frederick the great and his family-第91节
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horseman makes no sign。 Silently he dashes on through the laughing； chatting crowd； but wherever he passes； laughter and smiles disappear； and speech is silenced。
It seemed as if the angel of death had touched his brow； and the happy ones shuddered at his untimely presence。 Now he has reached the castle； he descends from his horse。 In breathless silence； pallid； trembling they know not why； those who have seen this dumb messenger look up shudderingly to the balcony。 At last； after long waiting； the Minister Herzberg appeared once more。
But； O God！ what means this？ he is palehis eyes are filled with tears。 He opens his mouth to speak； but strength has left him。 He holds on to the bars of the balcony； otherwise he would sink。 At last he collects himself。 It is not necessary to ask for silence； the silence of the grave is upon those torpid men。 He speaks！ his voice is faint and weak； and tremblesoh； so fearfully！ only a few in the first rank can hear his words。
〃The battle is lost！ The Russians have conquered！ The Austrians came to their assistance！ The presence of the Austrians was not known； they had their tents in holes in the ground！ As our militia rushed upon the last intrenchment at Judenberg and were only a hundred steps distant； Loudon suddenly advanced with his fresh troops； against the worn…out and exhausted victors。 He received the Prussians with so murderous a fire； that their ranks faltered； wavered； and； at last； broke loose in wild flight； pursued furiously by the raging enemy。 The fortunes of the day had turned； we lost the battle。 But all is not lost。 The king lives！ he is slightly wounded； three horses were shot under him。 He lives； and so long as he lives； there is hope。 In the far distance； in the midst of the terrible disaster？ which have befallen himself and his army； he thinks of his Berliners。 He sends you a father's greeting； and exhorts every one of you to save his possessions； as far as possible。 Those who do not feel safe in Berlin； and who fear the approaching enemy； the king counsels to withdraw； if possible； with their money； to Magdeburg； where the royal family will take refuge this evening。〃
The minister was silent； and the people who had listened； dumb with horror； now broke out in wild cries of anguish and despair。 Terror was written in every face； tears gushed from every eye。 Cries of unspeakable agony burst from those lips； which； a few moments before； were eloquent with hope and gladness。
As if it were impossible to believe in these misfortunes without further confirmation； some men called loudly for the messenger； and the distant crowd； as if inspired with new hope； roared louder and louder：
〃The courier！ the courier！ we will ourselves speak with the courier！〃
The demand was so threatening； so continuous； it must be complied with。 Herzberg stepped upon the balcony； and informed the crowd that the courier would at once descend to the public square。 A breathless silence succeeded； every eye was fixed upon the castle…gate； through which the courier must come。 When he appeared； the crowd rushed forward toward him in mad haste。 Cries of woe and suffering were heard。 The people； withmad with pain； beside themselves with despair； had no longer any mercy； any pity for each other。 They rushed upon the messenger of misfortune； without regarding those who； in the midst of this wild tumult； were cast down； and trodden under foot。
The messenger began his sad story。 He repeated all that the minister had said； he told of the deadly strife； of the bloody havoc； of the raging advance of the Austrians； and of the roar for vengeance of the reassured Russians。 He told how the cannon…balls of the enemy had stricken down whole ranks of Prussians； that more than twenty thousand dead and wounded Prussians lay upon the battle…field； that all the cannon and all the colors had fallen into the hands of the enemy。
The people received this news with tears； cries； and lamentations。 The courier spoke also of the king。 He； himself； had belonged to the body…guard of the kinghad been ever near him。 He had seen the king standing in the midst of the thickest shower of balls； when his two adjutants fell at his side。 At last； a ball came and wounded the king's horsethe Vogelso fearfully； that the brave steed fell。 Frederick mounted another horse； but remained upon the same spot； a second ball wounded this horse； and the king quietly mounted that of Captain Gotzen。 At this moment； a bullet struck the king in the breast； but the golden etui which the king carried in his pocket； had turned it aside； and thus saved his life。 In vain had the generals and adjutants entreated him to leave this place； and think of his personal safety。 His answer was〃We must seek； at this point； to win the battle。 I must do my duty here with the rest。〃 ＇Footnote： The king's own words。See Thiebault； p。 214。＇
