frederick the great and his family-第132节

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Suddenly　the　door　opened。　Yes；　there　was　the　king。　He　stepped　forward　very　quietly；　his　head　a　little　bowed　down；　in　the　midst　of　the　solemn　stillness　of　the　chapel　his　step　resounded　loudly。

Yes；　it　was　Frederick　the　Great；　he　was　alone；　accompanied　by　no　royal　state；　surrounded　by　no　glittering　crowdbut　it　was　the　king；　in　the　glory　of　his　majesty；　his　endurance；　and　his　valor；　radiant　in　the　splendor　of　his　heroic　deeds　and　his　great　victories。

Frederick　seated　himself　slowly；　gave　one　quick　glance　at　the　choir；　and　waved　his　hand　to　them。　Benda　raised　his　baton　and　gave　the　sign　to　commence。　And　now　a　stream　of　rich　harmony　floated　through　the　chapel。　The　organ；　with　its　powerful；　majestic　tones；　the　trumpets；　with　their　joyous　greeting；　the　drums；　with　their　thunder；　and　the　soft；　melting　tones　of　the　violin　and　flute；　mingled　together　in　sweet　accord。

The　king；　with　head　erect　and　eager　countenance；　listened　to　the　beautiful　and　melodious　introduction。　He　seemed　to　be　all　ear；　to　have　no　other　thought；　no　other　passion　than　this　music；　which　was　wholly　unknown　to　him。　And　now；　with　a　powerful　accord；　the　sweetly　attuned　human　voices　joined　in；　and　the　choir　sang　in　melting　unison　the　Te　Deum　Laudamus；　which　resounded　solemnly；　grandly　through　the　aisles。　The　king　turned　pale；　and　as　the　hymn　of　praise　became　more　full　and　rich；　his　head　sank　back　and　his　eyes　were　fixed　upon　the　floor。

Louder　and　fuller　rose　the　solemn　tones；　suddenly；　from　the　midst　of　the　choir；　a　soft；　melting　tenor　sang　in　a　sweet；　touching　voice；　Tuba　mirum　spargeus　sonum。　Frederick's　head　sank　still　lower　upon　his　breast；　and　at　last；　no　longer　able　to　restrain　his　tears；　he　covered　his　face　with　his　hands。

The　lofty　strains　of　this　solemn　hymn　resounded　through　the　empty　church；　which　until　now　had　been　wrapped　in　gray　clouds；　but　in　a　moment　the　sun　burst　from　behind　the　clouds；　darted　its　rays　through　the　windows；　and　lighted　up　the　church　with　golden　glory。　The　king　who；　until　now；　had　been　in　the　shadow　of　the　cloud；　was　as　if　by　magic　bathed　in　a　sea　of　light。　All　eyes　were　fixed　upon　his　bowed　head；　his　face　partially　covered　with　his　hands；　and　the　tears　gushing　from　his　eyes。

No　one　could　withstand　the　silent　power　of　this　scene；　the　eyes　of　the　singers　filled　with　tears；　and　they　could　only　continue　their　chant　in　soft；　broken；　sobbing　tones；　but　Benda　was　not　angry；　he　dared　not　look　at　them；　lest　they　might　see　that　his　own　stern　eyes　were　veiled　in　tears。

Frederick　seemed　more　and　more　absorbed　in　himselflost　in　painful　memories。　But　the　loud　hosannas　resounded　and　awakened　him　from　his　slumber；　he　dared　no　longer　give　himself　up　to　brooding。　He　arose　slowly　from　his　seat；　and　silent　and　alone；　even　as　he　had　entered；　he　left　the　church。




CHAPTER　II。

PRINCE　HENRY。


Seven　years　had　passed　since　Prince　Henry　had　left　his　wife；　to　fight　with　his　brother　against　his　enemies。　During　these　long　years　of　strife　and　contest；　neither　the　king　nor　the　prince　had　returned　to　Berlin。　Like　the　king；　he　also　had　won　for　himself　fame　and　glory　upon　the　battle…field。　Much　more　fortunate　than　his　brother；　he　had　won　many　victories；　and　had　not　sustained　a　single　defeat　with　his　army　corps。　More　successful　in　all　his　undertakings　than　Frederick；　perhaps　also　more　deliberate　and　careful；　he　had　always　chosen　the　right　hour　to　attack　the　enemy；　and　was　always　prepared　for　any　movement。　His　thoughtfulness　and　energy　had　more　than　once　released　the　king　from　some　disagreeable　or　dangerous　position。　To　the　masterly　manner　in　which　Prince　Henry　managed　to　unite　his　forces　with　those　of　his　brother　after　the　battle　of　Kunersdorf；　the　king　owed　his　escape　from　the　enemies　which　then　surrounded　him。　And　to　the　great　and　glorious　victory　gained　by　Prince　Henry　over　the　troops　of　the　empire　and　of　Austria　at　Freiberg；　the　present　happy　peace　was　to　be　attributed。　This　battle　had　subdued　the　courage　of　the　Austrians；　and　had　filled　the　generals　of　the　troops　of　the　empire　with　such　terror；　that　they　declared　at　once　their　unwillingness　to　continue　the　war；　and　their　determination　to　return　with　their　forces　to　their　different　countries。

The　battle　of　Freiberg　was　the　last　battle　of　the　Seven　Years'　War。　It　brought　to　Prince　Henry　such　laurels　as　the　king　had　gained　at　Leignitz　and　Torgau；　it　placed　him　at　his　brother's　side　as　an　equal。　Frederick　saw　it　without　envy　or　bitterness；　and　rejoiced　in　the　fulness　of　his　great　soul；　in　his　brother's　fame。　When　he　found　himself；　for　the　first　time　after　the　Seven　Years'　War；　surrounded　at　Berlin　by　the　princes　and　generals；　he　advanced　with　a　cordial　smile　to　his　brother；　and　laying　his　hand　gently　on　his　shoulder；　said　aloud：

