KdepObst
Friedrich
1 229
II.
II.
Thomas Carlyle
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handle.
net/2027/hvd.
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hathitrust.
org/access_use#pd-google
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? COLLECTION
OP
BRITISH AUTHORS.
VOL. CCCCXLIV.
FREDERICK THE GREAT BY THOMAS CARLYLE.
VOL. L
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:12 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hn6m7y Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? TAUCHNITZ EDITION.
By the same Author,
THE FRENCH REvOLUTION 3 vols.
Oliver Cromwell's letters and speeches . i vols.
THE LIFE OF SCHILLER 1 vol.
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? HISTORY
or
MEDRICHII. OF PRUSSIA,
CALLED
FREDERICK THE GREAT.
THOMAS CARLYLE.
COPYRIGHT EDITION.
VOL. L
LEIPZIG
BERNHARD TAUCHNITZ
1858.
The Right of Translation ft reserved.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:12 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hn6m7y Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? f collebeJ
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:12 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hn6m7y Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CONTENTS
OP VOLUME I.
BOOK L
BIRTH AND PARENTAGE. 1712.
CHAPTER PADS
1. Proem: Friedrich's History from the Distance
we are at 3
1. Friedrich then, and Friedrich now, p. 7*
2. Eighteenth Century, 12.
3. English Prepossessions, 15.
4. Encouragements, Discouragements, 22.
II. Friedrich's Birth 29
III. Father and Mother: the Hanoverian Connexion 34
IV. Father's Mother 49
V. King. Friedrich 1 63
BOOK II.
OF BRANDENBURG AND THE HOHENZOLLERNS. 928-1417.
I. Brannibor: Henry the Fowler 79
H. Preussen: Saint Adalbert 90
ill, Markoraves op Brandenburg 98
End of the First Shadowy Line, p. 98.
Second Shadowy Line , 100.
Substantial Markgraves: Glimpse of the Contemporary
Kaisers, 102.
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? vI
CONTENTS OF vOLUME I.
CHAPTER
PAGE
IV.
Albert the Bear
106
V. CoNRaD OF HoHENZOLLERN, aND KaISER BaRBa-
BOSSa 114
Conrad has become Burggraf of Nlirnberg (a. d. 1170),
p. 119.
Of the Hohenzollern Burggraves generally, 123.
VI. The Teutsch Ritters, ob Teutonic Order . 128
Head of Teutsch Order moves to venice, p. 131.
Teutsch Order itself goes to Preussen, 133.
The stuff Teutsch Ritters were made of. Conrad of Thtl-
ringen: Saint Elizabeth; Town of Marburg, 140.
VII. Maroraviate of Culmbach: Baireuth , Anspach 146
Burggraf Friedrich HI. , and the Anarchy of Nineteen
Years, p. 149.
Kaiser Rudolf and Burggraf Friedrich III. , 155.
VIII. ASCaNIER MaRKGRavES IN BRANDENBURG . . . 158
Of Berlin City, p. 159.
Markgraf Otto Iv. , or Otto with the Arrow, 161
IX. Burggraf Friedrich IV. . . . . . . 166
Contested Elections in the Reich: Kaiser Albert I. ; after
whom Six Non-Hapsburg kaisers, p. 167.
Of Kaiser Henry vII. and the Luxemburg Kaisers, 170.
Henry's Son Johann is King of Bohemia; and Ludwig the
Bavarian, with a Contested Election, is Kaiser, 174.
X. Brandenburg lapses to the Kaiser . . . . 180
XI. Bavarian Kurfursts in Brandenburg . . . 186
A Resuscitated Ascanier; the False Waldemar, p. 187.
Margaret with the Pouch-mouth, 190.
XII. Brandenburg in Kaiser Karl's time; End of the
Bavarian Kurfursts . . . . . . . 196
XIII. Luxemburg Kurfursts in Bbanpenbubg , , , 203
End of Resuscitated Waldemar-, Kurfiirst Ludwig sells out,
p. 199.
Second, and then Third and Last, of the Bavarian Kur-
fursts in Brandenburg, 201.
