frederick the great and his family-第146节

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eauty。　This　wild　tempest　teaches　you　that　you　are　but　a　poor；　pitiful　insect；　tossed　about　in　the　world　like　any　other　creeping　thinga　powerless　atom。　The　storm　first　takes　possession　of　your　clothes；　now　of　your　costly　hat。　Wait；　my　lady；　wait！　one　day　it　will　take　your　heart；　it　will　be　crushed　and　broken　to　piecesthere　will　be　none　to　pity。　The　world　laughs　and　mocks　at　the　wretched。　Misfortune　is　the　only　disgrace　which　is　never　forgiven。　You　may　be　a　thief；　a　murderer；　and　you　will　be　pardoned　if　you　are　adroit　enough　to　slip　your　head　from　the　noose。　Criminals　are　pitied　and　pardoned；　unfortunates　never。　Ah；　this　is　a　mad；　gay　world；　and　they　are　fools　who　take　it　earnestly；　who　do　not　laugh　laugh　even　as　I　do。〃

The　princess　laughed　aloudif　that　could　be　called　a　laugh；　from　which　she　shuddered　back　herself　in　terror。

〃It　is　bitter　cold　here；　〃she　said；　shuddering；　〃I　think　I　shall　never　be　warm　again。　I　am　always　freezing；　and　this　miserable　frost　has　turned　my　heart　and　soul　to　ice。　I　would　like　to　know　if　they　will　thaw　in　the　grave？〃

She　stepped　slowly　from　the　window；　and　crept　through　the　large；　empty　room　to　the　chimney；　where　a　large　wood…fire　was　burningnow　flickering　up　in　clear　flames；　now　breaking　into　glowing　coals。

Amelia　took　the　poker；　and　amused　herself　by　dashing　the　coals　apart；　and　watching　the　flashing；　dancing　flames。　The　fire　seemed　to　embrace　her　whole　figure；　and　threw　a　rosy　shimmer　over　her　wan　and　fallen　cheeks。　She　gazed　deep　down　into　the　glowing　coals；　and　murmured　broken；　disconnected　words。　From　time　to　time　a　mocking　smile　trembled　on　her　lips；　then　heavy　sighs　wrung　her　breast。　Was　she　perhaps　telling　the　fire　of　the　flames　which　raged　within　her　bosom？　Was　she　perhaps　a　magician；　who　understood　the　language　of　these　mysterious　tongues　of　flame；　and　answered　their　burning　questions？　The　hasty　opening　of　the　door　aroused　her　from　her　dreams；　and　a　page　entered　and　announced　in　a　loud　voice〃His　majesty　the　king！〃

Amelia　bowed　her　head；　and　advanced　slowly　and　with　a　stern　countenance　to　meet　the　king；　who　now　appeared　at　the　threshold。

〃May　I　enter；　my　sister；　or　do　you　command　me　to　withdraw？〃　said　Frederick；　smiling。

〃The　king　has　no　permission　to　ask；〃　said　Amelia；　earnestly；　〃he　is　everywhere　lord　and　master。　The　doors　of　all　other　prisons　open　before　him；　and　so　also　do　mine。〃

Frederick　nodded　to　the　page　to　leave　the　room　and　close　the　door；　then　advanced　eagerly　to　meet　his　sister。　Giving　her　his　hands　he　led　her　to　the　divan；　and　seated　himself　beside　her。

〃You　regard　me　then　as　a　kind　of　jailer？〃　he　said；　in　a　gentle；　loving　voice。

〃Can　a　king　be　any　thing　but　a　jailer？〃　she　said；　roughly。　〃Those　who　displease　him；　he　arrests　and　casts　into　prison；　and　not　one　of　his　subjects　can　be　sure　that　he　will　not　one　day　displease　him。〃

〃You；　at　least；　my　sister；　have　not　this　to　fear；　and　yet　you　have　just　called　this　your　prison。〃

