frederick the great and his family-第60章

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l　of　the　glorious　past。

Slowly　the　prince　raised　his　arms；　and　drew　her　toward　him。　She　sank　down；　and　laid　her　head　by　his　cold　cheek。　Her　hot　breath　wafted　him　a　new　life…current；　and　seemed　to　call　back　his　soul　from　the　spirit…world。

For　a　long　time　no　word　was　spoken。　How　could　they　speak；　in　this　first　consecrated　moment？　They　felt　so　much；　that　language　failed。　They　lay　heart　to　heart；　and　only　God　understood　their　hollow　sighs；　their　unspoken　prayers；　their　suppressed　tears。　Only　God　was　with　them！　God　sent　through　the　open　doors　the　fresh　fragrance　of　the　flowers；　He　sent　the　winds；　His　messengers；　through　the　tall　trees；　and　their　wild；　melancholy　voices　were　like　a　solemn　organ；　accompanying　love's　last　hymn。　In　the　distant　thickets　the　nightingale　raised　her　melancholy　notes；　for　love's　last　greeting。　Thus　eternal　Nature　greets　the　dying　sons　of　men。

God　was　with　His　children。　Their　thoughts　were　prayers；　their　eyes；　which　at　first　were　fixed　upon　each　other；　now　turned　pleadingly　to　heaven。

〃I　shall　soon　be　there！〃　said　Prince　Augustus〃soon！　I　shall　live　a　true　life；　and　this　struggle　with　death　will　soon　be　over。　For　sixteen　years　I　have　been　slowly　dying；　day　by　day；　hour　by　hour。　Laura；　it　has　been　sixteen　years；　has　it　not？〃

She　bowed　silently。

〃No；〃　said　he；　gazing　earnestly　upon　her；　〃it　was　but　yesterday。　I　know　now　that　it　was　but　yesterday。　You　are　just　the　same　unchanged；　my　Laura。　This　is　the　same　angel…face　which　I　have　carried　in　my　heart。　Nothing　is　changed；　and　I　thank　God　for　it。　It　would　have　been　a　great　grief　to　look　upon　you　and　find　a　strange　face　by　my　side。　This　is　my　Laura；　my　own　Laura；　who　left　me　sixteen　years　ago。　And　now；　look　at　me　steadily；　see　what　life　has　made　of　me；　see　how　it　has　mastered　metortured　me　to　death　with　a　thousand　wounds！　I　call　no　man　my　murderer；　but　I　die　of　these　wounds。　Oh；　Laura！　why　did　you　forsake　me？　Why　did　you　not　leave　this　miserable；　hypocritical；　weary　world　of　civilization；　and　follow　me　to　the　New　World；　where　the　happiness　of　a　true　life　awaited　us？〃

〃I　dared　not；〃　said　she；　〃God　demanded　this　offering　of　me；　and　because　I　loved　you　boundlessly　I　was　strong　to　submit。　God　also　knows　what　it　cost　me；　and　how　these　many　years　I　have　struggled　with　my　heart；　and　tried　to　learn　to　forget。〃

〃Struggle　no　longer；　Laura；　I　am　dying；　when　I　am　dead　you　dare　not　forget　me。〃

She　embraced　him　with　soft　tenderness。

〃No；　no；〃　whispered　she；　〃God　is　merciful！　He　will　not　rob　me　of　the　only　consolation　of　my　joyless；　solitary　life。　I　had　only　this。　To　think　he　lives；　he　breathes　the　same　air；　he　looks　up　into　the　same　heavensthe　same　quiet　stars　greet　him　and　me。　And　a　day　will　come　in　which　millions　of　men　will　shout　and　call　him　their　king；　and　when　I　look　upon　his　handsome　face；　and　see　him　in　the　midst　of　his　people；　surrounded　by　pomp　and　splendor；　I　dare　say　to　myself；　That　is　my　work。　I　loved　him　more　than　I　loved　myself；　therefore　he　wears　a　crownI　had　the　courage　not　only　to　die　for　him；　but　to　live　without　him；　and　therefore　is　he　a　king。　Oh；　my　beloved；　say　not　that　you　are　dying！〃

