No More Learning

Others of them we shall see storming for-
ward on occasion, valiantly meeting death in the field of
fight, all conspicuously brave of character; but this shall
be enough of them at present.
It is of these that Ludwig Rudolfs youngest
daughter, the serene Ferdinand Albert's wife, is Mother
in Germany; highly conspicuous in their day. If the
question is put, it must be owned they are all rather
of the insipid type. Nothing but a kind of albuminous
simplicity noticeable in them; no wit, originality, bright-
ness in the way of uttered intellect. If it is asked,
How came they to the least distinction in this world?
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:22 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiijm Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 222 friedrich's apprenticeship, last STAGE, [book IX.
Feb. 1732.
-- the answer is not immediately apparent. But in-
deed they are Welf of the Welfs, in this respect as in
others. One asks, with increased wonder, noticing in
the Welfs generally nothing but the same albuminous
simplicity, and poverty rather than opulence of uttered
intellect, or of qualities that shine, How the Welfs came
to play such a part, for the last thousand years, and
still to be at it, in conspicuous places?
Reader, I have observed that uttered intellect is not
what permanently makes way, but wrattered. Wit,
logical brilliancy, spiritual effulgency, true or false, --
how precious to idle mankind, and to the Newspapers
and History Books, even when it is false: while, again,
Nature and Practical Fact care next to nothing for it
in comparison, even when it is true! Two silent qua-
lities you will notice in these Welfs, modern and
ancient; which Nature much values: First, consummate
human Courage; a noble, perfect, and as it were un-
conscious superiority to fear. And then secondly, much
weight of mind, a noble not too conscious Sense of
what is Right and Not-Right, I have found in some of
them; -- which means mostly weight, or good gravita-
tion, good observance of the perpendicular; and is
called justice, veracity, high honour, and other such
names. These are fine qualities indeed, especially with
an "albuminous simplicity" as vehicle to them. If the
Welfs had not much articulate intellect, let us guess
they made a good use, not a bad or indifferent, as is
commoner, of what they had! --
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:22 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiijm Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CHAP. I. J PRINCESS OF BRUNSWICK-BEVERN. 223
Feb. 1732.
Who his Majesty's Choice is; and what the Crown-Prince
thinks of it.
Princess Elizabeth Christina, the insipid Brunswick
specimen, backed by Seckendorf and Vienna, proves on
consideration the desirable to Friedrich Wilhelm in this
matter. But his Son's notions, who as yet knows her
only by rumour, do not go that way. Insipidity, tri-
viality; the fear of "cagotage " and frightful fellows in
black supremely unconscious what blockheads they are,
haunts him a good deal. And as for any money
coming, -- her sublime Aunt the Kaiserinn never had
much ready money; one's resources on that side are
likely to be exiguous. He would prefer the Princess
of Mecklenburg, Semi-Russian Catharine or Anna, of
whom we have heard; would prefer the Princess of
Eisenach (whose name he does not know rightly);
thinks there are many Princesses preferable. Most of
all he would prefer, what is well known of him in To-
bacco-Parliament, but known to be impossible, this
long while back, to go upon a round of travel, -- as
for instance the Prince of Lorraine is now doing, --
and look about him a little.
These candid considerations the Crown-Prince ear-
nestly suggests to Grumkow, and the secret committee
of Tobacco-Parliament; earnestly again and again, in
his Correspondence with that gentleman, which goes on
very brisk at present. "Much of it lost," we hear; --
but enough, and to spare, is saved! Not a beautiful
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:22 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiijm Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 224 FRIEDRICIl's APPRENTICESHIP, LAST STAGE, [vook IS.
Feb. 1732.