〃It　is　a　prison；　sire。〃

〃And　am　I；　then；　your　jailer？〃

〃No；　sire；　life　is　my　jailer。〃

〃You　are　right；　there；　Amelia。　Life　is　the　universal　jailer；　from　whom　death　alone　can　release　us。　The　world　is　a　great　prison；　and　only　fools　think　themselves　free。　But　we　are　involuntarily　commencing　an　earnest；　philosophical　conversation。　I　come　to　you　to　rest；　to　refresh　myself；　to　converse　harmlessly　and　cheerfully；　as　in　our　earlier　and　happier　days。　Tell　me　something；　dear　sister；　of　your　life；　your　occupations；　and　your　friends？〃

〃That　is　easily　done；　and　requires　but　few　words；〃　said　Amelia；　hoarsely。　〃Of　my　life　I　have　already　told　you　all　that　can　be　said。　Life　is　my　jailer；　and　I　look　longingly　to　death；　who　alone　can　release　me。　As　to　my　well…being；　there　is　nothing　to　say；　all　is　evil；　only　evil　continually。　My　occupations　are　monotonous；　I　am　ever　asleep。　Night　and　day　I　sleep　and　dream；　and　why　should　I　awake？　I　have　nothing　to　hope；　nothing　to　do。　I　am　a　superfluous　piece　of　furniture　in　this　castle；　and　I　know　well　you　will　all　rejoice　when　I　am　placed　in　the　vault。　I　am　an　old　maid；　or；　if　you　prefer　it；　I　am　a　wall…frog；　who　has　nothing　to　do　but　creep　into　my　hole；　and；　when　I　have　vitality　enough；　to　spit　my　venom　upon　the　passers…by。　As　to　my　friends；　I　have　nothing　to　relate；　I　have　no　friends！　I　hate　all　mankind；　and　I　am　hated　by　all。　I　am　especially　on　my　guard　with　those　who　pretend　to　love　me；　I　know　that　they　are　deceitful　and　traitorous；　that　they　are　only　actuated　by　selfish　motives。〃

〃Poor　sister；〃　said　the　king；　sadly；　〃how　unhappy　must　you　be　to　speak　thus！　Can　I　do　nothing　to　alleviate　your　misfortune？〃

Amelia　laughed　loudly　and　scornfully。　〃Forgive　me；　your　majesty；　but　your　question　reminds　me　of　a　merry　fairy　tale　I　have　just　read　of　a　cannibal　who　is　in　the　act　of　devouring　a　young　girl。　The　poor　child　pleaded　piteously　for　her　life；　naturally　in　vain。　'I　cannot；　of　course；　give　you　your　life；'　said　the　cannibal；　'but　I　will　gladly　grant　you　any　other　wish　of　your　heart。　Think；　then；　quickly；　of　what　you　most　desire；　and　be　assured　I　will　fulfil　your　request。'　The　pretty　maiden；　trembling　with　horror　and　despair；　could　not　collect　her　thoughts。　Then；　after　a　short　pause；　the　cannibal　said；　'I　cannot　wait；　I　am　hungry！　but　in　order　to　grant　you　a　little　longer　time　to　determine　upon　the　favor　you　will　ask；　I　will　not；　as　I　am　accustomed　to　do；　devour　the　head　first；　I　will　commence　with　the　feet。'　So　saying；　he　cut　off　the　legs　and　ate　them；　and　on　cutting　off　each　limb　he　graciously　asked　the　poor　shuddering；　whimpering　being；　'Well；　why　do　you　not　think？　Is　there；　then；　no　favor　I　can　show　you？'　Confess　now；　sire；　that　this　was　a　most　magnanimous　cannibal。〃

Frederick　laughed　heartily；　and　appeared　not　to　understand　his　sister's　double　meaning。

〃You　are　right；〃　said　he；　〃that　is　a　merry　fairy　tale；　and　brings　the　tears　to　my　eyesI　scarcely　know　whether　from　laughter　or　weeping。　Where　did　you　read　it；　my　sister？〃

〃The　fire…spirits　who　spring　up　and　down　in　the　chimney　so　lustily；　related　it　to　me。　Oh；　sire；　these　are　merry　sprites；　and　often　in　my　solitude；　when　I　am　sitting　in　my　arm…chair　in　the　chimney…corner；　they　nod　to　me；　and　chat　freely　of　by…gone　times；　and　the　days　which　are　to　come。〃

