Butafirebeingkindled，whichconsistedoftar—barrels，fagots，tables，tubs，&c。，hewasconsumedinabouthalfanhour。"
[OldNewspapers（Gentleman’sMagazine，
xxvi。409）。]
ThatistheiremploymentonTower—Hill，overyonder，whileMitchellisgettingunderwaytoseeFriedrich。
MitchellcontinuedatPotsdamoverFriday；andwasstillineagerconsultationthatnight，whentheKingsaidtohim，withacertainexpressivenessofglance:"BONSOIR，then；——To—morrowmorningaboutfour！"Andonthemorrow，Saturday，28th，Mitchellreportshurriedly:——
"……AmjustreturnedtoBerlin，intimetowritetoyourLordship。
Thismorning，betweenfourandfive，ItookleaveoftheKingofPrussia。HrwentimmediatelyupontheParade；mountedonhorseback；
and，afteraveryshortexerciseofhisTroops，puthimselfattheirhead；andmarcheddirectlyforBelitz[half—waytoBrietzen，TREUENbrietzenastheycallit]；where，To—morrow，hewillentertheSaxonTerritory，"——as，attheirrespectivepoints，histwootherColumnswill；——andbegin，whoshallsaywhatterriblegame；
incalculabletoyourLordshipandme，withsuchOperationsafootonTower—Hill！[MitchellPapers，vi。804（"ToLordHolderness，28thAugust，1756"）。]——
SevenHussarRegimentsofDukeFerdinand’sColumngotthelengthofLeipzigthatSundayEvening，29th；andtookpossessionoftheplace。[InHelden—Geschichte，iii。731，his"Proclamation"there，29thAugust，1756。]DukeFerdinandtorightoftheKing，DukeofBrunswick—Beverntoleft，——theThreeColumnscrosstheBorder，atpoints，say80milesfromoneanother；
occasionally，onthemarch，bendingtorightwardsandleftwards，totakeintheprincipalTowns，andmakesettlementsthere，thetwomightbeaboveahundredmilesfromFriedrichoneachhand。ThelengthofmarchforeachColumn，——Ferdinand"fromLeipzig，byChemnitz，Freyberg，Dippoldiswalde，totheVillageofCotta"（Pirnaneighborhood，southofElbe）；Bevern，"throughtheLausitz，byBautzen，toLohmen"（sameneighborhood，northofElbe）；
KingFriedrich，toDresden，bythecourseoftheElbeitself，wasnotfarfromequal，andmaybecalledabout150miles。Theymarchedwithdiligence，notwithhurry；hadtheirpauses，rest—days，whenbusinessrequired。Theygottotheirground，withthesimultaneousnessappointed，ontheeleventhortwelfthday。
ThemiddleColumn，undertheKing，whereMarshalKeithissecondincommand，goesbyTorgau（detachingMoritzofDessautopickupWittenberg，andruintheslightworksthere）；crossestheElbeatTorgau，September2d；marches，cantoningitselfdayafterday，alongthesouthernbankoftheRiver；leavesMeissentotheleft，I
perceive，doesnotpassthroughMeissen；comesfirstatWilsdrufongroundwherewehavebeen，——andportionsofit，Idoubtnot，werebilletedinKesselsdorf；andwouldtakeaglanceattheoldField，iftheyhadtime。ThereisstrictdisciplineinalltheColumns；
theauthoritiescomplyingonsummons，andarrangingwhatisneedful。Nobodyresists；town—guardsatoncegroundarms，andthereisnosoldiervisible；soldiersallebbingaway，whitherwardweguess。[Helden—Geschichte，iii。732，733；
OEuvresdeFrederic，iv。81。]
AtWilsdruf，Friedrichfirstlearnsforcertain，thattheSaxonArmy，withKing，withBruhlandotherchiefpersonages，arewithdrawntoPirna，totheinexpugnableKonigsteinandRock—
Country。TheSaxonArmyhadbegunassemblingthere，September1st，directlyonthenewsthatFriedrichwasacrosstheBorder；
September9th，onFriedrich’sapproach，theKingandDignitariesmoveoffthither，fromDresden，outofhisway。ExcellencyBrogliohasputthemonthatplan。WhichmayhaveitscomplexitiesforFriedrich，hopesBroglio，——thoughperhapsitsstillgreaterforsomeotherpartiesconcerned！ForBruhlandPolishMajesty，aswillappearbyandby，nothingcouldhaveturnedoutworse。
MeanwhileFriedrichpusheson:"Forward，allthesame。"PolishMajesty，datingfromStruppen，inthePirnaCountry，hasbegunaCorrespondencewithFriedrich，verypoliteonbothhands；andhisAdjutant—General，theChevalierMeagher（"ChevalierdeMARRE，"asValoricallshim，——MA’AR，ashecallshimselfinIrish），hasjusthad，atWilsdruf，aninterviewwithFriedrich；butisfarfromhavinggotsettlementonthetermshewished。PolishMajestymagnanimouslyassentingto"aRoadthroughhisCountryformilitarypurposes；"offers"thestrictestNeutrality，strictestfriendshipeven；hasdone，andwilldo，noinjurywhatevertohisPrussianMajesty——["DidweeverSIGNanything？"whispercomfortablyBruhlandhetooneanother]；——expects，therefore，thathisPrussianMajestywillmarchon，whitherheisbound；andleavehimunmolestedhere。"[Helden—Geschichte，
iii。774。]
ThatwasMeagher’smessage；thatisthepurportofallhisPolishMajesty’sElevenLetterstoFriedrich，whichprecedeorfollow，——
reiteratingwithacertainovineobstinacy，insensibletotimeorchange，ThatsuchisPolishMajesty’sfixednotion:
"Strictneutrality，friendshipeven；andleavemeunmolestedhere。"
[InOEuvresdeFrederic，iv。235—260（"29thAugust—10thSeptember—18thSeptember，"1756），arecollectednow，theElevenLetters，withtheirAnswers。]"Strictneutrality，yes:
butdisperseyourArmy，then，"answersFriedrich；sendyourArmybacktoitscantonments:ImustmyselfhavethekeepingofmyHighway，lestIloseit，asin1744。"ThisisFriedrich’sanswer；
thisatfirst，andforsometimecoming；though，astheaspectschange，andthedangerouselementsheapthemselveshigher，Friedrich’sanswerwillrisewiththem，andhisterms，liketheSibyl’s，becomeworseandworse。ThisistheutmostthatMeagher，atWilsdruf，canmakeofit；andthis，inconceivablecircumstances，willgrowlessandless。
Nextday，September9th，Friedrich，withsomeBattalions，enteredDresden，mostofhisColumntakingCampnearby；GeneralWylichhadenteredyesterday，andisalreadyCommandantthere。Friedrichsends，byFeldmarschallKeith，highestOfficerofhisColumn，hishomagestoherPolishMajesty:——nothinggivenusofKeith’sInterview；exceptbyaside—wind，"ThatMajestycomplainedofthosePrussianSentrieswalkingaboutincertainofhercorridors"（withaneyetoSomething，itmaybefeared！）——ofwhich，doubtless，Keithundertooktomakereport。FriedrichhimselfwaitsupontheJuniorPrinces，whoarelefthere:ispoliteandgraciousasever，thoughstrict，andwithbusinessenough；lodges，forhisownpart，"intheGarden—HouseofPrincessMoczinska；"——andnextmorningleadsoffhisColumn，ashortmarcheastward，tothePirnaCountry；where，ontherightandontheleft，FerdinandatCotta，BevernatLohmen（ifreaderswilllookontheirMap），hefindstheotherTwointheirduepositions。Head—quarterisGross—Sedlitz（westernmostskirtoftheRock—region）；andwillhavetocontinueso，muchlongerthanhadbeenexpected。
TheDiplomaticworldinDresdenisingreatemotion；moreespeciallyjustatpresent。Thismorning，beforeleaving，Friedrichhadtodoanexceedinglystrictthing:securetheOriginalsofthoseMenzelDocuments。Originalsindispensabletohim，forjustifyinghisnewproceduresuponSaxony。Sothattherehasbeen，atthePalace，aScenethismorningofaveryhighanddissonantnature，——"MarshalKeith"init，"MarshalKeithmakingasecondvisit"（saysomelooseandfalseAccounts）；——thefactsbeingstrictlyasfollows。
FarfromremovingthosePrussiansentriescomplainedoflastnight，hereseemstobeadoublestrengthofthemthismorning。AndherPolishMajesty，asevere，hard—featuredoldLady，hasbeenfilledwithindignantamazementbyaPrussianOfficer——MajorvonWangenheim，Ibelieveitis——requiring，intheKingofPrussia’sname，theKeysofthatArchive—room；PrussianMajestyabsolutelyneedingsight，foralittlewhile，ofcertainPapersthere。
