frederick the great and his family-第2节

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〃Sire；　I　believe　the　prince　is　in　love　from　ennui　alone；　but　he　swears　it　is　his　first　love。〃

〃That　is　an　oath　that　is　repeated　to　each　lady…love；　I　am　not　afraid　of　it；〃　said　the　king；　smiling　〃Who　is　the　enchantress　that　has　heard　his　first　loving　vows？　She　is　doubtless　a　fairya　goddess　of　beauty。〃

〃Yes；　sire；　she　is　young　and　beautiful；　and　declares　it　is　also　her　first　love；　so　no　one　can　doubt　its　purity；　no　one　understands　love　as　well　as　this　fair　lady；　no　other　than　Madame　von　Kleist；　who；　as　your　majesty　remembers；　was　lately　divorced　from　her　husband。〃

〃And　is　now　free　to　love　again；　as　it　appears；〃　said　the　king；　with　a　mocking　smile。　〃But　the　beautiful　Louise　von　Schwerin　is　a　dangerous；　daring　woman；　and　we　must　check　her　clever　plans　in　the　bud。　If　she　desires　to　be　loved　by　my　brother；　she　possesses　knowledge；　beauty；　and　experience　to　gain　her　point　and　to　lead　him　into　all　manner　of　follies。　This　affair　must　be　brought　quickly　to　a　close；　and　Prince　Henry　acknowledged　to　be　the　prince　royal。〃

〃Prince　Henry　goes　this　evening　to　Berlin　to　attend　a　feast　given　by　the　Prince　of　Prussia；〃　whispered　Pollnitz。

〃Ah！　it　is　true　the　prince's　arrest　ceases　at　six　o'clock；　but　he　will　not　forget　that　he　needs　permission　to　leave　Potsdam。〃

〃He　will　forget　it；　sire。〃

The　king　walked　up　and　down　in　silence；　and　his　countenance　assumed　an　angry　and　threatening　appearance。　〃This　struggle　must　be　brought　to　a　close；　and　that　speedily。　My　brother　must　submit　to　my　authority。　Go　and　watch　his　movements；　as　soon　as　he　leaves；　come　to　me。〃

Long　after　Pollnitz　had　left　him；　the　king　paced　his　chamber　in　deep　thought。　〃Poor　Henry！　I　dare　not　sympathize　with　you；　you　are　a　king's　sonthat　means　a　slave　to　your　position。　Why　has　Providence　given　hearts　to　kings　as　to　other　men？　Why　do　we　thirst　so　for　love？　as　the　intoxicating　drink　is　always　denied　us；　and　we　dare　not　drink　it　even　when　offered　by　the　most　bewitching　enchantress！〃

Involuntarily　his　eye　rested　upon　the　beautiful　picture　of　Barbarina。　But　he　would　have　no　pity　with　himself；　as　he　dared　not　show　mercy　to　his　brother。　Seizing　the　silver　bell；　he　rang　it　hastily。

〃Take　that　picture　from　the　wall；　and　carry　it　immediately　to　the　inspector；　and　tell　him　to　hang　it　in　the　picture…gallery；〃　said　Frederick。

He　looked　on　quietly　as　the　servant　took　the　picture　down　and　carried　it　from　the　room；　then　sighed　and　gazed　long　at　the　plane　where　it　had　hung。

〃Empty　and　cold！　The　last　token　of　my　youth　is　gone！　I　am　now　the　king；　and；　with　God's　blessing；　will　be　the　father　of　my　people。〃




CHAPTER　II。

PRINCE　HENRY。


Prince　Henry　sat　quiet　and　motionless　in　his　lonely　room；　dark　thoughts　seemed　to　trouble　him；　his　brow　was　clouded；　his　lips　compressed。　Had　you　not　known　him；　you　would　have　taken　him　for　the　king；　so　great　was　the　resemblance　of　the　two　brothers；　but　it　was　only　an　outward　resemblance。　The　prince　had　not　the　spiritual　expression；　his　eyes　had　not　the　passionate　fire；　his　face　（beautiful　as　it　was）　wanted　the　fascinating　geniality；　the　sparkling　inspiration；　that　at　all　times　lighted　the　king's　countenance　like　a　sunbeam。

