history of friedrich ii of prussia v 18-第24章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
ficers all in gala： but the reigning Duke of Wurtemberg ＇Wilhelmina's Son…in…law； a perverse obstinate Herr； growing ever more perverse； one of Wilhelmina's sad afflictions in these days＇ called me to him； and said； 'He would give his whole wardrobe； could he wear that dusty coat with such honor as I！'〃yes； and tried hard； in his perverse way； for some such thing； but never could； as we shall see。
How lucky that Polish Majesty had some remains of Cavalry still at Warsaw in the Pirna time； that they were made into a Saxon Brigade； and taken into the Austrian service； Brigade of three Regiments； Nostitz for Chief； and this Benkendorf a Lieutenant…Colonel； among them；and that Polish Majesty； though himself lost； has been the saving of Austria twice within one year！
Chapter V。
FRIEDRICH AT LEITMERITZ； HIS WORLD OF ENEMIES COMING ON。
Of Friedrich's night…thoughts at Nimburg； how he slept； and what his dreams were； we have no account。 Seldom did a wearied heart sink down into oblivion on such terms。 By narrow miss； the game gone； and with such results ahead。 It was a right valiant plunge this that he made； with all his strength and all his skill； home upon the heart of his chief enemy。 To quench his chief enemy before another came up： it was a valiant plan； and valiantly executed； and it has failed。 To dictate peace from the walls of Vienna： that lay on the cards for him this morning； and at night？ Kolin is lost； the fruit of Prag Victory too is lost； and Schwerin and new tens of thousands； unreplaceable for worth in this world； are lost； much is lost！ Courage； your Majesty； all is not lost； you not； and honor not。
To the young Graf von Anhalt； on the road to Nimburg； he is recorded to have said； 〃Don't you know； then； that every man must have his reverses （MAIS NE SAVEZ…VOUS DONC PAS QUE CHAQUE HOMME DOIT AVOIR SES REVERS）？ It appears I am to have mine。〃 ＇Rodenbeck； i。 309。＇ And more vaguely； in the Anecdote…Books； is mention of some stanch ruggedly pious old Dragoon； who brought； in his steel cap； from some fine…flowing well he had discovered； a draught of pure water to the King； old Mother Earth's own gift； through her rugged Dragoon； exquisite refection to the thirsty wearied soul； and spoke； in his Dragoon dialect；〃Never mind； your Majesty！ DER ALLMACHTIGE and we； It shall be mended yet。 'The Kaiserin may get a victory for once； but does that send us to the Devil （DAVON HOLT UNS DER TEUFEL…NICHT）！'〃words of rough comfort； which were well taken。
Next morning； several Books； and many Drawings and Sculptures of a dim unsuccessful nature； give us view of him； at Kimburg； sitting silent 〃on a BRUNNEN…ROHR〃 （Fountain Apparatus； waste…pipe or feeding…pipe； too high for convenient sitting）： he is stooping forward there； his eyes fixed on the ground； and is scratching figures in the sand with his stick； as the broken troops reassemble round him。 Archenholtz says： 〃He surveyed with speechless feeling the small remnant of his Life…guard of Foot； favorite First Battalion； 1；000 strong yesterday morning； hardly 400 now；〃gone the others； in that furious Anti…Stampach outburst which ended the day's work！ 〃All soldiers of this chosen Battalion were personally known to him； their names； their age； native place； their history ＇the pick of his Ruppin regiment was the basis of it＇： in one day； Death had mowed them down； they had fought like heroes； and it was for him that they had died。 His eyes were visibly wet； down his face rolled silent tears。〃 ＇Archenholtz； i。 104； 101； Kutzen； pp。 259； 138； Retzow； i。 142。＇
In public I never saw other tears from this King；though in private I do not warrant him； his sensibilities； little as you would think it； being very lively and intense。 〃To work； however！〃 This King can shake away such things； and is not given overmuch to retrospection on the unalterable Past。 〃Like dewdrops from the lion's mane〃 （as is figuratively said）； the lion swiftly rampant again！ There was manifold swift ordering； considering and determining； at Nimburg； that day； and towards night Friedrich shot rapidly into Head…quarters at Prag； where； by order； there is； as the first thing of all； a very rapid business going on； well forward by the time he arrives。
