history of friedrich ii of prussia v 17-第13节
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had； little dreaming of it； taken leave of one another forevermore。 Such profit lies in your Bruhl。 Kings and Queens that will be governed by a Jesuit Guarini； and a Bruhl of the Twelve Tailors； sometimes pay dear for it。 They； or their representatives； are sure to do so。 Kings and Queens；yes； and if that were all： but their poor Countries too？ Their Countries；well； their Countries did not hate Beelzebub； in his various shapes； ENOUGH。 Their Countries should have been in watch against Beelzebub in the shape of Bruhls；watching； and also 〃praying〃 in a heroic manner； now fallen obsolete in these impious times！
Chapter V。
FRIEDRICH BLOCKADES THE SAXONS IN PIRNA COUNTRY。
Friedrich reckons himself to have 65；000 men in Saxony。 Schwerin is issuing from Silesia； through the Glatz Mountains； for Bohemia； at the head of 40；000。 The Austrian force is inferior in quantity； and far from ready：Two 〃Camps〃 in Bohemia they have； the chief one under Browne （looking； or intending； this Saxon way）； and a smaller under Piccolomini； in the Konigshof…Kolin region：if well run into from front and rear； both Browne and Piccolomini might be beautifully handled； and a gash be cut in Austria； which might incline her to be at peace again！ Nothing hinders but this paltry Camp of the Saxons； itself only 18；000 strong； but in a Country of such strength。 And this does hinder； effectually while it continues： 〃How march to Bohemia； and leave the road blocked in our rear？〃
The Saxon Camp did continue；unmanageable by any method； for five weeks to come； the season of war…operations gone； by that time： and Friedrich's First Campaign； rendered mostly fruitless in this manner； will by no means check the Austrian truculencies； as by his velocity he hoped to do。 No； but； on the contrary； will rouse the Austrians； French and all Enemies； to a tenfold pitch of temper。 And bring upon himself； from an astonished and misunderstanding Public； such tempests and world…tornadoes of loud…roaring obloquy； as even he； Friedrich； had never endured before。
To readers of a touring habit this Saxon Country is perhaps well known。 For the last half…century it has been growing more and more famous； under the name of 〃Saxon Switzerland （SACHSISCHE SCHWEITZ）；〃 instead of 〃Misnian Highlands （MEISSNISCHE HOCHLAND）；〃 which it used to be called。 A beautiful enough and extremely rugged Country； interesting to the picturesque mind。 Begins rising； in soft Hills； on both sides of the Elbe； a few miles east of Dresden； as you ascend the River； till it rises into Hills of wild character； getting ever wilder； and riven into wondrous chasms and precipices。 Extends； say almost twenty miles up the River； to Tetschen and beyond； in this eastern direction； and with perhaps ten miles of breadth on each side of the River： area of the Rock… region； therefore； is perhaps some four hundred square miles。 The Falkenberg （what we should call HAWKSCRAG） northeastward in the Lausitz； the Schneeberg （SNOW MOUNTAIN）； southeastward on the Bohemian border； are about thirty…five miles apart： these two are both reckoned to be in it；its last outposts on that eastern side。 But the limits of it are fixed by custom only； and depend on no natural condition。
We might define it as the Sandstone NECK of the Metal Mountains： a rather lower block； of Sandstone； intercalated into the Metal… Mountain range； which otherwise； on both hands； is higher； and of harder rocks。 Southward （as SHOULDER to this sandstone NECK） lies； continuous； broad and high； the 〃Metal…Mountain range〃 specially so called： northward and northeastward there rise； beyond that Falkenberg； many mountains； solitary or in groups；〃the Metal Mountains〃 fading out here into 〃the Lausitz Hills；〃 still in fine picturesque fashion； which are Northern Border to the great Bohemian 〃Basin of the Elba；〃 after you emerge from this Sandstone Country。
Saxon Switzerland is not very high anywhere； 2；000 feet is a notable degree of height： but it is torn and tumbled into stone labyrinths； chasms and winding rock…walls； as few regions are。 Grows pinewood； to the topmost height； pine…trees far aloft look quietly down upon you； over sheer precipices； on your intricate path。 On the slopes of the Hills is grass enough； in the intervals are Villages and husbandries； are corn and milk for the laborious natives；who depend mainly on quarrying； and pine…forest work： pines and free…stone； rafts of long slim pines； and big stone barges； are what one sees upon the River there。 A Note； not very geological； says of it：
