frederick the great and his family-第131节
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en； forgetting her usual timidity and assumed coldness； stepped eagerly forward and offered both her hands to her husband。 Her whole heart； the long…suppressed fervor of her soul； spoke in her moist and glowing eyes。 Her lips； which had so long been silent； so long guarded their sweet secret； expressed； though silently； fond words of love。 Elizabeth Christine was no longer young； no longer beautiful； she had passed through many years of suffering and inward struggle； but at this moment she was lovely。 The eternal youth of the soul lighted her fair browthe flash of hope and happiness glimmered in her eyes。 But Frederick saw nothing of this。 He had no sympathy for this pale and gentle queen； now glowing with vitality。 He thought only of the dearly…loved queen and mother who had gone down into the cold； dark grave。 Frederick bowed coldly to Elizabeth Christine； and took both her hands in his a short moment。
〃Madame；〃 said he； 〃this is a sad moment。 The queen my mother is missing from your side。〃
Elizabeth Christine started painfully； and the hands which the king had released fell powerless to her side。 Frederick's harsh； cruel words had pierced her heart and quenched the tears of joy and hope which stood in her eyes。
Elizabeth was incapable of reply。 Princess Amelia came to her relief。
〃If my brother； the king； while greeting us after his long absence； is unconscious of our presence and sees only the faces of the dead； he must also be forced to look upon my unhappy brother； Prince Augustus William； who died of a broken heart。〃
The king's piercing eyes rested a moment with a strangely melancholy expression upon the sorrowful； sickly face of the Princess Amelia。
〃Not so； my sister；〃 said he； softly and gently； 〃I not only see those who have been torn from us by death。 I look upon and welcome gladly those who have been spared to me。 I am happy to see you here to…day； my sister。〃
Frederick offered Amelia his hand； and bowing silently to those who were present； he entered his apartment； followed only by the Marquis d'Argens。
Frederick stepped rapidly through the first room； scarcely looking at the new paintings which adorned the walls； he entered his study and threw a long； thoughtful glance around this dear room。 Every piece of furniture； every book； recalled charming memories of the pastevery thing stood as he had left it seven years ago。 He now for the first time realized the joy of being again at home； his country had received him and embraced him with loving arms。
With glowing cheeks he turned toward the marquis； who was leaning against the door behind him。
〃Oh； D'Argens！ it is sweet to be again in one's own native landthe peace of home is sweet。 The old furniture appears to welcome me； that old chair stretches its arms wooingly toward me； as if to lure me to its bosom； and give me soft sleep and sweet dreams in its embrace。 Marquis； I feel a longing to gratify my old friend； I yield to its gentle； silent pleadings。〃
Frederick stepped to the arm…chair and sank into it with an expression of indescribable comfort。
〃Ah； now I feel that I am indeed at home。〃
〃Allow me；〃 said D'Argens； 〃to say； your majesty； what the dear old arm…chair； in spite of its eloquence； cannot express。 I； also； am a piece of the old furniture of this dear room； and in the name of all my voiceless companions； I cry 'Welcome to my king！' We welcome you to your country and your home。 You return greater even than when you left us。 Your noble brow is adorned with imperishable laurels； your fame resounds throughout the earth； and every nation sings to you a hymn of victory。〃
〃Well； well；〃 said Frederick； smilingly； 〃do not look too sharply at my claims to such world…wide renown； or my fame will lose a portion of its lustre。 You will see that chance has done almost every thing for memore than my own valor and wisdom； and the bravery of my troops combined。 Chance has been my best ally during this entire war。 ＇Footnote： The king's own words。＇ Chance enabled me to escape the famine camp of Bunzelwitzchance gave me the victory over my enemies。 Speak no more of my fame； marquis； at least not in this sacred room； where Cicero； Caesar； Lucretius； and Thucydides look down upon us from the walls； where the voiceless books with their gilded letters announce to us that we are surrounded by great spirits。 Speak not of fame to me； D'Argens； when from yonder book… shelf I see the name of Athalie。 I would rather have written Athalie； than to have all the fame arising from this seven years' war。〃 Footnote： Ibid。＇