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? CONTENTS OF VOLUME L VII
CHAPTER PA OS
XIV. BuegqbAf Friedrich VI 207
Sigismund is Kurfttrst of Brandenburg, but Is King of
Hungary also, p. 209.
Cousin Jobst has Brandenburg in Pawn, 212.
Brandenburg in the hands of the Pawnbrokers; Rupert of
the Pfalz is Kaiser, 214.
Sigismund, with a struggle, becomes Kaiser, 217.
Brandenburg is pawned for the last time, 221.
The Seven Intercalary or Non-Hapaburg Kaisers, 225.
book in.
THE HOHENZOLLERNS IN BRANDENBURG. 1412-1713.
I.
KdepObst Friedrich 1 229
II. Matinees du Roi be Prusse 236
III. KurfObst Friedrich II 244
IV. KubfCrst Albert Achilles , And his Successor 254
Johann the Cicero la Fourth Kurfiirst, and leaves Two no-
table Sons, p. 260.
V. Op the BAireuth- AnsPAch BrAnch . . . . 264
Two Lines In Culmbach or Baireuth-Anspach: the Gera
Bond of 1598, p. >>t>>.
The Elder Line of Culmbach; Frledrich and his Three
notable Sons there, 269.
Friedrich's Second Son , Margraf George of Anspach, 272.
VI. HOCHMEISTER ALBERT, ThIED NOTABLE SoN OF
Friedrich 287
VH. Albert AlcibiAdes 300
VILT. HistoricAl MeAning of the ReformAtion . . 308
IX. Kurfurst JoAchim 1 314
Of Joachim's Wife and Brother-in-law, p. 315.
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? VIU
CONTENTS OF VOLUME I,
CHAPTER FAOE
X. KurfOrst JoAchim II 321
Joachim gets Co-lnfeftment in Prenssen, p. 329.
Joachim makes "Heritage-Brotherhood" with the Duke of
Liegnitz, 830.
XI. Seventh KurfCest , JohAnn George. . . . 338
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? BOOK I.
BIETH AND PARENTAGE.
1712.
Carlyle, Frederic the Great. 1.
1
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? CHAPTER L
proem: friedrich's history from the distance we
ARE AT.
About fourscore years ago, there used to be seen
sauntering on the terraces of Sans Souci, for a short
time in the afternoon, or you might have met him else-
where at an earlier hour, riding or driving in a rapid
business manner on the open roads or through the
scraggy woods and avenues of that intricate amphibious
Potsdam region, a highly interesting lean little old man,
of alert though slightly stooping figure; whose name
among strangers was King Friedrich the Second, or
Frederick the Great of Prussia, and at home among the
common people, who much loved and esteemed him, was
Vater Fritz, -- Father Fred, -- a name of familiarity
which had not bred contempt in that instance. He is
a King every inch of him, though without the trappings
of a King. Presents himself in a Spartan simplicity
of vesture: no crown but an old military cocked-hat, --
generally old, or trampled and kneaded into absolute
softness, if new; -- no sceptre but one like Agamem-
non's, a walking-stick cut from the woods, which serves
also as a riding-stick (with which he hits the horse
"between the ears," say authors); -- and for royal
robes, a mere soldier's blue coat with red facings, coat
1*
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? 4
[book I.
BIRTH AND PARENTAGE.
likely to be old, and sure to have a good deal of
Spanish snuff on the breast of it; rest of the apparel
dim, unobtrusive in colour or cut, ending in high over-
knee military boots, which may be brushed (and, I
hope, kept soft with an underhand suspicion of oil),
but are not permitted to be blackened or varnished;
Day and Martin with their soot-pots forbidden to ap-
proach.
