Thesesnowysix—and—thirtyhoursatPogarellwereprobably，sincetheCustrintime，themostanxiousofFriedrich’slife。
Neipperg，forhispart，strugglesforwardafewmiles，thisSunday，April9th；thePrussiansrestundershelterinthewildweather。
Neipperg’shead—quarters，thisnight，areasmallVillageorHamlet，calledMollwitz:thereandintheadjacentHamlets，chieflyinLaugwitzandGruningen，hisArmylodgesitself:——heisnowfairlygotbetweenusandOhlau，——if，intheblowingdrift，weknewit，orheknewit。But，inthisconfusionoftheelements，neitherpartyknowsoftheother:Neipperghasappointedthatto—morrow，Monday，l0th，shallbearest—day:——appointmentwhichcouldbynomeansbekept，asitturnedout！
FriedrichhaddespatchedmessengerstoOhlau，thattheforcethereshouldjoinhim；messengersareallcaptured。ThelikemessagehadalreadygonetoBrieg，somedaysbefore，andtheBlockadingBody，agoodfewthousandstrong，quittedBrieg，aswesaw，andeffectedtheirjunctionwithhim。Allday，thisSunday，9th，itstillsnowsandblows；youcannotseeayardbeforeyou。NohopenowofHolstein—Beck。Nottheleastnewsfromanyquarter；Ohlauuncertain，toolikelythewrongway:Whatistobedone？WearecutofffromourMagazines，haveonlyprovisionforoneotherday。
"Hadthisweatherlasted，"saysanAustrianreporterofthesethings，"hisMajestywouldhavepassedhistimeveryill。"
[FeldzugederPreussen（thecompleteTitleis，SammlungungedruckterNachrichtensodieGeschichtederFeldzugederPreussenvon1740bis1779erlautern，
orinEnglishwords，CollectionofunprintedNarrativeswhichelucidatethePrussianCampaignsfrom1740to1779:5vols。Dresden，1782—1785），i。33。ExcellentNarratives，modest，brief，effective（fromPrivateDiariesandthelike；manyofthemgivenalsoinSEYFARTH）；wellworthperusalbythestudiousmilitaryman，andcreditablycharacteristicofthePrussianwritersofthemandactorsinthem。]
OftheBattleofMollwitz，asindeedofallFriedrich’sBattles，thereareampleaccountsnewandold，ofperfectauthenticityandscientificexactitude；sothatinregardtomilitarypointsthedueclearnessis，onstudy，completelyattainable。Butastopersonalorhumandetails，wearedrivenbackuponamiscellanyofsources；
mostofwhich，indeedallofwhichexceptNicolai，whenhesparinglygivesusanything，areofquestionablenature；
and，withoutintendingtobedishonest，dorunoutintothemythical，andrequiretobeusedwithcaution。Thelatestandnotablestofthese，inregardtoMollwitz，isthepamphletofaDr。Fuchs；fromwhich，inspiteofitsamazingquality，weexpecttogleanaserviceableitemhereandthere。[JubelschriftzurFeier（Centenary）derSchlachtbeiMollwitz，10April，1741，vonDr。MedicinaeFuchs（Brieg，10thApril，1841）。]ItisdefinableasprobablythemostchaoticPamphleteverwritten；andinmanyplaces，bydintofuncorrectedprinting，badgrammar，badspelling，badsense，andinshort，ofintrinsicdarknessinsovivaciousahumor，ithasbecomeabstruseasSanscrit；andreallyisasharptestofwhatknowledgeyouotherwisehaveofthesubject。Mightperhapsbeusedinthatway，bytheExaminingMilitaryBoards，inPrussiaandelsewhere，ifnootheruselieinit？Fuchs’sowncontributions，mereignorance，follyandcredulity，arenotworthinterpreting:buthehasprinted，andinthesameabstruseform，oneortwocuriousParishManuscripts，particularlya"HISTORY"ofthisWar，privatelyjotteddownbythethenSchoolmasterofMollwitz，agoodsimpleaccurateoldfellow—creature；throughwhoseeyesitishereandthereworthwhiletolook。InregardtoFuchshimself，alateTouristsays:——
"This’Centenary—CelebrationPamphlet’（Celebrationitself，soobtusewastheCountry，didnottakeeffect）wasbyazealous，noisybutnotwise，oldMedicalGentlemanoftheseparts，calledDr。Fuchs（FOX）；whohadsethisheartonraising，bysubscription，aproperNationalMonumentontheFieldofMollwitz，andsoclosinghisoldcareer。Subscriptionsdidnottake，inthatApril，1841，norinthefollowingmonthsortwelve—months:thezealousDoctor，therefore，indignantlydrewhisownpurse；gotabigObeliskofGranitehewnready，withsuitableInscriptiononit；cartedhisbigObeliskfromthequarriesofStrehlen；assembledtheCountryroundit，onMollwitzField；andpassionatelydiscoursedandpleaded，ThatatleasttheCountryshouldbringblock—and—tackle，withproperframework，andsetupthisObeliskonthepedestalhehadtherebuiltforit。TheCountrylistenedcheerfully（fortheoldDoctorwasapopularman，cleverthoughflighty）；buttheCountrywasagainobtuseinthewayofactivefurtherance，andwouldnotevenbringblock—and—tackle。TheoldDoctorhadtoanswer，’Well，then！’andgoonhiswayonmoreseriouserrands。Thecattlehavemuchundermined，andrubbeddown，hispoorPedestal，whichisofrubble—work；hisObeliskstillliesmournfullyhorizontal，uninjured；——andreallyoughttobesetup，bysomeparish—rate，oreffortofthecommunityotherwise。"[Tourist’sNote（Brieg，1858）。]
FromtheoldMollwitzSchoolmasterwedistilthefollowing:——
"MOLLWITZ，SUNDAY，9thAPRIL。Countryfortwodaysback:wasinnewalarmbytheAustrianGarrisonofBriegnowleftatliberty，whosalliedoutupontheVillagesabout，andplunderedblack—cattle，sheep，grain，andwhatevertheycouldcomeat。Butthisday（Sunday）inMollwitzthewholeAustrianArmywasuponus。
First，therewent300HussarsthroughtheVillagetoGruningen，whoquarteredthemselvesthere；andrushedhitherandthitherintohouses，robbingandplundering。Fromonetheytookhisbesthorses，fromanothertheytooklinen，clothes，andotherfurnituresandvictual。GeneralNeuburg[Neipperg]haltedhereatMollwitz，withthewholeArmy；beforetheVillage，inmindtoquarter。Andquarterwassettled，sothataBAUER[Plough—Farmer]gotfourtofivecompaniestolodge，andaGARTNER[Spade—Farmer]twoorthreehundredcavalry……ThehouseswerefullofOfficers，theGARTE
[Garths]andtheFieldsfullofhorsemenandbaggage；andallround，yousawnothingbutfiresburning；theZAUNE[woodenrailings]wereinstantlytorndownforfirewood；thehay，straw，barleyandhaver，wereeatenaway，andbroughttonothing；
andeverythingfromthebarnswascarriedout。And，asthewholeArmycouldnotlodgeitselfwithus，1，100InfantryquarteredatLaugwitz；Barzdorfgot400Cavalry；andthisday，nobodyknewwhatwouldcomeofit。"[ExtractinFUCHS，p。6。]
Mondaymorning，thePrussiansareupbetimes；KingFriedrich，asabovenoted，hadnot，orhadhardlyatall，sleptduringthosetwonights，suchhisanxieties。Thismorning，alliscalm，sleekedoutintospotlesswhite；Pogarellandtheworldarewraptasinawinding—sheet，neartwofeetofsnowontheground。Airhardandcrisp；ahotsunpossibleaboutnoonseason。"Bydaybreak"weareallastir，rendezvousing，ranking，——intoFourColumns；readytoadvanceinthatfashionforbattle，orfordeployingintobattle，wherevertheEnemyturnup。Theorderswereallgivenovernight，twonightsago；wereallunderstood，too，andknowntoberhadamanthine；and，downtothelowestpioneer，nomanisuncertainwhattodo。IfwebutknewwheretheEnemyis；onwhichsideofus；
whatdoing，whatintending？
Scouts，General—Adjutantsareoutonthequest；tonopurposehitherto。OneyoungGeneral—Adjutant，Saldern，whosenameweshallknowagain，hasriddennorthward，haspulledbridlesomewaynorthofPogarell；hangs，gazingdiligentlythroughhisspy—glass，there；——canseenothingbutaPlainofsilentsnow，withsparsebeardingofbushes（nothinglikeahedgeinthesecountries），andhereandthereatree，themiserableskeletonofapoplar:——
whenhappily，owingtoanAustrianDragoon——Bepleasedtoaccept（inabridgedform）thepooroldSchoolmaster’saccountofasmallthing:——
"AustrianDragoonoftheregimentAlthan，nativeofKriesewitzinthisneighborhood，whowasbilletedinChristopherSchonwitz’s，hadbeenmuchinwantofacleanshirt，andotherinterioroutfit；
