history of friedrich ii of prussia v 18-第29章

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burnt）；　in　those　utterances　of　Voltaire；　some　of　which　the　reader　will　grin　over　too；　without　much　tragic　feeling；the　rather　as　they　did　our　Felis　Leo　no　manner　of　ill；　and　show　our　incomparable　SINGE　with　a　sparkle　of　the　TIGRE　in　him；　theoretic　sparkle　merely　and　for　moments；　which　makes　him　all　the　more　entertaining　and　interesting　at　the　domestic　hearth。

Of　Friedrich's　Lamentation…Psalms　we　propose　to　give　the　First　and　the　Last：　these；　with　certain　Prose　Pieces；　intermediate　and　connecting；　may　perhaps　be　made　intelligible　to　readers；　and　throw　some　light　on　these　tragic　weeks　of　the　King's　History：

1。　EPITRE　A　MA　SOEUR　（First　of　the　Lamentation…Psalms）。This　is　the　famed　〃Epistle　to　Wilhelmina；〃　already　spoken　of；　which　the　King　despatched　from　Bernstadt　〃August　24th；〃　just　while　quitting　those　parts；　on　the　Erfurt　Errand；though　written　before；　in　the　tedium　of　waiting　for　Keith。　The　Piece　is　long；　vehement；　altogether　sincere；　lyrically　sings　aloud；　or　declaims　in　rhyme；　what　one's　indignant　thought　really　is　on　the　surrounding　woes　and　atrocities。　We　faithfully　abridge；　and　condense　into　our　briefest　Prose；readers　can　add　water　and　the　jingle　of　French　rhymes　AD　LIBITUM。　It　starts　thus：

〃O　sweet　and　dear　hope　of　my　remaining　days；　O　Sister；　whose　friendship；　so　fertile　in　resources；　shares　all　my　sorrows；　and　with　a　helpful　arm　assists　me　in　the　gulf！　It　is　in　vain　that　the　Destinies　have　overwhelmed　me　with　disasters：　if　the　crowd　of　Kings　have　sworn　my　ruin；　if　the　Earth　have　opened　to　swallow　me；　you　still　love　me；　noble　and　affectionate　Sister：　loved　by　you；　what　is　there　of　misfortune？　＇Branches　off　into　some　survey　of　it；　nevertheless。＇

〃Huge　continents　of　thunder…cloud；　plots　thickening　against　me　＇in　those　Menzel　Documents＇；　I　watched　with　terror；　the　sky　getting　blacker；　no　covert　for　me　visible：　on　a　sudden；　from　the　deeps　of　Hell；　starts　forth　Discord　＇with　capital　letter＇；　and　the　tempest　broke。

　Ce　fut　dans　ton　Senat；　O　fouqueuse　Angleterre！　　　　　　　　　　Ou　ce　monstre　inhumain　fit　eclater　la　guerre：　　

It　was　from　thy　Senate；　stormful　England；　that　she　first　launched　out　War。　In　remote　climates　first；　in　America；　far　away；between　France　and　thee。　Old　Ocean　shook　with　it；　Neptune；　in　the　depths　of　his　caves　（SES　GROTTES　PROFONDES）；　saw　the　English　subjecting　his　waves　（SES　ONDES）：　the　wild　Iroquois；　prize　of　these　crimes　（FORFAITS）；　bursts　out；　detesting　the　tyrants　who　disturb　his　Forests；〃and　scalping　Braddock's　people；　and　the　like。

〃Discord；　charmed　to　see　such　an　America；　and　feeble　mortals　crossing　the　Ocean　to　exterminate　one　another；　addresses　the　European　Kings：　'How　long　will　you　be　slaves　to　what　are　called　laws？　Is　it　for　you　to　bend　under　worn…out　notions　of　justice；　right？　Mars　is　the　one　God：　Might　is　Right。　A　King's　business　is　to　do　something　famous　in　this　world。'