The man is not of godlike physiognomy, any more
than of imposing stature or costume: close-shut mouth
with thin lips, prominent jaws and nose, receding brow,
by no means of Olympian height; head, however, is of
long form, and has superlative gray eyes in it. Not
what is called a beautiful man; nor yet, by all ap-
pearance, what is called a happy. On the contrary, the face bears evidence of many sorrows, as they are
termed, of much hard labour done in this world; and
seems to anticipate nothing but more still coming. Quiet
stoicism, capable enough of what joy there were, but
not expecting any worth mention; great unconscious
and some conscious pride, well tempered with a cheery
mockery of humour, -- are written on that old face;
which carries its chin well forward, in spite of the slight
stoop about the neck; snuffy nose rather flung into the
air, under its old cocked-hat, -- like an old snuffy lion
on the watch; and such a pair of eyes as no man or
lion or lynx of that Century bore elsewhere, according
to all the testimony we have. "Those eyes," says
Mirabeau, "which, at the bidding of his great soul,
"fascinated you with seduction or with terror (portaient,
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? chAP. i. ] proem: from this distAnce. 5
au gre de son dme he'roique, la seduction ou la terreur). "*
Most excellent potent brilliant eyes, swift-darting as
the stars, stedfast as the sun; gray, we said, of the
azure-gray colour; large enough, not of glaring size;
the habitual expression of them vigilance and penetra-
ting sense, rapidity resting on depth. Which is an ex-
cellent combination; and gives us the notion of a lambent
outer radiance springing from some great inner sea of
light and fire in the man. The voice, if he speak to
you, is of similar physiognomy: clear, melodious and
sonorous; all tones are in it, from that of ingenuous
inquiry, graceful sociality, light-flowing banter (rather
prickly for most part), up to definite word of command,
up to desolating word of rebuke and reprobation: a
voice "the clearest and most agreeable in conversation
I ever heard," says witty Dr. Moore. ** "He speaks a
great deal," continues the Doctor; "yet those who hear
"him, regret that he does not speak a good deal more.
"His observations are always lively, very often just;
"and few men possess the talent of repartee in greater
"perfection. "
Just about threescore and ten years ago,*** his
speakings and his workings came to finis in this World
of Time; and he vanished from all eyes into other
worlds, leaving much inquiry about him in the minds
* Mirabean: Histoire Secrite de la Cour de Berlin, Lcttre 28m"
(24 Septombre 1786), p. 128 (in edition of Paris, 3821).
** Moore: View of Society and Manners in France, Switzerland and
Germany (London, 1779), ii. 246.
*** 1856, -- 17th August 1786.
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? G
[book I.
BIRTH AND PARENTAGE.
of men; -- which, as my readers and I may feel too
well, is yet by no means satisfied. As to his speech,
indeed, though it had the worth just ascribed to it and
more, and though masses of it were deliberately put on
paper by himself, in prose and verse, and continue to
be printed and kept legible, what he spoke has pretty
much vanished into the inane; and except as record or
document of what he did, hardly now concerns mankind.
But the things he did were extremely remarkable; and
cannot be forgotten by mankind. Indeed they bear
such fruit to the present hour as all the Newspapers
are obliged to be taking note of, sometimes to an un-
pleasant degree. Editors vaguely account this man the
"Creator of the Prussian Monarchy;" which has since
grown so large in the world, and troublesome to the
Editorial mind in this and other countries. He was in-
deed the first who, in a highly public manner, notified
its creation; announced to all men that it was, in very
deed, created; standing on its feet there, and would go
a great way, on the impulse it had got from him and
others. As it has accordingly done; and may still keep
doing, to lengths little dreamt of by the British Editor
in our time; whose prophesyings upon Prussia, and in-
sights into Prussia, in its past, or present or future, are
truly as yet inconsiderable in proportion to the noise
he makes with them! The more is the pity for him, --
and for myself too in the Enterprise now on hand.
It is of this Figure, whom we see by the mind's eye
in those Potsdam regions, visible for the last time se-
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? CHAP. I. ]
7
proem: then And now.
venty years ago, that we are now to treat, in the way
of solacing ingenuous human curiosity. We are to try
for some Historical Conception of this Man and King; some answer to the questions, "What was he, then?
Whence, how? And what did he achieve and suffer in
the world? " -- such answer as may prove admissible
to ingenuous mankind, especially such as may corre-
spond to the Fact (which stands there, abstruse indeed,
but actual and unalterable), and so be sure of admis-
sibility one day.
An Enterprise which turns out to be, the longer
one looks at it, the more of a formidable, not to say
unmanageable nature! Concerning which, on one or
two points, it were good, if conveniently possible, to
come to some preliminary understanding with the reader.
