frederick the great and his family-第12章

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rone；　I　will　call　you　to　justify　yourself；　and　there　we　will　speak　as　equals；　as　man　to　man。　What　right　had　you　to　rob　me　of　my　most　holy　and　beautiful　possession？　What　right　have　you　to　lay　a　heavy　chain　on　heart　and　hand；　that　love　will　not　help　me　to　bear？　I　hold　you　responsible　for　my　miserable　life；　my　shattered　hopes。　Will　you　accept　these　conditions？　Do　you　still　wish　me　to　marry？〃

〃I　accept　the　conditions；〃　said　the　king；　solemnly。　〃I　desire　you　to　marry。〃

〃I　presume　your　majesty　has　chosen　a　bride　for　me？〃

〃You　are　right；　mon　cher　frere。　I　have　selected　the　Princess　Wilhelmina；　daughter　of　Prince　Max；　of　Hesse…Cassel。　She　not　only　brings　you　a　fortune；　but　youth；　beauty；　and　amiability。〃

〃I　thank　you；　sire；〃　said　the　prince；　coldly　and　formally。　〃I　would　marry　her　if　she　were　ugly；　old；　and　unamiable。　But　is　it　allowed　me　to　add　one　condition？〃

〃Speak；　my　brother；　I　am　listening。〃

The　prince　did　not　answer　immediately；　he　breathed　quickly　and　heavily；　and　a　glowing　red　suffused　his　pale；　trembling　face。

〃Speak；　my　brother。　Name　your　conditions；〃　said　the　king。

〃Well；　then；　so　be　it。　My　first　condition　is　that　I　may　be　allowed　to　have　a　brilliant　wedding。　I　wish　to　invite　not　only　the　entire　court；　but　a　goodly　number　of　Berliners；　I　desire　all　Berlin　to　take　part　in　my　happiness；　and　to　convince　every　one；　by　my　gay　demeanor　and　my　entertainment；　that　I　joyfully　accept　my　bride；　the　princess。〃

The　king's　eyes　rested　sorrowfully　upon　his　brother's　countenance。　He　fully　understood　the　emotions　of　his　heart；　and　knew　that　his　brother　wished　to　wound　and　humiliate　his　faithless　sweetheart　by　his　marriage；　that　Henry　only　submitted　to　his　wishes　because　his　proud　heart　rebelled　at　the　thought　of　being　pitied　as　a　rejected　lover。　But　he　was　considerate；　and　would　not　let　it　appear　that　he　understood　him。

〃I　agree　to　this　first　proposition；〃　said　the　king；　after　a　pause；　〃and　I　hope　you　will　allow　me　to　be　present　at　this　beautiful　fete；　and　convince　Berlin　that　we　are　in　hearty　unison。　Have　you　no　other　conditions？〃

〃Yes；　one　more。〃

〃What　is　it？〃

〃That　my　marriage　shall　take　place；　at　the　latest；　in　a　month。〃

〃You　will　thus　fulfil　my　particular　and　personal　wish；〃　said　the　king；　smiling。　〃I　am　anxious　to　have　this　marriage　over；　for；　after　the　gayeties；　I　wish　to　leave　Berlin。　All　the　arrangements　and　contracts　are　completed；　and　I　think　now　there　is　no　obstacle　in　the　way　of　the　marriage。　Have　you　another　wish；　my　brother？〃

〃No；　sire。〃

〃Then　allow　me　to　beg　you　to　grant　me　a　favor。　I　wish　to　leave　a　kind　remembrance　of　this　eventful　hour　in　your　heart；　and　I　therefore　give　you　a　small　memento　of　the　same。　Will　you　accept　my　castle　of　Rheinsberg；　with　all　its　surroundings；　as　a　present　from　me？　Will　you　grant　me　this　pleasure；　my　brother？〃

The　king　offered　his　hand；　with　a　loving　smile；　to　Henry；　and　received　with　apparent　pleasure　his　ardent　thanks。

〃I　chose　Rheinsberg；〃　he　said；　kindly；　〃not　because　it　is　my　favorite　palace；　and　I　have　passed　many　pleasant　and　happy　days　there；　but　because　none　of　my　other　palaces　are　so　appropriate　for　a　prince　who　is　discontented　with　his　king。　I　have　made　that　experience　myself；　and　I　give　you　Rheinsberg；　as　my　father　gave　it　to　me。　Go　to　Rheinsberg　when　you　are　angry　with　me　and　the　world；　there　you　can　pass　the　first　months　of　your　marriage；　and　God　grant　it　may　be　a　happy　one！〃

The　prince　answered　him　with　a　cold　smile；　and　begged　leave　to　withdraw；　that　he　might　make　the　necessary　preparations　for　his　wedding。　〃We　will　both　make　our　preparations；〃　said　the　king；　as　he　bade　the　prince　farewell〃you　with　your　major…domo；　and　I　with　Baron　Pollnitz；　whom　I　shall　send　as　ambassador　to　Cassel。〃