Correspondence: the tone of it shallow, hard of heart;
tragically flippant, especially on the Crown-Prince's
part; now and then, even a touch of the hypocritical
from him, slight touch and not with will: alas, what
can the poor young man do? Grumkow -- whose
ground, I think, is never quite so secure since that
Nosti business, -- professes ardent attachment to the
real interests of the Prince; and does solidly advise
him of what is feasible, what not, in headquarters: very
exemplary "attachment;" credible to what length, the
Prince well enough knows. And so the Correspondence
is unbeautiful; not very descriptive even, -- for poor
Friedrich is considerably under mask, while he writes
to that address; and of Grumkow himself we want no
more "description;" -- and is, in fact, on its own score,
an avoidable article rather than otherwise; though per-
haps the reader, for a poor involved Crown-Prince's
sake, will wish an exact Excerpt or two before we
quite dismiss it.
Towards turning off the Brunswick speculation, or
turning on the Mecklenburg or Eisenach or any other
in its stead, the Correspondence naturally avails nothing.
Seckendorf has his orders from Vienna: Grumkow has
his pension, -- his creambowl duly set, -- for helping
Seckendorf. Though angels pleaded, not in a tone of
tragic flippancy, but with the voice of breaking hearts,
it would be to no purpose. The Imperial Majesties
have ordered, Marry him to Brunswick, "bind him the
better to our House in time coming;" nay the Royal
mind at Potsdam gravitates, of itself, that way, after
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:22 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiijm Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CHAP. I. ] PRINCESS OF BEUNSWICK-BEVERN. 225
Feb. 1733.
the first hint is given. The Imperial will has become
the Paternal one; no answer but obedience. What
Grumkow can do will be, if possible, to lead or drive
the Crown-Prince into obeying smoothly, or without
breaking of harness again. Which, accordingly, is
pretty much the sum of his part in this unlovely Corre-
spondence: the geeho-ing of an expert wagoner, who
has got a fiery young Arab thoroughly tied into his
dastard sandcart, and has to drive him by voice, or at
most by slight crack of whip; and does it. Can we
hope, a select specimen or two of these Documents, not
on Grumkow's part, or for Grumkow's unlovely sake,
may now be acceptable to the reader? A Letter or
two picked from that large stock, in a legible state,
will show us Father and Son, and how that tragic
matter went on, better than description could.
Papa's Letters to the Crown-Prince during that
final Ciistrin period, when Carzig and Himmelstadt
were going on, and there was such progress in Eco-
nomics, are all of hopeful ruggedly affectionate tenor;
and there are a good few of them: style curiously rug-
ged, intricate, headlong; and a strong substance of
sense and worth tortuously visible everywhere. Letters
so delightful to the poor retrieved Crown-Prince then
and there; and which are still almost pleasant reading
to third-parties, once you introduce grammar and spell-
ing. This is one exact specimen; most important to
the Prince and us. Suddenly, one Dight, by estafette,
his Majesty, meaning nothing but kindness, and grateful
to Seckendorf and Tobacco-Parliament for such an
Carfjie, Frederic the Great. IV. 15
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:22 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiijm Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 226 friedrich's APPRENTICESHIP, LAST STAGE, [book EC.
4th Feb. 1732.
idea, proposes, -- in these terms (merely reduced to
English and the common spelling):
"To the Crown-Prince at Cilstrin (Prom Papa)
"Potsdam, 4th February 1732.
"My dear Son Fritz, -- I am very glad you need no more
"physic. But you must have a care of yourself, some days
"yet, for the severe weather; which gives me and every-
"body colds: so pray be on your guard (nehmet Euch hiibsck
"in Acht).
"You know, my dear Son, that when my children are
"obedient, Hove them much: so, when you were at Berlin,
"I from my heart forgave you everything; and from that
"Berlin time, since I saw you, have thought of nothing but "of your well-being and how to establish you, -- not in the
"Army only, but also with a right Step-daughter, and so
"see you married in my lifetime. You may be well persuaded
"I have had the Princesses of Germany taken survey of,
"so far as possible, and examined by trusty people, what
"their conduct is, their education and so on: and so a
"Princess has been found, the Eldest one of Bevern, who
"is well brought up, modest and retiring, as women ought
"to be.
