frederick the great and his family-第97章

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The　king　listened　to　this　assurance　with　rather　a　contemptuous　smile。　He　directed　Icilius；　however；　to　present　to　him　some　of　the　Leipsic　scholars　and　authors。

〃I　will　present　to　your　majesty　the　most　renowned　scholar　and　philologist　of　Leipsic；　Professor　Gottsched；　and　the　celebrated　author；　Gellert；〃　said　Icilius；　with　great　animation。　〃Which　of　the　two　will　your　majesty　receive　first？〃

〃Bring　me　first　the　scholar　and　philologist；〃　said　the　king；　laughing。　〃Perhaps　the　man　has　already　discovered　in　this　barbarous　Dutch　tongue　a　few　soft　notes　and　turns；　and　if　so；　I　am　curious　to　hear　them。　Go；　then；　and　bring　me　Professor　Gottsched。　I　have　often　heard　of　him；　and　I　know　that　Voltaire　dedicated　an　ode　to　him。　In　the　mean　time　I　will　read　a　little　in　my　Lucretius　and　prepare　my　soul　for　the　interview　with　this　great　Dutchman。〃

Icilius　hastened　off　to　summon　the　renowned　professor　to　the　king。

Gottsched；　to　whom；　at　that　time；　all　Germany　rendered　homage；　and　who　possessed　all　the　pride　and　arrogance　of　a　German　scholar；　thought　it　most　natural　that　the　king　should　wish　to　know　him；　and　accepted　the　invitation　with　a　gracious　smile。　In　the　complete；　heart…felt　conviction　of　his　own　glory；　in　the　rigid；　pedantic　array　of　a　magnificent；　long…tailed　wig；　the　German　professor　appeared　before　the　king。　His　majesty　received　him　in　his　short；　simple；　unostentatious　manner；　and　smiled　significantly　at　the　pompous　manner　of　the　renowned　man。　They　spoke　at　first　of　the　progress　of　German　philosophy；　and　the　king　listened　with　grave　attention　to　the　learned　deductions　of　the　professor；　but　he　thought　to　himself　that　Gottsched　understood　but　little　how　to　make　his　knowledge　palatable；　he　was　probably　a　learned；　but　most　certainly　a　very　uninteresting　man。

The　conversation　was　carried　on　with　more　vivacity　when　they　spoke　of　poetry　and　history；　and　the　king　entered　upon　this　theme　with　warm　interest。

〃In　the　history　of　Germany；　I　believe　there　is　still　much　concealed；〃　said　Frederick；　〃I　am　convinced　that　many　important　documents　are　yet　hidden　away　in　the　cloisters。〃

Gottsched　looked　up　at　him　proudly。　〃Pardon；　sire；〃　said　he；　in　his　formal；　pedantic　way。　〃I　believe　those　can　be　only　unimportant　documents。　To　my　view；　at　least；　there　is　no　moment　of　German　history　concealedall　is　clear；　and　I　can　give　information　on　every　point！〃

The　king　bowed　his　head　with　a　mocking　smile。　〃You　are　a　great　scholar；　sir；　I　dare　not　boast　of　any　preeminence。　I　only　know　the　history　of　the　German　States　written　by　Pere　Barre。〃

〃He　has　written　a　German　history　as　well　as　a　foreigner　could　write　it；〃　said　Gottsched。　〃For　this　purpose　he　made　use　of　a　Latin　work；　written　by　Struve；　in　Jena。　He　translated　this　booknothing　more。　Had　Barre　understood　German；　his　history　would　have　been　better；　he　would　have　had　surer　sources　of　information　at　his　command。〃

〃But　Barre　was　of　Alsace；　and　understood　German；〃　said　Frederick；　eagerly。　〃But　you；　who　are　a　scholar；　an　author；　and　a　grammarian；　tell　me；　if　any　thing　can　be　made　of　the　German　language？〃

〃Well；　I　think　we　have　already　made　many　beautiful　things　of　it；〃　said　Gottsched；　in　the　full　consciousness　of　his　own　fame。　〃But　you　have　not　been　able　to　give　it　any　melody；　or　any　grace；〃　said　Frederick。　〃The　German　language　is　a　succession　of　barbarous　sounds；　there　is　no　music　in　it。　Every　tone　is　rough　and　harsh；　and　its　many　discords　make　it　useless　for　poetry　or　eloquence。　For　instance；　in　German　you　call　a　rival　'Nebenbuhler；'　what　a　fatal；　disgusting　sound'Buhler！'〃　＇Footnote：　The　king's　own　words。Archenholtz；　vol。　ii。；　p。　272。＇

〃Ah；　your　majesty；〃　said　Gottsched；　impatiently；　〃that　is　also　a　sound　in　the　French　tongue。　You　should　know　this；　for　no　one　understands　better；　more　energetically　than　yourself；　how　to　circumvent　the　'boules！'〃

