old fritz and the new era-第43部分

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your　so…called　misfortune；　and　smile　at　your　pilgrimage！〃

〃I　cannot　think　so；　sire。〃

〃I　am　convinced　of　it。　Farewell。〃

Moritz　answered　the　royal　salutation　with　a　mute　bow；　and　withdrew
with　drooping　head　and　sorrowful　heart。　The　king　continued　to　regard
him　with　an　expression　of　deep　sadness。　〃Ah！〃　he　sighed；　〃how
enviable　are　those　who　can　still　believe　in　love's　illusion；　and　who
have　not　awakened　from　their　dream　of　bliss　by　sad　experience　or
age！　How　long　since　I　have　banished　these　dreamshow　long　I〃

The　king　ceased；　his　head　sank　back　upon　his　chair；　his　large；　fiery
eyes；　peering　into　the　distance；　as　if　he　would　re…people　it　with
the　memories　of　youth；　with　the　delusions　from　which　he　had　so　long
awakened。　Those　lovely；　charming　forms　flitted　before　him　one　by　one
which　had　then　captivated　him：　the　beautiful　Frau　von　Wrechem；　his
first　love；　and　to　whom　he　had　vowed　eternal　constancy；　another
sweet；　innocent　face　that　suffered　shame　and　degradation　for　him
〃oh！　Doris；　Doris；　dream　of　my　youth；　fly　past！〃and　now　the　face
with　the　large　eyes　and　energetic　features；　which　turned　so　tenderly
to　him；　that　of　his　sister　Frederika；　who　from　affection　to　the
crown　prince　had　sacrificed　herself　to　an　unloved　husband　in　order
to　reconcile　the　son　with　the　father；　and　preserve　for　him　the
inheritance　to　the　throne；　still　another　calm　and　gentle　face；　with
the　expression　of　sorrowful　resignation　in　the　deep…blue　eyes；　that
of　his　wife；　who　had　so　passionately　loved　him；　and　had　faded　away
at　his　side　unloved！　All　pastpast。　A　new　face　arose；　the　pretty
Leontine　von　Morien；　the　tourbillon　of　the　princely　court　at
Rheinsberg；　who　pined　away　in　sighs。　Now　passed　the　sweetest　and
loveliest　of　all。　The　king's　eyes；　which　stared　into　empty　space；
now　beamed　with　glad　recognition。　The　heart　which　had　grown　old　and
sobered　beat　with　feverish　rapidity；　and　the　compressed　lips
whispered；　sighing；　〃Barbarina！〃　She　stood　before　him　in　her
bewitching　beauty；　with　the　charming　smile　upon　her　ruby　lips；　and
passionate　love　beaming　from　her　flashing　eyes。　〃Oh；　Barbarina！〃　The
king　rose；　a　cold　chill　crept　over　him。　He　looked　around　so
strangely　in　the　desolate；　darkened　room；　as　if　he　could　still　see
this　form　which　greeted　him　with　the　sad　smile　and　tearful　glance。
No　one　was　there。　He　was　quite　alone。　Only　the　feeble　echo　of　far…
distant　days　repeated　the　device　of　his　youthof　his　life：　〃Soffri
e　taci！　Resignation　alone　has　remained　true　to　me。　But　nothere　is
still　another　friend；　my　flute。　Come；　you　faithful　companion　of　my
life！　You　have　witnessed　my　sorrows；　and　from　you　I　have　nothing　to
conceal！〃　He　tenderly　regarded　it；　for　it　was　long　since　he　had
taken　it　from　its　case。　The　sorrows　and　cares　of　life；　the　suffering
from　the　gout　which　raged　in　his　teeth；　and　sad；　sobering　old　age；
had　caused　him　to　lay　it　aside；　but　with　the　habit　of　affection　he
carried　it　everywhere。　Frederick　felt　himself　grow　young　again　with
the　souvenirs　of　former　days；　and　essayed　to　recall　the　echo　of
tenderer　feelings　upon　his　flute。　The　music　of　his　heart　was　hushed；
the　melodious　tones　of　former　days　would　not　return。　The　king　laid
it　aside　with　an　impatient　movement。　〃Nothing　is　lasting　in　life；〃
he　murmured。　A　flourish　of　trumpets；　a　peal　of　drums　announced　that
the　regiment　was　passing　which　would　parade　before　the　king。　What
are　they　playing；　which　rouses　the　lonely　king　with　bright　memories
and　shouts　of　victory？　It　is　the　march　which　his　majesty　composed
after　the　brilliant　victory　of　Hohenfriedberg。　The　king　raised　his
eyes　gratefully　to　heaven；　repeating　aloud：　〃There　is　something
lasting　in　life。　Love　ceases　and　music　dies　away；　but　the　good　we
have　accomplished　remains。　The　most　glorious　of　earthly　rewards　is
granted　to　those　who　have　achieved　great　deedsthe　mortal　becomes
immortalthe　gods　ceding　to　him　that　which　is　more　elevating　than
love　or　happinessfame。　Ye　trumpets　of　Hohenfriedberg；　ye　will
still　quiver　when　I　am　gone；　and　relate　to　succeeding　generations
about　'Old　Fritz。'　Such　tales　are　well　worthy　to　live　and　suffer
for！　I　am　coming；　ye　trumpets　of　fame。〃　With　youthful　activity　and
beaming　face　the　king　went　out　to　receive　his　generals；　who　saluted
him　with　silent　reverence；　and　his　soldiers；　who　greeted　their
beloved　commander　and　king　with　an　exultant　shout。




