history of friedrich ii of prussia v 16-第20章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!
nbarth'; saying; The King sent me this to take me home to Berlin again。
〃And if the hussar took me into the Palace; it was now the Secretary that took me out again。 And there; yoked with six horses; stood a royal Proviant…wagon; which having led me to; the Secretary said: 'You people; the King has given order you are to take this stranger to Berlin; and also to accept no drink…money from him。' I again; through the HERRN SECRETARIUM; testified my most submissive thankfulness for all Royal graciousnesses; took my place; and rolled away。
〃On reaching Berlin; I went at once to the Packhof; straight to the office…room;〃standing more erect this time;〃and handed them my Royal Rescript。 The Head man opened the seal; in reading; he changed color; went from pale to red; said nothing; and gave it to the second man to read。 The second put on his spectacles; read; and gave it to the third。 However; he 'the Head man' rallied himself at last: I was to come forward; and be so good as write a quittance (receipt); 'That I had received; for my 400 thalers all in Batzen; the same sum in Brandenburg coin; ready down; without the least deduction。' My cash was at once accurately paid。 And thereupon the Steward was ordered; To go with me to the White Swan in the Judenstrasse; and pay what I owed there; whatever my score was。 For which end they gave him twenty…four thalers; and if that were not enough; he was to come and get more。〃 On these high terms Linsenbarth marched out of the Packhof for the second time; the sublime head of him (not turned either) sweeping the very stars。
〃That was what the King had meant when he said; 〃You shall have your money back and interest too:' VIDELICET; that the Packhof was to pay my expenses at the White Swan。 The score; however; was only 10 thaler;' 4 groschen; 6 pfennigs '30 shillings; 5 pence; and 2 or perhaps 3 quarter…farthings'; for what I had run up in eight weeks;〃an uncommonly frugal rate of board; for a man skilled in Hermeneutics; Hebraics; Polemics; Thetica; Exegetics; Pastorale; Morale (and Practical Christianity and the Philosophy of Zeno; carried to perfection; or nearly so)! 〃And herewith this troubled History had its desired finish。〃 And our gray…whiskered; raw…boned; great…hearted Candidatus lay down to sleep; at the White Swan; probably the happiest man in all Berlin; for the time being。
Linsenbarth dived now into Private…teaching; 〃INFORMATION;〃 as he calls it; forming; and kneading into his own likeness; such of the young Berliners as he could get hold of:surely not without some good effect on them; the model having; besides Hermeneutics in abundance; so much natural worth about it。 He himself found the mine of Informing a very barren one; as to money: continued poor in a high degree; without honor; without emolument to speak of; and had a straitened; laborious; and what we might think very dark Life…pilgrimage。 But the darkness was nothing to him; he carried such an inextinguishable frugal rushlight within。 Meat; clothes and fire he did not again lack; in Berlin; for the time he needed them;some twenty…seven years still。 And if he got no printed praise in the Reviews; from baddish judges writing by the sheet; here and there brother mortals; who knew him by their own eyes and experiences; looked; or transiently spoke; and even did; a most real praise upon him now and then。 And; on the whole; he can do without praise; and will stand strokes even without wincing or kicking; where there is no chance。
A certain Berlin Druggist (〃Herr Medicinal…Assessor Rose;〃 whom we may call Druggist First; for there were Two that had to do with Linsenbarth) was good and human to him。 In Rose's House; where he had come to teach the children; and which continued; always thenceforth; a home to him when needful; he wrote this NARRATIVE (Anno 1774); and died there; three years afterwards;〃24th August; 1777; of apoplexy; age 88;〃 say the Burial Registers。 'In Rodenbeck; Beitrage; i。 472…475; these latter Details (with others; in confused form); IB。 462…471; the NARRATIVE itself。' Druggist Second; on succeeding the humane Predecessor; found Linsenbarth's papers in the drug…stores of the place: Druggist Second chanced to be one Klaproth; famed among the Scientific of the world; and by him the Linsenbarth Narrative was forwarded to publication; and such fame as is requisite。
