louisa of prussia and her times-第21节

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spoken　of　it　to　anybody；　for　every　word　would　have　looked　to　me　like
a　desecration。　But　you；　my　noble　wife；　you　can　only　consecrate　and
sanctify　the　advice　I　received　in　that　momentous　hour；　and　as　I　am
telling　you　to…day　about　my　most　glorious　reminiscences；　you　shall
hear　also　what　Frederick　the　Great　once　said　to　me。〃

The　queen　nodded　approvingly；　raising　her　head　from　his　shoulder　and
folding　her　hands　on　her　lap　as　if　she　were　going　to　pray。

The　king　paused　for　a　moment；　and　seemed　to　reflect。

〃In　1785；〃　he　then　said；　〃on　a　fine；　warm　summer　day；　I　met　the　king
in　the　garden　at　Sans…Souci。　I　was　a　youth　of　fifteen　years　at　that
time；　strolling　carelessly　through　the　shrubbery　and　humming　a　song；
when　I　suddenly　beheld　the　king；　who　was　seated　on　the　bench　under
the　large　beech…tree；　at　no　great　distance　from　the　Japanese　palace。
He　was　alone；　two　greyhounds　were　lying　at　his　feet；　in　his　hands　he
held　his　old　cane；　and　his　head　reposed　gently　on　the　trunk　of　the
beech…tree。　A　last　beam　of　the　setting　sun　was　playing　on　his　face；
and　rendered　his　glorious　eyes　even　more　radiant。　I　stood　before　him
in　reverential　awe；　and　he　gazed　upon　me　with　a　kindly　smile。　Then
he　commenced　examining　me　about　my　studies；　and　finally　he　drew　a
volume　of　La　Fontaine's　'Fables'　from　his　pocket；　opened　the　book
and　asked　me　to　translate　the　fable　on　the　page　he　showed　me。　I　did
sobut　when　he　afterward　was　going　to　praise　me　for　the　skill　with
which　I　had　rendered　it；　I　told　him　it　was　but　yesterday　that　I　had
translated　the　same　fable　under　the　supervision　of　my　teacher。　A
gentle　smile　immediately　lighted　up　his　face；　and　tenderly　patting
my　cheeks；　he　said　to　me；　in　his　sonorous；　soft　voice：　'That　is
right；　my　dear　Fritz；　always　be　honest　and　upright。　Never　try　to
seem　what　you　are　notalways　be　more　than　what　you　seem！'　I　never
forgot　that　exhortation；　and　I　have　always　abhorred　falsehood　and
hypocrisy。〃

The　queen　gently　laid　her　hand　upon　his　heart。　〃Your　eye　is　honest；〃
she　said；　〃and　so　is　your　heart。　My　Frederick　is　too　proud　and　brave
to　utter　a　lie。　And　what　did　you　say　to　your　great　ancestor？〃

