history of friedrich ii of prussia v 18-第26章
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moonlight on the grave of one's Mother； silent that； while so much else is too noisy！
This Friedrich； upon whom the whole world has risen like a mad Sorcerer's…Sabbath； how safe he once lay in his cradle； like the rest of us； mother's love wrapping him soft：and now！ These thoughts commingle in a very tragic way with the avalanche of public disasters which is thundering down on all sides。 Warm tears the meed of this new sorrow； small in compass； but greater in poignancy than all the rest together。 〃My poor old Mother； oh； my Mother； that so loved me always； and would have given her own life to shelter mine！〃It was at Leitmeritz； as I guess； that Mitchell first made decisive acquaintance； what we may almost call intimacy； with the King： we already defined him as a sagacious； long…headed； loyal…hearted diplomatic gentleman； Scotch by birth and by turn of character； abundantly polite； vigilant； discreet； and with a fund of general sense and rugged veracity of mind； whom Friedrich at once recognized for what he was； and much took to； finding a hearty return withal； so that they were soon well with one another； and continued so。 Mitchell； as orders were； 〃attended the King's person〃 all through this War； sometimes in the blaze of battle itself and nothing but cannon…shot going； if it so chanced； and has preserved； in his multifarious Papers； a great many traits of Friedrich not to be met with elsewhere。
Mitchell's occasional society； conversation with a man of sense and manly character； which Friedrich always much loved； was； no doubt； a resource to Friedrich in his lonely roamings and vicissitudes in those dark years。 No other British Ambassador ever had the luck to please him or be pleased by him；most of them； as Ex…Exchequer Legge and the like Ex…Parliamentary people； he seems to have considered dull； obstinate； wooden fellows； of fantastic； abrupt rather abstruse kind of character； not worth deciphering；some of them； as Hanbury Williams； with the mischievous tic （more like galvanism or St。…Vitus'…dance） which he called 〃wit；〃 and the inconvenient turn for plotting and intriguing； Friedrich could not endure at all； but had them as soon as possible recalled；of course； not without detestation on their part。
At Leitmeritz； it appears； he kept withdrawn to his closet a good deal； gave himself up to his sorrows and his thoughts； would sit many hours drowned in tears； weeping bitterly like a child or a woman。 This is strange to some readers； but it is true；and ought to alter certain current notions。 Friedrich； flashing like clear steel upon evildoers and mendacious unjust persons and their works； is not by nature a cruel man； then； or an unfeeling； as Rumor reports？ Reader； no； far the reverse；and public Rumor； as you may have remarked； is apt to be an extreme blockhead； full of fury and stupidity on such points； and had much better hold its tongue till it know in some measure。 Extreme sensibility is not sure to be a merit； though it is sure to be reckoned one； by the greedy dim fellows looking idly on： but； in any case； the degree of it that dwelt （privately； for most part） in Friedrich was great； and to himself it seemed a sad rather than joyful fact。 Speaking of this matter； long afterwards； to Garve； a Silesian Philosopher； with whom he used to converse at Breslau； he says；or let dull Garve himself report it； in the literal third…person：
〃And herein； I；〃 the Herr Garve （venturing to dispute； or qualify； on one of his Majesty's favorite topics）； 〃believe； lies the real ground of 'happiness：' it is the capacity and opportunity to accomplish great things。 This the King would not allow； but said； That I did not sufficiently take into account the natural feelings； different in different people； which； when painful； imbittered the life of the highest as of the lowest。 That； in his own life； he had experienced the deepest sufferings of this kind： 'And；' added he； with a touching tone of kindness and familiarity； which never occurred again in his interviews with me； 'if you （ER） knew； for instance； what I underwent on the death of my Mother； you would see that I have been as unhappy as any other； and unhappier than others； because of the greater sensibility I had （WEIL ICH MEHR EMPFINDLICHKEIT GEHABT HABE）。'〃 ＇ Fragmente zur Schilderung des Geistes； des Charakters und der Regierung Friedrichs des Zweiten； von Christian Garve （Breslau； 1798）； i。 314…316。 An unexpectedly dull Book （Garve having talent and reputation）； kind of monotonous Preachment upon Friedrich's character： almost nothing but the above fraction now derivable from it。＇
There needed not this new calamity in Friedrich's lot just now！ From all points of the compass； his enemies； held in check so long； are floating on： the confluence of disasters and ill…tidings； at this time； very great。 From Jung…Bunzlau； close by； his Brother's accounts are bad； and grow ever worse；as will be seen！ On the extreme West； 〃July 3d；〃 while Friedrich at Leitmeritz sat weeping for his Mother； the French take Embden from him； 〃July 5th；〃 the Russians； Memel； on the utmost East。 June 30th； six days before； the Russians； after as many months of haggling； did cross the Border； 37；000 of them on this point； and set to bombarding Memel from land and sea。 Poor Memel （garrison only 700） answered very fiercely； 〃sank two of their gunboats〃 and the like； but the end was as we see；Feldmarschall Lehwald able to give no relief。 For there were above 70；000 other Russians （Feldmarschall Apraxin with these latter； and Cossacks and Calmucks more than enough） crossing elsewhere； south in Tilsit Country； upon old Lehwald。 ＇ Helden…Geschichte； iv。 407…413。＇ Lehwald； with 30；000； in such circumstanceswhat is to become of Preussen and him！ Nearer hand； the Austrians； the French； the very Reichs Army； do now seem intent on business。
The Reichs Execution Army； we saw how Mayer and the Battle of Prag had checked it in the birth…pangs； and given rise to pangs of another sort； the poor Reichs Circles generally exclaiming； 〃What！ Bring the war into our own borders？ Bring the King of Prussia on our own throats！〃and stopping short in their enlistments and preparations； in vain for Austrian Officials to urge them。 Watching there； with awe…struck eye； while the 12；000 bombs flew into Prag。
The Battle of Kolin has reversed all that； and the poor old Reich is again bent on business in the Execution way。 Drumming； committeeing； projecting； and endeavoring； with all her might； in all quarters； and； from and after the event of Kolin； holding visible Encampment； in the Nurnberg Country； fractions of actual troops assembling there。 〃On the Plains of Furth； between Furth and Farrenbach； east side the River Regnitz； there was the Camp pitched；〃 says my Anonymous Friend； who gives me a cheerful Copperplate of the thing： red pennons； blue； and bright mixed colors； generals； tents； order…of…battle； and respective rallying points： with Bamberg Country in front； and the peaks of the Pine Mountains lying pleasantly behind： a sight for the curious。 ＇J。F。S。 （whom I named ANONYMOUS OF HAMBURG long since； who has boiled down； with great diligence； the old Newspapers； and gives a great many dates； notes； &c。； without Index）； i。 211； 224 （the Copperplate）。＇ It is the same ground where Mayer was careering lately； neighboring nobility and gentry glad to come in gala； and dance with Mayer。 Hither； all through July； come contingents straggling in； thicker and thicker； 〃August 8th；〃 things now about complete； the Bishop of Bamberg came to take survey of the Reichs… Heer （Bishop's remarks not given）； August 10th； came the young reigning Duke of Hildburghausen （Duke's grand…uncle is to be Commander）； on like errand； August 11th） the Reichs…Heer got on march。 Westward ho！readers will see towards what。
A truly ELENDE； or miserable； Reichs Execution Army （as the MISprinter had made it）； but giving loud voice in the Gazettes； and urged by every consideration to do something for itself。 Prince of Hildburghausena general of small merit； though he has risen in the Austrian service； and we have seen him with Seckendorf in old Turk timeshas； for his Kaiser's sake； taken the command； sensible perhaps that glo