"Enterthatroom？ArchivesofacrownedHead？Letmeseethelivingmortalthatwilldaretodoit！"——onefanciestheindignantPolishMajesty’sanswer；andhow，callingformaterials，she"openlysealedthedoorinquestion，"inWangenheim’spresence。AsthisisacelebratedPassage，whichhasbeenreportedinseverallooseways，letustakeitfromtheprimarysource，Chancerystyleandall。GrafvonSternberg，AustrianExcellency，writingfromthespotandatthehour，informshisownCourt，andthroughthatallCourts，inthesesolemnlyOfficialterms:——
"DRESDEN，10thSEPTEMBER，1756。TheQueen’sMajesty，thisforenoon，hascalledtoheralltheForeignMinistersnowatDresden；andinHighestOwnPersonhassignifiedtous，How，thePrussianintrusionsandhostilitiesbeingalreadyknown，HighestsaidQueen’sMajestywouldnowsimplystatewhathadfarthertakenplacethismorning:——
"HighestsaidQueen’sMajesty，towit，had，inherownname，requestedtheKingofPrussia，inconformitywithhisassurances[byKeith，yesternight]ofpayingeveryregardforHerandtheRoyalFamily，ToremovethePrussianSentriespacingaboutinthoseCorridors，"——CorridorswhichleadtotheSecretArchives，importanttosomeofus！——"Insteadofwhich，thesaidKinghadnotonlydoubledhisSentriesthere；butalso，byanOfficer，demandedtheKeysoftheArchive—apartment[justalludedto]！AndastheQueen’sMajesty，forsecurityofallwritingsthere，offeredtosealtheDoorofitherself，anddidso，thereandthen，——thesaidOfficerhadsolittlerespect，thatheclappedhisownsealthereontoo。
"Norwashecontenttherewith，"——notbyanymeans！——"butthesameOfficer[havingbeenwithWylich，Commandanthere]cameback，ashorttimeafter，andmadeforopeningoftheDoorhimself。
WhichbeingannouncedtotheQueen’sMajesty，sheinherownperson（HOCHSTDIESELBE，Highest—the—Same）wentoutagain；andstandingbeforetheDoor，informedhim，’HowHighest—the—SamehadtoomuchregardtohisPrussianMajesty’sgivenassurance，tobelievethatsuchordercouldproceedfromtheKing。’AstheOfficer，however，replied，’Thathewassorrytohavesuchanordertoexecute；
butthattheorderwasseriousandprecise；andthathe，bynotexecutingit，wouldexposehimselftothegreatestresponsibility，"
HerMajestycontinuedstandingbeforetheDoor；andsaidtotheOfficer，’Ifhemeanttouseforce，hemightuponHermakehisbeginning。’"Thereisforyou，HerrWangenheim！——
"UponwhichsaidOfficerhadgoneaway，toreportanewtotheKing[Ithink，onlytoWylichtheCommandant；Kingnowadozenmilesoff，notsoeasilyreportedto，andhismindknown]；andinthemeanwhileHerMajestyhadcalledtoherthePrussianandEnglishAmbassadors[MahlzahnandStormont；sorrybothofthem，buthowentirelyresourceless，——especiallyMahlzahn！]，andhadrepresentedandrepeatedtothemtheabove；beseechingthatbytheirremonstrancesandpersuasionstheywouldinducetheKingofPrussia，conformablywithhisgivenassurance，toforbear。
Instead，however，ofanyfruitfromsuchremonstrancesandurgencies，finalOrdercame，’That，Queen’sMajesty’sownHighestPersonnotwithstanding，forcemustbeused。’
"WhereuponherMajesty，toavoidactualmistreatment，hadbeenobligedto"——tobecomepassive，and，noKeysbeingprocurablefromher，seeasmithwithhispicklocksgivethesePrussiansadmission。
Legation—SecretaryPlessmannwasthere（Menzelonefanciessitting，ratherpale，inanadjacentroom[Supra，p。266。]）；andtheyknewwhattodo。TheirsmithopenstherequiredBoxforthem（oneofseveral"alllyingpackedforWarsaw，"saysFriedrich）；fromwhichsoontakingwhattheyneeded，WangenheimandWylichwithdrewwiththeirbooty，andreadershavethefruitofittothisday。
"Whichunheard—ofprocedure，bepleased，yourExcellencies，toreporttoyourrespectiveCourts。"[GesammelteNachrichten，i。222（or"No。26"ofthatCollection）；
OEuvresdeFrederic，iv。83。]
PooroldLady，whatasituation！AndIbelievesheneversawherpooroldHusbandagain。ThedayhewenttoPirna（morningofyesterday，September9th，Friedrichenteringintheevening），thesepoorSpouseshad，littledreamingofit，takenleaveofoneanotherforevermore。SuchprofitliesinyourBruhl。KingsandQueensthatwillbegovernedbyaJesuitGuarini，andaBruhloftheTwelveTailors，sometimespaydearforit。They，ortheirrepresentatives，aresuretodoso。KingsandQueens，——yes，andifthatwereall:
buttheirpoorCountriestoo？TheirCountries；——well，theirCountriesdidnothateBeelzebub，inhisvariousshapes，ENOUGH。
TheirCountriesshouldhavebeeninwatchagainstBeelzebubintheshapeofBruhls；——watching，andalso"praying"inaheroicmanner，nowfallenobsoleteintheseimpioustimes！
ChapterV。
FRIEDRICHBLOCKADESTHESAXONSINPIRNACOUNTRY。
Friedrichreckonshimselftohave65，000meninSaxony。SchwerinisissuingfromSilesia，throughtheGlatzMountains，forBohemia，attheheadof40，000。TheAustrianforceisinferiorinquantity，andfarfromready:——Two"Camps"inBohemiatheyhave；thechiefoneunderBrowne（looking，orintending，thisSaxonway），andasmallerunderPiccolomini，intheKonigshof—Kolinregion:——ifwellrunintofromfrontandrear，bothBrowneandPiccolominimightbebeautifullyhandled；andagashbecutinAustria，whichmightinclinehertobeatpeaceagain！NothinghindersbutthispaltryCampoftheSaxons；itselfonly18，000strong，butinaCountryofsuchstrength。Andthisdoeshinder，effectuallywhileitcontinues:"HowmarchtoBohemia，andleavetheroadblockedinourrear？"
TheSaxonCampdidcontinue，——unmanageablebyanymethod，forfiveweekstocome；theseasonofwar—operationsgone，bythattime:——
andFriedrich’sFirstCampaign，renderedmostlyfruitlessinthismanner，willbynomeanschecktheAustriantruculencies，asbyhisvelocityhehopedtodo。No；but，onthecontrary，willrousetheAustrians，FrenchandallEnemies，toatenfoldpitchoftemper。
Andbringuponhimself，fromanastonishedandmisunderstandingPublic，suchtempestsandworld—tornadoesofloud—roaringobloquy，asevenhe，Friedrich，hadneverenduredbefore。
ToreadersofatouringhabitthisSaxonCountryisperhapswellknown。Forthelasthalf—centuryithasbeengrowingmoreandmorefamous，underthenameof"SaxonSwitzerland（SACHSISCHE
SCHWEITZ），"insteadof"MisnianHighlands（MEISSNISCHEHOCHLAND），"
whichitusedtobecalled。AbeautifulenoughandextremelyruggedCountry；interestingtothepicturesquemind。Beginsrising，insoftHills，onbothsidesoftheElbe，afewmileseastofDresden，asyouascendtheRiver；tillitrisesintoHillsofwildcharacter，gettingeverwilder，andrivenintowondrouschasmsandprecipices。Extends，sayalmosttwentymilesuptheRiver，toTetschenandbeyond，inthiseasterndirection；andwithperhapstenmilesofbreadthoneachsideoftheRiver:areaoftheRock—
region，therefore，isperhapssomefourhundredsquaremiles。
TheFalkenberg（whatweshouldcallHAWKSCRAG）northeastwardintheLausitz，theSchneeberg（SNOWMOUNTAIN），southeastwardontheBohemianborder，areaboutthirty—fivemilesapart:thesetwoarebothreckonedtobeinit，——itslastoutpostsonthateasternside。
Butthelimitsofitarefixedbycustomonly，anddependonnonaturalcondition。
WemightdefineitastheSandstoneNECKoftheMetalMountains:aratherlowerblock，ofSandstone，intercalatedintotheMetal—
Mountainrange，whichotherwise，onbothhands，ishigher，andofharderrocks。Southward（asSHOULDERtothissandstoneNECK）lies，continuous，broadandhigh，the"Metal—Mountainrange"speciallysocalled:northwardandnortheastwardthererise，beyondthatFalkenberg，manymountains，solitaryoringroups，——"theMetalMountains"fadingouthereinto"theLausitzHills，"stillinfinepicturesquefashion，whichareNorthernBordertothegreatBohemian"BasinoftheElba，"afteryouemergefromthisSandstoneCountry。
SaxonSwitzerlandisnotveryhighanywhere；2，000feetisanotabledegreeofheight:butitistornandtumbledintostonelabyrinths，chasmsandwindingrock—walls，asfewregionsare。