Here, flying on loose leaves, are certain incidental ut-
terances, of various date: these, as the topic is difficult,
I will merely label and insert, instead of a formal Dis-
course, which were too apt to slide into something of a
Lamentation, or otherwise take an unpleasant turn.
1. Friedrich then, and Friedrich now.
This was a man of infinite mark to his contem-
poraries; who had witnessed surprising feats from him
in the world; very questionable notions and ways, which
he had contrived to maintain against the world and
its criticisms. As an original man has always to do;
much more an original ruler of men. The world, in
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? 8
[book T.
BIRTH AND PARENTAGE.
fact, had tried hard to put him down, as it does, un-
consciously or consciously, with all such; and after the
most conscious exertions, and at one time a dead-lift
spasm of all its energies for Seven Years, had not been
able. Principalities and powers, Imperial, Royal,
Czarish, Papal enemies innumerable as the sea-sand,
had risen against him, only one helper left among the
world's Potentates (and that one only while there
should be help rendered in return); and he led them
all such a dance as had astonished mankind and them.
No wonder they thought him worthy of notice.
Every original man of any magnitude is; -- nay,
in the longrun, who or what else is? But how
much more if your original man was a king over men;
whose movements were polar, and carried from day to
day those of the world along with them. The Sam-
son Agonistes, -- were his life passed like that of
Samuel Johnson in dirty garrets, and the produce of it
only some bits of written paper, -- the Agonistes, and
how he will comport himself in the Philistine mill; this
is always a spectacle of truly epic and tragic nature.
The rather, if your Samson, royal or other, is not yet
blinded or subdued to the wheel; much more if he van-
quish his enemies, not by suicidal methods, but march
out at last flourishing his miraculous fighting imple-
ment, and leaving their mill and them in quite ruinous
circumstances. As this King Friedrich fairly managed
to do.
For he left the world all bankrupt, we may say;
fallen into bottomless abysses of destruction; he still in
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? C11AP. I. ]
9
tkoem: then And now.
a paying condition, and with footing capable to cany
his affairs and him. "When he died, in 1786, the
enormous Phenomenon since called French Revolu-
tion was already growling audibly in the depths of
the world; meteoric-electric coruscations heralding it,
all round the horizon. Strange enough to note, one of
Friedrich's last visitors was Gabriel Honord Riquetti,
Comte de Mirabeau. These two saw one another;
twice, for half-an-hour each time. The last of the old
Gods and the first of the modern Titans; -- before
Pelion leapt on Ossa; and the foul Earth taking fire at
last, its vile mephitic elements went up in volcanic
thunder. This also is one of the peculiarities of Fried-
rich, that he is hitherto the Last of the Kings; that he
ushers-in the French Revolution, and closes an Epoch
of World-History. Finishing off forever the trade of
King, think many; who have grown profoundly dark
as to Kingship and him.
The French Revolution may be said to have, for
about half a century, quite submerged Friedrich, abo-
lished him from the memories of men; and now on
coming to light again, he is found defaced under
strange mud-incrustations, and the eyes of mankind
look at him from a singularly changed, what we must
call oblique and perverse point of vision. This is one
of the difficulties in dealing with his History; -- espe-
cially if you happen to believe both in the French Re-
volution and in him; that is to say, both that Real
Kingship is eternally indispensable, and also that the
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? 10
[book I.
BIRTH AND PARENTAGE.
Destruction of Sham Kingship (a frightful process) is
occasionally so.
On the breaking-out of that formidable Explosion,
and Suicide of his Century, Friedrich sank into compa-
rative obscurity; eclipsed amid the ruins of that uni-
versal earth-quake, the very dust of which darkened all
the air, and made of day a disastrous midnight. Black
midnight, broken only by the blaze of conflagrations;
-- wherein, to our terrified imaginations, were seen,
not men, French and other, but ghastly portents, stalk-
ing wrathful, and shapes of avenging gods. It must be
owned the figure of Napoleon was titanic; especially
to the generation that looked on him, and that waited
shuddering to be devoured by him.
