"Haha，therearemyguests，"saidhe；"wemustseeifwecannotentertainthemright！"sprangtohorseback，orderedon，double—
quick，thethreeregimentsnearesthim，andwasoffatthegallop，——toolate；or，alas，tooEARLYwemightrathersay！Arrivingatthegallop，Winterfeldfoundhisgrenadiersandtheirinsufficientreinforcementsrollingback，theHilllost；Winterfeld"sprangtoafreshhorse，"shothislightningglancesandenergies，tohishandandthat；stormfullyralliedthematter，recoveredtheHill；
andstormfullydefendedit，for，Ishouldguess，anhourormore；
andmightstillhavedoneoneknowsnotwhat，hadnotabulletstruckhimthroughthebreast，andsuddenlyendedallhisdoingsinthisworld。
ThreeotherreasonsthePrussiansgiveforlossoftheirHill，whichareofnoconsequencetothemortousincomparison。
First，thatBevern；onmessageaftermessage，sentnoreinforcement；thatWinterfeldwaslefttohisown10，000，andwhatheandtheycouldmakeofit。BevernisjealousofWinterfeld，hintthey，andwillingtoseehisimpetuousaudacitychecked。
Perhapsonlycautiousofgettingintoageneralactionforwhatwasintrinsicallynothing？Second，thattworegimentsofInfantry，whomWinterfelddetacheddouble—quicktoseizeacoupleofvillages（Leopoldshayn，Hermsdorf）onhisright，andtherefromfusilladeNadastionflank，foundthevillagesalreadyoccupiedbythousandsofCroats，withregularfootandcannon—batteries，andcouldinnowiseseizethem。Thiswasagreatreverseofadvantage。
Third，thatanAide—de—Campmadeasmallmisnomer，misreportofoneword，whichwasterriblyimportant:"BringmehitherRegimentManteuffel！"Winterfeldhadordered。TheAide—de—Campreportedit"GrenadiersManteuffel:"uponwhich，thegrenadiers，whowerepostedinawalledgarden，animportantpointtoWinterfeld’sright，cameinstantlytoorder；andAustriansinstantlyrushedintothevacantpost，andgalledWinterfeld’sotherflankbytheirfire。[AbundantAccountsinSeyfarth，ii。（Beylagen），162—163；Helden—Geschichte，iv。615—633；
Retzow，i。216—221。]
Enough，Winterfeldlaybleedingtodeath，theHillwaslost，Prussiansdrawingoffslowlyandback—foremost，abouttwointheafternoon；uponwhichtheAustriansalsodrewoff，leavingonlyasmallpartyontheHill，whovoluntarilyquitteditnextmorning。
Nextmorning，likewise，Winterfeldhaddied。TheHillwas，exceptasbravado，andbywayofcomforttoKaunitz，nothingfortheAustrians；butthedeathofWinterfeld，whichhadcomebychancetotheminthebusiness，wasprobablyagreatthing。Betterthantwopitchedbattlesgained:whoshallsay？Hewasashiningfigure，thisWinterfeld；dangeroustotheAustrians。ThemostshiningfigureinthePrussianArmy，exceptitsChief；andhadgreatthoughtsinhishead。PrussiaisnotskilfultocelebrateherHeroes，——thePrussianMuseofHistory，chokedwithdrymilitarypipe—clay，orwithhuskycobwebberyandacademicpedantry，howcanshe？——butifPrussiacanproduceheroesworthcelebrating，thatistheoneimportantpoint。Apartfromsoldiership，andtheoutwardfeatureswhicharewidelydifferent，thereistraceableinWinterfeldsomekinshipinsoultoEnglishChathamhiscontemporary；thoughhehasnothadthefameofChatham。
Winterfeldwasbynomeansuniversallyliked；aswhatbravemanisorcanbe？Toosusceptibletoflattery；toothis，toothat。Heis，onefeelsalways，exceptFriedrichonly，themostshiningfigureinthePrussianArmy:anditwasnotunnaturalheshouldbeFriedrich’sonefriend，——asseemstohavebeenthecase。
