frederick the great and his family-第122节

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〃Allow　me　a　favor；　sir；〃　said　Quintus；　as　they　mounted　the　steps；　〃the　king　is　prejudiced　against　German　poets　and　philosophers；　and　it　would　be　of　the　greatest　advantage　to　the　literary　and　political　world　of　Germany　for　these　prejudices　to　disappear；　and　for　the　great　Frederick　to　give　to　Germany　the　sympathy　and　encouragement　which　until　now　he　has　lavished　upon　the　French　and　Italians。　Think　of　this；　sir；　and　endeavor　to　win　the　king　by　your　obliging　and　pleasing　manner。〃

〃Oh；　major！〃　sighed　Gellert；　〃I　do　not　understand　the　art　of　pleasing　the　great　ones　of　this　world。　I　cannot　utter　words　of　praise　and　flattery；　my　heart　and　manners　are　simple　and　not　showy。〃

〃Exactly；　this　is　beautiful　and　attractive；〃　said　the　major；　smiling：〃　the　king　cannot　endure　pretension　or　conceited　wisdom。　Be　simply　yourself；　imagine　that　you　are　in　your　own　study；　conversing　frankly　and　freely　with　a　highly…honored　friend；　to　whom　politeness　and　attention　are　due。〃

The　king；　with　his　flute　in　hand；　was　walking　up　and　down　the　room；　when　the　door　opened；　and　Major　Quintus　entered　with　Gellert。

Frederick　immediately　laid　his　flute　aside；　and　advanced　to　meet　the　poet　with　a　gracious　smile。　Gellert's　gentle　and　intellectual　countenance　was　composed；　and　his　eyes　were　not　cast　down　or　confused　by　the　piercing　glance　of　the　king。

〃Is　this　Professor　Gellert？〃　said　the　king；　with　a　slight　salutation。

〃Yes；　your　majesty；〃　said　Gellert；　bowing　profoundly。

〃The　English　ambassador　has　spoken　well　of　you；〃　said　the　king；　〃he　has　read　many　of　your　works。〃

〃That　proves　him　to　be　a　thoughtful　and　benevolent　gentleman；　who　hopes　something　from　German　writers；〃　said　Gellert；　significantly。

Frederick　smiled；　and　perhaps　to　excite　him　still　more；　said　quickly：

〃Tell　me；　how　does　it　happen；　Gellert；　that　we　have　so　few　celebrated　writers？〃

〃Your　majesty　sees　before　you　now　a　German　poet　whom　even　the　French　have　translated；　and　who　call　him　the　German　La　Fontaine。〃

〃That　is　great　praise；　great　praise；〃　said　the　king；　whose　large　eyes　fastened　themselves　more　attentively　upon　Gellert's　modest；　expressive　face。　〃You　are　then　called　the　German　La　Fontaine？　Have　you　ever　read　La　Fontaine？〃

〃Yes；　sire；　but　I　did　not　imitate　him；〃　said　Gellert；　ingenuously；　〃I　am　an　original。〃

The　king　nodded　gayly；　Gellert's　quick　frankness　pleased　him。

〃Good；〃　he　said；　〃you　are　an　excellent　poet；　but　why　do　you　stand　alone？〃

Gellert　shrugged　his　shoulders　slightly。

〃Your　majesty　is　prejudiced　against　the　Germans。〃

〃No；　I　cannot　admit　that；〃　said　the　king；　quickly。

〃At　least　against　German　writers；〃　replied　Gellert。

〃Yes；　that　is　true；　I　cannot　deny　that。　Why　have　we　no　good　writers　in　Germany？〃

〃We　have　them；　sire；〃　said　Gellert；　with　noble　pride。　〃We　boast　a　Maskow；　a　Kramerwho　has　set　Bossuet　aside。〃

〃How！〃　cried　the　king；　astonished；　〃Bossuet？　Ah；　sir；　how　is　it　possible　for　a　German　to　set　Bossuet　aside？〃

〃Kramer　has　done　so；　and　with　great　success；〃　said　Gellert；　smiling。　〃One　of　your　majesty's　most　learned　professors　has　said　that　Kramer　has　the　eloquence　of　Bossuet；　and　more　profound　historical　accuracy。〃

