GIFT or Irving Lindhahr L ^7i tTT? Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2008 with funding from IVIicrosoft Corporation http://www.archive.org/details/berlinsanssoucioOOmundrich ft BERLIN AND SANS-SOUCI OR, FREDERICK THE GREAT AND HIS FRIENDS <%.n historical Boinance BY L. MOHLBACH ADTHOI or JOSBPH D. AND HIS COURT, FREDERICK THB CRBAT AND HB MERCHANT OP BERtIN, ETC TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN BY Mrs. chapman COLEMAN AND HER DAUGHTERS NEW YORK THE McCLURE CO. MCMX « ' . t «• r .« f »^. '• • • ••• . * " ' • ••• OOPTBIGHT, 1887, Br D. APPLETON AND COMPANY. OOIJfTEIJfTS BOOK I. PAOB tuj^f. I. — The Alchemist's Incantation, . 9 II.— The Old Courtier, 14 III.— The Morning Hours of a King, . . 24 IV.— The Pardoned Courtier, .... 33 v.— How the Princess Ulrica became Queen of Sweden, . 44 VI.— The Tempter, ...... 52 VII.— The First Interview, .... . 63 VIII. — Signora Barbarina, ..... 72 IX.— The King and Barbarina, . 77 X.— Eckhof. . . . . 87 XI.— A Life Question, ..... . 95 XII.— Superstition and Piety, . • • • loa BOOK II. Chap. 1.— The Two Sisters, . 114 II.— The Tempter, 122 III.— The Wedding-Festival of the Princess Ulrica, . . 126 IV.— Behind the Curtain, 131 V. — A Shame-faced King, .... . 135 VI.— The First Rendezvous, . . . . 145 VII.— On the Balcony, . 149 VIII.— The First Cloud 157 IX.— The Council of War, .... . 168 X.— The Cloister of Camens, . . . . 172 XL— The King and the Abbot, . 178 XII.— The Unknown Abbot, .... 184 XIIL— The Levee of a Dancer, .... . 189 XIV.— The Studio 200 XV.— The Confession, . 208 M 1591 IV BERLIN AND SANS-SOUCl. XVI.— The Traitor, . XVII.— The Silver-Ware, . XVIII.— The First Flash of Lifjhtning, PAGB 314 233 237 BOOK III. Chap. I.— The Actors in Halle, . 289 II. — The Student Lupinus, • « 243 III.— The Disturbance in the Theatre, . 347 IV.— The Friends, .... 250 v.— The Order of the King, . . 354 VI.— The Battle of Sohr, . 359 VII.— After the Battle, .... . 363 VIII.— A Letter Pregnant with Fate, 370 IX.— The Return to Berlin, . '. 380 X.— Job's Post, .... 383 XI.— The Undeceived, .... . 391 XII.— Trenck's First Flight, 301 XIII.— The Flight, .... . 316 XIV.— "I will," .... 326 XV.— The Last Struggle for Power, . . 336 XVI.— The Disturbance in the Theatre, . 345 XVII.— Sans-Souci . 353 BOOK IV. Chap. I.— The Promise, .... 358 II. — Voltaire and his Royal Friend, . . . 369 III.— The Confidence-Table, 386 IV.— The Confidential Dinner, . 403 v.— Rome Sauvee, .... 415 VI.— A Woman's Heart, . 423 VII. — Madame von Cocceji, . . 433 VIII.— Voltaire . 441 IX.— A Day in the Life of Voltaire, 451 X.— The Lovers, . . • . . 467 XI.— Barbarina, . . • . . 477 XII.— Intrigues, ..... . 485 XIII.— The Last Struggle, . 494 BERLIN AND SANS-SOUCI; OR, FRBDEKICK THE GREAT AND HIS FRIENDa BOOK L CHAPTER I. THE alchemist's INCANTATION. It was a lovely May morning 1 The early rays of the Bun had not withered the blossoms, or paled the fresh green of the garden of Charlottenburg, but quickened them into new life and beauty. The birds sang merrily in the groves. The wind, with light whispers, swept through the long avenues of laurel and orange trees, which surrounded the superb greenhouses and conservatories, and scattered far and wide throughout the garden clouds of intoxicating per- fume. The garden was quiet and solitary, and the closed shut- ters of the castle proved that not only the king, but the en- tire household, from the dignified and important chamber- lain to the frisky garden-boy, still slept. Suddenly the si- lence was broken by the soimd of hasty steps. A young man, in simple citizen costume, ran up the great avenue which led from the garden gate to the conservatory; then cautiously looking about him, he drew near to a window of the lower story in a wing of the castle. The window was closed and secured with inside shutters; a small piece of white paper was seen between the glass and the shutter. A passer-by might have supposed this was accidental, but the young burgher knew that this little piece of paper was a signal. His light stroke upon the window disturbed 9 10 BERLIN AND SANS-SOUCI ; OR, for a moment the deathlike silence around, but produced no other effect; he struck again, more loudly, and listened breathlessly. The shutters were slowly and cautiously opened from within, and behind the glass was seen the wan, sick face of Fredersdorf, the private secretary and favorite of the king. When he saw the young man, his features as- sumed a more animated expression, and a hopeful smile played upon his lip ; hastily opening the window, he gave the youth his hand. " Good-morning, Joseph," said he ; " I have not slept during the whole night, I was so impatient to re- 'Ccive new,^ f rpr^, you^ Has he shown himself ? " "' Joseph' howed his head sadly. "He has not yet shown ■ lii^elft" ke replied iii a hollow voice; "all our efforts have : be0a' in Taia; , ^.e. Imxe again sacrificed time, money, and etrength. He has not yet appeared." " Alas ! " cried Fredersdorf, " who could believe it so difficult to move the devil to appear in person, when he makes his presence known daily and hourly through the deeds of men ? I must and will see him ! He must and shall make known this mystery. He shall teach me how and of what to make gold." " He will yield at last ! " cried Joseph, solemnly. "What do you say? Will we succeed? Is not all hope lost?" " All is not lost : the astrologer heard this night, during his incantations, the voice of the devil, and saw for one moment the glare of his eye, though he could not see his person." " He saw the glare of his eye ! " repeated Fredersdorf joyfully. " Oh, we will yet compel him to show himself wholly. He must teach us to make gold. And what said the voice of the devil to our astrologer ? " " He said these words : * Would you see my face and hear words of golden wisdom from my lips? so offer me, when next the moon is full and shimmers like liquid gold in the heavens, a black ram; and if you shed his blood for me, and if not one white hair can be discovered upon him, I will appear and be subject to you.' " " Another month of waiting, of patience, and of torture," murmured Fredersdorf. "Four weeks to search for this FREDERICK THE GREAT AND HIS FRIENDS. H black ram without a single white hair; it will be difficult to find!" " Oh, the world is large ; we will send our messengers in every quarter; we will find it. Those who truly seek, find at last what they covet. But we will require much gold, and we are suffering now, unhappily, for the want of it." " We ? whom do you mean by we ? " asked Fredersdorf , with a contemptuous shrug of the shoulders. " I, in my own person, above all others, need gold. You can well understand, my brother, that a student as I am has no superfluous gold, even to pay his tailor's bills, much less to buy black rams. Captain Kleist, in whose house the assem- bly meets to-night, has already offered up far more valuable things than a score of black rams; he has sacrificed his health, his rest, and his domestic peace. His beautiful wife finds it strange, indeed, that he should seek the devil every night everywhere else than in her lovely presence." " Yes, I understand that ! The bewitching Madame Kleist must ever remain the vain-glorious and coquettish Louise von Schwerin; marriage has infused no water in her veins." " No ! but it has poured a river of wine in the blood of her husband, and in this turbid stream their love and happi- ness is drowned. Kleist is but a corpse, whom we must soon bury from our sight. The king has made separation and di- vorce easy ; yes, easier tha^ marriage. Is it not so, my broth- er? Ah, you blush; you find that your light-hearted brother has more observant eyes thpu you thought, and sees that which you intended to conceal. Yes, yes! I have indeed seen that you have been wounded by Cupid's arrow, and that your heart bleeds while our noble king refuses his consent to your marriage." " Ah, let me once discover this holy mystery — once learn how to make gold, and I will have no favor to ask of any earthly monarch; I shall acknowledge no other sovereign than my own will." " And to become the possessor of this secret, and your own master, you require nothing but a black ram. Create for us, then, my powerful and wealthy brother, a black ram, and the work is done ! " 12 BERLIN AND SANS-SOUCI; OR, " Alas ! to think," cried Fredersdorf , " that I cannot absent myself; that I must fold my hands and wait silentlj^ and quietly ! What slavery is this ! but you, you are not in bondage as I am. The whole world is before you; you can seek throughout the universe for this blood-offering de- manded by the devil." " Give us gold, brother, and we will seek ; without gold, no black ram ; without the black ram, no devil ! " Fredersdorf disappeared a moment and returned with a well-filled purse, which he handed to his brother. " There, take the gold; send your messengers in every quarter; go yourself and search. You must either find or create him. I swear to you, if you do not succeed, I will withdraw my protection from you; you will be only a poor student, and must maintain yourself by your studies." " That would be a sad support, indeed," said the young man, smiling. "I am more than willing to choose another path in life. I would, indeed, prefer being an artist to being a philosopher." "An artist!" cried Fredersdorf, contemptuously; "have you discovered in yourself an artist's vein ? " "Yes; or rather, Eckhof has awakened my sleeping talent." "Eckhof— who is Eckhof?" "How? you ask who is Eckhof? You know not, then, this great, this exalted artist, who arrived here some week* since, and has entranced every one who has a German heart in his bosom, by his glorious acting? I saw him a few days since in Golsched's Cato. Ah! my brother, on that evening it was clear to me that I also was born for something greater than to sit in a lonely study, and seek in musty books for useless scraps of knowledge, l^o ! I will not make the world still darker and mistier for myself with the dust of ancient books ; I will illuminate my world by the noblest of all arts —I will become an actor ! " "Fantastic fool! " said his brother. "A German actor! that is to say, a beggar and a vagabond! who wanders from city to city, and from village to village, with his stage finery, who is laughed at everywhere, even as the monkeys are laughed at when they make their somersets over the camels' FREDERICK THE GREAT AND HIS FRIENDS. 13 backs ; it might answer to be a dancer, or, at least, a French actor." " It is true that the German stage is a castaway — a Cin» derella — thrust aside, and clothed with sackcloth and ashes, while the spoiled and petted step-child is clothed in gold- embroidered robes. Alas I alas ! it is a bitter thing that the French, actors are summoned by the king to perform in the royal castle, while Schonemein, the director of the German theatre, must rent the Council-house for a large simi of money, and must pay a heavy tax for the permission to give to the German public a German stage. "Wait patiently, brother, all this shall be changed, when the mystery of mys- teries is discovered, when we have foimd the black ram! I bless the accident which gave me a knowledge of your secret, which forced you to receive me as a member in order to secure my silence. I shall be rich, powerful, and influ- ential; I will build a superb theatre, and fill the German heart with wonder and rapture." " Well, well, let us first understand the art of making gold, and we will make the whole world our theatre, and all mankind shall play before us! Hasten, therefore, brother, hasten! By the next full moon we will be the almighty rulers of the earth and all that is therein ! " " Always provided that we have found the black ram." "We will find him! If necessary, we will give his weight in gold, and gold can do all things. Honor, love, power, position, and fame, can all be bought with gold! Let us, then, make haste to be rich. To be rich is to be independent, free, and gloriously happy. Go, my brother, go! and may you soon return crowned with suc- cess." " I have still a few weighty questions to ask. In the first place, where shall I go ? " " To seek the black ram — it makes no difference where." " Ah ! it makes no difference ! You do not seem to re- member that the vacation is over, that the professors of the University of Halle have threatened to dismiss me if my attendance is so irregular. I must, therefore, return to Halle to-day, or — " " Return to Halle to-day ! " cried Fredersdorf , with hor- 14 BERLIN AND SANS-SOUCI; OR, ror. "That is impossible! You cannot return to Halle, unless you have already found what we need." " And that not being the case, I shall not return to Halle ; I shall be dismissed, and will cease to be a student. Do you consent, then, that I shall become an actor, and take the great Eckhof for my only professor ? " "Yes, I consent, provided the command of the alche- mist is complied with." "And how if the alchemist, notwithstanding the blood of the black ram, is imhappily not able to bring up the devil?" At this question, a feverish crimson spot took possession of the wan cheek of Fredersdorf , which was instantly chased away by a more intense pallor. " If that is the resuit, I will either go mad or die," he murmured. " And then will you see the devil face to face ! " cried his brother, with a gay laugh. " But perhaps you might find a Eurydice to unlock the under world for you. Well, we shall see. Till then, farewell, brother, farewell." Nodding mer- rily to Fredersdorf, Joseph hurried away. Fredersdorf watched his tall and graceful figure as it disappeared among the trees with a sad smile. " He possesses something which is worth more than power or gold; he is young, healthy, full of hope and confidence. The world belongs to him, while I — " The sound of footsteps called his attention again to the allie. CHAPTER 11. THE OLD COURTIER. The figure of a man was seen approaching, but with steps less light and active than young Joseph's. As the stranger drew nearer, Fredersdorf's features expressed great surprise. When at last he drew up at the window, the secretary burst into a hearty laugh. " Von PoUnitz ! really and triily I do not deceive myself,'* FREDERICK THE GREAT AND HIS FRIENDS. 15 cried Fredersdorf, clapping his hands together, and again and again uttering peals of laughter, in which Pollnitz heart- ily joined. Then suddenly assuming a grave and dignified manner, Fredersdorf bowed lowly and reverentially. " Pardon, Baron Pollnitz, pardon," said he in a tone of mock humility, " that I have dared to welcome you in such an unseemly manner. I was indeed amazed to see you again; you had taken an eternal leave of the court, we had shed rivers of tears over your irreparable loss, and your unexpected presence com- pletely overpowered me." " Mock and jeer at me to your heart's content, dear Fredersdorf; I will joyfully and lustily unite in your laugh- ter and your sport, as soon as I have recovered from the fearful jolting of the carriage which brought me here. Be pleased to open the window a little more, and place a chair on the outside, that I may climb in, like an ardent, ea- :ger lover. I have not patience to go round to the castle door." Fredersdorf silently obeyed orders, and in a few mo- ments Von Pollnitz was lying comfortably stretched out on & silk divan, in the secretarjr's room. "Ask me no questions, Fredersdorf," said he, breathing loudly ; " leave me awhile to enjoy undisturbed the comfort of your sofa, and do me the favor first to answer me a few questions, before I reply to yours." "Demand, baron, and I will answer," said Fredersdorf, seating himself on a chair near the sofa. " First of all, who is King of Prussia ? You, or Jordan, — or General Kothenberg, — or Chazot, — or — speak, man, who is King of Prussia ? " " Frederick the Second, and he alone ; and he so entirely, that even his ministers are nothing more than his secretaries, to write at his dictation; and his generals are only subor- dinate engineers to draw the plans of battle which he has already fully determined upon; his composers are only the copyists of his melodies and his musical conceptions; the architects are carpenters to build according to the plan which he has either drawn or chosen from amongst old Grecian models: in short, all who serve him are literally 16 BERLIN AND SANS-SOUCI ; OR, servants in this great state machine; they understand hia will and obey it, nothing more." "Hum! that is bad, very bad," said Pollnitz. "I have found, however, that there are two sorts of men, and you have mentioned in your catalogue but one species, who have fallen so completely under the hand of Frederick. You have said nothing of his cook, of his valet-de-chambre, and yet these are most important persons. You must know that in the presence of these powers, a king ceases to be a king, and indeed becomes an entirely commonplace mortal, who eats and drinks and clothes himself, and who must cither conceal or adorn his bodily necessities and weaknesses like any other man." Fredersdorf shook his head sadly. " It seems to me that Frederick the Second is beyond the pale of temptation; for even with his cook and his valet he is still a king; his cook may prepare him the most costly and luxurious viands, but unhappily they do not lead him into temptation; a bad dish makes him angry, but the richest and choicest food has no effect upon his humor; he is exactly the same before dinner as after, fasting or feasting, and the favor he refuses before the champagne, he never grants afterward." " The devil ! that is worse still," murmured Pollnitz. " And the valet — with him also does the king remain king ? " "Yes, so entirely, that he scarcely allows his valet to touch him. He shaves, coifs, and dresses himself." " My God ! who, then, has any influence over him ? To whom can I turn to obtain a favor for me ? " " To his dogs, dear baron ; they are now the only influ- ential dependants ! " " Do you mean truly the four-footed dogs ? — or — " " The four-footed, dearest baron ! Frederick has i-.ore confidence in them than in any two-legged animal. You know the king always trusted much to the instincts of his dogs; he has now gone so far in this confidence, as to be- lieve that the hounds have an instinctive aversion to all false, wicked, and evil-minded men. It is thereio^e very important to every new-comer to be well received by the hounds, as the king's reception is somewhat dependent upon theirs." FREDERICK THE GREAT AND HIS FRIENDS. 