history of friedrich ii of prussia v 18-第49章
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d of taking other people； intercepted； not in the least needing to intercept！ Has no time to form； though he tried what he could。 Only the two Austrian regiments got completely formed； the rest very incompletely； and Seidlitz； in the blaze of rapid steel； is in upon them。 The two Austrian regiments； and two French that are named； made what debate was feasible；courage nowise wanting； in such sad want of captaincy； nay Soubise in person galloped into it； if that could have helped。 But from the first； the matter was hopeless； Seidlitz slashing it at such a rate； and plunging through it and again through it； thrice； some say four times： so that； in the space of half an hour； this luckless cavalry was all tumbling off the ground； plunging down… hill； in full flight； across its own infantry or whatever obstacle； Seidlitz on the hips of it； and galloping madly over the horizon； towards Freiburg as it proved； and was not again heard of that day。
In about half an hour that bit of work was over； and Seidlitz； with his ranks trimmed again； had drawn himself southward a little； into the Hollow of Tageswerben； there to wait impending phenomena。 For Friedrich with the Infantry is now emerging over Janus Hill； in a highly thunderous manner；eighteen pieces of artillery going； and 〃four big guns taken from the walls of Leipzig；〃 and there will be events anon。 It is said； Hildburghausen； at the first glimpse of Friedrich over the hill…top； whispered to Soubise； 〃We are lost； Royal Highness！〃〃Courage！〃 Soubise would answer； and both； let us hope； did their utmost in this extremely bad predicament they had got into。
Friedrich's artillery goes at a murderous rate； had come in view； over the hill…top； before Seidlitz ended；〃nothing but； the muzzles of it visible〃 （and the fire…torrents from it） to us poor French below。 Friedrich's lines； or rather his one line； mere tip of his left wing；only seven battalions in it； five of them under Keith from the second or reserve line； whole centre and right wing standing 〃refused〃 in oblique rank； invisible； BEHIND the Hill； Friedrich's line； we say； the artillery to its right； shoots out in mysterious Prussian rhythm； in echelons； in potences； obliquely down the Janus…Hill side； straight； rigid； regular as iron clock… work； and strides towards us； silent； with the lightning sleeping in it：Friedrich has got the flank of Dauphiness； and means to keep it。 Once and again and a third time； poor Soubise； with his poor regiments much in an imbroglio； here heaped on one another； there with wide gaps； halt being so sudden；attempts to recover the flank； and pushes out this regiment and the other； rightward； to be even with Friedrich。 But sees with despair that it cannot be； that Friedrich with his echelons； potences and mysterious Prussian resources； pulls himself out like the pieces of a prospect…glass； piece after piece； hopelessly fast and seemingly no end to them； and that the flank is lost； and thatUnhappy Generals of Dauphiness； what a phenomenon for them！ A terrible Friedrich； not fled to Merseburg at all； but mounted there on the Janus Hill； as on his saddle…horse； with face quite the other way；and for holster…pistol； has plucked out twenty…two cannon。 Clad verily in fire； Chimera…like； RIDING the Janus Hill； in that manner； left leg （or wing） of him spurning us into the abysses； right one ready to help at discretion！
Hildburghausen； I will hope； does his utmost； Soubise； Broglio； for certain do。 The French line is in front； next the Prussians： poor Generals of Dauphiness are panting to retrieve themselves。 But with regiments jammed in this astonishing way； and got collectively into the lion's throat； what can be done？ Steady； rigid as iron clock…work； the Prussian line strides forward； at forty paces' distance delivers its first shock of lightning； bursts into platoon fire； and so continues； steady at the rate of five shots a minute；hard to endure by poor masses all in a coil。 〃The artillery tore down whole ranks of us；〃 says the Wutenberg Dragoon； ＇His Letter in MULLER； p。 83。＇ 〃the Prussian musketry did terrible execution。〃