The　king　appeared　really　astonished；　and　walked　several　times　thoughtfully　up　and　down　his　room。

〃Was　my　learned　professor　capable　of　deciding　that　question？〃

〃The　world　believes　so；　sire。〃

〃Why　does　no　one　translate　Tacitus？〃

〃Tacitus　is　difficult；〃　said　Gellert；　smiling；　〃there　are　some　bad　French　translations　of　this　author。〃

〃You　are　right；〃　said　the　king。

〃Altogether；〃　continued　Gellert；　〃there　are　a　variety　of　reasons　why　the　Germans　have　not　become　distinguished　in　letters。　When　art　and　science　bloomed　in　Greece；　the　Romans　were　becoming　renowned　in　war。　Perhaps　the　Germans　have　sought　their　fame　on　the　battle…field；　perhaps　they　had　no　Augustus　or　Louis　XIV。　who　favored　and　encouraged　the　historians　and　poets　of　Germany。〃

This　was　a　daring　and　broad　allusion；　but　Frederick　received　it　smilingly。

〃You　have　had　an　Augustus；　perhaps　two；　in　Saxony；〃　he　said。

〃And　we　have　made　a　good　commencement　in　Saxony。　We　should　have　an　Augustus　for　all　of　Germany。〃

〃What！〃　cried　the　king；　quickly；　and　with　sparkling　eyes；　〃you　desire　an　Augustus　for　Germany？〃

〃Not　exactly；〃　said　Gellert；　〃but　I　wish　that　every　German　sovereign　would　encourage　genius　and　letters　in　his　country。　Genius　needs　encouragement；　and　when　it　does　not　find　it　in　its　own　land；　and　from　its　native　princes；　it　cannot　retain　the　great　and　joyous　power　of　creation。〃

The　king　did　not　answer；　but　walked　thoughtfully　up　and　down；　from　time　to　time　he　glanced　quickly　and　searchingly　at　Gellert；　who　was　standing　opposite　to　him。

〃Have　you　ever　been　out　of　Saxony？〃　said　the　king；　at　last。

〃Yes；　sire；　I　was　once　in　Berlin。〃

〃You　should　go　again；〃　said　the　kingthen　added；　as　if　he　regretted　having　shown　the　German　poet　so　much　sympathy；　〃at　all　events；　you　should　travel。〃

〃To　do　so；　your　majesty；　I　require　health　and　money。〃

〃Are　you　sick？〃　asked　the　king；　in　a　gentle；　sympathizing　voice。　〃What　is　your　malady？　Perhaps　too　much　learning。〃

Gellert　smiled。　〃As　your　majesty　thinks　so；　it　may　bear　that　interpretation。　In　my　mouth　it　would　have　sounded　too　bold。〃

〃I　have　had　this　malady　myself；〃　said　the　king；　laughing；　〃I　will　cure　you。　You　must　take　exerciseride　out　every　day。〃

〃Ah；　sire；　this　cure　might　easily　produce　a　new　disease　for　me；〃　said　Gellert；　terrified；　〃if　the　horse　should　be　healthier　than　I；　I　could　not　ride　it；　and　if　it　were　as　weak　as　myself；　we　would　not　be　able　to　stir　from　the　spot。〃

〃Then　you　must　drive；〃　said　the　king；　laughing。

〃I　have　not　the　money；　sire。〃

〃That　is　true；〃　said　the　king。　〃All　German　writers　need　money；　and　we　have　fallen　upon　evil　times。〃

〃Yes；　truly；　sire；　evil　times；　but　it　lies　in　your　majesty's　hands　to　change　all　this；　if　you　would　give　peace　to　Germany。〃

〃How　can　I？〃　cried　the　king；　violently。　〃Have　you　not　heard　that　there　are　three　against　me？〃

〃I　care　more　for　ancient　than　modern　history；〃　said　Gellert；　who　did　not　desire　to　follow　the　king　upon　the　slippery　field　of　politics。

〃You；　then；　are　accurately　acquainted　with　the　ancients？〃　said　the　king。　〃Which；　then；　do　you　think　the　greatest　and　most　renowned　of　that　epochHomer　or　Virgil？〃