Friedrich，whenthisJob’s—messagereachedhim（inErfurtCountry，eightdayshence），wasdeeplyaffectedbyit。Totears，orbeyondtears，aswecanfancy。"AgainstmymultitudeofenemiesImaycontriveresources，"hewasheardtosay；"butIshallfindnoWinterfeldagain！"Adieu，myonefriend，realPeer，solecompaniontomylonelypilgrimageintheseperiloushighregions。
"ThePrinceofPrussia，contrariwise，"saysamiserablelittleNote，whichmustnotbewithheld，"brightenedupatthenews:
’Ishallnowdiemuchmorecontent，knowingthatthereisonesobadanddangerousmanfewerintheArmy！’And，sixmonthsafter，inhisactualdeath—moments，heexclaimed:’Iendmylife，thelastperiodofwhichhascostmesomuchsorrow；butWinterfeldishewhoshortenedmydays！’"[Preuss，ii。75；citingRetzow。]——VerybitterOppositionhumorscirculating，intheirfashion，thereaselsewhereinthisworld！
Bevern，themillstoneofWinterfeldbeingoffhisneck，hasbecomeamoreresponsible，thoughhefeelshimselfamuch—deliveredman。
HadnotlikedWinterfeld，theysay；orhadevenhatedhim，sincethosebadZittautimes。Cannow，atanyrate，makeforSchlesienandthemeal—magazines，whenheseesgood。Hewillfindmealreadierthere；mayhefindotherthingscorresponding！Nobodynowtokeephimpainfullymanoeuvringintheseparts；withtheKing’sArmynearertohim，butmealnot。
Onthethirddayafter（Septemberl0th），Bevern，havingfinishedpacking，tooktheroadforSchlesien；DaunandKarlattendinghim；
nothingleftofDaunandKarlinthoseSaxonCountries，——except，atStolpen，outDresden—wards，someReserve—PostorRear—guardof15，000，shouldwechancetohearofthatagain。AndfromtheendofSeptemberonwards，Bevern’sstar，oncesomewhatbrightatReichenberg，shotrapidlydownwards，underthehorizonaltogether；
andtherecame，postafterpost，suchnewsoutofSchlesien，——
tosaynothingofthatStolpenParty，——asFriedrichhadneverheardbefore。
ChapterVII。
FRIEDRICHINTHURINGEN，HISWORLDOFENEMIESALLCOME。
TheSoubise—HildburghausenpeoplehadgotrendezvousedatErfurtaboutAugust25th；50，000byaccount，andnoenemywithin200milesofthem；andintheVersaillescirclesithadbeenexpectedtheywouldproceedtothe"DeliveranceofSaxony"straightway。Whatistohinder？——Friedrich，hagglingwiththeAustriansatBernstadt，couldmusterbutapoor23，000，whenhedidmarchtowardsErfurt。
Inthosesameneighborhoods，withinreachofSoubise，istheRichelieu，lateD’Estrees，Army；elatedwithHastenbeck，comfortablypushingRoyalHighnessofCumberland，whomakesnoresistance，stepbystep，intothesea；victoriouslyplundering，farandwideinthosecountries，HanoveritselftheHead—quarter。
IntheVersaillescircles，itisfartherexpectedthatRichelieu，"ConquerorofMinorca，"willshortlybesiegeandconquerMagdeburg，andsocrownhisglories。Whynot；werethe"DeliveranceofSaxony"complete？
Thewholeofwhichturnedoutgreatlyotherwise，andtothesaddisappointmentofVersailles。TheConquerorofMinorcaisprobablyawarethattheconqueringofMagdeburg，againstonewhoseplatformsarenotrotten，andwhodoesnot"liealwaysinhisbed，"aspooroldBlakeneydid，willbeaverydifferentmatter。Andtheprivatetruthis，MarrchaldeRichelieuneverturnedhisthoughtsuponMagdeburgatall，noruponanypointofwarthathaddifficulties，butsolelyuponcollectingplunderforhimselfinthoseCountries。