〃If　you　love　me　truly；　Laura；　you　will　not　wish　me　to　live。　Indeed　I　have　long　been　dying。　For　sixteen　years　I　have　felt　the　death…worm　in　my　heartit　gnaws　and　gnaws。　I　have　tried　to　crush　itI　wished　to　live；　because　I　had　promised　you　to　bear　my　burden。　I　wished　to　prove　myself　a　man。　I　gave　the　love　which　you　laid　at　my　feet；　bathed　in　our　tears　and　our　blood；　to　my　fatherland。　I　was　told　that　I　must　marry；　to　promote　the　interest　of　my　country；　and　I　did　so。　I　laid　a　mask　over　my　face；　and　a　mask　over　my　heart。　I　wished　to　play　my　part　in　the　drama　of　life　to　the　end；　I　wished　to　honor　my　royal　birth　to　which　fate　had　condemned　me。　But　it　appears　I　was　a　bad　actor。　I　was　cast　out　from　my　service；　my　gay　uniform　and　royal　star　torn　from　my　breast。　I；　a　prince；　was　sent　home　a　humiliated；　degraded；　ragged　beggar。　I　crept　with　my　misery　and　my　shame　into　this　corner；　and　no　one　followed　me。　No　one　showed　a　spark　of　love　for　the　poor；　spurned　cast…away。　Love　would　have　enabled　me　to　overcome　all；　to　defy　the　world；　and　to　oppose　its　slanders　boldly。　I　was　left　alone　to　bear　my　shame　and　my　despairwholly　alone。　I　have　a　wife；　I　have　children；　and　I　am　alone；　they　live　far　away　from　me；　and　at　the　moment　of　my　death　they　will　smile　and　be　happy。　I　am　the　heir　of　a　throne；　but　a　poor　beggar；　I　asked　only　of　fate　a　little　love；　but　I　asked　in　vain。　Fate　had　no　pityonly　when　I　am　dead　will　I　be　a　prince　again；　then　they　will　heap　honors　upon　my　dead　body。　Oh；　Laura！　how　it　burns　in　my　hearthow　terrible　is　this　hell…fire　of　shame！　It　eats　up　the　marrow　of　my　bones　and　devours　my　brain。　Oh；　my　head；　my　head！　how　terrible　is　this　pain！〃

With　a　loud　sob　he　sank　back　on　the　pillow；　his　eyes　closed；　great　drops　of　sweat　stood　on　his　brow；　and　the　breath　seemed　struggling　in　his　breast。

Laura　bowed　over　him；　she　wiped　away　the　death…sweat　with　her　hair；　and　hot　tears　fell　on　the　poor　wan　face。　These　tears　aroused　himhe　opened　his　eyes。

〃I　have　got　something　to　say；〃　whispered　he；　〃I　feel　that　I　shall　soon　be　well。　When　the　world　says　of　me；　'He　is　dead；'　I　shall　have　just　awaked　from　death。　There　above　begins　the　true　life；　what　is　here　so　called　is　only　a　pitiful　prologue。　We　live　here　only　that　we　may　learn　to　wish　for　death。　Oh；　my　Laura！　I　shall　soon　live；　love；　and　be　happy。〃

〃Oh；　take　me　with　you；　my　beloved；〃　cried　Laura；　kneeling　before　him；　dissolved　in　tears。　〃Leave　me　not　aloneit　is　so　sad；　so　solitary　in　this　cold　world！　Take　me　with　you；　my　beloved！〃

He　heard　her　not！　Death　had　already　touched　him　with　the　point　of　his　dark　wings；　and　spread　his　mantle　over　him。　His　spirit　struggled　with　the　exhausted　body　and　panted　to　escape。　He　no　longer　heard　when　Laura　called；　but　he　still　lived：　his　eyes　were　wide　open　and　he　spoke　again。　But　they　were　single；　disconnected　words；　which　belonged　to　the　dreamland　and　the　forms　of　the　invisible　world　which　his　almost　disembodied　spirit　now　looked　upon。

Once　he　said；　in　a　loud　voice；　and　this　time　he　looked　with　full　consciousness　upon　Laura；　〃I　close　my　lifea　life　of　sorrow。　Winterfeldt　has　shortened　my　days；　but　I　die　content　in　knowing　that　so　bad；　so　dangerous　a　man　is　no　longer　in　the　army。〃　＇Footnote：　The　prince's　own　words。　He　died　the　12th　of　June；　1758；　at　thirty…six　years　of　age。　As　his　adjutant；　Von　Hagen；　brought　the　news　of　his　death　to　the　king；　Frederick　asked；　〃Of　what　disease　did　my　brother　die？〃

〃Grief　and　shame　shortened　his　life；〃　said　the　officer。　Frederick　turned　his　back　on　him　without　a　reply；　and　Von　Hagen　was　never　promoted。

The　king　erected　a　monument　to　Winterfeldt；　Ziethen；　and　Schwerin；　but　he　left　it　to　his　brother　Henry　to　erect　one　to　the　Prince　of　Prussia。　This　was　done　in　Reinenz；　where　a　lofty　pyramid　was　built　in　honor　of　the　heroes　of　the　Seven　Years'　War。　The　names　of　all　the　generals；　and　all　the　battles　they　had　gained　were　engraven　upon　it；　and　it　was　crowned　by　a　bust　of　Augustus　William；　the　great…　grandfather　of　the　present　King　of　Prussia。

The　king　erected　a　statue　to　Winterfeldt；　and　forgot　his　brother；　and　now　Prince　Henry　forgot　to　place　Winterfeldt's　name　among　the　heroes　of　the　war。　When　the　monument　was　completed；　the　prince　made　a　speech；　which　was　full　of　enthusiastic　praise　of　his　beloved　brother；　so　early　numbered　with　the　dead。　Prince　Henry　betrayed　by　insinuation　the　strifes　and　difficulties　which　always　reigned　between　the　king　and　himself；　he　did　not　allude　to　the　king　during　his　speech；　and　did　not　class　him　among　the　heroes　of　the　Seven　Years'　War。