SIR JONAS HANWAY STALKS ACROSS THE SCENE; TOO; IN A PONDERING AND OBSERVING MANNER。
Of the then very famous 〃Berlin Carrousel of 1750〃 we propose to say little; the now chief interesting point in it being that M。 de Voltaire is curiously visible to us there。 But the truth is; they were very great days at Berlin; those of Autumn; 1750; distinguished strangers come or coming; the King giving himself up to entertainment of them; to enjoyment of them; with such a hearty outburst of magnificence; this Carrousel the apex of it; as was rare in his reign。 There were his Sisters of Schwedt and Baireuth; with suite; his dear Wilhelmina queen of the scene; '〃Came 8th August〃 (Rodenbeck; 205)。' there were It would be tedious to count what other high Herrschaften and Durchlauchtig Persons。 And to crown the whole; and entertain Wilhelmina as a Queen should be; there had come M。 de Voltaire; conquered at length to us; as we hope; and the Dream of our Youth realized。 Voltaire's reception; July 10th and ever since; has been mere splendor and kindness; really extraordinary; as we shall find farther on。 Reception perfect in all points; except that of the Pompadour's Compliments alone。 〃That sublime creature's compliments to your Majesty; such her express command! 〃 said Voltaire。 〃JE NE LA CONNAIS PAS;〃 answered Friedrich; with his clear…ringing voice; 〃I don't know her;〃 'Voltaire to Madame Denis; 〃Potsdam; 11th August; 1750〃 ( OEuvres; lxxiv。 184)。' sufficient intimation to Voltaire; but painful and surprising。 For which some diplomatic persons blame Friedrich to this day; but not I; or any reader of mine。 A very proud young King; in his silent way; always the prouder; and stands in no awe of the Divine Butterflies and Crowned Infatuations never so potent; as more prudent people do。
In a Berlin of such stir and splendor; the arrivals of Sir Jonas Hanway; of the 〃young Lord Malton〃 (famed Earl or Marquis of Rockingham that will be); or of the witty Excellency Hanbury; are as nothing;Sir Jonas's as less than nothing。 A Sir Jonas noticed by nobody; but himself taking note; dull worthy man; and mentionable now on that account。 Here is a Scrap regarding him; not quite to be thrown away:
〃Sir Jonas Hanway was not always so extinct as he has now become。 Readers might do worse than turn to his now old Book of TRAVELS again; and the strange old London it awakens for us: A 'Russian Trading Company;' full of hope to the then mercantile mind; a Mr。 Hanway despatched; years ago; as Chief Clerk; inexpressibly interested to manage well;and managing; as you may read at large。 Has done his best and utmost; all this while; and had such travellings through the Naphtha Countries; sailings on the Caspian; such difficulties; successes;ultimately; failure。 Owing to Mr。 Elton and Thamas Kouli Khan mainly。 Thamas Kouli Khanotherwise called Nadir Shah (and a very hard…headed fellow; by all appearance)wiled and seduced Mr。 Elton; an Ex…Naval gentleman; away from his Ledgers; to build him Ships; having set his heart on getting a Navy。 And Mr。 Elton did build him (spite of all I could say) a Bark or two on the Caspian;most hopeful to the said Nadir Shah; but did it come to anything? It disgusted; it alarmed the Russians; and ruined Sir Jonas;who is returning at this period; prepared to render account of himself at London; in a loftily resigned frame of mind。 'Jonas Hanway; An Account of &c。 (or in brief; TRAVELS: London; 3 vols。 4to; 1753); ii。 183。 〃Arrived in Berlin;〃 from the Caspian and Petersburg side; 〃August 15th; 1750。〃'
〃The remarks of Sir Jonas upon Berlinfor he exercises everywhere a sapient observation on men and thingsare of dim tumidly insignificant character; reminding us of an extinct Minerva's Owl; and reduce themselves mainly to this bit of ocular testimony; That his P