17 ** Is Biche yet with the king ? " " Yes, still his greatest favorite." " I am rejoiced to hear that! I was always in favor with the Signora Biche; it was her custom to smell my pocket, hoping to find chocolate. I beseech you, therefore, dearest friend, to give me some chocolate, wHh which I may touch and soften the heart of the noble signora, and thus induce the king to look upon me favorably. " I will stick a half pound in each of your pockets, and if Biche still growls at you, it will be a proof that she is far more noble than men ; in short, that she cannot be bribed. Have you finished with your questions? I think it is now my time to begin." " Not so, my friend. My head is still entirely filled with questions, and they are twining and twisting about like the fishing-worms in a bag, by the help of which men hope to secure fish. Be pitiful and allow me to fasten a few more of these questions to my fishing-rod, and thus try to secure my future." " Well, then, go on — ask further ! " " Does Frederick show no special interest in any prima donna of the opera, the ballet, or the theatre ? " " No, he cares for none of these things." ** Is his heart, then, entirely turned to stone ? " " Wholly and entirely." " And the queen-mother, has she no influence ? " " My God ! Baron Pollnitz, how long have you been away? You ask me as many questions as if you had fallen diro'^tly from the moon, and knew not even the outward ap- pearance of the court." " Dear friend, I have been a whole year away, that is to say, an eternity. The court is a very slippery place ; and if a man does not accustom himself hourly to walk over this glassy parquet, he will surely fall. " Also there is nothing so uncertain as a court life ; that which is true to-day, is to-morrow considered incredible; that which was beautiful yesterday is thrust aside to-day, as hateful to look upon; that which we despise to-day is to- morrow sought after as a rare and precious gem. " Oh, I have had my experiences. I remember, that 18 BERLIN AND SANS-SOUCI ; OR, while I was residing at the court of Saxony, I composed a poem in honor of the Countess Aurora of Konigsmark. This was by special command of the king; the poem was to be set to music by Hasse, and sung by the Italian singers on the birthday of Aurora. Well, the Countess Aurora was cast aside before my poem was finished, and the Countess Kozel had taken her place. I finished my poem, but Amelia, and not Aurora, was my heroine. Hasse composed the music,, and no one who attended the concert, given in honor of the birthday of the Countess Kozel, had an idea that this festaL cantata had been originally ordered for Aurora of Konigs- mark! " Once, while I was in Russia, I had an audience from, the Empress Elizabeth. As I approached the castle, leaning on the arm of the Captain Ischerbatow, I observed the guard, who stood before the door, and presented arms. Well, eight weeks later, this common guard was a general and a. prince, and Ischerbatow was compelled to bow before him! "I saw in Venice a picture of the day of judgment by Tintoretto. In this picture both Paradise and Hell were portrayed. I saw in Paradise a lovely woman glowing with youth, beauty, and grace. She was reclining in a most, enchanting attitude, upon a bed of roses, and surrounded by angels. Below, on the other lialf of the picture — that is to say, in Hell — ^I saw the same woman; she had no couch of roses, but was" stretched upon a glowing gridiron; no smil- ing angels surrounded her, but a hideous, grinning devil tore her flesh with red-hot pincers. " Pope Adrian had commanded Tintoretto to paint this, picture, to make it a monument in honor of the lovely Cin- nia, and to glorify her by all the power of art. Cinnia was a very dear friend of Adrian. He was not only a pope, but a man, and a man who took pleasure in all beautiful things. Cinnia was enchanting, and it was Tintoretto's first duty to- paint her picture, and make her the principal object in Para- dise. But look you! the Last Judgment by Tintoretto was a large painting, so large that to count even the heads upon it is laborious. The heads in each corner are counted sepa- rately, and then added together. It required some years,. of course, to paint such a picture; and by the time Tinto- FREDERICK THE GREAT AND HIS FRIENDS. 19 retto had completed Paradise and commenced the lower regions, many sad changes had occurred. The fond heart of the seducing Cinnia had withdrawn itself from the pope and clung tenaciously to Prince Colonna. The Holy Father, as we have said before, notwithstanding he was pope, had some himian weaknesses; he naturally hated the fair in- constant, and sought revenge. He recommended Tintoretto to bring the erring one once more before the public — this time, however, as a guilty and condemned sinner in hell. " Dear Fredersdorf, I think always of this picture when I look at the favorites of princes and kings, and I amuse my- self with their pride and arrogance. When I see them in their sunny paradise of power and influence, I say to myself, * All's well for the fleeting present, I'll wait patiently ; soon I shall see you roasting on the glowing gridiron of royal displeasure, and the envious devils of this world filled with rapture at your downfall, will tear your flesh to pieces.' Friend Fredersdorf, that is my answer to your question as to whether I have in one short year forgotten the quality of court life." " And by Heaven, that is a profound answer, which shows at least that Baron PoUnitz has undergone no change during the last year, but is still the experienced man of the world and the wise cavalier ! " "But why do you not give me my title, Fredersdorf? Why do you not call me grand chamberlain ? " " Because you are no longer in the service of the king, but have received your dismissal." " Alas ! God grant that the Signora Biche is favorable to me; then will the king, as I hope, forget this dismissal. One question more. You say that the queen-mother has no influence; how is it with the "wife of the king, Elizabeth Christine ? Is she indeed the reigning sovereign ? " " When did you return to Berlin ? " " Now, to-night ; and when I left the carriage, I hastened here." " Well, that is some excuse for your question. If you have only just arrived, you could not possibly know of the important event which will take place at the court to-night. This evening the king will present his brother, Augustus 2 20 BERLIN AND SANS-SOUCI; OR, William, to the court as Prince of Prussia, and his successor, I think that is a sufficient answer to your question. As to Queen Elizabeth Christine, she lives at Schonhausen, and might be called the widow of her husband. The king never addresses one word to her, not even on grand festal days, when etiquette compels him to take a seat by her at table." " Now, one last question, dear friend. How is it with yourself? Are you influential? Does Frederick love you as warmly as he did a year ago ? Do you hope to reach the goal of your ambition and become all-powerful ? " "I have ceased to be ambitious," sighed Fredersdorf. " I no longer thirst to be the king of a king. My only de- sire is to be independent of courts and kings — in short, to be my own master. Perhaps I may succeed in this; if not, be ruined, as many others have been. If I cannot tear my chains apart, I will perish under them! As for my influ- ence over the king, it is sufficient to say, that for six months I have loved a woman to distraction, who returns my pas- sion with ardor, and I cannot marry her because the king, notwithstanding my prayers and agony, will not consent." "He is right," said PoUnitz, earnestly, as he stretched himself out comfortably on the sofa; "he is a fool who thinks of yielding up his manly freedom to any woman." " You say that, baron ? you, who gave up king and court, and went to Nurnberg, in order that you might marry ! " "Aha! how adroitly you have played the knife out of my hands, and have yourself become the questioner! Well, it is but just that you also should have your curiosity satis- fied. Demand of me now and I will answer frankly." "You are not married, baron?" "Not in the least; and I have sworn that the goddess Fortuna alone shall be my beloved. I will have no mortal wife." " The report, then, is untrue that you have again changed your religion, and become Protestant ? " " No, this time rumor has spoken the truth. The Num- berger patrician would accept no hand offered by a Catholic ; so I took off the glove of my Catholicism and drew on my Protestant one. My God ! to a man of the world, his outside faith is nothing more than an article of the toilet. Do you FREDERICK THE GREAT AND HIS FRIENDS. 21 not know that it is bon ton for princes when they visit strange courts to wear the orders and uniforms of their entertainers? So it is my rule of etiquette to adopt the religion which the circumstances in which I find myself seem to make suitable and profitable. My situation in Numberg demanded that I should become a Protestant, and I became one." " And for all that the marriage did not take place ? " ^ " No, it was broken off through the obstinacy of my bride, who refused to live in good fellowship and equality with me, and gave me only the use of her income, and no right in her property. Can you conceive of such folly? She imagined I would give myself in marriage, and make a baroness of an indifferently pretty burgher maiden; yes, a baroness of the realm, and expect no other compensation for it than a wife to bore me! She wished to wed my rank, and found it offensive that I should marry, not only her fair self, but her millions! The contest over this point broke off the contract, and I am glad of it. From my whole soul I regret and am ashamed of having ever thought of marriage. The king, therefore, has reason to be pleased with me." " You are thinking, then, seriously of remaining at court?" " Do you not* find that natural, Fredersdorf ? I have lived fifty years at this court, and accustomed myself to its stupidity, its nothingness, and its ceremony, as a man may accustom himself to a hard tent-bed, and find it at last more luxurious than a couch of eider-down. Besides, I have just lost a million in Numberg, and I must find a compensation; the means at least to close my life worthily as a cavalier. I must, therefore, again bow my free neck, and enter service. You must aid me, and this day obtain for me an audience of the king. I hope your influence will reach that far. The rest must be my own affair." " We will see what can be done. I have joyful news for the king to-day. Perhaps it will make him gay and com- plaisant, and he will grant you an audience." " And this news which you have for him ? " " The Barbarina has arrived ! " "What! the celebrated dancer?" 22 BERLIN AND SANS-SOUCI; OR, " The same. We have seized and forcibly carried her off from the republic of Venice and from Lord McKenzie; and Baron Swartz has brought her as prisoner to Berlin ! " Pollnitz half raised himself from the sofa, and, seizing the arm of the private secretary, he looked him joyfully in the face. " I have conceived a plan," said he, " a heavenly plan! My friend, the sun of power and splendor is rising for us, and your ambition, which has been weary and ready to die, will now revive, and raise its head proudly on high! That which I have long sought for is at last found. The king is too young, too ardent, too much the genius and poet, to be completely unimpassioned. Even Achilles was not impenetrable in the heel, and Frederick has also his mortal part. Do you know, Fredersdorf, who will discover the weak point, and send an arrow there ? " "E-o." " Well, I will tell you : the Signora Barbarina. Ah, you smile! you shake your unbelieving head. You are no good psychologist. Do you not know that we desire most earnestly that which seems difficult, if not impossible to attain, and prize most highly that which we have won with danger and difficulty? Judge, also, how precious a treasure the Bar- barina must be to Frederick. For her sake he has for months carried on a diplomatic contest with Venice, and at last he has literally torn her away from my Lord Stuart McKenzie." " That is true," said Fredersdorf, thoughtfully ; " for ten days the king has waited with a rare impatience for the arrival of this beautiful dancer, and he commanded that, as soon as she reached Berlin, it should be announced to him." " I tell you the king will adore the Signora Barbarina," said Pollnitz, as he once more stretched himself upon the sofa pillows. " I shall visit her to-day, and make the neces- sary arrangements. Now I am content. I see land, a small island of glorious promise, which will receive me, the poor shipwrecked mariner, and give me shelter and protection. I will make myself the indispensable counsellor of Bar- barina ; I will teach her how she can melt the stony heart of Frederick, and make him her willing slave." FREDERICK THE GREAT AND HIS FRIENDS. 23 " Dreams, dreams ! " said Fredersdorf , shrugging his fihoulders. " Dreams which I will make realities as soon as you ob- tain me an audience with the king." " Well, we will see what can be done, and whether — but listen, the king is awake, and has opened his window. He is playing upon the flute, which is his morning custom. His morning music is always the barometer of his mood, and I can generally judge what kind of royal weather we will have, whether bright or stormy. Come with me to the win- dow and listen awhile." "Agreed," said Pollnitz, and he sprang with youthful elasticity from the divan and joined Fredersdorf at the window. They listened almost breathlessly to the sweet tones which seemed to whisper to t^'^m from the upper win- dows; then mingling and melting with the perfume of the orange-blossoms and the glorious and life-giving morning air, they forced their sweet and subtle essence into the room with the cimning and hardened old courtiers. Fredersdorf and Pollnitz listened as a sly bat listens to the merry whistling of an innocent bird, and watches the propitious moment to spring upon her prey. It was an ada- gio which the king played upon his ilute, and he was indeed a master in the art. Slightly trembling, as if in eternal melancholy, sobbing and pleading, soon bursting out in rap- turous and joyful strains of harmony, again sighing and weep- ing, these melting tones fell like costly pearls upon the sum- mer air. The birds in the odorous bushes, the wind which rustled in the trees, the light waves of the river, which with soft murmurs prattled upon the shore, all Nature seemed for the moment to hold her breath and listen to this enchanting melody. Even Fredersdorf felt the power and influence of this music as he had done in earlier days. The old love for his king filled his heart, and his eyes were misty with tears. As the music ceased, Fredersdorf exclaimed involunta- rily : " He is, after all, the noblest and greatest of men. It is useless to be angry with him. I am forced against my will to worship him." " Now," said Pollnitz, whose face had not for one moment lost its expression of cold attentiop and sly cunning, "how 24 BERLIN AND SANS-SOUCI; OR, says the barometer? May we promise ourselves a clear and sunny day ? " " Yes, Frederick is in one of his soft and yielding moods. It is probable he has been some hours awake and has written to some of his friends — ^perhaps to Voltaire, or Algarotti; this makes him always bright and clear." " You think I shall obtain my audience ? " " I think you will." " Then, dear friend, I have only to say that I hope you will give me the chocolate for that noble and soul-searching hound, the Signora Biche." CHAPTER III. THE MORNING HOURS OF A KING. King Frederick had finished the adagio, and stood lean- ing against the window gazing into the garden; his eyes, usually so fierce and commanding, were softened by melan- choly, and a sad smile played upon his lips. The touching air which he had played found its echo within, and held his soul a prisoner to troubled thoughts. Suddenly he seemed to rouse himself by a great effort to the realities of life, and, hastily ringing the bell, he commanded Jordan, the director of the poor and the almshouse, to be summoned to him. A few moments later, Jordan, who had been for some days a guest at the castle of Charlottenburg, entered the king's room. Frederick advanced to meet him, and ex- tended both hands affectionately. " Good-morning, Jordan," said he, gazing into the wan, thin face of his friend, with the most earnest sympathy. "I hope you had a refreshing night." " I have had a charming night, for I was dreaming of your majesty," he replied, with a soft smile. Frederick sighed, released his hands, and stepped back a few paces. " Your majesty? " repeated he. " Why do you FREDERICK THE GREAT AND HIS FRIENDS. 25 lay so cold a hand upon that heart which beats so warmly for you ? To what purpose is this etiquette ? Are we not alone ? and can we not accord to our souls a sweet interchange of thought and feeling without ceremony? Do we not under- stand and love each other? Forget, then, for awhile, dear Jordan, all these worldly distinctions. You see I am still in my morning-dress. I do not, like the poor kings upon the stage, wear my crown and sceptre in bed, or with my night-dress." Jordan gazed lovingly and admiringly upon his great friend. " You need no crown upon your brow to show to the world that you are a king by the grace of God. The majesty of greatness is written upon your face, my king." " That," said Frederick with light irony, " is because we princes and kings are acknowledged to be the exact image of the Creator, the everlasting Father. As for you, and all the rest of the race, you dare not presimie to compare your- selves with us. Probably you are made in the image of the second and third persons of the Trinity, while we carry upon our withered and wearisome faces the quintessence of the Godhead." " Alas ! alas, sire, if our pious priest heard you, what a stumbling-block would he consider you ! " The king smiled. " Do you know, Jordan," said he gravely, " I believe God raised me up for this special mission, to be a rock of offence to these proud and worldly priests, and to trample under foot their fooleries and their arro- gance? I look upon that as the most important part of my mission upon earth, and I am convinced that I am appointed to humble this proud church, the vain and arrogant work of hypocritical priests, and to establish in its place the pure worship of God." " Yes, yes," said Jordan, shrugging his shoulders ; " if the mass of men had the clear intellect of a Frederick! if their eyes were like those of my royal eagle, to whom it is given to gaze steadfastly at the sun without being dazzled. Alas ! sire, the most of our race resemble you so little ! They are all like the solemn night-owls, who draw a double curtain over their eyes, lest the light should blind them. The church serves as this double eyelid for the night-owls among men. 26 BERLIN AND SANS-SOUCI ; OR, or, rather, the churches, for the cunning and covetousness of those priests has not been satisfied with one church, but has established many." " Yes," said the king angrily ; " they have sown dragons' teeth, from which bloodthirsty warriors have sprung, who wander up and down, and in mad ambition tear all mankind, and themselves included, to pieces. Listen, Jordan, we have fallen upon a subject which, as you know, has interested and occupied me much of late, and it is precisely upon these points that I have sought your counsel to-day. Be seated, then, and hear what I have to say to you. You know that the pietists and priests charge me with being a heretic, be- cause I do not think as they think, and believe as they be- lieve. Which of them, think you, Jordan, has the true faith? What is truth, and what is wisdom? Each sect be- lieves itself — and itself alone — the possessor of both. That is reason enough, it appears to me, for doubting them all." "In the same land?" " Yes, in various places in the same city, we are taught entirely different and opposing doctrines in the name of religion. On one hand, we are threatened with everlasting fire in the company of the devil and his angels, if we believe that the Almighty is bodily present in the elements offered at the sacrament of the Lord's supper. On the other hand, we are taught, with equal assurance, that the same terrible punishment will be awarded us unless we believe that God is literally, and not symbolically, present- in the bread and wine. The simple statement of the doctrines of the different churches in the world would fill an endless number of folios. Each religion condemns all others, as leading to perdition; they cannot therefore all be true, for truth does not contra- dict itself. If any one of these were the true faith, would not God have made it clear, and without question, to our eyes? God, who is truth, cannot be dark or doubtful! If these differences in religion related only to outward forms and ceremonies, we would let them pass as agreeable and innocent changes, even as we adopt contentedly the changes in style and fashion of our clothing. The doctrines of faith, as taught in England, cannot be made to harmonize with those fulminated at Rome. He to whom it would be given FREDERICK THE GREAT AND HIS FRIENDS. 