history of friedrich ii of prussia v 16-第44章
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of creatures （ER KENNT NICHT DIESE VERDAMMTE RACE） as I do！〃 ＇Nicolai； iii。 274；the thing appears to have been said in French （〃JE VOIS BIEN； MON CHER SULZER； QUE VOUS NE CONNAISSEZ PAS； COMME MOI； CETTE RACE MAUDITE A LAQUELLE NOUS APPARTENONS〃）； but the German form is irresistibly attractive； and is now heard proverbially from time to time in certain mouths。＇ Here is a speech for you！ 〃Pardon the King； who was himself so beneficent and excellent a King！〃 cry several Editors of the rose…pink type。 This present Editor； for his share； will at once forgive； but how can he ever forget！
〃Perhaps I mistake；〃 owns Voltaire； in his Pasquinade of a VIE PRIVEE； 〃but it seems to me； at these Suppers there was a great deal of ESPRIT （real wit and brilliancy） going。 The King had it； and made others have； and； what is extraordinary； I never felt myself so free at any table。〃 〃Conversation most pleasant；〃 testifies another； 〃most instructive； animated； not to be matched； I should guess； elsewhere in the world。〃 ＇Bielfeld； LETTERS； Voltaire； Vie Privee。＇ Very sprightly indeed： and a fund of good sense； a basis of practicality and fact； necessary to be in it withal； though otherwise it can foam over （if some La Mettrie be there； and a good deal of wine in him） to very great heights。
A DEMON NEWSWRITER GIVES AN 〃IDEA〃 OF FRIEDRICH； INTELLIGIBLE TO THE KNOWING CLASSES IN ENGLAND AND ELSEWHERE。
Practically； I can add only； That these Suppers of the gods begin commonly at half…past eight （〃Concert just over〃）； and last till towards midnight；not later conveniently； as the King must be up at five （in Summer…time at four）； and 〃needs between five and six hours of sleep。〃 Or would the reader care to consult a Piece expressly treating on all these points； kind of MANUSCRIPT NEWSPAPER； fallen into my hands； which seems to have had a widish circulation in its day。 ＇〃IDEE DE LA PERSONNE； DE LA MANIERE DE VIVRE； ET DE LA COUR DU ROI DE PRUSSE： juin； 1752。〃 In the Robinson Papers （one Copy） now in the British Museum。＇ I have met with Two Copies of it； in this Country： one of them； to appearance； once the property of George Selwyn。 The other is among the Robinson Papers： doubtless very luculent to Robinson； who is now home in England； but remembers many a thing。 Judging from various symptoms； I could guess this MS。 to have been much about； in the English Aristocratic Circles of that time； and to have； in some measure； given said Circles their 〃Idea〃 （as they were pleased to reckon it） of that wonderful and questionable King：highly distracted 〃Idea；〃 which； in diluted form； is still the staple English one。 By the label； DEMON NEWSWRITER； it is not meant that the Author of this poor Paper was an actual Devil； or infernal Spiritual Essence of miraculous spectral nature。 By no means！ Beyond doubt； he is some poor Frenchman； more or less definable as flesh…and…blood； gesturing about； visibly； at Berlin in 1752； in cocked…hat and bright shoe…buckles； grinning elaborate salutations to certain of his fellow…creatures there。 Possibly some hungry ATTACHE of Milord Tyrconnel's Legation； fatally shut out from the beatitudes of this barbarous Court； and willing to seek solacement； and turn a dishonest penny； in the PER…CONTRA course？ Who he is； we need not know or care： too evident； he has the sad quality of transmuting； in his dirty organs； heavenly Brilliancy； more or less； into infernal Darkness and Hatefulness； which I reckon to have been； at all times； the principal function of a Devil；function still carried on extensively； under Firms of another title； in this world。