? rr. ~^
\w
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? ? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:12 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hn6m7y Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? ? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:12 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hn6m7y Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? COLLECTION
OP
BRITISH AUTHORS.
VOL. CCCCXLIV.
FREDERICK THE GREAT BY THOMAS CARLYLE.
VOL. L
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:12 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hn6m7y Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? TAUCHNITZ EDITION.
By the same Author,
THE FRENCH REvOLUTION 3 vols.
Oliver Cromwell's letters and speeches . i vols.
THE LIFE OF SCHILLER 1 vol.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:12 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hn6m7y Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? HISTORY
or
MEDRICHII. OF PRUSSIA,
CALLED
FREDERICK THE GREAT.
THOMAS CARLYLE.
COPYRIGHT EDITION.
VOL. L
LEIPZIG
BERNHARD TAUCHNITZ
1858.
The Right of Translation ft reserved.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:12 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hn6m7y Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? f collebeJ
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:12 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hn6m7y Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CONTENTS
OP VOLUME I.
BOOK L
BIRTH AND PARENTAGE. 1712.
CHAPTER PADS
1. Proem: Friedrich's History from the Distance
we are at 3
1. Friedrich then, and Friedrich now, p. 7*
2. Eighteenth Century, 12.
3. English Prepossessions, 15.
4. Encouragements, Discouragements, 22.
II. Friedrich's Birth 29
III. Father and Mother: the Hanoverian Connexion 34
IV. Father's Mother 49
V. King. Friedrich 1 63
BOOK II.
OF BRANDENBURG AND THE HOHENZOLLERNS. 928-1417.
I. Brannibor: Henry the Fowler 79
H. Preussen: Saint Adalbert 90
ill, Markoraves op Brandenburg 98
End of the First Shadowy Line, p. 98.
Second Shadowy Line , 100.
Substantial Markgraves: Glimpse of the Contemporary
Kaisers, 102.
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? vI
CONTENTS OF vOLUME I.
CHAPTER
PAGE
IV.
Albert the Bear
106
V. CoNRaD OF HoHENZOLLERN, aND KaISER BaRBa-
BOSSa 114
Conrad has become Burggraf of Nlirnberg (a. d. 1170),
p. 119.
Of the Hohenzollern Burggraves generally, 123.
VI. The Teutsch Ritters, ob Teutonic Order . 128
Head of Teutsch Order moves to venice, p. 131.
Teutsch Order itself goes to Preussen, 133.
The stuff Teutsch Ritters were made of. Conrad of Thtl-
ringen: Saint Elizabeth; Town of Marburg, 140.
VII. Maroraviate of Culmbach: Baireuth , Anspach 146
Burggraf Friedrich HI. , and the Anarchy of Nineteen
Years, p. 149.
Kaiser Rudolf and Burggraf Friedrich III. , 155.
VIII. ASCaNIER MaRKGRavES IN BRANDENBURG . . . 158
Of Berlin City, p. 159.
Markgraf Otto Iv. , or Otto with the Arrow, 161
IX. Burggraf Friedrich IV. . . . . . . 166
Contested Elections in the Reich: Kaiser Albert I. ; after
whom Six Non-Hapsburg kaisers, p. 167.
Of Kaiser Henry vII. and the Luxemburg Kaisers, 170.
Henry's Son Johann is King of Bohemia; and Ludwig the
Bavarian, with a Contested Election, is Kaiser, 174.
X. Brandenburg lapses to the Kaiser . . . . 180
XI. Bavarian Kurfursts in Brandenburg . . . 186
A Resuscitated Ascanier; the False Waldemar, p. 187.
Margaret with the Pouch-mouth, 190.
XII. Brandenburg in Kaiser Karl's time; End of the
Bavarian Kurfursts . . . . . . . 196
XIII. Luxemburg Kurfursts in Bbanpenbubg , , , 203
End of Resuscitated Waldemar-, Kurfiirst Ludwig sells out,
p. 199.
Second, and then Third and Last, of the Bavarian Kur-
fursts in Brandenburg, 201.
