military　operations；　will　we　not
permit　the　young　gentleman　there　to　wait　upon　the　ladies？　As　soon　as
we　are　through；　I　shall　ask　you　to　grant　me　the　same　privilege。'〃

〃The　duke　readily　assented；　and　calling　the　footman　waiting　in　the
anteroom；　he　ordered　him　to　go　with　me　to　the　ladies　and　to　announce
my　visit　to　them。　Being　in　the　neighborhood　of　the　seat　of　war；　you
know；　little　attention　was　paid　to　ceremonies。　I　followed　the
footman；　who　told　me　the　ladies　were　in　the　garden；　whither　he
conducted　me。　We　walked　through　a　long　avenue　and　a　number　of　side…
paths。　The　footman；　going　before　me；　looked　around　in　every
direction　without　being　able　to　discover　the　whereabouts　of　the
ladies。　Finally；　at　a　bend　in　the　avenue；　we　beheld　a　bower　in　the
distance；　and　something　white　fluttering　in　it。〃

〃'Ah；　there　is　Princess　Louisa；'　said　the　footman；　turning　to　me；
and　he　then　rapidly　walked　toward　her。　I　followed　him　slowly　and
listlessly；　and　when　he　came　back　and　told　me　Princess　Louisa　was
ready　to　receive　me；　I　was　perhaps　yet　twenty　yards　from　the　rose…
bower。　I　saw　there　a　young　lady　rising　from　her　seat；　and
accelerated　my　steps。　Suddenly　my　heart　commenced　pulsating　as　it
never　had　done　before；　and　it　seemed　to　me　as　if　a　door　were
bursting　open　in　my　heart　and　making　it　free；　and　as　if　a　thousand
voices　in　my　soul　were　singing　and　shouting；　'There　she　is！　There　is
the　lady　of　your　heart！'　The　closer　I　approached；　the　slower　grew　my
steps；　and　I　saw　you　standing　in　the　entrance　of　the　bower　in　a
white　dress；　loosely　covering　your　noble　and　charming　figure；　a
gentle　smile　playing　on　your　pure；　sweet　face；　golden　ringlets
flowing　down　both　sides　of　your　rosy　cheeks；　and　your　head　wreathed
with　the　full　and　fragrant　roses　which　seemed　to　bend　down　upon　you
from　the　bower　in　order　to　kiss　and　adorn　you；　your　round　white　arms
only　half　covered　with　clear　lace　sleeves；　and　a　full…blown　rose　in
your　right　hand　which　you　had　raised　to　your　waist。　And　seeing　you
thus　before　me；　I　believed　I　had　been　removed　from　earth；　and　it
seemed　to　me　I　beheld　an　angel　of　innocence　and　beauty；　through
whose　voice　Heaven　wished　to　greet　me。　＇Footnote：　Goethe　saw　the
young　princess　at　the　same　time；　and　speaks　of　her　〃divine　beauty。〃＇
At　last　I　stood　close　before　you；　and　in　my　fascination　I　entirely
forgot　to　salute　you。　I　only　looked　at　you。　I　only　heard　those
jubilant　voices　in　my　heart；　singing；　'There　is　your　wifethe　wife
you　will　love　now　and　forever！'　It　was　no　maudling　sentimentality；
but　a　clear　and　well…defined　consciousness　which；　like　an
inspiration；　suddenly　moistened　my　eyes　with　tears　of　joy。
＇Footnote：　The　king's　own　words；　vide　Bishop　Eylert's　work；　vol。
ii。；　p。　22。＇　Oh；　Louisa；　why　am　I　no　painter　to　perpetuate　that
sublime　moment　in　a　beautiful　and　glorious　picture？　But　what　I
cannot　do；　shall　be　tried　by　others。　A　true　artist　shall　render　and
eternize　that　moment　for　me；　＇Footnote：　This　painting　was　afterward
executed；　and　may　now　be　seen　at　the　royal　palace　of　Berlin。　The
whole　account　of　the　first　meeting　of　the　two　lovers　is　based　upon
the　communication　the　king　made　himself　to　Bishop　Eylert＇　so　that
one　day　when　we　are　gone；　our　son　may　look　up　to　the　painting　and
say：　'Such　was　my　mother　when　my　father　first　saw　her。　He　believed
he　beheld　an　angel；　and　he　was　not　mistaken；　for　she　was　the
guardian　angel　of　his　whole　life。'〃

〃Oh！　you　make　me　blushyou　make　me　too　happy；　too　happy！〃　exclaimed
the　queen；　closing　her　husband's　lips　with　a　burning　kiss。