〃O　daughter　of　the　Caesars；〃　Maria　Theresa；　〃how；　at　these　words；　ambition；　burning　in　thy　soul；　breaks　out　uncontrollable！　Probity；　honor；　treaties；　duty：　feeble　considerations　these；　to　a　heart　letting　loose　its　flamy　passions；　determining　to　rob　the　generous　Germans　of　their　liberties；　to　degrade　thy　equals；　to　extinguish　'Schism'　（so　called）；　and　set　up　despotism　on　the　wrecks　of　all。〃

〃Huge　project〃〃FIER　TRIUMVIRAT；〃what　not：　〃From　Roussillon　and　the　sunny　Pyrenees　to　frozen　Russia；　all　arm　for　Austria；　and　march　at　her　bidding。　They　concert　my　downfall；　trample　on　my　rights。

〃The　Daughter　of　the　Caesars；　proudly　certain　of　victory；'t　is　the　way　of　the　Great；　whose　commonplace　virtue；　pusillanimous　in　reverses；　overbearing　in　success；　cannot　bridle　their　cupidity；　designates　to　the　Triumvirate　what　Kings　are　to　be　proscribed　＇Britannic　George　and　me；　Reich　busy　on　us　both　even　now＇；　and　those　ungrateful　tyrants；　by　united　crime；　immolate　to　each　other；　without　remorse；　their　dearest　allies。〃　For　instance：

　〃O　jour　digne　d'oubli！　Quelle　atroce　imprudence！　　　　　　　　　　　Therese；　c'est　l'Anglais　que　tu　vends　a　la　France：　　

Theresa！　it　is　England　thou　art　selling　to　France；〃Yes；　a　thing　worth　noting。　〃Thy　generous　support　in　thy　first　adversities；　thy　one　friend　then；　when　a　world　had　risen　to　devour　thee。　Thou　reignest　now：but　it　was　England　alone　that　saved　thee　anything　to　reign　over！

　Tu　regnes；　mats　lui　seul　a　sauve　tes　etats：　　　　　　　　　　Les　bienfaits　chez　les　rois　ne　font　que　des　ingrats。　　

〃And　thou；　lazy　Monarch；〃stupid　Louis；　let　us　omit　him：　〃Pompadour；　selling　her　lover　to　the　highest　bidder；　makes　France；　in　our　day；　Austria's　slave！〃　We　omit　Kolin　Battle；　too；　spoken　of　with　a　proud　modesty　（Prag　is　not　spoken　of　at　all）；　and　how　the　neighboring　ravenous　Powers；　on…lookers　hitherto；　have　opened　their　throats　with　one　accord　to　swallow　Prussia；　thinking　its　downfall　certain：　〃Poor　mercenary　Sweden；　once　so　famous　under　its　soldier　Kings；　now　debased　by　a　venal　Senate；〃Sweden；　〃what　say　I？　my　own　kindred　＇foolish　Anspach　and　others＇；　driven　by　perverse　motives；　join　in　the　plot　of　horrors；　and　become　satellites　of　the　prospering　Triumvirs。

〃And　thou；　loved　People　＇my　own　Prussians＇；　whose　happiness　is　my　charge　＇notable　how　often　he　repeats　this＇　it　is　thy　lamentable　destiny；　it　is　the　danger　which　hangs　over　thee；　that　pierces　my　soul。　The　pomps　of　my　rank　I　could　resign　without　regret。　But　to　rescue　thee；　in　this　black　crisis；　I　will　spend　my　heart's　blood。　Whose　IS　that　blood　but　thine？　With　joy　will　I　rally　my　warriors　to　avenge　thy　affront；　defy　death　at　the　foot　of　the　ramparts　＇of　Daun　and　his　Eckartsberg；　ahead　yonder＇；　and　either　conquer；　or　be　buried　under　thy　ruins。〃　Very　well；　but　ah；

