frederick the great and his family-第70节
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Another grenadier； who had lost both legs； lay upon the ground weltering in his blood； quietly smoking his pipe。 An Austrian general galloping by held in his horse and looked in amazement at the soldier。 〃How is it possible； comrade；〃 said he； 〃that in your fearful condition you can smoke？ Death is near to you。〃
Taking the pipe from his mouth； the grenadier answered with white； trembling lips： 〃Well； and what of it？ Do I not die for my king？〃
Where the danger was the greatest； there was the king encouraging his soldiers。 When a column was seen to reel； there was Frederick in their midst inspiring new courage by his presence。 The king was the soul of his army； and as his soul was sans peur et sans reproche； the army was victorious。 Napoleon； speaking of this battle； says： 〃Cette bataille de Leuthen est propre a immortaliser le caractere moral de Frederic； et met a jour ses grands talents militaires。〃 And somewhat later； he says： 〃Cette bataille etait un chef d'oeuvre de mouvements； de manoeuvres； et de resolution； seul elle suffirait pour immortaliser Frederic； et lui donne un rang parmi les plus grands generaux！〃
The victory was gained。 The defeated Austrians fled in haste； leaving a hundred cannon； fifty banners； and more than twenty thousand prisoners in the hands of the Prussians； while upon the battle…field six thousand of their dead and wounded were lying； with but two thousand dead and wounded Prussians。 The victory belonged to Prussia。 They had all distinguished themselves； the king and every common soldier had done his duty。 Frederick； accompanied by his staff； to which Lieutenant Frankenberg and his fifty men did not now belong； passed the bloody； smoking battle…field。 His countenance was sparkling with joyhis eyes shone like stars。 He seemed looking for some one to whom to open his grateful heart。
He who had given most assistance in the battle was Prince Moritz von Dessau； whom at the battle of Collin the king had threatened with his sword； and with whom he had ever since been angry because his prophecy proved true。 But there was no anger now in the king's heart； and as he had； in the presence of all his staff； threatened the prince； he wished also in their presence to thank and reward him。 The prince was at a slight distance from him； so busily engaged in giving orders that he did not perceive the king until he was quite close to him。
〃I congratulate you upon this victory；〃 said the king； in a loud voice〃I congratulate you； field…marshal。〃
The prince bowed in a silent； absent manner； and continued to give his orders。
The king； raising his voice； said： 〃Do you not hear； field…marshal？ I congratulate you！〃
The prince looked hastily at the king。 〃How？ Your majesty；〃 said he； doubtfully； 〃has appointed me〃
〃My field…marshal；〃 said the king； interrupting him。 〃And well have you deserved this promotion； you have assisted me in this battle as I have never before been assisted。〃 He grasped the prince's hand and pressed it tenderly； and there were tears of emotion not only in the eyes of the new field…marshal； but also in those of the king。
A fearful day's work was finishedhow fearful； could be seen by the wounded； the dying lying pell…mell upon the battle…field amidst the dead； too exhausted to move。 But the day had passed。 The cries and shouts of the flying enemy had now ceasedthe victory； the battle… field； belonged to the Prussians。 What was now most needed by them was an hour's rest。 Above the bloody battle…field； above the dying； the sleeping； the groaning； the sighing； now rose the moon grandly； solemnly； as if to console the dead and to lead the living to raise their grateful prayers to heaven。 And grateful praise ascended above that nightthanks for the preservation of their own and their friends' livesthanks for their hero's victory。 Side by side； whispering in low tones； lay the soldiersfor the hour seemed to all too solemn to be broken by any loud sound。
No hearts were so full of gratitude and joy as those of Charles Henry Buschman and Fritz Kober。 In the pressure of the battle they had been separated and had not again met during the engagement。 In vain they had sought and called upon one another； and each one thought of the fearful possibility that the other had fallen。 At last they stumbled upon each other。 With shouts of joy they rushed into each other's arms。
〃You are not wounded； Fritz Kober？〃 said Charles Henry； with a beating heart。
〃I am unharmed； but you； my friend？〃
〃Only a little cut in the hand； nothing more。 How many prisoners did you take？〃
