history of friedrich ii of prussia v 18-第73章
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carriages that came in： happily； by Ziethen's prudence； the money； a large sum； had been lodged in the vanmost of these。 The rest of the Convoy； ball； powder； bread； was of little value to Loudon； but beyond value to Friedrich at this moment； and it has gone to annihilation and the belly of Chaos and the Croats。 Among the tragic wrecks of this Convoy there is one that still goes to our heart。 A longish； almost straight row of young Prussian recruits stretched among the slain； what are these？ These were 700 recruits coming up from their cantons to the Wars； hardly yet six months in training： see how they have fought to the death； poor lads； and have honorably； on the sudden； got manumitted from the toils of life。 Seven hundred of them stood to arms； this morning； some sixty…five will get back to Troppau； that is the invoice account。 They lie there； with their blond young cheeks and light hair； beautiful in death；could not have done better； though the sacred poet has said nothing of them hitherto；nor need； till times mend with us and him。 Adieu； my noble young Brothers； so brave； so modest； no Spartan nor no Roman more； may the silence be blessed to you！
Contrary to some current notions； it is comfortably evident that there was a considerable fire of loyalty in the Prussians towards their King； during this War； loyalty kept well under cover； not wasting itself in harangues or noisy froth； but coming out； among all ranks of men； in practical attempts to be of help in this high struggle； which was their own as well as his。 The STANDE； landed Gentry； of Pommern and other places； we heard of their poor little Navy of twelve gunboats； which were all taken by the Swedes。 Militia Regiments too； which did good service at Colberg； as may transiently appear by and by：in the gentry or upper classes； a respectable zeal for their King。 Then； among the peasantry or lower classHere are Seven Hundred who stood well where he planted them。 And their Mothers Be Spartan also； ye Mothers！ In peaceable times； Tempelhof tells us the Prussian Mother is usually proud of having her son in this King's service： a country wife will say to you： 〃I have three of them； all in the regiment；〃 Billerbeck； Itzenplitz； or whatever be the Canton regiment； 〃the eldest is ten inches ＇stands five feet ten＇； the second is eleven； the third eight； for indeed he is yet young。〃
Daun； on the day of this Domstadtl business； and by way of masking it； feeling how vital it was； made various extensive movements； across the River by several Bridges； then hither； thither； on the farther side of Olmutz； mazing up and down： Friedrich observing him； till he should ripen to something definite； followed his bombarding the while； perhaps having hopes of wager of battle ensuing。 Of the disaster at Domstadtl Friedrich could know nothing； Loudon having closed the roads。 Daun by no means ripens into battle： news of the disaster reached Friedrich next day （Saturday； July 1st）；who 〃immediately assembled his Generals； and spoke a few inspiring words to them；〃 such as we may fancy。 Friedrich perceives that Olmutz is over； that his Third Campaign； third lunge upon the Enemy's heart； has prospered worse； thus far； than either of the others； that he must straightway end this of Olmutz； without any success whatever； and try the remaining methods and resources。 No word of complaint； they say； is heard from Friedrich in such cases； face always hopeful； tone cheery。 A man in Friedrich's position needs a good deal of Stoicism； Greek or other。
That Saturday night the Prussian bombardment is quite uncommonly furious； long continuing； no night yet like it：the Prussians are shooting off their superfluous ammunition this night； do not quite end till Sunday is in。 On Sunday itself； packings； preparations； all completed； and； 〃Keith； with above 4；000 wagons； safe on the road since 2 A。M。〃the Prussians softly vanish in long smooth streams； with music playing； unmolested by Daun； and leaving nothing； it is boasted； but five or three mortars； which kept playing to the last； and one cannon； to which something had happened。
Of the retreat there could be much said； instructive to military men who were studious； extremely fine retreat； say all judges；of which my readers crave only the outlines； the results。 Daun； it was thought； should have ruined Friedrich in this retreat； but he did nothing of harm to him。 In fact； for a week he could not comprehend the phenomenon at all； and did not stir from his place；which was on the other； or wrong； side of the River。 Daun had never doubted but the retreat would be to Silesia； and he had made his detachments； and laid himself out for doing something upon it； in that direction： but； lo； what roads are these； what motions whitherward？ In about a week it becomes manifest that the retreat； which goes on various roads； sometimes three at once； has converged on Leutomischl； straight for Bohemia instead of Silesia； and that Daun is fallen seven days behind it； incapable now to do anything。 Not even the Magazine at Leutomischl could be got away； nor could even the whole of it be burnt。
Keith and the baggage once safe in Leutomischl （July 8th）； all goes in deliberate long column； Friedrich ahead to open the passages。 July 14th； after five more marches； Friedrioh bursts up Konigsgratz； scattering any opposition there is； and sits down there； in a position considered； he knows well how inexpugnable； to live on the Country； and survey events。 The 4；000 baggage…wagons came in about entire。 Fouquet had the first division of them； and a secondary charge of the whole； an extremely strict； almost pedantic man； and of very fiery temper： 〃HE； D'OU VENEZ…VOUS？〃 asked he sharply of Retzow senior； who had broken through his order； one day； to avert great mischief： 〃How come you here； MON GENERAL？〃 〃By the Highway； your Excellency！〃 answered Retzow in a grave stiff tone。 ＇Retzow； i。 302。＇
Keith himself takes the rear…guard； the most ticklish post of all； and manages it well； and with success； as his wont is。 Under sickness at the time； but with his usual vigilance； prudence； energy； qualities apt to be successful in War。 Some brushes of Croat fighting he had from Loudon； but they did not amount to anything。 It was at Holitz； within a march of Konigsgratz； that Loudon made his chief attempt； a vehement； well…intended thing； which looked well at one time。 But Keith heard the cannonading ahead； hurried up with new cavalry； new sagacity and fire of energy； dashed out horse…charges； seized hill…tops； of a vital nature； and quickly ended the affair。 A man fiery enough； and prompt with his stroke when wanted； though commonly so quiet。 〃Tell Monsieur；〃some General who seemed too stupid or too languid on this occasion；〃Tell Monsieur from me；〃 said Keith to his Aide… de…camp； 〃he may be a very pretty thing； but he is not a man （QU'IL PEUT ETRE UNE BONNE CHOSE； MAIS QU'IL N'EST PAS UN HOMME）！〃 ＇Varnhagen； Leben des &c。 Jakob von Keith； p。 227。＇ The excellent vernacular Keith；still a fine breadth of accent in him； one perceives！ He is now past sixty； troubled with asthma； and I doubt not may be； occasionally； thinking it near time to end his campaigns。 And in fact； he is about ending them； sooner than he or anybody had expected。
Daun； picking his steps and positions； latterly with threefold precaution； got into Konigsgratz neighborhood； a week after Friedrich； and looked down with enigmatic wonder upon Friedrich's new settlement there。 Forage abundant all round； and the corn… harvest growing white；here； strange to say； has Friedrich got planted in the inside of those innumerable Daun redoubts； and 〃woods of abatis；〃 and might make a very pretty 〃Bohemian Campaign〃 of it； after all； were Daun the only adversary he had！ Judges are of opinion； that Daun； with all his superiority of number； could not have disrooted Friedrich this season。 ＇Tempelhof； ii。 170…176； 185；who； unluckily； in soldier fashion； here as too often elsewhere； does not give us the Arithmetical Numbers of each； but counts by 〃Battalions〃 and 〃 Squadrons；〃 which； except in time of Peace； are a totally uncertain quantity：guess vaguely； 75；000 against 30；000。＇ Daun did try him by the Pandour methods； 〃1；000 Croat
