history of friedrich ii of prussia v 16-第33章
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ior here。 Has behaved to meoh； like a miserable； envious； intriguing； lying little scoundrel； and made Berlin too hot for him： seduced Tinois my Clerk； stole bits of the Pucelle （brief SIGHT of bits； for Prince Henri's sake） to ruin me。 〃D'Arnaud sent his lies to Freron for the Paris meridian ＇that is his real crime＇； delightful news from canaille to canaille： 'How Voltaire had lost a great Lawsuit； respectable Jew Banker cheated by Voltaire； that Voltaire was disgraced by the King；' who of course loves Jews； 'that Voltaire was ruined； was ill； nay at last； that Voltaire was dead。'〃 To the joy of Freron； and the scoundrels that are printing one's PUCELLE。 〃Voltaire is still in life； however； my angels； and the King has been so good to me in my sickness； I should be the ungratefulest of men if I didn't still pass some months with him。 When he left Berlin ＇30th January； six weeks ago＇； and I was too ill to follow him； I was the sole animal of my species whom he lodged in his Palace there ＇what a beautiful bit of color to lay on！＇He left me equipages； cooks ET CETERA； and his mules and horses carted out my temporary furniture （MEUBLES DE PASSADE） to a delicious House of his； close by Potsdam ＇MARQUISAT to wit； where I now stretch myself at ease； Niece Denis coming to live with me there；talks of coming； if my angels knew it＇；and he has reserved for me a charming apartment in his Palace of Potsdam； where I pass a part of the week。
〃And； on close view； I still admire this Unique Genius； and he deigns to communicate himself to me；and if I were not 300 leagues from you； and had a little health； I should be the happiest of men。〃 ＇ OEuvres de Voltaire； lxxiv。 320。＇ 。。。 Oh； my angels
And； in short； better or worse； my SECOND ACT is begun； as you perceive！And certain readers will be apt to look in again； before all is over。
Chapter VIII。
OST…FRIESLAND AND THE SHIPPING INTERESTS。
Two Foreign Events； following on the heel of the Hirsch Lawsuit； were of interest to our Berlin friends； though not now of much to us or anybody。 April 5th； 1751； the old King of Sweden； Landgraf of Hessen…Cassel； died； whereby not only our friend Wilhelm； the managing Landgraf； becomes Landgraf indeed （if he should ever turn up on us again）； but Princess Ulrique is henceforth Queen of Sweden； her Husband the new King。 No doubt a welcome event to Princess Ulrique； the high brave…minded Lady； but which proved intrinsically an empty one； not to say worse than empty； to herself and her friends； in times following。 Friedrich's connection with Sweden； which he had been tightening lately by a Treaty of Alliance； came in the long…run to nothing for him； on the Swedish side； and on the Russian has already created umbrages； kindled abstruse suspicions； indignations；Russian Excellency Gross； abruptly； at Berlin； demanding horses； not long since； and posting home without other leave…taking； to the surprise of mankind； Russian Czarina evidently in the sullens against Friedrich； this long while； dull impenetrable clouds of anger lodging yonder； boding him no good。 All which the Accession of Queen Ulrique will rather tend to aggravate than otherwise。 ＇Adelung； vii。 205 （Accession of Adolf Friedrich）； ib。 133 （Gross's sudden Departure）。＇
The Second Foreign Event is English； about a week prior in date； and is of still less moment： March 31st； 1751； Prince Fred； the Royal Heir…Apparent； has suddenly died。 Had been ill； more or less； for an eight days past； was now thought better； though 〃still coughing； and bringing up phlegm；〃when； on 〃Wednesday night between nine and ten；〃 in some lengthier fit of that kind； he clapt his hand on his breast； and the terrified valet heard him say； 〃JE SUIS MORT！〃and before his poor Wife could run forward with a light； he lay verily dead。 ＇Walpole； GEORGE THE SECOND； i。 71。＇ The Rising Sun in England is vanished； then。 Yes； and with him his MOONS； and considerable moony workings； and slushings hither and thither； which they have occasioned； in the muddy tide…currents of that Constitutional Country。 