andhad，lastnight，imperativelydespatchedthemanScholzke，afarm—servantofthesaidChristopher’s，offtohis，theDragoon’s，FatherinKriesewitz，toprocuresuchshirtoroutfit，andtoreturnearlywiththesame；underpenaltyof——Scholzkeandhismasterdarenotthinkunderwhatpenalty。Scholzke，flounderinghomewardswiththeoutfitfromKriesewitz，floundersatthismomentintoSaldern’ssphereofvision:’Whence，whither？’asksSaldern:
’DostthouknowwheretheAustriansare？’（RECHTGUT:inMollwitz，whitherIamgoing！’SalderntakeshimtotheKing，——andthatwasthefirstclearlighthisMajestyhadonthematter。"[Fuchs，pp。
6，7。]Thatorsomethingequivalent，indisputablywas；Saldernand"aPeasant，"theaccountofitinalltheBooks。
TheKingsaystothisPeasant，"Thoushaltridewithmeto—day！"
AndScholzke，Ploschkeotherscallhim，——heavy—footedrationalbipedknowingthegroundtherepractically，everyyardofit，——did，asappears，attendtheKingallmorning；anddoservice，thatwasrecognizablelongyearsafterwards。"Foralways，"saytheBooks，"whentheKingheldreviewhere，PloschkefailednottomakeappearanceonthefieldofPogarell，andgetrecognitionandagiftfromhisMajesty。"
Atbreakofdaytherankingandarrangingbegan。Pogarellclockisnearstrikingten，whenthelastsquadronorbattalionquitsPogarell；andtheFourColumns，punctiliouslycorrect，areallunderway。TwooneachsideofOhlauHighway；steadilyadvancing，withpioneersaheadtoclearanyobstacletheremaybe。
Fewobstacles；hereandtherealittleditch（wherePloschke’sadvicemaybegood，underthesleekofthesnow），nofences，smoothwidePlain，nothingyouwouldevencallaknollinitformanymilesaheadandaround。MollwitzissomesevenmilesnorthfromPogarell；intermediateliedustyfractionsofVillagesmorethanone；twomilesormorefromMollwitzwecometoPampitzonourleft，thenextconsiderable，ifanyofthemcanbecountedconsiderable。
"AlltheseDorfs，andindeedmostGermanones，"saysmyTourist，"aremadeononetype；anagglomerateofdustyfarmyards，withtheirstallsandbarns；allthefarmyardshuddledtogetherintworows；abroadnegligentroadbetween，seldommended，neversweptexceptbytheelements。Generallythereisnothingtobeseen，oneachhand，butthatchedroofs，deadclaywallsandrudewoodengates；sometimesapoorpublic—house，withprobablebeerinit；
neveranyshop，nowhereanypatchofsweptpavement，ortrimgathering—placefornativesofasocialgossipyturn:theroadliessleepy，littery，goodonlyforutilitarianpurposes。InthemiddleoftheVillagestandsChurchandChurchyard，withprobablysomegnarledtreesaroundit:Churchoftenlargerthanyouexpected；
theChurchyard，alwaysfencedwithhighstone—and—mortarwall，isusuallytheprincipalmilitarypostoftheplace。Mollwitz，atthepresentday，hassomethingofwhitewashhereandthere；oneofthefarmerpeople，ormore，wearingacivilizedprosperouslook。
Thebelfryoffersyouapleasantview:theroofsandsteeplesofBrieg，pleasantlyvisibletoeastward；villagesdottedabout，Laugwitz，Barzdorf，Hermsdorf，cleartoyourinquiring:andtowestward，andtosouthward，topsofHill—countryinthedistance。
Westward，twentymilesoff，arepleasantHills；andamongthem，ifyoulookwell，shadowyTown—spires，whichyouareassuredareStrehlen，aplacealsoofinterestinFriedrich’sHistory。——Yourbelfryitself，inMollwitz，isold，butnotunsound；andthebigironclockgruntsheavilyatyourear，orperhapsburstsoutinatoodeafeningmanner，whileyoustudythetopographies。
Pampitz，too，seemsprosperous，initslitteryway；theChurchisbiggerandnewer，"——owingtoanaccidentweshallhearofsoon；——
"Countryallaboutseemsfarmedwithsomeindustry，butwithshallowploughing；liabletodrought。Itisverysandyinquality；
shornofumbrage；painfullynakedtoanEnglisheye。"Thatisthebigchampaign，coatedwithtwofeetofsnow，whereagreatActionisnowtogoforward。
Neipperg，allthiswhile，ismuchathiseaseonthiswhiteresting—day，HeisjustsittingdowntodinnerattheDorfschulze抯
（VillageProvost，orminiatureMayorofMollwitz），acomposedman；
when——rocketsorprojectiles，andsuccessiveanxioussputteringsfromthesteeple—topsofBrieg，arehastilyreported:whatcanitmean？Meanslittleperhaps；——NeippergsendsoutaHussarpartytoascertain，andcomposedlysetshimselftodine。InalittlewhilehisHussarpartywillcomegallopingback，fasterthanitwent；
fasterandfewer；——andtherewillbenewsforNeippergduringdinner！Betterherelookingout，thoughitwasarest—day？——
Thetruthis，thePrussianadvancegoesonwithpunctiliousexactitude，bynomeansrapidly。ColonelCountvanRothenburg，——
thesamewhomwelatelyheardofinParisasamiracleofgambling，——henowhere，inanewcapacity，iswarilyleadingtheVanguardofDragoons；warily，withtheFourColumnswelltorearofhim:
theAustrianHussarpartycameuponRothenburg，nottwomilesfromMollwitz；andsuddenlydrewbridle。ThemRothenburgtumblestotheright—about，andchases；——finds，onadvancing，theAustrianArmytotallyunaware。Itisthought，hadRothenburgdashedforward，andsentwordtotherearwardtodashforwardattheirswiftest，theAustrianArmymighthavebeencutinpieceshere，andneverhavegottogethertotrybattleatall。ButRothenburghadnoorders；
nay，hadordersNottogetintofighting；——norhadFriedrichhimself，inthishisfirstBattle，learnedthatfelineorleoninepromptitudeofspringwhichhesubsequentlymanifested。Farfromit！Indeedthispunctiliousdeliberation，andslowexactitudeasonthereview—ground，iswonderfulandnoteworthyatthefirststartofFriedrich；——thefaithfulapprentice—handstillrigoroustotherulesoftheoldshop。Tenyearshence，twentyyearshence，hadFriedrichfoundNeipperginthiscondition，Neipperg’saccounthadbeensoonsettled！——RothenburgdrovebacktheHussars，allmannerofsuccessiveHussarparties，andkeptsteadilyaheadofthemainbattle，ashehadbeenbidden。
PampitzVillagebeingnowpassed，andinrearofthemtoleft，thePrussianColumnshaltforsomeinstants；burstintofield—music；
taketodeployingthemselvesintoline。Thereissolemnwheeling，shootingouttorightandleft，donewithspotlessprecision:
onceinline，——intwolines，"eachthreemendeep，"linesmanyyardsapart，——theywilladvanceonMollwitz；stillsolemnly，field—
musicguiding，andbannersspread。Whichwillbeaworkoftime。
ThattheKing’sfrugalfield—dinnerwasshotaway，fromitscamp—
tablenearPampitz（asFuchshasheard），isevidentlymythical；
andevenimpossible，theAustrianshavingyetnocannonwithinmilesofhim；andbeingintentondiningcomfortablythemselves，notonfiringatotherpeople’sdinners。
FancyNeipperg’sstateofmind，busybeginningdinnerinthelittleSchulze’s，orTown—Provost’shouse，whentheHussarsdashedinatfullgallop，shouting"DERFEIND，TheEnemy！Allinmarchthere；
vanguardthissideofPampitz；killedfortyofus！"——Quick，yourPlanofBattle，then？Whitherward；How；What？answerorperish！
Neippergwasinfinitelystruck；droptknifeandfork:"SendforRomer，GeneraloftheHorse！"Romerdidtheindispensable:aswiftman，notapttolosehead。Romer’sbattle—plan，Ishouldhope，isalreadymade；oritwillfareillwithNeippergandhim。Butbeat，yedrummers；gallop，yeaides—de—campasforlife！ThefirstthingistogetourForcetogether；anditliesscatteredaboutinthreeotherVillagesbesidesMollwitz，milesapart。Neipperg’strumpetsclangor，hisaides—de—campgallop:hehashisleftwingformed，andtheotherpartsinastateofrapidgenesis，HorseandFootpouringinfromLaugwitz，Barzdorf，Gruningen，beforethePrussianshavequitedonedeployingthemselves，andgotwellwithinshotofhim。