Frederick　laughed；　and　this　gay　rejoinder　of　the　learned　professor　reconciled　him　somewhat　to　his　puffed…up　and　haughty　self…conceit。　〃It　is　true；〃　said　he；　〃this　time　you　are　right；　but　you　must　admit　that；　in　general；　the　French　language　is　softer　and　more　melodious！〃

〃I　cannot　admit　it；〃　said　Gottsched；　fiercely。　〃I　assert　that　German　is　more　musical。　How　harsh；　how　detestable　sounds；　for　instance；　the　French　'amour；'　how　soft　and　tenderyes；　I　may　say；　how　characteristicsounds　the　word　'liebe！'〃

〃Aha！〃　said　the　king；　〃you　are　certainly　most　happily　married；　or　you　would　not　be　so　enthusiastic　about　German　'liebe；'　which　I　admit　is　a　very　different　thing　from　French　'amour。'　I　am；　however；　convinced　that　the　French　language　has　many　advantages　over　the　German。　For　instance；　in　the　French　one　word　may　often　suffice　to　convey　many　different　meanings；　while　for　this　purpose　several　German　words　must　be　combined。〃

〃That　is　true。　There　your　majesty　is　right；〃　said　Gottsched；　thoughtfully。　〃The　French　language　has　this　advantage。　But　this　shall　be　no　longer　sowe　will　change　it！　Yes；　yeswe　will　reform　it　altogether！〃

Frederick　looked　astonished　and　highly　diverted。　This　assumption　of　the　learned　scholar；　〃to　change　all　that；〃　impressed　him　through　its　immensity。　＇Footnote：　Many　years　afterward　the　king　repeated　this　declaration　of　Gottsched　to　the　Duchess　of　Gotha；　〃We　will　change　all　that；〃　and　was　highly　amused。＇　〃Bring　that　about　sir；〃　said　the　king；　gayly。　〃Wave　your　field…marshal's　staff　and　give　to　the　German　language　that　which　it　has　never　possessed；　grace；　significance；　and　facility；　then　breathe　upon　it　the　capability　to　express　soft　passion　and　tender　feeling；　and　you　will　do　for　the　language　what　Julius　Caesar　did　for　the　people。　You　will　be　a　conqueror；　and　will　cultivate　and　polish　barbarians！〃

Gottsched　did　not　perceive　the　mockery　which　lay　in　these　words　of　the　king；　but　received　them　smilingly　as　agreeable　flattery。　〃The　German　language　is　well　fitted　to　express　tender　emotions。　I　pledge　myself　to　translate　any　French　poem　faithfully；　and　at　the　same　time　melodiously；〃　said　he。

〃I　will　put　you　to　the　proof；　at　once；〃　said　the　king；　opening　a　book　which　lay　upon　the　table。　〃Look！　These　are　the　Odes　of　Rousseau；　and　we　will　take　the　first　one　which　accident　presents　Listen　to　this：〃

　　　　　〃'Sous　un　plus　heureux　auspice；　　　　　　　　　　　La　Deesse　des　amours；　　　　　　Veut　qu'un　nouveau　sacrifice；　　　　　　　　　　　Lui　consacre　vos　beaux　jours；　　　　　　Deja　le　bucher　s'allume。　　　　　　L'autel　brille；　l'encens　fume；　　　　　　　　　　　La　victime　s'embellit；　　　　　　L'amour　meme　la　consume；　　　　　　　　　　　Le　mystere　s'accomplit。'

＇Footnote：　　　　　　〃Under　a　most　happy　omen；　　　　　　The　goddess　of　love　　　　　　Wished　that　a　new　sacrifice　　　　　　Should　consecrate　to　her　our　bright　days。　　　　　　Already　the　fagots　are　lighted；　　　　　　The　altar　glows；　the　incense　fumes；　　　　　　The　victim　is　adorned　　　　　　By　love　itself　it　is　consumed；　　　　　　The　mystery　accomplished。〃＇

〃Do　you　believe　it　is　possible　to　translate　this　beautiful　stanza　into　German？〃　said　the　king。

〃If　your　majesty　allows　me；　I　will　translate　it　at　once；〃　said　he。　〃Give　me　a　piece　of　paper　and　a　pencil。〃

〃Take　them；〃　said　Frederick。　〃We　will　divert　ourselves　by　a　little　rivalry　in　song；　while　you　translate　the　verses　of　the　French　poet　into　German。　I　will　sing　to　the　praise　of　the　German　author　in　French　rhyme。　Let　us　not　disturb　each　other。〃

Frederick　stepped　to　the　window　and　wrote　off　hastily　a　few　verses；　then　waited　till　he　saw　that　Gottsched　had　also　ceased　to　write。　〃I　am　ready；　sir；〃　said　the　king。

〃And　I　also；〃　said　the　scholar；　solemnly。　〃Listen；　your　majesty；　and　be　pleased　to　take　the　book　and　compare　as　I　read；〃　then　with　a　loud　nasal　voice　he　read　his　translation：

