history of friedrich ii of prussia v 18-第26章
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〃Never was there a more futile Convention than that of Kloster… Zeven； which filled all Europe with lamentable noises； indignations and anxieties； during the remainder of that Year； and is now reduced； for Europe and the Universe； to a silent mathematical point； or mere mark of position； requiring still to be attended to in that character； though itself zero in any other。 Here are the main particulars； in their sequence。
〃August 3d； towards midnight； '11 P。M。' say the Books； Marechal de Richelieu arrives in the D'Estrees Camp （'Camp of Oldendorf；' still only one march west of Hastenbeck）； to whom D'Estrees on the instant loftily delivers up his Army； explains with loyalty； for a few days more； all things needful to the new Commander； declines to be himself Second； and loftily withdraws to the Baths of Aachen 'for his health。'
〃Royal Highness of Cumberland is； by this time； well on Elbe…ward； Ocean…ward。 Till August 1st； for one week； Royal Highness of Cumberland lay at Minden； some thirty odd miles from Hastenbeck； deploring that sad mistake； but unpersuadable to stand； and try amendment of it： August lst； the French advancing on him again； he moved off northward； seaward。 By Nienburg； Verden； Rothenburg； Zeven； Bremenvorde； Stade；arrived at Stade； on the tidal Waters of the Elbe； August 5th； and by necessity did halt there。 From Minden onwards； Richelieu； not D'Estrees； has had the chasing of Royal Highness： one of the simplest functions； only that the country is getting muddy； difficult for artillery…carriage （thinks Richelieu）； with an Army so dilapidated； hungry； short of pay； and that Royal Highness； a very furious person to our former knowledge； might turn on us like a boar at bay； endangering everything； and finally； that one's desire is not for battle； but for a fair chance of plunder to pay one's debts。
〃Britannic Majesty； in this awful state of his Hanover Armaments； has been applying at the Danish Court； Richelieu too sends off an application thither： 'Mediate between us； spare useless bloodshed！' ＇Valfons； p。 291。＇Whereupon Danish Majesty （Britannic's son…in… law） cheerfully undertakes it； bids one Lynar bestir himself upon it。 Count Lynar； an esteemed Official of his； who lives in those neighborhoods； Danish Viceroy in Oldenburg；much concerned with the Scriptures； the Sacred Languages and other seraphic studies； and a changed man since we saw him last in the Petersburg regions； making love to Mrs。 Anton Ulrich long ago！ Lynar； feeling the axis of the world laid on his shoulder in this manner； loses not a moment； invokes the Heavenly Powers； goes on it with an alacrity and a despatch beyond praise。 Runs to the Duke of Cumberland at Stade； thence to Richelieu at Zeven； back to the Duke； back to Zeven： 'Won't you； and won't YOU？' and in four short days has the once world…famed 'Convention of Kloster…Zeven' standing on parchment；signed； ready for ratifying： 'Royal Highness's Army to go home to their countries again ＇routes； methods； times： when； how； and what next； all left unsettled＇； and noise of War to cease in those parts。' Signed cheerfully on both sides 9th September； 1757； and Lynar striking the stars with his sublime head。 ＇Busching （who alone is exact in the matter）； Beitrage； iv。 167； 168； ？ Lynar： see Scholl； iii。 49； Valfons； pp。 202； 203； OEuvres de Frederic； iv。 143 （with correction of Preuss's Note there）。＇
〃Unaccountable how Lynar had managed such a difficulty。 He says seraphically； in a Letter to a friend； which the Prussian hussars got hold of； 'The idea of it was inspired by the Holy Ghost：' at which the whole world haha'd again。 For it was a Convention vague； absurd； not capable of being executed； ratification of it refused by both Courts； by the French Court first； if that was any matter：and the only thing now memorable of it is； that IT was a total Futility； but； that there ensued from it a Fact still of importance； namely：
〃That on the 5th of October following； Royal Highness quitted Stade； and his wrecked Army hanging sorrowful there； like a flight of plucked cranes in mid…air；arrived at Kensington； October 12th； heard the paternal Majesty say； that evening； 'Here is my son who has ruined me； and disgraced himself！'and thereupon indignantly laid down his military offices； all and sundry； and ceased altogether to command Armies； English or other； in this world。 ＇In WALPOLE （iii。 59…64） the amplest minuteness of detail。＇ Whereby； in the then and now diagram of things； Kloster…Zeven； as a mathematical point； continues memorable in History； though shrunk otherwise to zero！
〃Pitt's magnanimity to Royal Highness was conspicuous。 Royal Highness； it is said； had been very badly used in this matter by his poor peddling Father and the Hanover Ministers； the matter being one puddle of imbecilities from beginning to end。 He was the soul of honor； brave as a Welf lion； but； of dim poor head； and had not the faintest vestige ＇ALLERGERINGSTE says Mauvillon＇ of military skill： awful in the extreme to see in command of British Armies！ Adieu to him； forever and a day。〃