The　prince　possessed　a　greater　mind；　a　clearer　understanding；　but　he　wanted　soul　and　poetic　feeling；　and　allowed　himself　at　times　to　ridicule　his　brother's　poetic　efforts。　The　king；　knowing　this；　was　inclined　to　regard　the　shortcomings　of　the　prince　as　a　determined　contempt　and　resistance　to　his　command；　and　as　the　prince　became　more　reckless　and　more　indifferent；　he　became　more　severe　and　harsh。　Thus　the　struggle　commenced　that　had　existed　for　some　time　between　the　two　brothers。

For　the　last　four　days　the　prince　had　been　in　arrest　for　disobeying　orders；　but　the　hour　of　his　release　was　approaching；　and　he　awaited　it　with　impatience。

The　bell　of　the　nearest　church　had　just　announced　the　hour　of　six。　The　door　opened　immediately；　and　an　officer；　in　the　name　of　the　king；　pronounced　his　arrest　at　an　end。

The　prince　answered　with　a　low　bow；　and　remained　seated；　pointing　haughtily　to　the　door；　but　as　the　officer　left　him　he　arose　and　paced　hastily　to　and　fro。

〃He　treats　me　like　a　school…boy；〃　he　murmured；　〃but　I　shall　show　him　that　I　have　a　will　of　my　own！　I　will　not　be　intimidatedI　will　not　submit；　and　if　the　king　does　not　cease　to　annoy　me；　if　he　continues　to　forget　that　I　am　not　a　slave；　but　son　and　brother　of　a　king；　no　motives　shall　restrain　me；　and　I　also　will　forget；　as　he　does；　that　I　am　a　prince；　and　remember　only　that　I　am　a　free；　responsible　man。　He　wishes　me　to　marry；　and　therefore　has　me　followed；　and　surrounds　me　with　spies。　He　wishes　to　force　me　to　marry。　Well；　I　will　marry；　but　I　will　choose　my　own　wife！〃

The　prince　had　just　made　this　resolve；　when　the　door　opened；　and　the　servant　announced　that　Messrs。　Kalkreuth　and　Kaphengst　awaited　his　commands。

He　bade　them　enter；　and　advancing　smilingly　gave　them　his　hand。

〃Welcome！　welcome！〃　he　said；　〃the　cage　is　open；　and　I　may　enjoy　a　little　air　and　sunshine；　let　us　not　delay　to　make　use　of　this　opportunity。　Our　horses　shall　be　saddled。〃

〃They　are　already　saddled；　prince；〃　said　Baron　Kalkreuth。　〃I　have　ordered　them　to　the　court；　and　as　soon　as　it　is　dark　we　will　mount　them。〃

〃What！　is　it　not　best　that　we　should　mount　before　my　door　and　ride　openly　away？〃　said　the　prince；　wonderingly。

〃It　is　my　opinion　that　is　the　best　plan；〃　cried　Baron　Kaphengst；　laughing　gayly。　〃Every　one　will　believe　your　highness　to　be　simply　taking　a　ride；　while　curiosity　would　be　raised　if　we　left　the　city　on　foot。〃

〃I　think　leaving　in　the　dark；　and　on　foot；　looks　as　if　I　were　afraid；〃　said　the　prince；　thoughtfully。

〃Secrecy　is　good　for　priests　and　old　women；　but　not　for　us；〃　cried　Kaphengst。

〃Secrecy　suits　all　who　wish　to　do　wrong；〃　said　Kalkreuth；　earnestly。

The　prince　glanced　hastily　at　him。　〃You　believe；　then；　we　are　about　to　do　wrong？〃

〃I　dare　not　speak　of　your　highness；　but　we　two　are　certainly　doing　wrong；　we　are　about　to　commit　an　act　of　insubordination。　But　still；　my　prince；　I　am　ready　to　do　so；　as　your　highness　wishes　us　to　accompany　you。〃

The　prince　did　not　answer；　but　stepped　to　the　window；　and　looked　out　thoughtfully　and　silently。　In　a　few　moments　he　returned；　looking　calm　and　resolute。