Romer，bybirthaSaxongentleman，byallaccountsasuperiorsoldierandexcellentGeneralofHorse，commandsthisAustrianleftwing，GeneralGoldlein，[（Anonymous）MARIATHERESA（alreadycited），p。8n。]aSwissveteranofgoodparts，presidingovertheInfantryinthatquarter。Neipperghimself，wereheoncecomplete，willcommandtherightwing。
Neippergistobeintwolines，asthePrussiansare，withhorseoneachwing，whichisorthodoxmilitaryorder。Hislengthoffront，Ishouldguess，musthavebeensomethingbetterthantwoEnglishmiles:asluggishBrook，calledofLaugwitz，fromtheVillageofthatnamewhichliessomewayacross，isonhisrighthand；
sluggish，boggy；stagnatingtowardstheOderinthoseparts:——
improvedfarminghas，inourtime，mostlydriedthestripofbog，andmadeitintocoarsemeadow，whichisratherareliefamidthedrysandyelement。Neipperg’srightiscoveredbythat。HisleftrestsontheHamletofGruningen，amile—and—halfnortheastofMollwitz；——meanttohaverestedonHermsdorfnearlyeast，butthePrussianshavealreadytakenthatup。Thesuncomingmoreandmoreroundtowestofsouth（foritisnowpastnoon）shinesrightinNeipperg’sface，andisagainsthim:howthewindis，nobodymentions，——probablytherewasnowind。HisregularCavalry，8，600，outnumberstwiceormorethatofthePrussians，nottomentiontheirquality；andhehasfewerInfantry，somewhatinproportion；——
theentireforceoneachsideisscarcelyabove20，000，thePrussiansslightlyinmajoritybycount。Infield—piecesNeippergisgreatlyoutnumbered；thePrussianshavingaboutthreescore，heonlyeighteen。[Kausler，AtlasdermerkwurdigstenSchlachten，p。232。]AndnowhereAREthePrussians，closeuponourleftwing，notyetincontactwiththeright，——whichinfactisnotyetgotintoexistence；——thankHeaventheyhavenotcomebeforeourleftgotintoexistence，asourright（ifyouknewit）hasnotyetquitefinisheddoing！——
ThePrussians，thoughsoreadyfordeploying，havehadtheirowndifficultiesanddelays。BetweentheboggyBrookofLaugwitzontheirleft，andtheVillageofHermsdorf，twomilesdistant，onwhichtheirrightwingistolean，thereprovesnottoberoomenough；[OEuvresdeFrederic，ii。73。]andthen，owingtomistakeofSchulenburg（ouroldpipe—clayfriend，whocommandstherightwingofHorsehere，andisnotupintime），thereistoomuchroom。Notroomenough，foralltheInfantry，wesay:thelastthreeBattalionsofthefrontlinetherefore，thethreeontheutmostright，wheelround，andstandathwart；
ENPOTENCE（assoldierssay），oratrightanglestothefirstline；
hangingtoitlikeakindoflidinthatpart，——betweenSchulenburgandthem，——hadSchulenburgcomeup。Thusarethethreebattalionsgotridofatleast；"theycaptheFirstPrussianlinerectangularly，likealid，"saysmyauthority，——lidwhichdoesnotreachtotheSecondLinebyagoodway。Thisaccidentalarrangementhadmaterialeffectsontherightwing。UnfortunateSchulenburgdidatlastcomeup:——hadhemiscalculatedthedistances，then？Onceontheground，hewillfindhedoesnotreachtoHermsdorfafterall，andthatthereisnowtoomuchroom！WhathisdegreeoffaultwasI
knownot；FriedrichhaslongbeendissatisfiedwiththeseDragoonsofSchulenburg；"goodfornothing，Ialwaystoldyou"（atthatSkirmishofBaumgarten）:andnowhereistheGeneralhimselffallenblundering！——InrespectofHorse，theAustriansaremorethantwotoone；tomakeoutourdeficiency，theKing，imitatingsomethinghehadreadaboutGustavusAdolphus，intercalatestheHorse—
Squadrons，oneachwing，withtwoBattalionsofGrenadiers，andSO
lengthensthem；——"amanoeuvrenotlikelytobeagainimitated，"
headmits。
AllthesemovementsandarrangementsareeffectedaboveamilefromMollwitz，noenemyyetvisible。Onceeffected，weadvanceagainwithmusicsounding，sixtypiecesofartillerywellinfront，——
steady，steady！——acrossthefloorofsnowwhichissoonbeatensmoothenough，thestage，thisday，ofagreatadventure。AndnowthereistheEnemy’sleftwing，RomerandhisHorse；theirrightwingwideraway，andnotyet，byagoodspace，withincannon—rangeofus。ItistowardsTwooftheafternoon；Schulenburgnowonhisground，lamentsthathewillnotreachtoHermsdorf；——butitmaybedangerousnowtoattemptrepairingthaterror？AtTwooftheclock，beingnowfairlywithindistance，wesaluteRomerandtheAustrianleft，withalloursixtycannon；andthesoundofdrumsandclarinetsisdrownedinuniversalartillerythunder。Incessant，fortheytake（byorder）to"swift—shooting，"whichisalmostoftheswiftnessofmusketryinourPrussianpractice；andfromsixtycannon，goingatthatrate，wemayfancysomeeffect。TheAustrianHorseoftheleftwingdonotlikeit；allthelessastheAustrians，rathershortofartillery，havenothingyettoreplywith。
NoCavalrycanstandlongthere，gettingshiveredinthatway；
insuchanoise，weretherenothingmore。"Arewetostandherelikemilestones，then，andbeallshotwithoutastrokestruck？"
"Steady！"answersRomer。Butnothingcankeepthemsteady:"Tobeshotlikedogs（WIEHUNDE）！ForGod’ssake（URNGOTTESWILLEN），leadusforward，then，tohaveastrokeatthem！"——intonesevermoreplangent，plaintivelyindignant；growingungovernable。
AndRomercangetnoorders；Neippergisontheextremeright，manythingsstilltosettlethere；andhereisthecannon—thundergoing，andsoontheirverymusketrywillopen。And——andthereisSchulenburg，foronething，stretchinghimselfouteastwards（rightwards）togetholdofHermsdorf；thinkingthisanopportunityforthemanoeuvre。"Forward！"criesRomer；andhisthirtySquadrons，likebottledwhirlwindnowatlastletloose，dashuponSchulenburg’spoorten（fiveofthemofSchulenburg’sownregiment，——whoareturnedsidewaystoo，trottingtowardsHermsdorf，atthewrongmoment，——anddashthemintowildruin。Thatmusthavebeenacharge！Thatwasthebeginningofhoursofchaos，seeminglyirretrievable，inthatPrussianrightwing。
ForthePrussianHorseflywildly；anditisinvaintorally。
TheKingisamongthem；hascomeinhothaste，conjuringandcommanding:poorSchulenburgaddresseshisownregiment，"Oh，shame，shame！shallitbetold，then？"rallieshisownregiment，andsomeothers；chargesfiercelyinwiththemagain；getsasabre—
slashacrosstheface，——doesnotmindthesabre—slash，smallbandagingwilldo；——getsabulletthroughthehead（orthroughtheheart，itisnotsaidwhich）；[Helden—Geschichte，i。899。]andfallsdowndead；hisregimentgoingtothewindsagain，andHIScareofitandofotherthingsconcludinginthishonorablemanner。Nothingcanrallythatrightwing；orthemoreyourally，theworseitfares:theyareclearlynomatchforRomer，thesePrussianHorse。TheyflyalongthefrontoftheirownFirstLineofInfantry，theyflybetweenthetwoLines；Romerchasing，——tillthefireoftheInfantry（intolerabletoourenemies，andhittingsomeevenofourfugitivefriends）repelshim。
ForthenotablepointinallthiswastheconductoftheInfantry；
andhowitstoodinthesewildvortexesofruin；impregnable，immovable，asifeverymanofitwerestone；andsteadilypouredoutdelugesoffire，——"fivePrussianshotsfortwoAustrian:"——suchisperfectdisciplineagainstimperfect；andtheironramrodagainstthewooden。
TheintolerablefirerepelsRomer，whenhetrenchesontheInfantry:however，hecapturesnineofthePrussiansixtyguns；
hasscatteredtheirHorsetothewinds；andchargesagainandagain，hopingtobreaktheInfantrytoo，——tillabulletkillshim，thegallantRomer；andsomeotherhastochargeandtry。Itwasthought，hadGoldleinwithhisAustrianInfantryadvancedtosupportRomeratthisjuncture，theBattlehadbeengained。
Fivetimes，beforeRomerfellandafter，theAustrianschargedhere；triedtheSecondLinetoo；triedoncetotakePrinceLeopoldinrearthere。ButPrinceLeopoldfacedround，gaveintolerablefire；ononefaceasontheother，he，orthePrussianInfantryanywhere，isnottobebroken。"PrinceFriedrich"，oneoftheMargravesofSchwedt，King’sCousin，whomwedidnotknowbefore，fellinthesewildrallyingsandwrestlings；"byacannon—ball，attheKing’shand，"notsaidotherwisewhere。HehadcomeasVolunteer，fewweeksago，outofHolland，wherehewasarisingGeneral:hehasmethisfatehere，——andMargrafKarl，hisBrother，whoalsogetswounded，willbeamournfulmanto—night。