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? CONTENTS OF VOLUME L VII
CHAPTER PA OS
XIV. BuegqbAf Friedrich VI 207
Sigismund is Kurfttrst of Brandenburg, but Is King of
Hungary also, p. 209.
Cousin Jobst has Brandenburg in Pawn, 212.
Brandenburg in the hands of the Pawnbrokers; Rupert of
the Pfalz is Kaiser, 214.
Sigismund, with a struggle, becomes Kaiser, 217.
Brandenburg is pawned for the last time, 221.
The Seven Intercalary or Non-Hapaburg Kaisers, 225.
book in.
THE HOHENZOLLERNS IN BRANDENBURG. 1412-1713.
I.
KdepObst Friedrich 1 229
II. Matinees du Roi be Prusse 236
III. KurfObst Friedrich II 244
IV. KubfCrst Albert Achilles , And his Successor 254
Johann the Cicero la Fourth Kurfiirst, and leaves Two no-
table Sons, p. 260.
V. Op the BAireuth- AnsPAch BrAnch . . . . 264
Two Lines In Culmbach or Baireuth-Anspach: the Gera
Bond of 1598, p. >>t>>.
The Elder Line of Culmbach; Frledrich and his Three
notable Sons there, 269.
Friedrich's Second Son , Margraf George of Anspach, 272.
VI. HOCHMEISTER ALBERT, ThIED NOTABLE SoN OF
Friedrich 287
VH. Albert AlcibiAdes 300
VILT. HistoricAl MeAning of the ReformAtion . . 308
IX. Kurfurst JoAchim 1 314
Of Joachim's Wife and Brother-in-law, p. 315.
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? VIU
CONTENTS OF VOLUME I,
CHAPTER FAOE
X. KurfOrst JoAchim II 321
Joachim gets Co-lnfeftment in Prenssen, p. 329.
Joachim makes "Heritage-Brotherhood" with the Duke of
Liegnitz, 830.
XI. Seventh KurfCest , JohAnn George. . . . 338
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? BOOK I.
BIETH AND PARENTAGE.
1712.
Carlyle, Frederic the Great. 1.
1
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? CHAPTER L
proem: friedrich's history from the distance we
ARE AT.
About fourscore years ago, there used to be seen
sauntering on the terraces of Sans Souci, for a short
time in the afternoon, or you might have met him else-
where at an earlier hour, riding or driving in a rapid
business manner on the open roads or through the
scraggy woods and avenues of that intricate amphibious
Potsdam region, a highly interesting lean little old man,
of alert though slightly stooping figure; whose name
among strangers was King Friedrich the Second, or
Frederick the Great of Prussia, and at home among the
common people, who much loved and esteemed him, was
Vater Fritz, -- Father Fred, -- a name of familiarity
which had not bred contempt in that instance. He is
a King every inch of him, though without the trappings
of a King. Presents himself in a Spartan simplicity
of vesture: no crown but an old military cocked-hat, --
generally old, or trampled and kneaded into absolute
softness, if new; -- no sceptre but one like Agamem-
non's, a walking-stick cut from the woods, which serves
also as a riding-stick (with which he hits the horse
"between the ears," say authors); -- and for royal
robes, a mere soldier's blue coat with red facings, coat
1*
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? 4
[book I.
BIRTH AND PARENTAGE.
likely to be old, and sure to have a good deal of
Spanish snuff on the breast of it; rest of the apparel
dim, unobtrusive in colour or cut, ending in high over-
knee military boots, which may be brushed (and, I
hope, kept soft with an underhand suspicion of oil),
but are not permitted to be blackened or varnished;
Day and Martin with their soot-pots forbidden to ap-
proach.
