【国外英文文学】Frederick the Great and His Family.docx

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1、【国外英文文学】Frederick the Great and His FamilyFrederick the Great and His Familyby L. MuhlbachVariant spellings: Louise Muhlbach, Luise Muhlbach and Luise von MuhlbachTRANSLATED FROM GERMAN BYMRS. CHAPMAN COLEMAN AND HER DAUGHTERSCONTENTS.BOOK I. I. The King II. Prince Henry III. Louise von Kleist IV. A

2、t the Masked Ball V. A Secret Captain VI. The Legacy of Von Trenck, Colonel of the Pandours VII. The King and Weingarten VIII. The Unwilling Bridegroom IX. The First Disappointment X. The Conquered XI. The Travelling Musicians XII. Travelling Adventures XIII. The Drag-Boat XIV. In Amsterdam XV. The

3、King without ShoesBOOK II. I. The Unhappy News II. Trenck on his Way to Prison III. Prince Henry and His Wife IV. The Fete in the Woods V. Intrigues VI. The Private Audience VII. The Traitor VIII. Declaration of War IX. The King and his Brothers X. The Laurel-Branch XI. The Ball at Count Bruhls XII.

4、 The Interrupted Feast XIII. The Archives at Dresden XIV. Saxony HumiliatedBOOK III. I. The Maiden of Brunen II. News of Battle III. The Certificate of Enlistment IV. Farewell to the Village V. The Prisoner VI. The Prison Barricade VII. The Battle of Collin VIII. The Inimical Brothers IX. The Letter

5、s X. In the Castle at Dresden XI. The Te Deum XII. Camp Scene XIII. The Watch-Fire XIV. The Battle of Leuthen XV. Winter Quarters in Breslau XVI. The Broken HeartBOOK IV. I. The King and his Old and New Enemies II. The Three Officers III. Ranuzi IV. Louise du Trouffle V. The Fortune-Teller VI. A Cou

6、rt Day in Berlin VII. In the Window-Niche VIII. The Nutshells behind the Fauteuil of the Queen IX. The Duel and its Consequences X. The Five Couriers XI. After the Battle XII. A Heroic Soul XIII. The Two Grenadiers XIV. The Right Counsel XV. A Hero in MisfortuneBOOK V. I. The Teresiani and the Pruss

7、iani II. Frederick the Great as a Saint III. The Cloister Brothers of San Giovanni e Paolo IV. The Return from the Army V. The Brave Fathers and the Cowardly Sons VI. The Traitors Betrayal VII. The Accusation VIII. Revenge IX. Trenck X. Trenck, are you there? XI. The King and the German Scholar XII.

8、 Gellert XIII. The Poet and the King XIV. The King and the Village Magistrate XV. The Proposal of Marriage XVI. The Ambassador and the Khan of TartaryBOOK VI. I. The Kings Return II. Prince Henry III. Mother and Daughter IV. The King in Sans-Souci V. The Engraved Cup VI. The Princess and the Diploma

9、tist VII. The Royal House-Spy VIII. The Clouds Gather IX. Brother and Sister X. The Stolen Child XI. The Discovery XII. The Morning at Sans-Souci XIII. A Husbands Revenge XIV. The SeparationBOOK I.CHAPTER I.THE KING.The king laid his flute aside, and with his hands folded behind his back, walked tho

10、ughtfully up and down his room in Sans-Souci. His countenance was now tranquil, his brow cloudless; with the aid of music he had harmonized his soul, and the anger and displeasure he had so shortly before felt were soothed by the melodious notes of his flute.The king was no longer angry, but melanch

11、oly, and the smile that played on his lip was so resigned and painful that the brave Marquis dArgens would have wept had he seen it, and the stinging jest of Voltaire have been silenced.But neither the marquis nor Voltaire, nor any of his friends were at present in Potsdam. DArgens was in France, wi

12、th his young wife, Barbe Cochois; Voltaire, after a succession of difficulties and quarrels, had departed forever; General Rothenberg had also departed to a land from which no one returns-he was dead! My lord marshal had returned to Scotland, Algarotti to Italy, and Bastiani still held his office in

13、 Breslau. Sans-Souci, that had been heretofore the seat of joy and laughing wit-Sans-Souci was now still and lonely; youth, beauty, and gladness had forsaken it forever; earnestness and duty had taken their place, and reigned in majesty within those walls that had so often echoed with the happy laug

