frederick the great and his family-第39节

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orn；　build　magazines　for　the　holding　of　our　provisions；　so　as　to　secure　a　way　for　our　future　operations　in　Bohemia。〃

〃Ah！　now　I　recognize　my　old　Schwerin；〃　said　the　king；　gayly　pressing　the　marshal's　hand。　〃No　more　delay！　'To　anticipate'　is　my　motto；　and　shall；　God　willing；　be　Prussia's　in　future。〃

〃And　our　army；〃　said　Winterfeldt；　with　sparkling　eyes；　〃has　been　accustomed；　for　hundreds　of　years；　not　only　to　defend　themselves；　but　also　to　attack。　Ah；　at　last　it　is　to　be　granted　us　to　fight　our　arch…enemies　in　open　field；　mischief…making　Austria；　intriguing　Saxony；　barbarous　Russia；　and　finally　lying；　luxurious　France；　and　to　convince　them　that；　though　we　do　not　fear　their　anger；　we　share　their　hatred　with　our　whole　hearts。〃

〃And　you；　Retzow；〃　said　the　king；　sternly；　turning　to　the　general；　who　was　sitting　silently　with　downcast　head；　〃do　your　views　coincide　with　Schwerin's？　Or　do　you　still　think　it　were　better　to　wait？〃

〃Yes；　sire；〃　said　Retzow；　sadly；　〃I　think　delay；　under　the　present　threatening　circumstances；　would　be　the　wisest　course；　I〃

He　was　interrupted　by　the　entrance　of　a　valet；　who　approached　the　king；　and　whispered　a　few　words　to　him。

Frederick　turned　smilingly　to　the　generals。　〃The　princes；　my　brothers；　have　arrived；〃　said　he；　〃they　were　to　be　here　at　this　hour　to　hear　the　result　of　our　consultation。　And；　it　strikes　me；　they　arrive　at　the　right　moment。　The　princes　may　enter。〃




CHAPTER　IX。

THE　KING　AND　HIS　BROTHERS。


The　door　was　thrown　open　and　the　princes　entered。　First　came　the　Prince　of　Prussia；　whose　pale；　dejected　countenance　was　to…day　paler　and　sadder　than　usual。　Then　Prince　Henry；　whose　quick　bright　eyes　were　fixed　inquiringly　on　General　Retzow。　The　general　shrugged　his　shoulders；　and　shook　his　head。　Prince　Henry　must　have　understood　these　movements；　for　his　brow　became　clouded；　and　a　deep　red　suffused　his　countenance。　The　king；　who　had　seen　this；　laughed　mockingly；　and　let　the　princes　approach　very　close　to　him；　before　addressing　them。

〃Sirs；〃　said　he；　〃I　have　called　you　here；　because　I　have　some　important　news　to　communicate。　The　days　of　peace　are　over　and　war　is　at　hand！〃

〃War！　and　with　whom？〃　said　the　Prince　of　Prussia；　earnestly。　〃War　with　our　enemies！〃　cried　the　king。　〃War　with　those　who　have　sworn　Prussia's　destruction。　War　with　Austria；　France；　Saxony；　and　Russia！〃

〃That　is　impossible；　my　brother；〃　cried　the　prince；　angrily。　〃You　cannot　dream　of　warring　against　such　powerful　nations。　You　cannot　believe　in　the　possibility　of　victory。　Powerful　and　mighty　as　your　spirit　is　it　will　have　to　succumb　before　the　tremendous　force　opposed　to　it。　Oh！　my　brother！　my　king！　be　merciful　to　yourself；　to　us；　to　our　country。　Do　not　desire　the　impossible！　Do　not　venture　into　the　stormy　sea　of　war；　to　fight　with　your　frail　barks　against　the　powerful　men　of　war　that　your　enemies；　will　direct　against　you。　We　cannot　be　victorious！　Preserve　to　your　country　your　own　precious　life；　and　that　of　her　brave　sons。〃

The　king's　eyes　burned　with　anger；　they　were　fixed　with　an　expression　of　deep　hatred　upon　the　prince。