ThePrussianHorse，thisrightwingofit，isaruinedbody；
boilinginwilddisorder，floodingrapidlyawaytorearward，——
whichisthesafestdirectiontoretreatupon。They"sweepawaytheKing’spersonwiththem，"saysomecautiouspeople；otherssay，whatisthefact，thatSchwerinentreated，andasitwerecommanded，theKingtogo；theBattlebeing，toallappearance，irretrievable。Gohedid，withsmallescort，andonalongride，——
toOppeln，aPrussianpost，thirty—fivemilesrearward，wherethereisaBridgeovertheOderandasafecountrybeyond。Somuchisindubitable；andthathedespatchedanAide—de—camptogallopintoBrandenburg，andtelltheOldDessauer，"Bestiryourself！Hereallseemslost！"——andvanishedfromtheField，doubtlessinverydesperatehumor。Uponwhichtheextraneousworldhasbabbledagooddeal，"Cowardice！Wantedcourage:Haha！"initsusualfoolishway；
notworthanswerfromhimorfromus。Friedrich’sdemeanor，inthatdisasterofhisrightwing，wasfuriousdespairrather；andneitherSchulenburgnorMargrafFriedrich，noranyofthecaptains，killedorleftliving，wassupposedtohavesinnedby"cowardice"inavisibledegree！——
Indisputableitis，thoughthereisdeepmysteryuponit，theKingvanishesfromMollwitzFieldatthispointforsixteenhours，intotheregionsofMyth，"intoFairyland，"aswouldoncehavebeensaid；butreappearsunharmedinto—morrow’sdaylight:atwhichtime，notsooner，readersshallhearwhatlittleistobesaidofthisobscureandmuch—disfiguredsmallaffair。ForthepresentwehastenbacktoMollwitz，——wherethemurderousthunderragesunabatedallthiswhile；theverynoiseofitalarmingmankindforthirtymilesround。AtBreslau，whichisthirtygoodmilesoff，horribledullgrumblewasheardfromthesouthernquarter（"stillbetter，ifyouputastaffintheground，andsetyoureartoit"）；
andfromthesteeple—tops，therewasdimcloudlandofpowder—smokediscernibleinthehorizonthere。"AtLiegnitz，"whichistwicethedistance，"theearthsensiblyshook，"[Helden—Geschichte；
andJordan’sLetter，infra。]——atleasttheairdid，andthenervesofmen。
"HadGoldleinbutadvancedwithhisFoot，insupportofgallantRomer！"saytheAustrianBooks。ButGoldleindidnotadvance；
norisitcertainhewouldhavefoundadvantageinsodoing:
Goldlein，wherehestands，hasdifficultyenoughtoholdhisown。
Forthenotablecircumstance，miraculoustomilitarymen，stillis，HowthePrussianFoot（menwhohadneverbeeninfire，butwhomFriedrichWilhelmhaddrilledfortwentyyears）standtheirground，inthisdistractionoftheHorse。NoteventhetwooutlyingGrenadierBattalionswillgiveway:thosepoorintercalatedGrenadiers，whentheirHorsefledontherightandontheleft，theystandthere，likeafixedstone—daminthatwildwhirlpoolofruin。Theyfixbayonets，"bringtheirtwofield—piecestoflank"
（WinterfeldwasCaptainthere），and，fromsmallarmsandbig，deliversuchafireaswasveryunexpected。NothingtobemadeofWinterfeldandthem。Theyinvinciblyhurlbackchargeaftercharge；
and，withdoggedsteadiness，manoeuvrethemselvesintothegeneralLineagain；orintocontactwiththethreesuperfluousBattalions，arrangedENPOTENCE，whomweheardof。Thosethree，rankedathwartinthisrightwing（"likealid，"betweenFirstLineandsecond），maintainedthemselvesinlikeimpregnablefashion，——Winterfeldcommanding；——andprovedunexpectedly，thinksFriedrich，thesavingofthewhole。Fortheyalsostoodtheirgroundimmovable，likerocks；steadilyspoutingfire—torrents。Fivesuccessivechargesstormuponthem，fruitless:"Steady，MEINEKINDER；fixbayonets，handleramrods！ThereistheHorse—delugethunderinginuponyou；
reserveyourfire，tillyouseethewhitesoftheireyes，andgettheword；thengiveitthem，andagaingiveitthem:seewhetheranymanoranyhorsecanstandit！"
Neipperg，soonafterRomerfell，hadorderedGoldleinforward:
GoldleinwithhisInfantrydidadvance，gallantlyenough；buttonopurpose。Goldleinwassoonshotdead；andhisInfantryhadtofallbackagain，ineffectualorworse。Ironramrodsagainstwooden；
fiveshotstotwo:whatistherebutfallingback？NeippergsentfreshHorsefromhisrightwing，withBerlichingen，anewfamedGeneralofHorse；Neippergisfuriouslybenttoimprovehisadvantage，tobreakthosePrussians，whoaremeremusketeersleftbare，andthinksthatwillsettletheaccount:butitcouldinnowisebedone。TheAustrianHorse，aftertheirfifthtrial，renouncecharging；fairlyrefusetochargeanymore；andwithdrawdispiritedoutofball—range，orinsearchofthingsnotimpracticable。
TheHussarpartofthemdidsomethingofplundertorearward；——and，besidespoorMaupertuis’sadventure（ofwhichbyandby），andanattemptonthePrussianbaggageandknapsacks，whichprovedtobe"toowellguarded，"——"burnttheChurchofPampitz，"assomesmallconsolation。ThePrussianshadstripttheirknapsacks，andlefttheminPampitz:theAustrians，itwasnoticed，stripttheirsintheField；builtwallsofthem，andfiredbehind，thesame，inakneeling，moreorlessprotectedposture，——whichdidnotavailthemmuch。
Infact，theAustrianInfantrytoo，allAustrians，hourafterhour，aregettingwearierofit:neitherInfantrynorCavalrycanstandbeingriddledbyswiftshotinthatmanner。Inspiteoftheirknapsackwalls，variousregimentshaveshrunkoutofball—range；
andseveralcannot，byanypersuasion，begottocomeintoitagain。Others，whodoreluctantlyadvance，——seewhatafiguretheymake；manaftermanedgingawayashecan，sothattheregiment"standsfortytoeightymendeep，withlanesthroughiteverytwoorthreeyards；"permeableeverywheretoCavalry，ifwehadthem；
andturningnothingtotheEnemybutcolor—sergeantsandbarepolesofaregiment！AndRomerisdead，andGoldleinoftheInfantryisdead。Andontheirrightwing，skirtedbythatmarshyBrookofLaugwitz，——Austrianrightwinghadbeenweakenedbydetachments，whenBerlichingenrodeofftosucceedRomer，——theAustriansaresuffering:Posadowsky’sHorse（amongwhomisRothenburg，oncevanguard），strengthenedbyremnantswhohaveralliedhere，areatlastprospering，afterreverses。AndthePrussianfireofsmallarms，atsuchrate，haslastednowforfivehours。TheAustrianArmy，becominginsteadofawebamereseriesofflyingtatters，formingintostripesorlanesinthewaywesee，appearstohavehadaboutenough。
ThesesymptomsarenothiddenfromSchwerin。Hisownammunition，too，heknowsisrunningscarce，andfightershereandtherearesearchingtheslainforcartridges:——Schwerincloseshisranks，trimsandtightenshimselfalittle；breaksforthintouniversalfield—music，andwithbannersspread，startsinmasswholly，"Forwards！"ForwardstowardstheseAustriansandthesettingsun。
AnintelligentAustrianOfficer，writingnextweekfromNeisse，[FeldzugederPreussen（abovecited），i。38。]’confessesheneversawanythingmorebeautiful。"Icanwellsay，Ineverinmylifesawanythingmorebeautiful。
Theymarchedwiththegreateststeadiness，arrow—straight，andtheirfrontlikealine（SCHNURGLEICH），asiftheyhadbeenuponparade。Theglitteroftheircleararmsshonestrangelyinthesettingsun，andthefirefromthemwentonnootherwisethanacontinuedpealofthunder。"Grandpictureindeed；butnottobeenjoyedasaWorkofArt，foritiscominguponus！"ThespiritsofourArmysankaltogether"，continueshe；"theFootplainlygivingway，Horserefusingtocomeforward，allthingswaveringtowardsdissolution:"——sothatNeipperg，toavoidworse，givesthewordtogo；——andtheyrolloffatdouble—quicktime，throughMollwitz，overLaugwitzBridgeandBrook，towardsGrotkaubywhatroutestheycan。