〃Don't　praise　me　too　much；　lest　I　should　become　proud　and
overbearing。〃

The　king　gently　shook　his　head。　〃Only　the　stupid；　the　guilty；　and
the　base　are　proud　and　overbearing；〃　he　said。　〃But；　whoever　has　seen
you；　Louisa；　on　the　day　of　your　first　arrival　in　Berlin；　will　never
forget　your　sweet　image　in　its　radiance　of　grace；　modesty；　and
loveliness。　It　was　on　a　Sunday；　a　splendid　clear　day　in　winter；　the
day　before　Christmas；　which　was　to　become　the　greatest　holiday　of　my
life。　A　vast　crowd　had　gathered　in　front　of　the　Arsenal　Unter　den
Linden。　Every　one　was　anxious　to　see　you。　At　the　entrance　of　the
Linden；　not　far　from　the　Opera…Place；　a　splendid　triumphal　arch　had
been　erected；　and　here　a　committee　of　the　citizens　and　a　number　of
little　girls　were　to　welcome　you　to　Berlin。　In　accordance　with　the
rules　of　court　etiquette；　I　was　to　await　your　arrival　at　the　palace。
But　my　eagerness　to　see　you　would　not　suffer　me　to　remain　there。
Closely　muffled　in　my　military　cloak；　my　cap　drawn　down　over　my
face；　in　order　not　to　be　recognized　by　anybody；　I　had　gone　out　among
the　crowd　and；　assisted　by　a　trusty　servant；　obtained　a　place　behind
one　of　the　pillars　of　the　triumphal　arch。　Suddenly　tremendous　cheers
burst　forth　from　a　hundred　thousand　throats；　thousands　of　arms　were
waving　white　handkerchiefs　from　the　windows　and　roofs　of　the　houses；
the　bells　were　rung；　the　cannon　commenced　thundering；　for　you　had
just　crossed　the　Brandenburger　Gate。　Alighting　from　your　carriage；
you　walked　up　the　Linden　with　your　suite；　the　wildest　enthusiasm
greeting　every　step　you　made；　and　finally　you　entered　the　triumphal
arch；　not　suspecting　how　near　I　was　to　you；　and　how　fervently　my
heart　was　yearning　for　you。　A　number　of　little　girls　in　white；　with
myrtle…branches　in　their　hands；　met　you　there；　and　one　of　them；
bearing　a　myrtle…wreath　on　an　embroidered　cushion；　presented　it　to
you　and　recited　a　simple　and　touching　poem。　Oh；　I　see　even　now；　how
your　eyes　were　glowing；　how　a　profound　emotion　lighted　up　your
features；　and　how；　overpowered　by　your　feelings；　you　bent　down　to
the　little　girl；　clasped　her　in　your　arms　and　kissed　her　eyes　and
lips。　But　behind　you　there　stood　the　mistress　of　ceremonies；
Countess　von　Voss；　pale　with　indignation；　and　trembling　with　horror
at　this　unparalleled　occurrence。　She　hastily　tried　to　draw　you　back；
and　in　her　amazement　she　cried　almost　aloud；　'Good　Heaven！　how　could
your　royal　highness　do　that　just　now？　It　was　contrary　to　good…
breeding　and　etiquette！'　Those　were　harsh　and　inconsiderate　words；
but　in　your　happy　mood　you　did　not　feel　hurt；　but　quietly　and
cheerfully　turned　around　to　her　and　asked　innocently　and　honestly。
'What！　cannot　I　do　so　any　more？'　＇Footnote：　Eylert；　vol。　ii。；　p。79。＇
Oh；　Louisa；　at　that　moment；　and　in　consequence　of　your　charming
question；　my　eyes　grew　moist；　and　I　could　hardly　refrain　from
rushing　out　of　the　crowd　and　pressing　you　to　my　heart；　and　kissing
your　eyes　and　lips　as　innocently　and　chastely　as　you　had　kissed
those　of　the　little　girl。〃

〃See；〃　said　the　king；　drawing　a　deep　breath；　and　pausing　for　a
minute；〃　those　are　the　two　great　days　of　my　life；　and　as　you　ask　me
now；　what　you　ought　to　do　in　order　to　win　the　love　of　your　people；　I
reply　to　you　once　more：　Remain　what　you　are；　so　that　these　beautiful
pictures　of　you；　which　are　engraved　upon　my　heart；　may　always
resemble　you；　and　you　will　be　sure　to　win　all　hearts。　Oh；　my　Louisa；
your　task　is　an　easy　one；　you　only　have　to　be　true　to　yourself；　you
only　have　to　follow　your　faithful　companions　the　Graces；　and　success
will　never　fail　you。　My　task；　however；　is　difficult；　and　I　shall
have　to　struggle　not　only　with　the　evil　designs；　the　malice；　and
stupidity　of　others；　but　with　my　own　inexperience；　my　want　of
knowledge；　and　a　certain　irresolution；　resulting；　however；　merely
from　a　correct　appreciation　of　what　I　am　lacking。〃

The　queen　with　a　rapid　gesture　placed　her　hand　upon　the　king's
shoulder。

〃You　must　be　more　self…reliant；　for　you　may　safely　trust　yourself；〃
she　said；　gravely。　〃Who　could　be　satisfied　with　himself；　if　you　were
to　despair？　What　sovereign　could　have　the　courage　to　grasp　the
sceptre；　if　your　hands　should　shrink　back　from　it？your　hands；　as
free　from　guilt　and　firm　and　strong　as　those　of　a　true　man　should
be！　I　know　nothing　about　politics；　and　shall　never　dare　to　meddle
with　public　affairs　and　to　advise　you　in　regard　to　them；　but　I　know
and　feel　that　you　will　always　be　guided　by　what　you　believe　to　be
the　best　interests　of　your　people；　and　that　you　never　will　deviate
from　that　course。　The　spirit　of　the　Great　Frederick　is　looking　upon
you；　he　will　guide　and　bless　you！〃

The　king　seemed　greatly　surprised　by　these　words。

〃Do　you　divine　my　thoughts；　Louisa？〃　he　asked。　〃Do　you　know　my　soul
has　been　with　him　all　the　morningthat　I　thus　conversed　with　him
and　repeated　to　myself　every　thing　he　said　to　me　one　day　in　a　great
and　solemn　hour。　Oh；　it　was　indeed　a　sacred　hour；　and　never　have　I
spoken　of　it　to　anybody；　for　every　word　would　have　looked　to　me　like
a　desec