The man is not of godlike physiognomy, any more
than of imposing stature or costume: close-shut mouth
with thin lips, prominent jaws and nose, receding brow,
by no means of Olympian height; head, however, is of
long form, and has superlative gray eyes in it. Not
what is called a beautiful man; nor yet, by all ap-
pearance, what is called a happy. On the contrary, the face bears evidence of many sorrows, as they are
termed, of much hard labour done in this world; and
seems to anticipate nothing but more still coming. Quiet
stoicism, capable enough of what joy there were, but
not expecting any worth mention; great unconscious
and some conscious pride, well tempered with a cheery
mockery of humour, -- are written on that old face;
which carries its chin well forward, in spite of the slight
stoop about the neck; snuffy nose rather flung into the
air, under its old cocked-hat, -- like an old snuffy lion
on the watch; and such a pair of eyes as no man or
lion or lynx of that Century bore elsewhere, according
to all the testimony we have. "Those eyes," says
Mirabeau, "which, at the bidding of his great soul,
"fascinated you with seduction or with terror (portaient,
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? chAP. i. ] proem: from this distAnce. 5
au gre de son dme he'roique, la seduction ou la terreur). "*
Most excellent potent brilliant eyes, swift-darting as
the stars, stedfast as the sun; gray, we said, of the
azure-gray colour; large enough, not of glaring size;
the habitual expression of them vigilance and penetra-
ting sense, rapidity resting on depth. Which is an ex-
cellent combination; and gives us the notion of a lambent
outer radiance springing from some great inner sea of
light and fire in the man. The voice, if he speak to
you, is of similar physiognomy: clear, melodious and
sonorous; all tones are in it, from that of ingenuous
inquiry, graceful sociality, light-flowing banter (rather
prickly for most part), up to definite word of command,
up to desolating word of rebuke and reprobation: a
voice "the clearest and most agreeable in conversation
I ever heard," says witty Dr. Moore. ** "He speaks a
great deal," continues the Doctor; "yet those who hear
"him, regret that he does not speak a good deal more.
"His observations are always lively, very often just;
"and few men possess the talent of repartee in greater
"perfection. "
Just about threescore and ten years ago,*** his
speakings and his workings came to finis in this World
of Time; and he vanished from all eyes into other
worlds, leaving much inquiry about him in the minds
* Mirabean: Histoire Secrite de la Cour de Berlin, Lcttre 28m"
(24 Septombre 1786), p. 128 (in edition of Paris, 3821).
** Moore: View of Society and Manners in France, Switzerland and
Germany (London, 1779), ii. 246.
*** 1856, -- 17th August 1786.
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? G
[book I.
BIRTH AND PARENTAGE.
of men; -- which, as my readers and I may feel too
well, is yet by no means satisfied. As to his speech,
indeed, though it had the worth just ascribed to it and
more, and though masses of it were deliberately put on
paper by himself, in prose and verse, and continue to
be printed and kept legible, what he spoke has pretty
much vanished into the inane; and except as record or
document of what he did, hardly now concerns mankind.
But the things he did were extremely remarkable; and
cannot be forgotten by mankind. Indeed they bear
such fruit to the present hour as all the Newspapers
are obliged to be taking note of, sometimes to an un-
pleasant degree. Editors vaguely account this man the
"Creator of the Prussian Monarchy;" which has since
grown so large in the world, and troublesome to the
Editorial mind in this and other countries. He was in-
deed the first who, in a highly public manner, notified
its creation; announced to all men that it was, in very
deed, created; standing on its feet there, and would go
a great way, on the impulse it had got from him and
others. As it has accordingly done; and may still keep
doing, to lengths little dreamt of by the British Editor
in our time; whose prophesyings upon Prussia, and in-
sights into Prussia, in its past, or present or future, are
truly as yet inconsiderable in proportion to the noise
he makes with them! The more is the pity for him, --
and for myself too in the Enterprise now on hand.
It is of this Figure, whom we see by the mind's eye
in those Potsdam regions, visible for the last time se-
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? CHAP. I. ]
7
proem: then And now.
venty years ago, that we are now to treat, in the way
of solacing ingenuous human curiosity. We are to try
for some Historical Conception of this Man and King; some answer to the questions, "What was he, then?
Whence, how? And what did he achieve and suffer in
the world? " -- such answer as may prove admissible
to ingenuous mankind, especially such as may corre-
spond to the Fact (which stands there, abstruse indeed,
but actual and unalterable), and so be sure of admis-
sibility one day.
An Enterprise which turns out to be, the longer
one looks at it, the more of a formidable, not to say
unmanageable nature! Concerning which, on one or
two points, it were good, if conveniently possible, to
come to some preliminary understanding with the reader.