Thesunisjustsunk；aquartertoeight，saystheintelligentAustrianOfficer，——whiletheAustrianArmy，muchtoitsamazement，tumblesforthinthisbadfashion。
Theyhadlostnineoftheirowncannon，andallofthosePrussianninewhichtheyoncehad，exceptone:eightcannonMINUS，inall。
Prisonersofthemwerefew，andnoneofmuchmark:twoField—
marshals，RomerandGoldlein，lieamongthedead；fourmoreofthatrankarewounded。Fourstandardstooaregone；certainkettle—drumsandtheliketrophies，notingreatnumber。Lieutenant—GeneralBrownewasoftheseretreatingAustrians；alittlefactworthnoting:ofhisactionsthisday，orofhisthoughts（whichlattersurelymusthavebeenconsiderable），nohintanywhere。
TheAustrianswerenotmuchchased；thoughtheymighthavebeen，——
freshCavalry（twoOhlauregiments，drawnhitherbythesound[Interestingcorrectaccountoftheirmovementsandadventuresthisdayandsomepreviousdays，inNicolai，Anekdoten，ii。142—148。]）havinghungabouttorearofthem，forsometimepast；unabletogetintotheFight，ortodoanygoodtillnow。Schwerin，theysay，thoughhehadtwowounds，wasforpursuingvigorously:butLeopoldofAnhaltover—persuadedhim；urgedthedarkness，theuncertainty。Berlichingen，withtheirownHorse，stillpartlycoveredtheirrear；andthePrussians，Ohlauersincluded，werebutweakinthatbranchoftheservice。
Pursuitlastedlittlemorethantwomiles，andwasneverhot。
Thelossofmen，onbothsides，wasnotfarfromequal，andratherinfavoroftheAustrianside:——Austrianscountedinkilled，woundedandmissing，4，410men；Prussians4，613；[Orlich，i。108；
Kansler，p。235，correct；Helden—Geschichte，
i。895，incorrect。]——butthePrussiansbivouackedontheground，orquarteredintheseVillages，withvictorytocrownthem，andthethoughtthattheirhardday’sworkhadbeenwelldone。BesidesMargrafFriedrich，VolunteerfromHolland，therelayamongtheslainColonelCountvonFinkenstein（OldTutor’sSon），King’sfriendfromboyhood，andmuchloved。HewasofthesixwhomwesawconsultingatthedooratReinsberg，duringacertainague—fit；
andhenowrestssilenthere，whilethematterhasonlycomethusfar。
SuchwasMollwitz，thefirstBattleforSilesia；whichhadtocostmanyBattlesfirstandlast。Silesiawillbegained，wecanexpect，byfightingofthiskindinanhonestcause。Buthereissomethingalreadygained，whichisconsiderable，andaboutwhichthereisnodoubt。AnewMilitaryPower，itwouldappear，hascomeuponthescene；theGazetteer—and—DiplomaticworldwillhavetomakeitselffamiliarwithanamenotmuchheardofhithertoamongtheNations。
"ANationwhichcanfight，"thinktheGazetteers；"fightalmostastheverySwedesdid；andisledonbyitsKingtoo，——whomayprove，inhisway，averyCharlesXII。，orsmallMacedonia’sMadman，foraughtoneknows？"InwhichlatterbranchoftheirprognostictheGazetteersweremuchout。——
TheFameofthisBattle，whichisnowsosunkoutofmemory，wasgreatinEurope；andstruck，likeahugewar—gong，withlongresonance，throughthegeneralear。M。deVoltairehadrunacrosstoLilleinthoseSpringdays:thereisagoodTroopofPlayersinLille；aNiece，MadameDenis，wifeofsomeMilitaryCommissariatDenis，importantinthoseparts，canlodgethedivineEmilieandme；——andonecouldatlastseeMAHOMET，afterfiveyearsofstruggling，getupontheboards，ifnotyetinParisbyagreatway，yetinLille，whichissomething。MAHOMETisgettingupontheboardsonthoseterms；andhasproceeded，notamiss，throughanActortwo，whenaNotefromtheKingofPrussiawashandedtoVoltaire，announcingthevictoryofMollwitz。WhichdelightfulNoteVoltairestopttheperformancetillhereadtotheAudience:
"Bravissimo！"answeredtheAudience。"Youwillsee，"saidM。deVoltairetothefriendsabouthim，"thisPieceatMollwitzwillmakeminesucceed:"whichprovedtobethefact。[Voltaire，OEuvres（ViePrivee），ii。74。]FortheFrenchareAnti—Austrian；andsmellgreatthingsinthewind。"Thatmanismad，yourMostChristianMajesty？""Notquite；oratanyratenotmadonly！"thinkLouisandhisBelleislesnow。
DimlyporinginthoseoldBooks，andsqueezingone’swayintoface—to—faceviewoftheextinctTime，webegintonoticewhataclangorousrumorwasinMollwitztothethengenerationofmankind；——betokeningmanythings；universalEuropeanWar，asthefirstthing。Whichdulycametopass；asdid，ataslowerrate，theulteriorthing，notyetsoapparent，thatindeedanewhourhadstruckontheTimeHorologe，thataNewEpochhadrisen。Yes，myfriends。NewCharlesXII。ornot，heretrulyhasanewManandKingcomeuponthescene:capableperhapsofdoingsomething？
SlumberousEurope，rottingamiditsblindpedantries，itslazyhypocrisies，consciousandunconscious:thismaniscapableofshakingitalittleoutofitsstupidrefugesoflies，andignominiouswrappagesandbed—clothes，whichwillbeitsgrave—
clothesotherwise；andofintimatingtoit，afaroff，thatthereisstillaVeracityinThings，andaMendacityinSham—Things，andthatthedifferenceofthetwoisinfinitelymoreconsiderablethanwassupposed。
ThisMollwitzisamostdeliberate，regulated，ponderouslyimpressive（GRAVITATISCH）FeatofArms，asthereadersees；doneallbyRegulationmethods，withorthodoxexactitude；inaslow，weighty，almostpedantic，buthighlyirrefragablemanner。ItisthetriumphofPrussianDiscipline；ofmilitaryorthodoxywellputinpractice:thehonestoutcomeofgoodnaturalstuffinthoseBrandenburgers，andofthesupremevirtuesofDrill。NeippergandhisAustrianshadmuchdespisedPrussiansoldiering:"Keepoursouphot，"criedthey，onrunningoutthisdaytorankthemselves；"hotalittle，tillwedrivethesefellowstotheDevil！"Thatwastheiropinion，aboutnoonthisday:butthatisanopiniontheyhaverenouncedforallremainingdaysandyears。——ItisaVictorydueproperlytoFriedrichWilhelmandtheOldDessauer，whoarefarawayfromit。FriedrichWilhelm，thoughdead，fightshere，andtheothersonlydohisbiddingonthisoccasion。HisSon，asyet，addsnothingofhisown；thoughhewilleverhenceforthbeginlargelyadding，——rightcarefulwithaltolosenothing，fortheFriedrichWilhelmcontributionisinvaluable，andthebasisofeverything；——
butitiscurioustoseeinwhatcontrastthisfirstBattleofFriedrich’siswithhislatterandlastones。
ConsideringtheBattleofMollwitz，andthen，incontrast，theintricatePragmaticSanction，andwhattheirconsequenceswereandtheirantecedents，itiscuriousoncemore！This，then，iswhatthePragmaticSanctionhascometo？Twentyyearsofworld—widediplomacy，cunninglydevisedspider—threadsovernettingalltheworld，haveissuedhere。YourCongressesofCambray，ofSoissons，yourGrumkow—SeckendorfMachiavelisms，allthesemightaswellhavelainintheirbed。RealPragmaticSanctionwouldhavebeen，Awell—
trainedArmyandyourTreasuryfull。YourTreasuryisempty（nothinginitbutthosefoolish200，000Englishguineas，andthepassionatecryformore）:andyourArmyisnottrainedasthisPrussianone；cannotkeepitsgroundagainstthisone。Ofallthoselong—headedPotentates，simpleFriedrichWilhelm，sonofNature，whohadthehonestytodowhatNaturetaughthim，hascomeout，gainer。Youalllaughedathimasafool:doyoubegintoseenowwhowaswise，whofool？HehasanArmythat"advancesonyouwithglitteringmusketry，steadyasontheparade—ground，andpoursoutfirelikeonecontinuousthunder—peal；"sothat，strangeasitseems，youfindtherewillactuallybenothingforyoubut——takingtoyourheels，shallwesay？——rollingoffwithdespatch，assecond—
best！Thesethingsareofsingularomen。HerestandsonethatwillavengeFriedrichWilhelm，——ifFriedrichWilhelmwerenotalreadysufficientlyavengedbythemereverdictoffacts，whichispalpablycomingout，asTimepeelsthewiggeriesawayfromthemmoreandmore。Mollwitzandsuchplacesarefullofveracity；
andnoheadissothickastoresistconvictioninthatkind。