14、h and sparkling jest of the kings friends and contemporaries.Frederick thought of this, as with folded hands he walked up and down, and recalled the past. Sunk in deep thought, he remained standing before a picture that hung on the wall above his secretary, which represented Barbarina in the fascina

15、ting costume of a shepherdess, as he had seen her for the first time ten years ago; it had been painted by Pesne for the king. What recollections, what dreams arose before the kings soul as he gazed at that bewitching and lovely face; at those soft, melting eyes, whose glance had once made him so ha

16、ppy! But that was long ago; it had passed like a sunbeam on a rainy day, it had been long buried in clouds. These remembrances warmed the kings heart as he now stood so solitary and loveless before this picture; and he confessed to that sweet image, once so fondly loved, what he had never admitted t

17、o himself, that his heart was very lonely.But these painful recollections, these sad thoughts, did not last. The king roused himself from those dangerous dreams, and on leaving the picture cast upon it almost a look of hatred.This is folly, he said; I will to work.He approached the secretary, and se

18、ized the sealed letters and packets that were lying there. A letter and packet from the queen, he said, wonderingly opening the letter first. Casting a hasty glance through it, a mocking smile crossed his face. She sends me a French translation of a prayer-book, he said, shrugging his shoulders. Poo

19、r queen! her heart is not yet dead, though, by Heaven! it has suffered enough.He threw the letter carelessly aside, without glancing at the book; its sad, pleading prayer was but an echo of the thoughts trembling in her heart.Bagatelles! nothing more, he murmured, after reading the other letters and

20、 laying them aside. He then rang hastily, and bade the servant send Baron Pollnitz to him as soon as he appeared in the audience-chamber.A few minutes later the door opened, and the old, wrinkled, sweetly smiling face of the undaunted courtier appeared.Approach, said the king, advancing a few steps

21、to meet him. Do you bring me his submission? Does my brother Henry acknowledge that it is vain to defy my power?Pollnitz shrugged his shoulders. Sire, he said, sighing, his highness will not understand that a prince must have no heart. He still continues in his disobedience, and declares that no man

22、 should marry a woman without loving her; that he would be contemptible and cowardly to allow himself to be forced to do what should be the free choice of his own heart.Pollnitz had spoken with downcast eyes and respectful countenance; he appeared not to notice that the king reddened and his eyes bu

23、rned with anger.Ah! my brother dared to say that? cried the king. He has the Utopian thought to believe that he can defy my wishes. Tell him he is mistaken; he must submit to me as I had to submit to my father.He gives that as an example why he will not yield. He believes a forced marriage can never

24、 be a happy one; that your majesty had not only made yourself unhappy by your marriage, but also your queen, and that there was not a lady in the land who would exchange places with your wife.The king glanced piercingly at Pollnitz. Do you know it would have been better had you forgotten a few of my

25、 wise brothers words?Your majesty commanded me to tell you faithfully every word the prince said.And you are too much a man of truth and obedience, too little of a courtier, not to be frank and faithful. Is it not so? Ah! vraiment, I know you, and I know very well that you are playing a double game.

26、 But I warn you not to follow the promptings of your wicked heart. I desire my brother to marry, do you hear? I will it, and you, the grand chamberlain, Baron Pollnitz, shall feel my anger if he does not consent.And if he does? said Pollnitz, in his laughing, shameless manner; if I persuade the prin

27、ce to submit to your wishes, what recompense shall I receive?On the day of their betrothal, I will raise your income five hundred crowns, and pay your debts.Ah, sire, in what a pitiable dilemma you are placing me! Your majesty wishes Prince Henry to engage himself as soon as possible, and I must now

28、 wish it to be as late as possible.And why?Because I must hasten to make as many debts as possible, that your majesty may pay them.You are and will remain an unmitigated fool; old age will not even cure you, said the king, smiling. But speak, do you think my brother may be brought to reason?Pollnitz

29、 shrugged his shoulders, gave a sly smile, but was silent.You do not answer me. Is my brother in love? and has he confided in you?Sire, I believe the prince is in love from ennui alone, but he swears it is his first love.That is an oath that is repeated to each lady-love; I am not afraid of it, said

30、 the king, smiling Who is the enchantress that has heard his first loving vows? She is doubtless a fairy-a goddess of beauty.Yes, sire, she is young and beautiful, and declares it is also her first love, so no one can doubt its purity; no one understands love as well as this fair lady; no other than