Ever since July 29th； three days after Hastenbeck； Pitt had been in Office again； such the bombardment by Corporation…Boxes and Events impinging on Britannic Majesty： but not till now； as I fancy； had Pitt's way； in regard to those German matters； been clear to him。 The question of a German Army； if you must； have a No…General at the top of it； might well be problematical to Pitt。 To equip your strong fighting man； and send him on your errand； regardless of expense； and； by way of preliminary； cut the head off him； before saying 〃Good…speed to you； strong man！〃 But with a General； Pitt sees that it can be different； that perhaps 〃America can be conquered in Germany；〃 and that； with a Britannic Majesty so disposed； there is no other way of trying it。 To this course Pitt stands henceforth； heedless of the gazetteer cackle； 〃Hah； our Pitt too become German； after all his talking！〃like a seventy…four under full sail； with sea； wind； pilot all of one mind； and only certain water…fowl objecting。 And is King of England for the next Four Years； the one King poor England has had this long while；his hand felt shortly at the ends of the Earth。 And proves such a blessing to Friedrich； among others； as nothing else in this War； pretty much his one blessing； little as he expected it。 Before long； Excellency Mitchell begins consulting about a General； and Friedrich dimly sees better things in the distance； and that Kloster…Zeven had not been the misfortune he imagined； but only 〃The darkest hour；〃 which； it is said； lies 〃nearest to the dawn。〃
II。 THE SOUBISE HILDBURGHAUSEN PEOPLE TAKE INTO THE HILLS； FRIEDRICH IN ERFURT NEIGHBORHOOD； HANGING ON； WEEK AFTER WEEK； IN AN AGONY OF INACTION （13th September…10th October）。
Friedrich's march has gone by Dobeln； Grimma； to Pegau and Rotha； Leipzig way； but； with Leipzig well to right： it just brushes Weissenfels to rightward； next day after Rotha； crosses Saale River near Naumburg； whence straight through Weimar Country； Weimar City on your left； to Erfurt on the northern side；and；
〃ERFURT； TUESDAY 13th SEPTEMBER； 1757； About 10 in the morning ＇listen to a faithful Witness＇； there appeared Hussars on the heights to northward：'Vanguard of his Prussian Majesty！' said Erfurt with alarm； and our French guests with alarm。 And scarcely were the words uttered； when said Vanguard； and gradually the whole Prussian Army ＇only some 9；000； though we all thought it the whole＇； came to sight； posting itself in half…moon shape round us there； French and Reichs folk hurrying off what they could from the Cyriaksberg and Petersberg； by the opposite gates；〃towards Gotha； and the Hills of Eisenach。
〃Think what a dilemma for Erfurt； jammed between two horns in this way； should one horn enter before the other got out！ Much parleying and supplicating on the part of Erfurt： Till at last； about 4 P。M。； French being all off； Erfurt flung its gates open； and the new Power did enter； with some due state： Prussian Majesty in Person （who could have hoped it！） and Prince Henri beside him； Cavalry with drawn swords； Infantry with field…pieces； and the band playing〃Prussian grenadier march； I should hope； or something equally cheering。 〃The rest of the Vanguard； and； in succession； the Army altogether； had taken Camp outside； looking down on the Northern Gate； over at Ilgertshofen； a village in the neighborhood； about two miles off。〃 ＇ Helden…Geschichte； iv。 636； 637。＇
That is the first sight Friedrich has of 〃LA DAUPHINE；〃 as the Versailles people call this Bellona； come to 〃deliver Saxony；〃 and she is considerably coyer than had been expected。 Many sad days； and ardent vain vows of Friedrich； before he could see the skirt of her again！ From Ilgertshofen； northwestward to Dittelstadt； Gamstadt； and other poor specks of villages in Gotha Territory； is ten or fifteen miles； from Dittelstadt eastward to Buttstadt and Buttelstadt； in Weimar Country； may be twenty…five： in this area； Friedrich； shifting about； chiefly for convenience of quarters；head…quarter Kirschleben for a while； Buttelstadt finally and longest；had to wander impatiently to and fro for four weeks and more； no work procurable； or none worth mentioning：in the humor of a man whose House is on fire； flaming out of every window； front and rear； who has run up with quenching apparatus； and cannot； being spell…bound； get the least bucket of it applied。 And is by nature the rapidest soul now alive。 Figure his situation there； as it gradually becomes manifest to him！
For the present； DAUPHINESS Bellona； hurrying to the Hills； has left some tagrag of remnant in Gotha。 Whereupon； the second day； here is an 〃Own Correspondent〃 again；not coming by electric telegraph； but （what is a sensible advantage） credible in every point； when he does come：
〃GOTHA； THURSDAY； 15th SEPTEMBER。 Grand…Duke and Duchess； like everybody else； have been much occupied all morning with the fact； that the Prussian Army ＇Seidlitz and a regiment or two； nothing more＇ is actually here； took possession of the Town…Gates and Main Guard this morning；certain Hungarian…French hussar rabble； hateful to every one in Gotha； having made off in time； rapidly towards Eisenach and the Hills。
〃Towards noon； his Royal Majesty in highest person； with his Lord Brother the Prince Henri's Royal Highness； arrived in Gotha； sent straightway； by one of his Officers； a compliment to the Grand…Duke； and 'would have the pleasure to come and dine； if his Serene Highness permitted。' Serene Highness； self and Household always cordially Friedrich's； was just about sitting down to dinner； and answered with exuberantly glad surprise；or was answering； when Royal Majesty himself stept in with smiling face； and embracing the Duke； said： 'I timed myself to arrive at this moment； thinking your Durchlaucht would be at dinner； that I might be received without ceremony； and dine like a neighbor among you。' Unexpected as this visit was； the joy of Duke and Duchess；〃 always fast friends to Friedrich； and the latter ever afterwards his correspondent； 〃may be conceived； but not adequately expressed； as both the Serenities were touched； in the most affecting manner； by the hono