"You will, without delay (ctib) write me your mind on
"this. I have purchased the Von Katsch House; the Feld-
"marschall," old Wartensleben, poor Katte's grandfather,
"as Governor" of Berlin, "will get that to live in: and his
"Government House* I will have made-new for you. } and
* Fine enough old House, or Palace, built by the Great Elector; given
by him to Graf Feldmarschall von Schombcrg, the "Dnke Schombctg"
who was killed in the Battle of the Boyne: "same House, opposite the
"Arsenal, which belongs now (1855) to his Royal Highness Prince Fricdrfcb
"Wilhelm of Prussia. " (Preuss, i. 73; and CEuvres de Fred&ric, xxvi. 12n
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:22 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiijm Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CHAP. I. ] PRINCESS OF BRUNSWICK-BEVERN. 227
4th Feb. 1732.
"furnish it all; and give you enough to keep house your-
"self there; and will command you into the Army, April
"coming" (which is quite a subordinate story, your Ma-
jesty! ).
"The Princess is not ugly, nor beautiful. You must men-
"tion it to no mortal; -- write indeed to Mamma (der Mama)
"that I have written to you. And when you shall have a Son,
"I will let you go on your Travels, -- wedding, however,
"cannot be before winter next. Meanwhile I will try and con-
"trive opportunity that you see one another, a few times, in
"all honour, yet so that you get acquainted with her. She
"is a God-fearing creature (gottesfurchtiges Mensch), which is all
"in all; will suit herself to you" (be comportableto you) "as
"she does to the Parents-in-law.
"God give his blessing to it; and bless You and your
"Posterity, and keep Thee as a good Christian. And have
"God always before your eyes; -- and don't believe that
"damnable Particular tenet" (Predestination); "and be
"obedient and faithful: so shall it, here in Time and there in
"Eternity, go well with thee; -- and whoever wishes that from
"the heart, let him say Amen.
"Your true Father to the death,
"FriedbicH WilHelm.
"When the Duke of Lorraine comes, I will have thee
"come. I think thy Bride will be here then. Adieu; God be
"with you. "*
This important Missive reached Cilstrin, by esta-
fette, that same midnight, 4th-5th February; when
Wolden, "Hofmarschall of the Prince's Court" (titular
? (Euvres de FriderU, xxvii. part 8d, p. 55.
15*
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:23 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiijm Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 228 friedeich's APPEENTICESHIP, LAST STAGE, [book IX.
llthFeb. 1732.
Goldstick there, but with abundance of real functions
laid on him), had the honour to awaken the Crown-
Prince into the joy of reading. Crown-Prince instantly
despatched, by another estafette, the requisite responses
to Papa and Mamma, -- of which Wolden does not
know the contents at all, not he, the obsequious Gold-
stick; -- but doubtless they mean "Yes," Crown-Prince
appearing so overjoyed at this splendid evidence of
Papa's love, as the Goldstick could perceive. *
What the Prince's actual amount of joy was, we
shall learn better from the following three successive
utterances of his, confidentially despatched to Grumkow
in the intermediate days, before Berlin or this "Duke
of Lorraine" (whom our readers and the Crown-Prince
are to wait upon), with actual sight of Papa and the
Intended, came in course. Grumkow's Letters to the
Crown-Prince in this important interval are not extant,
nor if they were could we stand them; from the Prince's
Answers it will be sufficiently apparent what the tenor
of them was. Utterance first is about a week after that
of the estafette at midnight:
To General Feldmarschall con Grumkow, at Potsdam (From the
Crown-Prince).