27 to reconcile all opposing doctrines, and to unite all hearts in one pure and simple faith would indeed give peace to the world, and be a Messiah and a Saviour." " Yes, he would accomplish what God himself, as it ap- pears, has not thought proper to do ; his first great act must be to institute and carry out a terrible massacre, in which every priest of every existing religion must be pursued to the death." " And that is precisely my mission," said the king. " I will institute a massacre, not bodily and bloodily, but soul- piercing and purifying. I say to you, Jordan, God dwells not in the churches of these imperious priests, who choose to call themselves the servants of God. God was with Moses on Mount Sinai, and with Zoroaster in the wilderness; he was by Dante's side as he wrote his * Divina Commedia,* and he piloted the ships of Columbus as he went out bravely to seek a new world! God is everywhere, and that man- kind should reverence and believe in and worship him, is proved by their bearing his image and their high calling." Jordan seized the hand of the king and pressed it en- thusiastically to his lips. " And the world says that you do not believe in God," he exclaimed ; " they class you with the unbelievers, and dare to preach against you, and slander you from the pulpit." " Yes, as I do not adopt their dogmas, I am, to them, a heretic," said the king laughing; "and when they preach against me, it proves that they fear me, and look upon me as a powerful enemy. The enemy of the priests I will be as long as I live, that is to say, of those arrogant and imperious men who are wise in their own eyes, and despise all who do not agree with them! I will destroy the foundations of all these different churches, with their different dogmas. I will utterly extinguish them by a universal church, in which every man shall worship God after his own fashion. The worship of God should be the only object of every church! All these different doctrines, which they cast in each other's teeth, and for love of which they close their doors against each other, shall be given up. I will open all their churches, and the fresh, pure air of God shall purify the musty build- ings. I will build a temple, a great illimitable temple, a 28 BERLIN AND SANS-SOUCI; OR, second Pantheon, a church which shall unite all churches within itself, in which it shall be granted to every man to have his own altar, and adopt his own religious exercises. All desire to worship God; every man shall do so according to his conscience ! Look you, Jordan, how pathetically they discourse of brotherly love, and they tear each other to pieces! Let me only build my Pantheon, and then will all men, in truth, become brothers. The Jew and the so-called heathen, the Mohammedan and the Persian, the Calvinist and the Catholic, the Lutheran and the Reformer — they will all gather into my Pantheon, to worship God ; all their forms and dogmas will simultaneously fall to the ground. They will believe simply in one God, and the churches of all these different sects will soon stand empty and in ruins." * While the king spoke, his countenance was illumined; a noble enthusiasm fired his large clear eyes, and his cheeks glowed as if from the awakening breath of some new internal light. Jordan's glance expressed unspeakable love, but at the same time he looked so sad, so pained, that Frederick felt chilled and restrained. " How, Jordan ! you are not of my opinion ? " said he, with surprise. " Our souls, which have been always hereto- fore in union, are now apart. You do not approve of my Pantheon?" " It is too exalted, sire, to be realized. Mankiild require a form of religion, in order not to lose all personal control." "No, you mistake. They require only God, only love for this exalted and lofty Being, whom we call God. The only proof by which we can know that we can sincerely love God, lies in a steadfast and strong purpose to obey Him. According to this, we need no other religion than our rea- son, the good gift of God. So soon as we know that He has spoken, we should be silent and submissive. Our inward worship of God should consist in this, that we acknowledge Him and confess our sins; our outward worship in the per- formance of all our duties, according to our reason, the ex- alted nature of God, and our entire dependence upon Him." * Thi(5bault, in his " Souvenirs de Vingt Ans," tells of Frederick's plan for a Pantheon. FREDERICK THE GREAT AND HIS FRIENDS. 29 "It is to be regretted, sire, that this world is not suffi- ciently enlightened to comprehend you. I am afraid that your majesty will bring about exactly the opposite of that which you design. All these religious sects which, as you say, are so entirely antagonistic, would by this forced union feel themselves humiliated and trampled upon ; their hatred toward each other would be daily augmented; their antipa- thies would find new food; and their religious zeal, which is always exclusive, would bum with fiercer fury. Not only the priests, but kings and princes, would look upon the car- rying out of your plan with horror. And shall not this daring step bring terror into the cabinets of kings ? A mon- arch, who has just drawn the eyes of all politicians upon him- self, now proposes to take charge of the consciences of his subjects, and bow them to his will! Alas, how would envy, with all her poisonous serpents, fasten upon the triumphal car of a king who, by the great things he has already achieved, had given assurance of yet greater results, and now stoops to tyrannize over and oppress the weak and good, and cast them among the ruins of their temples of worship to weep and lament in despair ! No, my king, this idea of a Pantheon, a universal house of worship, can never be real- ized. It was a great and sublime thought, but not a wise one; too great, too enlarged and liberal to be appreciated by this pitiable world. Your majesty will forgive me for hav- ing spoken the honest truth. I was forced to speak. Like my king, I love the one only and true God, and God is truth." "You have done well, Jordan," said the king, after a long pause, during which he raised his eyes thoughtfully toward heaven. "Yes, you have done well, and I believe you are right in your objections to my Pantheon. I offer up to you, therefore, my favorite idea. For your dear sake, my Pantheon shall become a ruin. Let this be a proof of the strong love I bear you, Jordan. I will not contend with the priests in my church, but I will pursue them without falter- ing into their own ; and I say to you, this will be a long and stiff-necked war, which will last while my life endures. I will not have my people blinded and stupefied by priests. I will suffer no other king in Prussia. I alone will be king. 30 BERLIN AND SANS-SOUCI; OR, These proud priests may decide, in silence and humility, to teach their churches and intercede for them; but let them once attempt to play the role of small popes, and to exalt themselves as the only possessors of the key to heaven, then they shall find in me an adversary who will prove to them that the key is false with which they shut up the Holiest of Holies, and is but used by them as a means to rob the people of their worldly goods. Light and truth shall be the device of my whole land. This will I seek after, and by this will I govern Prussia. I will have no blinded subjects, no super- stitious, conscience-stricken, trembling, priest-ridden slaves. My people shall learn to think; thought shall be free as the wanton air in Prussia; no censor or police shall limit her boundary. The thoughts of men should be like the life- giving and beautifying sun, all-nourishing and all-enlighten- ing ; calling into existence and fructifying, not only the rich, and rare, and lovely, but also the noxious and poisonous plant and the creeping worm. These have also the right of life: if left to themselves, they soon die of their own insignificance or nothingness — die under the contempt of all the good and great." " I fear," said Jordan, " that Frederick the Great is the only man whose mind is so liberal and so unprejudiced. Be- lieve me, my king, there is no living sovereign in Europe who dares guarantee to his subjects free thought and free speech." " I will try so to act as to leave nothing to fear from the largest liberty of thought or speech," said the king, quietly. " Men may think and say of me what they will^ that troubles me not; I will amuse myself with their slan- ders and accusations of heresy; as for their applause — ^well, that is a cheap merchandise, which I must share with every expert magician and every popular comedian. The applause of my own conscience, and of my friends — thy applause, my Jordan — is alone of value for me. Then," said he, earnestly, almost solemnly, " above all things, I covet fame. My name shall not pass away like a soft tone or a sweet melody. I will write it in golden letters on the tablet of history; it shall glitter like a star in the firmament; when centuries have passed away, my people shall remember me, and shall FREDERICK THE GREAT AND HIS FRIENDS. 31 say, * Frederick the Second made Prussia great, and en- larged her borders; he was a father who loved his people more than he did himself, and cheerfully sacrificed his own rest and comfort in their service, he was a teacher who spoke to them by word of mouth, and gave liberty to their souls.' Oh, Jordan, you must stand by me and help me to reach this great goal for which I thirst. Remain with me, dear friend, remain ever by my side, and with thy love, thy constancy, thy truth, and thy sincerity, help me to establish what is good, and to punish the evil; to acknowledge and promote what is noble and expose the unworthy to shame and con- fusion. Oh, Jordan! God has perhaps called me to be a great king; remain by me, and help me to be a good and simple-minded man." He threw himself with impetuosity on Jordan's breast, and clasped him passionately in his arms. Jordan returned the king's embrace, and silently raised his moist eyes to heaven. A prayer to " Our Father " spoke in that eloquent eye, a heart-felt, glowing prayer for this man now resting upon his bosom, and who for him was not the all-powerful and commanding sovereign, but the noble, loving, and be- loved friend, this poet and philosopher, before whose mighty genius his whole soul bowed in wonder and admiration; but suddenly, in this moment of deep and pious emotion, a cold, an icy chill, seemed to shiver and play like the breath of death over his features, and the hot blood, like liquid metal, rushed madly through his veins; he gave a light, short cough; with a quick, abrupt movement, he released himself from the arms of the king. Withdrawing a few steps, he turned away, and pressed his handkerchief to his lips. "Jordan, you suffer, you are sick," said the king, anx- iously. Jordan turned again to him ; his face was calm, and even gay; his eyes beamed with' that strange, mysterious, and touching fire of consumption which hides the shadow of death under the rosy lip and glowing cheek; and, less cruel than all other maladies, leaves to the soul its freshness, and to the heart its power to love and hope. " Not so, sire," said Jordan, " I do not suffer. How can I be otherwise than well and happy in your presence ? " A3 32 BERLIN AND SANS-SOUCI; OR, he said this he tried to thrust his handkerchief in his pocket. The king looked earnestly at this handkerchief. ** Jor- dan, why did you press that handkerchief so hastily to jour lips?" " Jordan forced a smile. " Well," said he, " I was obliged, as your majesty no doubt saw, to cough, and 1 wished to make this disagreeable music as soft as possible." " That was not the reason," said Frederick ; and, step- ping hastily forward, he seized the handkerchief. " Blood ! it is drenched in blood," said he, in a tone so full of anguish, that it was evident he recognized and feared this fatal signal. "Well, yes, it is blood; your majesty sees I am blood- thirsty! Unhappily, I do not shed the blood of your ene- mies, but my own, which I would gladly give, drop by drop, if I could thereby save my king one hour's suffering or care." " And yet you, Jordan, are now the cause of my bitterest grief. You are ill, and you conceal it from me. You suffer, and force yourself to seem gay, and hide your danger from me, in place of turning to my physicians and demanding their counsel and aid." " Frederick the Wise once said to me, ' Physicians are but quacks and charlatans, and a man gives himself up to a tedious suicide who swallows their prescriptions.' " " No, it was not * Frederick the Wise,' but ' Frederick the Fool,' who uttered that folly. When the sun is shining, Frederick has no fear of ghosts ; but at the turn of midnight, he will breathe a silent 'Father in heaven,' to be protected from them. We have no use for confidence in physicians when we are healthy; when we are ill we need them, and then we begin to hold them in consideration. You are ill, your breast suffers. I entreat you, Jordan, to call upon my physician, and to follow his advice promptly and systematic- ally. I demand this as a proof of your friendship." "I will obey your majesty, immediately," said Jordan, who now found himself completely overcome by the weak- ness which follows loss of blood; trembling, and almost sinking, he leaned upon the table. Frederick perceived this, and rolling forward his own arm-chair, with loving and ten- der care, he placed Jordan within it. He called his servant. FREDERICK THE GREAT AND HIS FRIENDS. 33 and ordered him to roll the chair to Jordan^s room, and go instantly for the physician Ellertt. " It will be all in vain, and I shall lose him," murmured the king. " Yes, I will lose him, as I have lost Suhm, and as I shall soon lose my Caesarius, the good Kaiserling. Alas! why did God give me so warm a heart for friendship, and then deprive me of my friends ? " Folding his arms, he stepped to the window and gazed thoughtfully and sadly into the garden below, but he saw not its bloom and beauty; his eyes were turned inward, and he saw only the grave of his friend. Suddenly rousing and conquering himself, he shook off the weary spirit of melan- choly, and sought comfort in his flute, the faithful com- panion of all his sufferings and struggles. CHAPTER lY. THE PARDONED COURTIER. Frederick conmienced again to play, but this time it was not an adagio, but a joyous and triumphant allegro, with which he sought to dispel the melancholy and quench the tears flowing in his troubled heart. He walked backward and forward in his room, and from time to time stood be- fore the sofa upon which his graceful greyhound, Biche, was quietly resting. Every minute the king passed her sofa, Biche raised her beautiful head and greeted her royal friend with an intelligent and friendly glance and a gentle wagging of her tail, and this salutation was returned each time by Frederick before he passed on. Finally, and still playing the flute, the king pressed his foot upon a silver button in the floor of his room, and rang a bell which hung in Freders- dorf's room, immediately under his own. A few minutes later the secretary entered, but stood quietly at the door till the king had finished his allegro and laid aside his flute. " Good-morning," said the king, and he looked up at his 34 BERLIN AND SANS-SOUCI; OR, favorite with so sharp and piercing a glance that Fredersdorf involuntarily trembled, and cast his eyes to the ground. " You must have been long wide awake, you answer the bell so quickly." " Yes, your majesty, I have been long awake. I am happy, for I have good news to bring you." " Well, what is it ? " said the king smiling. " Has my god-mother, the Empress Maria Theresa, voluntarily sur- rendered to the Emperor Charles VII.? Have France and England become reconciled? or — and that seems to me the most probable — has my private secretary mastered the mys- tery of gold-making, after which he has so long striven, and for which he so willingly offers up the most costly and solemn sacrifices? " The king laid so peculiar an expression upon the word sacrifice that Fredersdorf wondered if he had not lis- tened to his conversation with Joseph, and learned the strange sacrifice which they now proposed to offer up to the devil's shrine. " Well, tell your news quickly," said the king. " You see that I am torturing myself with the most wild and in- credible suppositions." " Sire, the Barbarina reached Berlin last night." " Truly," said the king, indifferently, " so we have at last ravished her from Venice, and Lord Stuart McKenzie." " Not exactly so, your highness. Lord Stuart McKenzie arrived in Berlin this morning." Frederick frowned. " This is also, as it appears, a case of true love, and may end in a silly marriage. I am not pleased when men or women in my service entertain serious thoughts of love or marriage ; it occupies their thoughts and interferes with the performance of their duty." " Your majesty judges severely," murmured Fredersdorf,. who knew full well that this remark was intended for his- special benefit. "Well, this is not only my opinion, but I act in conso- nance with it. I allow myself no relaxation. Have I ever had a love-affair? Perhaps, Fredersdorf, you believe my blood to be frozen like ice in my veins; that I have a heart of stone; in short, that I ceased to be a man when I became a king." FREDERICK THE GREAT AND HIS FRIENDS. 