Things began ％o waver very soon； French reeling back from the Prussian fire； Reichs troops rocking very uneasy； torn by such artillery； when； to crown the matter； Seidlitz； seeing all things rock to the due extent； bursts out of Tageswerben Hollow； terribly compact and furious； upon the rear of them。 Which sets all things into inextricable tumble； and the Battle is become a rout and a riding into ruin； no Battle ever more。 Lasted twenty…five minutes； this second act of it； or till half…past four： after which； the curtains rapidly descending （Night's curtain； were there no other） cover the remainder； the only stage…direction； EXEUNT OMNES。 Which for a 50 or 60；000； ridden over by Seidlitz Horse； was not quite an easy matter！ They left； of killed and wounded； near 3；000； of prisoners； 5；000 （Generals among them 8； Officers 300）： in sum； about 8；000； not to mention cannon； 67 or 72； with standards； flags； kettle…drums and meaner baggages AD LIBITUM in a manner。 The Prussian loss was； 165 killed； 376 wounded；between a sixteenth and a fifteenth part of theirs： in number the Prussians had been little more than one to three； 22；000 of all arms；not above half of whom ever came into the fire； Seidlitz and seven battalions doing all the fighting that was needed； St。 Germain tried to cover the retreat； but 〃got broken；〃 he says；Mayer bursting in on him；and soon went to slush like the others。
Seldom； almost never； not even at Crecy or Poictiers； was any Army better beaten。 And truly； we must say； seldom did any better deserve it； so far as the Chief Parties went。 Yes； Messieurs； this is the PETIT MARQUIS DE BRANDEBOURG； you will know this one； when you meet him again！ The flight； the French part of it； was towards Freiburg Bridge； in full gallop； long after the chase had ceased； crossing of the Unstrut there； hoarse； many…voiced； all night； burning of the Bridge； found burnt； when Friedrich arrived next morning。 He had encamped at Obschutz； short way from the field itself。 French Army； Reichs Army； all was gone to staves； to utter chaotic wreck。 Hildburghausen went by Naumburg； crossed the Saale there； bent homewards through the Weimar Country； one wild flood of ruin； swift as it could go； at Erfurt 〃only one regiment was in rank； and marched through with drums beating。〃 His Army； which had been disgustingly unhappy from the first； and was now fallen fluid on these mad terms； flowed all away in different rills； each by the course straightest home； and Hildburghausen arriving at Bamberg； with hardly the ghost or mutilated skeleton of an Army； flung down his truncheon；〃A murrain on your Reichs Armies and regimental chaoses！〃and went indignantly home。 Reichs Army had to begin at the beginning again； and did not reappear on the scene till late next Year； under a new Commander； and with slightly improved conditions。
Dauphiness Proper was in no better case； and would have flowed home in like manner； had not home been so far； and the way unknown。 Twelve thousand of them rushed straggling through the Eichsfeld； plundering and harrying； like Cossacks or Calmucks： 〃Army blown asunder； over a circle of forty miles' radius；〃 writes St。 Germain： 〃had the Enemy pursued us； after I got broken ＇burst in upon by Mayer and his Free…Corps people＇ we had been annihilated。 Never did Army behave worse； the first cannon…salvo decided our rout and our shame。〃 ＇St。 Germain to Verney： different Excerpts of Letters in the two weeks after Rossbach and before （given in Preuss； ii。 97）。＇
In two days' time （November 7th）； the French had got to Langensalza； fifty…five miles from the Battle…field of Rossbach； plundering； running； SACRE…DIEU…ing； a wild deluge of molten wreck； filling the Eichsfeld with its waste noises； making night hideous and day too；in the villages Placards were stuck up； appointing Nordhausen and Heiligenstadt for rallying place。 ＇Muller； p。 73。＇
Soubise rode； with few attendants； all night towards Nordhausen； eighty miles off； foot of the Bracken Country； where the Richelieu resources are；Soubise with few attendants； face set towards the Brocken； himself； it is like； in a somewhat hag…ridden cond