"CUstrin, 11th February 1732. "My dear General and Friend, -- I was charmed to learn
"by your Letter that my affairs are on so good a footing"
* Wolden's Letter to Friedrich Wilhelm, "5th February 1732:" In
Prenss, li. part 2d (or Urkundenbuch), p. 206. Mamma's answer to the message brought her by this return estafette, a mere formal Very-well,
written from the fingers outward, exists ((Euvres, xxvi. 65); the rest have
happily vanished.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:23 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiijm Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CHAP. I. ] PRINCESS OF BRDNSWICK-BEVERN. 229
Hth Feb. 1732. I
(Papa so well satisfied with my professions of obedience);
"and you may depend on it I am docile to follow your advice.
"I will lend myself to whatever is possible for me; and pro-
"vided I can secure the King's favour by my obedience, I will
"do all that is within my power.
"Nevertheless, in making my bargain with the Duke of
"Bevern, manage that the Corpus Delicti" (my Intended) "be
"brought up under her Grandmother" (Duchess of Brunswick-
Wolfenbuttel, Ludwig Rudolf's Spouse, an airy coquettish
Lady, -- let her be the tutoress and model of my Intended,
0 General). "For I should prefer being made a" --what
shall we say? by a light wife, -- "or to serve under the
"haughty fontange* of my Spouse" (as LudwigEudolf does,
by all accounts), "than to have a blockhead who would drive
"me mad by her ineptitudes, and whom I should be ashamed
"to produce.
"I beg you labour at this affair. When one hates romance
"heroines as heartily as I do, one dreads those 'virtues' of the
"ferocious type" (les vertus farouches, so terribly aware that
they are virtuous); "and I had rather marry the greatest" --
(unnameable) -- "in Berlin, than a devotee with half-a-dozen
"ghastly hypocrites (cagots) at her beck. If it were still
"moglich" (possible, in German) "to make her Calvinist"
(Reformee; our Court-Creed, which might have an allaying
tendency, and at least would make her go with the stream)?
"ButI doubt that: -- I will insist, however, that her Grand-
"mother have the training of her. What you can do to help
"in this, my dear Friend, I am persuaded you will do.
"It afflicted me a little that the King still has doubts of me,
"while I am obeying in such a matter, diametrically opposite
"to my own ideas. In what way shall I offer stronger proof's?
* Species of top-knot; so named from Fontange, an unfortunate-female
of Louis Fourteenth's, who invented the ornament.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:23 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiijm Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 230 friedrich's APPRENTICESHIP, LAST STAGE, [book IX.
11th Feb. 1732.
"I may give myself to the Devil, it will be to no purpose; no-
"thing but the old song over again, doubt on doubt. -- Don't
"imagine I am going to disoblige the Duke, the Duchess or
"the Daughter, I beseech you!
I know too well what is due
"to them, and too much respect their merits, not to observe
"the strictest rules of what is proper, -- even if I hated their
"progeny and them like the pestilence.
"I hope to speak to you with open heart at Berlin. "
"You may think, too, howl shall be embarrassed, having
"to do the Amoroso perhaps without being it, and to take an
"appetite for mute ugliness, -- for I don't much trust Count
"Seckendorfs taste in this article," -- in spite of his testi-
monies in Tobacco-Parliament and elsewhere. "Monsieur!
"Once more, get this Princess to learn by heart the Ecole des
"Maris and the Ecole des Femmes; that will do her much more
"good than True Christianity by the late Mr. Arndtl* If,
"besides, she would learn steadiness of humour (toujours "danser sur un pied), learn music; and, nota bene, become
"rather too free than too virtuous, -- ah then, my dear Gene-
"ral, then I should feel some liking for her, and a Colin
"marrying a Phyllis, the couple would be in accordance:
"but if she is stupid, naturally I renounce the Devil and her. "
"It is said she has a Sister, who at least has common
"sense. Why take the eldest, if so? To the King it must
"be all one. There is also a Princess Christina Marie of
"Eisenach" (real name being Christina Wilhelmina, but no
matter), "who would be quite my fit, and whom I should
"like to try for. In fine, I mean to come soon into your
"Countries;** and perhaps will say like Cassar, Veni, vidi,
"via. " * *
? Johann Arndt ("late" this long while back): Vom Itoftren Christen-
t/llim, Magdeburg, 1610.