35 "Not so; but I believe your majesty is too great and too exalted to find any one worthy of your love." " Folly, folly, sheer folly, Fredersdorf ! When a man loves, he does not weigh himself in the scales and find out how many pounds of worth he has; he only loves, and for- gets all other earthly things. Now, for myself, I dare not forget that I am a king, and that my time and strength be- long to my people. My heart is too tender, and for this reason I fly from love. So should you also flee, you also dare not forget that your life is consecrated to your king. The Signora Barbarina shall not forget that she is in my service; dancing, and not loving, must now occupy her thoughts and actions. I will allow her flirtations and amours, but a true love I absolutely forbid. How can she go through with her ballets, her pirouettes, and entre- chats g&yly and gracefully if a passionate love sits enthroned within her heart ? I have promised the English ambassador, who is the cousin of this Lord Stuart McKenzie, that I will separate these lovers. At this moment the friendship of England is of much importance to me, and I shall certainly keep my promise. Write immediately to the director of police that I command him not only to banish Lord McKen- zie from Berlin, but to send him under guard to Hamburg, and there place him upon an English ship bound for Eng- land. In twelve hours he must leave Berlin.* Is that your only news, Fredersdorf ? " "No, sire," said he, stealing a glance toward the door, which at this moment was lightly opened. " I have another novelty to announce, but I do not know whether it will be acceptable to your majesty. Baron von PoUnitz — " " Has sent us the announcement of his marriage ? " " No, sire, he is not married." At this moment, the Signora Biche began to bay light notes of welcome, and raised herself up from her comfort- * This order was obeyed. Lord McKenzie, the tender lover of the beautiful Barbarina, who had followed her from Venice to Berlin, was, im- mediately on his arrival, banished from Prussia by the special command of the kinfj, and taken to Hamburg ; from thence he addressed some passionate letters to his beautiful beloved, which she, of course, never received, and which are preserved in the royal archives at Berlin. (See Schneider's " His- tory of Operas."} 8 36 BERLIN AND SANS-SOUCI; OR, able position on tlie sofa. The king did not remark her, however; he was wholly occupied with Fredersdorf. " How ! do you say he is not married ? " " 'No, he has not married," said a plaintive voice from behind the door, " and he prays your majesty, of your great grace, to allow him to dedicate his whole life to his royal master, forgetting all other men and women." The king turned and saw his former master of ceremonies kneeling before the door, and his clasped hands stretched out im- ploringly before him. Frederick gave a hearty peal of laughter, while Biche, raising herself with a joyful bark, sprang toward the kneel- ing penitent, and capered playfully about him ; she appeai ^ indeed to be licking the hand in which the sagacious baron held loosely a large piece of her favorite chocolate. At first, the king laughed heartily; then, as he remarked how ten- derly Biche licked the hand of the baron, he shook his head thoughtfully. " I have had a false confidence in the true instinct of my little Biche; she seems, indeed, to welcome Pollnitz joyfully; while a sharp bite in his calf is the only reception which his wicked and faithless heart deserves." "Happily, sire, my heart is not lodged in my calves," said Pollnitz. " The wise Biche knows that the heart of Pollnitz is always in the same place, and that love to my king and master has alone brought me back to Berlin." " Nonsense ! A Pollnitz can feel no other love than that which he cherishes for his own worthy person, and the purses of all others. Let him explain now, quickly and without circumlocution, if he really wishes my pardon, why, after going to Nurnberg to marry a bag of gold, containing a few millions, he has now returned to Berlin." " Sire, without circumlocution, the bag of gold would not open for me, and would not scatter its treasures accord- ing to my necessities and desires." " Ah ! I comprehend. The beautiful Nurnberger had heard of your rare talent for scattering gold, and thought it wiser to lo^e a baron of the realm than to lose her millions." "Yes, that's about it, sire." " I begin to have a great respect for the wisdom of this woman," said Frederick, laughing. " I think she has a more FEEDERICK THE GREAT AND HIS FRIENDS. 3T reliable instinct than my poor Biche, who, I see, still licks your hands." " Oh, Biche knows me better than any man," said PoU- nitz, tenderly patting the greyhound. " Biche knows that my heart is filled with but one love — love to my king and master. She knows that I have returned to lay myself as she does, in all hmnility and self-abandonment, at the feet of my royal Frederick, to receive either kicks or favors, as he may see fit to bestow them; to be equally grateful for the bones he may throw to me in his pity, as for the costly viands he may grant in the magnanimity of his great soul." . " You are an absolute and unqualified fool," said the i.yng, laughing, "and if it was not against my conscience, and unworthy of human nature, to engage a man as a per- petual buffoon, I would promote you to the office of court fool. You might, at least, serve as an example to my cava- liers, by teaching them what they ought to avoid." " I have merited this cruel contempt, this painful pun- ishment from my royal master," said Pollnitz. " I submit silently. I will not, for a moment, seek to justify myself." " You do well in that. You can make no defence. You left my service faithlessly and heartlessly, with the hope of marrying a fortune. The marriage failed, and you come back with falsehood in your heart and on your lips, chatter- ing about your love for my royal house. You are not ashamed to liken yourself to a hound, and to howl even as they do, in order that I may take you back into favor. Do not suppose, for one moment, that I am deceived by these professions — if you could have done better for yourself elsewhere, you would not have returned to Berlin; that not being the case, you creep back, and vow that love alone has constrained you. Look you, Pollnitz, I know you, I know you fully. You can never deceive me; and, most assuredly, I would not receive you again into my service, if I did not look upon you as an old inventory of my house, an inherit- ance from my grandfather Frederick. I receive you, there- fore, out of consideration for the dead kings in whose service you were, and who amused themselves with your follies; for their sakes I cannot allow you to hunger. Think not that I will prepare you a bed of down, and give you gold to 38 BERLIN AND SANS-SOUCI; OR, waste in idleness. You must work for your living, even as we all do. I grant you a pension, but you will perform your old duty, as grand master of ceremonies. You understand such nonsense better than I do. You were educated in a good school, and studied etiquette from the foundation stone, under Prussia's first king ; and that you may not say we have overlooked your great worth, I will lay yet another burden upon your shoulders, and make you * master of the wardrobe.' It shall not be said of us, that nonsense and folly are neg- lected at our court; even these shall have their tribute. You shall therefore be called * Master of the Robes,^ but I counsel you, yes, I warn you, never to interfere with my coats and shirts. You shall have no opportunity to make a gold-embroidered monkey of me. Etiquette requires that I must have a master of the robes, but I warn you to interest yourself in all other things rather than in my toilet." " All that your majesty condescends to say, is written in letters of flame upon my heart." " I would rather suppose upon your knees ; they must in- deed burn from this long penance. I have read you a lec- ture, d la f agon of a village schoolmaster. You can rise, the lecture is over." PoUnitz rose from his knees, and, straightening himself, advanced before the king, and made one of those low, artistic bows, which he understood to perfection. " When does your majesty wish that I should enter upon my duties ? " " To-day — at this moment. Count Tessin, a special am- bassador from Sweden, has just arrived. I wish to give him a courtly reception. You will make the necessary arrange- ments. Enter at once upon the discharge of your func- tions." " I suppose, sire, that my salary also commences so soon, as I begin the discharge of my duties ? " " I said nothing about a salary. I promised you a pen- sion; and, not wishing to maintain you in absolute idleness, I lay upon you these absurd and trifling duties." " Shall I not, then, receive two pensions, if I discharge the two functions ? " said Pollnitz, in a low voice. " You are an out-and-out scoundrel," said Frederick, " but I know all your tricks. I shall not follow my father's FREDERICK THE GREAT AND HIS FRIENDS. 39 example, who once asked you how much it required to main- tain worthily a cavalier of rank, and you assured him that a hundred thousand thalers was not sufficient. I grant you a pension of two thousand thalers, and I tell you it must suffice to support you creditably. Woe to you, when you com- mence again your former most contemptible and miserable life! woe to you, when you again forget to distinguish be- tween your own money and the money of others! I assure you that I will never again pay one of your debts. And in order that credulous men may not be so silly as to lend you money, I will make my wishes known by a printed order, and impose a tax of fifty thalers upon every man silly and bold enough to lend you money. Are you con- tent with this, and will you enter my service upon these terms?" " Yes, on any conditions which your majesty shall please to lay upon me. But when, in spite of this open declaration of your majesty, crazy people will still insist upon lending me money, you will admit, sire, in short, that it is not my debt, and I cannot be called upon for payment." " I will take such precautions that no one will be foolish enough to lend you money. I will have it publicly an- nounced that he who lends you money shall have no claim upon you, so that to lend you gold is to give you gold, and truly in such a way as to spare you even the trouble of thanks. I will have this trumpted through every street. Are you still content ? " " Oh, sire, you show me in this the greatest earthly kind- ness; you make me completely irresponsible. Woe to the fools and lunatics who are mad enough to lend me money! From this time onward, I shall never know a weary or list- less moment. I shall have always the cheering and inspiring occupation of winning the hearts of trusting and weak- minded dunces, and, by adroit sleight-of-hand, transferring the gold from their pockets to my own." "You are incorrigible," said the king. "I doubt if all mankind are made after the image of God. I think many of the race resemble the devil, and I look upon you, Pollnitz, as a tolerably successful portrait of his satanic majesty. I don't suppose you will be much discomposed by this opinion. 40 BERLIN AND SANS-SOUCI; OR, I imagine you look upon God and the devil in very much the same light." "Oh, not so, your majesty; I am far too religious to fall into such errors." " Yes, you are too religious ; or, rather you have too many religions. To which, for example, do you now profess to belong ? " " Sire, I have become a Protestant." " From conviction ? " "So long as I believed in the possibility of marrying several millions — ^yes, from conviction. These millions would have made me happy, and surely I might allow myself to become a Protestant in order to be happy." " Once for all, how many times have you changed your religion ? " said the king, thoughtfully. " Oh, not very often, sire ! I am forever zealously seek- ing after the true faith, and so long as I do not find that religion which makes me content with such things as I have, I am forced to change in justice to myself. In my child- hood I was baptized and brought up a Lutheran, and I had nothing against it, and remained in that communion till I went to Kome; there I saw the Holy Father, the Pope, per- form mass, and the solemn ceremony roused my devotional feelings to such a height that I became a Catholic imme- diately. This was, however, no change of religion. Up to this time I had not acted for myself; so the Catholic may be justly called my first faith." " Yes, yes ! that was about the time you stole your dying bride's diamonds and fled from France." " Oh, your majesty, that is a wicked invention of my ene- mies, and utterly unfounded. If I had really stolen and sold those magnificent brilliants — ^worth half a million — from my dying love, it would have been sufficient to assure me a lux- urious life, and I should not have found it imperative to be- come a Catholic." " Ah, you confess, then, that you did not become a Cath- olic from conviction, but in order to obtain the favor of the cardinals and the Pope ? " "Nothing escapes the quick eye of your majesty, so I will not dare to defend myself. I came back to Berlin then, FREDERICK THE GREAT AND HIS FRIENDS. 41 a Catholic, and the ever-blessed king received me graciously. He was a noble and a pious man, and my soul was seized with a glowing desire to imitate him. I saw, indeed, how little I had advanced on the path to glory by becoming a Catholic I I made a bold resolve and entered the Reformed Church." " And by this adroit move you obtained your object: you became the favorite of my father the king. As he, unhap- pily, can show you no further favor, it is no longer prudent to be a reformer, so you are again a Lutheran — from con- viction ! " " Oh, all the world knows the great, exalted, and unpreju- diced mind of our young king," said Pollnitz. " It is to him a matter of supreme indifference what religious sect a man belongs to, so he adopts that faith which makes him a brave, reliable, and serviceable subject of his king and his father- land." Frederick cast a dark and contemptuous glance at him. " You are a miserable mocker and despiser of all holy things ; you belong tp that large class who, not from convictions of reason, but from worldly-mindedness and licentiousness, do not believe in the Christian religion. Such men can never be honest; they have, perhaps, from their childhood been preached to, not to do evil from fear of hell-fire ; and so soon as they cease to believe in hell-fire, they give themselves up to vice without remorse. You are one of these most miser- able wretches; and I say to you, that you will at last suffer the torments of the damned. I know there is a hell-fire, but it can only be found in a man's conscience! Now go and enter at once upon your duties; in two hours I will receive Count Tessin in the palace at Berlin." Pollnitz made the three customary bows and left the room. The king gazed after him contemptuously. "He is a fin- ished scoundrel ! " Then turning to Fredersdorf , who at that moment entered the room, he said, "I believe Pollnitz would sell his mother if he was in want of money. You have brought me back a charming fellow; I rejoice that there are no more of the race ; Pollnitz has at least the fame of being alone in his style. Is there any one else who asks an audience ? " "Yes. sire, the antechamber is full, and every man de- i2 BERLIN AND SANS-SOUCI ; OR, clares that his complaint can only be made personally to your majesty. It will require much time to listen to all these men, and would be, besides, a bad example. If your majesty receives fifty men to-day, a hundred will demand audience to-morrow; they must therefore be put aside; I have advised them all to make their wishes known in writing." " Well, I think every man knows that is the common mode of proceeding; as these people have not adopted it, it is evident they prefer speaking to me. There are many things which can be better said than written. A king has no right to close his ear to his subjects. A ruler should not resemble a framed and curtained picture of a god, only on rare and solemn occasions to be stared and wondered at; he must be to his people what the domestic altar and the household god was to the Eomans, to which they drew near at all hours with consecrated hearts and pious memories. Here they made known all their cares, their sorrows, and their joys; here they found comfort and peace. I will never withdraw myself from my subjects; no, I will be the household god of my people, and will lend a willing ear to all their prayers and complaints. Turn no man away, Fre- dersdorf ; I will announce it publicly, that every man has the right to appeal to me personally." "My king is great and good," said Fredersdorf, sadly; "every man but myself can offer his petition to your maj- esty and hope for grace ; the king's ear is closed only to me ; to my entreaties he will not listen." " Fredersdorf, you complain that I will not give my con- sent to your marriage. What would you? I love you too well to give you up ; but when you take a wife you will be forever lost to me. A man cannot serve two masters, and I will not divide your heart with this Mademoiselle Daum; you must give it to me entire ! Do not call me cruel, Fre- dersdorf; believe that I love you and cannot give you up." " Oh, sire, I shall only truly belong to you in love and gratitude, when you permit me to be happy and wed the maiden I so fondly love." " I will have no married private secretary, nor will I have a married secretary of state," said the king, with a FREDERICK THE GREAT AND HIS FRIENDS. 