history of friedrich ii of prussia v 18-第51章
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ger； but an 〃Allied Army〃 （such now our title）； intending to strike for ourselves； and get out of pound straightway！
〃THURSDAY； 24th NOVEMBER…TUESDAY； 29th。 Duke Ferdinand did accordingly pick up the reins of this distracted Affair； and； in a way wonderful to see； shot sanity into every fibre of it； and kept it sane and road…worthy for the Five Years coming。 With a silent velocity； an energy； an imperturbable steadfastness and clear insight into cause and effect； which were creditable to the school he came from； and were a very joyful sight to Pitt and others concerned。 So that from next Tuesday； 'November 29th； before daylight；' when Ferdinand's batteries began playing upon Harburg （French Fortress nearest to Stade）； the reign of the French ceased in those Countries； and an astonished Richelieu and his French； lying scattered over all the West of Germany； in readiness for nothing but plunder； had to fall more or less distracted in their turn； and do a number of astonishing things。 To try this and that； of futile； more or less frantic nature； be driven from post after post； be driven across the Aller first of all；Richelieu to go home thereupon； and be succeeded by one still more incompetent。
〃DECEMBER 13th； a fortnight after Ferdinand's appearance； Richelieu had got to the safe side of the Aller （burning of Zelle Bridge and Zelle Town there； his last act in Germany）； Ferdinand's quarters now wide enough； and vigorous speed of preparation going on for farther chase； were the weather mended。 FEBRUARY 17th； 1758； Ferdinand was on foot again； Prince de Clermont； the still more incompetent successor of Richelieu； gazing wide…eyed upon him； but doing nothing else： and for the next six weeks there was seen a once triumphant Richelieu…D'Estrees French Army； much in rags； much in disorder； in terror； and here and there almost in despair； winging their way； like clouds of draggled poultry caught by a mastiff in the corn。 Across Weser； across Ems； finally across the Rhine itself； every feather of them；their long…drawn cackle； of a shrieky type； filling all Nature in those months； the mastiff steadily following。 ＇Mauvillon； i。 252…284 （〃9th November； 1757…1st April； 1758〃）； Westphalen； i。 316…503 （abundantly explicit； authentic and even entertaining；with the ample Correspondences； ib。 ii。 147…350）； Schaper； Vie militaire du Marechal Prince Ferdinand （2 tomes； 8vo； Magdebourg； 1796； 1799）； i。 7…100 （a careful Book； of an official exactitude； like Westphalen's；and appears to be left incomplete like his）。＇ To the astonishment of Pitt and mankind。 Can this be the same Army that Royal Highness led to the Sea and the Parish Pound？ The same identically； wasted to about two…thirds by Royal Highness； not a drum in it changed otherwise； only One Man different；and he is the important one！
〃Pitt； when the news of Rossbach came； awakening the bonfires and steeple…bells of England to such a pitch； had resolved on an emphatic measure： that of sending English Troops to reinforce our Allied Army； and its new General；such an Ally as that Rossbach one being rare in the eyes of Pitt。 'Postpone the meeting of Parliament； yet a few days； your Majesty；' said Pitt； 'till I get the estimates ready！' ＇Thackeray； i。 310。＇ To which Majesty assented； and all England with him： 'England's own Cause；' thinks Pitt； with confidence： 'our way of Conquering America；and； in the circumstances； our one way！' English did land； accordingly； first instalment of them； a 12；000 （in August next）； increased gradually to 20；000； with no end of furnishings to them and everybody； with results again satisfactory to Pitt； and very famous in the England that then was； dim as they are now grown。〃