Oneofthemostmagnificentmaraudersonrecord；innodanger，he，ofbecomingmonitoryandapendulum，likethe1，000thatalreadyswinginthatcapacitytorearofhim！Andhedidmanage，inthisCampaign，whichwasthelastofhismilitaryservices，soastopayoffatParis"above50，000poundsofdebts；andtobuildforhimselfabeautifulGardenMansionthere，whichthemockingpopulationscalled’HanoverPavilion（PAVILIOND’HANOVRE）；’"anamestillstickingtoit，Ibelieve。[Barbier，iii。256，271。]
OftheRichelieuCampaignwearehappilydeliveredfromsayingalmostanything:andthemaininterestforusturnsnowonthatSoubise—Hildburghausenwingofit，——whichalsoisasufficientlycontemptibleaffair；nottobespokenofbeyondthestrictlyunavoidable。
Friedrich，withhis23，000settingoutfromDresden，August30th，hasamarchofabout170milestowardsErfurt。Hemayexpecttofind——countingRichelieu，ifRoyalHighnessofCumberlandpersistinactingZEROashitherto——aconfusedmassofabout150，000
Enemies，ofonesortandother，waitinghimahead；nottothinkofthosehehasjustleftbehind；——andhecannotwellbeinatriumphanthumor！Behind，before，around，itisonegatheringofEnemies:onepointonlycertain，thathemustbeatthem，orelsedie。Readerswouldfainfollowhiminthisforlornmarch；him，theonepointofinterestnowinit:andreadersshall，ifwecanmanage，thoughitisextremelydifficult。For，ongettingtoErfurt，hefindshisSoubise—HildburghausenArmyoffonretreatamongtheinaccessibleHillsstillfartherwestward；andhastolingerpainfullythere，andtodetach，andeventomarchpersonallyagainstotherEnemies；andthen，thesefinished，tomarchbacktowardshisErfurtones，whoaretakingheartintheinterim:——and，inshort，fromSeptember1sttoNovember5th，therearetwomonthsofconfusedmanoeuvringandmarchingtoandfrointhatWest—Saxonregion，whichareveryintricatetoreaders。November5thisadayunforgettable:butanteriortothat，whatcanwedo？Here，dated，aretheThreegrandEpochsofthething；whichreadershadbetterfixinmindasapreliminary:——
1。SEPTEMBER13th，FriedrichhasgottoErfurtneighborhood；
butSoubiseandCompanyareoffwestwardtotheHillsofEisenach，won’tcomedown；Friedrichobligedtolingerthereabouts，painfullywaitingalmostamonth，till2。OCTOBER11th，hearingthat"15，000Austrians"（thatStolpenParty，leftasrear—guardatStolpen；Croatsmainly，underaGeneralHaddick）areonmarchforBerlin，herisesinhastethitherward，throughLeipzig，Torgau，say100miles；hearsthatHaddickHASbeeninBerlin（16th—17thOctober）foroneday，andthatheisoffagainfullspeedwitharansomof30，000pounds，whichtheyhavehadtopayhim:uponwhichFriedrichcallshaltintheTorgaucountry；——andwouldhavebeenuncertainwhattodo，hadnot3。SoubiseandCompany，extremelyelatedwiththisHaddickFeat，comeoutfromtheirHills，intenttodeliverSaxonyafterall。
SothatFriedrichhastoturnback（October26th—30th）throughLeipzigagain；towards，——infacttowardsROSSBACHandNOVEMBER5th，inhisoldSaaleCountry，whichdoesnotprovesowearisomeasformerly！
Thesearethecardinaldates；theseletthereaderrecurto，ifnecessary，andkeepsteadilyinmind:itwillthenperhapsbepossibletointercalate，inamannerintelligibletohim，whatotherlucentphenomenathereare；andthesedismalwanderings，andmiserablesttwomonthsofFriedrich’slife，willnotbewhollyaprovokingblotchofenigmaticdarkness，butinsomesortathingwithfeaturesinthetwilightofthePast。
I。FRIEDRICH’SMARCHTOERFURTFROMDRESDEN
（31stAugust—13thSeptember，1757）。
ThemarchtoErfurtwasoftwelvedays，andwithoutadventuretospeakof。MayerandFree—Battalionhadthevanguard，Friedrichthereasusual；mainbody，underKeithwithFerdinandandMoritz，followinginseveralcolumns:straighttowardstheirgoal；