43 dark frown. " Say not another word, Fredersdorf ; put these thoughts away from you ! My God, there are so many other things on which you could have set your heart I why must it be ever on a woman ? " " Because I love her passionately, your majesty." " Ah, bah ! do you not love other things with ^hich you can console yourself? You are a scholar and an alchemist. Well, then, read Horace; exercise yourself in the art of making gold, and forget this Mademoiselle Daum, who, be it said, in confidence between us, has no other fascination than that she is rich. As to her wealth, that can have but little charm for you, who, without doubt, wiU soon have control of all the treasures of the world. By God's help, or the devil's, you will very soon, I suppose, discover the secret of making gold." " He has, indeed, heard my conversation with Joseph," said Fredersdorf to himself, and ashamed and confused, he cast his eyes down before the laughing glance of the king. " Read your Horace diligently," said Frederick — " you know he is also my favorite author; you shall learn one of his beautiful songs by heart, and repeat it to me." The king walked up and down the room, and cast, from time to time, a piercing glance at Fredersdorf. He then repeated from Horace these two lines: " ' Torment not your heart With the rich offering of a bleeding lamb.'" "I see well," said Fredersdorf, completely confused, "I see well that your majesty knows — " " That it is high time," said the king, interrupting him, "to go to Berlin; you do well to remind me of it. Order my carriage — I will be off at once." I 44 BERLIN AND SANS-SOUCI; OR, CHAPTER V. HOW THE PRINCESS ULRICA BECAME QUEEN OF SWEDEN. Princess Ulrica, the eldest of the two unmarried sisters of the king, paced her room with passionate steps. The king had just made the queen-mother a visit, and had com- manded that his two sisters should be present at the inter- view. Frederick was gay and talkative. He told them that the Signora Barbarina had arrived, and would appear that even- ing at the castle theatre. He invited his mother and the two princesses to be present. He requested them to make taste- ful and becoming toilets, and to be bright and amiable at the ball and supper after the theatre. The king implored them both to be gay: the one, in order to show that she was neither angry nor jealous; the other, that she was proud and happy. The curiosity of the two young girls was much excited, and they urged the king to explain his mysterious words. He informed them that Count Tessin, the Swedish ambassa- dor, would be present at the ball; that he was sent to Ber- lin to select a wife for the prince royal of Sweden, or, rather, to receive one; the choice, it appeared, had been already made, as the count had asked the king if he might make proposals for the hand of the Princess Amelia, or if she were already promised in marriage. The king replied that Amelia was bound by no contract, and that proposals from Sweden would be graciously received. "Be, therefore, lovely and attractive," said the king, placing his hand caressingly upon the rosy cheek of his little sister; "prove to the count that the intellectual brow of my sweet sister is fitted to wear a crown worthily." The queen-mother glanced toward the window into which the Princess Ulrica had hastily withdrawn. " And will your majesty really consent that the youngest of my daughters shall be first married ? " The king followed the glance of his mother, and saw the frowning brow and trembling lip of his sister. Frederick FREDERICK THE GREAT AND HIS FRIENDS. 45 feared to increase the mortification of Ulrica, and seemed, therefore, not to observe her withdrawal. " I think," said he, " your majesty was not older than Amelia when you married my father; and if the crown prince of Sweden wishes to marry Amelia, I see no reason why we should refuse him. Happily, we are not Jews, and our laws do not forbid the younger sister to marry first. To refuse the prince the hand of Amelia, or to offer him the hand of Ulrica, would indicate that we feared the latter might remain unsought. I think my lovely and talented sister does not deserve to be placed in such a mortifying position, and that her hand will be eagerly sought by other royal wooers." " And, for myself, I am not at all anxious to marry," said Ulrica, throwing her head back proudly, and casting a half- contemptuous, half -pitiful look at Amelia. " I have no wish to marry. Truly, I have not seen many happy examples of wedded life in our family. All my sisters are unhappy, and I see no reason why I should tread the same thorny path." The king smiled. "I see the little Ulrica shares my aversion to wedded life, but we cannot expect, dearest, that all the world should be equally wise. We will, therefore, allow our foolish sister Amelia to wed, and run away from us. This marriage will cost her anxiety and sorrow; she must not only place her little feet in the land of reindeers, bears, and eternal snows, but she must also be baptized and adopt a new religion. Let us thank God, then, that the prince has had the caprice to pass you by and choose Amelia, who, I can see, is resolved to be married. We will, there- for** leave the foolish child to her fate." It was Frederick's intention, by these light jests, to com- fort his sister Ulrica, and give her time to collect herself. He did not remark that his words had a most painful effect upon his younger sister, and that she became deadly pale as he said she must change her faith in order to become prin- cess royal of Sweden. The proud queen-mother had also received this an- nouncement angrily. " I think, sire," said she, " that the daughter of William the Second, and the sister of the KiziT 46 BERLIN AND SANS-30UCI; OR, of Prussia, might be allowed to remain true to the faith of her fathers." " Madame," said the king, bowing reverentially, " the question is not, I am sorry to say, as to Amelia's father or brother; she will be the mother of sons, who, according to the law of the land, must be brought up in the religion of their father. You see, then, that if this marriage takes place, one of the two contracting parties must yield; and, it appears to me, that is the calling and the duty of the woman." " Oh, yes," said the queen bitterly, " you have been edu- cated in too good a school, and are too thoroughly a Hohen- zollern, not to believe in the complete self-renunciation of women. At this court, women have only to obey." "Nevertheless, the women do rule over us; and even when we appear to command, we are submissive and obe- dient," said the king, as he kissed his mother's hand and withdrew. The three ladies also retired to their own rooms imme- diately. Each one was too much occupied with her own thoughts to bear the presence of another. And now, being alone, the Princess Ulrica found it no longer necessary to retain the smiles which she had so long and with such mighty effort forced to play upon her lips; every pulse was beating with glowing rage, and she gave free course to her scorn. Her younger sister, this little maiden of eighteen years, was to be married, to wed a fuvure king; while she, the eldest, now two-and-twenty, remained unchosen ! And it was not her own disinclination nor the will of the king which led to this shameful result; no! the Swedish ambassador came not to seek her hand, but that of her sister ! She, the elder, was scorned — set aside. The king might truthfully say there was no law of the land which forbade the mar- riage of the younger sister before the elder; but there was a law of custom and of propriety, and this law was trampled upon. As Ulrica thought over these things, she rose from her seat with one wild spring. On entering the room she had been completely overcome, and, with trembling knees, she FREDERICK THE GREAT AND HIS FRIENDS. 47 had fallen upon the divan. She stood now, however, like a tigress prepared for attack, and looking for the enemy she was resolved to slay. The raging, stormy blood of the Ho- henzollerns was aroused. The energy and pride of her mother glowed with feverish pulses in her bosom. She would have been happy to find an enemy opposed to her, the waves of passion rushing through her veins might have been assuaged; but she was alone, entirely alone, and had no other enemy to overcome than herself. She must, then, declare war against her own evil heart. With wild steps she rushed to the glass, and scrutinizingly and fiercely examined her own image. Her eye was cold, searching, and stern. Yes, she would prove herself; she would know if it were any thing in her own outward appearance which led the Swedish ambassador to choose her sister rather than herself. "It is true, Amelia is more beautiful, in the common acceptation of the word; her eyes are larger, her cheek rosier, her smile more fresh and youthful, and her small but graceful figure is at the same time childlike and voluptuous. She would make an enchanting shepherdess, but is not fitted to be a queen. She has no majesty, no presence. She has not by nature that imposing gravity, which is the gift of Providence, and cannot be acquired, and without which the queen is sometimes forgotten in the woman. Amelia can never attain that eternal calm, that exalted composure, which checks all approach to familiarity, and which, by an almost imperceptible pressure of the hand and a light smile, bestows more happiness and a more liberal reward than the most impassioned tenderness and the warmest caresses of a commonplace woman. No, Amelia could never make a •complete queen, she can only be a beautiful woman; while I — I know that I am less lovely, but I feel that I am bom to rule. I have the grace and figure of a queen — yes, I have the soul of a queen! I would understand how to be impos- ing, and, at the same time, to obtain the love of my people, not from any weak thirst for love, but from a queenly ambi- tion. But X am set aside, and Amelia will be a queen; my f&ta will be that of my elder sisters, I shall wed a poor mar- grave, or paltry duke, and may indeed thank God if I am not an old maiden princess, with a small pension." 48 BEHLIN AXD SANS-SOUCI ; OR, - She stamped wildly upon the floor, and paced the room with hasty steps. Suddenly she grew calmer, her brow, which had been overshadowed by dark clouds, cleared, and a faint smile played upon those lips which a moment before had been compressed by passion. " After all," she said, " the formal demand for the hand of Amelia has not yet been made; perhaps the ambassador has mistaken my name for that of Amelia, and as he has made no direct proposition, I am convinced he wishes to make some observations before deciding. Now, if the result of this examination should prove to him that Amelia is not fitted to be the wife of his prince, and if Amelia herself — I thought I saw that she turned pale as the king spoke of abandoning her faith; and when she left the room, despair and misery were written upon that face which should have glowed with pride and triumph. Ah, I see land ! " said Ulrica, breathing freely and sinking comfortably upon the divan, " I am no longer hopelessly shipwrecked ; I have found a plank, which may perhaps save me. Let me con- sider calmly," — and, as if Fate itself were playing into her hand, the door opened and Amelia entered. One glance was sufiicient to show Ulrica that she was not deceived, and that this important event had brought no joy to poor Amelia. The lovely eyes of the princess were red with weeping; and the soft lips, so generally and gladly given to gay chat and merry laughter, were now expressive of silent anguish. Ulrica saw all this, and laid her plans ac- cordingly. In place of receiving Amelia coldly and re- pulsively, which but a few moments before she would have done, she sprang to meet her with every sign of heart-felt love; the little maiden threw Jierself weeping convulsively into her sister's arms, and was pressed closely and tenderly to her bosom. " Tears ! " said Ulrica lovingly, as she drew her sister to the sofa and pressed her down upon the soft pillows ; " you weep, and yet a splendid future is this day secured to you ! " Amelia sobbed yet more loudly and pressed her tear- stained face more closely to the bosom of her sister. Ulrica looked down with a mixture of curiosity and triumph; she could not understand these tears ; but she had a secret satis- FREDERICK THE GREAT AND HIS FRIENDS. 49 faction in seeing the person she most envied weeping so bitterly. " How is this * are you not happy to be a queen ? " Amelia raised her face hastily and sobbed out : " No ! I am not pleased to be an apostate, to perjure myself! I am not content to deny my faith in order to buy a miserable earthly crown ! I have sworn to be true to my God and my faith, and now I am commanded to lay it aside like a perish- able robe, and take another in exchange." " Ah, is it that ? " said Ulrica, with a tone of contempt she could scarcely control; "you fear this bold step by which your poor innocent soul may be compromised." " I will remain true to the belief in which I have been educated, and to which I have dedicated myself at the altar ! " cried Amelia, bursting again into tears. " It is easy to see that but a short time only has elapsed since you took these vows upon you. You have all the fa- naticism of a new convert. How would our blessed father rejoice if he could see you now ! " " He would not force me to deny my religion ; he would not, for the sake of outward splendor, endanger my soul's salvation. Oh! it is harsh and cruel of my brother to treat me as a piece of merchandise ; he asks not whether my heart or principles can conscientiously take part in his ambitious plans." Ulrica cast a long and piercing glance upon her sister. She would gladly have searched to the bottom of her soul; she wished to know if this fierce opposition to the marriage was the result of love to the faith of her fathers. " And you are not ambitious ? you are not excited by the thought of being a queen, of marrying a man who will fill a place in the world's history ? " The young girl raised her eyes in amazement, and her tears ceased to flow. " What has a woman to do with the world's history ? " she said ; " think you I care to be named as the wife of a king of Sweden ? It is a sad, unhappy fate to be a princess. We are sold to him who makes the largest offer and the most favorable conditions. Well, let it be so ; it is the fate of all princesses; it is for this we are educated, and must bow 50 BERLIN AND SANS-SOUCI; OR, humbly to the yoke; but liberty of conscience should be at least allowed us, freedom of thought, the poor consolation of worshipping God in the manner we prefer, and of seeking' help and protection in the arms of that religion we believe in and love." " One can be faithful to God even when unfaithful to their first faith," said Ulrica, who began already to make excuses to herself for the change of religion she contem- plated. " That is not in my power ! " cried Amelia passionately, " I cling to the religion of my house, and I should tremble before the wrath of God if I gave it up." " Alter all, it is but « small and unimportant difference between the Keformed and Lutheran Churches," said Ulrica, much excited, and entirely forgetting that the question had as yet no relation to herself. " One can be as pious a Chris- tian in the Reformed Church as in the Lutheran." " Not I ; it is not in my power," said Amelia, with the wilfulness of a spoiled child not accustomed to opposition. " I will not become a Lutheran. A Pollnitz may change his faith, but not the daughter of Frederick William. Did not the king with indignation and contempt relate to us how Pollnitz had again changed his religion and become a Protestant? Did we not laugh heartily, and in our hearts •despise the dishonorable man? I will not place myself in such a position." " Then, my sister, there will be stormy times and stem strife in our household: the bitter scenes of earlier days will be renewed. Our royal brother is not less resolute than our stern father. I fear that his brothers and sisters are nothing more to him than useful instruments in this great state machine, and they must bow themselves unquestion- ingly to his commands." "Yes, I feel this; I see it clearly," said Amelia, trem- bling ; " and for this reason, dear sister, you must stand by me and help me. I swear to you that I will not become a Lutheran." " Is that your unchangeable resolution ? " "Yes, unchangeable." " Well, if that is so, I will give you my counsel." FREDERICK THE GREAT AND HIS FRIENDS. 51 " Speak, speak quickly," said Amelia, breathlessly, and throwing her arms around the slender waist of her sister^ she laid her head trustingly upon her shoulder. " Firstly, the Swedish ambassador has not made a formal demand for your hand; that probably proves that he will first examine and observe you closely, to see if you are suited to be the wife of the prince royal. We have still, therefore, a short delay, which, if wisely used, may conduct you to the desired goal. But, Amelia, prove yourself once more; ask counsel again of your heart and conscience, before you make a final resolve. I will not have you complain of me in future, and say that my foolish and guilty counsel lost you the throne of Sweden." " Oh, fear not, my beloved sister. I will not be queen of Sweden at the cost of my immortal soul." " You will not, then, reproach me, Amelia ? " " Never." " Listen, then. From this moment lay a mask upon your face; that is to say, assume a proud, rude, overbearing tone to all around you — toward your friends, your servants, the court circle, yes, even toward the members of your family. Particularly in the presence of this Swedish ambassador, show yourself to be a capricious, nervous, and haughty prin- cess, who scarcely thinks it worth the trouble to speak a word, or give a friendly glance, to a man in his position. When you speak to him and he attempts to answer, cut short his replies, and command him to be silent; if he strives to win your favor by the most respectful civility, let an un- mistakable expression of contempt be written upon your face^ and let that be your only answer. Regulate your conduct for a few days by these rules, and I am convinced you will attain your object." " Yes, yes ! I understand, I understand ! " said the young girl, clapping her little white hands, and looking up joyously. " I shall, by my pride and passion, freeze the words in the mouth of my lord ambassador, so that the decisive word can- not find utterance. Oh! this will be a precious comedy, my sweet sister, and I promise you to carry out my rdle of heroine to perfection. Oh, I thank you! I thank you J I am indeed happy to have found so wise a sister, so 4 52 BERLIN AND SANS-SOUCI; OR, brave a comrade in arms, while surrounded with such perils ! " " She would not have it otherwise," said Ulrica, laconic- ally, as she found herself again alone. "If she is without ambition, so much the worse for her — so much the better for me ! And now, it is high time to think of my toilet — that is the most important consideration. To-day I must be not only amiable, but lovely. To-day I will appear an innocent and unpretending maiden," With a mocking smile she entered her boudoir, and called her attendants. CHAPTEK VI. THE TEMPTER. Princess Ulrica was earnestly occupied with considera- tions of her toilet. Amelia had returned to her room, mus- ing and thoughtful. There were difficulties in the way of the new rdle she had resolved to play, and by which she expected to deceive the world. She stood for a moment before the door of her dressing-room, and listened to the voices of her attendants, who were gayly laughing and talking. It was her custom to join them, and take a ready part in their merry sports and jests. She must now, however, deny herself, and put a guard over her heart and lips. Accordingly, with a dark frown on her brow and tightly-compressed lips, she entered the room in which her maids were at that moment arranging her ball toilet for the evening. " It seems to me that your loud talking is most unseemly," said Amelia, in a tone so haughty, so passionate, that the smiles of the two young girls vanished in clouds. " I will be obliged to you if you will complete your work noiselessly, and reserve your folly till you have left my room! And what is that. Mademoiselle Felicien? for what purpose have you prepared these flowers, which I see lying upon your table?" FREDERICK THE GREAT AND HIS FRIENDS. 