history of friedrich ii of prussia v 16-第11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！
when Termagant's Husband died； and a new King came；for payment of old debt： Two old Debts； quite tolerably just both of them。 King Friedrich keeps trying till 1749； three years in all： and； in the end； gets nothing whatever。 Nothing；except some Merino Rams in the interim；〃 gift from the new King of Spain； I can suppose； which proved extremely useful in our Wool Industries； 〃and； from the same polite Ferdinand VI。； a Porcelain Vase filled with Spanish Snuff。〃 That was all！
King Friedrich； let me note farther； is getting decidedly deep into snuff； holds by SPANIOL （a dry yellow pungency； analogous to Lundy… foot or Irish…Blackguard； known to snuffy readers）； always by Spaniol； we say； and more especially 〃the kind used by her Majesty of Spain；〃 the now Dowager Termagant： ＇Orders this kind； from his Ambassador in Paris； 〃30th September； 1743：〃 the earliest extant trace of his snuffing habits （Preuss； i。 409）。NOTE FARTHER （if interesting）： 〃The Termagant still lasted as Dowager； consuming SPANIOL at least； for near twenty years （died 11th July； 1766）； the new King； Ferdinand VI。； was her STEPson； not her son； he went mad； poor soul； and died （10th August； 1759）： upon which； Carlos of Naples； our own 'Baby Carlos' that once was； succeeded in Spain； 'King Carlos III。 of Spain；' leaving his Son； a young boy under tutelage； as King of the Two Sicilies （King 'Ferdinand IV。；' who did not die； but had his difficulties； till 1825）。 Don Philip； who had fought so in those Savoy Passes； and got the bit of Parmesan Country； died 1765； the year before Mamma。〃＇ which； also； is to be remembered。 Dryasdust adds； in his sweetly consecutive way： 〃Friedrich was very expensive about his snuff…boxes； wore two big rich boxes in his pockets； five or six stood on tables about； and more than a hundred in store； coming out by turns for variety。 The cheapest of them cost 300 pounds （2；000 thalers）； he had them as high as 1；500 pounds。 At his death； there were found 130 of various values： they were the substance of all the jewelry he had； besides these snuff…boxes； two gold watches only； and a very small modicum of rings。 Had yearly for personal Expenditure 1；200；000 thalers ＇180；000 pounds of Civil List； as we should say＇； SPENT 33；000 pounds of it； and yearly gave the rest away in Royal beneficences； aid of burnt Villages； inundated Provinces； and multifarious PATER…PATRIAE objects。〃 ＇Preuss； i。 409； 410；＇ In regard to JENKINS'S EAR； my Constitutional Friend continues：
〃SILESIA and JENKINS'S EAR； we often say； were the two bits of realities in this enormous hurly…burly of imaginations； insane ambitions； and zeros and negative quantities。 Negative Belleisle goes home； not with Germany cut in Four and put under guidance of the First Nation of the Universe （so extremely fit for guiding self and neighbors）； but with the First Nation itself reduced almost to wallet and staff； bankrupt； beggared 'Yes；' it answers； 'in all but glory！ Have not we gained Fontenoy； Roucoux； Lauffeld； and strong…places innumerable ＇mostly in a state of dry…rot＇？ Did men ever fight as we Frenchmen； combining it with theatrical entertainments； too！ Sublime France； First Nation of the Universe； will try another flight （ESSOR）； were she breathed a little！'
〃Yes； a new ESSOR ere long； and perhaps surprise herself and mankind！ The losses of men； money and resource； under this mad empty Enterprise of Belleisle's； were enormous； palpable to France and all mortals： but perhaps these were trifling to the replacement of them by such GLOIRE as there had been。 A GLOIRE of plunging into War on no cause at all； and with an issue consisting only of foul gases of extreme levity。 Messieurs are of confessed promptitude to fight； and their talent for it； in some kinds； is very great indeed。 But this treating of battle and slaughter； of death； judgment and eternity； as light play…house matters； this of rising into such transcendency of valor； as to snap your fingers in the face of the Almighty Maker； this； Messieurs； give me leave to say so； is a thing that will conduct you and your PREMIERE NATION to the Devil； if you do not alter it。 Inevitable； I tell you！ Your road lies that way； then？ Good morning； Messieurs； let me still hope； Not！〃
Diplomatist Kaunitz gained his first glories in this Congress of Aix； which are still great in the eyes of some。 Age now thirty… seven； a native of these Western parts； but henceforth； by degrees ever more； the shining star and guide of Austrian Policies down almost to our own New Epoch。 As； unluckily； he will concern us not a little； in time coming； let us read this Note； as foreshadow of the man and his doings：