〃Homer；　I　think；　merits　the　preference；　because　he　is　original。〃

〃But　Virgil　is　more　polished　and　refined。〃

Gellert　shook　his　head　violently。　Now　that　the　old　writers　were　being　discussed；　the　German　sage　overcame　his　timidity。

〃We　are　entirely　too　widely　separated　from　Virgil　to　be　able　to　judge　of　his　language　and　style。　I　trust　to　Quintilian；　who　gives　Homer　the　preference。〃

〃But　we　must　not　be　slaves　to　the　judgment　of　the　ancients；〃　said　the　king；　aroused。

〃I　am　not；　sire；　I　only　adopt　their　views　when　distance　prevents　my　judging　for　myself。〃

〃You　are　certainly　right　in　this；〃　said　the　king；　kindly。　〃Altogether　you　appear　to　be　a　wise　and　reasonable　man。　I　understand　that　you　have　greatly　improved　the　German　language。〃

〃Ah；　yes；　sire；　but　unfortunately　it　has　been　in　vain。〃

〃Why　is　this？〃　said　the　king。　〃You　all　wish　me　to　interest　myself　in　German；　but　it　is　such　a　barbarous　language；　that　I　often　have　quires　of　writing　sent　me；　of　which　I　do　not　understand　a　word。　Why　is　it　not　otherwise？〃

〃If　your　majesty　cannot　reform　this；　I　certainly　cannot；〃　said　Gellert；　smiling；　〃I　can　only　advise；　but　you　can　command。〃

〃But　your　poems　are　not　written　in　this　stiff；　pompous　German。　Do　you　not　know　one　of　your　fables　by　heart？〃

〃I　doubt　it；　sire；　my　memory　is　very　treacherous。〃

〃Well；　try　and　think　of　one。　In　the　mean　while　I　will　walk　backward　and　forward　a　little。　Well；　have　you　thought　of　one？〃

〃Yes；　your　majesty；〃　said　Gellert；　after　a　brief　silence；　〃I　believe　I　remember　one。〃

〃Let　us　hear　it；〃　said　the　king；　and；　seating　himself　upon　the　fauteuil；　he　gazed　fixedly　at　Gellert；　who；　standing　in　the　middle　of　the　room；　his　clear　glance　turned　toward　the　king；　now　began　his　recitation。

　　　　　〃THE　PAINTER。〃

　　　　　〃A　painter；　Athens　his　abode；　　　　　　　　　Who　painted　less　for　love　of　gain　　　　　　　　　Than　crowns　of　laurel　to　obtain；　　　　　　Mars'　portrait　to　a　connoisseur　once　showed；　　　　　　　　　And　his　opinion　of　it　sought。　　　　　　　　　The　judge　spoke　freely　what　he　thought；　　　　　　Twas　wholly　not　unto　his　taste；　he　said；　　　　　　　　　And　that；　to　please　a　practised　eye；　　　　　　Far　less　of　art　should　be　displayed。　　　　　　　　　The　painter　failed　not　to　reply；　　　　　　And　though　the　critic　blamed　with　skill；　　　　　　Was　of　the　same　opinion　still。〃

　　　　　〃Then　in　the　room　a　coxcomb　came；　　　　　　To　scan　the　work　with　praise　or　blame。　　　　　　He　with　a　glance　its　worth　descried；　　　　　　'Ye　gods！　A　masterpiece'　he　cried。　　　　　　'Ah；　what　a　foot！　what　skilled　details；　　　　　　E'en　to　the　painting　of　the　nails！　　　　　　　　　A　living　Mars　is　here　revealed；　　　　　　What　skillwhat　art　in　light　and　shade　　　　　　Both　in　the　helmet　and　the　shield；　　　　　　　　　And　in　the　armor　are　displayed！'〃

　　　　　〃The　painter　blushed　with　humbled　pride；　　　　　　　　　Looked　at　the　judge　with　woful　mien；　　　　　　'Too　well　am　I　convinced'　he　cried；　　　　　　　　　'Unjust　to　me　thou　hast　not　been。'　　　　　　The　coxcomb　scarce　had　disappeared；　　　　　　when　he　his　god　of