〃Seven； Charles Henry。〃
〃You will be promoted！ You will be an officer！〃
〃Not unless you are also。 How many prisoners did you take？〃
〃I am not sure； Fritz； I think there were nine。 But the captain will know。〃
〃We will both be promoted； the king promised it； and now I am willing to accept it。〃
〃But what is this to us now； my friend？〃 said Charles Henry； 〃we have found one another； and I am indifferent to all else。〃
〃You are right； Charles Henry； this has been a fearful； a terrible day。 My knees tremble beneath melet us rest a while。〃
He laid himself upon the ground。 Charles Henry knelt beside him； laying one hand upon his shoulder； and looked at the starry sky； a holy smile glorified his countenance。 As he gazed at the moon； tender feelings were at work in his heart。 He thought of his distant homeof the graves of his loved parents； upon which the moon was now shining as brightly as upon this bloody battle…field。 He thought how kind and merciful God had been to preserve his friend； his only consolation； the one joy of his weary； lonesome life。 The solemn stillness by which he was surrounded； the bright moon； light which illuminated the battle…field； the thought of the hard struggle of the past day； all acted strongly upon his feelings。 The brave； daring soldier； Charles Henry Buschman； was once more transformed into the gentle； soft…hearted Anna Sophia Detzloff； now； when danger was past； she felt herself a weak； trembling woman。 Deep； inexpressible emotion； earnest prayers to God； were busy in Anna Sophia's heart。
Kneeling upon the ground； resting on her friend； she raised her eyes heavenward； and commenced singing in an earnest； impassioned tone that glorious hymn； 〃Thanks unto God！〃 Fritz Kober； actuated by the same feelings； joined in the hymn； and here and there a comrade lent his voice to swell the anthem； it became stronger； louder； until at last； like a mighty stream； it passed over the battle…field； knocking at every heart； and urging it to prayer； finding everywhere an open ear。
The moon stood smiling above the battle…field； upon which eight thousand dead and wounded men were lying。 Even the wounded； who a short time before filled the air with groans of pain and agony； raised themselves to join in the song of praise which was now sung； not by a hundred； not by a thousand； but by thirty thousand soldiers； thirty thousand heroes； who； after that bloody day had earned the right to sing 〃Thanks unto God。〃
CHAPTER XV。
WINTER QUARTERS IN BRESLAU。
Faint and exhausted； the king had withdrawn to his room； he was alone。 To…day was the twenty…fourth of January； Frederick's birthday； and； although he had forbidden all congratulations； he could not avoid receiving the highest tribunals of Breslau； and also a few deputations of the citizens of this reconquered city。 These visits wearied the king； he was grave and out of spirits。 Once more alone； he could indulge in the sad memories that came over him involuntarily and forcibly。 For here in Breslau he had lately experienced a bitter disappointment； every thing in the castle reminded him of the treacherous friend whom he bad loved so dearly； and who had so shamefully betrayed him。
The king was now thinking of the Bishop von Schaffgotsch。 An expression of painful gloom clouded his face； he felt solitary and deserted； the cold； silent room chilled his heart； and the snow blown against the window by the howling winds； oppressed him strangely。 He was more dejected and anxious than he had ever felt before a battle。
〃The marquis cannot travel in such weather；〃 he said； sighing； 〃and my musicians will be careful not to trust themselves upon the highway； they will imagine the snow has blocked up the way； and that it is impossible to come through。 They will remain in Berlin； caring but little that I am counting the weary hours until they arrive。 Yes； yes； this is an example of the almighty power of a king； a few snow…flakes are sufficient to set his commands aside； and the king remains but an impotent child of the dust。 Of what avail is it that I have conquered the Austrians and the French？ I have sown dragons' teeth from which new enemies will arise； new battles； perhaps new defeats。 What have I gained by consecrating my heart to my friends？ They are but serpentsI have nourished them in my breast； and they will sting when I least suspect them。 Even those whom I still trust； forsake me now when I most need them！〃
The wild storm increased； and blew a cloud of snow…flakes against the window； and the wind whistled mournfully in the chimney。
〃No；〃 murmured the king； 〃D'Argens will certainly not come； he will remain quietly in his beloved bed； and