〃The glory of Count； ultimately Prince； von Kaunitz…Rietberg； is great in Diplomatic Circles of the past Century。 'The greatest of Diplomatists；' they all say；and surely it is reckoned something to become the greatest in your line。 Farther than this； to the readers of these times； Kaunitz…Rietberg's glory does not go。 A great character； great wisdom； lasting great results to his Country； readers do not trace in Kaunitz's diplomacies；only temporary great results； or what he and the by…standers thought such； to Kaunitz himself。 He was the Supreme Jove； we perceive； in that extinct Olympus； and regards with sublime pity； not unallied to contempt； all other diplomatic beings。 A man sparing of words； sparing even of looks； will hardly lift his eyelids for your sake； will lift perhaps his chin； in slight monosyllabic fashion； and stalk superlatively through the other door。 King of the vanished Shadows。 A determined hater of Fresh Air； rode under glass cover； on the finest day； made the very Empress shut her windows when he came to audience； fed； cautiously daring； on boiled capons： more I remember not；except also that he would suffer no mention of the word Death by any mortal。 ＇Hormayr； OEsterreichischer Plutarch； iv。 （3tes）； 231…283。＇ A most high…sniffing； fantastic； slightly insolent shadow…king；ruled； in his time； the now vanished Olympus； and had the difficult glory （defective only in result） of uniting France and Austria AGAINST the poor old Sea… Power milk…cows； for the purpose of recovering Silesia from Friedrich； a few years hence！〃These are wondrous results； hidden under the horizon； not very far either； and will astonish Britannic Majesty and all readers； in a few years。
MARECHAL DE SAXE PAYS FRIEDRICH A VISIT。
In Summer； 1749； Marechal de Saxe； the other shiny figure of this mad Business of the Netherlands； paid Friedrich a visit； had the honor to be entertained by him three days （July 13th…16th； 1749）； in his Royal Cottage of Sans…Souci seemingly； in his choicest manner。 Curiosity； which is now nothing like so vivid as it then was； would be glad to listen a little； in this meeting of two Suns； or of one Sun and one immense Tar…Barrel； or Atmospheric Meteor really of shining nature； and taken for a Sun。 But the Books are silent； not the least detail； or hint； or feature granted us。 Only Fancy；and this of Smelfungus； by way of long farewell to one of the parties：
。。。 〃It was at Tongres； or in head…quarters near it； 10th October； 1746；Battle expected on the morrow ＇Battle of ROUCOUX； over towards Herstal； which we used to know＇；… that M。 Favart； Saxe's Playwright and Theatre…Director； gave out in cheerful doggerel on fall of the Curtain； the announcement：
'Demain nous donnerons relache； Quoique le Directeur s'en fache； Vous voir combleroit nos desirs：
'To…morrow is no Play； To the Manager's regret； Whose sole study is to keep you happy：
On doit ceder tout a la gloire； Vous ne songes qu'a la victoire； Nous ne songeons qu'a vos plaisires' ＇ Biographic Universelle； xiv。 209； ？ Favart； Espagnac； ii。 162。＇ But； you being bent upon victory； What can he do？ Day after to…morrow；'
'Day after to…morrow；' added he； taking the o5cial tone； （in honor of your laurels ＇gained already； since you resolve on gaining them＇； we will have the honor of presenting'such and such a gay Farce； to as many of you as remain alive！ which was received with gay clapping of hands： admirable to the Universe； at least to the Parisian UNIVERS and oneself。 Such a prodigality of light daring is in these French gentlemen； skilfully tickled by the Marechal； who uses this Playwright； among other implements； for keeping them at the proper pitch。 Was there ever seen such radiancy of valor？ Very radiant indeed；yet； it seems to me； gone somewhat into the phosphorescent kind； shining in the dark； as fish will do when rotten！ War has actually its serious character； nor is Death a farcical transaction； however high your genius may go。 But what then？ it is the Marechal's trade to keep these poor people at the cutting pitch； on any terms that will hold for the moment。
〃I know not which was the most dissolute Army ever seen in the world； but this of Saxe's was very dissolute。 Playwright Favart had withal a beautiful clever Wife；upon whom the courtships； munificent blandishments； threatenings and utmost endeavors of Marechal de Saxe （in his character of goat…footed Satyr） could no