OFFRIEDRICH’SDISAPPEARANCEINTOFAIRYLAND，INTHEINTERIM；
ANDOFMAUPERTUIS’SSIMILARADVENTURE。
OftheKing’sFlight，orsuddendisappearanceintoFairyland，duringthisfirstBattle，theKinghimself，whoalonecouldhavetoldusfully，maintainedalwaysrigoroussilence，andnowheredropstheleasthint。Sothatthesmallfacthascomedowntousinvolvedinagreatbulkoffabulouscobwebs，mostlyofanill—
naturedcharacter，setagoingbyVoltaire，Valoriandothers{whichfabulousprocess，inthegood—naturedform，stillcontinuesitself）；and，exceptforNicolai’sgoodindustry（inhisANEKDOTEN—
Book），weshouldhavedifficultyeveninguessing，nottosayunderstanding，asisnowpartlypossible。Thefewrealparticulars——andthosedoverifythemselves，andhangperfectlytogether，whenthebigglobeoffableisburntofffromthem——aretothefollowingeffect。
"Battlelost，"saidSchwerin:"butwhatisthelossofaBattletothatofyourMajesty’sownPerson？ForHeaven’ssake，go；getacrosstheOder；beyousafe，tillthisdecideitself！"Thatwasreasonablecounsel。Ifdefeated，SchwerincanhopetoretreatuponOhlau，uponBreslau，andsavetheMagazines。ThissidetheOder，allwillbemovements，awhirlpoolofHussars；butbeyondtheOder，allisquiet，open。ToOhlau，toGlogau，nayhometoBrandenburgandtheOldDessauerwithhisCampatGottin，theroadisfree，bytheothersideoftheOder。——SchwerinandPrinceLeopoldurginghim，theKingdidrideaway；atwhathour，withwhatsuite，orwithwhatadventures（notmostlyfabulous）isnotknown:——butitwastowardsLowen，fifteenmilesoff（wherehecrossedNeisseRiver，theotherday）；andthencetowardsOppeln，ontheOder，eighteenmilesfarther；andthepacewasswift。Leopold，onreflection，orderedoffaSquadronofGens—d’ArmestoovertakehisMajesty，atLowenorsooner；whichtheyneverdid。PassingPampitz，theKingthrewFredersdorfaword，whowasamongthebaggagethere:
"ToOppeln；bringthePurse，thePrivyWritings！"WhichFredersdorf，andtheClerks（andanotherHerr，whobecameNicolai’sFather—in—lawinafteryears）did；andjoinedtheKingatLowen；
butIhopestoppedthere。
TheKing’ssuitewassmall，namesnotgiven；butbythetimehegottoLowen，beingjoinedbycavalryfugitivesandthelike，ithadgottobeseventypersons:toomanyfortheKing。Heselectedwhatwashisofthem；orderedthegatestobeshutbehindhimonallothers，andagainrodeaway。TheLeopoldSquadronofGens—d’Armesdidnotarrivetillafterhisdeparture；andhavingherelosttraceofhim，calledhalt，andbilletedforthenight。TheKingspeedssilentlytoOppelnonhisexcellentbayhorse，theworse—mountedgraduallygivingin。AtOppelnisaBridgeovertheOder，afreeCountrybeyond:RegimentLaMottelay，andastheKingthinks，stillliesinOppeln；——butinthatheismistaken。RegimentLaMotteiswiththebaggageatPampitz，allthisday；andawanderingHussarParty，somesixtyAustrians，havetakenpossessionofOppeln。TheKing，andthefewwhohadnotyetbrokendown，arriveattheGateofOppeln，late，undercloudofnight:"Whogoes？"
criedthesentryfromwithin。"Prussians！APrussianCourier！"
answerthey；——andarefireduponthroughthegratings；
andimmediatelydrawback，andvanishunhurtintoNightagain。
"HadthoseHussarsonlylethimin！"saidAustriaafterwards:buttheyhadnotsuchluck。Itwasatthispoint，accordingtoValori，thattheKingburstforthintoaudibleejaculationsofalamentablenature。Thereisnogettingover，then，eventoBrandenburg，andinaninsolventcondition。Notopeninsolvencyandbankruptdisgrace；
no，ruin，andanAustrianjail，istheoneoutlook。"OMONDIEU，OGod，itistoomuch（C’ENESTTROP）！"withotherthelikesnatchesoflamentation；[Valori，i。104。]whicharenotinconceivableinayoungman，sleeplessforthethirdnight，inthesecircumstances；butwhichValoriknowsnothingof，exceptbymaliciousrumorfromthevaletclass，——whohavemisinformedValoriaboutseveralotherpoints。
TheKingridingdiligently，withorwithoutejaculations，backtowardsLowen，comesatanearlyhourtotheMillofHilbersdorf，withinamile—and—halfofthatplace。HealightsattheMill；
sendsoneofhisattendants，almosttheonlyonenowleft，toinquirewhatisinLowen。Theanswer，weknow，is:"AsquadronofGens—d’Armesthere；furthermore，aPrussianAdjutantcometosay，VictoryatMollwitz！"UponwhichtheKingmountsagain；——issuesintodaylight，andconcludesthesemythicaladventures。That"inLowen，intheshopatthecorneroftheMarket—place，WidowPanzern，subsequentlyWifeSomething—else，madehisMajestyacupofcoffee，andservedaroastfowlalongwithit，"cannotbutbewelcomenews，iftrue；andthathisMajestygottoMollwitzagainbeforedarkthatsame"day，"[Fuchs，p。11。]isliabletonocontroversy。
InthiswaywasFriedrichsnatchedbyMorganteintoFairyland，carriedbyDianatothetopofPindus（orevenbyProserpinetoTartarus，throughabadsixteenhours），tilltheBattlewhirlwindsubsided。Friendlyimaginativespiritswould，intheantiquetime，havesoconstruedit:butthesemodernsweremalicious—valetish，notfriendly；andwrappedthematterinmerestupidworldsofcobweb，whichrequireburning。Friedrichhimselfwasstone—silentonthismatter，allhislifeafter；butisunderstoodneverquitetohavepardonedSchwerinfortheill—luckofgivinghimsuchadvice。[Nicolai，ii。180—195（theonetrueaccount）；Laveaux，i。194；Valori，i。104；&c。，&c。（themythinvariousstages）。
Mostdistractedlymythicalofall，withthetruthclearbeforeit，isthelatestversion，justcomeout，inWassichdieSchlesiervomaltenFritzerzahlen（Brieg，1860），pp。113—125。]
Friedrich’sadventureisnottheonlyoneofthatkindatMollwitz；
thereisanotherequallyindubitable，——whichwillremainobscure，half—mythicaltotheendoftheworld。Thetruthis，thatRightWingofthePrussianArmywasfallenchaotic，ruined；andnoman，notevenonewhohadseenit，cangiveaccountofwhatwentonthere。ThesageMaupertuis，forexample，hadclimbedsometreeorplaceofimpregnability（"tree"Voltairecallsit，thoughthatishardlyprobable），hopingtoseetheBattlethere。Andhedidseeit，muchtooclearlyatlast！Insuchatideofchargingandchasing，onthatRightWingandroundalltheFieldinthePrussianrear；insuchwidebickeringandboilingofHorse—currents，——whichflingout，roundallthePrussianrearquarters，suchasprayofAustrianHussarsforoneelement，——Maupertuis，Ihavenodoubt，wishesmuchhewereathome，doinghissinesandtangents。AnAustrianHussar—partygetssightofhim，onhistreeorotherstandpoint（Voltairesayselsewherehewasmountedonanass，themaliciousspirit！）——toocertain，theAustrianHussarsgotsightofhim:hispurse，goldwatch，allhehasofmovableisgivenfrankly；
allwillnotdo。Therearefrillsabouttheman，finelaces，cloth；
agoodishyellowwigonhim，foronething:——theirSlavonicdialect，toofatallyintelligiblebythepantomimeaccompanyingit，forcessageMaupertuisfromhistreeorstandpoint；thebigredfaceflurriedintoscarlet，Icanfancy；orscarletandashy—whitemixed；and——Letusdrawaveiloverit！Heisnextseenshirtless，theonceveryhaughty，blustery，andnowmuch—humiliatedman；
stillconsciousofsupremeacumen，insightandpurescience；and，thoughanAustrianprisonerandamonsterofrags，strugglingtobelievethatheisageniusandtheTrismegistusofmankind。Whatapickle！ThesageMaupertuis，aswasnatural，keepspassionatelyasking，ofgodsandmen，foranOfficerwithsometinctureofphilosophy，orevenwhocouldspeakFrench。SuchOfficerisatlastfound；humanelyadvanceshimmoney，ashirtandsuitofclothes；
butcaninnowisedispensewithhisgoingtoViennaasprisoner。
Thitherhewentaccordingly；stillinamythicalcondition。OfVoltaire’slaughing，thereisnoend；andhechangesthemythfromtimetotime，onnewrumorscoming；andthereisnotruthtobehadfromhim。[Voltaire，OEuvres（ViePrive），ii。