To fold one's Siege…gear and Army neatly together from those Two Hill…tops； and march away with them safe； in sight of so many enemies： this has to be the first and rapidest thing； if this be found possible； as one calculates it may。 After which； the world of enemies； held in the slip so long； will rush in from all the four winds；unknown whitherward； one must wait to see whitherward and how。
Friedrich's History for the remaining six months of this Year falls； accordingly； into three Sections。 Section FIRST： Waiting how and towards what objects his enemies； the Austrians first of all； will advance；this lasts for about a month； Friedrich waiting mainly at Leitmeritz； on guard there both of Saxony and of Silesia； till this slowly declare itself。 Slowly； perhaps almost stupidly； but by no means satisfactorily to Friedrich； as will be seen！ After which； Section SECOND of his History lasts above two months； Friedrich's enemies being all got to the ground； and united in hope and resolution to overwhelm and abolish him； but their plans； positions； operations so extremely various that； for a long time （end of August to beginning of November）； Friedrich cannot tell what to do with them； and has to scatter himself into thin threads； and roam about； chiefly in Thuringen and the West of Saxony； seeking something to fight with； and finding nothing； getting more and more impatient of such paltry misery； at times nigh desperate； and habitually drifting on desperation as on a lee shore in the night； despite all his efforts。 Till； in Section THIRD； which goes from November 5th； through December 5th； and into the New Year； he does find what to do； and does it；in a forever memorable way。
Three Sections； of which the reader shall successively have some idea； if he exert himself； though it is only in snatches； suggestive to an active fancy； that we can promise to dwell on them； especially on the First Two； which lie pretty much unsurveyable in those chaotic records； like a world…wide coil of thrums。 Let us be swift； in Friedrich's own manner； and try to disimprison the small portions of essential！ Here； partly from Eye…witnesses； are some Notes in regard to Section First： ＇Westphalen； Geschichte der Feldzuge des Herzogs Ferdinand （and a Private Journal of W。's there）； ii。 13…19； Retzow； &c。＇
〃SUNDAY； 19th JUNE； At 2 A。M。； Major Grant arrives at Prag ＇must have started instantly after that of 〃We two cannot take the battery； your Majesty！〃＇goes to Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick； interim Commander on the Ziscaberg； with order To raise Siege。 Consternation on the part of some； worse； on the Prince of Prussia's part； the others kept silence at least；and set instantly to work。 On both Hills； the cannons are removed （across Moldau the Zisca…Hill ones）； batteries destroyed； Siege…gear neatly gathered up； to go in wagons to Leitmeritz； thence by boat to Dresden； all this lies ready done； the dangerous part of it done； when Friedrich arrives。
〃MONDAY； 20th； before sunrise； Siege raised。 At three in the morning Friedrich marches from the Ziscaberg； to eastward he； to Alt…Bunzlau； thence to Ah…Lissa；〃Nimburg way； with what objects we shall see。 〃Marshal Keith's fine performance。 Keith； from the Weissenberg； does not march； such packing and loading still； all the baggages and artilleries being with Keith。 Not till four in the afternoon did Keith march； but beautifully then； and folded himself away；rear…guard under Schmettau 'retreating checkerwise；' nothing but Tolpatcheries attempting on him；westward； Budin…ward； without loss of a linstock； not to speak of guns。 Very prettily done on the part of Keith。 By Budin； to Leitmeritz； he； where the King will join him shortly。〃
Friedrich's errand in Alt…Lissa； eastward； while Keith went westward； was； To be within due arm's…length of the Moritz…Bevern； or beaten Kolin Army； which is coming up that way； intending to take post； and do its best； in those parts； with Zittau Magazine and the Lausitz to rear of it。 One of o
