history of friedrich ii of prussia v 17-第19节
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magazine； and blow up his ship。 You remember that of your Francois I。〃FORS L'HONNEUR； ah yes； very well！〃Perhaps it will be my poor Children who will be the victims of these past errors；〃 for such I still think them； I for my part。
〃The Gazettes enumerate the French troops that are to besiege Wesel； Geldern ＇Wesel they will get gratis； poor Geldern will almost break their heart first＇； and take possession of Ost… Friesland； the Russian Declaration ＇Manifesto not worth reading＇ tells us Russia's intentions for the next year ＇most truculent intentions＇： we will defend ourselves to the last drop of our blood； and perish with honor。 If you have any counsel farther； I pray you give it me。
MAP GOES HERE BETWEEN P。 350 AND 351 Chap VII book 17
〃Remain always my friend； and believe that in all situations I will remain yours； and trying to do what my duty is； will not forfeit the sentiments on your part which have been so precious to me。 Your servant； GUILLAUME。〃 ＇Valori； ii。 204…206。＇
〃Pity this good Prince contemplating the downfall of his House；〃 suggests Valori： 〃He deserved a better fate！ He would be in despair to think I had sent this Letter to your Excellency； but I thought perhaps you would show it to the King；〃and that it might do good one day。 ＇Valori （to the French Minister； 〃12th October； 1756〃）； ii。 204。＇ The Prussians lay in their 〃Camp of Lobositz；〃 posted up and down in that neighborhood； for a couple of weeks more； waiting whether Rrowne would attempt anything farther in the fighting way； and； in fine； whether the solution of the crisis would fall out hereabouts； or on the other side of the Hills。
Chapter VII。
THE SAXONS GET OUT OF PIRNA ON DISMAL TERMS。
The disaster of October 1stfor which they were trying to sing TE…DEUMS at Viennafell heavier on the poor Saxons； in their cage at Pirna： 〃Alas； where is our deliverance now？〃 Friedrich's people； in their lines here； gave them such a 〃joy…firing〃 for Lobositz as Retzow has seldom heard； huge volleyings； salvoings； running…fires； starting out； artistically timed and stationed； thunderous； high； and borne by the echoes； gloomily reverberative； into every dell and labyrinth of the Pirna Country；intended to strike a deeper damp into them； thinks he。 ＇Retzow； i。 67。＇ But Imperial Majesty was mindful； too； and straightway sent Browne positive order； 〃Deliver me these poor Saxons at any price！〃 And in the course of not quite a week from Lobositz； there arrives a confidential Messenger from Browne： 〃Courage still； ye caged Saxons； I will try it another way！ Only you must hold out till the 11th； on the 11th stand to your tools； and it shall be done。〃
Browne is to take a succinct Detachment； 8；000 picked men； horse and foot； to make a wider sweep with these； well eastward by the foot of Lausitz Hills； and far enough from all Prussian parties and scouts； to march； with all speed and silence； 〃through Bohm…Leipa； Kamnitz； Rumburg； Schluckenau； and come in upon the Schandau region； quite from the northeast side； say； at Lichtenhayn； an eligible Village； which is but seven miles or so from the Konigstein； with the chasmy country and the river intervening。 Monday； October llth； Browne will arrive at Lichtenhayn （sixty miles of circling march from Budin）； privately post himself near Lichtenhayn； Prussian posts； of no great strength； lying ahead of him there。 You； indignant extenuated Saxons； are to get yourselves across；near the Konigstein it will have to be； under cover of the Konigstein's cannon；on the front or riverward side of those same Prussian posts： crossing…place （Browne's Messenger settles） can be Thurmsdorf Hamlet； opposite the Lilienstein； opposite the Hamlets of Ebenheit and Halbstadt there。 Konigstein fire will cover your bridge and your building of it。
〃Monday night next； I say； post yourselves there； with hearts resolute； with powder dry； there； about the eastern roots of the Lilienstein ＇beautiful Show Mountain； with stair…steps cut on it for Tourist people； by August the Strong＇； and avoid the Prussian battery and abatis which is on it just now！ You at Ebenheit； I at Lichtenhayn； trimmed and braced for action； through that Monday night。 Tuesday morning； the Konigstein； at your beckoning； shall fire two cannon…shots； which shall mean； 'All ready here！' Then forward； you； on those Prussian posts by the front； I will attack them by the rear。 With right fury； both of us！ I am told； they are but weak in those posts； surely； by double impetus； and dead…lift effort from us both； they CAN be forced？ Only force them；you are in the open field again； and you march away with me； colors flying； your hunger…cage and all your tribulations left behind you！〃