CHAPTER　XXI。

IN　WEIMAR。


〃There　lies　dear　Weimar；　encircled　in　its　wreath　of　green。　Do　you
not　see　it；　Wolf？　I　will　refresh　my　heart　with　its　view；　so　halt；
postilion；　halt；〃　cried　the　duke。　〃It　is　more　beautiful　to　me　than
stately；　proud　Berlin。　Though　a　poor；　gray　nest；　I　could　press　it　to
my　heart；　with　all　its　untidy　little　houses；　and　tedious　old
pedants。　Let　us　walk　down　the　hill；　Wolf。〃

〃Most　willingly；〃　cried　Goethe；　stretching　forth　his　arms　to　the
little　town；　nestled　in　the　peaceful　valley；　〃be　welcome；　you　lovely
paradise；　with　your　angels　and　serpents；　we　press　on　toward　you　with
all　our　heart　and　soul；　as　to　the　seven…sealed　book；　filled　with
mysteries；　and　we　would　draw　glorious　revelations　from　your　hidden
contents。〃

〃And　grant；　ye　gods；　that　the　inspired　one　may　at　last　break　the
seal　which　a　cruel　friend　has　placed　upon　her　lips；　that　he　may　not
drink　the　kiss　of　love　glowing　beneath；〃　said　the　duke；　smiling。　〃Do
you　not　see　the　gray　roof　yonder；　with　its　background　of　tall　trees；
that〃

〃The　house　where　dwells　my　beloved；　my　dearest　friend；　my　sister；
and　the　mistress　of　my　heart；〃　interrupted　Goethe。　〃She　is　all　this；
for　she　is　my　all　in　all。　The　fountains　of　bliss　and　love　which　here
and　there　I　have　drawn　from；　refreshing　my　heart　and　occupying　my
mind；　flow　toward　her；　united　in　one　broad；　silvery　stream；　with
heaven　and　earth　mirrored　therein；　and　revealing　wonderful　secrets
in　its　rushing　waves。〃

〃Ah；　Wolf！〃　cried　the　duke；　〃you　are　a　happy；　enviable　creature；
free　and　unfettered；　sending　your　love　where　it　pleases　you。　My　dear
Wolf；　I　advise　you　never　to　marry；　for〃

Goethe　hastily　closed　the　duke's　mouth　with　his　hand。　〃Hush！　not　a
word　against　the　noble　Duchess　Louisa；　my　master　and　friend。　She　is
an　example　of　refined；　womanly　dignity；　and　you；　Charles；　are　to　be
envied　the　love　of　so　estimable　a　wife　and　sweet　mother　for　your
children。〃

〃Indeed　I　am；〃　cried　the　duke；　enthusiastically。　〃I　could　not　have
found　a　more　high…minded；　lovely　wife；　or　a　more　excellent；　virtuous
mother　for　my　descendants。　But　you　know；　Wolf；　that　your　Charles　has
still　another　heart；　very　susceptible　and　tender；　which　seeks　for　an
affinity　to　call　its　own；　and　vent　itself　in　the　pleasures　of　youth；
in　glorious　flirtations；　melancholy　signs；　and　blissful　longings。
You　cannot　expect　me　at　twenty…two　to　play　the　grandfather；　and　have
no　eyes　or　heart　for　other　captivating　women；　though　I　love　my　young
wife　most　affectionately；　and　bless　Fate　that　I　am　bound　with　silken
cords　to　Hymen's　cartthough　I　am　forever　bound；　and　you；　Wolf；　are
happily　free！〃