Without interest to us here； or indeed elsewhere；except perhaps that our dear Wilhelmina would hear of it； and have her sad reflections and reminiscences awakened by it； sad and many…voiced； perhaps of an almost doleful nature； being on a sick…bed at this time； poor Lady。 She quitted Berlin months ago； as we observed；her farewell Letter to Friedrich； written from the first stage homewards； and melodious as the voice of sorrowful true hearts to us and him； dates 〃November 24th；〃 just while Voltaire （whom she always likes； and in a beautiful way protects； 〃FRERE VOLTAIRE；〃 as she calls him） was despatching Hirsch on that ill… omened Predatory STEUER…Mission。 Her Brother is in real alarm for Wilhelmina； about this time； sending out Cothenius his chief Doctor； and the like： but our dear Princess re…emerges from her eclipse； and we shall see her again； several times； if we be lucky。
And so poor Fred is ended；and sulky people ask； in their cruel way； 〃Why not？〃 A poor dissolute flabby fellow…creature； with a sad destiny； and a sadly conspicuous too。 Could write Madrigals； be set to make Opposition cabals。 Read this sudden Epitaph in doggerel； an uncommonly successful Piece of its kind； which is now his main monument with posterity。 The 〃Brother〃 （hero of Culloden）； the 〃Sister〃 （Amelia； our Friedrich's first love； now growing gossipy and spiteful； poor Princess）； are old friends：
〃Here lies Prince Fred； Who was alive and is dead： Had it been his Father； I had much rather； Had it been his Brother； Sooner than any other；
Had it been his Sister； There's no one would have missed her； Had it been his whole generation； Best of all for the Nation： But since it's only Fred； There's no more to be said。〃 ＇Walpole； i。 436。＇
FRIEDRIAH VISITS OST…FRIESLAND。
A thing of more importance to us； two months after that catastrophe in London； is Friedrich's first Visit to Ost…Friesland。 May 3lst； having done his Berlin…Potsdam Reviews and other current affairs； Friedrich sets out on this Excursion。 With Ost…Friesland for goal； but much business by the way。 Towards Magdeburg； and a short visit to the Brunswick Kindred； first of all。 There is much reviewing in the Magdeburg quarter； and thereafter in the Wesel； and reviewing and visiting all along： through Minden； Bielfeld； Lingen： not till July 13th does he cross the Ost…Friesland Border； and enter Embden。 His three Brothers； and Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick； were with him。 ＇ Helden…Geschichte； iii。 506； Seyfarth； ii。 145； Rodenbeck； i。 216 （who gives a foolish German myth； of Voltaire's being passed off for the King's Baboon； &c。； Voltaire not being there at all）。＇ On catching view of Ost…Friesland Border； see； on the Border…Line； what an Arch got on its feet： Triumphal Arch； of frondent ornaments； inscriptions and insignia； 〃of quite extraordinary magnificence；〃 Arch which 〃sets every one into the agreeablest admiration。〃 Above a hundred such Arches spanned the road at different points； multitudinous enthusiasm reverently escorting； 〃more than 20；000〃 by count： till we enter Embden； where all is cannon…salvo； and three…times…three； the thunder…shots continuing； 〃above 2；000 of them from the walls； not to speak of response from the ships in harbor。〃 Embden glad enough； as would appear； and Ost…Friesland glad enough； to see their new King。 July 13th； 1751； after waiting above six years。
Next day； his Majesty gave audience to the new 〃Asiatic Shipping Company〃 （of which anon）； to the Stande； and Magisterial persons； with many questions； I doubt not； about your new embankments； new improvements； prospects； there being much procedure that way； in all manner of kinds； since the new Dynasty came in； now six years ago。 Embankments on your River； wide spaces changed from ooze to meadow； on the Dollart still more； which has lain 500 years hidden from the sun。 Does any reader know the Dollart？ Ost…Friesland has awakened to wonderful new industries within these six years； urged and guided by the new King； who has great things in view for it； besides what are in actual progress。
That of dikes； se
