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第37章

history of friedrich ii of prussia v 18-第37章

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or suspicions of intrigue; much about her。 His Duchess; Louisa Dorothee; is a Princess of distinguished qualities; literary tastes;Voltaire's Hostess; Friedrich's Correspondent: a bright and quietly shining illumination to the circle she inhabits。 Duke is now fifty…eight; Duchess forty…seven; and they lost their eldest Son last year。 There has been lately a considerable private brabble as to Tutorage of the Duke of Weimar (Wilhelmina's maddish Duke; who is dead lately; and a Prince left; who soon died also; but left a Son; who grew to be Goethe's friend); Tutorage claimed by various Cousins; has been adjudged to this one; King Friedrich co…operating in such result。

〃As to the famed Grand…Duchess; she is a Sachsen…Meiningen Princess; come of Ernst the Pious; of Johann the Magnanimous; as her Husband and all these Sachsens are: when Voltaire went precipitant; with such velocity; from the Potsdam Heaven; she received him at Gotha; set him on writing his HISTORY OF THE EMPIRE; and endeavored to break his fall。 She was noble to Voltaire; and well honored by that uncertain Spirit。 There is a fine Library at Gotha; and the Lady bright loves Books; and those that can write them;a friend of the Light; a Daughter of the Sun and the Empyrean; not of Darkness and the Stygian Fens。〃 'Michaelis; i。 517; &c。 &c。'

Friedrich's first Letter to her Highness was one of thanks; above a year ago; for an act of kindness; act of justice withal; which she did to one of his Official people。 Here; on the morrow of that dinner; is the second Letter; much more aerial and cordial; in which style they all continue; now that he has seen the admired Princess。


TO THE MOST SERENE GRAND…DUCHESS OF SACHSEN…GOTHA。

DITTELSTADT; 〃16th September; 1757。

〃MADAM;Yesterday was a Day I shall never forget; which satisfied a just desire I have had; this long while; to see and hear a Princess whom all Europe admires。 I am not surprised; Madam; that you subdue people's hearts; you are made to attract the esteem and the homage of all who have the happiness to know you。 But it is incomprehensible to me how you can have enemies; and how men representing Countries that by no means wish to pass for barbarous; can have been so basely (INDIGNEMENT) wanting in the respect they owe you; and in the consideration which is due to all sovereigns 'French not famous for their refined demeanor in Saxony this time'。 Why could not I fly to prevent such disorders; such indecency! I can only offer you a great deal of good…will; but I feel well that; in present circumstances; the thing wanted is effective results and reality。 May I; Madam; be so happy as to render you some service! May your fortune be equal to your virtues! I am with the highest consideration; Madam; your Highness's faithful Cousin; F。〃 ' OEuvres de Frederic;  xvii。 166。'

To Wilhelmina he says of it; next day; still gratified; though sad news have come in the interim;death of Winterfeld; for one black item:

。。。 〃The day before yesterday I was in Gotha。 It was a touching scene to see the partners of one's misfortunes; with like griefs and like complaints。 The Duchess is a woman of real merit; whose firmness puts many a man to shame。 Madam de Buchwald appears to me a very estimable person; and one who would suit you much: intelligent; accomplished; without pretensions; and good…humored。 My Brother Henri is gone to see them to…day。 I am so oppressed with grief; that I would rather keep my sadness to myself。 I have reason to congratulate myself much on account of my Brother Henri; he has behaved like an angel; as a soldier; and well towards me as a Brother。 I cannot; unfortunately; say the same of the elder。 He sulks at me (IL ME BODE); and has sulkily retired to Torgau; from whence; I hear; he is gone to Wittenberg。 I shall leave him to his caprices and to his bad conduct; and I prophesy nothing good for the future; unless the younger guide him。〃 '〃Kirschleben; near Erfurt; 17th September; 1757〃 ( OEuvres de Frederic;  xxvii。 i。 306)。' 。。。

