louisa of prussia and her times-第72节

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dangerous　friendship　of　France；　you　will　have　gained　three　powerful
enemies。〃

〃And　if　I　grasp　their　hands　I　shall　not　advance　the　interests　of
Prussia　by　shedding　the　blood　of　my　people；　but　only　those　of
Austria　and　Russia；〃　replied　the　king。　〃If　France　should　be　greatly
weakened；　or　even　entirely　annihilated；　serious　dangers　would　arise
for　Prussia；　for　Austria　and　Russia　would　unite　in　that　case；　for
the　purpose　of　menacing　our　own　security。　They　would　easily　and
quickly　find　compensations　for　themselves；　and　Austria　especially
would　profit　by　the　losses　of　France；　for　she　would　recover　the
Netherlands；　which　Prussia　is　to　conquer　now　by　the　blood　of　her
soldiers；　and　acquire；　perhaps；　even　Bavaria。　But　what　compensation
would　fall　to　the　share　of　Prussia？　Or　do　you　believe；　perhaps；
Austria；　from　a　feeling　of　gratitude　toward　us；　would　cede　to
Prussia　a　portion　of　her　former　hereditary　possessions　in　the
Netherlands？　No；　nono　war　with　France！　Let　Russia　and　Austria
fight　alone；　they　are　strong　enough　for　it。　I　say　all　this　after
mature　deliberation；　and　this　is　not　only　my　opinion；　but　also　that
of　distinguished　and　experienced　generals。　General　von　Tempelhof；
too；　is　of　my　opinion；　and　confirmed　it　in　a　memorial　which　I　asked
him　to　draw　up　for　me。〃

〃Your　majesty　requested　the　Duke　of　Brunswick；　also；　to　write　a
memorial　on　the　intended　coalition　against　France；〃　said　General　von
Kockeritz；　hastily。　〃On　our　arrival　I　received　this　memorial　and
read　it；　according　to　your　majesty's　orders。　The　duke　persists　in
the　opinion　that　it　is　necessary　for　the　honor；　glory；　and　safety　of
Prussia　to　join　the　coalition；　and　to　oppose　France　in　a　determined
manner。　Your　majesty；　I　must　confess　that　I　share　the　view
maintained　by　the　duke。〃

〃So　do　I！〃　exclaimed　Count　Haugwitz；　〃and　so　do　all　your　subjects。
Sire；　your　whole　people　ardently　desire　to　chastise　this　arrogant
France；　and　to　sweep　these　hosts　of　Jacobins　from　the　soil　of
Germany。　Oh；　my　king　and　lord；　only　make　a　trial；　only　raise　your
voice　and　call　upon　the　people　to　rally　around　your　standards；　and
to　wage　war　against　France！　You　will　see　them　rally　enthusiastically
around　the　Prussian　eagles　and　fervently　bless　their　courageous
king。　And　when　you　begin　this　struggle；　sire；　you　and　your　army　will
have　a　formidable；　an　invincible　ally。　That　ally　is　PUBLIC　OPINION；
sire！　Public　opinion　requires　this　war；　and　public　opinion　is　no
longer　something　dumb　and　creeping　in　the　dark；　but　something　that
has　a　voice；　and　that　raises　it　in　ringing；　thundering　notes　in　the
newspaper　and　magazine。　One　of　these　voices　spoke　a　few　weeks　ago　in
the　Political　Journal；　as　follows：　'Can　our　monarch　abandon　the
German　empire？　Can　he　look　on　quietly　while　France　is　making
preparations　for　attacking　Prussia　as　soon　as　her　turn　shall　come？
It　is　only　necessary　for　us　to　think　of　Italy；　Switzerland；　and
Holland　in　order　to　appreciate　the　friendship　of　France。'　＇Footnote：
〃Political　Journal。〃　Berlin；　1798。＇　This　voice　has　re…echoed
throughout　Prussia；　and　everyone　is　looking　up　to　the　throne　of　your
majesty　anxiously　and　hopefully；　every　one　is　satisfied　that　you
will　draw　the　sword　for　the　honor　and　rights　of　Germany。　Sire；　at
this　moment　I　am　nothing　but　the　voice　of　your　people；　and　therefore
I　implore　your　majesty　to　take　a　bold　and　manful　resolution。　Draw
the　sword　for　Prussia's　honor　and　Germany's　safety。〃