〃I？　He　spoke　to　meI　stood　before　him　and　listened。　He　admonished
me　to　be　industrious；　never　to　believe　that　I　had　learned　enough；
never　to　stand　still；　but　always　to　struggle　on。　After　that　he　arose
and；　conversing　with　me　all　the　time；　slowly　walked　down　the　avenue
leading　to　the　garden　gate。　All　at　once　he　paused；　and　leaning　upon
his　cane；　his　piercing　eyes　looked　at　me　so　long　and　searchingly；
that　his　glance　deeply　entered　into　my　heart。　'Well；　Fritz；'　he
said；　'　try　to　become　a　good　man；　a　good　man　par　excellence。　Great
things　are　in　store　for　you。　I　am　at　the　end　of　my　career；　and　my
task　is　about　accomplished。　I　am　afraid　that　things　will　go　pell…
mell　when　I　am　dead。　A　portentous　fermentation　is　going　on
everywhere；　and　the　sovereigns；　especially　the　King　of　France；
instead　of　calming　it　and　extirpating　the　causes　that　have　produced
it；　unfortunately　are　deluded　enough　to　fan　the　flame。　The　masses
below　commence　moving　already；　and　when　the　explosion　finally　takes
place；　the　devil　will　be　to　pay。　I　am　afraid　your　own　position　one
day　will　be　a　most　difficult　one。　Arm　yourself；　therefore；　for　the
strife！be　firm！think　of　me！　Watch　over　our　honor　and　our　glory！
Beware　of　injustice；　but　do　not　permit　any　one　to　treat　you
unjustly！'　He　paused　again；　and　slowly　walked　on。　While　deeply　moved
and　conscious　of　the　importance　of　the　interview；　I　inwardly
repeated　every　word　he　had　said；　in　order　to　remember　them　as　long
as　I　lived。　We　had　now　reached　the　obelisk；　near　the　gate　of　Sans…
Souci。　The　king　here　gave　me　his　left　hand；　and　with　his　uplifted
right　hand　he　pointed　at　the　obelisk。　'Look　at　it；'　he　said；　loudly
and　solemnly；　'the　obelisk　is　tall　and　slender；　and　yet　it　stands
firm　amid　the　most　furious　storms。　It　says　to　you：　Ma　force　est　ma
droiture。　The　culmination；　the　highest　point　overlooks　and　crowns
the　whole；　it　does　not　support　it；　however；　but　is　supported　by　the
whole　mass　underlying　it；　especially　by　the　invisible　foundation；
deeply　imbedded　in　the　earth。　This　supporting　foundation　is　the
people　in　its　unity。　Always　be　on　the　side　of　the　people；　so　that
they　will　love　and　trust　you；　as　they　alone　can　render　you　strong
and　happy。'　He　cast　another　searching　glance　upon　me；　and　gave　me
his　hand。　When　I　bent　over　it　in　order　to　kiss　it；　he　imprinted　a
kiss　on　my　forehead。　'Don't　forget　this　hour；'　he　said　kindly；
nodding　to　me。　He　turned　around；　and　accompanied　by　his　greyhounds；
slowly　walked　up　the　avenue　again。　＇Footnote：　The　king's　own　account
to　Bishop　Eylert；　in　the　latter's　work；　vol。　i。；　p。　466。＇　I　never
forgot　that　hour；　and　shall　remember　it　as　long　as　I　live。〃

〃And　the　spirit　of　the　great　Frederick　will　be　with　you　and　remain
with　you；〃　said　the　queen；　deeply　moved。

〃Would　to　God　it　were　so！〃　sighed　the　king。　〃I　know　that　I　am　weak
and　inexperienced；　I　stand　in　need　of　wise　and　experienced　advisers；
I〃

A　rap　at　the　door　interrupted　the　king；　and　on　his　exclaiming；　〃Come
in！〃　the　door　was　opened　and　the　court　marshal　appeared　on　the
threshold。

〃I　humbly　beg　your　majesty's　pardon　for　venturing　to　disturb　you；〃
he　said；　bowing　reverentially；　〃but　I　must　request　your　majesty　to
decide　a　most　important　domestic　mattera　matter　that　brooks　no
delay。〃

〃Well；　what　is　it？〃　said　the　king；　rising　and　walking　over　to　the
marshal。

〃Your　majesty；　it　is　about　the　bill　of　fare　for　the　royal　table；　and
I　beseech　your　majesty　to　read　and　approve　the　following　paper　I
have　drawn　up　in　regard　to　it。〃

With　an　obsequious　bow；　he　presented　a　paper　to　the　king；　who　read
it　slowly　and　attentively。

〃What！〃　he　suddenly　asked；　sharply；　〃two　courses　more　than
formerly？〃

〃Your　majesty；〃　replied　the　marshal；　humbly；　〃it　is　for　the　table　of
a　KING！〃

〃And　you　believe　that　my　stomach　has　grown　larger　since　I　am　a
king？〃　asked　Frederick　William。　〃No；　sir；　the　meals　shall　remain　the
same　as　heretofore；　＇Footnote：　Vide　Eylert；　vol。　i。；　p。　18＇　unless；〃
he　said；　politely　turning　to　the　queen；　〃unless　you　desire　a　change；
my　dear？〃