Growspinewood，tothetopmostheight；pine—treesfaraloftlookquietlydownuponyou，oversheerprecipices，onyourintricatepath。OntheslopesoftheHillsisgrassenough；intheintervalsareVillagesandhusbandries，arecornandmilkforthelaboriousnatives，——whodependmainlyonquarrying，andpine—forestwork:
pinesandfree—stone，raftsoflongslimpines，andbigstonebarges，arewhatoneseesupontheRiverthere。ANote，notverygeological，saysofit:——
"ElbesweepsfreelythroughthisCountry，foragesandaeonspast；
curlinghimselfalittleintosnake—figure，andwithincreasedvelocity，butsilentmostly，andtrimtotheedge，afineflint—
coloredriver；——thoughinaeonslonganterior，itmusthavebeenaverydifferentmatterfortorrentsandwater—power。TheCountryisonehugeBlockofSandstone，somanysquaremilesofthatmaterial；
ribbed，channelled，tornandquarried，inthismanner，bytheever—
busyelements，foramillionofAgespast！ChieflybytheElbehimself，sincehegottobeaRiver，andbecamecosmicandpersonal；ceasingtobeamerewaterychaosofLakesandDelugeshereabouts。FortheSandstonewasofvariousdegreesofhardness；
tenaciousasmarblesomepartsofit，softalmostassandotherparts。Andtheprimordialdiluviumsandworld—oldtorrents，greatandsmall，rushingdownfromtheBohemianHighlands，fromtheSaxonMetalMountains，withsuchstorming，gurglingandswashing，havesweptawaythesoftparts，andleftthehardstandinginthischaoticmanner，andbequeatheditalltotheElbe，andthecommonfrostsandrainsofthesehumanages。
"Elbehasnowatrimcourse；butElbetooisbusyquarryingandmining，wherenotartificiallyheldin；——andyounoticeateveryoutletofaBrookfromtheinterior，northsideandsouthside，howbusytheBrookhasbeen。Boring，grinding，undermining；muchhelpedbythefrosts，bytherains。AEonsago，theBrookwasalake，intheinterior；butwaseverymomentlaboringtogetout；tillithascutforitselfthatmountaingullet，orsheer—downchasm，andbroughtoutwithitanAlluviumorDelta，——onwhich，sinceAdam’stime，humancreatureshavebuiltaHamlet。Thatistheorigin，orunwrittenhistory，ofmosthamletsandcultivatedspotsyoufallinwithhere:theyarethewasteshavingsoftheBrook，workingmillionsofyears，foritsownobjectofgettingintotheElbeinlevelcircumstances。Ploughedfields，notwithoutfertility，areintheinterior，ifyouascendthatBrook；theHamlet，atthedeltaormouthofit，isasifbuiltuponitsTONGUEandintoitsGULLET:
thinkhowpicturesque，intheNovemberrains，forexample！
"Theroad"oneroad，"fromDresdentoAussig，toLobositz，Budin，Prag，runsuptheriver—brink（southbrink）；or，inourday，asPrag—DresdenRailway，thundersthroughthosesolitudes；strangelyawakeningtheirechoes；andinvitingeventhebewilderedTouristtoreflect，ifhecould。ThebewilderedTouristseesrock—wallsheaven—highonbothhandsofhim；Riverandherushingonbetween，bylawofgravitation，lawofennui（whicharelawsofNatureboth），withanarrowstripofskyinfullgallopoverhead；andhaslittleencouragementtoreflect，exceptuponhisownsorrows，anddeliriouscircumstances，physicalandmoral。’Howmuchhappier，wereIlyinginmybed！’thinksthebewilderedTourist；——doesstrivewithaltoadmirethePicturesque，butwithlittlesuccess；
noticesthe’BASTEI（Bastion），’andotherrigorouslyprescribedpointsoftheSublimeandBeautiful，whicharetobe’done。’
ThatyouwillhavetoDO，myfriend:stepout，youwillhavetogoonthatPinnacle，withindifferentHotelattached；onthatironbalcony，aloftamongthecloudsyonder；andshuddertoprojectoverElbe—floodfromsuchaltitudes，admiringthePicturesqueinprescribedmanner。
"ThisCountryhasforitspermanentuses，timber，free—stone，modicumofmilkandhaver，serviceabletothegenerality；——andtohisPolishMajesty，atpresent，itisastheveryArkofNoah:
pricelessatthisjuncture；beingthestrongestmilitarycountryintheworld。Excellentstrengthinit；expressFortresses；especiallyoneFortresscalledtheKonigstein，notfarfromSchandau，ofatoweringprecipitousnature，with’awell900feetdeep’init，andpleasantVillageoutsideatthebase；——Fortresswhichisstill，inourday，reckonedasafeplacefortheSaxonArchivesandpreciosities。Impregnabletogunpowderartillery；nottobehadexceptbyhunger。Andthen，fartherdowntheRiver，closebyPirna，presidingoverPirna，asthatKonigsteininsomesortdoesoverSchandau，istheSonnenstein:SonnensteintoowasaFortressinthosedaysofFriedrich，butnotimpregnable，ifjudgedworthtaking。TheAustrianstookit，ayearortwohence；Friedrichretookit，dismantledit:’theSonnensteinisnowaMadhouse，’saytheGuide—books。
"Sonnensteinstandscloseeastorup—streamofPirna，whichisatownof5，000souls，bymuchthelargestinthoseparts；
Konigsteinalittledown—streamofSchandau，whichlatterisontheoppositeornorthsideoftheRiver。ThesearethetwochiefTowns，whichdoallthetradeofthisregion；picturesqueplacesboth:——
theTouristremembersPirna？Standingonitssleektableorstair—
step，bytheRiver’sedge；wellabovefloodmark；green，shaggyorfringymountainslookingdownonittorearward；infront，beyondtheRiver，nothingvisiblebutmile—longcream—coloredrock—wall，withbushesatbottomandtop，wallquarriedbyElbe，asyoucansee。Pirnaisnearthebeginning[properlyEND，butwestartfromDresden]orwesternextremityofSaxonSchweitz。Schandau，almostattheoppositeoreasternextremity，isstillmorepicturesque；
standingonthedeltaofalittleBrook，withhighrock—cliffs，withgarden—shrubberies，sandedwalks，tuftsofforest—umbrage；
abright—painted，almostOPERATIC—lookingplace，——withspa—waters，ifIrecollect:"yestruly，andthe"BathSeason"makingitspackagesingreathaste，breakingupprematurely，thisYear（1756）！——
DirectlyonarrivingatGross—Sedlitz，FriedrichtakesocularsurveyofthisCountry，whichisalreadynotunknowntohim。
HefindsthattheSaxonshavesecuredthemselveswithintheMountains；arockystreamlet，BrookofGottleube，whichissuesintoElbejustbetweenGross—Sedlitzandthem，"throughadellofeightyorahundredfeetdeep，"servingastheirfirstdefence；wellinfrontofthemererockyHeightsandprecipicesbehindit，whichstretchcontinuouslyalongtosouthward，sixmilesormore，fromPirnaandthesouthbrinkofElbe。AtLangen—Hennersdorf，whichisthesouthernmostpart，theseHeightsmakeanelbowinwards，byLeopoldshayn，towardstheKonigstein，whichisbutfourmilesoff；
heretootheSaxonsaredefendedbyaBrook（runningstraighttowardsKonigstein，thisone）infrontoftheirHeights；andstanddefensive，inthisway，alongarock—bulwarkoftenmileslong:
thepassesallsecuredbybatteries，byabatis，palisades，mileaftermile，asFriedrichridesobservantleftward:behindthem，Elberushingswifterthroughhisrock—wallsyonder，withchasmsandintricategorges；defendingtheminexpugnablytorear。Sixmileslongofnaturalbulwark（sixtoHennersdorf），wherethegrossoftheSaxonslie；thentoKonigsteinfourothermiles，sufficiently，ifmoresparsely，besetbythem。"Nostrongerpositionintheworld，"Friedrichthinks；[OEuvresdeFrederic，iv。83，84（notaverydistinctAccount；andfarfromaccurateinthedetails，——whichareleftwithouteffectualcorrectioneveninthebestEditions）。]——andthatitisimpossibletoforcethisplace，withoutalossoflifedisproportionateeventoitsimportanceatpresent。NottosaythattheSaxonswillmaketermsalltheeasier，BEFOREbloodshedrisebetweenus；——andfurthermorethatHunger（forweheartheyhaveprovisiononlyfortwoweeks）mayitselfsoondoit。"Wedgethemin，therefore；blockeveryoutgate，everyentrance；nothingtogetin，exceptgraduallyHunger。Hunger，andonourpartrationalOffers，willsuffice。"