53 "Your royal highness, these flowers are for your coif- fure, and these bouquets are intended to festoon your dress." " How dare you allow yourself to decide upon my ^joilet, mademoiselle ? " " I have not dared," said Felicien, tremblingly; "your royal highness ordered moss roses for your hair, and bou- quets of the same for your bosom and your robe." " It appears to me," said Amelia, imperiously, " that to contradict me, and at the same time assert that which is false, is, to say the least, unbecoming your position. I am not inclined to appear in the toilet of a gardener's daughter. To prove this, I will throw these flowers, which you dare to assert I ordered, from the window; with their strong odor they poison the air." With a cruel hand, she gathered up the lovely roses, and hastened to the window. " Look, mademoiselle, these are the flowers which you undertook to prepare for my hair," said Amelia, with well-assumed scorn, as she threw the bouquet into the garden which surrounded the castle of Monbijou; "look, mademoiselle." Suddenly the princess uttered a iow cry, and looked, blushing painfully, into the garden. In her haste, she had not remarked that two gentlemen, at that moment, crossed the great court which led to the principal door of the castle ; and the flowers which she had so scornfully rejected, had struck the younger and taller of the gentlemen exactly in the face. He stood completely amazed, and looked question- ingly at the window from which this curious bomb had fallen. His companion, however, laughed aloud, and made a pro- found bow to the princess, who still stood, blushing and em- barrassed, at the window. " From this hour I believe in the legend of the Fairy of the Roses," said the elder of the two gentlemen, who was in- deed no other than Baron Pollnitz. "Yes, princess, I be- lieve fully, and I would not be at all astonished if your highness should at this moment flutter from the window in a chariot drawn by doves, and cast another shower of blos- soms in the face of my friend." The princess had found time to recover herself, and to remember the haughty part she was determined to play. 54 BERLIN AND SANS-SOUCI; OR, **! hope, baron," she said, sternly, "you will not allow yourself to suppose it was my purpose to throw those roses either to your companion or yourself ? I wished only to get rid of them." She shut the window rudely and noisily, and commanded her attendants to complete her toilet at once. She seated herself sternly before the glass, and ordered her French maid to cover her head with jewels and ribbons. The two gentlemen still stood in the garden, in earnest conversation. " This is assuredly an auspicious omen, my friend," said Pollnitz to the young officer, who was gazing musingly at the roses he held in his hand. He had raised his eyes from the flowers to the window at which the lovely form of the prin- cess had, for a few moments, appeared. " Alas ! " said he, sighing, and gazing afar off ; " she is so wonderfully beautiful — so lovely; and she is a prin- cess ! " Pollnitz laughed heartily. " One might think that you re- gretted that fact! Listen to me, my young friend; stand no longer here, in a dream. Come, in place of entering the castle immediately, to pay our respects to the queen-mother, we will take a walk through the garden, that you may allay your raptures and recover your reason." He took the arm of the young man, and drew him into a shady, private pathway. " Now, my dear friend, listen to me, and lay to heart all that I say to you. Accident, or, if you prefer it, Fate brought us together. After all, it seems indeed more than an accident. I had just returned to Berlin, and was about to pay my respects to the queen-mother, when I met you, who at the same time seek an audience, in order to commend yourself to her royal protection. You bear a letter of com- mendation from my old friend. Count Lottum. All this, of course, excites my curiosity. I ask your name, and learn, to my astonishment, that you are young Von Trenck, the son of the woman who was my first love, and who made me most unhappy by not returning my passion. I assure you, it produces a singular sensation to meet so unexpectedly the son of a first love, whose father, alas ! you have not the hap- FREDEIUCK THE GREAT AND HIS FRIENDS. 55 piness to be. I feel already that I am prepared to love you as foolishly as I once loved your fair mother." " I will not, like my mother, reject your vows/' said the young officer, smiling, and extending his hand to Pollnitz. " I hoped as much," said Pollnitz ; " you shall find a fond father in me, and even to-day I will commence my parental duties. In the first place, what brings you here ? " " To make my fortune — to become a general, or field- marshal, if possible," said the young man, laughing. " How old are you ? " " I am nineteen." " You wear the uniform of an officer of the life-guard ; the king has, therefore, already promoted you ? " " I was a cadet but eight days," said Trenck, proudly. "My step-father. Count Lottum, came with me from Dant- zic, and presented me to the king. His majesty received me graciously, and remembered well that I had received, at the examination at Konigsberg, the first prize from his hand." " Go on, go on," said Pollnitz ; " you see I am all ear, and I must know your present position in order to be useful to you." " The king, as I have said, received me graciously, even kindly; he made me a cadet in his cavalry corps, and three weeks after, I was summoned before him; he had heard something of my wonderful memory, and he wished to prove me." " Well, how did you stand the proof ? " " I stood with the king at the window, and he called over to me quickly the names of fifty soldiers who were standing in the court below, pointing to each man as he called his name. I then repeated to him every name in the same suc- cession, but backward." " A wonderful memory, indeed," said Pollnitz, taking a pinch of Spanish snuff ; " a terrible memory, which would make me shudder if I were your sweetheart ! " " And why ? " said the young officer. " Because you would hold ever in remembrance all her caprices and all her oaths, and one day, when she no longer loved you, she would be held to a strict account. Well, did the king subject you to further proof? " 66 BEflLIN AND SANS-SOUCI; OR, " Yes ; he gave me the material for two letters, which I dictated at the same time to his secretaries, one in French and one in Latin. He then commanded me to draw the plan of the Hare Meadow, and I did so." "Was he pleased?" " He made me cornet of the guard," said Trenck, modest- ly avoiding a more direct answer. " I see you are in high favor : in three weeks you are promoted from cadet to lieutenant! quick advancement, which the king, no doubt, signalized by some other act of grace ? " "He sent me two horses from his stable, and when I came to thank him, he gave me a purse containing two hundred * Fredericks.' " PoUnitz gave a spring backward. " Thunder ! you are indeed in favor! the king gives you presents! Ah, my young friend, I would protect you, but it seems you can patronize me. The king has never made me a present. And what do you desire to-day of the queen-mother ? " " As I am now a lieutenant, I belong to the court circle, and must take part in the court festivals. So the king com- manded me to pay my respects to the queen-mother." "Ah, the king ordered that?" said PoUnitz; "truly, young man, the king must destine you for great things — he overloads you with favors. You will make a glittering career, provided you are wise enough to escape the shoals and quicksands in your way. I can tell you, there will be adroit and willing hands ready to cast you down ; those who are in favor at court have always bitter enemies." " Yes, I am aware that I have enemies," said Trenck ; " more than once I have already been charged with being a drunkard and a rioter; but the king, happily, only laughed at the accusations." " He is really in high favor, and I would do well to secure his friendship," thought PoUnitz; "the king will also be pleased with me if I am kind to him." He held out his hand to the young officer, and said, with fatherly tenderness : "From this time onward, when your enemies shall please to attack you, they shall not find you alone; they will find me a friend ever at your side. You are the son of the only i FREDERICK THE GREAT AND HIS FRIENDS. 57 •woman I ever loved — I wiU cherish you in my heart as my first-born ! " " And I receive you as my father with my whole heart," said Trenck ; " be my father, my friend, and my counsellor." " The court is a dangerous and slippery stage, upon which a young and inexperienced man may lightly slip, un- less held up by a strong arm. Many will hate you because you are in favor, and the hate of many is like the sting of hornets: one sting is not fatal, but a general attack some- times brings death. Make use, therefore, of your sunshine, and fix yourself strongly in an immovable position." " The great question is, what shall be my first step to se- cure it?" " How ! you ask that question, and you are nineteen years old, six feet high, have a handsome face, a splendid figure, an old, renowned name, and are graciously received at court ? Ah! youngster, I have seen many arrive at the highest honors and distinctions, who did not possess half your glit- tering qualities. If you use the right means at the right time, you cannot fail of success." " What do you consider the best means ? " " The admiration and favor of women ! You must gain the love of powerful and influential women. Oh, you are terrified, and your brow is clouded ! perhaps, unhappily, you are already in love ? " " No ! " said Frederick von Trenck, violently. " I have never been in love. I dare say more than that: I have never kissed the lips of a woman." Pollnitz gazed at him with an expression of indescribable amazement. " How ! " said he ; " you are nineteen, and as- sert that you have never embraced a woman ? " He gave a mocking and cynical laugh. " Ordinary women have always excited my disgust," said the young officer, simply ; " and until this day I have never seen a woman who resembled my ideal." " So, then, the woman with whom you will now become enamored will receive your first tender vows ? " " Yes, even so." " And you wear the uniform of the life-guard — you are a lieutenant ! " cried Pollnitz with tragical pathos, and e^- 58 BERLIN AND SANb-SOUCI ; OR, tending his arms toward heaven. "But how? — ^what did you say? — that until to-day you had seen no woman who approached your ideal ? " " I said that." "And to-day—?" " Well, it seems to me, we have both seen an angel to- day! — an angel, whom you have wronged, in giving her the common name of fairy." " Aha ! the Princess Amelia," said PoUnitz. " You will love this young maiden, my friend." " Then, indeed, shall I be most unhappy ! She is a royal princess, and my love must ever be unrequited." " Who told you that ? who told you that this little Amelia was only a princess? I tell you she is a young girl with a heart of fire. Try to awake her — she only sleeps ! A happy event has already greeted you. The princess has fixed your enraptured gaze upon her lovely form, by throwing or rather shooting roses at you. Perhaps the god of Love has hidden his arrow in a rose. You thought Amelia had only pelted your cheek with roses, but the arrow has entered your soul. Try your luck, young man; gain the love of the king's favorite sister, and you will be all-powerful." The young officer looked at him with confused and misty eyes. " You do not dare to suggest," murmured he, " that — " "I dare to say," cried Pollnitz, interrupting him, "that you are in favor with the brother; why may you not also gain the sister's good graces? I say further, that I will assist you, and I will ever be at your side, as a loving friend and a sagacious counsellor." " Do you know, baron, that your wild words open a future to my view before which my brain and heart are reeling? How shall I dare to love a princess, and seek her love in re- turn?" "As to the first point, I think you have already dared. As to the second, I think your rare beauty and wondrous ac- complishments might justify such pretensions." " You know I never can become the husband of a prin- cess." "You are right," said Pollnitz, laughing aloud; "you FREDERICK THE GREAT AND HIS FRIENDS. 59 are as innocent as a girl of sixteen! you have this moment fallen headlong in love, and begin at once to think of the possibility of marriage, as if love had no other refuge than marriage, and yet I think I have read that the god of Love and the god of Hymen are rarely seen together, though brothers; in point of fact, they despise and flee from each other. But after all, young man, if your love is virtuous and requires the priest's blessing, I think that is possible. Only a few years since the widowed margravine, the aunt of the king, married the Count Hoditz. What the king's aunt ac- complished, might be possible to the king's sister." "Silence, silence!" murmured Frederick von Trenck; " your wild words cloud my understanding like the breath of opium ; they make me mad, drunk. You stand near me like the tempter, showing to my bewildered eyes more than all the treasures of this world, and saying, *A11 these things will I give thee ' ; but alas ! I am not the Messiah. I have not the courage to cast down and trample under foot your devil- ish temptations. My whole soul springs out to meet them, and shouts for joy. Oh, sir, what have you done ? You have aroused my youth, my ambition, my passion ; you have filled my veins with fire, and I am drunk with the sweet but deadly poison you have poured into my ears." " I have assured you that I will be your father. I will lead you, and at the right moment I will point out the ob- stacles against which your inexperienced feet might stum- ble," said Polhiitz. The stony-hearted and egotistical old courtier felt not the least pity for this poor young man into whose ear, as Trenck had well said, he was pouring this fatal poison. Frederick von Trenck, the favorite of the king, was nothing more to him than a ladder by which he hoped to mount. He took the arm of the young officer and endeavored to soothe him with cool and moderate words, exhorting him to be quiet and reasonable. They turned their steps toward the castle, in ©rder to pay their respects to the queen-mother. The hour of audience was over, and the two gentlemen lounged arm in arm down the street. " Let us go toward the palace," said Pollnitz. " I think we will behold a rare spectacle, a crowd of old wigs who have 60 BERLIN AND SANS-SOUCI; OR, disguised themselves as savans. To-day, the first sitting of the Academy of Arts and Sciences takes place, and the celebrated President Maupertius will open the meeting in the name of the king. This is exactly the time for the renowned worthies to leave the castle. Let us go and wit- ness this comical show." The two gentlemen found it impossible to carry out their plans. A mighty crowd of men advanced upon them at this moment, and compelled them to stand still. Every face in the vast assemblage was expectant. Certainly some rare exhibition was to be seen in the circle which the crowd had left open in their midst. There were merry laughing and jesting and questioning amongst each other, as to what all this could mean, and what proclamation that could be which the drummer had just read in the palace garden. " It will be repeated here in a moment," said a voice from tb^ crowd, which increased every moment, and in whose fierce waves Pollnitz and Trenck were forcibly swallowed up. Pressed, pushed onward by powerful arms, resistance utterly in vain, the two companions found themselves at the same moment in the open space just as the drummer broke into the circle, and, playing his drumsticks with powerful and zeal- ous hands, he called the crowd to order. The drum overpowered the wild outcries and rude laugh- ter of the vast assemblage, and soon silenced them complete- ly. Every man held his breath to hear what the public crier, who had spoken so much to the purpose by his drum, had now to declare by word of mouth. He drew from his pocket a large document sealed with the state seal, and took advan- tage of the general quiet to read the formal introductory to all such proclamations : " We, Frederick, King of Prussia," etc., etc. On coming to the throne, Frederick had abolished all that long and absurd list of titles and dignities which had hereto- fore adorned the royal declarations. Even that highest of all titles, " King by the grace of God," had Frederick the Second set aside. He declared that, in saying King of Prussia, all was said. His father had called himself King of Prussia, by the grace of God; he, therefore, would call himself simply the King of Prussia, and if he did not boast of God's grace. FREDERICK THE GREAT AND HIS FRIENDS. 