CHAPTER　XI。

THE　TRAVELLING　MUSICIANS。


The　feasts；　illuminations；　and　balls　given　in　honor　of　the　newly…　married　couple；　Henry　and　his　wife；　the　Princess　Wilhelmina；　were　at　an　end。　The　prince　and　his　followers　had　withdrawn　to　Rheinsberg；　and　many　were　the　rumors　in　Berlin　of　the　brilliant　feasts　with　which　he　welcomed　his　beautiful　bride。　She　was　truly　lovely；　and　the　good　Berliners；　who　had　received　her　with　such　hearty　greetings　when　she　appeared　with　the　prince　on　the　balcony；　or　showed　herself　to　the　people　in　an　open　carriage；　declared　there　could　be　no　happier　couple　than　the　prince　and　his　wife；　they　declared　that　the　large；　dark　eyes　of　the　princess　rested　upon　the　prince　with　inexpressible　tenderness；　and　that　the　prince　always　returned　her　glance　with　a　joyous　smile。　It　was　therefore　decided　that　the　prince　was　a　happy　husband；　and　the　blessings　of　the　Berliners　followed　the　charming　princess　to　Rheinsberg；　where　the　young　couple　were　to　pass　their　honeymoon。

While　the　prince　was　giving　splendid　fetes；　and　seeking　distraction；　and　hoping　to　forget　his　private　griefs；　or　perhaps　wishing　to　deceive　the　world　as　to　his　real　feelings；　the　king　left　Sans…Souci；　to　commence　one　of　his　customary　military　inspection　trips。　But　he　did　not　go　to　Konigsberg；　as　was　supposed；　and　if　Trenck　really　had　the　intention　of　murdering　him　during　his　sojourn　there；　it　was　rendered　impossible　by　the　change　in　the　king's　plans。　Frederick　made　a　tour　in　his　Rhine　provinces。　At　Cleves　he　dismissed　his　followers；　and　they　returned　to　Berlin。

The　king　declared　he　needed　rest；　and　wished　to　pass　a　few　days　in　undisturbed　quiet　at　the　castle　of　Moyland。

No　one　accompanied　him　but　Colonel　Balby；　his　intimate　friend；　and　his　cabinet…hussar；　Deesen。　The　king　was　in　an　uncommonly　good　humor；　and　his　eyes　sparkled　with　delight。　After　a　short　rest　in　his　chamber；　he　desired　to　see　Colonel　Balby。

To　his　great　astonishment；　the　colonel　found　him　searching　through　a　trunk；　which　contained　a　few　articles　of　clothing　little　calculated　to　arrest　the　attention　of　a　king。

〃Balby；〃　said　the　king；　solemnly；　but　with　a　roguish　sparkle　of　the　eye；　〃I　wish　to　present　you　this　plain　brown　suit。　I　owe　you　a　reward　for　your　hearty　friendship　and　your　faithful　services。　This　is　a　princely　gift。　Take　it　as　a　mark　of　my　grateful　regard。　That　you　may　be　convinced；　Balby；　that　I　have　long　been　occupied　in　preparing　this　surprise　for　you；　I　inform　you　that　these　rich　articles　were　made　secretly　for　you　in　Berlin；　by　your　tailor；　I　packed　them　myself；　and　brought　them　here　for　you。　Accept　them；　then；　my　friend；　and　wear　them　in　memory　of　Frederick。〃

With　a　solemn　bow；　the　king　offered　Balby　the　clothes。

The　colonel　received　this　strange　present　with　an　astonished　and　somewhat　confused　countenance。

The　king　laughed　merrily。　〃What；〃　he　said；　pathetically；　〃are　you　not　contented　with　the　favor　I　have　shown　you？〃

Balby　knew　by　the　comic　manner　of　the　king　that　the　sombre　suit　hid　a　secret；　and　he　thought　it　wise　to　allow　the　king　to　take　his　own　time　for　explanation。

〃Sire；〃　he　said；　emphatically；　〃content　is　not　the　word　to　express　my　rapture。　I　am　enthusiastic；　speechless　at　this　unheard…of　favor。　I　am　filled　with　profound　gratitude　to　your　majesty　for　having　in　vented　a　new　costume　for　me；　whose　lovely　color　will　make　me　appear　like　a　large　coffee…bean；　and　make　all　the　coffee　sisters　adore　me。〃

The　king　was　highly　amused。　〃This　dress　certainly　has　the　power　of　enchantment。　When　Colonel　Balby　puts　on　these　clothes　he　will　be　invisible；　but　he　shall　not　undergo　this　transformation　alone。　See；　here　is　another　suit；　exactly　like　yours；　and　this　is　mine。　When　I　array　myself　in　it；　I　am　no　longer　the　king　of　Prussia；　but　a　free；　happy　man。〃