〃Preparing　with　such　purpose；　ye　Heavens；　what　mournful　cries　are　those　that　reach　us：　'Death　haa　laid　low　thy　Mother！'Hah；　that　was　the　last　stroke；　then；　which　angry　Fate　had　reserved　for　me。　O　Mother；　Death　flies　my　misfortunes；　and　spreads　his　livid　horrors　over　thee！　＇Very　tender；　very　sad；　what　he　says　of　his　Mother；　but　must　be　omitted　and　imagined。　General　finale　is：＇

〃Thus　Destiny　with　a　deluge　of　torments　fills　the　poisoned　remnant　of　my　days。　The　present　is　hideous　to　me；　the　future　unknown：　what；　you　say　I　am　the　creature　of　a　BENEficent　Being？

　Quoi　serais…fe　forme　par　un　Dieu　bienfaisati？　　　　　　　　　　Ah！　s'il　etait　si　bon；　tendre　pour　son　ouvrage〃　　

Husht；　my　little　Titan！

〃And　now；　ye　promoters　of　sacred　lies；　go　on　leading　cowards　by　the　nose；　in　the　dark　windings　of　your　labyrinth：to　me　the　enchantment　is　ended；　the　charm　disappears。　I　see　that　all　men　are　but　the　sport　of　Destiny。　And　that；　if　there　do　exist　some　Gloomy　and　Inexorable　Being；　who　allows　a　despised　herd　of　creatures　to　go　on　multiplying　here；　he　values　them　as　nothing；　looks　down　on　a　Phalaris　crowned；　on　a　Socrates　in　chains；　on　our　virtues；　our　misdeeds；　on　the　horrors　of　war；　and　all　the　cruel　plagues　which　ravage　Earth；　as　a　thing　indifferent　to　him。　Wherefore；　my　sole　refuge　and　only　haven；　loved　Sister；　is　in　the　arms　of　Death：

　Ainsi　mon　seul　asile　et　mon　unique　port　　　　　　　　　　Se　trouve；　chere　soeur；　dans　les　bras　de　la　mort。〃　　　＇　OEuvres；　　xii。　36…42；　is　sent　off　to　Wilhelmina　24th　August。＇

2。　WILHELMINA　TO　VOLTAIRE；　WITH　SOMETHING　OF　ANSWER　（First　of　certain　intercalary　Prose　Pieces）。Wilhelmina　has　been　writing　to　Voltaire　before；　and　getting　consolations　since　Kolin；　but　her　Letters　are　lost；　till　this　the　earliest　that　is　left　us：

BAIREUTH；　19th　AUGUST；　1757　（TO　VOLTAIRE）。〃One　first　knows　one's　friends　when　misfortunes　arrive。　The　Letter　you　have　written　does　honor　to　your　way　of　thinking。　I　cannot　tell　you　how　much　I　am　sensible　to　what　you　have　done　＇set　Cardinal　Tencin　astir；　with　result　we　will　hope＇。　The　King；　my　Brother；　is　as　much　so　as　I。　You　will　find　a　Note　here；　which　he　bids　me　transmit　to　you　＇Note　lost＇。　That　great　man　is　still　the　same。　He　supports　his　misfortunes　with　a　courage　and　a　firmness　worthy　of　him。　He　could　not　get　the　Note　transcribed。　It　began　by　verses。　Instead　of　throwing　sand　on　it；　he　took　the　ink…bottle；　that　is　the　reason　why　it　is　cut　in　two。〃

This　Note；　we　say；　is　lost　to　us；all　but　accidentally　thus：　Voltaire；　12th　September；　writes　twice　to　friends。　Writing　to　his　D'Argentals；　he　says：　〃The　affairs　of　this　King　＇Friedrich＇　go　from　bad　to　worse。　I　know　not　if　I　told　you　of　the　Letter　he　wrote　to　me　about　three　weeks　ago　＇say　August　17th…18th：　this　same　Note　through　Wilhelmina；　evidently＇：　'I　have　learned；'　says　he；　'that　you　had　interested　yourself　in　my　successes　and　misfortunes。　There　remains　to　me　nothing　but　to　sell　my　life　dear；'　&c。　His　Sister　writes　me　one　much　more　lamentable；〃　the　one　we　are　now　reading：

