history of friedrich ii of prussia v 18-第39章
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han Dryasdust！ Mahomet's Koran； treated by the Arab Dryasdust （merely turning up the bottom of that Box of Shoulder… blades； and printing them）； has become dreadfully tough reading； on this side of the Globe； and has given rise to the impossiblest notions about Mahomet！ Indisputable it is； Heroes； in their affliction； Mahomet and David； have solaced themselves by snatches of Psalms； by Suras； bursts of Utterance rising into Song；and if Friedrich； on far other conditions； did the like； what has History to say of blame to him？
Wilhelmina comes out very strong； in this season of trouble； almost the last we see of our excellent Wilhelmina。 Like a lioness； like a shrill mother when her children are in peril。 A noble sisterly affection is in Wilhelmina； shrill Pythian vehemence trying the impossible。 That a Brother； and such a Brother； the most heroic now breathing； brave and true； and the soul of honor in all things； should have the whole world rise round him； like a delirious Sorcerer's…Sabbath； intent to hurl the mountains on him； seems such a horror and a madness to Wilhelmina。 Like the brood… hen flying in the face of wild dogs； and packs of hounds in full trail！ Most Christian Pompadour Kings； enraged Czarinas； implacable Empress…Queens； a whole world in armed delirium rushes on； regardless of Wilhelmina。 Never mind； my noble one； your Brother will perhaps manage to come up with this leviathan or that among the heap of them； at a good time； and smite into the fifth rib of him。 Your Brother does not the least shape towards giving in； thank the Heavens； he will stand to himself at least； his own poor strength will all be on his own side。
Wilhelmina's hopes of a Peace with France； mission of her Mirabeau； missions and schemes not a few； we have heard of on Wilhelmina's part with this view； but the notablest is still to mention： that of stirring up； by Voltaire's means； an important…looking Cardinal de Tencin to labor in the business。 Eminency Tencin lives in Lyon； known to the Princess on her Italian Tour；shy of asking Voltaire to dinner on that fine occasion；but； except Officially； is not otherwise than well…affected to Voltaire。 Was once Chief Minister of France； and would fain again be； does not like these Bernis novelties and Austrian Alliances； had he now any power to overset them。 Let him correspond with Most Christian Majesty； at least； plead for a Peace with Prussia； Prussia being so ready that way。 Eminency Tencin； on Voltaire's suggestion； did so； perhaps is even now doing so； till ordered to hold HIS peace on such subjects。 This is certain and well known； but nothing else is known； or to us knowable； about it； Voltaire； in vague form； being our one authority； through whom it is vain to hunt； and again hunt。 ＇ OEuvres （Memoires）； ii。 92； 93； IB。 i。 143； Preuss； ii。 84。＇ The Dates； much more the features and circumstances； all lie buried from us； andtill perhaps the Lamentation…Psalms are well editedmust continue lying。 As a fact certain； but undeniably vague。
Voltaire's procedure； one can gather； is polite； but two…faced； not sublime on this occasion。 In fact； is intended to serve himself。 To the high Princess he writes devotionally； ready to obey in all things； and then to his Eminency Cardinal Tencin； it rather seems as if the tone were： 〃Pooh！ yes； your Eminency； such are the poor Lady's notions。 But does your Eminency take notice how high my connections are； what service a poor obscure creature might perhaps do the State some day？〃 Friedrich himself is； in these ways； brought into correspondence with Voltaire again； and occasionally writes to him in this War； and ever afterwards： Voltaire responds with fine sympathy； always prettily； in the enthusiasm of the moment；and at other times he writes a good deal about Friedrich； oftenest in rather a mischievous dialect。 〃The traitor！〃 exclaim some Prussian writers； not many or important； in our time。 In fact； there is a considerable touch of grinning malice （as of Monkey VERSUS Cat； who had once burnt HIS paw； instead of getting his own burnt）； in those utterances of Voltaire； some of which the reader will grin over too； without much tragic feeling；the rather as they did our Felis Leo no manner of ill； and show our incomparable SINGE with a sparkle of the TIGRE in him； theoretic sparkle merely and for moments； which makes him all the more entertaining and interesting at the domestic hearth。