61 it was because he would prove by deeds, not words, that he possessed it. After this little digression we will return to our drummer who now began to read, or rather to cry out the command of the king. " We, Frederick, King of Prussia, order and command that no one of our subjects shall, under any circumstances, lend gold to our master of ceremonies, whom we have again taken into our service, or assist him in any way to borrow money. Whoever, therefore, shall, in despite of this procla- mation, lend money to said Baron Pollnitz, must bear the consequences; they shall make no demand for repayment, and the case shall not be considered in court. Whosoever shall disobey this command, shall pay a fine of fifty thalers, or suffer fifteen days' imprisonment." A wild shout of laughter from the entire assembly was the reply to this proclamation, in which the worldly-wise Pollnitz joined heartily, while his young companion had not the courage to raise his eyes from the ground. " The old courtier will burst with rage," said a gay voice from the crowd. " He is a desperate borrower," cried another. " He has richly deserved this public shame and humilia- tion from the king," said another. " And you call this a humiliation, a merited punish- ment ! " cried Pollnitz. " Why, my good friends, can you not see that this is an honor which the king shows to his old and faithful servant? Do you not know that by this proclamation he places Baron Pollnitz exactly on the same footing with the princes of the blood, with the prince royal?" " How is that ? explain that to us," cried a hundred voices in a breath. " Well, it is very simple. Has not the king recently re- newed the law which forbids, under pain of heavy punish- ment, the princes of the blood to borrow money? Is not this law printed in our journals, and made public in our col- lections of laws ? " " Yes, yes ! so it is," said many voices simultaneously. " Well, certainly, our exalted sovereign, who loves hia 62 BERLIN AND SANS-SOUCI; OR, royal brothers so warmly, would not have cast shame upon their honor. Certainly he would not have wished to humil- iate them, and has not done so. The king, as you must now plainly perceive, has acted toward Baron PoUnitz precisely as he has done to his brothers." " And that is, without doubt, a great honor for him," cried many voices. No one guessed the name of the speaker who was so fortunately at hand to defend the honor of the master of ceremonies. A general murmur of applause was heard, and even the public crier stood still and listened to the eloquent unknown speaker, and forgot for a while to hurry off to the next street-corner and proclaim the royal mandate. " Besides, this law is ' sans consequence,^ as we are ac- customed to say," said Pollnitz. " Who would not, in spite of the law, lend our princes gold if they had need of it? And who has right to take offence if the state refuses to pay the debts which the princes make as private persons? The baron occupies precisely the same position. The king, who has honored the newly returned baron with two highly im- portant trusts, master of ceremonies and master of the robes, will frighten his rather lavish old friend from making debts. He chooses, therefore, the same means by which he seeks to restrain his royal brothers, and forbids all per- sons to lend gold to Pollnitz: as he cannot well place this edict in the laws of the land, he is obliged to make it known by the drummer. And now," said the speaker, who saw plainly the favorable impression which his little oration had made — " and now, best of friends, I pray you to make way and allow me to pass through the crowd; I must go at once to the palace to thank his majesty for the special grace and distinction which he has showered upon me to-day. I, my- self, am Baron Pollnitz ! " An outcry of amazement burst from the lips of hundreds, and all who stood near Pollnitz stepped aside reverentially, in order to give place to the distinguished gentleman who was treated by the king exactly as if he were a prince of the blood. Pollnitz stepped with a friendly smile through the narrow way thus opened for him, and greeted, with his cool, impertinent manner those who respectfully stood back. FREDERICK THE GREAT AND HIS FRIENDS. 63 " I think I have given the king a Koland for his Oliver," he said to himself. " I have broken the point from the arrow which was aimed at me, and it glanced from my bosom without wounding me. Public opinion will be on my side from this time, and that which was intended for my shame has crowned me with honor. It was, nevertheless, a harsh and cruel act, for which I will one day hold a reckoning with Frederick. Ah, King Frederick! King Frederick! I shall not forget, and I will have my revenge; my cards are also well arranged, and I hold important trumps. I will wait yet a little while upon our lovelorn shepherd, this innocent and tender Trenck, who is in a dangerous way about the little princess." Pollnitz waited for Trenck, who had with difficulty forced his way through the crowd and hastened after him. CHAPTER Vn. THE FIRST INTERVIEW. The ball at the palace was opened. The two queens and the princesses had just entered the great saloon, in order to receive the respectful greetings of the ladies of the court ; while the king, in an adjoining room, was surrounded by the gentlemen. A glittering circle of lovely women, adorned with diamonds and other rich gems, stood on each side of the room, each one patiently awaiting the moment when the queens should pass before her, and she might have the honor of bowing almost to the earth under the glance of the royal eye. According to etiquette. Queen Elizabeth Christine, who, notwithstanding her modest and retired existence, was the reigning sovereign, should have made the grand tour alone, and received the first congratulations of the court; but this unhappy, shrinking woman, had never found the courage to assume the rights or privileges which belonged to her as wife of the king. She who was denied the highest and 64 BERLIN AND SANS-SOUCI; OR, lioliest of all distinctions, the first place in the heart of her husband, cared nothing for these pitiful and outward ad- vantages. Elizabeth had to-day, as usual, with a soft smile, given precedence to the queen-mother, Sophia Dorothea, who was ever thirsting to show that she held the first place at her son's court, and who, delighted to surround herself with all the accessories of pomp and power, was ever ready to use her prerogative. With a proud and erect head, and an almost contemptuous smile, she walked slowly around the circle of high-born dames, who bowed humbly before this representative of royalty. Benmd her came the reign- ing queen, between the two princesses, who now and then gave special and cordial greetings to their personal friends as they passed. Elizabeth Christine saw this and sighed bitterly. She had no personal friend to grace with a loving greeting. No man saw any thing else in her than a sov- ereign by sufferance, a woman sans consequence, a powerless queen and unbeloved wife. She had never had a friend into whose sympathetic and silent bosom she could pour out her griefs. She was alone, so entirely alone and lonely, that the heavy sighs and complaints dwelling in her heart were ever reverberating in her ears because of the surround- ing silence. And now, as she made the grand tour with the two princesses, no one seemed to see her; she was regarded as the statue of a queen, richly dressed and decked with costly lace and jewels, but only a picture: yet this picture had a soul and a heart of fire — it was a woman, a wife, who loved and who endured. Suddenly she trembled; a light, like the glory of sun- shine, flashed in her eyes, and a soft rosy blush spread over her fair cheek. The king had entered the room; yes, he was there in all his beauty, his majesty, his power; Eliza- beth felt that the world was bright, her blood was rushing madly through her veins, her heart was beating as stormily as that of an impassioned young girl. Oh, it might be that the eye of the king — that glowing, wondrous eye — might even by accident rest upon her; it might be that Frederick would be touched by her patient endurance, her silent resig- nation, and give her one friendly word. She had been four years a queen, for four years this title had been a crown of FREDERICK THE GREAT AND HIS FRIENDS. 65 thorns; during all this weary time her husband had not vouchsafed to her poor heart, sick unto death, one single sympathetic word, one affectionate glance; he sat by her side at the table during the court festivals; he had from time to time, at the balls and masquerades, opened the dance with her; never, however, since that day on which he had printed the first kiss upon her lips, never had he spoken to her; since that moment she was to him the picture of a queen, the empty form of a woman.* But Queen Elizabeth would not despair. Hope was her motto. A day might come when he would speak to her, when he would forget that she had been forced upon him as his wife, a day when his heart might be touched by her grief, her silent and tearless love. Every meeting with Frederick was to this poor queen a time of hope, of joyful expectation; this alone sustained her, this gave her strength silently, even smilingly, to draw her royal robe over her bleeding heart. And now the king drew near, surroimded by the prin- cesses and the queen-mother, to whom he gave his hand with an expression of reverence and filial love. He then bowed silently and indifferently to his wife, and gave a merry greeting to his two sisters. " Ladies," said he, in a full, rich voice, " allow me to present to you and my court my brother, the Prince Augus- tus William ; he is now placed before you in a new and more distinguished light." He took the hand of his brother and led him to the queen-mother. "I introduce your son to you; he will be from this day onward, if it so please you, also your grandson." * The king never spoke to his wife, but his manner toward her was con- siderate and respectful ; no one dared to fail in the slightest mark of courtly observance toward Elizabeth — this the king sternly exacted. Only once did the king address lier. During the seventh year of their marriage, the queen, by an unhappy accident, had seriously injured her foot ; this was a short time before her birthday, which event was always celebrated with great pomp and ceremony, the king honoring the^fete with his presence. On tnis occasion he came as usual, but in place of the distant and silent bow with which he usually greeted her, he drew near, gave her his hand, and said with kindly sympathy, ^I sincerely hope that your majesty has recovered from your accident." A /general surprisie was pictured in the faces of all present — but the poor queen was so overcome by this unexpected happiness, she had no power to reply, she bowed silently. The king frowned and turned from her. Since that day, the happiness' of which she had bought with an injured foot, the king had not spoken to her. 6(5 BERLIN JLIW SANS-SOUCI; OR, " How is that, your majesty? I confess you have brought about many seemingly impossible things; but I think it is beyond your power to make Augustus at the same time both my son and my grandson." "Ah, mother, if I make him my son, will he not be of necessity, your grandson? I appoint him my successor; in so doing, I declare him my son. Embrace him, therefore, your majesty, and be the first to greet him by his new title. Embrace the Prince of Prussia, my successor." " I obey," said the queen, " I obey," and she cast her arms affectionately around her son. " I pray God that this title of 'Prince of Prussia,' which it has pleased your majesty to- lend him, may be long and honorably worn." The prince bowed low before his mother, who tenderly kissed his brow, then whispered, " Oh, mother, pray ratlier that God may soon release me from this burden." " How ! " cried the queen threateningly, " you have then, a strong desire to be king? Has your vaulting ambition made you forget that to wish to be king is, at the same time, to wish the death of your brother ? " The prince smiled sadly. " Mother, I would lay aside this rank of Prince of Prus- sia, not because I wish to mount the throne, but I would fain lie down in the cold and quiet grave." "Are you always so sad, so hopeless, my son — even iiow, upon this day of proud distinction for you? To-day you take your place as Prince of Prussia." "Yes, your majesty, to-day I am crowned with honor," said he, bitterly. " This is also the anniversary of my betrothal." Augustus turned and drew near to the king, who seized his hand and led him to his wife and the young princesses, saying with a loud voice, " Congratulate the Prince of Prussia, ladies." He then beckoned to some of his generals,, and drew back with them to the window. As he passed the queen, his eye rested upon her for a moment vdth an expression of sympathy and curiosity; he observed her with the searching glance of a physician, who sinks the probe into the bleeding wound in order to know its depth and danger. FK-EDERICK THE GREAT AND HIS FRIENDS. 67 The queen understood his purpose. That piercing glance was a warning; it gave her courage, self-possession, and proud resignation. Her husband had spoken to her with his eyes; that must ever be a consolation, a painful but sweet joy. She controlled herself so far as to give her hand to the prince with a cordial smile. " You are most welcome in your double character," she said, in a voice loud enough to be heard by the king and all around her. " Until to-day, you have been my beloved brother; and from this time will you be to me, as also to my husband, a dear son. By the decrees of Providence a sou has been denied me; I accept you, therefore, joyfully, and receive you as my son and brother." A profound silence followed these words; here and there in the crowd, slight and derisive smiles were seen, and a few whispered and significant words were uttered. The queen had now received the last and severest blow; in the fulness and maturity of her beauty she had been placed before the court as unworthy or incapable of giving a successor to the throne ; but she still wished to save appearances : she would, if possible, make the world believe that the decree of Provi- dence alone denied to her a mother's honors. She had the cruel courage to conceal the truth by prevarication. The watchful eyes of the court had long since discovered the mystery of this royal marriage: they had long known that the queen was not the wife of Frederick; her words, therefore, produced contemptuous surprise. Elizabeth cared for none of these things. She looked toward her husband, whose eyes were fijxed upon her; she would read in his countenance if he were pleased with her words. A smile played upon the lips of the king, and he bowed his head almost imperceptibly as a greeting to his wife. A golden ray of sunlight seemed to play upon her face; content was written in her eyes ; twice to-day her glance had met her husband's, and both times his eyes had spoken. Elizabeth was happier than she had been for many days; she laughed and jested with the ladies, and conversed gayly over the great event of the evening — the first appearance of the Signora Barbarina. The princesses, also, conversed un- 5 68 BERLIN AND SANS-SOUCI ; OR, ceremoniously with the ladies near them. A cloud darkened the usually clear brow of the Princess Amelia, and she seemed to be in a nervous and highly excited state. At this moment the master of ceremonies, Pollnitz, drew near, with Count Tessin, the Swedish ambassador. The princess immediately assumed so scornful an expression, that even Pollnitz scarcely found courage to present Count Tessin. " Ah ! you come from Sweden," said Amelia, immediate- ly after the presentation. " Sweden is a dark and gloomy country, and you have indeed done well to save yourself, by taking refuge in our gay and sunny clime." The count was evidently wounded. " Your royal highness calls this a refuge," said he ; "you must, then, think those to be pitied who dwell in my fatherland?" " I do not feel it necessary to confide my views on that subject to Count Tessin," said Amelia, with a short, rude laugh. " Yes, sister, it is necessary," said Ulrica, with a magical smile, " you must justify yourself to the count, for you have cast contempt upon his country." " Ah ! your highness is pleased to think better of my fatherland," said Tessin, bowing low to Ulrica. " It is true, Sweden is rich in beauty, and nowhere is nature more ro- mantic or more lovely. The Swedes love their country passionately, and, like the Swiss, they die of homesickness when banished from her borders. They languish and pine away if one is cruel enough to think lightly of their birth- place." " Well, sir, I commit this cruelty," cried Amelia, " and yet I scarcely think you will languish and pine away on that account." " Dear sister, I think you are out of temper to-day," said Ulrica, softly. " And you are wise to remind me of it in this courtly style," said Amelia; "have you taken the rdle of governess for my benefit to-day ? " Ulrica shrugged her shoulders and turned again to the count, who was watching the young Amelia with a mixture FREDEKICK THE GREAT AND HIS FRIENDS. 69 of astonishment and anger. She had been represented at the Swedish court as a model of gentleness, amiability, and grace ; he found her rude and contradictory, fitful and child- ish. The Princess Ulrica soon led the thoughts of the count in another direction, and managed to retain him at her side by her piquant and intellectual conversation; she brought every power of her mind into action; she was gracious in the extreme; she overcame her proud nature, and assumed a winning gentleness; in short, she flattered the ambassador with such delicate refinement, that he swal- lowed the magical food offered to his vanity, without sus- pecting that he was victimized. Neither the princess nor the coimt seemed any longer to remember Amelia, who still stood near them with a lower- ing visage. Pollnitz made use of this opportunity to draw near with his young protege, Frederick von Trenck, and present him to the princess, who inunediately assimied a gay and laughing expression; she wished to give the ambassa- dor a new proof of her stormy and fitful nature : she would humble him by proving that she was not harsh and rude to all the world. She received the two gentlemen, therefore, with great cordiality, and laughed heartily over the adven- ture of the morning; she recounted to them, merrily and wittily, how and why she had thrown the sweet roses away. Amelia was now so lovely and so spirited to look upon, so radiant with youth, animation, and innocence, that the eyes of the poor young officer were dazzled and sought the floor; completely intoxicated and bewildered, he could not join in the conversation, uttering here and there only a trembling monosyllable. This did not escape the cunning eye of the master of ceremonies. " I must withdraw," thought he ; "I will grant them a first tete-d-tSte. I will observe them from a distance, and be able to decide if my plan will succeed." Excusing himself upon the plea of duty, Pollnitz withdrew; he glided into a window and concealed himself behind the cur- tains, in order to watch the countenances of his two victims. Pollnitz had rightly judged. The necessity of taking part in the conversation with the princess restored to the young officer his intellect and his courage, and, in the effort to 70 BERLIN AND SANS-SOUCI ; OR, overcome his timidity, he became too earnest, too impas- sioned. But the princess did not remark this; she rejoiced in an opportunity to show the Swedish ambassador how amiable and gracious she could be to others, and thus make him more sensible of her rudeness to himself; he should see and confess that she could be winning and attractive when it suited her purpose. The count observed her narrowly, even while conversing with Ulrica; he saw her ready smile, her beaming eye, her perhaps rather demonstrative cordiality to the young officer. " She is changeable and coquettish," he said to himself, while still carrying on his conversation with the talented, refined, and thoroughly maidenly Princess Ulrica. The great and, as we have said, somewhat too strongly marked kindliness of Amelia, added fuel to the passion of Trenck; he became more daring. "I have to implore your highness for a special grace," said he in a suppressed voice. " Speak on," said she, feeling at that moment an inex- plicable emotion which made her heart beat high, and ban- ished the blood from her cheeks. "I have dared to preserve one of the roses which you threw into the garden. It was a mad theft, I know it, but I was under the power of enchantment; I could not resist, and would at that moment have paid for the little blossom with my heart's blood. Oh, if your royal highness could have seen, when I entered my room and closed the door, with what rapture I regarded my treasure, how I knelt be- fore it and worshipped it, scarcely daring to touch it with my lips! it recalled to me a lovely fairy tale of my child- hood." " How could a simple rose recall a fairy tale ? " said Amelia. " It is a legend of a poor shepherd-boy, who, lonely and neglected, had fallen asleep under a tree near the highway. Before sleeping, he had prayed to God to have pity upon him; to fill this great and painful void in his heart, or to send His Minister, Death, to his release. While sleeping he had a beautiful dream. He thought he saw the heavens open^ FREDERICK THE GREAT AND HIS FRIENDS. 