ThatisFriedrich’splan；goodinitself，——thoughtheovineobstinacy，andothercircumstances，retardedtheexecutionofittoanunexpectedextent，lamentabletoFriedrichandtosomeothers。
ThePrussian—Saxonmilitaryoperationsforthenextfiveweeksneednotdetainus。TheirrespectivepositionsontheHeightsbehindthatBrookGottleube，andontheplainerCountryinfrontofit，——
HowthePrussianslie，firstDivisionofthem，fromGross—SedlitztoZehist，undertheKing；thensecondDivisionfromZehisttoCotta，andonwardby"theRothschenke"（RED—HOUSETavern），byMarkersbach，andsparselyasfarasHellendorfonthePragHighway；
inbrief，wherealltheDivisionsofthemlie，andunderwhom；
andwherethePrussians，watchingElbeitself，haveBatteriesandPostsonthenorthsideofit:allthisismarkedontheMap；
——tosatisfyingenuouscuriosity，shoulditmaketourinthoseparts。TowhichaddonlythesestragglesofNote，asfartherelucidative:——
"TheSaxons，betweenElbeandtheirLines，possessaboutthirtysquaremilesofcountry。FromPirnaorSonnensteintoKonigstein，asthecrowflies，maybefivemileseasttowest；butbyLangen—
Hennersdorf，andtheelbowthere，itwillbeten:atKonigstein，moreover，Elbemakesanabruptturnnorthwardforacoupleofmiles，insteadofwestwardasheretofore，turningabruptlywestwardagainafterthat:sothattheSaxon’Camp’orOccupancyhere，isanirregularTrapezium，withPirnaandKonigsteinforvertices，andwithareaestimableasabove，——ploughable，afairportionofit，andnotwithoutcornofitsown。Sothatthe’twoweeks’provision’
spunthemselvesout（shortallowanceaiding）totwomonths，beforeactualfaminecame……"TheHigh—roadfromtheLausitzpartscrossesElbeatPirna；
fallsintotheDresden—PragHigh—roadthere；andfromPirnatowardsToplitz，forthefirstfewmiles，thislatterrunsthroughthePrussianPosts；butwemayguessitisnotmuchtravelledatpresent。NorthofElbe，too，thePrussianshavebatteriesonthefitpoints；detachmentsofdueforce，fromGross—SedlitzBridge—of—
PontoonsallroundtoSchandau，orbeyond；couldfireupontheKonigstein，acrosstheRiver:theyhavepluggeduptheSaxonpositioneverywhere。TheyhaveaBatteryespecially，andstrongpost，tocannonadetheBridgeatPirna，shouldtheSaxonsthinkoftryingthere。ItisnowtheoneSaxonorevenHalf—SaxonBridge；
SonnensteinandPirnacommandtheSaxonendofit，astrongbatterythePrussianend:aBridgelyingmainlyidle，likethegeneralHighwaytoToplitzatthistime。BeyondtheKonigstein，again，ataplacecalledWendisch—Fahre（WENDS’—FERRY），thePrussianshave，bymeansofboatsswingingwideatanchorontheswiftcurrent，whatiscalledaFlying—bridge，withwhichthenorthsidecancommunicatewiththesouth。TheyhaveapostatNieder—Raden（OBER
Raden，railwaystationinourtime，isonthesouthside）:
NetherRadenisaninterestinglittleHamlet，mostlyinvisibletomankind（builtintheTHROATofthestonechasmsthere），fromwhichyoubeginmountingtotheBASTEIfaraloft。ARadentobenoted，bytheTouristandus。"
Little，orevennothing，offightingthereis:whyshouldtherebe？
Themilitaryoperationsareadead—lock，andrequirenoword。
Thirtythousand，halfofthePrussianForce，lie，vigilantaslynxes，blockadinghere；otherhalf，32，000，underMarshalKeith，havemarchedforwardtoAussig，toNollendorfontheBohemianfrontier，tocleartheways，andlookintoanyAustrianmotionthereabouts，——withwhom，withsomePandourdetachmentofwhom，DukeFerdinand，leadingthevanguard，hashadalittlebrushamongtheHills；smitingthemhomeagain，inhisusualcreditableway（September13th）；andtakingCampatPeterswalde，heandothersoftheForce，thatnight。[OEuvresdeFrederic，
iv。85；ANONYMOUSOFHAMBURG，i。19。]ItiswiththisKeithArmy，withthisifwithany，thatadventuresaretobelookedforatpresent。
PolishMajesty’sHead—quartersareatStruppen，wellinthecentreoftheSaxonlines；"goesalwaystotheKonigsteintosleep。"
PolishMajesty’sowntableis，byFriedrich’spermissionforthatspecialobject，suppliedADLIBITUM:butthecommonmenwereatonceputonshortallowance，whichgrowsalwaystheshorter。
PolishMajestycorrespondswithFriedrich，aswesaw；andaboveall，sendsburningMessagestoAustria，toFrance，toeveryEuropeanCourt，chargedwithmereshrieks:"Helpme；arobberhasme！"Inwhichsense，Excellenciesofallkinds，especiallyoneLordStormont，theEnglishExcellency，dailyrunningoutfromDresdentoGross—Sedlitz，arepassionatelyindustriouswithFriedrich；whoiseagerenoughtocomply，werethereanysafemeanspossible。
Buttherearenone。Unfortunately，too，itappearstheAustriansareastir；FeldmarschallBrowneactuallyfurbishinghimselfatPragyonderwithaneyehitherward，andextraordinaryhasteandspiritshown:whichobligesFriedrichtoriseinhisdemands；
ovineobstinacy，ontheotherside，naturallyincreasingfromthesamecause。
"PolishMajesty，wesay，haslibertytobringinproviantforselfandsuite，rigorouslyfornomortalmore；andheliveswell，intheculinarysense，——surelyformostpart’inhisdressing—gown，’too，poorloosecollapsedsoul！Bruhlandhehaveplentyofformalbusiness:buttheironerealbusinessisthatofcrying，byestafettesandeveryconceivablemethod，toAustria，’Getusoutofthis！’TowhichAustriahasanswered，’Yes；onlypatience，andbesteady！’——Friedrich’shead—quartersareatSedlitz；andthenegotiatingandrespondingwhichhehas，transcendsimagination。
Hisfirsthopewas，PolishMajestymightbepersuadedtojoinwithhim；——onthebackofthat，certainty，graduallycoming，thatPolishMajestyneverwould；andthattheAustrianswouldendeavorarescue，weretheyonceready。Starvation，ortheAustrians，whichwillbefirsthere？isthequestion；andFriedrichstudiestothinkitwillbetheformer。Atallevents，havingsettledonthestarvationmethod，andseenthatallhispostsareright，weperceivehedoesnotstickclosebySedlitz；butrunsnowhithernowthither；isatTorgau，whereanimportantestablishment，kindofNewGovernmentforSaxony，ontheFinanceside，isorganizingitself。WhathisworkwithAmbassadorswas，andhowdelicatethehandlingneeded，think！"——HereisanotherClipping:——……"PolishMajestypassesthedayatStruppen，amidmanyvainnoisesofSoldiering，ofDiplomatizing；thenightalwaysatKonigstein，andfinallybothdayandnight，——quiteluxuriouslyaccommodated，Bruhlandhe，totheveryendofthisAffair。
TowardsStruppen[thisisweeksfartheron，butwegiveithere]，——
ComtedeBroglio[OldBroglio’selderSon，youngerisintheMilitaryline]，whoisAmbassadortohisSaxon—PolishMajesty，setsoutfromDresdenforaninterviewwithsaidMajesty。AtthePrussianlines，heisinformed，’Yes，youcango；but，withoutourKing’sOrder，youcannotreturn。’’What？TheMostChristianMajesty’sAmbassador，andtreatedinthisway？IwillgotowherethePolishKingis，andIwillreturntomyownKing，sooftenasI
findbusiness:stopmeatyourperil！’andthreatenedandargued，andmadeadealofblusterousnoise；——fartoomuch，thinksValori；
thinkthePrussianOfficers，whoaresorry，butinflexible。
MargrafKarl，Commandantoftheplace，inabsenceofKingFriedrich（whoisgonelately，onaBusinessweshallhearof），earnestlydissuadedExcellencyBroglio；butitwastonopurpose。NextdayBroglioappearedinhisstate—carriage，formallydemandingentrance，freethoroughfare:’Doyoudarerefuseme？’’Yes，’
answeredMargrafKarl；’wedoandmust。’IndignantBroglioreappeared，nextday，onfoot；Lieutenant—GeneralPrinceFriedrichEugenofWurtembergthechiefmanincharge:’Doyoudare？’