The　queen　archly　shook　her　head。　〃No；〃　she　said；　with　a　charming
smile；　〃neither　has　my　stomach　grown　larger　since　yesterday。〃

〃There　will　be　no　change；　then；〃　said　the　king；　dismissing　the
marshal。

〃Just　see；〃　he　said　to　the　queen；　when　the　courtier　had　disappeared；
〃what　efforts　they　make　in　order　to　bring　about　a　change　in　our
simple　and　unassuming　ways　of　living；　they　flatter　us　wherever　they
can；　and　even　try　to　do　so　by　means　of　our　meals。〃

〃As　for　ourselves；　however；　dearest；　we　will　remember　the　words　of
your　great　uncle；〃　said　the　queen；　〃and　when　they　overwhelm　us　on
all　sides　with　their　vain　and　ridiculous　demands；　we　will　remain
firm　and　true　to　ourselves。〃

〃Yes；　Louisa；〃　said　the　king；　gravely；　〃and　whatever　our　new　life
may　have　in　store　for　us；　we　will　remain　the　same　as　before。〃

Another　rap　at　the　door　was　heard；　and　a　royal　footman　entered。

〃Lieutenant…Colonel　von　Kockeritz；　your　majesty；　requests　an
audience。〃

〃Ah；　yes；　it　is　time；〃　said　the　king；　looking　at　the　clock　on　the
mantel…piece。　〃I　sent　him　word　to　call　on　me　at　this　hour。　Farewell；
Louisa；　I　must　not　let　him　wait。〃

He　bowed　to　his　wife；　whose　hand　he　tenderly　pressed　to　his　lips；
and　turned　to　the　door。

The　footman　who　had　meantime　stood　at　the　door　as　straight　as　an
arrow；　waiting　for　the　king's　reply；　now　hastened　to　open　both
folding…doors。

〃What！〃　asked　the　king；　with　a　deprecating　smile；　〃have　I　suddenly
grown　so　much　stouter　that　I　can　no　longer　pass　out　through　one
door？〃　＇Footnote：　Ibid。；　p。　19＇

The　queen's　eyes　followed　her　husband's　tall　and　commanding　figure
with　a　proud　smile；　and　then　raising　her　beautiful；　radiant　eyes
with　an　indescribable　expression　to　heaven；　she　whispered：　〃Oh；　what
a　man　I　my　husband！〃　＇Footnote：　〃O；　welch　em　Mann！　mem　Mann！〃
Eylert；　vol。　ii。；　p。　107＇




CHAPTER　XI。

THE　YOUNG　KING。


The　king　rapidly　walked　through　the　rooms　and　across　the　hall；
separating　his　own　apartments　from　those　of　the　queen。　He　had
scarcely　entered　his　cabinet；　when　he　opened　the　door　of　the　ante…
room；　and　exclaimed：

〃Pray；　come　in；　my　dear　Kockeritz。〃

A　corpulent　little　gentleman；　about　fifty　years　of　age；　with　a　kind；
good…natured　face；　small；　vivacious　eyes；　denoting　an　excellent
heart；　but　little　ability；　and　large；　broad　lips；　which　never
perhaps　had　uttered　profound　truths；　but　assuredly　many　pleasant
jests；　immediately　appeared　on　the　threshold。

While　he　was　bowing　respectfully；　the　king　extended　his　hand　to　him。

〃You　have　received　my　letter；　my　friend？〃　he　asked。

〃Yes；　your　majesty。　I　received　it　yesterday；　and　I　have　been
studying　it　all　night。〃

〃And　what　are　you　going　to　reply　to　me？〃　asked　the　king；　quickly。
〃Are　you　ready　to　accept　the　position　I　have　tendered　to　you？　Will
you　become　my　conscientious　and　impartial　advisermy　true　and
devoted　friend？〃

〃Your　majesty；〃　said　the　lieutenant…colonel；　sighing；　〃I　am　afraid
your　majesty　has　too　good　an　opinion　of　my　abilities。　When　I　read
your　truly　sublime　letter；　my　heart