? * Did come, 26th February, as we shall see.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:23 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiijm Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CHAP. I. ] PRINCESS OP BRUNSWICK-BEVERN. 231
Hth Feb. 1732.
Paragraph of tragic compliments to Grumkow we
omit. Letter ends in this way:
"Your Baireuth News is very interesting; I hope, in
"September next" (time of a grand problem coming there for
Wilhelmina), '' my Sister will recover her first health. If I go
"travelling, I hope to have the consolation of seeing her for a
"fortnight or three weeks: I love her more than my life; and
"for all my obediences to the King, surely I shall deserve that
"recompense. The diversions for the Duke of Lorraine are
"very well schemed; but" -- but what mortal can now care
about them? Close, and seal. *
As to this Duke of Lorraine just coming, he is
Franz Stephan, a pleasant young man of twenty-five,
son of that excellent Duke Leopold Joseph, whom
young Lyttelton of Hagley was so taken with, while
touring in those parts in the Congress-of-Soissons time.
Excellent Duke Leopold Joseph is since dead; and
this Franz has succeeded to him, -- what succession
there was; for Lorraine as a Dukedom has its neck
under the foot of France this great while, and is evi-
dently not long for this world. Old Fleury, men say,
has his eye upon it . And in fact it was, as we shall
see, eaten up by Fleury within four years time; and
this Franz proved the last of all the Dukes there. Let
readers notice him: a man of high destiny otherwise,
of whom we are to hear much. For ten years past he
has lived about Vienna, being a bor n Cousin of that
House (Grandmother was Kaiser Leopold's own Sister);
and it is understood, nay it is privately settled, he is to
* Forstcr, iii. 180-162; (Euvres deFredMc, xvi. 87-39.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:23 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiijm Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 232 friediuch's apprenticeship, last stage, [bookij.
Feb. 1731.
many the transcendent Archduchess, peerless Maria
Theresa herself; and is to reap, he, the whole harvest
of that Pragmatic Sanction sown with such travail of
the Universe at large. May be King of the Romans
(which means successor to the Kaisership) any day;
and actual Kaiser one day.
We may as well say here, he did at length achieve
these dignities, though not quite in the time or on the
terms proposed. King of the Romans old Kaiser Karl
never could quite resolve to make him, -- having
always hopes of male progeny yet; which never came.
For his peerless Bride he waited six years still (owing
to accidents), "attachment mutual all the while;" did
then wed, 1738, and was the happiest of men and
expectant Kaisers: -- but found, at length, the Prag-
matic Sanction to have been a strange sowing of dra-
gon's teeth, and the first harvest reapable from it a
world of armed men! -- For the present he is on a
grand Tour, for instruction and other objects; has been
in England last; and is now getting homewards again,
to Vienna, across Germany; conciliating the Courts as
he goes. A pacific friendly eupeptic young man: Crown-
Prince Friedrich, they say, took much to him in Berlin;
-- did not quite swear eternal friendship; but kept up
some correspondence for a while, and "once sends him
a present of salmon. " -- But to proceed with the ut-
terances to Grumkow.
Utterance second is probably of prior date; but in-
troducible here, being an accidental Fragment, with the
date lost:
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:23 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiijm Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CHAP. >>. ] PRINCESS OF BRUNSWICK BEVERN. 233
Feb. 1732.
To the Feldmarschall von Grumkow (From the Crown-Prince;
exact date lost).
"** As to what you tell me of the Princess ofMecklen-
"burg," for whom they want a Brandenburg Prince,? " could
"not / marry her? Let her come into this Country, and think
"no more of Russia: she would have a Dowry of two or three
"millions of roubles, -- only fancy how I could live with that!
"I think that project might succeed. The Princess is Luthe-
ran; perhaps she objects to go into the Greek Church?