〃I　implore　your　majesty　likewise　to　do　so；〃　exclaimed　General　von
Kockeritz。　〃I　dare　to　implore　your　majesty；　in　the　name　of　your
people。　Oh；　sire；　take　a　bold　and　manly　resolution！　Draw　the　sword
for　Prussia's　honor　and　Germany's　safety。〃

The　king　had　risen　and　paced　the　room　with　violent　steps。　His
features；　usually　so　quiet　and　gentle；　were　not　uneasy　and　agitated；
a　gloomy　cloud　covered　his　brow；　and　a　painful　expression　trembled
on　his　lips。　He　seemed　to　carry　on　a　violent　and　desperate　inward
struggle；　and　his　breath　issued　painfully　and　gaspingly　from　his
breast。　Finally；　after　a　long　pause；　he　approached　the　two　gentlemen
who　had　risen　and　were　looking　at　him　with　evident　anxiety。

〃I　am　unable　to　refute　all　these　reasons；〃　said　the　king；　sighing；
〃but　an　inward　voice　tells　me　that　I　ought　not　to　break　my　word；　and
commence　hostilities。　If　the　welfare　of　the　state　requires　it；
however；　I　shall　join　the　coalition；　but　only　on　condition　that　the
Austrians　attack　Mentz　in　force；　take　the　fortress　by　assault；　and
thereby　cover　the　left　flank　of　my　base　of　operations。　＇Footnote：
The　king's　own　words。Vide　〃Memoiren　zur　Geschichte　des　Preuss。
Staats。〃　By　Col。　Massenbach。　Vol　iii。；　p。　88。＇　And　now　we　will　close
our　consultation　for　to…day。　Go；　Count　Haugwitz；　and　resume　your
negotiations　with　the　ambassadors　of　Russia　and　Great　Britain。　As
for　you；　General　von　Kockeritz；　I　beg　you　to　bring　me　the　memorial
of　the　Duke　of　Brunswick；　and　then　you　may　return　to　your　house　and
take　some　rest；　of　which　you　doubtless　stand　greatly　in　need　after
the　fatigues　you　have　undergone。〃

He　greeted　the　gentlemen　with　a　hasty　nod　and　turned　his　back　to
them；　without　paying　any　attention　to　the　deep　and　reverential　bows
with　which　the　minister　and　the　general　withdrew　toward　the　door。

When　the　two　gentlemen　had　reached　the　anteroom；　they　satisfied
themselves　by　a　rapid　glance　that　they　were　alone；　and　that　nobody
was　able　to　hear　them。

〃He　was　quite　angry；〃　whispered　General　von　Kockeritz；　〃he　only
yielded　with　the　utmost　reluctance；　and；　believe　me；　my　friend；　the
king　will　never　forgive　us　this　victory　we　have　obtained　over　him；
it　may　produce　the　worst　results　and　endanger　our　whole　position。〃

〃It　is　true；〃　said　Count　Haugwitz；　sighing；　〃the　king　dismissed　us
in　a　more　abrupt　and　harsh　manner　than　ever　before。　It　would　have
been　better　for　us　to　yield；　and　let　the　king　have　his　own　way。　Who
knows　but　he　is　right；　and　an　alliance　with　France；　perhaps；　would
be　more　advantageous　than　this　coalition　with　Austria　and　Russia？　It
startles　me　somewhat　that　Austria　should　be　so　anxious　to　obtain　the
accession　of　Prussia　to　the　coalition；　for　Austria　certainly　would
feel　no　inclination　to　propose　any　alliance　that　might　prove
profitable　to　Prussia。　It　may　be　best　for　Prussia；　after　all；　to
side　with　France。〃

