history of friedrich ii of prussia v 16-第45章
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st settled： on each thing a word or two； which the General…Adjutant （always a highly confidential Officer； a Hacke； a Winterfeld； or the like） pointedly takes down。
〃General…Adjutant gone； the King； in sky…blue casaquin ＇often in very faded condition＇ steps into his writing…room； walks about； reading his Letters more completely； drinking； first； several glasses of water； then coffee； perhaps three cups with or without milk ＇likes coffee； and very strong＇。 After coffee he takes his flute； steps about practising； fantasying： he has been heard to say； speaking of music and its effects on the soul； That during this fantasying he would get to considering all manner of things； with no thought of what he was playing； and that sometimes even the luckiest ideas about business…matters have occurred to him while dandling with the flute。 Sauntering so； he is gradually breakfasting withal： will eat； intermittently； small chocolate cakes； and after his coffee； cherries； figs； grapes； fruits in their season ＇very fond of fruit； and has elaborate hot…houses＇。 So passes the early morning。
〃Between nine and ten； most of one's plan…work being got through； the questions of the day are settled； or laid hold of for settling。 Between nine and ten； King takes to reading the 'Excerpts' （I suppose； of the more intricate or lengthier things） of Yesterday； which his three Cabinet Raths ＇Clerk Eichel and the other Two＇ have prepared for him。 King summons these Three； one after the other； according to their Department； hands them the Letters just read； the Excerpts now decided on； and signifies； in a minimum of words； what the answers are to be；Clerk； always in full dress； listening with both his ears； and pencil in hand。 May have； of Answers； CABINET…ORDERS so called； perhaps a dozen； to be ready with before evening。 ＇〃In a certain Copy or Final…Register Book ＇Herr Preuss's Windfall； of which INFRA＇ entitled KABINETSORDENKOPIALBUCH； of One of the three Clerks； years 1746…1752； there are； on the average； ten CABINET…ORDERS daily； Sundays included〃 （Preuss； i。 352 n。）。＇
〃Eichel and Company dismissed； King flings off his casaquin； takes his regimental coat； has his hair touched off with pomade； with powder； and is buttoned and ready in about five minutes；ready for Parade； which is at the stroke of eleven； instead of later； as it used to be in Papa's time。 If eleven is not yet come； he will get on horseback； go sweeping about； oftenest with errands still； at all events in the free solitude of air； till Parade…time do come。 The Parole ＇Sentry's…WORD of the Day＇ he has already given his Adjutant…General。 Parole； which only the Adjutant and Commandant had known till now； is formally given out； and the troops go through their exercises； manoeuvres； under a strictness of criticism which never abates。〃 〃Parade he by no chance ever misses；〃 says our Demon friend。
〃At the stroke of twelve；〃 continues Preuss； 〃dinner is served。 Dinner threefold； that is； a second table and a third。 Only two courses； dishes only eight； even at the King's Table； （eight also at the Marshal's or second Table）； guests from seven to ten。 Dinner plentiful and savory （for the King had his favorites among edibles）； by no means caring to be splendid；yearly expense of threefold Dinner （done accurately by contract） was 1；800 pounds。〃 Linsenbarth we saw at the Third Table； and how he fared。 〃The dinner…service was of beautiful porcelain； not silver； still less gold； except on the grandest occasions。 Every guest eats at discretion；of course！and drinks at discretion； Moselle or Pontac ＇kind of claret＇； Champagne and Hungary are handed round on the King's signal。 King himself drinks Bergerac； or other clarets； with water。 Dinner lasts till two；if the conversation be seductive； it has been known to stretch to four。 The King's great passion is for talk of the right kind； he himself talks a great deal； tippling wine…and…water to the end； and keeps on a level with the rising tide。
〃With a bow from Majesty； dinner ends； guests gently； with a little saunter of talk to some of them； all vanish； and the King is in his own Apartment again。 Generally flute…playing for about half an hour； till Eichel and the others come with their day's work： tray…loads of Cabinet…Orders； I can fancy； which are to be 'executed；' that is； to be glanced through； and signed。 Signature for most part is all； but there are Marginalia and Postscripts； too； in great number； often of a spicy biting character； which； in our time； are in request among the curious。〃 Herr Preuss； who has right to speak； declares that the spice of mockery has been exaggerated； and that serious sense is always the aim both of Document and of Signer。 Preuss had a windfall； 12；000 of these Pieces； or more； in a lump； in the way of gift； which fell on him like manna；and led； it is said； to those Friedrich studies； extensive faithful quarryings in that vast wilderness of sliding shingle and chaotic boulders。
〃Coffee follows this despatch of Eichel and Consorts； the day now one's own。〃 Scandalous rumors； prose and verse； connect themselves with this particular epoch of the day； which appear to be wholly LIES。 Of which presently。 〃In this after…dinner period fall the literary labors；〃 says Preuss：a facile pen； this King's； only two hours of an afternoon allowed it； instead of all day and the top of the morning。 〃About six； or earlier even； came the Reader ＇La Mettrie or another＇； came artists； came learned talk。 At seven is Concert； which lasts for an hour； half…past eight is Supper。〃 ＇Preuss； i。 344…347 （and； with intermittencies； pp。 356； 361； 363 &c。 to 376）； abridged。＇
Demon Newswriter says； of the Concert： 〃It is mostly of wind… instruments；〃 King himself often taking part with his flute； 〃performers the best in Europe。 He has three〃what shall we call them？ of male gender；〃a counter…alt； and Mamsell Astrua； an Italian； they are unique voices。 He cannot bear mediocrity。 It is but seldom he has any singing here。 To be admitted； needs the most intimate favor； now and then some young Lord； of distinction； if he meet with such。〃 Concert； very well；but let us now； suppressing any little abhorrences； hear him on another subject：
〃Dinner lasts one hour ＇says our Demon； no better informed＇： upon which the King returns to his Apartment with bows。 It pretty often happens that he takes with him one of his young fellows。 These are all handsome； like a picture （FAITS A PEINDRE）； and of the beautifulest face；〃adds he； still worse informed； poisonous malice mixing itself； this time； with the human darkness； and reducing it to diabolic。 This Demon's Paper abounds with similar allusions； as do the more desperate sort of Voltaire utterances；VIE PRIVEE treating it as known fact； Letters to Denis in occasional paroxysms； as rumor of detestable nature； probably true of one who is so detestable； at least so formidable； to a guilty sinner his Guest。 Others； not to be called diabolical； as Herr Dr。 Busching； for example； speak of it as a thing credible； as good as known to the well…informed。 And； beyond the least question； there did a thrice…abominable rumor of that kind run； whispering audibly； over all the world； and gain belief from those who had appetite。 A most melancholy business。 Solacing to human envy；explaining also； to the dark human intellect； why this King had commonly no Women at his Court。 A most melancholy portion of my raw…material； this； concerning which； since one must speak of it； here is what little I have to say： 1。 That proof of the NEGATIVE； in this or in any such case； is by the nature of it impossible。 That it is indisputable Friedrich did not now live with his Wife； nor seem to concern himself with the empire of women at all； having； except now and then his Sisters and some Foreign Princess on short visit； no women in his Court； and though a great judge of Female merits； graces and accomplishments； seems to worship women in that remote way alone； and not in any nearer。 Which occasioned great astonishment in a world used so much to the contrary。 And gave rise to many conjectures among the idle of mankind； 〃What； on Earth； or under Earth； can be the meaning of it？〃and among others； to the above scandalous rumor； as some solacement to human mal
