frederick the great and his family-第129节
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The king bowed smilingly； and as he left the tent； told Rexin to ask the Tartar ambassador to come to him now for a grave conference。 The king then dismissed his generals； and attendants； and entered his house； followed by Baron von Rexin and the Turkish ambassador and his interpreters。
〃Now we will speak of business！〃 said the king。 〃What news do you bring me from the Khan？ What answer does he make to my proposition？〃
〃Sire； he is willing to grant all that your majesty desires； and to give you every assistance in his power； provided you will not make peace with our hated enemywith Russiabut will continue the war unweariedly and unceasingly； until Russia is humbled at our feet。〃
〃Ah！〃 exclaimed the king； 〃the Khan of Tartary cannot hate the Empress of Russia more vindictively than she hates me； he need not fear； therefore； an alliance between me and Russia。 I have myself no desire to form a friendship with those rough barbarians。〃
〃If the Empress of Russia hates you； she hates Krimgirai equally。 Russia hates every thing that is noble and true； she hates enlightenment and cultivation。 Russia hates Krimgirai； because he has civilized his people； because he has changed his rough hordes of men into a mighty army of brave warriors； because he governs his kingdom with humanity； and is； at the same time； a father to his people and a scourge to his enemies。 Krimgirai hates Russia as he hates every thing that is wicked； and vicious； and cruel； therefore he is willing to stand by your side against Russia； with an army of six thousand men； and； if you wish it； to invade Russia。〃
〃And what are the conditions which the Khan demands for this assistance？〃
〃He wishes you to pay his soldiers as you pay your own。〃
〃And for himself？〃
〃For himself； he begs that you will send him a physician who can cure him of a painful but not dangerous disease。 Further； he begs for your confidence and friendship。〃
〃Which I gladly give him！〃 said the king； gayly。 〃But tell me one other thing。 Has the Khan not yet become reconciled to the Grand Sultan？〃
〃Sire； the sultan feels that he cannot spare his brave Khan； he made an overture； which Krimgirai gladly accepted。 One week before we started on our journey； the Khan was received by the sultan in his seraglio。 The heads of forty rebels were displayed as a special honor in front of the seraglio； and； in the presence of the sultan himself； my master was again presented with belt and sword； and again reinstalled as Khan。 The sultan also presented him with a purse containing forty thousand ducats。 You see； sire； that the sultan prizes and acknowledges the virtues of your ally。〃
〃And how do we stand with the Porte？〃 asked the king； turning to Baron von Rexin。
〃I have succeeded； sire； in establishing a treaty between your majesty and the Porte！ I shall have the honor to lay it before your majesty for your signature。〃
The king's eyes beamed with delight； as he exclaimed：
〃At length I have attained the desired goal； and in spite of the whole of Europe。 I have my allies！〃
Then turning once more to Mustapha Aga； he dismissed him for the day； and gave him permission to occupy the magnificent tent which had been presented to him by the Khan； during the remainder of his visit。
Mustapha Aga then withdrew with his interpreter； leaving the king alone with the Baron von Rexin； who now presented to him the papers which it was necessary he should sign； to establish the long…desired alliance with Turkey。 This treaty assured to Prussia all the privileges which Turkey accorded to the other European powers： free navigation； the rights of ambassadors and consuls； and the personal liberty of any Prussian subjects who might have been seized as slaves。
The king signed the treaty； and named Baron von Rexin his minister plenipotentiary； and commanded him to return with the ambassador from Tartary and present the signed treaty to the Grand Sultan。