〃I　fear　they　have　not　much　that　is　cheerful　or　encouraging；　certainly　not　much　that　is　interesting　to　tell　you；〃　said　Frederick。

〃To　those　who；　like　us；　have　passed　the　meridian　of　life；　and　are　going　rapidly　down…hill；　the　surroundings　become　ever　duller　and　more　drear；　for　us　there　are　no　more　great　and　agreeable　surprises；　the　farther　they　advance；　the　more　lonely　and　desolate　it　appears；　life　has　no　more　to　offer；　and　they　are　glad　at　last　to　reach　the　valley　and　lie　down　in　quiet　graves。　But　while　we　live　and　are　still　wanderers；　Amelia；　we　must　not　fold　our　hands　in　idleness；　we　must　work　and　achieve。　You　also；　my　sister；　must　be　active　and　energetic；　an　unusual　opportunity　is　now　offered　you。　The　Abbess　of　Quedlinberg　is　dead；　and　you　can　now　enter　upon　her　duties。〃

〃And　your　majesty　thinks　it　is　really　a　worthy　vocation　for　me　to　go　to　Quedlinberg　and　become　the　shepherdess　of　that　fearful　flock　of　old　maids　who　took　refuge　in　a　nunnery　because　no　man　desired　them？　No；　your　majesty；　do　not　send　me　to　Quedlinberg；　it　is　not　my　calling　to　build　up　the　worthy　nuns　into　saints　of　the　Most　High。　I　am　too　unsanctifled　myself　to　be　an　example　to　them；　and；　in　fact；　I　feel　no　inclination　to　purify　them　from　their　sins。〃

〃Well；　that　might　be　found　a　difficult　task；〃　said　the　king；　laughing；　〃and　it　would　not　make　you　beloved。　Men　love　nothing　so　much　as　their　vices；　and　they　hate　those　who　would　free　them　from　their　cherished　yoke。　You　can；　however；　remain　in　Berlin　and　still　accept　this　office；　once　so　worthily　rilled　by　the　lovely　Aurora　of　Konigsmark。　King　Augustus　gave　her；　at　least；　with　this　refuge；　provided　by　his　love；　a　rich　widow's　income；　and　you　can　now；　Amelia；　enjoy　the　fruit　of　that　love　which　at　one　time　filled　all　Europe　with　admiration。　The　salary　of　the　abbess　amounts　to　seventeen　thousand　thalers；　and　I　think　this　addition　to　your　fortune　will　be　welcome。　Your　income　will　now　be　forty　thousand　thalers。〃

〃Lodging　and　fuel　included；〃　said　Amelia；　with　a　sarcastic　laugh。　〃Look　you；　sire；　I　see　that　I　have　nothing　to　complain　of。　My　hospital　is　splendidly　endowed；　and　if　I　should　ever　become　miserly；　I　may　be　able　to　lay　aside　a　few　thalers　yearly。〃

〃I　will　gladly　put　it　in　your　power　to　lay　aside　a　larger　sum；　if　you　become　covetous；〃　said　the　king；　〃and　I　beg　you；　therefore；　to　allow　me　the　pleasure　of　raising　your　salary　as　princess；　six　thousand　thalers。〃　＇Footnote：　History　of　Berlin　and　Court。＇

Amelia　looked　at　him　distrustfully。　〃You　are　very　gracious　to　me　to…　day；　my　brother。　You　grant　favors　before　I　ask　them。　I　confess　to　you　this　alarms　and　agitates　me。　You　have　perhaps　some　bad　news　to　disclose；　and　fearing　I　will　be　crushed　by　it；　you　desire；　beforehand；　to　apply　a　balsam。〃

The　king's　glance　was　tender　and　sympathetic。　〃Poor　Amelia！　you　will；　then；　never　believe　in　my　affection；〃　said　he；　mildly。　〃You　distrust　even　your　brother！　Oh；　Amelia！　life　has　hardened　us　both。　We　entered　upon　the　stage　of　life　with　great　but　fleeting　illusions。　How　gloriou