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第27章

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;

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