’Indubitably，Yes；’——andBrogliostillpushingonincredulous，Eugenactuallyraisedhisarm，——elbowandfore—armacrossthebreastofMostChristianMajesty’sAmbassador，——whorecoiled，toDresden，inmerewhirlwindsoffire；andmadethemostofit[unwisely，thinksValori]inwritingtoCourt。[Valori，ii。349，209，353（"Wednesday，6thOctober，"thedayofit，seemingly）；
ib。i。312，&c。]Court，inhighdudgeon，commandedValoritoquitBerlinwithouttakingleave。Valori，inhisprivatecapacity，wroteanAdieu；[Friedrich’skindLetterinanswertoit，"2dNovember，1756，"inValori，i。313。]andinhispublic，asthefactstood，ThathewasgonewithoutAdieu。"
AndtheDauphiness，daughterofthoseinjuredPolishMajesties，fellonherknees（Pompadourpermittingandencouraging）atthefeetofMostChristianMajesty；onherknees，allinpassionoftears；cravedhelpandprotectiontoherlovedoldMother，inthenameofNatureandofallKings:couldanyKingresist？AndhisPompadourwasbusy:"ThinkofthatnobleEmpress，whocallsmeCOUSINANDDEARPRINCESS；thinkofthatinsolentPrussianRobber:
Ah，yourMajesty:"—andKingLouis，thoughnotahatingman，didprivatelydislikeFriedrich；andevilspeechesofFriedrich’shadbeenreportedtohim。And，inshort，theupshotwas:KingLouis，boundonlyto24，000forhelpofAustria，determinedtosend，anddidsend，above100，000acrosstheRhine，nextYear，forthatobject；aswillbeseen。AndallFrenchmen——allexceptBelleisle，whoisold——arecharmedwiththesenewenergeticmeasures，andbeautifulnewAustrianconnections。
Certainitis，theAustriansarecoming，herImperialMajestybentwithallhermightonreliefofthoseSaxonmartyrs；whichindeedisreliefofherself，asshewellperceives:"Courage，myfriends；
endureyetalittle！"MessengerssmugglethemselvesthroughtheMountainpaths，andgoandreturn，thoughwithdifficulty。
SinceSeptember19th，theCorrespondencewithPolishMajestyhasceased:nopersuadingofthePolishMajesty。Winterfeldwenttwicetohim；conferredatlarge，Bruhlforbiddentobethere，ontheactualstringenciesandurgenciesofFactbetweentheTwoCountries；butitwaswithnoresultatall。PolishMajestyhasnottheleastintentionthatSaxonyshallbeevenaHighwayforFriedrich，ifatanytimePolishMajestycanhinderit:
"Neutrality，"therefore，willnotdoforFriedrich；hedemandsAlliance，practicalPartnership；andtothathisPolishMajestyiscompletelyabhorrent。Diplomatizingmaycease；nothingbutwrestleoffightwillsettlethismatter。
Friedrich，abletogetnothingfromtheSovereignofSaxony，isreducedtograspSaxonyitself:andwecanobservehimdoingit；
alwaysthecloser，alwaysthemorecarefully，asthecomplicacydeepens，andtheobstinacybecomesmoredangerousandprovoking。
Whatalternativeisthere？OnfirstenteringSaxony，Friedrichhadmadenosecretthathewasnotamerebirdofpassagethere。
AtTorgau，therewasatoncea"Field—Commissariat"established，withPrussianOfficialsofeminencetoadminister，theMilitaryChesttobedepositedthere，andTorgautobeputinastateofdefence。Torgau，ourSaxonMetropolisofWar—Finance，isbecomingmoreandmoretheMetropolisofSaxonFinanceingeneral。
SaxonOfficialswereliable，fromthefirst，tobesuspended，onFriedrich’sorder。SaxonFinance—Officials，ofallkinds，werefromthefirstinstructed，thattillfarthernoticetheremustbenodisbursementswithoutKingFriedrich’ssanction。And，infact，KingFriedrichfullyintendsthatSaxonyistohelphimallitcan；
andthatiteitherwillorelseshall，inthisdirepressureofperplexity，whichisdueinsuchadegreetotheconductoftheSaxonGovernmentfortwelveyearspast。WouldSaxonygowithhiminanyformofconsent，howmuchmoreconvenienttoFriedrich！
ButSaxonywillnot；PolishMajesty，nothimselfsufferinghunger，isobstinateasthedecreesofFate（orassheep，whentoomuchputupon），regardlessofconsiderations；——and，infine，hereisBrowneactuallyafoot；comingtorelievePolishMajesty！——TheAustrianshaduncommonlybestirredthemselves:——
Theactivity，thezealofallranks，eversincethisexpeditionintoSaxony，andclutchingofSaxonybythethroat，contemporarywitnessesdeclaretohavebeenextraordinary。"HorsesforPiccolomini’sCavalry，——theyhadscarcelygottheirhorses，nottospeakoftrainingthem，nottospeakofcannonandtheheavierrequisites，whenSchwerinbeganmarchingoutofGlatzonPiccolomini。AstothecannonforBrowneandhim，draught—cattleseemabsolutelyunprocurable。WhereuponMariaTheresaflingsopenherownImperialStuds:’There，yokethesetoourcannon；letthemgotheirswiftest；’——whichawokesuchanenthusiasm，thatnoblemenandpeasantscrowdedforwardwiththeircoach—horsesandtheircart—horses，torelayBrowne，allthroughBohemia，atdifferentstages；andthecannonandequipmentsmovetotheirplacesatthegallop，inamanner，"[Archenholtz，i。24。]——andevenBrowne，atthebaseoftheMetalMountains，hasgotmostofhisequipments。
AndisastirtowardsPirna（Armyof60，000，rumorsays），forreliefoftheSaxonmartyrs。Friedrich’scomplexitiesaregettingdaybydaymorestringent。
FromthemiddleofSeptember，MarshalKeith，aswasobserved，withHalfofthePrussians，DukeFerdinandofBrunswickunderhim，hasbeenontheBohemianslopeoftheMetalMountains；securingtheroads，townsandpassesthereabouts，andlookingoutfortheadvanceofMarshalBrownefromtheinteriorparts。TownofAussig，andtheRiver—road（castleofTetschen，onitshighrockknowntoTourists，whichalwaysneedstobetakenonsuchoccasions），theseKeithhassecured。LiesencampedfromPeterswaldetoAussig，themiddleormainstrengthofhimbeingintheHamletofJohnsdorf（discoverable，ifreaderslike）:thereliesKeith，fifteenmilesinlength；likeastrap，orbar，thrownacrossthebackofthatMetal—
MountainRange，——orpartofitsback；fortherangeisverybroad，andthereismuchinequality，andmanytroughs，bigandlittle，partialandgeneral，inthecrossingofit。AtractwhichmyreadersandIhavecrossedbeforenow，bythe"Pascopol"orPost—
roadandotherwise；andshalloftenhavetocross！
Browne，vigorouslyastirintheinterior（cannonandequipmentscomingbyrelaysatsuchapace），isdailyadvancing，withhisbestspeed:inthelastdaysofSeptember，BrowneisencampedatBudin；
maycrosstheEgerRiveranyday，andwillthenbewithintwomarchesofKeith。HisintentionstowardsPirnaCountryarefixedandsure；buttheplanorroutehewilltakeisunknowntoeverybody，andindeedtoBrownehimself，tillheseenearathandandconsider。Browne’sproblem，hehimselfknows，isabundantlyabstruse，——borderingontheimpossible；buthewilltryhisbest。
TogetwithinreachoftheSaxonsisalmostimpossibletoBrowne，evenweretherenoKeiththere。Asgoodasimpossiblealtogether，byanylineofmarch，whileKeithisafootinthoseparts。
ByAussig，downtheRiver，straightfortheinterioroftheirCamp，itisflatlyimpossible:bythesouthorsoutheastcorneroftheirCamp（Gottleubeway），orbythenortheast（bySchandauway，rightbankofElbe），itisvirtuallyso，——atleastwithoutbeatingKeith。
CouldonebeatKeithindeed；——butthatwillnotbeeasy！Andthat，unluckily，isthepreliminarytoeverything。
"BytheHellendorf—Hennersdorfside，inthewasteswhereGottleubeBrookgathersitself，Brownemighthaveachance。There，onthatsoutheastcorneroftheirCamp，wereheoncetheretoattackthePrussiansfromwithout，whiletheSaxonsburstupfromwithin，——
there，"thinksagoodjudge，"ismuchthefavorablestplace。
ButunlessBrowne’sArmyhadwings，howisitevertogetthere？
AcrossthoseMetal—Mountainranges，barredbyKeith:——byAussig，withtherocksoverhangingElbeRiverandhim，hecannotgoinauycase。WeretherenoKeith，indeed（buttherealwaysis，standingreadyonthespring），onemightholdtoleftward，andbystolenmarches，swift，farroundabout——！