Here, flying on loose leaves, are certain incidental ut-
terances, of various date: these, as the topic is difficult,
I will merely label and insert, instead of a formal Dis-
course, which were too apt to slide into something of a
Lamentation, or otherwise take an unpleasant turn.
1. Friedrich then, and Friedrich now.
This was a man of infinite mark to his contem-
poraries; who had witnessed surprising feats from him
in the world; very questionable notions and ways, which
he had contrived to maintain against the world and
its criticisms. As an original man has always to do;
much more an original ruler of men. The world, in
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? 8
[book T.
BIRTH AND PARENTAGE.
fact, had tried hard to put him down, as it does, un-
consciously or consciously, with all such; and after the
most conscious exertions, and at one time a dead-lift
spasm of all its energies for Seven Years, had not been
able. Principalities and powers, Imperial, Royal,
Czarish, Papal enemies innumerable as the sea-sand,
had risen against him, only one helper left among the
world's Potentates (and that one only while there
should be help rendered in return); and he led them
all such a dance as had astonished mankind and them.
No wonder they thought him worthy of notice.
Every original man of any magnitude is; -- nay,
in the longrun, who or what else is? But how
much more if your original man was a king over men;
whose movements were polar, and carried from day to
day those of the world along with them. The Sam-
son Agonistes, -- were his life passed like that of
Samuel Johnson in dirty garrets, and the produce of it
only some bits of written paper, -- the Agonistes, and
how he will comport himself in the Philistine mill; this
is always a spectacle of truly epic and tragic nature.
The rather, if your Samson, royal or other, is not yet
blinded or subdued to the wheel; much more if he van-
quish his enemies, not by suicidal methods, but march
out at last flourishing his miraculous fighting imple-
ment, and leaving their mill and them in quite ruinous
circumstances. As this King Friedrich fairly managed
to do.
For he left the world all bankrupt, we may say;
fallen into bottomless abysses of destruction; he still in
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? C11AP. I. ]
9
tkoem: then And now.
a paying condition, and with footing capable to cany
his affairs and him. "When he died, in 1786, the
enormous Phenomenon since called French Revolu-
tion was already growling audibly in the depths of
the world; meteoric-electric coruscations heralding it,
all round the horizon. Strange enough to note, one of
Friedrich's last visitors was Gabriel Honord Riquetti,
Comte de Mirabeau. These two saw one another;
twice, for half-an-hour each time. The last of the old
Gods and the first of the modern Titans; -- before
Pelion leapt on Ossa; and the foul Earth taking fire at
last, its vile mephitic elements went up in volcanic
thunder. This also is one of the peculiarities of Fried-
rich, that he is hitherto the Last of the Kings; that he
ushers-in the French Revolution, and closes an Epoch
of World-History. Finishing off forever the trade of
King, think many; who have grown profoundly dark
as to Kingship and him.
The French Revolution may be said to have, for
about half a century, quite submerged Friedrich, abo-
lished him from the memories of men; and now on
coming to light again, he is found defaced under
strange mud-incrustations, and the eyes of mankind
look at him from a singularly changed, what we must
call oblique and perverse point of vision. This is one
of the difficulties in dealing with his History; -- espe-
cially if you happen to believe both in the French Re-
volution and in him; that is to say, both that Real
Kingship is eternally indispensable, and also that the
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? 10
[book I.
BIRTH AND PARENTAGE.
Destruction of Sham Kingship (a frightful process) is
occasionally so.
On the breaking-out of that formidable Explosion,
and Suicide of his Century, Friedrich sank into compa-
rative obscurity; eclipsed amid the ruins of that uni-
versal earth-quake, the very dust of which darkened all
the air, and made of day a disastrous midnight. Black
midnight, broken only by the blaze of conflagrations;
-- wherein, to our terrified imaginations, were seen,
not men, French and other, but ghastly portents, stalk-
ing wrathful, and shapes of avenging gods. It must be
owned the figure of Napoleon was titanic; especially
to the generation that looked on him, and that waited
shuddering to be devoured by him.