71 and an angel of enchanting grace and beauty floated toward him. Her eyes glowed like two of the brightest stars. * You shall be no longer lonely," she whispered ; * my image shall abide ever in your heart, and strengthen and stimulate you to all things good and beautiful.' While saying this, she laid a wondrous rose upon his eyes, and, floating off, soon disappeared in the clouds. The poor shepherd-boy awoke, and was enraptured with what he supposed had been a wild dream. But lo! there was the rose, and with un- speakable joy he pressed it to his heart. He thanked God for this sweet flower, which proved to him that the angel was no dream, but a reality. The rose, the visible emblem of his good angel, was the joy and comfort of his life, and he wore it ever in his heart. — I thought of this fairy tale, princess, as I looked upon my rose, but I felt immediately that I dared not call it mine without the consent of your highness. Decide, therefore ; dare I keep this rose ? " Amelia did not reply. She had listened with a strange embarrassment to this impassioned tale. The world — all, was forgotten; she was no longer a princess, she was but a simple young girl, who listened for the first time to words of burning passion, and whose heart trembled with sweet alarm. " Princess, dare I guard this rose ? " repeated Frederick, with a trembling voice. She looked at him; their eyes met; the young maiden trembled, but the man stood erect. He felt strong, proud, and a conqueror; his glance was like the eagle's, when about to seize a lamb and bear it to his eyrie. " He goes too far ; truly, he goes too far," whispered Pollnitz, who had seen all, and from their glances and movements had almost read their thoughts and words. "I must bring this tete-d-tete to an end, and I shall do so in a profitable manner." " Dare I keep this rose ? " said Frederick von Trenck, a third time. Amelia turned her head aside and whispered, " Keep it.'^ Trenck would have answered, but in that moment a hand was laid upon his arm, and Pollnitz stood near him. " Prudence," whispered he, anxiously. " Do you not see 72 BERLIN AND SANS-SOUCI; OR, that you are observed? You will make of your insane and treasonable passion a fairy tale for the whole court." Amelia uttered a slight cry, and looked anxiously at PoUnitz. She had heard his whispered words, and the sly baron intended that she should. " Will your royal highness dismiss this madman," whis- pered he, " and allow me to awake his sleeping reason ? " " Go, Herr von Trenck," said she lightly. Pollnitz took the arm of the young officer and led him off, saying to himself, with a chuckle : " That was a good stroke, and I feel that I shall succeed; I have betrayed his passion to her, and forced myself into their confidence. I shall soon be employed as Love's messenger, and that is ever with princesses a profitable service. Ah, King Frederick, King Frederick, you have made it impossible for me to borrow money! Well, I shall not find that necessary; my hands shall be filled from the royal treasures. When the casket of the princess is empty, the king must of course replenish it." And the baron laughed too loudly for a master of ceremonies. CHAPTER VIII. SIGNORA BARBARINA. The princess regarded their retreating figures with dreamy eyes. Then, yielding to an unconquerable desire to be alone, to give herself up to undisturbed thought, she was about to withdraw; but the Princess Ulrica, who thought it necessary that the Swedish ambassador should have another opportunity of observing the proud and sullen temper of her sister, called her back. "Remain a moment longer, Amelia," said the princess. " You shall decide between Count Tessin and myself. Will you accept my sister as umpire, count ? " "Without doubt," said the count. "I should be greatly honored if the princess will be so gracious. Perhaps I may be more fortunate on this occasion." FREDERICK THE GREAT AND HIS FRIENDS. Y3 "It appears to me," said Amelia, rudely interrupting him, " that * fortunate ' and * unfortunate ' are not terms which can be properly used in any connection between a princess of Prussia and yourself." Amelia then turned to- ward her sister and gave her a glance which plainly said: Well, do I not play my role in masterly style? Have I not hastened to follow your counsels ? " Speak, sister ; name the point which Count Tessin dares to contest with you." " Oh, the count is a man and a scholar, and has full right to differ," said Ulrica, graciously. " The question was a comparison of Queen Elizabeth of England and Queen Christina of Sweden. I maintain that Christina had a stronger and more powerful intellect; that she knew better how to conquer her spirit, to master her womanly weak- nesses ; that she was more thoroughly cultivated, and studied philosophy and science, not as Elizabeth, for glitter and show, but because she had an inward thirst for knowledge. The count asserts that Elizabeth was better versed in state- craft, and a more amiable woman. Now, Amelia, to which of these two queens do you give the preference ? " •* Oh, without doubt, to Queen Christina of Sweden. This great woman was wise enough not to regard the crown of Sweden as a rare and precious gem; she chose a simple life of obscurity and poverty in beautiful Italy, rather than a throne in cold and unfruitful Sweden. This act alone establishes her superiority. Yes, sister, you are right. Christina was the greater woman, even because she scorned to be Queen of Sweden." So saying, Amelia bowed slightingly, and, turning aside, she summoned Madame von Kleist, and commenced a merry chat with her. Count Tessin regarded her with a dark and scornful glance, and pressed his lips tightly together, as if to restrain his anger. " I beseech you, count," said Ulrica, in a low, soft voice, "not to be offended at the thoughtless words of my dear little sister. It is true, she is a little rude and resentful* to- day; but you will see — to-morrow, perhaps, will be one of her glorious sunny days, and you will find her irresistibly charming. Her moods are changeable, and for that reason we call her our little * April /^e.' " 74 BERLIN AND SANS-SOUCI; OR, " Ah, the princess is, then, as uncertain as April ? " said the count, with a frosty smile. " More uncertain than April," said Ulrica, sweetly. ** But what would you, sir ? we all, brothers and sisters, are responsible for that. You must know that she is our fa- vorite, and is always indulged. I counsel you not to find fault with our little sister, Count Tessin; that would be to bring an accusation against us all. You have suffered to- day from a shower of her April moods; to-morrow you may rejoice in the sunshine of her favor." "I shall, however, be doubtful and anxious," said the ambassador, coolly ; " the April sun is sometimes accom- panied by rain and storm, and these sudden changes bring sickness and death." " Allow me to make one request," said Ulrica. " Let not the king guess that you have suffered from these April changes." " Certainly not ; and if your royal highness will gracious- ly allow me to bask in the sunshine of your presence, I shall soon recover from the chilling effect of these April showers." " Well, I think we have played our parts admirably," said Ulrica to herself, as she found time, during the course of the evening, to meditate upon the events of the day. " Amelia will accomplish her purpose, and will not be Queen of Sweden. She would have it so, and I shall not reproach myself." Princess Ulrica leaned comfortably back in her arm- chair, and gave her attention to a play of Voltaire, which was now being performed. This representation took place in the small theatre in the royal palace. There was no pub- lic theatre in Berlin, and the king justly pronounced the large opera-house unsuited to declamation, Frederick gen- erally gave his undivided attention to the play, but this evening he was restless and impatient, and he accorded less applause to this piquant and witty drama of his favorite author than he was wont to do. The king was impatient, because the king was waiting. He had so far restrained all outward expression of his impatient curiosity; the French play had not commenced one moment earlier than usual. Frederick had, according to custom, gone behind the scenes. I FREDERICK THE GREAT AND HIS FRIENDS. 75 to say a few friendly and encouraging words to the per- formers, to call their attention to his favorite passages, and exhort them to be truly eloquent in their recitations. And now the king waited ; he felt feverishly impatient to see and judge for himself this capricious beauty, this world-re- nowned artiste, this Signora Barbarina, whose rare loveli- ness and grace enchanted and bewildered all who looked upon her. At length the curtain fell. In a few moments he would see the Barbarina dance her celebrated solo. A breathless stillness reigned throughout the assembly; every eye was fixed upon the curtain. The bell sounded, the curtain flew up, and a lovely landscape met the eye: in the background a village church, rose-bushes in rich bloom, and shady trees on every side; the declining sun gilded the summit of the mountain, against the base of which the little village nestled. The distant soimd of the evening bell was calling the simple cottagers to " Ave Maria." It was an enchanting picture of innocence and peace; in striking contrast to this courtly assemblage, glittering with gems and starry orders — a start- ling opposite to that sweet, pure idyl. And now this select circle seemed agitated as by an electric shock. There, upon the stage, floated the Signora Barbarina. The king raised himself involuntarily a little higher in his arm-chair, in order to examine the signora more closely; he leaned back, however, ashamed of his impatience, and a light cloud was on his brow; he felt himself oppressed and overcome by this magical beauty. He who had looked death in the face without emotion, who had seen the deadly can- non-balls falling thickly around him without a trembling of the eyelids, now felt a presentiment of danger, and shrank from it. Barbarina was indeed lovely, irresistibly lovely, in her ravishing costume of a shepherdess; her dress was of crim- son satin, her black velvet bodice was fastened over her vo- luptuous bosom by rich golden cords, finished off by tassels glittering with diamonds. A wreath of crimson roses adorned her hair, which fell in graceful ringlets about her wondrous brow, and formed a rich frame around her pure, oval face. The dark incarnate of her fuU, ripe lip con- 76 BERLIN AND SANS-SOUCI; OR, trasted richly with the light, rosy blush of her fair, smooth cheek. Barbarina's smile was a promise of love and bliss; and, when those great fiery eyes looked at you earnestly, there was such an intense glow, such a depth of power and passion in their rays, you could not but feel that there was danger in her love as in her scorn. To-day, she would neither threaten nor inspire; she was only a smiling, joyous, simple peasant-girl, who had re- turned wild with joy to her native village, and whose rapture found expression in the gay and graceful mazes of the dance. She floated here and there, like a wood-nymph, smiling, happy, careless, wonderful to look upon in her loveliness and beauty, but more wonderful still in her art. Simplicity and grace marked every movement; there seemed no diffi- culties in her path — to dance was her happiness. The dance was at an end. Barbarina, breathless, glow- ing, smiling, bowed low. Then all was still; no hand was moved, no applause greeted her. Her great burning eyes wandered threateningly and questioningly over the sa- loon; then, raising her lovely head proudly, she stepped back. The curtain fell, and now all eyes were fixed upon the king, in whose face the courtiers expected to read the im- pression which the signora had made upon him; but the countenance of the king told nothing; he was quiet and thoughtful, his brow was stern, and his lips compressed. The courtiers concluded that he was disappointed, and be- gan at once to find fault, and make disparaging remarks. Frederick did not regard them. At this moment he was not a king, he was only a man — a man who, in silent rapture, had gazed upon this wondrous combination of grace and beauty. The king was a hero, but he trembled before this woman, and a sort of terror laid hold upon him. The curtain rose, and the second act of the drama be- gan ; no one looked at the stage ; after this living, breathing, impersonation of a simple story, a spoken drama seemed oppressive. Every one rejoiced when the second act was at an end. The curtain would soon rise for Barbarina. But this did not occur; there was a long delay; there was eager expectation; the curtain did not rise; the bell FREDERICK THE GREAT AND HIS FRIENDS. 77 did not ring. At last. Baron Swartz crossed the stage and drew near to the king. " Sire," said he, " the Signora Barbarina declares she will not dance again; she is exhausted by grief and anxiety, and fatigued by her journey." " Go and say to her that I command her to dance," said Frederick, who felt himself once more a king, and rejoiced in his power over this enchantress, who almost held him in her toils. Baron Swartz hastened behind the scenes, but soon re- turned, somewhat cast down. " Sire, the signora affirms that she will not dance, and that the king has no power to compel her. She dances to please herself." "Ah! that is a menace," said the king, threateningly; and without further speech he stepi)ed upon the stage, fol- lowed by Baron Swartz. " Where is this person ? " said the king. "She is in her own room, your majesty; shall I call her?" " No, I will go to her. Show me the way." The baron stepped forward, and Frederick endeavored to collect himself and assume a cool and grave bearing. " Sire, this is the chamber of the Signora Barbarina." " Open the door." But before the baron had time to obey the command, the impatient hand of the king had opened the door, and he had entered the room. CHAPTER IX. THE KING AND BARBARINA. Barbarina was resting, half reclining, and wholly ab* stracted, upon a small crimson divan; her rounded arms were crossed over her breast. She fixed her blazing, glow- ing eyes upon the intruders, and seemed petrified, in her stubborn inmiobility, her determined silence. She had the 78 BERLIN AND SANS-SOUCI; OR, glance of a panther who has prepared herself for death, or to slay her enemy. The king stood a moment quiet and waiting, but Barba- rina did not move. Baron Swartz, alarmed by her contemptu- ous and disrespectful bearing, drew near, in order to say that the king had vouchsafed to visit her, but Frederick motioned him to withdraw; and, in order that Barbarina might not understand him, he told him in German to leave the room and await him in the corridor. " I do not wish the signora to know that I am the king," said he. As the baron withdrew, Frederick said to him, " Leave the door open." Barbarina was motionless, only her large black eyes wandered questioningly from one to the other; she sought to read the meaning of their words, not one of which she understood; but her features expressed no anxiety, no dis- quiet; she did not look like a culprit or a rebel; she had rather the air of a stern queen, withholding her royal fa- vor. The king drew near her. Her eyes were fixed upon him with inexpressible, earnest calm; and this cool indif- ference, so rarely seen by a king, embarrassed Frederick, and at the same time intoxicated him. " You are, then, determined not to dance again ? " said the king. " Fully determined," said she, in a rich and sonorous voice. " Beware ! beware ! " said he ; but he could not assume that threatening tone which he wished. " The king may perhaps compel you." " Compel me ! me, the Barbarina ! " said she, with a mocking laugh, and disclosing two rows of pearly teeth. " And how can the king compel me to dance ? " " You must be convinced that he has some power over you, since he brought you here against your will." "Yes, that is true," said she, raising herself up proudly; " he brought me here by force ; he has acted like a barbarian, a cold-blooded tyrant ! " " Signora," said Frederick, menacingly, " one does not speak so of kings." " And why not ? " she said, passionately. " What is your FREDERICK THE GREAT AND HIS FRIENDS. 79 king to me? ,What claim has he upon my love, upon my consideration, or even my obedience? What has he done for me, that I should regard him otherwise than as a tyrant? What is he to me ? I am myself a queen ; yes, and believe me, a proud and an obstinate one ! Who and what is this king, whom I do not know, whom I have never seen, who has for- gotten that I am a woman, yes, forgotten that he is a man, though he bears the empty title of a king? A true king is always and only a gallant cavalier in his conduct to women. If he fails in this, he is contemptible and despised." " How ! you despise the king ? " said Frederick, who really enjoyed this unaccustomed scene. " Yes, I despise him ! yes, I hate him ! " cried the Bar- barina, with a wild and stormy outbreak of her southern nature. " I no longer pray to God for my own happiness ; that this cruel king has destroyed. I pray to God for re- venge; yes, for vengeance upon this man, who has no heart, and who tramples the hearts of others under his feet. And God will help me. I shall revenge myself on this man. I have sworn it — I will keep my word! Go, sii, and tell this to your king; tell him to beware of Barbarina. Greater, bolder, more magnanimous than he, I warn him! Cunning- ly, slyly, unwarned, by night I was fallen upon by spies, and