33—34；andseehisLETTERSforsomewereaftertheevent。]
Thismuchiscertain:atVienna，Maupertuis，prisoneronparole，glidedaboutforsometimeindeepeclipse，tilltheNewspapersbeganbabblingofhim。HeconfessedthenthathewasMaupertuis，FlatteneroftheEarth；butfortherest，"toldratherablindstoryabouthimself，"saysRobinson；spokeasifhehadbeenoftheKing’ssuite，"ridingwiththeKing，"whenthatHussaraccidentbefell；——ratherablindstory，truestorybeingtoosad。TheViennaSovereignties，intheturnthingshadtaken，wereextremelykind；
Grand—DukeFranzhandsomelypulledouthisownwatch，hearingwhatroadtheMaupertuisonehadgone；dismissedtheMaupertuis，withthatandothergifts，home:——toBrittany（nottoPrussia），tilltimescalmedforengraftingtheSciences。[Helden—
Geschichte，i。902；Robinson’sDespatch（Vienna，22dApril，1741，n。s。）；Voltaire，ubisupra。]
OnWednesday，FriedrichwritesthisNotetohisSister；thefirstutterancewehavefromhimsincethosewildroamingsaboutOppelnandHilbersdorfMill:——
KINGTOWILHELMINA（atBaireuth；twodaysafterMollwitz）。
"OHLAU，12thApril，1741。
"MYDEARESTSISTER，——Ihavethesatisfactiontoinformyouthatwehaveyesterday[daybeforeyesterday；butsomeofushaveonlyhadonesleep！]totallybeatentheAustrians。Theyhavelostmorethan5，000men，killed，woundedandprisoners。WehavelostPrinceFriedrich，BrotherofMargrafKarl；GeneralSchulenburg，WartenslebenoftheCarabineers，andmanyotherOfficers。
Ourtroopsdidmiracles；andtheresultshowsasmuch。ItwasoneoftherudestBattlesfoughtwithinmemoryofman。
"Iamsureyouwilltakepartinthishappiness；andthatyouwillnotdoubtofthetendernesswithwhichIam，mydearestSister，——
Yourswholly，FEDERIC。"
[OEuvres，xxvii。i。101。]
Andonthesamedaytherecomes，fromBreslau，Jordan’sAnswertothelateanxiouslittleNotefromPogarell；anxietiesnowgone，andsmokymiserychangedintosplendorofflame:
JORDANTOTHEKING（findshimatOhlau）。
"BRESLAU，11thApril，1741。
"SIRE，——YesterdayIwasinterriblealarms。Thesoundofthecannonheard，thesmokeofpowdervisiblefromthesteeple—topshere；
allledustosuspectthattherewasaBattlegoingon。
Gloriousconfirmationofitthismorning！NothingbutrejoicingamongalltheProtestantinhabitants；whohadbeguntobeinapprehension，fromtherumorswhichtheotherpartytookpleasureinspreading。PersonswhowereintheBattlecannotenoughcelebratethecoolnessandbraveryofyourMajesty。Formyself，I
amattheoverflowingpoint。Ihaverunaboutallday，announcingthisgloriousnewstotheBerlinerswhoarehere。InmylifeIhaveneverfeltamoreperfectsatisfaction。
"M。deCamasishere，veryillforthelasttwodays；attackoffever——theDoctorhopestobringhimthrough，"——whichprovedbeyondtheDoctor:thegoodCamasdiedherethreedayshence（agesixty—
three）；anexcellentGerman—Frenchman，ofmuchsense，dignityandhonesty；familiartoFriedrichfrominfancyonwards，andnodoubtregrettedbyhimasdeserved。TheWidowCamas，afineoldLady，Germanbybirth，willagaincomeinview。Jordancontinues:——
"Onefinds，atthecornerofeverystreet，anoratorofthePlebscelebratingthewarlikefeatsofyourMajesty’stroops。Ihaveoften，inmyidleness，assistedatthesediscourses:notartisticeloquence，itmustbeowned，butspurtingrudefromtheheart……"
JordanaddsinhisnextNote:"Thismorning（14th）IquittedM。deCamas；who，itisthought，cannotlasttheday。Ihavehardlylefthimduringhisillness:"[OEuvresdeFrederic，xvii。99。]——andsoletthatsceneclose。
Neipperg，meanwhile，hadfallenbackonNeisse；takenupastrongencampmentinthatneighborhood；heliesthereaboutsallsummer；
stretchedout，asitwere，inakindofvigilantdog—sleeponthethreshold，keepingwatchoverNeisse，andtriesfightingnomoreatthistime，orindeedeverafter，tospeakof。Andalways，Ithink，withdisadvantage，whenhedoestryalittle。HehadbeenGrand—
DukeFranz’sTutorinWar—matters；hadgotintotroubleatBelgradeoncebefore，andwasalmosthangedbytheTurks。GeorgeII。hadoccasionallythebenefitofhim，incomingyears。Benottoosevereonthepoorman，astheViennapublicwas；hehadsomefaculty，thoughnotenough。"GovernorofLuxemburg，"beforelong:there，formostpart，lethimpeacefullydrill，andspendtheremainderofhispoorlife。Friedrichsays，neitherNeippergnorhimself，atthistime，knewtheleastofWar；andthatitwouldbehardtosettlewhichofthemmadethemoreblundersintheirSilesiantussle。
Friedrich，inaboutthreeweekshence，wasfullyreadyforopeningtrenchesuponBrieg；didopentrenches，accordingly，bymoonlight，inagrandnocturnalmanner（asreadersshallseeanon）；and，byvigorouscannonading，——MarechaldeBelleislehavingcome，bythistime，toenjoythefinespectacle，——soongotpossessionofBrieg，andhelditthenceforth。Neissenowaloneremained，withNeippergvigilantlystretcheduponthethresholdofit。ButtheMarechaldeBelleisle，wesay，hadcome；thatwastheweightycircumstance。
AndbeforeNeissecanbethoughtof，thereisawholeEurope，bickeringaloftintoconflict；embattlingitselffromendtoend，insequelofMollwitzBattle；andsuchapreliminaryseaofnegotiating，diplomaticfinessing，pulse—feeling，projectingandpalavering，withFriedrichforcentreallsummer，as——asIwishreaderscouldimaginewithoutmyspeakingofitfarther！
Buttheycannot。
MAPONPAGE75GOESHEREABOUTS————————
ChapterXI。
THEBURSTINGFORTHOFBEDLAMS:BELLEISLEANDTHE
BREAKERSOFPRAGMATICSANCTION。
TheBattleofMollwitzwentofflikeasignal—shotamongtheNations；intimatingthattheywere，oneandall，togobattling。
Whichtheydid，withawitness；makingaterriblethingofit，overalltheworld，forabovesevenyearstocome。FoolishNations；
doomedtosettletheirjarringaccountsinthatterriblemanner！
Nay，thefewestofthemhadanyaccounts，exceptimaginaryones，tosettlethereatall；andtheywentintotheadventureGRATIS，spurredonbyspectralitiesofthesickbrain，byphantasmsofhope，phantasmsofterror；andhad，strictlyspeaking，noactualbusinessinitwhatever。
NotthatMollwitzkindledEurope；Europewasalreadykindledforsometwoyearspast；——especiallysincethelateKaiserdied，andhisPragmaticSanctionwassuperaddedtotheothertroublesafoot。
ButeversincethatImageofJENKINS’SEARhadatlastblazedupintheslowEnglishbrain，likeafieryconstellationorSignintheHeavens，symbolicofsuchinjusticesandunendurabilities，andhadlightedtheSpanish—EnglishWar，Europewasslowlybutprettysurelytakingfire。France"couldnotseeSpainhumbled，"shesaid:
England（initsowndimfeeling，andalsointhefactofthings）
couldnotdoatallwithoutconsiderablyhumblingSpain。France，endlesslyinterestedinthatSpanish—Englishmatter，wasalreadysendingoutfleets，firingshots，——almost，oraltogether，puttingforthherhandinit。"Inwhichcase，willnot，mustnot，Austriahelpus？"thoughtEngland，——andwasasking，daily，atVienna（withintenseearnestness，butwithouttheleastresult），throughExcellencyRobinsonthere，whenthelateKaiserdied。Died，poorgentleman；——andlefthisbigAustrianHeritageslying，asitwere，intheopenmarket—place；elaboratelytiedbydiplomaticpackthreadandPragmaticSanction；butnototherwiseprotectedagainsttheassembledcupiditiesofmankind！IndependentlyofMollwitz，orofSilesiaaltogether，itwasnexttoimpossiblethatEuropecouldlongavoidblazingout；especiallyunlesstheSpanish—Englishquarrelgotquenched，ofwhichtherewasnolikelihood。
Butifnotascause，thenassignal，orassignalandcausetogether（whichitproperlywas），theBattleofMollwitzgavethefinishingstroke，andsetallinmotion。Thiswas"thelittlestonebrokenloosefromthemountain；"this，ratherthanthelateKaiser’sDeath，whichFriedrichdefinedinthatmanner。Oratleast，thiswasthefirstLEAPittook；hittingotherstonesbigandlittle，whichagainhitotherswiththeirleapingandrolling，——tillthewholemountain—sideisinmotionunderlawofgravity，andyoubeholdonewidestone—torrentthunderingtowardsthevalleys；shiveringwoods，farms，habitationscleanawaywithit:
fataltoanyImageofcompositeClayandBrasswhichitmaymeet！
Thereis，accordingly，fromthispoint，achangeinFriedrich’sSilesianAdventure；whichbecomesinfinitelymorecomplicatedforhim，——andforthosethatwriteofhim，noless！Friedrich’sbusinesshenceforthisnottobedonebydirectfighting，butratherbywaitingtoseehow，andonwhatside，otherswillfight:
norcanwedescribeorunderstandFriedrich’sbusiness，exceptasinconnectionwiththeimmense，obsolete，andindeeddeliriousPhenomenoncalledAustrian—SuccessionWar，uponwhichitisdifficulttosayanyhumanword。IfHistory，drivenuponDismalSwampwithitshorrorsandperils，cangetacrossunsunk，shewillbelucky！
For，directlyonthebackofMollwitz，thereensued，first，anexplosionofDiplomaticactivitysuchaswasneverseenbefore；
ExcellenciesfromthefourwindstakingwingtowardsFriedrich；andtalkingandinsinuating，andfencingandfugling，aftertheirsort，inthatSilesianCampofhis，thecentrebeingthere。AuniversalrookeryofDiplomatists；——whoseloudcackleandcawingisnowasifgonemadtous；theirworkwhollyfallenputrescentandavoidable，deadtoallcreatures。Andsecondly，inthetrainofthat，thereensuedauniversalEuropeanWar，theFrenchandtheEnglishbeingchiefpartiesinit；whichaboundsinbattlesandfeatsofarms，spiritedbutdelirious，andcannotbegotstilledforsevenoreightyearstocome；andinwhichFriedrichandhisWarswimonlyasanintermittentEpisodehenceforth。WhattodowithsuchaWar；
howextricatetheEpisode，andleavetheWarlying？TheWarwasatfirstagooddealmad；andisnow，tomen’simagination，fallenwhollyso；whoindeedhavemanagedmostlytoforgetit；onlytheEpisode（reducedtherebytoanUNintelligiblestate）retainingstillsomeclaimsonthem。
ItissingularintowhatoblivionthehugePhenomenoncalledAustrian—SuccessionWarhasfallen；which，withinahundredyearsagoorlittlemore，filledallmortalhearts！TheEnglishwereprincipalsononeside；didthemselvesfightinit，withtheircustomaryfire，andtheircustomaryguidance（"courageousWoodenPolewithCockedHat，"asourfriendcalledit）；andpaidalltheexpenses，whichwereextremelyconsiderable，andarefeltinmen’spocketstothisday:buttheEnglishhavemorecompletelyforgottenitthananyotherPeople。"BattleofDettingen，BattleofFontenay，——what，intheDevil’sname，wereweeverdoingthere？"theimpatientEnglishmanasks；andcangivenoanswer，exceptthegeneralone:"Fitofinsanity；DELIRIUMTREMENS，perhapsFURENS；——
don’tthinkofit！"OfPhilippiandArbelaeducatedEnglishmencanrenderaccount；andIamtoldyounggentlemenenteringtheArmyarepointedlyrequiredtosaywhocommandedatAigos—PotamosandwreckedthePeloponnesianWar:butofDettingenandFontenoy，whereisthelivingEnglishmanthathastheleastnotion，orseeksforany？TheAustrian—SuccessionWardidveritablyrageforeightyears，ataterrificrate，deformingthefaceofEarthandHeaven；
theEnglishpayingthepiperalways，andfoundingtheirNationalDebtthereby:——butnoteventhatcouldprovemnemonictothem；
andtheyhavedroppedtheAustrian—SuccessionWar，withoneaccord，intothegeneraldustbin，andarecontentitshouldliethere。
Theyhavenot，intheirlanguage，theleastapproachtoanintelligibleaccountofit:Howitwenton，whitherward，whence；
whyitwasthereatall，——arepointsdarktotheEnglish，andonwhichtheydonotwishtobeinformed。Theyhavequittedthematter，asanunintelligiblehugeEnglish—and—ForeignDelirium（whichingoodpartitwas）；Deliriumunintelligibletothem；
tedious，nottosayinparts，asthoseoftheAustrianSubsidies，hideousanddisgustingtothem；happilynowfallenextinct；andcapableofbeingskipped，inone’sinquiriesintothewondersofthisEnglandandthisWorld。Which，infact，isapracticalconclusionnotsounwiseasitlooks。
"Warsarenotmemorable，"saysSauerteig，"howeverbigtheymayhavebeen，whateverragesandmiseriestheymayhaveoccasioned，orhowevermanyhundredsofthousandstheymayhavebeenthedeathof，——exceptwhentheyhavesomethingofWorld—Historyinthemwithal。Iftheyarefoundtohavebeenthetravail—throesofgreatorconsiderablechanges，whichcontinuepermanentintheworld，menofsomecuriositycannotbutinquireintothem，keepmemoryofthem。Butiftheyweretravail—throesthathadnobirth，whoofmortalswouldrememberthem？Unlessperhapsthefeatsofprowess，virtue，valorandendurance，theymightaccidentallygiveriseto，wereverygreatindeed。Muchgreaterthanthemostwere，whichcameoutinthatAustrian—Successioncase！Warsotherwisearemerefutiletransitorydust—whirlwindsstilledinblood；extensivefitsofhumaninsanity，suchasweknowaretooapttobreakout；——suchasitratherbeseemsafaithfulSonoftheHouseofAdamNOTtospeakaboutagain；asinhouseswherethegrandfatherwashanged，thetopicofropesisfitlyavoided。
"NeveragainwillthatWar，withitsdeliriums，madoutlaysofblood，treasure，andofhopeandterror，andfar—spreadhumandestruction，riseintovisuallifeinanyimaginationoflivingman。InvainshallDryasduststrive:thingsmad，chaoticandwithoutascertainablepurposeorresult，cannotbefixedintohumanmemories。FixthemtherebyneversomanyDocumentaryHistories，elaboratelong—earedPedantries，andcunningthreads，thepoorhumanmemoryhasanalchemyagainstsuchillusage；——itforgetsthemagain；growstoknowthemasameretorpor，astupidityandhorror，andinstinctivelyfliesfromDryasdustandthem。"
Alivetoanyconsiderabledegree，inthepoorhumanimagination，thisEditordoesnotexpectorevenwishtheAustrian—SuccessionWartobe。EnoughforhimifitcouldbeunderstoodsufficientlytorenderhispoorHistoryofFriedrichintelligible。ForitenwrapsFriedrichlikeaworld—vortexhenceforth；modifieseverystepofhisexistencehenceforth；andapartfromit，thereisnounderstandingofhisbusinessorhim。"SomuchasstickstoFriedrich:"thatwasouroriginalbargain！Assistloyally，Oreader，andwewilltrytomaketheindispensableaminimumforyou。
WHOWASTOBLAMEFORTHEAUSTRIAN—SUCCESSIONWAR？
Thefirstpointtobenotedis，Wherediditoriginate？Towhichtheanswermainlyis，WiththatleanGentlemanwhomwesawwithPapersintheOEil—de—BoeufonNew—year’sdaylast。WithMonseigneurtheMarechaldeBelleisleprincipally；withtheambitiouscupiditiesandbaselessvanitiesoftheFrenchCourtandNation，asrepresentedbyBelleisle。GeorgeII。’sSpanishWar，ifyouwillexamine，hadarealnecessityinit。Jenkins’sEarwastheridiculousoutsidefigurethismatterhad:Jenkins’sEarwasonefinalitemofit；butthepoorEnglishPeople，intheirwrathandbellowingsaboutthatsmallitem，wereintrinsicallymeaning:
"Settletheaccount；letushavethataccountclearedupandliquidated；ithaslaintoolong！"AndseldomwereaPeoplemoreintheright，asreadersshallyetsee。
TheEnglish—SpanishWarhadabasistostandoninthisUniverse。
ThelikehadthePrussian—Austrianone；soallmennowadmit。
IfFriedrichhadnotbusinessthere，whatmaneverhadinanenterpriseheventuredon？Friedrich，aftersuchtrialandproofashasseldombeen，gothisclaimsonSchlesienallowedbytheDestinies。HisclaimsonSchlesien；——andoninfinitelyhigherthings；whichwerefoundtobehisandhisNation’s，thoughhehadnotbeenconsciouslythinkingoftheminmakingthatadventure。
For，asmypoorFriendinsists，thereARELawsvalidinEarthandinHeaven；andthegreatsouloftheworldisjust。FriedrichhadbusinessinthisWar；andMariaTheresaVERSUSFriedrichhadlikewisecausetoappearincourt，anddoherutmostpleadingagainsthim。