〃But　public　opinion　would　execrate　such　an　alliance；〃　said　General
von　Kockeritz；　sighing。　〃Public　opinion〃

〃My　dear　friend；〃　interrupted　Count　Haugwitz；　angrily；　〃public
opinion　is　like　the　wind；　changing　its　direction　every　day。　Success
alone　influences　and　decides　public　opinion；　and　if　France　should
vanquish　the　three　powers；　the　same　public　opinion　which　now　urges
us　to　join　the　coalition　would　condemn　us。　Public　opinion　should　not
induce　us　to　endanger　our　position　and　our　power　over　the　king　for
its　sake。　And　I　tell　you；　I　am　uneasy　about　this　matter。　The　king
was　greatly　irritated；　he　seemed　angry　with　us；　because　he　felt　that
he　is　not　entirely　free　and　independent；　and　that　he　has　granted　us
some　power　over　his　decisions。〃

〃We　should　yield　even　now；〃　said　General　von　Kockeritz；　anxiously。
〃We　should　confess　to　the　king　that　his　reasons　have　convinced　us；
that　we　have　been　mistaken〃

〃So　that　he　would　feel　with　twofold　force　that　not　his　own　free
will；　but　our　altered　opinion；　decided　his　action？〃　asked　the
minister。　〃No；　we　must　give　the　king　a　chance　to　decide　the　whole
question　by　his　own　untrammelled　authority；　and　to　prove　that　he
alone　is　the　ruler　of　Prussia's　destinies。　You　can　give　him　the　best
opportunity　for　so　doing；　for　you　have　a　pretext　to　return　to　him　at
once。　Did　not　the　king　order　you　to　bring　him　the　memorial　of　the
Duke　of　Brunswick？〃

〃Good　Heaven！　that　is　true；　the　king　is　waiting　for　the　memorial！〃
exclaimed　the　general；　in　terror。　〃In　my　anxiety；　I　even　forgot　his
orders。〃

〃Hasten；　my　friend；　to　bring　it　at　once　to　him；〃　said　Count
Haugwitz；　〃and　with　your　leave　I　shall　take　a　little　rest　in　the
room　which　the　king　has　been　kind　enough　to　assign　to　you　here　in
the　palace。　He　will　perhaps　countermand　the　instructions　he　has　just
given　me。〃

A　few　minutes　afterward　General　von　Kockeritz；　with　the　memorial　in
his　hands；　reentered　the　cabinet　of　the　king；　who　was　still　slowly
pacing　the　room；　without　noticing　the　arrival　of　his　adviser。

〃Your　majesty；〃　said　the　general；　timidly；　〃here　is　the　memorial　of
Ferdinand；　duke　of　Brunswick。〃

〃Just　lay　it　on　my　desk　there；〃　said　the　king；　continuing　his
promenade。

General　von　Kockeritz　stepped　to　the　desk　and　placed　the　memorial　on
it。　Just　at　that　moment　the　king　had　arrived　at　the　desk　too；　and
paused　in　front　of　the　general。　He　fixed　a　long　and　mournful　glance
upon　him　and　slowly　shook　his　head。

〃You　have　deserted　me　also；〃　said　the　king；　sighing。　〃You　may　be
right；　gentlemen。　I　have　yielded　to　your　more　profound　sagacity　for
the　time　being；　but　an　inward　voice　tells　me　that　it　is　wrong　to
break　the　peace　because　France　at　the　present　time　is　being
threatened　on　all　sides；　and　because　her　armies　have　been　defeated。〃

〃Your　majesty　alone　has　to　decide　the　whole　question；〃　said
Kockeritz；　solemnly。　〃Your　conviction　is　our　law；　and　we　submit　in
dutiful　obedience　to　your