history of friedrich ii of prussia v 18-第27章
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Seckendorf in old Turk timeshas； for his Kaiser's sake； taken the command； sensible perhaps that glory is not likely to be rife here； but willing to make himself useful。 Kaiser and Austria urge； everywhere； with all their might： Prince of Hessen…Darmstadt； who lay on the Weissenberg lately； one of Keith's distinguished seconds there and a Prussian Officer of long standing； has； on Kaiser's order； quitted all that； and become Hildburghausen's second here； in the Camp of Furth； thinking the path of duty lay that way； though his Wife； one of the noble women of her age； thought very differently。 ＇Her Letter to Friedrich； 〃Berlin； 30th October； 1757；〃 OEuvres de Frederic； xxvii。 ii。 135。＇ A similar Kaiser's order； backed by what Law…thunder lay in the Reich； had gone out against Friedrich's own Brothers； and against every Reichs Prince who was in Friedrich's service； but； except him of Hessen…Darmstadt； none of them had much minded。 ＇In Orlich； Furst Moritz von Anhalt Dessau （Berlin； 1842）； pp。 74； 75； Prince Moritz's rather mournful Letter on the subject； with Friedrich's sharp Answer。＇ I did not hear that his strategic talent was momentous： but Prussia had taught him the routine of right soldiering； surely to small purpose； and Friedrich； no doubt； glanced indignantly at this small thing； among the many big ones。
From about the end of June； the Reichs Army kept dribbling in： the most inferior Army in the world； no part of it well drilled； most of it not drilled at all； and for variety in color； condition； method； and military and pecuniary and other outfit； beggaring description。 Hildburghausen does his utmost； Kaiser the like。 The number should have far exceeded 50；000； but was not； on the field； of above half that number： 25；000； add at least 8；000 Austrian troops； two regiments of them cavalry； good these 8；000； the rest bad；that was the Reichs Execution Army； most inferior among Armies； and considerable part of it； all the Protestant part； privately wishing well to Friedrich； they say。 Drills itself multifariously in that Camp between Furth and Farrenbach； on the east side of Regnitz River。 Fancy what a sight to Wilhelmina； if she ever drove that way； which I think she hardly would。 The Baireuth contingent itself is there； the Margraf would have held out stiff on that point； but Friedrich himself advised compliance。 Margraf of Anspachperverse tippling creature； ill with his Wife； I doubthas joyfully sent his legal hundreds； will vote for the Reichs Ban against this worst of Germans； whom he has for Brother…in…law。 Dark days in the heart of Wilhelmina； those of the Camp at Furth。 Days which grow ever darker； with strange flashings out of empyrean lightning from that shrill true heart； no peace more； till the noble heroine die！
This ELENDE Reichs…Heer； miserable 〃Army of the Circles；〃 is mockingly called 〃the Hoopers； Coopers （TONNELIERS）；〃 and gets quizzing enough； under that and other titles； from an Opposition Public。 Far other from the French and Austrians； who are bent that it should do feats in the world； and prove impressive on a robber King。 Thus too； 〃for Deliverance of Saxony；〃 to co…operate with Reichs…Heer in that sacred object； thanks to the zeal of Pompadour； Prince de Soubise has got together； in Elsass； a supplementary 30；000 （40；330 said Theory； but Fact never quite so many）： and is passing them across the Rhine； in Frankfurt Country； all through July； while the drilling at Furth goes on。 With these； Soubise； simultaneously getting under way； will steer northeastward； join the Reichs…Heer about Erfurt； before August end； andand we shall see what becomes of the combined Soubise and Reichs Army after that！
It must be owned； the French； Pompadour and love of glory urging； are diligent since the event of Kolin。 In select Parisian circles； the Soubise Army； or even that of D'Estrees altogether；produced by the tears of a filial Dauphiness；is regarded as a quasi… sacred； or uncommonly noble thing； and is called by her name； 〃L'ARMEE DE LA DAUPHINE；〃 or for shortness 〃LA DAUPHINE〃 without adjunct。 Thus； like a kind of chivalrous Bellona； vengeance in her right hand； tears and fire in her eyes； the DAUPHINESS advances； and will join Reichs…Heer at Erfurt before August end。 Such the will of Pompadour； Richelieu encouraging； for reasons of his own。 Soubise； I understand； is privately in pique against poor D'Estrees； ＇〃Reappeared unexpectedly in Paris ＇from D'Estree's Army＇； 22d June〃 （four days after Kolin）： got up this DAUPHINESS ARMY； by aid of Pompadour； with Richelieu； &c。： BARBIER； iv。 227； 231。 Richelieu 〃busy at Strasburg lately〃 （29th July： Collini's VOLTAIRE； p。 191）。＇ and intends to eclipse him by a higher style of diligence； though D'Estrees too is doing his best。
July 3d； we saw the D'Estrees people taking Embden； D'Estrees； quiet so long in his Camp at Bielefeld； had at once bestirred himself； Kolin being done；shot out a detachment leftwards； and Embden had capitulated that day。 Adieu to the Shipping Interests there； and to other pleasant things！ 〃July 9th； after sunset；〃 D'Estrees himself got on march from Bielefeld； set forth； in the cool of night； 60；000 strong； and 10；000 more to join him by the road （the rest are left as garrisons； reserves；1；000 marauders of them swing as monitory pendulums； on their various trees； for one item）；direct towards Hanover and Royal Highness of Cumberland； who retreats； and has retreated； behind the Ems； the Weser； back； ever back； and； to appearance； will make a bad finish yonder。
To Friedrich； waiting at Leitmeritz； all these things are gloomily known； but the most pressing of them is that of the Austrians and Jung…Bunzlau close by。 Let us give some utterances of his to Wilhelmina； nearly all we have of direct from him in that time； and then hasten to the Prince of Prussia there：
FRIEDRICH TO WILHELMINA （at Baireuth）。
LEITMERITZ； 1st JULY； 1757。 。。。 〃Sensible as heart can be to the tender interest you deign to take in what concerns me。 Dear Sister； fear nothing on my score： men are always in the hand of what we call Fate〃 （〃Predestination； GNADENWAHL；〃Pardon us； Papa！〃CE QU'ON NOMME LE DESTIN）； accidents will befall people； walking on the streets； sitting in their room； lying in their bed； and there are many who escape the perils of war。 。。。 I think； through Hessen will be the safest route for your Letters； till we see； and not to write just now except on occasions of importance。 Here is a piece in cipher； anonymous；〃intended for the Newspapers； or some such road。
JULY 5th。 〃By a Courier of Plotho's； returning to Regensburg ＇who passes near you＇； I write to apprise my dear Sister of the new misery which overwhelms us。 We have no longer a Mother。 This loss puts the crown on my sorrows。 I am obliged to act； and have not time to give free course to my tears。 Judge； I pray you； of the situation of a feeling heart put to so cruel a trial。 All losses in the world are capable of being remedied； but those which Death causes are beyond the reach of hope。〃
JULY 7th。 〃You are too good； I am ashamed to abuse your indulgence。 But do； since you will； try to sound the French； what conditions of Peace they would demand； one might judge as to their intentions。 Send that Mirabeau （CE M。 DE MIRABEAU） to France。 Willingly will I pay the expense。 He may offer as much as five million thalers ＇750；000 pounds＇ to the Favorite ＇yes； even to the Pompadour＇ for Peace alone。 Of course； his utmost discretion will be needed；〃 should the English get the least wind of it！ But if they are gone to St。 Vitus； and fail in every point； what can one do？ CE M。 DE MIRABEAU； readers will be surprised to learn； is an Uncle of the great Mirabeau's； who has fallen into roving courses； gone abroad insolvent； and 〃directs the Opera at Baireuth；〃 in these years！One Letter we will give in full：
〃LEITMERITZ； 13th Jnly； 1757。
〃MY DEAREST SISTER；Your Letter has arrived： I see in it your regrets for the irreparable loss we have had of the best and worthiest Mother in this world。 I am so struck down with all these blows from within and without； that I feel myself in a sort of Stupefaction。
〃The French have just laid hold of Friesland ＇seized Embden；