〃Herein I recognize the peaceful； noble tastes of my king；〃 said D'Argens； deeply moved； 〃years of hardship and victory have not changed himthe conquering hero is the loving friend and the wise philosopher。 I knew this must be soI knew the heart of my king； I knew he would regard the day on which he gave peace to his people as far more glorious than any day of bloody battle and triumphant victory。 The day of peace to Prussia is the most glorious； the happiest day of her great king's life。〃
Frederick shook his head softly； and gazed with infinite sadness at his friend's agitated countenance。
〃Ah； D'Argens； believe me； the most beautiful； the happiest day is that on which we take leave of life。〃
As Frederick turned his eyes away from his friend； they fell accidentally upon a porcelain vase which stood upon a table near his secretary； he sprang hastily from his chair。
〃How came this vase here？〃 he said； in a trembling voice。
〃Sire；〃 said the marquis； 〃the queen…mother； shortly before her death； ordered this vase to be placed in this room； she prized it highlyit was a present from her royal brother； George II。 Her majesty wished that； on your return from the war； it might serve as a remembrance of your fond mother At her command； I placed that packet of letters at the foot of the vase； after the queen mother had sealed and addressed it with her dying hand。〃
Frederick was silent； he bowed his head upon the vase； as if to cool his burning brow upon its cold； glassy surface。 He； perhaps； wished also to conceal from his friend the tears which rolled slowly down his cheeks； and fell upon the packet of letters lying before him。
The king kissed the packet reverentially； and examined with a deep sigh the trembling characters traced by the hand of his beloved mother。
〃For my sonthe king。〃
Frederick read the address softly。 〃Alas！ my dear mother； how poor you have made me。 I am now no longer a sononly a king！〃
He bowed his head over the packet； and pressed his mother's writing to his lips； then laid the letters at the foot of the vase and remained standing thoughtfully before it。
A long pause ensued。 Frederick stood with folded arms before the vase； and the marquis leaned against the door behind him。 Suddenly the king turned to him。
〃I beg a favor of you； marquis。 Hasten to Berlin； and tell Benda he must perform the Te Deum of my dear Graun here in the castle chapel to…morrow morning at nine o'clock。 I know the singers of the chapel can execute itthey gave it once after the battle of Leignitz。 Tell Benda to make no difficulties； for it is my express wish to hear the music to…morrow morning。 I trust to you； marquis； to see my wish fulfilled； to make the impossible possible； if you find it necessary。 Call me capricious if you will； for desiring to hear this music to…morrow。 I have so long been controlled by stern realities； that I will allow myself now to yield to a caprice。〃
He gave his hand to the marquis； who pressed it to his lips。
〃Sire； to…morrow morning at nine o'clock the Te Deum shall be performed in the chapel； should I even be compelled to pass the night in arousing the musicians from their beds。〃
The marquis kept his word； he surmounted all difficulties； removed all objections。 In vain Benda declared the organ in the chapel was out of tune； the performance impossible； the marquis hastened to the organist and obliged him to put it in order that night。 In vain the singers protested against singing this difficult music before the king without preparation； D'Argens commanded them in the name of the king to have a rehearsal during the night。 Thanks to his nervous energy and zeal； the singers assembled； and Benda stood before his desk to direct this midnight concert。
When the clock struck nine the next morning every difficulty had been set aside； and every preparation completed。 The organist was in his place； the organ in order； the musicians tuned their instruments； the singers were prepared； and the chapel…master； Benda； was in their midst； baton in hand。
All eyes were directed toward the door opposite the choir； through which the court must enter； all hearts were beating with joyful expectationall were anxious to see the king once more in the midst of his friends； in his family circle。 Every one sympathized in the queen's happiness at being accompanied once more by her husband； laying aside her loneliness and widowhood； and appearing in public by his side。
All eyes； as we have said； were impatiently directed toward the door； waiting for the appearance of their majesties and the court。
Suddenly the door opened。 Yes； there was the king。 He stepped forward very quietly； his head a little bowed