Some snatches we will give。 For； though it does not much concern a Man or King； seriously busy； what the idle outer world may see good to talk of him； his Biographers； in time subsequent； are called to notice the matter； as part of his Life…element； and characteristic of the world he had round him。 Friedrich's affairs were much a wonder to his contemporaries。 Especially his Domesticities； an item naturally obscure to the outer world； were wonderful； sure to be commented upon； to all lengths； and by the unintelligent； first of all。 Of contemporary mankind； as we have sometimes said； nobody was more lied of：of which； let this of the Demon Newswriter be example； one instead of many。 The Demon Newswriter； deriving only from outside gossip and eavesdropping； is wrong very often；in fact； he is seldom right； except on points which have been Officially fixed； and are within reach of an inquisitive Clerk of Legation。 Wrong often enough； even in regard to external particulars； how much more as to internal；and will need checking； as we go along。
Demon speaks first of Friedrich's stature； 5ft。 6in。 （as we know better than this Demon）； 〃pretty well proportioned； not handsome； and even something of awkward （GAUCHE）； acquired by a constrained bearing ＇head slightly off the perpendicular； acquired by his flute； say the better…informed＇。 Is of the greatest politeness。 Fine tone of voice；fine even in swearing； which is as common with him as with a grenadier；〃 adds this Demon； not worth attending to； on such points。
〃Has never had a nightcap ＇sleeps bareheaded； in his later times； would sleep in his hat； which was always soft as duffel； kneaded to softness as its first duty； and did very well＇： Never a nightcap； dressing…gown； or pair of slippers ＇TRUE＇； only a kind of cloth cloak ＇NOT QUITE＇； much worn and very dirty； for being powdered in。 The whole year round he goes in the uniform of his First Battalion of Guards：blue with red facings； button…hole trimmings in silver； frogs at the inner end； his coat buttons close to the shape； waistcoat is plain yellow ＇straw…color＇； hat ＇three…cornered＇ has edging of Spanish lace； white plume ＇horizontal； resting on the lace all round＇： boots on his legs all his life。 He cannot walk with shoes ＇pooh； you！＇。
〃He rises daily at five：〃No； he does n't at all！ In fact； we had better clap the lid on this Demon； ill…informed as to all these points； and； on such suggestion； give the real account of them； distilled from Preuss； and the abundant authentic sources。
Preuss says （if readers could but remember him）： 〃An Almanac lies on the King's Table； marking for each day what specific duties the day will bring。 From five to six hours of sleep： in summer he rises about three； seldom after four； in winter perhaps an hour later。 In his older time； seven hours' sleep came to be the stipulated quantity； and he would sleep occasionally eight hours or even nine； in certain medical predicaments。 Not so in his younger years： four A。M。 and five； the set hours then。 Summer and winter； fire is lighted for him a quarter of an hour before。 King rises； gets into his clothes： 'stockings； breeches； boots； he did sitting on the bed' （for one loves to be particular）； the rest in front of the fire； in standing posture。 Washing followed； more compendious than his Father's used to be。
〃Letters specifically to his address； a courier （leaving Berlin； 9 P。M。） had brought him in the dead of night： these； on the instant of the King's calling 'Here！' a valet in the ante chamber brought in to him； to be read while his hair was being done。 His uniform the King did not at once put on； but got into a CASAQUIN ＇loose article of the dressing…gown kind； only shorter than ours＇ of rich stuff； sometimes of velvet with precious silver embroideries。 These Casaquins were commonly sky…blue （which color he liked）； presents from his Sisters and Nieces。 Letters being glanced over； and hair…club done； the Life…guard General…Adjutant hands in the Potsdam Report （all strangers that have entered Potsdam or left it； the principal item）： this； with a Berlin Report； which had come with the Letters； and what of Army…Reports had arrived （Adjutant… General delivering these）；were now glanced over。 And so； by five o'clock in the summer morning； by six in the winter； one sees； in the gross； what one's day's…work is to be； the miscellaneous STONES of it are now mostly here； only mortar and walling of them to be thought of。 General…Adjutant and his affairs are first settled： on each thing a word or two； which the General…Adjutant （always a highly confidential Of