〃Truly；　my　brother；〃　said　he；　in　a　cold；　cutting　tone；　〃fear　has　made　you　eloquent。　You　speak　as　if　inspired。〃

A　groan　escaped　the　prince；　and　he　laid　his　hand　unwittingly　upon　his　sword。　He　was　deadly　pale；　and　his　lips　trembled　so　violently；　that　he　could　scarcely　speak。

〃Fear！〃　said　he；　slowly。　〃That　is　an　accusation　which　none　but　the　king　would　dare　to　bring　against　me；　and　of　which　I　will　clear　myself；　if　it　comes　to　this　unhappy　war　which　your　majesty　proposes；　and　which　I　now　protest　against；　in　the　name　of　my　rights。　my　children；　and　my　country。〃

〃And　I；〃　said　Prince　Henry；　earnestly〃I　also　protest　against　this　war！　Have　pity　on　us；　my　king。　Much　as　I　thirst　for　renown　and　glory；　often　as　I　have　prayed　to　God　to　grant　me　an　occasion　to　distinguish　myself；　I　now　swear　to　subdue　forever　this　craving　for　renown；　if　it　can　only　be　obtained　at　the　price　of　this　frightful；　useless　war。　You　stand　alone！　Without　allies；　it　is　impossible　to　conquer。　Why；　then；　brave　certain　ruin　and　destruction？〃

The　king's　countenance　was　frightful　to　look　at；　his　eyes　were　flashing　with　rage；　and　his　voice　was　like　thunder；　it　was　so　loud　and　threatening。

〃　Enough　of　this！〃　said　he；　〃you　were　called　here；　not　to　advise；　but　to　receive　my　commands。　The　brother　has　heard　you　patiently；　but　now　the　King　of　Prussia　stands　before　you；　and　demands　of　you　obedience　and　submission。　We　are　going　to　battle；　this　is　settled；　and　your　complaints　and　fears　will　not　alter　my　determination　But　all　those　who　fear　to　follow　me　on　the　battle…field；　have　my　permission　to　remain　at　home；　and　pass　their　time　in　love　idyls。　Who；　amongst　you　all；　prefers　this？　Let　him　speak；　and　he　shall　follow　his　own　inclinations。〃

〃None　of　us　could　do　that；〃　said　Prince　Henry；　passionately　〃If　the　King　of　Prussia　calls　his　soldiers；　they　will　all　come　and　follow　their　chieftain　joyfully；　though　they　are　marching　to　certain　death。　I　have　already　given　you　my　personal　opinion；　it　now　rests　with　me　to　obey　you；　as　a　soldier；　as　a　subject。　This　I　will　do　joyfully；　without　complaining。〃

〃I　also；〃　said　Prince　Augustus　William；　earnestly。　〃Like　my　brother；　I　will　know　how　to　subdue　my　own　opinions　and　fears；　and　to　follow　in　silent　obedience　my　king　and　my　chieftain。〃

The　king　threw　a　glance　of　hatred　upon　the　pale；　disturbed　countenance　of　the　prince。

〃You　will　go　where　I　command　you；〃　said　he；　sharply；　and　not　giving　the　prince　time　to　answer；　he　turned　abruptly　to　Marshal　Schwerin。

〃Well；　marshal；　do　you　wish　for　a　furlough；　during　this　war？　You　heard　me　say　I　would　refuse　it　to　no　one。〃

〃I　demand　nothing　of　your　majesty；　but　to　take　part　in　the　first　battle　against　your　enemies。　I　do　not　ask　who　they　are。　The　hour　for　consultation　is　past：　it　is　now　time　to　act。　Let　us　to　work；　and　that　right　quickly。〃

〃Yes；　to　battle；　sire；〃　cried　Retzow；　earnestly。　〃As　soon　as　your　majesty　has　said　that　this　war　is　irrevocable；　your　soldiers　must　have　no　further　doubts；　and　they　will　follow　you　joyfully；　to　conquer　or　to　die。〃