This is Browne's plan。 The poor Saxons accept；what choice have they？though the question of crossing and bridge…building has its intricacies； and that inevitable item of 〃postponement till the 11th〃 is a sore clause to them； for not only are there short and ever shorter rations； but grim famine itself is advancing with large strides。 The 〃daily twenty ounces of meal〃 has sunk to half that quantity； the 〃ounce or so of butcher's…meat once a week〃 has vanished； or become HORSE of extreme leanness。 The cavalry horses have not tasted oats； nothing but hay or straw （not even water always）； the artillery horses had to live by grazing； brown leaves their main diet latterly。 Not horses any longer； but walking trestles； poor animals！ And the men；well； they are fallen pale； but they are resolute as ever。 The nine corn…mills； which they have in this circuit of theirs； grind now night and day； and all the cavalry are set to thresh whatever grain can be found about； no hind or husbandman shall retain one sheaf： in this way； they hope； utter hunger may be staved off； and the great attempt made。 ＇PRECIS DE LA RETRAITE DE L'ARMEE SAXONNE DE SON CAMP DE PIRNA （in Gesammelte Nachrichten； i。 482…494）。＇
Browne skilfully and perfectly did his part of the Adventure。 Browne arrives punctually at Lichtenhayn； evening of the 11th； bivouacs； hidden in the Woods thereabouts； in cold damp weather； stealthily reconnoitres the Prussian Villages ahead； and trims himself for assault； at sound of the two cannons to…morrow。 But there came no cannon…signal on the morrow； far other signallings and messagings to…morrow； and next day； and next； from the Konigstein and neighborhood！ 〃Wait； Excellency Feldmarschall ＇writes Bruhl to him； Note after Note； instead of signalling from the Konigstein＇： do wait a very little！ You run no risk in waiting； we； even if we MUST yield； will make that our first stipulation！〃 〃YOU will？〃 grumbles Browne； and waits； naturally； with extreme impatience。 But the truth is； the Adventure； on the Saxon side of it； has already altogether misgone； and becomes； from this point onwards； a mere series of failures； futilities and disastrous miseries； tragical to think of。 Worth some record here； since there are Documents abundant；especially as Feldmarschall Rutowski （who is General…in…Chief； an old； not esteemed； friend of ours） has produced； or caused to be produced； a Narrative； which illuminates the Business from within as well。 ＇PRECIS； &c。 （just cited）； compare TAGEBUCH DER EINSCHLIESSUNG DES SACHSISCHEN LAGERS BEY PIRNA （〃Diary；〃 &c。； which is the Prussian Account： in Seyfarth； BEYLAGEN）； ii。 22…48。＇ The latter is our main Document here：
I know not how much of the blame was General Rutowski's： one could surmise some laxity of effort； and a rather slovenly…survey of facts； in that quarter。 The Enterprise； from the first； was flatly impossible； say judges； and it is certain； poor Rutowski's execution was not first…rate。 〃How get across the Elbe？〃 Rutowski had said to himself； perhaps not quite with the due rigor of candor proportionate to the rigorous fact： 〃How get across the Elbe？ We have copper pontoons at Pirna； but they will be difficult to cart。 Or we might have a boat…bridge； boats planked together two and two。 At Pirna are plenty of boats； and by oar and track…rope； the River itself might be a road for them？ Boats or pontoons to Konigstein； by water or land； they must be got。 Eight miles of abysmal roads； our horses all extenuated？ Impossible to cart these pontoons！〃 said Rutowski to himself。Pity he had not tried it。 He had a week to do those eight bad miles in； and 2；000 lean horses； picking grass or brown leaves； while their riders threshed。 〃We will drag our pontoons by water； by the Elbe tow…path；〃 thought Rutowski； 〃that will be easier；〃and forthwith sets about preparing for it； secretly collecting boats at Pirna； steersmen； towing…men； bridge…tackle and what else will be necessary。
Rutowski made； at least； no delay。 Browne's messenger； we find； had come to him； 〃Thursday； 7th：〃 and on Friday night Rutowski has a squad of boatmen； steersmen and twoscore of towiug peasants ready； and actually gets under way。 They are escorted by the due battalions with field…pieces；who are to fire upon the Prussian batteries； and keep up such a blaze of musketry and heavier shot； as will screen the boats in passing。 Surely a ticklish operation； this；arguing a sanguine temper in General Rutowski！ The south bank of the River is ours； but there are various Prussian batteries； three of them