In　speaking　of　the　necessity　of　a　monument　in　memory　of　his　best　beloved　brother；　Augustus　William；　he　alluded　to　the　statue　of　Winterfeldt；　and　added：　〃L'abus　des　richesses　et　du　pouvoir　eleve　des　statues　de　marbre　et　de　bronze　a　ceux　qui　n'etaient　pas　dignes　de　passer　a　la　posterite　sous　l'embleme　de　l'honneur。〃Rouille's　〃Vie　du　Prince　Henry。〃

Recently　a　signal　honor　has　been　shown　to　Prince　Augustus　William；　his　statue　has　the　principal　place　on　the　monument　erected　in　honor　of　Frederick　the　Great　in　Berlin。Rouille。＇

His　mind　wandered；　and　he　thought　he　was　on　the　battle…field；　and　called　out；　loudly：

〃Forward！　forward　to　the　death！〃

Then　all　was　still　but　the　song　of　the　birds　and　the　sighing　winds。

Laura　knelt　and　prayed。　When　she　turned　her　glance　from　the　cloudless　heavens　upon　her　beloved；　his　countenance　was　changed。　There　was　a　glory　about　it；　and　his　great；　wide…opened　eyes　flashed　with　inspiration；　he　raised　his　dying　head　and　greeted　the　trees　and　flowers　with　his　last　glance。

〃How　beautiful　is　the　world　when　one　is　about　to　die；〃　said　he；　with　a　sweet　smile。　〃Farewell；　world！　Farewell；　Laura！　Come；　take　me　in　your　armslet　me　die　in　the　arms　of　love！　Hate　has　its　reign　in　this　world；　but　love　goes　down　with　us　into　the　cold　grave。　Farewell！farewell！farewell！〃

His　head　fell　upon　Laura's　shoulder；　one　last　gasp；　one　last　shudder；　and　the　heir　of　a　throne；　the　future　ruler　of　millions；　was　nothing　but　a　corpse。

The　trees　whispered　gaylyno　cloud　shadowed　the　blue　heavens；　the　birds　sang；　the　flowers　bloomed；　and　yet　in　that　eventful　moment　a　prince　was　born；　a　pardoned　soul　was　wafted　to　the　skies。

Love　pressed　the　last　kiss　upon　the　poor；　wan　lips；　love　closed　the　weary　eyes；　love　wept　over　him；　love　prayed　for　his　soul。

〃Hate　has　her　reign　in　this　poor　world；　love　goes　down　with　us　into　the　dark　tomb。〃




BOOK　IV。

CHAPTER　I。

THE　KING　AND　HIS　OLD　AND　NEW　ENEMIES。


Three　years；　three　long；　terrible　years　had　passed　since　the　beginning　of　this　fearful　war；　since　King　Frederick　of　Prussia　had　stood　alone；　without　any　ally　but　distant　England；　opposed　by　all　Europe。

These　three　years　had　somewhat　undeceived　the　proud　and　self…　confident　enemies　of　Frederick。　The　pope　still　called　him　the　Marquis　of　Brandenburg；　and　the　German　emperor　declared　that；　notwithstanding　the　adverse　circumstances　threatening　him　on　every　side；　the　King　of　Prussia　was　still　a　brave　and　undaunted　adversary。　His　enemies；　alter　having　for　a　long　time　declared　that　they　would　extinguish　him　and　reduce　him　once　more　to　the　rank　of　the　little　Prince…Elector　of　Brandenburg；　now　began　to　fear　him。　From　every　battle；　from　every　effort；　from　every　defeat；　King　Frederick　rose　up　with　a　clear　brow　and　flashing　eye；　and　unshaken　courage。　Even　the　lost　battles　did　not　cast　a　shadow　upon　the　lustre　of　his　victories。　In　both　the　one　and　the　other　he　had　shown　himself　a　hero；　greater　even　after　the　battles　in　his　composure　and　decision；　in　his　unconquerable　energy；　in　the　circumspection　and　presence　of　mind　by　which　he　grasped　at　a　glance　all　the　surroundings；　and　converted　the　most　threatening　into　favorable　circumstances。　After　a　great　victory　his　enemies　might　indeed　say　they　had　conquered　the　King　of　Prussia；　but　never　that　they　had　subdued　him。　He　stood　ever　undaunted；　ever　ready　for　the　contest；　prepared　to　attack　them　when　they　least　expected　it；　to　take　advantage　of　every　weak　point；　and　to　profit　by　every　incautious　movement。　The　fallen　ranks　of　his　brave　soldiers　appeared　to　be　dragons'　teeth；　which　produced　armed　warriors。

In　the　camps　of　the　allied　Austrians；　Saxons；