〃Ah；　you　are　speaking　of　a　disguise；〃　cried　the　colonel。

〃Yes；　we　will　amuse　ourselves　by　playing　the　role　of　common　men　for　a　while；　and　wander　about　unnoticed　and　undisturbed。　Are　you　agreed；　Balby；　or　do　you　love　your　colonel's　uniform　better　than　your　freedom？〃

〃Am　I　agreed；　sire？〃　cried　the　colonel；　〃I　am　delighted　with　this　genial　thought。〃

〃Then　take　your　dress；　friend；　and　put　it　on。　But　stay。　Did　you　bring　your　violin　with　you；　as　I　told　you？〃

〃Yes；　sire。〃

〃Well；　then；　when　you　are　dressed；　put　your　violin　in　a　case；　and　with　the　case　under　your　arm；　and　a　little　money　in　your　pocket；　go　to　the　pavilion　at　the　farthest　end　of　the　garden；　there　I　will　meet　you。　Now　hasten；　friend；　we　have　no　time　to　lose。〃

According　to　the　king's　orders；　Colonel　Balby　dressed　and　went　to　the　pavilion。　He　did　not　find　the　king；　but　two　strange　men　there。　One　of　them　had　on　a　brown　coat；　the　color　of　his　own；　ornamented　with　large　buttons　of　mother…of…pearl；　black　pantaloons；　and　shoes　with　large　buckles；　set　with　dull　white　stones；　the　lace　on　his　sleeves　and　vest　was　very　coarse。　He　wore　a　three…cornered　hat；　without　ornament；　from　under　the　hat　fell　long；　brown；　unpowdered　hair。

Behind　this　stranger　there　stood　another；　in　plain；　simple　clothes；　under　one　arm　he　carried　a　small　bag；　and　under　the　other　a　case　that　contained　either　a　yard…stick　or　a　flute。　He　returned　the　colonel's　salutation　with　a　grimace　and　a　profound　bow。　A　short　pause　ensued；　then　the　supposed　strangers　laughed　heartily　and　exclaimed：

〃Do　you　not　know　us；　Balby？〃

Their　voices　started　the　colonel；　and　he　stepped　back。

〃Sire；　it　is　yourself。〃

〃Yes；　it　is　I；　Fredericknot　the　king。　Yes；　I　am　Frederick；　and　this　capital　servant　is　my　good　Deesen；　who　has　sworn　solemnly　not　to　betray　our　incognito；　and　to　give　no　one　reason　to　suspect　his　high　dignity　as　royal　cabinet…hussar。　For　love　of　us　he　will；　for　a　few　days；　be　the　servant　of　two　simple；　untitled　musicians；　who　are　travelling　around　the　world；　seeking　their　fortunes；　but　who；　unfortunately；　have　no　letters　of　recommendation。〃

〃But　who　will　recommend　themselves　by　their　talents　and　accomplishments。〃

The　king　laughed　aloud。　〃Balby；　you　forget　that　you　are　a　poor　musician；　chatting　with　your　comrade。　Truly　your　courtly　bow　suits　your　dress　as　little　as　a　lace　veil　would　a　beggar's　attire；　you　must　lay　your　fine　manners　aside　for　a　short　time；　for；　with　them；　you　would　appear　to　the　village　beauties　we　may　meet　like　a　monkey；　and　they　would　laugh　at　instead　of　kissing　you。〃

〃So　we　are　to　meet　country　beauties；〃　said　Colonel　Balby；　no　longer　able　to　suppress　his　curiosity。　〃Tell　me；　sire；　where　are　we　going；　and　what　are　we　going　to　do？　I　shall　die　of　curiosity。〃

〃Make　an　effort　to　die；〃　said　the　king；　gayly；　〃you　will　find　it　is　not　so　easy　to　do　as　you　imagine。　But　I　will　torture　you　no　longer。　You　ask　what　we　are　going　to　do。　Well；　we　are　going　to　amuse　ourselves　and　seek　adventures。　You　ask　where　we　are　going。　Ask　that　question　of　the　sparrow　that　sits　on　the　house…topask　where　it　is　going；　and　what　is　the　aim　of　its　journey。　It　will　reply；　the　next　bush；　the　nearest　tree；　the　topmost　bough　of　a　weeping　willow；　which　stands　on　a　lonely　grave；　the　mast　of　a　ship；　sailing　on　the　wide　sea；　or　the　branch　of　a　noble　beech；　waving　before　the　window　of　a　beautiful　maiden。　I　am　as　incapable　of　telling　you　the　exact　aim　and　end　of　our　journey；　friend；　as　that　little　bird　would　be。　We　are　as　free　as　the　birds　of　the　air。　Come！　come！　let　us　fly；　for　see；　the　little　sparrow　has　flownlet　us　follow　it。〃

And　with　a　beaming　smile　illuminating　his　countenance；　like　a　ray　of　the　morning　sun；　the　king　took　the　arm　of　his　friend；　and　followed　by　his　servant　and　cabinet…hussar；　Deesen；