"BySchandauregion，northsideoftheElbe，isBrowne’seasiest，andindeedonefeasible，pointofapproach，——noPrussiansatpresentbetweenhimandthat；theroadopen，thoughafarcircuitnorthwardforBrowne，——werehetocrosstheElbeinLeitmeritzcircle，andmarchwithvelocity？Thattoowillbedifficult，——
nearlyimpossibleinsightofKeith。Andwerethatevendone，theegressfortheSaxons，bySchandauside，isthroughstraitmountaingorges，intricatesteeppasses，crossingsoftheElbe:whatforceofSaxonsorofAustrianswilldrivethePrussiansfromtheirredoubtsandbatteriesthere？"[OEuvresdeFrederic，iv。86，93，96。]
Browne’sproblemisnoneofthefeasiblest:buthisordersarestrict，"RelievetheSaxons，atallrisks。"AndBrowne，oneoftheablestsoldiersliviug（"YourImperialMajesty’sbestgeneral，"
saidthedyingKhevenhullerlongsince），willdohisutmostuponit。Friedrichdoesnotthinktheenterpriseverydangerous，——
beatingofKeiththeindispensablepreliminarytoit；butwillnaturallyhimselfgoandlookintoit。
Tuesday，September28th，FriedrichquitsPirnaCountrybythePragHighway；makingdueinspectionofhisPostsashegoesalong；
and，theoutmostoftheseoncepast，drivesrapidlyuptheMountains；gets，withsmallescort，throughPeterswaldeontoJohnsdorfthatnight。DoesnotthinkthisKeithpositiongood；
breaksupthis"CampofJohnsdorf"bodilynextmorning；andmarchesdowntheMountains，directtowardsBrowne；who，wehear，isaboutcrossingtheEger（hisPontoonsnowcomeatlast），andwillhimselfbeontheadvance。FromTurmitz，apoormountainhamletinthehollowoftheHills，whichishead—quartersthatnight，themarchproceedsagain；Friedrichwiththevanguard；Army，Ithink，onvariouscountry—roads，onbothhands；tillallgetupontheGreatRoadagain，——Prag—Toplitz—DresdenPost—road；whichiscalled，speciallyinthispartofit，andlooselyinwhole，"ThePascopol，"
andleadsdowndirecttoBudinandBrowne。
"A’Pascopol’famedinmilitaryannals，"saysourTourist。"Itisaroadwithmanywindings，manyprecipitoussweepsofupanddown；
roadprecipitousinstructure；——offersviewstotheloverofwildNature:hugelonesomeHillsscatteredinthedistance；
wasteexpansesnearerhand，andfutileattemptsatmoorishagriculture；butlittleelsethatiscomfortable。IntimesofPeace，youwillmeet，atlongintervals，somepost—vehiclestrugglingforwardundermelancholycircumstances；somecart，ordilapidatedmongrelbetweencartandbasket，withaleanoxharnessedtoit，andscarecrowdriver，ladenwithpit—coal，——whichyouwishsafehome，andthatthescarecrowweregettingwarmedbyit。ButinWar—timethesteeproadislivelier；thecommonInvasionroadbetweenSaxonyandBohemia；wholeArmiessweepingoverit，andtheirthousand—foldwagonsandnoisesmakingclangorenough……OneofthoseHollows，onthePascopol，isJoachimsthal，withitsoldSilverMines；yieldingcoinswhichwereinrequestwithtraders，thesilverbeingfine。’LetmyducatbeaJoachimsthalone，then！’theoldtraderwouldsay:’aJOACHIMSTHAL—ER；’or，forbrevity，a’THAL—ER；’whenceTHALER，andatlastDOLLAR（almightyandotherwise），——nowgoingroundtheworld！[Busching，
Erdbeschreibung，v。178。]PascopolfinishesinWelminaTownship。FromthelasthamletinWelmina，attheneckofthelastHill，stepdownwardonemile，holdingrathertotheleft，youwillcomeontheinnocentVillageofLobositz，itspoorcorn—millsandhuckster—shopsallpeaceablyunknownasyet，whichissoontobecomeveryfamous。"
TheCountry—roadswhereFriedrich’sArmyisonmarch，Ishouldthink，aremostlyonthemountinghand。Forhere，fromTurmitz，isatroughagain；thoughthelastconsiderableone；andonthecrestofthat，weshalllookdownupontheBohemianPlainsandthegrandBasinoftheElbe，——throughvariousscrubbyvillageswhicharenotnameworthy；throughonecalledKletschen，whichforacertainreasonis。CrossingtheshoulderofKletschenberg（HILLofthisKletschen），whichabutsuponthePascopol，——yonderinbrightsunshineisyourbeautifulexpansiveBasinoftheElbe，andthegreenBohemianPlains，revealedforamoment。Friedrichsnatcheshisglass，notwithpicturesqueobject:"See，yonderisFeldmarschallBrowne，then！Incampyonder，downbyLobositz，nottenmilesfromus，——[itismosttrue；Brownemarchedthismorning，longbeforetheSun；crossedEger，andpitchedcampatnoon]——
Good！"thinksFriedrich。AndpushesdownintothePascopol，intothehollowsandminortroughs，whichhideBrownehenceforth，tillwearequitenear。
Quitenear，throughWelminaandacertainfinalgapoftheHills，Friedrichwiththevanguarddoesemerge，"anhourbeforesunset；"
overhangingBrowne；notaboveamilefromtheCampofBrowne。
AverylargeCamp，thatofBrowne’s，flankedtorightbytheElbe；
goesfromSulowitz，throughLobositz，toWelhotencloseonElbe；——
andhaspropertiesextremelywellworthstudyingjustnow！
"Friedrich"theBookssay，"bivouacsbyafireofsticks，"shortwaydownonthesouthernslopeoftheHill；andtillsunsetandafter，haseye—glass，brain，andfacultiesandactivitiessufficientlyoccupiedfortherestofthenight；——hisDivisionsgraduallytakingpostbehindhim，underarms；"nottillmidnight，theveryrearmostofthem。"["Tuesday，28thSeptember，lefttheCampatSedlitz，with8battalions20squadrons，toJohnsdorf:
29th，toTurmitz，——BrowneistopasstheEgertomorrow。FromthetopsofthePascopol（30th），SEEanAustrianCampinthePlainofLobositz。Vanguardbivouacsinthe’neck’ofthetwoHillsoralittlebeyond。"PRUSSIANACCOUNTOFCAMPAIGN1756（in
GesammelteNachrichten，i。844—845，840—858）；AnonymousofHamburg；
&c。&c。]
ChapterVI。
BATTLEOFLOBOSITZ。
Welmina，——orReschni—Aujest，lastpertinentofWelmina（butwewilltakeFriedrich’snameforit），offerstothescrutinizingeyenothing，inourday，butsomebewilderedmemoryof"AlteFritz"
clingingobstinatelyeventothePeasantmindthereabouts。Asleepylitteryplace；somebiggishhaggarduntrimmedtrees，somebroken—
backedsleepy—lookingthatchedhouses，notincontact，andeachasfarasmightbewithitsbackturnedontheother，andcloakedinitsownlitterandprivacy。Probablynohumancreaturewillbevisible，asyoupassthrough。Muchstrawlyingabout，chieflywherethefewgaunttreeslookdownonit（cattlegladofanyshelter）:
infact，itismainlyanextincttumultofstraw；nothingalive，asyoupass，butafewpooroxenlanguidlysaunteringupanddown，findingmuchtotrample，littletoeat。TheCzechPopulations（wereitnotforthat"QuestionoftheNationalities"）arenotverybeautiful！
ClosesouthofthispoorHamletisabigHill，conspicuouswiththreepeaks；quiteattheotherbaseofwhich，agoodwaydown，liesLobositz，themainVillageinthoseparts；aplacenowofassiduouscorn—millandfruittrade；andoneofthestationsontheDresden—PragRailway。ThisHilliswhatLloydcallstheLobosch；
[Major—GeneralLloyd，HistoryofthelateWarinGermany，1756—1759（3vols。4to，London，1781），i。2—11。]twintowhich，onlyflatter，isLloyd’s"HomolkaHill"（HillofRADOSTITZinmoremodernPlansandBooks）。ConspicuousHeights，andimportanttoushere，——thoughIdidnotfindthePeasantsmuchknowthemunderthosenames。BythesouthernshoulderofthisLoboschHillrunstheroadfromWelminatoLobositz，withbranchestowardsmanyothervillages。Toyourrightorsouthernhand，shortwaysouthward，risestheotherHill，whichLloydcallsHomolkaHill；
thegaporintervalbetweenHomolkaandLobosch，perhapsafurlonginextent，isessentiallythePASSthroughthoseuplands。
Thispass，Friedrich，atthefirstmoment，madesureof；
fillingthesamewithbattalions，theretobivouac。HelikewisepromptlylaidholdofthetwoHills，highLoboschtohisleft，andlowerHomolkatoright；whichprecautionarymeasureitisreckonedafaultinBrownetohaveneglected，thatnight；faultforwhichhesmartedonthemorrow。