31、 Madame von Kleist, who, as your majesty remembers, was lately divorced from her husband.And is now free to love again, as it appears, said the king, with a mocking smile. But the beautiful Louise von Schwerin is a dangerous, daring woman, and we must check her clever plans in the bud. If she desire

32、s to be loved by my brother, she possesses knowledge, beauty, and experience to gain her point and to lead him into all manner of follies. This affair must be brought quickly to a close, and Prince Henry acknowledged to be the prince royal.Prince Henry goes this evening to Berlin to attend a feast g

33、iven by the Prince of Prussia, whispered Pollnitz.Ah! it is true the princes arrest ceases at six oclock, but he will not forget that he needs permission to leave Potsdam.He will forget it, sire.The king walked up and down in silence, and his countenance assumed an angry and threatening appearance.

34、This struggle must be brought to a close, and that speedily. My brother must submit to my authority. Go and watch his movements; as soon as he leaves, come to me.Long after Pollnitz had left him, the king paced his chamber in deep thought. Poor Henry! I dare not sympathize with you; you are a kings

35、son-that means a slave to your position. Why has Providence given hearts to kings as to other men? Why do we thirst so for love? as the intoxicating drink is always denied us, and we dare not drink it even when offered by the most bewitching enchantress!Involuntarily his eye rested upon the beautifu

36、l picture of Barbarina. But he would have no pity with himself, as he dared not show mercy to his brother. Seizing the silver bell, he rang it hastily.Take that picture from the wall, and carry it immediately to the inspector, and tell him to hang it in the picture-gallery, said Frederick.He looked

37、on quietly as the servant took the picture down and carried it from the room, then sighed and gazed long at the plane where it had hung.Empty and cold! The last token of my youth is gone! I am now the king, and, with Gods blessing, will be the father of my people.CHAPTER II.PRINCE HENRY.Prince Henry

38、 sat quiet and motionless in his lonely room; dark thoughts seemed to trouble him; his brow was clouded, his lips compressed. Had you not known him, you would have taken him for the king, so great was the resemblance of the two brothers; but it was only an outward resemblance. The prince had not the

39、 spiritual expression, his eyes had not the passionate fire, his face (beautiful as it was) wanted the fascinating geniality, the sparkling inspiration, that at all times lighted the kings countenance like a sunbeam.The prince possessed a greater mind, a clearer understanding, but he wanted soul and

40、 poetic feeling, and allowed himself at times to ridicule his brothers poetic efforts. The king, knowing this, was inclined to regard the shortcomings of the prince as a determined contempt and resistance to his command; and as the prince became more reckless and more indifferent, he became more sev

41、ere and harsh. Thus the struggle commenced that had existed for some time between the two brothers.For the last four days the prince had been in arrest for disobeying orders, but the hour of his release was approaching, and he awaited it with impatience.The bell of the nearest church had just announ

42、ced the hour of six. The door opened immediately, and an officer, in the name of the king, pronounced his arrest at an end.The prince answered with a low bow, and remained seated, pointing haughtily to the door; but as the officer left him he arose and paced hastily to and fro.He treats me like a sc

43、hool-boy, he murmured; but I shall show him that I have a will of my own! I will not be intimidated-I will not submit; and if the king does not cease to annoy me, if he continues to forget that I am not a slave, but son and brother of a king, no motives shall restrain me, and I also will forget, as

44、he does, that I am a prince, and remember only that I am a free, responsible man. He wishes me to marry, and therefore has me followed, and surrounds me with spies. He wishes to force me to marry. Well, I will marry, but I will choose my own wife!The prince had just made this resolve, when the door

45、opened, and the servant announced that Messrs. Kalkreuth and Kaphengst awaited his commands.He bade them enter, and advancing smilingly gave them his hand.Welcome! welcome! he said; the cage is open, and I may enjoy a little air and sunshine; let us not delay to make use of this opportunity. Our hor

46、ses shall be saddled.They are already saddled, prince, said Baron Kalkreuth. I have ordered them to the court, and as soon as it is dark we will mount them.What! is it not best that we should mount before my door and ride openly away? said the prince, wonderingly.It is my opinion that is the best plan, cried Baron Kaphengst, laughing gayly. Every one will believe your highness to be simply taking a ride, while curiosity would be raised if we left the city on foot.I think leaving in the dark, and on foot, looks as if I were afraid,