"I find none of these advantages in this Princess of Bevern;
"who, as many people, even of the Duke's Court, say, is not
"at all beautiful, speaks almost nothing, and is given to
"pouting (faisant la fdchee). The good Kaiserinn has so little
"herself, that the sums she could afford her Niece would be
"very moderate. "*
"Given to pouting," too! No, certainly; your Insi-
pidity of Brunswick, without prospects of ready money;
dangerous for cagotage; "not a word to say for herself
"in company, and given to pouting:" I do not reckon
her the eligible article! --
Seckendorf, Schulenburg, Grumkow and all hands
are busy in this matter; geeho-ing the Crown-Prince
towards the mark set before him. With or without
explosion, arrive there he must; other goal for him is
none! -- In the mean while, it appears, illustrious
Franz of Lorraine, coming on, amid the proper demon-
strations, through Magdeburg and the Prussian Towns,
has caught some slight illness, and been obliged to
* Fragment given in Seckendorfs Leben, iii. 249 n.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:23 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiijm Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 234 friedrich's apprenticeship, last stage, [bookix.
lath Feb. 1732.
pause; so that Berlin cannot have the happiness of
seeing him quite so soon as it expected. The high
guests invited to meet Duke Franz, especially the high
Brunswicks, are already there. High Brunswicks,
Bevern with Duchess, and still more important, with
Son and with Daughter: -- insipid Corpus delicti her-
self has appeared on the scene; and Grumkow, we
find, has been writing some description of her to the
Crown-Prince. Description of an unfavourable nature;
below the truth, not above it, -- to avert disappoint-
ment, nay to create some gleam of inverse joy, when
the actual meeting occurs. That is his art in driving
the fiery little Arab ignominiously yoked to him; and
it is clear he has overdone it, for once. This is Fried-
rich's third utterance to him; much the most emphatic
there is:
To the General Feldmarschall von Grumkow.
"Ciistrin, 19th February 1732.
"Judge, my dear General, if I can have been much
"charmed with the description you give of the abominable ob-
ject of my desires! For the love of God, disabuse the King
"inregard to her" (show him that she is a fool, then); "and
"let him remember well that fools commonly are the most
"obstinate of creatures.
"Some months ago he wrote a Letter to Wolden," the ob-
sequious Goldstick, "of his giving me the choice of several
"Princesses: I hope he will not give himself the lie in that.
"I refer you entirely to the Letter, which Schulenburg will
"have delivered," -- little Schulenburg called here, in passing
your way; all hands busy. "For there is no hope of wealth,
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:23 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiijm Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CHAP. I. J PRINCESS OF BRUNSWICK-BEVEEN. 235
19th Feb. 1732.
"no reasoning, nor chance of fortune that could change my
"sentiment as expressed there" (namely, that I will not have
her, whatever become of me): "and miserable for miserable,
"it is all one! Let the King but think that it is not for him-
"self he is marrying me, but for myself; nay he too will have
"a thousand chagrins, to see two persons hating one another,
"and the miserablest marriage in the world; -- to hear their
"mutual complaints, which will be to him so many reproaches
"for having fashioned the instrument of our yoke. As a good
"Christian, let him consider, If it is well done to wish to force
"people; to cause divorces, and to be the occasion of all the
"sins that an ill-assorted marriage leads us to commit! I am
"determined to front everything in the world sooner: and
"since things are so, you may in some good way apprise
"the Duke" of Bevern"that, happen what may, Ineverwill
"have her.
