frederick the great and his family-第58节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
； I would now be in a safe haven； beyond the reach uf storms。 But now I must swim still farther into the stormy sea； until at last I find in the grave that rest and peace which I shall never attain in this world。 This is a consoling thought； it shall rouse me again to life。 I am glad I did not die to…day。 I can still repair my fault。 All the responsibility will be thrown on me； it will be said； the battle would have been won； but for Frederick's obstinacy。 But let this be！ It is a necessary consequence that a warrior should suffer for the faults of his followers。 Through me this battle was lost； and in history it will go down thus to future generations。 But many a victory shall still be recorded； and as the defeat was owing to me； so shall the victory also come through me alone。 I alone will bear upon my shoulders Prussia's honor； Prussia's glory。 It lies now； with me； bleeding on the ground。 It shall be lifted and sustained by me alone！〃 And raising his burning eyes heavenward； he seemed to see these future victories branded upon the skies。 Gradually the inspiration left his countenance； giving place to deep thought。 He had delivered his funeral oration to the lost battle； and now gave his thought to his future victories。 He drew lines and figures upon the sand with his cane。 It may have been a drawing of the last or a sketch of the next battle。
The king was so absorbed in this occupation； that he did not perceive his generals； who； having reached Nimburg with the wreck of the army； hastened to the place of appointment； and were now assembled at a respectful distance from him。
Frederick continued to sketch。 The generals gazed at him in silence； anxiously awaiting the moment when he would arouse himself。 He suddenly looked up； and did not seem surprised to see them； lifting his hat slightly； he greeted them； and rose from his lowly seat。
〃It is well； sirs； that you are here；〃 said he。 〃We must now make our preparations for the future； for our enemies； having beaten us once； will think us no longer capable of resisting them； and will fall upon us with renewed courage。 We will convince them； gentlemen； that though we are stricken to the ground for a moment； we are not crushed； not dead。 We will convince them that we still live to tear from them the laurels they have taken from us this day。 Prince von Dessau； hasten immediately to our army at Prague。 I command the Prince of Prussia to raise the siege there at once。 He shall call all his generals together； and hold council with them as to the most suitable mode of retreat。 He shall determine with them how the siege can best be raised； to avoid； as far as possible； the appearance of flying from their enemy。 With gay music they should leave their posts； they should not all leave together； but in groups； so as to mislead the enemy。 In small companies should also the retreat through Bohemia to Lausitz be made； for it would be difficult for a large army to pass this mountainous district； but they should remain as near together as possible； choosing the widest； most convenient roads。 These are the orders you are to deliver my brother； the Prince of Prussia； and his generals。 I give to the prince the command of this portion of my army； and require of him to hasten to Lausitz。 I will join him in Bautzen。 And then； gentlemen； we will seek an occasion to repay our enemies for their civilities of to… day。〃
The generals had listened to him with breathless attention； and as he now dismissed them； with a glorious smile upon his lips； they repeated unanimously his last words； 〃We will repay our enemies for their civilities。〃
As if inspired by this shout； the soldiers； lying about the market place； at a slight distance from the king； broke into a loud hurrah； and shouted； 〃Long live our king！〃
The king turned slowly toward them； hut when he saw all that remained of his noble army； he became pale； and pressed his lips tightly together； as if to suppress a cry of horror。 Then advancing； followed by his generals； to where his weary； wounded soldiers were lying； he said：
〃Children； is this all that is left of you？〃
〃Yes； father； we are the last；〃 said an old gray…headed officer； standing before the king。 〃There were many thousands of us； now there are two hundred and fifty。〃
〃Two hundred and fifty！〃 repeated the king； with a bitter smile。
〃And it was not our fault；〃 continued the old officer； 〃that we did not fall with the rest。 We fought as bravely as they； but Death did not want us。 Perhaps he thought it best to leave a few of us； to guard our king。 We all think so！ Some were left to repay those abominable Saxons for their to…day's work。〃