Many voices cried out〃Where is the king now？〃
The courier did not answer； but the question was so fiercely； so stormily repeated； that he was compelled to go on。
〃The king； in the midst of the confusion and horror of the flight； had called him； and commanded him to gallop to Berlin； and bear the fatal news to Minister Herzberg。 He had then galloped by him； exactly against the enemy； as if he wished their balls to strike him； a little troop of his most faithful soldiers had followed！〃
〃The king is lost！ the king is a prisonerwoundedperhaps dead！〃 cried the terrified people。
Suddenly； the mad tumult was interrupted by loud shouts of joy； which swelled and thundered like an avalanche from the other side of the square。 A fifth courier had arrived； and brought the news of the complete defeat of the Russians； and a glorious Prussian victory。 Now； one of those memorable； wondrousgrand scenes took place； which no earthly phantasy could contrive or prepare； to which only Providence could give form and color。 As if driven by the storm… winds of every powerful earthly passion； this great sea of people fluctuated here and there。 At one point； thousands were weeping over the news which the unhappy messenger had brought。 Near by； thousands were huzzaing and shouting over the joyful intelligence brought by the fifth courier； while those who had been near enough to the fourth courier to understand his words； turned aside to give the sad news to those who were afar off。 Coming at the same time from the other side； they were met by a mighty mass of men； who announced； with glad cries； the news of victory； brought by the fifth courier。 Here you could see men； with their arms raised to heaven； thanking God for the hardly…won victory。 A little farther on； pale； frightened creatures； motionless； bowed down； and grief…stricken。 Here were women； with glowing cheeks and sparkling eyes； shouting over their hero king。 There； the people wept and moaned； their king had disappeared； was a prisoner； or dead。 As at the Tower of Babel； the people spoke in a thousand tongues； and no one listened to another； every one was lostblinded by his own passionate hopes and fears。
At last the two couriers were called upon to come face to face and decide these important questions。 Strong men lifted them upon their shoulders and brought them together； a profound and fearful silence ensued； every man felt that he stood upon the eve of a mighty revelation； fifty thousand men were waiting breathlessly for news of happiness beyond compare； or of unspeakable woe。 The conversation of the two horsemen standing upon the shoulders of their townsmen was quick and laconic。
〃At what hour did the king send you off？〃 said the fourth courier to the fifth。
〃At six。 The king himself commissioned me〃
〃Where stood our army at that time？〃 said the fourth courier。
〃They stood before the hollow ground； and the Russians had withdrawn to the intrenchments of Zudenberg； we had taken a hundred and twenty cannon； and many of our soldiers were wandering about the battle… field looking at the batteries they had taken。〃 ＇Footnote： Bodman。＇
〃Yes；〃 said the fourth courier； sadly； 〃that was at six； but at seven we were in full flight。 Loudon had risen from the ground； and the frightened； conquered Russians had recovered themselves。 You left at six； I at eight； I have ridden more rapidly than you。 Unhappily； I am right； the battle is lost！〃
〃The battle is lost！〃 howled the people； 〃the king is also lost！ Woe！ woe！〃
At this moment the royal equipages were seen making their way slowly through the crowd； and the advance guard were praying the people to open a way for the travelling carriages to reach the castle。 These words excited new alarm。 〃We are lost！ Let us fly； let us fly！ The court； the queen； and the princesses fleelet us save ourselves！ The Russians will come to Berlinthey will annihilate us。 We are deserted and lost； lost！no one knows where our king is！〃
As if driven by madness； the crowds rushed against each other； like the sea when it divides； and in billowy streams pours itself out here and there； and the cry of anguish which now rang out from the castle square； found its echo in every street and every house。
CHAPTER XI。
AFTER THE BATTLE。
The cannon were silenced； the discharges of musketry had ceased。 On the great plain of Kunersdorf； where； a fe