Of Friedrich's Lamentation…Psalms we propose to give the First and the Last： these； with certain Prose Pieces； intermediate and connecting； may perhaps be made intelligible to readers； and throw some light on these tragic weeks of the King's History：
1。 EPITRE A MA SOEUR （First of the Lamentation…Psalms）。This is the famed 〃Epistle to Wilhelmina；〃 already spoken of； which the King despatched from Bernstadt 〃August 24th；〃 just while quitting those parts； on the Erfurt Errand；though written before； in the tedium of waiting for Keith。 The Piece is long； vehement； altogether sincere； lyrically sings aloud； or declaims in rhyme； what one's indignant thought really is on the surrounding woes and atrocities。 We faithfully abridge； and condense into our briefest Prose；readers can add water and the jingle of French rhymes AD LIBITUM。 It starts thus：
〃O sweet and dear hope of my remaining days； O Sister； whose friendship； so fertile in resources； shares all my sorrows； and with a helpful arm assists me in the gulf！ It is in vain that the Destinies have overwhelmed me with disasters： if the crowd of Kings have sworn my ruin； if the Earth have opened to swallow me； you still love me； noble and affectionate Sister： loved by you； what is there of misfortune？ ＇Branches off into some survey of it； nevertheless。＇
〃Huge continents of thunder…cloud； plots thickening against me ＇in those Menzel Documents＇； I watched with terror； the sky getting blacker； no covert for me visible： on a sudden； from the deeps of Hell； starts forth Discord ＇with capital letter＇； and the tempest broke。
Ce fut dans ton Senat； O fouqueuse Angleterre！ Ou ce monstre inhumain fit eclater la guerre：
It was from thy Senate； stormful England； that she first launched out War。 In remote climates first； in America； far away；between France and thee。 Old Ocean shook with it； Neptune； in the depths of his caves （SES GROTTES PROFONDES）； saw the English subjecting his waves （SES ONDES）： the wild Iroquois； prize of these crimes （FORFAITS）； bursts out； detesting the tyrants who disturb his Forests；〃and scalping Braddock's people； and the like。
〃Discord； charmed to see such an America； and feeble mortals crossing the Ocean to exterminate one another； addresses the European Kings： 'How long will you be slaves to what are called laws？ Is it for you to bend under worn…out notions of justice； right？ Mars is the one God： Might is Right。 A King's business is to do something famous in this world。'
〃O daughter of the Caesars；〃 Maria Theresa； 〃how； at these words； ambition； burning in thy soul； breaks out uncontrollable！ Probity； honor； treaties； duty： feeble considerations these； to a heart letting loose its flamy passions； determining to rob the generous Germans of their liberties； to degrade thy equals； to extinguish 'Schism' （so called）； and set up despotism on the wrecks of all。〃
〃Huge project〃〃FIER TRIUMVIRAT；〃what not： 〃From Roussillon and the sunny Pyrenees to frozen Russia； all arm for Austria； and march at her bidding。 They concert my downfall； trample on my rights。
〃The Daughter of the Caesars； proudly certain of victory；'t is the way of the Great； whose commonplace virtue； pusillanimous in reverses； overbearing in success； cannot bridle their cupidity； designates to the Triumvirate what Kings are to be proscribed ＇Britannic George and me； Reich busy on us both even now＇； and those ungrateful tyrants； by united crime； immolate to each other； without remorse； their dearest allies。〃 For instance：
〃O jour digne d'oubli！ Quelle atroce imprudence！ Therese； c'est l'Anglais que tu vends a la France：
Theresa！ it is England thou art selling to France；〃Yes； a thing worth noting。 〃Thy generous support in thy first adversities； thy one