withsteadydespatch；fortwelvedays；——weatheroftenverywet。
[Tempelhof，i。229；Rodenbeck，i。317（notverycorrect）:
inWestphalen（ii。20&c。）apersonalDiaryofthisMarch，andofwhatfollowedonDukeFerdinand’spart。]Seidlitz，withcavalry，hadgoneahead，insearchofoneTurpin，amightyhunterandHussaramongtheFrench，whowasthreateningLeipzig，threateningHalle:
butTurpinmadeoffatsoundofhim，withouttryingfight；sothatSeidlitzhadonlytohalt，andrejoin，hopingbetterluckanothertime。
Amarchaltogetherofthecommontype，——thestagesofitnotworthmarkingexceptforspecialreaders；——andofmemorabletousoffersonlythis，ifeventhis:atRotha，inLeipzigCountry，theeighthstagefromDresden，Friedrichwrites，willingtotryforPeaceifitbepossible，TOTHEMARECHALDUCDERICHELIEU。
"ROTHA，7thSeptember，1757。
"Ifeel，M。leDuc，thatyouhavenotbeenputinthepostwhereyouareforthepurposeofNegotiating。Iampersuaded，however，thattheNephewofthegreatCardinalRichelieuismadeforsigningtreatiesnolessthanforgainingbattles。Iaddressmyselftoyoufromaneffectoftheesteemwithwhichyouinspireeventhosewhodonotintimatelyknowyou。
"’Tisasmallmatter，Monsieur（ILS’AGITD’UNEBAGATELLE）:onlytomakePeace，ifpeoplearepleasedtowishit！IknownotwhatyourInstructionsare:but，inthesuppositionthattheKingyourMaster，zowassuredbyyourSuccesses，willhaveputitinyourpowertolaborinthepacificationofGermany，IaddresstoyoutheSieurd’Elcheset"（SieurBalbiistherealnameofhim，anItalianEngineerofmine，whoonceservedwithyouintheFontenoytimes，——
andsomesayhehasprivatelya15，000poundsforyourGrace’sacceptance，——"theSieurd’Elcheset），inwhomyoumayplacecompleteconfidence。
"ThoughtheeventsofthisYearaffordnohopethatyourCourtstillentertainsafavorabledispositionformyinterests，Icannotpersuademyselfthataunionwhichhaslastedbetweenusforsixteenyearsmaynothaveleftsometraceinthemind。PerhapsI
judgeothersbymyself。But，howeverthatmaybe，I，inshort，preferputtingmyinterestsintotheKingyourMaster’shandsratherthauintoanyother’s。Ifyouhavenot，Monsieur，anyInstructionsastotheProposalherebymade，Ibegofyoutoasksuch，andtoinformmewhatthetenorofthemis。
"HewhohasmeritedstatuesatGenoa[tenyearsago，inthoseANTI—
Austriantimes，whenGenoaburstupinrevolt，andtheFrenchandRichelieubeautifullyintervenedagainsttheoppressors]；hewhoconqueredMinorcainspiteofimmenseobstacles；hewhoisonthepointofsubjugatingLowerSaxony，——candonothingmoregloriousthantorestorePeacetoEurope。Ofallyourlaurels，thatwillbethefairest。WorkinthisCause，withtheactivitywhichhassecuredyousuchrapidprogressotherwise；andbepersuadedthatnobodywillfeelmoregratefultoyouthan，MonsieurleDuc，——
YourfaithfulFriend，——FREDERIC。"
[GiveninRODENBECK，i。313（doubtlessfromMemoiresdeRichelieu，Paris，1793，ix。175，theonefountain—headinregardtothissmallaffair）:for"the15，000pounds"andotherrumoredparticulars，seaRetzow，i。197；Preuss，ii。84；
OEuvresdeFrederic，iv。145。]
Richelieu，itappearsbyanyevidencethereis，wentwillinglyintothisscheme；andappliedatVersailles，asdesired；withaperemptorynegativeforresult。NothingcameoftheRichelieuattemptthere；norof"CEM。DEMIRABEAU，"ifheeverwent；norofanyotheronthaterrand。NeedlesstoapplyforPeaceatVersailles（andamerewasteofyour"sumof15，000pounds，"whichonehopesisfabulousinthepresentscarcityofmoney）:——orshouldweperhapshavementionedthethingatall，exceptforthesakeofWilhelmina，whosefondschemeitisinthisextremityoffate；