The effect of all which was； that Pitt； with his Ferdinands and reinforcements； found work for the French ever onwards from Rossbach； French also turning as if exclusively upon perfidious Albion： and the thing became； in Teutschland； as elsewhere； a duel of life and death between these natural enemies；Teutschland the centre of it；Teutschland and the accessible French Sea…Towns； but the circumference of it going round from Manilla and Madras to Havana and Quebec again。 Wide…spread furious duel； prize； America and life。 By land and sea； handsomely done by Pitt on both elements。 Land part； we say； was always mainly in Germany； under Ferdinand；in Hessen and the Westphalian Countries； as far west as Minden； as far east as Frankfurt…on…Mayn； generally well north of Rhine； well south of Elbe： that was； for five years coming； the cockpit or place of deadly fence between France and England。 Friedrich's arena lies eastward of that； occasionally playing into it a little； and played into by it； and always in lively sympathy and consultation with it： but； except the French subsidizings； diplomatizings。 and great diligenae against him in foreign Courts； Friedrich is； in practical respects； free of the French； and ever after Rossbach； Ferdinand and the English keep them in full work； growing yearly too full。 A heavy Business for England and Ferdinand； which is happily kept extraneous to Friedrich thenceforth； to him and us； which is not on the stage of his affairs and ours； but is to be conceived always as vigorously proceeding alongside of it； close beyond the scenes； and liable at any time to make tragic entry on him again：of which we shall have to notice the louder occurrences and cardinal phases； but； for the future； nothing more。
Soubise； who had crept into the skirts of the Richelieu Army in Hanover or Hessen Country； had of course to take wing in that general fright before the mastiff。 Soubise did not cross the Rhine with it； Soubise made off eastward； ＇Westphalen； i。 501 （〃end of March； 1758〃＇。＇found new roost in Hanau…Frankfurt Country； and had thoughts of joining the Austrians in Bohemia next Campaign； but got new order；such the pinches of a winged Clermont with a mastiff Ferdinand at his poor draggled tail；and came back to the Ferdinand scene； to help there； and never saw Friedrich again。 Both Broglio and he had a good deal of fighting （mostly beating） from Ferdinand； and a great deal of trouble and sorrow in the course of this War； but after Rossbach it is not Friedrich or we； it is Ferdinand and the Destinies that have to do with them。 Poor Soubise； except that he was the creature of Generalissima Pompadour； which had something radically absurd in it； did not deserve all the laughter he got： a man of some chivalry； some qualities。 As for Broglio； I remember always； not without human emotion； the two extreme points of his career as a soldier： Rossbach and the Fall of the Bastille。 He was towards forty； when Friedrich bestrode the Janus Hill in that fiery manner； he was turned of seventy when； from the pavements of Paris； the Chimera of Democracy rose on him； in fire of a still more horrible description。
Dauphiness…Bellona； in her special and in her widest sense； has made exit； then。 Gone； like clouds of draggled poultry home across the Rhine。 She was the most marauding Army lately seen； also the most gasconading； and had the least capacity for fighting： three worse qualities no army could have。 How she fought； we have seen sufficiently。 Before taking leave of her forever； readers； as she is a paragon in her kind； would perhaps take a glance or two at her marauding qualities；by a good opportunity that offers。 Plotho at Regensburg； that a supreme Reichs Diet may know what a 〃deliverance of Saxony〃 this has been； submits one day the following irrefragable Documents； 〃which have happened；〃 not without good industry of my own； 〃to fall into my ＇Plotho's＇ hands。〃 They are Documents partly of epistolary； partly of a Petitionary form； presented to Polish Majesty； out of that Saxon Country； and have an AFFIDAVIT quality about them； one and all。
1。 BIG DAUPHINESS （that is； D'Estrees） IN THE WESEL COUNTRIES； AT AN EARLY STAGE；WHILE STILL ENDEAVORING WHAT SHE COULD TO BEHAVE WELL； HANGING 1；000 MARAUDERS AND THE LIKE （A private Letter）：
〃COUNTY MARK； 20th JUNE； 1757。 The French troops are going on here in a way to utterly ruin us。 Schmidt； their President of Justice； whom they set up in Cleve； has got orders to change all the Magistracies of the Country ＇Protestant by nature＇