〃Elbe sweeps freely through this Country； for ages and aeons past； curling himself a little into snake…figure； and with increased velocity； but silent mostly； and trim to the edge； a fine flint… colored river；though in aeons long anterior； it must have been a very different matter for torrents and water…power。 The Country is one huge Block of Sandstone； so many square miles of that material； ribbed； channelled； torn and quarried； in this manner； by the ever… busy elements； for a million of Ages past！ Chiefly by the Elbe himself； since he got to be a River； and became cosmic and personal； ceasing to be a mere watery chaos of Lakes and Deluges hereabouts。 For the Sandstone was of various degrees of hardness； tenacious as marble some parts of it； soft almost as sand other parts。 And the primordial diluviums and world…old torrents； great and small； rushing down from the Bohemian Highlands； from the Saxon Metal Mountains； with such storming； gurgling and swashing； have swept away the soft parts； and left the hard standing in this chaotic manner； and bequeathed it all to the Elbe； and the common frosts and rains of these human ages。
〃Elbe has now a trim course； but Elbe too is busy quarrying and mining； where not artificially held in；and you notice at every outlet of a Brook from the interior； north side and south side； how busy the Brook has been。 Boring； grinding； undermining； much helped by the frosts； by the rains。 AEons ago； the Brook was a lake； in the interior； but was every moment laboring to get out； till it has cut for itself that mountain gullet； or sheer…down chasm； and brought out with it an Alluvium or Delta；on which； since Adam's time； human creatures have built a Hamlet。 That is the origin； or unwritten history； of most hamlets and cultivated spots you fall in with here： they are the waste shavings of the Brook； working millions of years； for its own object of getting into the Elbe in level circumstances。 Ploughed fields； not without fertility； are in the interior； if you ascend that Brook； the Hamlet； at the delta or mouth of it； is as if built upon its TONGUE and into its GULLET： think how picturesque； in the November rains； for example！
〃The road〃 one road； 〃from Dresden to Aussig； to Lobositz； Budin； Prag； runs up the river…brink （south brink）； or； in our day； as Prag…Dresden Railway； thunders through those solitudes； strangely awakening their echoes； and inviting even the bewildered Tourist to reflect； if he could。 The bewildered Tourist sees rock…walls heaven…high on both hands of him； River and he rushing on between； by law of gravitation； law of ennui （which are laws of Nature both）； with a narrow strip of sky in full gallop overhead； and has little encouragement to reflect； except upon his own sorrows； and delirious circumstances； physical and moral。 'How much happier； were I lying in my bed！' thinks the bewildered Tourist；does strive withal to admire the Picturesque； but with little success； notices the 'BASTEI （Bastion）；' and other rigorously prescribed points of the Sublime and Beautiful； which are to be 'done。' That you will have to DO； my friend： step out； you will have to go on that Pinnacle； with indifferent Hotel attached； on that iron balcony； aloft among the clouds yonder； and shudder to project over Elbe…flood from such altitudes； admiring the Picturesque in prescribed manner。
〃This Country has for its permanent uses； timber； free…stone； modicum of milk and haver； serviceable to the generality；and to his Polish Majesty； at present； it is as the very Ark of Noah： priceless at this juncture； being the strongest military country in the world。 Excellent strength in it； express Fortresses； especially one Fortress called the Konigstein； not far from Schandau； of a towering precipitous nature； with 'a well 900 feet deep' in it； and pleasant Village outside at the base；Fortress which is still； in our day； reckoned a safe place for the Saxon Archives and preciosities。 Impregnable to gunpowder artillery； not to be had except by hunger。 And then； farther down the River； close by Pirna； presiding over Pirna； as that Konigstein in some sort does over Schandau； is the Sonnenstein： Sonnenstein too was a Fortress in those days of Friedrich； but not impregnable； if judged worth taking。 The Austrians took it； a year or two hence； Friedrich retook it； dismantled it： 'the Sonnenstein is now a Madhouse；' say the Guide…books。
〃Sonnenstein stands close east or up…stream of Pirna； which is a town of 5；000 souls； by much the largest in those parts； Konigstein a little down…stream of Schandau； which latter is on the opposite or north side of the River。 These are the two chief Towns； which do all the trade of this region； picturesque places both： th