〃Now the struggle can begin anew；〃 said Frederick； when he was once more alone。 〃I will recommence with the new year； I will battle as I have already done； I will consider nothing but my honor and the glory of Prussia。 I will not live to see the moment when I will consent to a disgraceful peace。 No representations； no eloquence shall bring me to acknowledge my own shame。 I will be buried under the ruins of my native land； or if this consolation be denied me by my unfortunate fate； I will know how to end my misfortunes。 Honor alone has led my footsteps； and I will follow no other guide。 I sacrificed my youth to my father； my manhood to my country； and I have surely gained the right to dispose of my old age。 There are people who are docile and obedient toward fate。 I am not one of them。 Having lived for others； I dare at least die for myself； careless what the world may say。 Nothing shall force me to prefer a weak old age to death。 I will dare all for the accomplishment of my plans； they failing； I will die an honorable death。 But no！ no！〃 said the king； smiling after a short pause。 〃I will not indulge in such sad and despairing thoughts on the day which has shown me the first ray of sunlight after so many storms。 Perhaps the year sixty… two will be more fortunate than the one just passed。 I stand no longer alone； I have my friends and my allies。 Why should I carp； that the world calls them unbelievers？ I have seen Christians betray and murder one another。 Perhaps unbelievers are better Christians than believers。 We will try them； at least。 When all deserted me； they offered me the hand of friendship。 This is the first sunbeam which has greeted me。 Perhaps bright days may now follow the storms。 May God grant it！〃 ＇Footnote： The king was not deceived。 The Empress Elizabeth died in the commencement of the year 1762。 Her successor Peter the Third； was a passionate admirer of Frederick the Great； and he now became the ally of Prussia。 The Empress Catharine approved this change； and remained the ally of Prussia。 France now withdrew from the contest； and in the year 1763； Austria； finding her treasury completely exhausted； was compelled to make peace with Prussia。 Prussia had no use for her new ally of Tartary； and Krimgirai； who was already on the march； returned home with his army。See 〃Memoires du Baron de Tott sur les Turcs et les Tartares。〃＇
BOOK VI。
CHAPTER I。
THE KING'S RETURN。
Berlin was glittering in festal adornment！ This was a great； a joyous day； the first gleam of sunshine； after many long years of sorrow； suffering； and absolute want。 For the last seven years the king had been absent from his capital…to…day he would return to Berlin。
After seven years of bloody strife； the powers at Hubertsburg had declared peace。 No nation had enlarged its boundaries by this war。 Not one of the cities or fortresses of the King of Prussia had been taken from him； and he was forced to content himself with his former conquest。 There had been no successful results！ Losses only were to be calculated。
During these seven years； Russia had lost one hundred and eighty thousand men； the French two hundred thousand； the Prussians a hundred and twenty thousand； the English and confederate Germans a hundred and sixty thousand； and the Saxons ninety thousandlastly； the Swedes and the States sixty thousand。 This seven years' war cost Europe nearly a million of men。 Their blood fertilized the German soil； and their bones lay mouldering beneath her green sods。
Throughout all Europe； weeping mothers； wives； and children turned their sorrowful faces toward the land which had robbed them of their dear loved ones； they were even deprived the painfully sweet consolation of weeping over these lonely and neglected graves。
Losses were not only to be counted in myriads of men； whose blood had been shed in vain； but uncounted millions had been lavished upon the useless strife。
During this war； the debt of England had increased to seventy million pounds sterling； the yearly interest on the debt was four and a half million crowns。 The Austrians calculated their debt at five hundred million guldens； France at two thousand million livres； Sweden was almost bankrupt； and unfortunate Saxony had to pay to Prussia during the war over seven million crowns。
In the strict meaning of the term； Prussia had made no debt； but she was； in fact； as much impoverished as her adversaries。 The Prussian money which was circulated during the war was worthless。
At the close of the war； all those who carried these promissory notes shared the fate of the rich man in the fairy tale。 The money collected at night turned to ashes before morning。 This was the fatal fruit of the war which for seven years had scourged Europe。 Prussia； however； had reason to be satisfied and even grateful。 Although bleeding from a thousand wounds； exhausted and faint unto death； she promised a speedy recovery； she was full of youthful power and energyhad grown； morally； during this seven years' strugglehad become great under the pressure of hardship and self… denial； and now ranked with the most powerful nations of Europe。
To…day； however； suffering and destitution were forgotten： only smiling； joyous faces were seen in Berlin。 The whole city seemed to be invigorated by the golden rays of fortune；