schemewhichshetriesinstillotherdirections，asweshallsee；
herBrotherwillingtoo，butprobablywithmuchlesshope。IfacivilLetterandabribeofMoneywilldoit，theseneednotbespared。
ThisatRothaisthedaywhileWinterfeld，onMoysHill，ismeetinghisdeath。To—dayatPegau，inthisneighborhood，Seidlitz，whocouldnotfallinwithTurpin，hasgiventheHussarsofLoudonabeautifulslap；thefirstenemywehaveseenonthismarch；andthelast，——nothingbutLoudonandHussarsvisiblyabout，therestofthoseSoubise—Reichspeopledormant，aswouldseem。"D’Elcheset，"
Balbi，orwhoeverhewas，wouldnotfindRichelieuatHanover；
butataplacecalledKloster—Zeven，inBremenCountry，fiftyorsixtymilesfartheron。There，thisday，areRichelieuwithoneSporckenaHanoverian，andoneLynaraDane，rapidlyfinishingathingtheywerepleasedtocall"ConventionofKloster—Zeven；"
whichFriedrichregardedasanotherhugemisfortunefallenonhim，——thoughitprovedtohavebeenfarthereverseawhileafter。
ConcerningwhichtakethisbriefNote；cannotbetoobriefonsuchatopic:——
"NeverwasthereamorefutileConventionthanthatofKloster—
Zeven；whichfilledallEuropewithlamentablenoises，indignationsandanxieties，duringtheremainderofthatYear；andisnowreduced，forEuropeandtheUniverse，toasilentmathematicalpoint，ormeremarkofposition，requiringstilltobeattendedtointhatcharacter，thoughitselfzeroinanyother。Herearethemainparticulars，intheirsequence。
"August3d，towardsmidnight，’11P。M。’saytheBooks，MarechaldeRichelieuarrivesintheD’EstreesCamp（’CampofOldendorf，’stillonlyonemarchwestofHastenbeck）；towhomD’EstreesontheinstantloftilydeliversuphisArmy；explainswithloyalty，forafewdaysmore，allthingsneedfultothenewCommander；declinestobehimselfSecond；andloftilywithdrawstotheBathsofAachen’forhishealth。’
"RoyalHighnessofCumberlandis，bythistime，wellonElbe—ward，Ocean—ward。TillAugust1st；foroneweek，RoyalHighnessofCumberlandlayatMinden，somethirtyoddmilesfromHastenbeck；
deploringthatsadmistake；butunpersuadabletostand，andtryamendmentofit:Augustlst，theFrenchadvancingonhimagain，hemovedoffnorthward，seaward。ByNienburg，Verden，Rothenburg，Zeven，Bremenvorde，Stade；——arrivedatStade，onthetidalWatersoftheElbe，August5th；andbynecessitydidhaltthere。
FromMindenonwards，Richelieu，notD’Estrees，hashadthechasingofRoyalHighness:oneofthesimplestfunctions；onlythatthecountryisgettingmuddy，difficultforartillery—carriage（thinksRichelieu），withanArmysodilapidated，hungry，shortofpay；
andthatRoyalHighness，averyfuriouspersontoourformerknowledge，mightturnonuslikeaboaratbay，endangeringeverything；andfinally，thatone’sdesireisnotforbattle，butforafairchanceofplundertopayone’sdebts。
"BritannicMajesty，inthisawfulstateofhisHanoverArmaments，hasbeenapplyingattheDanishCourt；Richelieutoosendsoffanapplicationthither:’Mediatebetweenus，spareuselessbloodshed！’
[Valfons，p。291。]——WhereuponDanishMajesty（Britannic’sson—in—
law）cheerfullyundertakesit；bidsoneLynarbestirhimselfuponit。CountLynar，anesteemedOfficialofhis，wholivesinthoseneighborhoods；DanishViceroyinOldenburg，——muchconcernedwiththeScriptures，theSacredLanguagesandotherseraphicstudies，——