〃I　am　in　a　frightful　state；　and　will　not　survive　the　destruction　of　my　House　and　Family。　That　is　the　one　consolation　that　remains　to　me。　You　will　have　fine　subjects　for　making　Tragedies　of。　O　times！　O　manners！　You　will；　by　the　illusory　representation；　perhaps　draw　tears；　while　all　contemplate　with　dry　eyes　the　reality　of　these　miseries：　the　downfall　of　a　whole　House；　against　which；　if　the　truth　were　known；　there　is　no　solid　complaint。　I　cannot　write　farther　of　it：　my　soul　is　so　troubled　that　I　know　not　what　I　am　doing。　But　whatever　happen；　be　persuaded　that　I　am　more　than　ever　your　friend；WILHELMINA。〃　＇In　　OEuvres　de　Frederic；　　lxxvii。　30。＇

Friedrich；　while　Wilhelmina　writes　so；　is　at　the　foot　of　the　Eckartsberg；　eagerly　manoeuvring　with　the　Austrians；　in　hopes　of　getting　battle　out　of　them；which　he　cannot。　Friedrich；　while　he　wrote　that　Note　to　Voltaire；　and　instead　of　sand…box　shook　the　ink…bottle　over　it；　was　just　going　out　on　that　errand。

VOLTAIRE；　12th　SEPTEMBER　（to　a　Lady　whose　Son　is　in　the　D'Estrees　wars）。　＇Ib。　lxxii。　55。　56。＇〃Here　are　mighty　revolutions；　Madame；　and　we　are　not　at　the　end　yet。　They　say　there　have　18；000　Hanoverians　been　disposed　of　at　Stade　＇Convention　of　Kloster…　Zeven＇。　That　is　no　small　matter。　I　can　hope　M。　Richelieu　＇who　is　〃MON　HEROS；〃　when　I　write　to　himself＇　will　adorn　his　head　with　the　laurels　they　have　stuck　in　his　pocket。　I　wish　Monsieur　your　Son　abundance　of　honor　and　glory　without　wounds；　and　to　you；　Madame；　unalterable　health。　The　King　of　Prussia　has　written　me　a　very　touching　Letter　＇one　line　of　which　we　have　read＇；　but　I　have　always　Madame　Denis's　adventure　on　my　heart；〃　at　Frankfurt　yonder。　〃If　I　were　well；　I　would　take　a　run　to　Frankfurt　myself　on　the　business；〃　now　that　Soubise's　reserves　are　in　those　parts；　and　could　give　Freytag　and　Schmidt　such　a　dusting　for　me；　if　they　liked！　Shall　I　write　to　Collini　on　it？　Does　write；　and　again　write；　the　second　year　hence；　as　still　better　chances　rise。　＇Collini；　pp。　208…211　（〃January…May；　1759〃）。＇

3。　WILHELMINA　TO　VOLTAIRE　AGAIN；　WITH　ANSWER　（Second　of　the　Prose　Pieces）。Not　a　very　zealous　friend　of　Friedrich's；　after　all；　this　Voltaire！　Poor　Wilhelmina；　terrified　by　that　EPITRE　of　her　Brother's；　and　his　fixed　purpose　of　seeking　Death；　has；　in　her　despair　（though　her　Letter　is　lost）；　been　urging　Voltaire　to　write　dissuading　him；as　Voltaire　does。　Of　which　presently。　Her　Letter　to　Voltaire　on　this　thrice…important　subject　is　lost。　But　in　the　very　hours　while　Voltaire　sat　writing　what　we　have　just　read；　〃always　with　Madame　Den