〃Because　grim　Fate　refuses　to　unite　me　to　my　beloved。　Oh；　Charlotte；
if　you　were　free；　how　blessed　would　I　be；　enchained　by　you！　Not　to
'Hymen's　cart；'　as　the　fortunate　mocker　says；　but　to　the　chariot　of
Venus；　drawn　by　doves；　enthroned　upon　which　you　would　bear　me　to
heaven！〃

〃Do　not　blaspheme；　Wolf；〃　cried　the　duke；　〃rather　kneel　and　thank
the　gods　that　you　are　not　fettered　and　your　wings　clipped。　They　wish
to　preserve　to　you　love's　delusion；　because　you　are　a　favorite；　and
deny　you　the　object　adored。　Beware　of　the　institution　which　the
French　actress；　Sophie　Arnould；　has　so　wittily　called　the
'consecration　of　adultery。'　You　will　agree　with　me　that　we　have　many
such　little　sacraments　in　our　dear　Weimar；　and　I　must　laugh　when　I
reflect　for　what　purpose　those　amiable　beauties　have　married；　as　not
one　of　them　love　their　husbands；　but　they　all　possess　a　friend
besides。〃

〃The　human　heart　is　a　strange　thing；〃　said　Goethe；　as　they　descended
the　hill；　arm　in　arm；　〃and　above　all　a　woman's　heart！　It　is　a　sacred
riddle；　which　God　has　given　Himself　to　solve；　and　that　only　a　God
could　unravel！〃

At　this　instant　a　flash　of　lightning；　followed　by　heavy…rolling
thunder；　was　heard。

〃Hear；　Wolfonly　hear！〃　laughed　Charles〃God　in　heaven　responds；
and　confirms　your　statement。〃

〃Or　punishes　me　for　my　bold　speech；〃　cried　Goethe；　as　the　hailstones
rattled　around　him　hitting　his　face　with　their　sharp　points。　〃Heaven
is　whipping　me　with　rods。〃

〃And　our　carriage　has　descended　with　a　quick　trot　into　the　valley；〃
said　the　duke。　〃I　will　call　it。〃　He　sprang　into　the　middle　of　the
road；　making　a　speaking…trumpet　of　his　hands；　and　shouted　in　a　full；
powerful　voice；　〃Oho；　postilion！　here；　postilion！〃

The　continued　rolling　of　the　thunder；　the　whistling　wind；　and
rattling　hail；　made　all　attempts　inaudible。　The　two　gentlemen　sought
shelter　under　the　thick　crowns　of　the　oak…trees　by　the　wayside；
which　formed　an　impenetrable　roof　to　the　flood　of　rain。

〃I　know　nothing　more　sublime　than　a　thunder…storm；〃　said　Goethe；
looking　up　as　if　inspired；　〃when　the　thunder　rolls　in　such　awful
majesty　and　wrath；　it　seems　as　if　I　heard　Prometheus　in　angry
dispute　with　the　gods。　In　the　dark　clouds　I　see　the　Titan；　enveloped
in　mist；　overspreading　the　heavens；　and　raising　his　giant…arm　to
hurl　his　mighty　wrath。〃　At　this　instant　a　flash　of　lightning；
followed　by　a　deafening　peal　reverberated　in　one　prolonged　echo
through　the　hills。

〃Do　you　not　hear　him；　Charles？〃　cried　Goethe；　delighted〃hear　all
the　voices　of　earth　united　in　the　grumbling　thunder　of　his　wrath？
See；　there　he　stands；　yonder　in　heavenhis　form　dark　as　midnight。　I
hear　ithe　callsOvershadow　the　heavens；　O　Jupiter；　With　thy
vaporous　clouds！　Cut　off　the　oak　and　mountain…tops　As　a　boy　plucks
the　thistle。　Leave　me　earth　and　my　cabin　Which　thou　hast　not　built；
And　my　hearth…side；　The　glow　of　which　thou　enviest　me！　I　know　naught
so　miserable　As　you　godsyou〃

Again　the　mighty　peal　silenced　Goethe；　who　looked　to　heaven　with
defiance　flashing　from　his　eyes　and　his　clinched　hand　upraised；　as
if　he　were　Prometheus　himself　menacing　the　gods。

〃Proceed；　Wolf；〃　cried　the　duke；　as　the　echo　died　away。　〃How　can
you；　yourself　a　god；　be　so　excited　with