andachangedmansincewesawhimlastinthePetersburgregions，makinglovetoMrs。AntonUlrichlongago！Lynar，feelingtheaxisoftheworldlaidonhisshoulderinthismanner，losesnotamoment；invokestheHeavenlyPowers；goesonitwithanalacrityandadespatchbeyondpraise。RunstotheDukeofCumberlandatStade；thencetoRichelieuatZeven；backtotheDuke，backtoZeven:’Won’tyou；andwon’tYOU？’andinfourshortdayshastheonceworld—famed’ConventionofKloster—Zeven’standingonparchment，——signed，readyforratifying:’RoyalHighness’sArmytogohometotheircountriesagain[routes，methods，times:
when，how，andwhatnext，allleftunsettled]，andnoiseofWartoceaseinthoseparts。’Signedcheerfullyonbothsides9thSeptember，1757；andLynarstrikingthestarswithhissublimehead。[Busching（whoaloneisexactinthematter），
Beitrage，iv。167，168，？Lynar:seeScholl，iii。49；
Valfons，pp。202，203；OEuvresdeFrederic，
iv。143（withcorrectionofPreuss’sNotethere）。]
"UnaccountablehowLynarhadmanagedsuchadifficulty。Hesaysseraphically，inaLettertoafriend，whichthePrussianhussarsgotholdof，’TheideaofitwasinspiredbytheHolyGhost:’
atwhichthewholeworldhaha’dagain。ForitwasaConventionvague，absurd，notcapableofbeingexecuted；ratificationofitrefusedbybothCourts，bytheFrenchCourtfirst，ifthatwasanymatter:——andtheonlythingnowmemorableofitis，thatITwasatotalFutility；but，thatthereensuedfromitaFactstillofimportance；namely:——
"Thatonthe5thofOctoberfollowing，RoyalHighnessquittedStade，andhiswreckedArmyhangingsorrowfulthere，likeaflightofpluckedcranesinmid—air；——arrivedatKensington，October12th；
heardthepaternalMajestysay，thatevening，’Hereismysonwhohasruinedme，anddisgracedhimself！’——andthereuponindignantlylaiddownhismilitaryoffices，allandsundry；andceasedaltogethertocommandArmies，Englishorother，inthisworld。
[InWALPOLE（iii。59—64）theamplestminutenessofdetail。]
Whereby，inthethenandnowdiagramofthings，Kloster—Zeven，asamathematicalpoint，continuesmemorableinHistory，thoughshrunkotherwisetozero！
"Pitt’smagnanimitytoRoyalHighnesswasconspicuous。
RoyalHighness，itissaid，hadbeenverybadlyusedinthismatterbyhispoorpeddlingFatherandtheHanoverMinisters；thematterbeingonepuddleofimbecilitiesfrombeginningtoend。Hewasthesoulofhonor；braveasaWelflion；but，ofdimpoorhead；andhadnotthefaintestvestige[ALLERGERINGSTEsaysMauvillon]ofmilitaryskill:awfulintheextremetoseeincommandofBritishArmies！Adieutohim，foreverandaday。"
EversinceJuly29th，threedaysafterHastenbeck，PitthadbeeninOfficeagain；suchthebombardmentbyCorporation—BoxesandEventsimpingingonBritannicMajesty:butnottillnow，asIfancy，hadPitt’sway，inregardtothoseGermanmatters，beencleartohim。
ThequestionofaGermanArmy，ifyoumust，haveaNo—Generalatthetopofit，mightwellbeproblematicaltoPitt。Toequipyourstrongfightingman，andsendhimonyourerrand，regardlessofexpense；and，bywayofpreliminary，cuttheheadoffhim，beforesaying"Good—speedtoyou，strongman！"ButwithaGeneral，Pittseesthatitcanbedifferent；thatperhaps"AmericacanbeconqueredinGermany，"andthat，withaBritannicMajestysodisposed，thereisnootherwayoftryingit。TothiscoursePittstandshenceforth，heedlessofthegazetteercackle，"Hah，ourPitttoobecomeGerman，afterallhistalking！"——likeaseventy—fourunderfullsail，withsea，wind，pilotallofonemind，andonlycertainwater—fowlobjecting。AndisKingofEnglandforthenextFourYears；theoneKingpoorEnglandhashadthislongwhile；——hishandfeltshortlyattheendsoftheEarth。AndprovessuchablessingtoFriedrich，amongothers，asnothingelseinthisWar；