"I have been unfortunate (malheureux) all my life; and I
"think it is my destiny to continue so. One must be patient,
"and take the time as it comes. Perhaps a sudden tract of
"good fortune, on the back of all the chagrins I have made
"profession of ever since I entered this world, would have
"made me too proud. In a word, happen what will, I have
"nothing to reproach myself with. I have suffered sufficiently
"for an exaggerated crime" (that of 'attempting to desert;'
-- Heavens! ) -- "and I will not engage myself to extend
"my miseries (chagrins) into future times. I have still re-
"sources: -- a pistol-shot can deliver me from my sorrows and
"my life: and I think a merciful God would not damn me for
"that; but taking pity on me, would, in exchange for a life
"of wretchedness, grant me salvation. This is witherward
"despair can lead a young person, whose blood is not so
"quiescent as if he were seventy. I have a feeling of myself,
"Monsieur; and perceive that, when one hates the methods
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:23 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiijm Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 236 friedrich's apprenticeship, last stage, [book k.
19th Feb. 1732.
"of force as much as I, our boiling blood will carry us always
"towards extremities. "
* * "If there are honest people in the world, they must
"think how to save me from one of the most perilous passages
"I have ever been in. I waste myself in gloomy ideas; I fear
"I shall not be able to hide my grief, on coming to Berlin.
"This is the sad state I am in; -- but it will never make me
"change from being," -- surely to an excessive degree, the
illustrious Grumkow's most &c. &c.
"FrideeicH. "
"I have received a Letter from the King; all agog (Wen
"coiffe) about the Princess. I think I may still finish the
"week here. * When his first fire of approbation is spent,
"you might, praising her all the while, lead him to notice
"her faults. Mon Dieu, has he not already seen what an ill-
assorted marriage comes to, -- my Sister of Anspach and
"her Husband, who hate one another like the fire! He has
"a thousand vexations from it every day. ** And what aim has
"the King? If it is to assure himself of me, that is not the
"way. Madame of Eisenach might do it; but a fool not (point
"une bete); -- on the contrary, it is morally impossible to love
"the cause of our misery. The King is reasonable; and I am
"persuaded he will understand this himself. "**
Very passionate pleading; but it might as well ad-
dress itself to the east-Svinds. Have east-winds a heart,
that they should feel pity? Jarni-bleu, Herr Feldzeug-
meister, -- only take care he don't overset things
again!
Grumkow, in these same hours, is writing a Letter
* 26th, did arrive in Berlin: Preuss (in (Euvres, xxvii. part 3d, p. 58n. ).
*? (Euvres de Frederic, xvi. 41-42.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:23 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiijm Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CHAP. I. ] PRINCESS OP BRUNSWICK-BEVERN. 237
19th Feb. 1732.
to the Prince, which we still have,* How charmed his
Majesty is at such obedience; "shed tears of joy,"
writes Grumkow, "and said it was the happiest day of
his life. " Judge Grumkow's feelings soon after, on
this furious recalcitration breaking out! Grumkow's
Answer, which also we still have,** is truculence itself
in a polite form: -- horrorstruck as a Christian at the
suicide notion, at the -- in fact at the whole matter;
and begs, as a humble individual, not wishful of violent
death and destruction upon self and family, to wash
his poor hands of it altogether. Dangerous for the like
of him: "interfering between Royal Father and lloyal
"Son of such opposite humours, would break the neck
"of any man," thinks Grumkow; and sums-up with
this pithy reminiscence: "I remember always what the
"King said to me at Wusterhausen, when your Royal
"Highness lay prisoner in the Castle of Ciistrin, and I
"wished to take your part: 'Nein, Grumkow, denket an
"'diese Stelle, Gott gebe dass ich nicht wahr rede, aber
111 mem Sohn stirbt nicht eines natiirlichen Todes; und Gott
Ulgebe dass er nicht unter Henkers Ham. de konme. No,
"'Grumkow, think of what I now tell you: God grant
"'it do not come true, -- but my Son won't die a na-
'"tural death; God grant he do not come into the
"'Hangman's hands yet! ' I shuddered at these words,
"and the King repeated them twice to me: that is
"true, or may I never see God's face, or have part in
"the merits of Our Lord. " -- The Crown-Prince's
"pleadings" may fitly terminate here.
* (Emres de Frediric, xvi. 48. <<* lb. pp. 44-46.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:23 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd.