frederick the great and his family-第90节

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：　〃I　forbid　you　to　appear　before　me　till　you　have　performed　deeds　of　valor　worthy　of　your　birth　and　your　allies！〃　＇Footnote：　Bodman。＇

Her　son；　the　worthy　nephew　of　Frederick　the　Great　had　now　bought　the　right　to　appear　before　his　mother。

By　the　victories　of　Gotsfeld　and　Minden　he　had　now　wiped　out　the　defeat　at　Bergen；　and　the　laurels　which　Brissac　had　won　there　were　now　withered　and　dead。

Berlin　had　just　received　this　joyful　news。　After　so　much　sorrow；　so　much　humiliation　and　disappointment；　she　might　now　indulge　herself　in　a　day　of　festal　joy；　and；　by　public　declarations　and　testimonials；　make　known　to　the　world　how　dear　to　her　heart　was　this　victory　of　her　king　and　his　generals；　and　how　deep　and　warm　was　the　sympathy　she　felt。

All　work　was　set　aside　in　honor　of　this　great　celebrationthe　people　were　spread　abroad　in　the　meadows　and　woods；　shouting　and　rejoicing；　playing　and　dancing；　the　rich　and　the　distinguished　joined　them　without　ceremony；　to　prove　to　the　world　that　in　such　great　moments；　all　differences　of　rank　were　forgottenthat　they　were　all　members　of　one　bodyunited　in　joy　and　in　sorrow　by　an　electric　chain。

So　they　slumbered　on；　the　streets　were　still　empty；　the　windows　still　closed。

But　see！　There　comes　a　horseman　through　the　Frankfort　gate；　dusty　and　breathless；　his　glowing　face　was　radiant　with　joy！　As　he　dashed　through　the　streets　he　waved　a　white　handkerchief　high　in　the　air；　and　with　a　loud　and　powerful　voice；　cried　out；　〃Victory！　victory！〃

This　one　word　had　a　magic　influence。　The　windows　flew　up；　the　doors　were　dashed　open；　and　shouting　and　screaming　crowds　of　men　rushed　after　the　horseman。　At　a　corner　they　surrounded　his　horse　and　compelled　him　to　stop。　〃Who　is　victorious？〃　cried　they　tumultuously。

〃The　kingthe　great　Frederick！　He　has　whipped　the　Russians　at　Kunersdorf！〃

A　cry　of　rapture　burst　from　every　lip。　〃The　king　is　victorious！　he　has　defeated　the　Russians！〃

Onward　flew　the　courier　to　the　palace；　after　him　streamed　the　mad　people。　〃The　days　of　mourning　are　overthe　blood　of　our　sons　has　not　been　shed　in　vain；　they　are　the　honored　deadtheir　death　brought　victory　to　the　fatherland；　they　have　drenched　the　soil　with　the　blood　of　our　barbarous　enemies。　We　whipped　the　French　at　Minden；　the　Russians　at　Kunersdorf；　and　now　we　have　defeated　the　Austrians　and　won　back　the　trophies　of　their　victory　at　Hochkirch！〃

The　people　surrounded　the　castle　shouting　and　triumphing。　The　courier　had　entered　to　give　to　the　queen　the　joyful　news。　Soon　the　royal　messengers　were　flying　into　every　corner　of　the　city　to　summon　the　ministers　and　officers　of　state　to　the　castle。　On　foot；　on　horseback；　in　carriages；　they　hastened　on；　and　the　people　received　them　with　joyful　shouts。　〃The　king　is　victorious；　the　Russians　are　defeated！〃

And　now　a　door　opened　on　a　balcony；　and　Minister　Herzberg　stepped　out。　He　waved　his　hat　joyfully　high　in　the　air。　The　people　returned　this　greeting　with　a　roar　like　an　exulting　lion。　He　waved　his　hand；　and　the　lion　ceased　to　roarthere　was　death…like　silence。　He　then　told　them　that　the　king　had　offered　battle　to　the　Russians；　yesterday；　not　far　from　Frankfort。　The　Russian　army　was　greatly　superior　in　numbers；　they　received　the　Prussians　with　a　fearful；　deadly　fire！　Unrestrainable；　regardless　of　cannon…balls；　or　of　death；　the　Prussians　rushed　on；　stormed　all　the　strongholds；　and　drove　the　Russian　militia　with　fearful　slaughter　back　to　the　graveyard　of　Kunersdorf。　At　five　o'clock　the　king　sent　off　the　courier　and　the　victory　was　assured。

〃The　victory　was　assured！〃　reechoed　the　mighty　voice　of　the　people。　With　warm　and　kindly　eyes　they　looked　upon　each　other。　Proud；　glad；　happy；　men　who　did　not　know　each　other；　who　had　never　met；　now　felt　that　they　were　brothers；　the　sons　of　one　fatherland；　and　they　clasped　hands；　and　shouted　their　congratulations。

Suddenly；　at　the　end　of　the　street；　another　horseman　appeared。　He　drew　nearer　and　nearer。　It　is　a　second　courier；　a　second　message　of　our　king　to　his　family　and　his　Berliners。

The　people　looked　at　him　distrustfully；　anxiously。　What　means　this　second　courier？　What　news　does　he　bring？

His　countenance　gay；　his　brow　clear；　with　a　flashing　smile　he　greets　the　people。　He　brings　news　of　victorycomplete；　assured　victory。

Like　the　first　courier；　he　dashed　on　to　the　castle；　to　give　his　dispatches　to　the　queen　and　the　ministers。　The　people　were　drunk　with　joy。　The　equipages　of　the　nobles　rolled　by。　Every　one　whose　rank　gave　him　the　privilege　wished　to　offer　his　personal　congratulations　to　the　queen。

And　now　in　the　Konigstrasse　was　seen　a　venerable　procession。　The　magistrates　of　Berlinin　front　the　burgomasters　with　their　long　periwigs　and　golden　chains；　behind　them　the　worthy　city　councilall　hastened　to　the　castle　to　offer　congratulations　in　the　name　of　the　city。

The　crowd　drew　back　respectfully　before　the　worthy　city　fathers；　and　opened　a　path　for　them；　then　fixed　their　eyes　again　upon　the　balcony　where　Minister　Her/。berg　again　appeared；　and　called　for　silence。

He　will　give　us　the　news　of　the　second　courier。　The　victory　is　absolute。　The　Russians　completely　defeated。　They　had　retreated　to　Kunersdorf。　In　this　village　they　proposed　to　defend　themselves。　But　the　Prussians　were　unceasingly　pressing　upon　them。　Seven　redoubts；　Kirchhof；　Spitzberg；　and　one　hundred　and　eighty…six　cannon　had　been　taken。　The　enemy　had　suffered　a　monstrous　loss；　and　was　in　the　greatest　confusion。　The　fate　of　the　day　seemed　conclusive。　This　was　owing　to　the　heroic　courage　of　the　army；　whom　neither　the　blazing　heat　of　the　sun　nor　the　unexampled　slaughter　could　for　a　moment　restrain。　At　six　o'clock；　when　the　king　sent　off　this　second　courier；　the　enemy　had　retreated　behind　his　last　intrenchments；　and　taken　refuge　at　Gudenberg。　＇Footnote：　Frederick　the　Great。　Thiebault＇

A　loud　hurrah　broke　from　the　people　as　Herzberg　finished　and　left　the　balcony。　Now　there　was　no　room　for　doubt。　The　enemy　was　overwhelmed　and　had　fled　to　his　last　intrenchment。　Would　the　king　leave　him　unmolested；　and　would　he　not　still　drive　the　hated　enemy　further？

While　groups　of　men　were　assembled　here　and　there；　discussing　these　weighty　questions；　and　others；　intoxicated；　drunk　with　joy　at　this　great　victory　over　their　hereditary　enemy；　were　making　eloquent　addresses　to　the　people；　a　third　courier　appeared　in　sight。

Breathless　with　expectation　and　anxiety；　they　would　not　give　him　time　to　reach　the　castle。　They　mustthey　would　know　the　news　he　brings。　There　should　be　no　delay；　no　temporizing；　no　mysteries。　The　people　were　one　great　family。　They　awaited　the　message　of　their　father。　They　demanded　news　of　their　distant　sons　and　brothers。

The　third　courier　brings　renewed　assurances。　The　Russians　are　routed。　The　king　will　give　them　no　rest。　He　will　drive　them　from　their　last　stronghold。　With　his　whole　army；　with　cavalry　and　militia；　with　all　his　cannon；　he　was　in　the　act　of　storming　Gudenberg。　This　is　the　message　of　the　third　courier。

The　people　are　proud　and　happy。　No　one　thinks　of　going　home。　In　fact；　they　have　no　home　but　the　streets。　Every　house　would　be　too　small　for　this　great　family　which　feels　a　thirst　to　express　its　joy　and　its　rapture　to　each　other。　And　then　it　was　possible　the　king　might　send　another　courier。　Who　could　go　home　till　they　knew　that　the　Russians　were　driven　from　their　last　stronghold；　that　Gudenberg　was　drenched　in　Russian　blood？

No　one　doubted　that　this　news　would　comemust　come。　Not　the　slightest　fear；　the　least　doubt　troubled　the　proud；　pure　joy　of　this　hour。　The　victory　was　achieved；　but　it　was　still　charming　to　hear　it　confirmed；　to　receive　these　heavenly　messages。　Every　open　space　was　filled　with　men。　Each　one　would　see　and　hear　for　himself。　No　man　thought　himself　too　distinguished；　too　sick；　too　weak；　to　stand　for　hours　in　the　burning　sun；　carried　about　involuntarily　by　this　fluctuating　wave　of　humanity。　Side　by　side　with　the　laborer　stood　the　elegant　lady　in　her　silk　robes；　near　the　poor　beggar　in　his　ragged　jacket　were　seen　the　high　official　and　the　wealthy　banker　in　their　rich　dresses。

Move　than　fifty　thousand　men　were　now　assembled　and　waitingwaiting　for　what　they　knew　notfor　newsfor　a　courier　who　could　give　the　details。　It　was　not　enough　to　know　that　the　king　had　conquered；　they　wished　to　know　the　extent　and　the　significance　of　this　victory；　and　lastly；　they　would　know　the　bloody　offering　which　this　victory　had　cost。　The　dinner…hour　was　passed。　What　cared　this　happy　people　for　dinner？　They　hungered　for　no　earthly　food；　they　thirsted　for　no　earthly　drink；　they　were　satisfied　with　the　joy　of　victory。　The　clock　struck　three。　Yes；　there　comes　a　horseman；　his　bridle　is　hanging　loosehe　is　covered　with　dustbut　how；　what　means　this？　His　face　is　pale　as　death；　his　eyes　are　misty；　he　looks　around　shame…faced　and　confused。　No　happy　news　is　written　upon　this　dark　and　clouded　brow。　What　means　this　messenger　of　death　in　the　midst　of　joy；　triumph；　and　proud　consciousness　of　victory？　They　seek　to　hold　him；　to　question　him；　but　he　gives　no　answer。　He　spurs　his　wearied　horse　till　he　springs　aloft；　and　the　men　in　rash　terror　are　crushed　against　each　other；　but　the　horseman　makes　no　sign。　Silently　he　dashes　on　through　the　laughing；　chatting　crowd；　but　wherever　he