frederick the great and his family-第121节

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r　I　am　now　called　an　extraordinary　professor。〃

〃Well；　I　am　glad　that　they　know　that　you　are　an　extraordinary　professor；〃　said　Conrad；　somewhat　appeased。　〃Now　I　will　go　to　the　kitchen　and　make　the　coffee。　That　reminds　me　that　I　have　a　letter　for　you　which　was　left　by　a　servant。〃

He　took　a　letter　from　the　table；　and　handed　it　to　his　master。　While　he　was　breaking　the　seal；　Conrad　approached　the　door　slowly　and　hesitatingly；　evidently　curious　to　hear　the　contents　of　the　letter。　He　had　not　reached　the　door；　when　Gellert　recalled　him。

〃Conrad；〃　said　Gellert；　with　a　trembling　voice；　〃hear　what　this　letter　contains。〃

〃Well；　I　am　really　curious；〃　said　Conrad；　smiling。

Gellert　took　the　letter　and　commenced　reading：

〃My　dear　and　honored　professor；　will　you　allow　one　of　your〃

Here　he　hesitated；　and　his　face　flushed　deeply。　〃No；〃　he　said；　softly；　〃I　cannot　read　that；　it　is　too　great；　too　undeserved　praise　of　myself。　Read　it　yourself。〃

〃Nonsense！〃　said　Conrad；　taking　the　letter；　〃the　professor　is　as　bashful　as　a　young　girl。　To　read　one's　praise；　is　no　shame。　Now　listen：　'My　dear　and　honored　professor；　will　you　allow　one　of　your　pupils　to　seek　a　favor　from　you？　I　am　rich！　God　has　enriched　you　with　the　rarest　gifts　of　mind　and　heart；　but　He　has　not　bestowed　outward　wealth　upon　you。　Your　salary　is　not　large；　but　your　heart　is　so　great　and　noble；　that　you　give　the　little　you　possess　to　the　poor　and　suffering；　and　care　for　others　while　you　yourself　need　care。　Allow　me；　my　much…loved　master；　something　of　that　same　happiness　which　you　enjoy。　Grant　me　the　pleasure　of　offering　you　（who　divide　your　bread　with　the　poor；　and　your　last　thaler　with　the　suffering）　a　small　addition　to　your　salary；　and　begging　you　to　use　it　so　long　as　God　leaves　you　upon　earth；　to　be　the　delight　of　your　scholars；　and　the　pride　of　Germany。　The　banker　Farenthal　has　orders　to　pay　to　you　quarterly　the　sum　of　two　hundred　thalers；　you　will　to…morrow　receive　the　first　instalment。〃

〃'YOUR　GRATEFUL　AND　ADMIRING　PUPIL。'〃

〃Hurrah！　hurrah！〃　cried　Conrad；　waving　the　paper　aloft。　〃Now　we　are　rich；　we　can　live　comfortably；　without　care。　Oh；　I　will　take　care　of　you；　and　you　must　drink　a　glass　of　wine　every　day；　in　order　to　become　strong；　and　I　will　bring　your　dinner　from　the　best　eating…　house；　that　you　may　enjoy　your　meal　in　peace　and　quiet　in　your　own　room。〃

〃Gently；　gently；　Conrad！〃　said　Gellert；　smiling。　〃In　your　delight　over　the　money；　you　forget　the　noble　giver。　Who　can　it　be？　Who　among　my　pupils　is　so　rich　and　so　delicate；　as　to　bestow　so　generously；　and　in　such　a　manner？〃

〃It　is　some　one　who　does　not　wish　us　to　know　his　name；　professor；　〃cried　Conrad；　gayly；　〃and　we　will　not　break　our　hearts　over　it。　But　now；　sir；　we　will　not　content　ourselves　with　bread　and　coffee；　we　are　rich；　and　we　need　not　live　so　poorly！　I　will　go　to　the　eating…　house　and　bring　you　a　nice　broiled　capon；　and　some　preserved　fruit；　and　a　glass　of　wine。〃

〃It　is　true；〃　said　Gellert；　well　pleased；　〃a　capon　would　strengthen　me；　and　a　glass　of　wine；　but　no；　Conrad；　we　will　have　the　coffee；　we　have　no　money　to　pay　for　such　a　meal。〃

〃Well；　we　can　borrow　it！　To…morrow　you　will　receive　the　first　quarterly　payment　of　your　pension；　and　then　I　will　pay　for　your　dinner。〃

〃No；　Conrad；　no！〃　said　Gellert；　firmly。　〃You　should　never　eat　what　you　cannot　pay　for　immediately。　Go　to　the　kitchen　and　make　the　coffee。〃　Conrad　was　on　the　point　of　going　discontentedly　to　obey　the　command　of　his　master；　when　a　loud　and　hasty　ring　was　heard　at　the　outer　door　of　the　professor's　modest　lodging。

〃Perhaps　the　banker　has　sent　the　money　to…day；〃　cried　Conrad；　as　he　hurried　off；　whilst　Gellert　again　took　the　letter　and　examined　the　handwriting。

But　Conrad　returned；　looking　very　important。

〃The　Prussian　major；　Quintus　Icilius；　wishes　to　speak　to　the　professor；　in　the　name　of　the　king；〃　he　said；　solemnly。

〃In　the　name　of　the　king！〃　cried　Gellert；　〃what　does　the　great　warrior…hero　want　with　poor　Gellert？〃

〃That　I　will　tell　you；〃　replied　a　voice　from　the　door；　and　as　Gellert　turned；　he　saw　before　him　the　tall　figure　of　a　Prussian　officer。　〃Pardon　me　for　having　entered　without　your　permission。　Your　servant　left　the　door　open；　and　I　thought〃

〃You　thought；　I　hope；　that　Gellert　would　be　happy　to　receive　an　officer　from　the　king；　especially　one　who　bears　so　celebrated　a　name；〃　said　Gellert；　courteously；　as　he　signed　to　Conrad　to　leave　the　rooma　sign　that　Conrad　obeyed　most　unwillingly；　and　with　the　firm　determination　to　listen　outside　the　door。

〃In　the　first　place；　allow　me　to　say　how　happy　I　am　to　make　the　acquaintance　of　so　learned　and　celebrated　a　man　as　Professor　Gellert；〃　said　Quintus；　bowing　deeply；　〃then　I　must　announce　the　cause　of　my　appearance。　His　majesty　the　King　of　Prussia　wishes　to　know　you；　and　he　has　sent　me　to　conduct　you　to　him　at　once。〃

〃At　once？〃　cried　Gellert。　〃But；　sir；　you　must　see　that　I　am　weak　and　ill。　The　king　will　not　care　to　see　a　sick　man　who　cannot　talk。〃

Quintus　glanced　sympathizingly　at　the　poor　professor；　and　said：

〃It　is　true；　you　do　not　look　well；　and　I　cannot　force　you　to　go　with　me　to…day；　but　allow　me　to　make　one　remark：　if　you　think　to　escape　the　interview　altogether；　you　are　mistaken。　The　king　desires　to　speak　with　you；　and　it　is　my　duty　to　bring　you　to　him。　If　you　cannot　go　to…day；　I　must　return　to…morrow；　if　you　are　then　still　unwell；　the　day　after；　and　so　on　every　day；　until　you　accompany　me。〃

〃But　this　is　frightful！〃　cried　Gellert；　anxiously。

Quintus　shrugged　his　shoulders。　〃You　must　decide；　sir；〃　he　said；　〃I　give　you　an　hour。　At　four　o'clock　I　will　return　and　ask　if　you　will　go　to…day；　or　another　time。〃

〃Yes；　do　that；　major；〃　said　Gellert；　breathing　more　freely。　〃In　the　mean　time；　I　will　take　my　dinner；　and　then　see　how　it　is　with　my　courage。　Conrad！　Conrad！〃　exclaimed　Gellert；　as　Quintus　Icilius　left　him；　and　his　servant　entered　the　room。　〃Conrad；　did　you　hear　the　bad　tidings？　I　must　go　to　the　King　of　Prussia。〃