This is part of a long sad Letter to Wilhelmina; parts of which we may recur to; as otherwise illustrative。 But before going into that tragic budget of bad news; let us give the finale of Gotha; which occurred the next day;tragi…comic in part;and is the last bit of action in those dreary four weeks。

GOTHA; 18th SEPTEMBER。 〃Since Thursday 15th; Major…General Seidlitz;〃 youngest Major…General of the Army; but a rapidly rising man; 〃has been Commandant in Gotha; under flourishing circumstances; popular and supreme; though only with a force of 1;500; dragoons and hussars。 Monday morning early; Seidlitz's scouts bring word that the Soubise…Hildburghausen people are in motion hitherward; French hussars and Austrian; Turpin's; Loudon's; all that are; grenadiers in mass;total; say; 8;000 horse and foot; with abundance of artillery;have been on march all night; to retake Gotha; with all the Chief Generals and Dignitaries of the Army following in their carriages; for some hours past; to see it done。 Seidlitz; ascertaining these things; has but one course left;that of clearing himself out; which he does with orderly velocity: and at 9 A。M。 the Dignitaries and their 8;000 find open gates; Seidlitz clean off; occupy the posts; with due emphasis and flourish; and proceed to the Schloss in a grand triumphant way; where privately they are not very welcome; though one puts the best face on it; and a dinner of importance is the first thing imperative to be set in progress。 A flurried Court; that of Gotha; and much swashing of French plumes through it; all this morning; since Seidlitz had to flit。

〃Seidlitz has not flitted very far。 Seidlitz has ranked his small dragoon…hussar force in a hollow; two miles off; has got warning sent to a third regiment within reach of him; 'Come towards me; and in a certain defile; visible from Gotha eastward; spread yourselves so and so!'and judges by the swashing he hears of up yonder; that perhaps something may still be done。 Dinner; up in the Schloss; is just being taken from the spit; and the swashing at its height; when'Hah what is that; though?' and all plumes pause。 For it is Seidlitz; artistically spread into single files; on the prominent points of vision; advancing again; more like 15;000 than 1;500: 'And in the Defile yonder; that regiment; do you mark it; the King's vanguard; I should say?To horse!'

〃That is Seidlitz's fine Bit of Painting; hung out yonder; hooked on the sky itself; as temporary background to Gotha; to be judged of by the connoisseurs。 For pictorial effect; breadth of touch; truth to Nature and real power on the connoisseur; I have heard of nothing equal by any artist。 The high Generalcy; Soubise; Hildburghausen; Darmstadt; mount in the highest haste; everybody mounts; happy he who has anything to mount; the grenadiers tumble out of the Schloss; dragoons; artillery tumble out; Dauphiness takes wholly to her heels; at an extraordinary pace: so that Seidlitz's hussars could hardly get a stroke at her; caught sixty and odd; nine of them Officers not of mark; did kill thirty; and had such a haul of equipages and valuable effects; cosmetic a good few of them; habilatory; artistic; as caused the hussar heart to sing for joy。 Among other plunder; was Loudon's Commission of Major…General; just on its road from Vienna 'poor Mannstein's death the suggesting cause; say some';undoubtedly a shining Loudon; to whom Friedrich; next day; forwarded the Document with a polite Note。〃 ' Helden…Geschichte;  iv。 640; Westphalen; ii。 37;  OEuvres de Frederic;  iv; 147。''

The day after this bright feat of Seidlitz's; which was a slight consolation to Friedrich; there came a Letter from the Duchess; not of compliment only; the Letter itself had to be burnt on the spot; being; as would seem; dangerous for the High Lady; who was much a friend of Friedrich's。 Their Correspondence; very polite and graceful; but for most part gone to the unintelligible state; and become vacant and spectral; figures considerably in the Books; and was; no doubt; a considerable fact to Friedrich。 His Answer on this occasion may be given; since we have it;lest there should not elsewhere be opportu

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