Fromthisuplandpass，orneckbetweenthetwoMountains，Friedrich’sbattalionswouldhavehadafineview，hadthemorningshoneforthem:Lobositz，Leitmeritz，Melnick；agreatfertileValley，orexpanseoffruitfulcountry，manymilesinbreadthandlength；Elbe，likeasilverstripe，windinggrandlythroughthefinestofallhiscountries，beforeduckinghimselfintotherock—
tumultsofthatPirnadistrict。ThemountaingorgesofPragandMoldauRiver，southofMelnick，liehiddenunderthehorizon，orvisibleonlyaspeaks，thirtymilesandmoretosoutheastward；
abrightcountryintervening，sprinkledwithsteepledtowns。
Tonorthwestward，faraway，aretheLausitzMountains，rankedinlooseorder，butmassive，makingakindofrange:andasoutpoststothemintheirscatteredstate，Hillsofgoodheightandaspectarescatteredallabout，andbreaktheuniformityofthePlain。
NowhereinNorthGermanycouldthePrussianbattalionshaveafinerview，——ifthemorningwerefine，andifviewsweretheirobject。
Themorning，firstinOctober，wasnotfine；anditwasfarotherthanscenerythatthePrussianbattalionshadinhand！——Friday，1stOctober，1756，Dayshouldhavebroken:butwhereisday？Atseveninthemorning（andontilleleven），thickmistlayovertheplain；
thinfogtotheveryhill—tops；sothatyoucannotseeahundredyardsahead。Lobositzisvisibleonlyasthroughacrape；
fartheron，nothingbutgraysea；underwhich，whattheAustriansaredoing，orwhetherthereareanyAustrians，whocansay？
LeftwardontheLobosch—Hillside，aswereconnoitre，somePandoursarenoticeable，nestledinthevineyardsthere:——thatsunwardsideoftheLoboschisallvineyards，belongingtothedifferentLobositzers:scrubbyvineyards，allinabrownpluckedstateatthisseason。Vineyardspartedbylowstonewalls，saythreeorfourfeethigh（partedbyhurdles，orbytinytrenches，inourday，andthestonewallsmerestonefacings）:therearethePandourscrouched，andgivefireinakneelingposturewhenyouapproach。
Lowerdown，nearLobositzitself，flickeringsasofHorsesquadrons，probablyHussarparties，twinkledubiousinthewaveringmist。Problemwraptinmist；nothingtobeseen；andalldependsonjudgingitwithaccuracy！Sevenbytheclock:Deploy，atanyrate；
letuscoverourpost；andbeinreadinessforevents。
Friedrich’svanguardofitselfnearlyfillsthatneck，orspacebetweentheLoboschandHomolkaHills。HespreadshisInfantryand"hundredfield—pieces，"inpart，rightwardsalongtheHomolkaHill；
butchieflyleftwardsalongtheLobosch，wheretheirnearestdutyistodriveoffthosePandours。Alwaysasanewbattalion，pushingfartherleftward，comesuponitsground，thePandoursgivefireonit；——anditonthePandours；tilltheLeftWingiscomplete，andalltheLoboschis，inthismanner，acracklingofPandourmusketry。andanti—musketry。RightWing，steadytoitsgunsontheHomolka，hasasyetnothingtodo。ThosewingsofInfantryaretwolinesdeep；theCavalry，inthreelines，isbetweentheminthecentre；noroomforCavalryelsewhere，exceptontheoutskirtssomefringingoflighthorse，tobereadyforemergencies。
ThePandourfiring，exceptforthenoiseofit，doesnotamounttomuch；theycantakenoaim，saysLloyd，crouchingbehindtheirstonefences；andthePrussianBattalions，steadilypushingdownwards，trampleouttheirsputtering，andcleartheLoboschofthemtoasafedistance。Butthegroundisintricate，sowraptinmistforthepresent。Thatcracklinglastsforhours；decisiveofnothing；andthemistalso，andone’sanxiousguessingsandscrutinizings，lastsinawaveringfitfulmanner。
Once，forsometime，inthewaveringofthemist，therewasseen，downintheplainoppositeourcentre，abodyofCavalry。Horseforcertain:saytensquadronsofthem，or1，500Horse；continuallymanoeuvring，changingshape；nowinmoreranks，nowinfewer；
sometimes"checkerwise，"formedlikeadraught—board；shootingoutwings:theycareerabout，oneseesnotwhither，orvanishagainintothemistbehind。"Browne’srear—guardthis，thatwearecomeupon，"thinksFriedrich；"thesesquattedPandours，backedbyHorse，mustbehisrear—guard，thatareamusingus:BrowneandtheArmyareoff；crossingtheElbe，hasteningtowardstheSchandau，thePirnaquarter，whilewestandbickeringandidlysputteringhere！"
——Wearyofsuchidlebusiness，FriedrichordersforwardTwentyofhisSquadronsfromthecentrestation:"ChargemethoseAustrianHorse，andletusfinishthis。"TheTwentySquadrons，precededbyapairoffield—pieces，movedownhill；storminupontheAustrianparty，stormitfuriouslyintothemist；arefuriouslychasingit，——whenunexpectedcannon—batteries，destructivecase—shot，awakenontheirleftflank（batteriesfromLobositz，onemayguess）；
andforcethemtodrawback。Todrawback，withsomeloss；andrankagain，inanindignantlyblowncondition，atthefootoftheirHill。Indignant；afterbriefbreathing，theytryitoncemore。
"Don’ttryit！"Friedrichhadsentouttotellthem:forthemistwasclearing；andFriedrich，onthehigherground，sawnewimportantphenomena:butitwastoolate。FortheTwentySquadronsareagaindashingforward；sweepingdownwhateverisbeforethem:
inspiteofcannon—volleys，theyplungedeeperanddeeperintothemist；comeupon"aditchtwelvefeetbroad"（bigswampydrain，suchasarestillfoundthere，grass—greeninsummer—time）；clearsaidditch；forwardstilldeeperintothemist:andafterthreehundredyards，comeuponasecondfarworse"ditch；"plainlyimpassablethisone，——"ditch"theycallit，thoughitisinfactavilesedgyBrook，oozingalongthere（theMORELLBACH，considerableBrook，lazilywanderingtowardsLobositz，whereitdisemboguesinratherswifterfashion）；——andaresalutedwithcannon，fromthefartherside；andseeserriedranksunderthegauzeofmist:Browne’sArmy，infact！TheTwentySquadronshavetorecoiloutofshot—range，thefaster，thebetter；withalossofagoodmanymen，inthosetwocharges。FriedrichordersthemupHillagain；muchregretfulofthissecondcharge，whichhewishedtohinder；andpoststhemtorearward，——wheretheystandsilent，theunconsciousstoic—
philosophersinbuff，andhavelittlefartherservicethroughtherestoftheday。
Itisnow11o’clock；themistallclearingoff；andFriedrich，beforethatsecondcharge，hadagrowingviewofthePlainanditscondition。Beyondquestion，thereisBrowne；notinretreat，byanymeans；butinfullarray；numerous，andhispositionverystrong。
Ranked，unattackablemostly，behindthatoozyBrook，orBACHofMorell；whichhasonlytwonarrowBridges，cannonplentyonboth:
oneBridgefromthesouthpartstoSulowitz（OURroadtoSulowitzanditwouldbebyRadostitzandtheHomolka）；andthenoneotherBridge，connectingSulowitzwithLobositz，——whichlatterisBrowne’sownBridge，unitingrightwingandleftofBrowne，sotospeak；andisstillmoreunattackable，inthecircumstances。
WhatwillFriedrichdecideonattempting？
ThatoozyMorellBrookissuesonBrowne’ssideofLobositz，cuttingBrowneintwo；butisotherwiseallinBrowne’sfavor。
BrowneextendsthroughLobositz；andbeyondit，curvesuptoWelhotenontheRiver—brink；atLobositzarevisibleconsiderableredoubts，cannon—batteriesandmuchregularinfantry。Brownewillbedifficulttoforceyonder，intheLobositzpart；butyonderalonecanhebetried。HeispushingupmoreInfantrythatway；
consciousprobablyofthatfact，——andthattheLoboschHillisnothis，butanother’s。WhatwouldnotBrownenowgivefortheLoboschHill！Yesternighthemighthavehaditgratis，inamanner；
andindeeddidtryslightly，withhisPandourpeople（durstnotatgreaterexpense），——whohavenowceasedsputtering，andcowerextinctinthelowervineyardsthere。Browne，atanyrate，israpidlystrengtheninghisrightwing，whichhasholdofLobositz；
pushingforwardinthatquarter，——wheretheBrookwithalisoffirmerbottomandmorewadable。ThithertooisFriedrichbent。