〃I　heard；〃　said　Conrad；　〃and　I　do　not　think　it　bad　tidings；　but　a　great　honor。　The　king　sent　for　Professor　Gottsched　a　few　days　since；　and　conversed　with　him　a　long　time。　Since　then；　his　entire　household　act　as　if　Gottsched　were　the　Almighty　Himself；　and　as　if　they　were　all；　at　least；　archangels。　Therefore；　I　am　glad　that　the　king　has　shown　you　the　same　honor；　and　that　he　desires　to　know　you。〃

〃Honor！〃　murmured　Gellert。　〃This　great　lord　wishes　to　see　the　learned　Germans　for　once；　as　others　visit　a　menagerie；　and　look　at　the　monkeys；　and　amuse　themselves　with　their　wonderful　tricks。　It　is　the　merest　curiosity　which　leads　such　men　to　desire　to　behold　the　tricks　and　pranks　of　a　professor。　They　know　nothing　of　our　minds；　it　satisfies　them　to　look　at　us。　Conrad；　I　will　not　go；　I　will　be　ill　to…day　and　every　other　day。　We　will　see　if　this　modern　Icilius　will　not　yield！〃

And　the　usually　gentle　and　yielding　poet　paced　the　room　in　angry　excitement；　his　eyes　flashing；　and　his　face　deeply　flushed。

〃I　will　notI　will　not　go。〃

〃You　must　go；　professor；〃　said　Conrad；　placing　himself　immediately　in　front　of　his　master；　and　looking　at　him　half…imploringly；　half…　threateningly〃you　must　go；　you　will　give　your　old　Conrad　the　pleasure　of　being　able　to　say　to　the　impudent　servants　of　Herr　Gottsched　that　my　master　has　also　been　to　the　King　of　Prussia。　You　will　not　do　me　the　injury　of　making　me　serve　a　master　who　has　not　been　to　see　the　king；　while　Herr　Gottsched　has　been？〃

〃But；　Conrad；〃　said　Gellert；　complainingly；　〃what　good　will　it　have　done　me　to　have　declined　the　position　of　regular　professor；　that　I　might　be　in　no　danger　of　becoming　rector；　and　being　obliged　to　see　kings　and　princes？〃

〃It　will　show　the　world；〃　said　Conrad；　〃that　a　poet　need　not　be　a　regular　professor　in　order　to　be　called　into　the　society　of　kings　and　princes。　You　must　gothe　king　expects　you；　and　if　you　do　not　go；　you　will　appear　as　the　Austrians　do；　afraid　of　the　King　of　Prussia。〃

〃That　is　true；〃　said　Gellert；　whose　excitement　had　somewhat　subsided；　〃it　will　look　as　though　I　were　afraid。〃

〃And　so　distinguished　a　man　should　fear　nothing；〃　said　Conrad；　〃not　even　a　king。〃

〃Well；　so　be　it；〃　said　Gellert；　smiling；　〃I　will　go　to　the　king　to…　day；　but　I　must　first　eat　something；　if　I　went　fasting　to　the　king　I　might　faint；　and　that　would　disgrace　you　forever；　Conrad。〃

〃I　will　run　and　bring　the　coffee；〃　said　the　delighted　old　servant。




CHAPTER　XIII。

THE　POET　AND　THE　KING。


Gelbert　had　scarcely　finished　his　frugal　meal；　and　arranged　his　toilet　a　little；　when　Major　Quintus　arrived　and　asked　the　poet　if　he　were　still　too　unwell　to　accompany　him　to　the　king。

〃I　am　still　indisposed；〃　said　Gellert；　with　a　sad　smile；　〃but　my　indisposition　is　of　a　kind　that　leaves　me　neither　to　day；　to…morrow　nor　any　day；　it　is　therefore　better　for　me　to　gratify　the　king's　commands　at　once。　I　am　ready　to　accompany　you；　sir；　let　us　depart。〃

He　took　his　three…cornered　hat；　which　Conrad　handed　him　with　a　delightful　smirk；　and　followed　the　major　to　the　splendid　house　where　the　king　had　taken　his　quarters　for　the　winter。

〃Allow　me　a　favor；　sir；〃　said　Quintus；　as　they　mounted　the　steps；　〃the　king　is　prejudiced　against　German　poets　and　philosophers；　and　it　would　be