〃You　see　here；　sirs；　the　only　one　amongst　us　all　who　did　not　commit　a　single　mistake　during　the　war！〃

Seven　years　had　passed　since　Prince　Henry　had　seen　his　young　wife；　Princess　Wilhelmina。　He　could　at　last　return　to　herto　his　beloved　Rheinsberg；　and　find　rest　after　his　many　years　of　wandering。　He　had　written　to　the　princess；　and　requested　her　not　to　meet　him　in　Berlin；　but　to　find　some　pretext　for　remaining　at　Rheinsberg。　His　proud　soul　could　not　endure　the　thought　that　the　woman　he　loved；　who　appeared　to　him　fit　to　grace　the　first　throne　of　the　world；　would　occupy　an　inferior　position　at　courtwould　have　to　stand　behind　the　queen。　He　had　never　envied　the　king　his　crown　or　his　position；　but　his　heart　now　craved　the　crown　of　the　queen；　for　the　brow　of　his　own　beautiful　wife；　who　seemed　much　better　fitted　to　wear　it　than　the　gentle；　timid　Elizabeth　Christine。　Princess　Wilhelmina　had　therefore　remained　at　Rheinsberg；　feigning　sickness。

It　was　night！　The　castle　of　Rheinsberg　glittered　with　the　light　of　the　torches　by　which　the　gates　were　adorned；　to　welcome　the　prince　to　his　home。　The　saloons　and　halls　were　brilliantly　lighted；　and　in　them　a　gay；　merry　crowd　was　assembled。　All　the　prince's　friends　and　acquaintances　had　been　invited　by　Princess　Wilhelmina　to　greet　his　return。

Every　thing　in　the　castle　bore　the　appearance　of　happinessall　seemed　gay　and　cheerful。　But　still；　there　was　one　whose　heart　was　beating　anxiously　at　the　thought　of　the　approaching　hourit　was　the　Princess　Wilhelmina。　She　was　gorgeously　dressed；　diamonds　glittered　on　her　brow　and　throat；　bright　roses　gleamed　upon　her　breast；　and　a　smile　was　on　her　full；　red　lips。　No　one　knew　the　agony　this　smile　cost　her！　No　one　knew　that　the　red　which　burned　upon　her　cheek　was　caused；　not　by　joy；　but　terror！

Yes；　terror！　She　was　afraid　of　this　meeting；　in　which　she　was　to　receive　the　prince　as　her　loved　husband；　while；　during　the　long　years　of　absence；　he　had　become　a　perfect　stranger　to　her。　Not　even　bound　to　him　by　the　daily　occurrences　of　life；　she　had　no　sympathies　with　the　husband　who　had　been　forced　upon　her；　and　who　had　once　contemptuously　put　aside　the　timid　heart　that　was　then　prepared　to　love　him。　This　stranger　she　was　now　to　meet　with　every　sign　of　love；　because　he　had　one　day　waked　up　to　the　conviction　that　the　heart　he　had　once　spurned　was　worthy　of　him。　It　was　her　duty　now　to　return　this　loveto　consecrate　the　rich　treasures　of　her　heart　to　him　who　had　once　scorned　them。　Her　soul　rose　in　arms　at　this　thought　like　an　insulted　lioness；　and　she　felt　some　of　that　burning　hatred　that　the　lioness　feels　for　her　master　who　wishes　to　tame　her　with　an　iron　rod。　The　prince　was　to　her　but　her　master；　who　had　bound　and　held　her　heart　in　irons；　to　keep　it　from　escaping　from　him。

During　these　seven　long　years；　she　had　experienced　all　the　freedom　and　happiness　of　girlhood；　her　heart　had　beat　with　a　power；　a　fire　condemned　by　the　princess　herself；　but　which　she　was　incapable　of　extinguishing。

Trembling　and　restless；　she　wandered　through　the　rooms；　smiling　when　she　would　have　given　worlds　to　have　shrieked　out　her　pain；　her　agony；　decked　in　splendid　garments；　when　she　would　gladly　have　been　in　her　shroud。　Every　sound　every　step；　filled　her　with　terror；　for　it　might　announce　the　arrival　of　her　husband；　whom　she　must　welcome　with　hypocritical　love　and　joy。　Could　she　but　show　him　her　scorn；　her　hatred；　her　indifference！　But　the　laws　of　etiquette　held　her　in　their　stern　bonds　and　would　not　release　her。　She　was　a　princess；　and　could　not　escape　from　the　painful　restraints　of　her　position。　She　had　not　the　courage　to　do　so。　At　times　in　her　day…dreams；　she　longed　to　leave　all　the　cold；　deceitful　glare；　by　which　she　was　surrounded…　…to　go　to　some　far　distant　valley；　and　there　to　live　alone　and　unknown；　by　the　side　of　her　lover；　where　no　etiquette　would　disturb　their　happinesswhere　she　would　be　free　as　the　birds　of　the　air；　as　careless　as　the　flowers　of　the　field。　But　these　wild　dreams　vanished　when　the　cold；　cruel　reality　appeared　to　her。　By　the　side　of　the　once　loving　woman　stood　again　the　princess；　who　could　not　surrender　the　splendor　and　magnificence　by　which　she　was　surrounded。　She　had　not　the　courage　nor　the　wish　to　descend　from　her　height　to　the　daily　life　of　common　mortals。　There　was　dissension　in　her　soul　between　the　high…born　princess　and　the　loving；　passionate　woman。　She　was　capable　of　making　any　and　every　sacrifice　for　her　love；　but　she　had　never　openly　confessed　this　love；　and　even　in　her　wildest　dreams　s