SothatLobositzisnowthekeyoftheBattle；therewillthetugofwarnowbe。
Friedrich’scavalryisgonealltorearward。HisrightwingholdstheHomolkaHill，——thattoowouldnowbevaluabletoBrowne；
andcannotbehadgratis，asyesternight！Friedrich’sleftwingisontheLobosch；Pandoursprettywellextinctbeforeit，butnowfromWelhotenquarternewRegularscomingonthither，——asifBrownewouldstilltaketheLobosch？Whichwouldbevictorytohim；butisnotnowpossibletoBrowne。Norwilllongseemso；——Friedrichhavingotherworkinviewforhim；——meaningnowtotakeLobositz，insteadoflosingtheLoboschtohim！FriedrichpushesouthisLeftWingstillfartherleftward，leftwardanddownwardwithal，toclearthosevineyard—fencescompletelyoftheiroccupants，PandourorRegular，oldornew。Thisisdone；thevineyard—fencesswept；——andthesweepingsdriven，inamoreandmorestormyfashion，towardsWelhotenandLobositz；theLoboschfallingquitedesperateforBrowne。
HenceforthFriedrichdirectsallhisindustrytotakingLobositz；
Browne，tothedefendingofit，whichhedoeswithgreatvigorandfire；hisbatteries，redoubts，doingtheiruttermost，andhisbattalionsrushingon，massofthemaftermass，atquickmarch，obstinate，fiercetoadegree，intheheightoftemper；andshowingsuchfightasweneverhadofthembefore。Friedrich’sLeftWingandBrowne’sRightnowhaveittodecidebetweenthem；——anyattemptBrownemakeswithhisLeftthroughSulowitz（asheoncedid，andonceonly）isinstantlyrepressedbycannonfromtheHomolkaHill。
AndtherestoftheBattle，orrathertheBattleitself，——forallhithertohasbeenpickeeringandgropinginthemist，——maybemadeconceivableinfewwords。
FriedrichordersthesecondlineofhisLeftWingtomarchupandjoinwiththefirst；RightWing，shovingITStwolinesintoone，isnowtocovertheLoboschaswell。LeftWing，incondensedcondition，shallfalldownonLobositz，anddoitsbest。Theyarenowclearofthevineyard—works；thegroundisleveller，thoughstillsloping，——athreefurlongsfromtheVillage，andsomewhattowardstheElbe，whenBrowne’sbattalionsfirstcameextensivelytoclosegrips；fierceenough（aswassaid）；thetoughestwrestleyethadwiththoseAustrians，——comingonwithsteadyfury，undersuchforceofcannon；withironramrodstoo，andimprovedways，likeourown。Butnothingcouldavailthem；thecounter—furybeingsogreat。TheyhadtogoattheWelhotenpart，andeventorun，——
plungingintoElbe，agoodfewofthem，anddrowningthere，inthevainhopetoswim。"Neverhavemytroops，"saysFriedrich，"donesuchmiraclesofvalor，cavalryaswellasinfantry，sinceIhadthehonortocommandthem。Bythisdead—liftachievement（TOURDE
FORCE）Ihaveseenwhattheycando。"[LettertoSchwerin，"Lobositz，2dAugust，1756"（Retzow，i。64）；RELATIONDELA
CAMPAGNE，1756，thatis，PRUSSIANACCOUNT（inGesammelteNachrichten），i。848。Lloyd，UTSUPRA，i。2—11（whohassolidinformationatfirsthand，havingbeenanactorintheseWars。Amanofgreatnaturalsagacityandinsight；decidedlyluminousandoriginal，thoughofsomewhatcrabbedtempernowandthen；amanwellworthhearingonthisandonwhateverelsehehandles）。Tempelhof，GESCHICHTEDESSIEBENJAHRIGENKRIEGES（whichisatfirstamereTranslationofLloyd，nothingnewinitbutcertainnotesandcriticismsonLloyd；whenLloydends，Tempelhof，PrussianMajorandProfessor，alearned，intelligent，butdiffuseman，offarinferiortalenttoLloyd，continuesandcompletesonhisownfooting:sixverythin4tos，Berlin，1794），i。38（Battle，withFOOTNOTES），andib。51（CRITICISMofLloyd）。PrussianandAustrianAccountsinHelden—Geschichte，iii。
800etseq。ManyNarrativesinFELDZUGE，andtheBEYLAGEtoSeyfarth；&c。&c。]
Infine，aftersomethreehoursmoreofdesperatetuggingandstruggling，cannononbothsidesgoingatagreatrate，andinfinitemusketry（"ninetycartridgesamanonourPrussianside，andammunitionfallingdone"），notwithoutbayonet—pushings，andsmitingswiththebuttofyourmusket，theAustriansaredrivenintoLobositz；arefuriouslypushedthere，and，inspiteofnewbattalionscomingtotherescue，arefairlypushedthrough。
TheseVillage—streetsaretoonarrowfornewbattalionsfromBrowne；"muchoftheVillageshouldhavebeenburntbeforehand，"
saycooljudges。Andnow，sureenough，itdoesgetburnt；
Lobositzisnowallonfire，byPrussianindustry。SothattheAustrianshavetoquititinstantly；andrushoffingreatdisorder；keyoftheBattle，orBattleitself，quitelosttothem。
ThePrussianinfantry，ledbytheDukeofBrunswick—Bevern（"GovernorofStettin，"oneoftheDuke—Ferdinandcousinry，frugalandvaliant），gavethehighestsatisfaction；seldomwassuchfiring，suchfuriouspushing；theyhadspentninetycartridgesaman；wereatlastquiteoutofcartridges；sothatBevernhadtosay，"Strikeinwithbayonets，MEINEKINDER；butt—ends，orwhatwehave；HERAN！"OurGrenadiersweremainlytheythatburntLobositz。
"Howsalutarynowwouldithavebeen，"saysEpimetheusLloyd，"hadBrownehadasmallbatteryontheothersideoftheElbe；"
wherebyhemighthavetakentheminflank，andshornthemintothewind！EpimetheusmarksthisbatteryonhisPlan；andiswisebehindhand，atacheaprate。
Browne’sRightWing，andprobablyhisArmywithit，wouldhavegonemuchtoperdition，nowthatLobositzwasbecomePrussian，——hadnotBrowne，inthenickofthemoment，madeamasterlymovement:
pushedforwardhisCentreandLeftWing，numerousbattalionsstillfresh，tointerposebetweenthechasingPrussiansandthosefugitives。ThePrussians，infantryonly，cannotchaseonsuchterms；thePrussiancavalry，weknow，isfarrearwardonthehighground。Browneretiresamileortwo，——southward，Budin—ward，——notchased；andtherehalts，andrearrangeshimself；thinkingwhatfartherhewilldo。Hisaiminfightinghadonlybeentodefendhimself；andinthathumbleaimhehasfailed。ChaseofthePrussiansoverthatHomolka—Loboschcountry，withthehighgroundsrearwardandtheMetalMountainsintheirhands，hecouldinnoeventhaveattempted。
Thequestionnowis:WillhegobacktoBudin；orwillhetryfarthertowardsSchandau？Naturepointstotheformercourse，insuchcircumstances；Friedrich，bywayofassisting，doesathingmuchadmiredbyLloyd；——detachesBevernwithastrongpartysouthward，outofLobositz，whichisnowhis，tolayholdofTschirskowitz，lyingBudin—ward，butbeyondtheBudinRoad。
Whichfeat，whenBrownehearsofit，meanstohim，"GoingtocutmeofffromBudin，then？Frommyammunition—stores，frommyverybread—cupboard！"Andhemarchesthatsamemidnight，silently，ingoodorder，backtoBudin。Heisnotmuchruined；naythePrussianlossisnumericallygreater:"3，308killedandwounded，onthePrussianside；ontheAustrian，2，984，withthreecannontakenandtwostandards。"Notruinedatall；butfoiled，frustrated；andhastodeviseearnestly，"Whatnext？"Oncerearranged，hemaystilltry。
TheBattlelastedsevenhours；thelastfourofitveryhot，tillLobositzwaswonandlost。Itwasabout5P。M。whenBrownefiredhisretreat—cannon:——cannonhappenedtobeloaded（saytheAnecdote—Books，mythicallygivennowandthen）；Friedrich，weariedenough，hadflunghimselfintohiscarriageforamoment’srest，orthankfulreflection；andofallplaces，theballoftheretreat—
cannonlightedTHERE。BetweenFriedrich’sfeet，ashelayreclining，——saytheAnecdote—Books，whomnobodyisboundtobelieve。
OnthestrengthofthosetwoPrussiancharges，whichhadretiredfromcase—shotontheirflank，andhadnotwings，forgettingoversedgeandooze，Austriapretendedtoclaimthevictory。
"Twochargesrepelledbyourgallanthorse；Lobositz，indeed，wasgotonfire，andwehadnothingforitbuttowithdraw；butwetookanewposition，andonlyleftthatforwantofwater；"——withthelikeexcuses。"Essentiallyaclearvictory，"saidtheAustrians；