〃Kalkreuth　is　rightwe　were　going　to　do　wrong；　and　we　must　avoid　it。　I　shall　write　to　the　king；　and　ask　leave　for　you　and　myself　to　go　to　Berlin。〃

〃That　is；　unfortunately；　impossible；〃　said　a　sweet　voice　behind　him；　and　as　the　prince　turned　he　saw　the　smiling　face　of　Pollnitz。　〃I　beg　pardon；　your　highness；　for　having　entered　unannounced；　but　you　allowed　me　to　come　at　this　hour　and　give　you　an　account　of　the　commissions　you　gave　me。〃

〃Why　do　you　say　it　is　impossible　to　obtain　leave　of　the　king　today？〃　asked　Henry；　hastily。

〃Because　his　majesty　is　already　in　the　concert…saloon；　and　your　highness　knows　that　he　has　strictly　forbidden　any　one　to　disturb　him　there。〃

〃We　shall；　then；　have　to　give　up　our　plan　and　remain　here；〃　said　the　prince。

Kaphengst　glanced　angrily　and　threateningly　at　his　friend。

〃And　why　should　your　highness　do　this？〃　asked　Pollnitz；　astonished。　〃All　your　preparations　are　made；　all　your　commands　fulfilled。　I　have　procured　your　costumes；　no　one　will　recognize　you；　and　if　they　should；　would　not　dare　to　betray　you　to　the　king。　Only　two　persons　know　that　you　are　to　visit　the　ball；　the　Prince　of　Prussia；　and　a　lovely　lady；　whose　beautiful　eyes　were　misty　with　tears　when　I　delivered　her　your　message。　'Tell　the　prince；'　she　murmured；　in　a　tender　voice；　'I　will　await　him　there；　even　if　I　knew　the　king　would　crush　me　with　his　anger。'〃

The　prince　blushed　with　joy。　〃And　you　say　it　is　impossible　for　me　to　see　the　king？〃

〃Impossible；　my　prince。〃

〃Well；　we　will　have　to　renounce　it；〃　said　the　prince；　sighing。

〃Renounce　seeing　the　king；　yes！　for　he　will　not　leave　his　rooms　in　Sans…Souci　today。〃

〃Then　we　would　be　entirely　safe；　he　would　not　notice　our　departure；〃　said　Kaphengst；　quickly。

〃Entirely　safe；〃　said　Pollnitz。

〃That　is；　if　Baron　Pollnitz　does　not　himself　inform　the　king；〃　said　Baron　Kalkreuth；　whose　quick；　clear　glance　rested　upon　the　smiling　face　of　the　courtier；　and　appeared　to　read　his　inmost　thoughts。

Baron　Pollnitz　cast　a　suspicious　and　angry　glance　at　Kalkreuth。　〃I　did　not　know　that　borrowing　money　from　you　gave　you　the　right　to　speak　rudely　to　me！〃

〃Silence！　gentlemen；〃　cried　the　prince；　who；　until　now；　had　stood　quietly　struggling　with　his　own　wishes。　〃Take　your　cloaks　and　let　us　walk。　Did　you　not　say　that　horses　were　awaiting　us　at　the　door；　Baron　Kalkreuth？〃

〃I　said　so；　your　highness。〃

〃And　you　Pollnitz？　Did　you　not　say　that　three　costumes　awaited　us　in　Berlin？〃

〃Yes；　your　highness。〃

〃Well；　then；〃　said　the　prince；　smiling；　〃we　must　not　allow　the　horses　and　costumes　to　await　us　any　longer。　Come；　gentlemen；　we　will　ride　to　Berlin。〃

〃Really　it　was　hard　to　get　him　off；〃　murmured　Pollnitz；　as　he　regained　the　street；　and　saw　the　three　young　men　fading　in　the　distance。　〃The　good　prince　had　quite　a　dutiful　emotion；　if　the　king　only　knew　it；　he　would　forgive　him　all；　and　renounce　the　idea　of　his　marriage。　But　that　would　not　suit　memy　debts　would　not　be　paid！　I　must　not　tell　the