〃And　you；　Winterfeldt；〃　said　the　king；　taking　his　favorite's　hand　tenderly；　〃have　you　nothing　to　say？　Or　have　the　Prince　of　Prussia's　fears　infected　you；　and　made　of　you　a　coward？〃

〃Ah；　no！　sire；〃　said　Winterfeldt；　pressing　the　king's　hand　to　his　breast；　〃how　could　my　courage　fail；　when　it　is　Prussia's　hero　king　that　leads　to　battle？　How　can　I　be　otherwise　than　joyous　and　confident　of　victory；　when　Frederick　calls　us　to　fight　against　his　wicked　and　arrogant　enemies？　No！　I　have　no　fears；　God　and　the　true　cause　is　on　our　side。〃

Prince　Henry　approached　nearer　to　the　king；　and　looking　at　him　proudly；　he　said：

〃　Sire；　you　asked　General　Winterfeldt　if　he　shared　the　Prince　of　Prussia's　fears。　He　says　no；　but　I　will　beg　your　majesty　to　remember；　that　I　share　entirely　the　sentiments　of　my　dear　and　noble　brother。〃

As　he　finished；　he　threw　an　angry　look　at　General　Winterfeldt。　The　latter　commenced　a　fierce　rejoinder；　but　was　stopped　by　the　king。　〃Be　still；　Winterfeldt；〃　he　said；　〃war　has　as　yet　not　been　declared；　and　till　then；　let　there　at　least　be　peace　in　my　own　house。〃　Then　approaching　Prince　Henry；　and　laying　his　hand　on　his　shoulder；　he　said　kindly：〃　We　will　not　exasperate　each　other；　my　brother。　You　have　a　noble；　generous　soul；　and　no　one　would　dare　to　doubt　your　courage。　It　grieves　me　that　you　do　not　share　my　views　as　to　the　necessity　of　this　war；　but　I　know　that　you　will　be　a　firm；　helpful　friend；　and　share　with　me　my　dangers；　my　burdens；　and　if　God　wills　it；　also　my　victory。〃

〃Not　I　alone　will　do　this；〃　cried　Prince　Henry；　〃but　also　my　brother；　Augustus　William；　the　Prince　of　Prussia；　whose　heart　is　not　less　brave；　whose　courage〃

〃Hush；　Henry！　I　pray　you；〃　said　the　Prince　of　Prussia；　sadly；　〃speak　not　of　my　courage。　By　defending　it；　it　would　seem　that　it　had　been　doubted；　and　that　is　a　humiliation　which　I　would　stand　from　no　one〃

The　king　appeared　not　to　have　heard　these　words。　He　took　some　papers　from　the　table　by　which　he　was　standing；　and　said：

〃All　that　remains　to　be　told　you　now；　is　that　I　agree　with　Marshal　Schwerin。　We　will　commence　the　attack　in　Saxony。　To　Saxony；　then；　gentlemen！　But；　until　the　day　before　the　attack；　let　us　keep　even　the　question　of　war　a　secret。〃

Then；　with　the　paper　under　his　arm；　he　passed　through　the　saloon　and　entered　his　library。

There　was　a　long　pause　after　he　left。　The　Prince　of　Prussia；　exhausted　by　the　storm　which　had　swept　over　his　soul；　had　withdrawn　to　one　of　the　windows；　where　he　was　hid　from　view　by　the　heavy　satin　damask　curtains。

Prince　Henry；　standing　alone　in　the　middle　of　the　room；　gazed　after　his　brother；　and　a　deep　sigh　escaped　him。　Then　turning　to　Retzow；　he　said：

〃You　would　not；　then；　fulfil　my　brother's　and　my　own　wishes？〃

〃I　did　all　that　was　in　my　power；　prince；〃　said　the　general；　sighing。　〃Your　highness　did　not　wish　this　war　to　take　place；　you　desired　me；　if　the　king　asked　for　my　advice；　to　tell　him　that　we　were　too　weak；　and　should　therefore　keep　the　peace。　Well；　I　said　this；　not　only　because　you　desired　it；　but　because　it　was　also　my　own　opinion。　But　the　king's　will　was　unalterable。　He　has　meditated