〃And why alone the Saxons？〃 asked the king。
〃Because it was those infamous Saxon troops that hewed down our regiment。 They fell upon us like devils； and striking their cursed swords into us； cried out； 'This is for Striegau！'〃
〃Ah！ you see；〃 cried the king； 〃that while beating you； they could but think of the many times you had conquered them。〃
〃They shall think of this again； father；〃 said another soldier； raising himself with great pain from the ground。 〃Wait until our wounds have healed； and we will repay them with interest。〃
〃You are wounded； Henry？〃 said the king。
〃Yes； your majesty； in the arm。〃
〃And old Klaus？〃
〃Is dead！〃
〃And Fritz Verder？〃
〃Dead！ He lies with the others upon the battle…field。 There are seven hundred and fifty of us in heaven； and only two hundred and fifty on earth。 But those above； as well as below； still cry'Long live our king！'〃
〃Long live our king；〃 cried they all； rising。
The king made no reply； his eye passed from one to the other pale； exhausted countenance； and an inexpressible sorrow overcame him。
〃Dead！〃 murmured he； 〃my faithful guards dead！ seven hundred and fifty of my choice men have fallen。〃 And overpowered by his emotion； the king did not force back the tears welling to his eyes。 They stole softly down his cheek； and Frederick was not ashamed。 He did not blush； because his warriors had seen him weep。
〃Children；〃 cried the old officer； after a pause； and wiping the tears from his weary eyes； 〃from now on it will be glorious to die； for when we are dead； our king weeps for us。〃
CHAPTER VIII。
THE INIMICAL BROTHERS。
〃The king comes！ The king is entering Bautzen！〃
This announcement brought pale terror to the hearts of the Prince of Prussia and his generals。 They who had heretofore sprang joyfully to meet the call of their king； now trembled at his glance。 They must now present to him the sad and despoiled remnant of that great army which； under the command of the Prince Augustus William of Prussia； had made the retreat from Lausitz。
It had； indeed； been the most fearful retreat ever attempted by the Prussian troops。 It had cost them more than the bloodiest battle； and they had suffered more from hardships during the last few days than ever before during a whole campaign。 They had marched over narrow； stony； rugged mountain…paths； between hills and horrible abysses； sometimes climbing upward； sometimes descending。 Thousands died from exhaustion； thousands pressed backward； crushed by those in the front； thousands； forced onward by those in the rear； had stumbled and fallen into fathomless caverns； which lay at the foot of these mountain passes； yawning like open graves。 If a wheel broke； the wagon was burned； there was no time for repairs； and if left in the path； it interrupted the passage of the flying army。 At last； in order to facilitate the flight； the provision…wagons were burned； and the bread divided amongst the soldiers； the equipages and pontoon…wagons were also burned。 Exhausted by their unusual exertions； beside themselves from pain and unheard…of suffering the whole army was seized with a death…panic。
The soldiers had lost not only all faith in their good fortune； but all faith in their leaders。 Thousands deserted； thousands fled to escape death； which seemed to mock at and beckon to them from every pointed rock and every dark cavern。 ＇Footnote： Warner's 〃Campaigns of Frederick the Great〃＇
While one part of the army deserted or died of hunger or exhaustion； another part fought with an intrenched enemy； for three long days； in the narrow pass of Gabel； under the command of General von Puttkammer。 They fought like heroes； but were at last obliged to surrender； with two thousand men and seven cannon。 Utterly broken by these losses； dead and dying from starvation and weariness； the army drew off toward Zittau。
There was but one thought which sustained the wearied； and lent strength to the starving。 In Zittau were immense magazines of grain。 In Zittau； the rich Saxon city； which throughout all Saxony was called the gold…mine； they dared hope for rest and opportunity to recover。
Before this unhappy army reached Zittau； Duke Charles of Lothringen was in advance of them。 With wanton cruelty he reduced the industrious； open city to ashes； destroyed the Prussian magazines； and； with his army； trampled upon the ruins and the corpses of this unfortified town。 The Prussians had now lost their last hope。 They encamped by Lodau； and after a short rest； advanced to Bautzen； which city the king had appointed for the reunion of the two army