　　　　　〃'Mit　ungleich　gluecklicherm　Geschicke；　　　　　　Gebeut　die　Koenigin　zarter　Pein；　　　　　　Hin；　Deine　schoenen　Augenblicke；　　　　　　Zum　Opfer　noch　einmal　zu　weihn；　　　　　　Den　Holzstoss　liebt　man　aufzugeben；　　　　　　Der　Altar　glaenzt；　des　Weihrauchs　Duefte　　　　　　Durchdringen　schon　die　weiten　Luefte；　　　　　　Das　Opfer　wird　gedoppelt　schoen；　　　　　　Durch　Amors　Glut　ist　es　verflogen；　　　　　　Und　das　Geheimniss　wird　vollzogen。'〃

〃Now；　your　majesty；〃　said　Gottsched；　〃do　you　not　find　that　the　German　language　is　capable　of　repeating　the　French　verses　promptly　and　concisely？〃

〃I　am　astonished　that　you　have　been　able　to　translate　this　beautiful　poem。　I　am　sorry　I　am　too　old　to　learn　German。　I　regret　that　in　my　youth　I　had　neither　the　courage　nor　the　instruction　necessary。　I　would　certainly　have　turned　many　of　my　leisure　hours　to　the　translation　of　German　authors；　rather　than　to　Roman　and　French　writers；　but　the　past　cannot　be　recalled；　and　I　must　be　content！　If　I　can　never　hope　to　become　a　German　writer；　it　will　at　least　be　granted　me　to　sing　the　praises　of　the　regenerator　of　the　German　language　in　French　verse。　I　have　sought　to　do　so　nowlisten！〃

The　king　read　aloud　a　few　verses　to　the　enraptured　professor。　The　immoderate　praise　enchanted　him；　and；　in　the　assurance　of　his　pride　and　conceit；　he　did　not　remark　the　fine　irony　concealed　in　them。　With　a　raised　voice；　and　a　graceful；　bantering　smile；　the　king　concluded：

　　　　　〃C'est　a　toi　Cygne　des　Saxons；　　　　　　D'arracher　ce　secret　a　la　nature　avare；　　　　　　D'adoucir　dans　tes　chants　d'une　langue　barbare；　　　　　　Les　durs　et　detestables　sons'〃

＇Footnote：　Oeuvres　Posthumes；　vol。　vii。；　p　216。　　　　　　〃It　is　thine；　swan　of　the　Saxons；　　　　　　To　draw　the　secret　from　the　miser　Nature；　　　　　　To　soften　with　thy　songs　the　hard　　　　　　And　detestable　sounds　of　a　barbarous　tongue。〃＇

〃Ah！　your　majesty；〃　cried　Gottsched；　forgetting　his　indignation　over　the　langue　barbare；　in　his　rapture　at　the　praise　he　had　received；　〃you　are　kind　and　cruel　at　the　same　moment。　You　cast　reproach　upon　our　poor　language；　and；　at　the　same　time；　give　me　right　royal　praise。　Cygne　des　Saxonsthat　is　an　epithet　which　does　honor　to　the　royal　giver；　and　to　the　happy　receiver。　For　a　king　and　a　hero；　there　can　be　no　higher　fame　than　to　appreciate　and　reverence　men　of　letters。　The　sons　of　Apollo　and　the　Muses；　the　scholars；　the　artists　and　authors；　have　no　more　exalted　object　than　to　attain　the　acknowledgment　and　consideration　of　the　king　and　the　hero。　Sire；　I　make　you　a　most　profound　and　grateful　reverence。　You　have　composed　a　masterly　little　poem；　and　when　the　Cygne　des　Saxons　shall　sing　his　swanlike　song；　it　will　be　in　honor　of　the　great　Frederick；　the　Csesar　of　his　time。〃

〃Now；　my　dear　Quintus；〃　said　the　king；　after　Gottsched　had　withdrawn；　〃are　you　content　with　your　great　scholar？〃

〃Sire；〃　said　he；　〃I　must　sorrowfully　confess　that　the　great　Gottsched　has　covered　his　head　with　a　little　too　much　of　the　dust　of　learning；　he　is　too　much　of　the　pedant。〃

〃He　is　a　puffed…up。　conceited　fool；〃　said　the　king；　impatiently；　〃and　you　can　never　convince　me　that　he　is　a　great　genius。　Great　men　are　modest；　they　have　an　exalted　aim　ever　before　them；　and　are　never　satisfied　with　themselves；　but　men　like　this　Gottsched　place　themselves　upon　an　altar；　and　fall　down　and　worship。　This　is　their　only　reward；　and　they　will　never　do　any　thing　truly　great。〃

〃But　Gottsched　has　really　great　and　imperishable　merit；〃　said　Quintus；　eagerly。　〃He　has　done　much　for　the　language；　much　for　culture；　and　for　science。　All　Germany　honors　him；　and；　if　the　incense　offered　him　has　turned　his　head；　we　must　forgive　him；　because　of　the　great　service　he　has　rendered。〃

〃I　can　never　believe　th