history of friedrich ii of prussia v 18-第47章
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Meandering Saale is on one of his big turns； as he passes Weissenfels； turning； pretty rapidly here； from southeastward； which he was a dozen miles ago； round to northeastward again or northward altogether； which he gets to be at Merseburg； a dozen farther down。 Right across from Weissenfels； lapped in this crook of the Saale； or washed by it on south side and on east； rises； with extreme laziness； a dull circular lump of country； six or eight miles in diameter； with Rossbach and half a dozen other scraggy sleepy Hamlets scattered on it；which； till the morning of Saturday； 5th November； 1757； had not been notable to any visitor。 The topmost point or points； for there are two （not discoverable except by tradition and guess）； the country people do call Hills； JANUS…HUGEL； POLZEN…HUGELHill sensible to wagon…horses in those bad loose tracks of sandy mud； but unimpressive on the Tourist； who has to admit that there seldom was so flat a Hill。 Rising； let us guess； forty yards in the three or four miles it has had。 Might be called a perceptibly pot…bellied plain； with more propriety； flat country； slightly puffed up；in shape not steeper than the mould of an immense tea…saucer would be。 Tea…saucer 6 miles in diameter； 100 feet in depth； and of irregular contour； which indeed will sufficiently represent it to the reader's mind。
Saale； at four or five miles distance； bounds this scraggy lump on the east and on the south。 Westward and northward； springing about Mucheln on each hand； and setting off to right and to left Saale… ward； are what we take to be two brooks； at least are two hollows： and behind these； the country rises higher； undulating still on lazy terms； but now painted azure by the distance； not unpleasant to behold； with its litter all lapped out of sight； and its poor brooks tinkling forward （as we judge） into the Saale； Merseburg way； or reverse…wise into the Unstrut； the last big branch of Saale。 Southward from our Janus Height； eight or nine miles off； may be seen some vestige of Freiburg； steeple or gilt weathercock faintly visible； on the Unstrut yonder；which I take to be Soubise's bread…basket at present。 And farther off； and opposite the MOUTH of the Unstrut； well across the Saale； lies another namable Town （visible in clear weather； as a smoke…cloud at certain hours； about meal…time； when the kettles are on boil）； the Town of Naumburg；one of several German Naumburgs；the Naumburg of Gustaf Adolf； where his slain body lay； on the night of Lutzen Battle； with his poor Queen and others weeping over it。 Naumburg is on the other side of Saale； not of importance to Soubise in such posture。
This is the circular block or lump of country； on the north or northwest side of which Friedrich now lies； and which will become； he little thinks how memorable on the morrow。 Over the heights； immediately eastward of Friedrich； there is a kind of hollow； or scooped…out place； shallow valley of some extent； which deserves notice against to…morrow： but in general the ground is lazily spherical； and without noticeable hollows or valleys when fairly away from the River。 A dull blunt lump of country； made of sand and mud；may have been grassy once； with broom on it； in the pastoral times； is now under poor plough…husbandry； arable or scratchable in all parts； and looks rather miserable in winter…time。 No vestige of hedge on it； of shrub or bush； one tree； ugly but big； which may have been alive in Friedrich's time； stands not far from Rossbach Hamlet； one； and no more； discoverable in these areas。
Various Hamlets lie sprinkled about： very sleepy； rusty； irregular little places； huts and cattle…stalls huddled down； as if shaken from a bag； much straw； thick thatch and crumbly mud…brick； but looking warm and peaceable； for the Four…footed and the Two… footed； which latter； if you speak to them； are solid reasonable people； with energetic German eyes and hearts； though so ill… lodged。 These Hamlets； needing shelter and spring…water； stand generally in some slight hollow； if well up the Height； as Rorschach is； sometimes； if near the bottom； they are nestled in a sudden dell or gash；work of the primeval rains； accumulating from above； and ploughing out their way。 The rains； we can see； have been busy； but there is seldom the least stream visible； bottom being too sandy and porous。 On the western slope； there is in our time a kind of coal； or coal…dust； dug up； in the way of quarrying； not of mining； and one or two big chasms of this sort are confusedly busy： the natives mix this valuable coal…dust with water； mould it into bricks； and so use as fuel： one of the features of these hamlets is the strange black bricks； standing on edge about the cottage…doors； to drip； and dry in the sun。 For this or for other reasons； the westward slope appears to be the best； and has a major share of hamlets on it： Rossbach is high up； and looks over upon Mucheln； and its dim belfry and appurtenances； which lie safe across the hollow； perhaps two miles off；safe from Friedrich； if there were eatables and lodging to be had in such a place。 Friedrich's left wing is in Rossbach。 Bedra where Friedrich's right wing is； Branderode where the Soubise right is； then Grost； Schevenroda； Zeuchfeld； Pettstadt； Lunstadt；especially Reichartswerben； where Soubise's right will come to be： these the reader may take note of in his Map。 Several of them lie in ashes just then； plundered； replundered； and at last set fire to； so busy have Soubise's hungry people been； of late； in the Country they came to 〃deliver。〃 The Freiburg road； the Naumburg road； both towards Merseburg； cross this Height； straight like the string； Saale by Weissenfels being the bow。
The HERRENHAUS （Squire's Mansion） still stands in Rossbach； with the littery Hamlet at its flank： a high； pavilion…roofed； and though dilapidated； pretentious kind of House； some kind of court round it； some kind of hedge or screen of brushwood and brick…wall： terribly in need of the besom； it and its environment throughout。 King； I suppose； did lodge there overnight： certain it is the Squire was absent； and the Squire's Man； three days afterwards； reported to him as follows： 。。。 〃Saturday； the 5th； about 8 A。M。； his Majesty mounted to the roof of the Herrenhaus here； some tiles having been removed ＇for that end； or by accident； is not said＇； and saw how the French and Reichs Army were getting in movement〃 wriggling out of their Camp leftwards； evidently aiming towards Grost。 〃In about an hour； near half their Army was through Grost； and had turned southward； rather southeastward； from Grost； out in the Rossbach and Almsdorf region； and proceeding still towards Pettstadt；〃towards Schevenroda more precisely； not towards Pettstadt yet。 〃His Majesty looked always through the perspective： and to me was the grace done to be ever at his side； and to name for him the roads the French and Reichs Army was marching。〃 ＇Muller； p。 50； Rodenbeck； p。 326。＇
The King had heard of this phenomenon hours before； and had sent out Hussars and scouts upon it； but now sees it with his eyes： 〃Going for Freiburg； and their bread…cupboard；〃 thinks the King； who does not as yet make much of the movement； but will watch it well； and calculates to have a stroke at the rear end of it； in due season。 With which view； the cavalry； Seidlitz and Mayer； are ordered to saddle； foot regiments； and all else； to be in readiness。 This French…Reichs Dauphiness is not rapid in her field… exercise； and has a great deal of wriggling and unwinding before she can fairly pick herself out； and get forward towards Schevenroda on the Freiburg road。 In three or in two parallel columns； artillery between them； horse ahead； horse arear； haggling along there；making for their bread…baskets； thinks the King。 A body of French； horse chiefly； under St。 Germain； come out； in the Schortau…Almsdorf part； with some salvoing and prancing； as if intending to attack about Rossbach； where our left wing is： but his Majesty sees it to be a pretence merely； and St。 Germain； motionless； and doing nothing but cannonade a little； seems to agree that it is so。 Dauphiness continues her slow movements； King； in this Squire's Mansion of Rossbach； sits down to dinner； dinner with Officers at the usual