prettymuchhisoneblessing，littleasheexpectedit。
Beforelong，ExcellencyMitchellbeginsconsultingaboutaGeneral，——andFriedrichdimlyseesbetterthingsinthedistance，andthatKloster—Zevenhadnotbeenthemisfortuneheimagined，butonly"Thedarkesthour，"which，itissaid，lies"nearesttothedawn。"
II。THESOUBISEHILDBURGHAUSENPEOPLETAKEINTOTHEHILLS；
FRIEDRICHINERFURTNEIGHBORHOOD，HANGINGON，WEEKAFTER
WEEK，INANAGONYOFINACTION（13thSeptember—10thOctober）。
Friedrich’smarchhasgonebyDobeln，Grimma，toPegauandRotha，Leipzigway，but，withLeipzigwelltoright:itjustbrushesWeissenfelstorightward，nextdayafterRotha；crossesSaaleRivernearNaumburg，whencestraightthroughWeimarCountry，WeimarCityonyourleft，toErfurtonthenorthernside；——and，"ERFURT，TUESDAY13thSEPTEMBER，1757，About10inthemorning[listentoafaithfulWitness]，thereappearedHussarsontheheightstonorthward:——’VanguardofhisPrussianMajesty！’saidErfurtwithalarm，andourFrenchguestswithalarm。Andscarcelywerethewordsuttered，whensaidVanguard，andgraduallythewholePrussianArmy[onlysome9，000，thoughweallthoughtitthewhole]，cametosight；postingitselfinhalf—moonshaperoundusthere；FrenchandReichsfolkhurryingoffwhattheycouldfromtheCyriaksbergandPetersberg，bytheoppositegates，"——towardsGotha，andtheHillsofEisenach。
"ThinkwhatadilemmaforErfurt，jammedbetweentwohornsinthisway，shouldonehornenterbeforetheothergotout！MuchparleyingandsupplicatingonthepartofErfurt:Tillatlast，about4P。M。，Frenchbeingalloff，Erfurtflungitsgatesopen；andthenewPowerdidenter，withsomeduestate:PrussianMajestyinPerson（whocouldhavehopedit！）andPrinceHenribesidehim；
Cavalrywithdrawnswords；Infantrywithfield—pieces，andthebandplaying"——Prussiangrenadiermarch，Ishouldhope，orsomethingequallycheering。"TherestoftheVanguard，and，insuccession，theArmyaltogether，hadtakenCampoutside，lookingdownontheNorthernGate，overatIlgertshofen，avillageintheneighborhood，abouttwomilesoff。"[Helden—Geschichte，iv。
636，637。]
ThatisthefirstsightFriedrichhasof"LADAUPHINE，"astheVersaillespeoplecallthisBellona，cometo"deliverSaxony；"
andsheisconsiderablycoyerthanhadbeenexpected。Manysaddays，andardentvainvowsofFriedrich，beforehecouldseetheskirtofheragain！FromIlgertshofen，northwestwardtoDittelstadt，Gamstadt，andotherpoorspecksofvillagesinGothaTerritory，istenorfifteenmiles；fromDittelstadteastwardtoButtstadtandButtelstadt，inWeimarCountry，maybetwenty—five:
inthisarea，Friedrich，shiftingabout，chieflyforconvenienceofquarters，——head—quarterKirschlebenforawhile，Buttelstadtfinallyandlongest，——hadtowanderimpatientlytoandfroforfourweeksandmore；noworkprocurable，ornoneworthmentioning:——inthehumorofamanwhoseHouseisonfire，flamingoutofeverywindow，frontandrear；whohasrunupwithquenchingapparatus；
andcannot，beingspell—bound，gettheleastbucketofitapplied。
Andisbynaturetherapidestsoulnowalive。Figurehissituationthere，asitgraduallybecomesmanifesttohim！
Forthepresent，DAUPHINESSBellona，hurryingtotheHills，hasleftsometagragofremnantinGotha。Whereupon，thesecondday，hereisan"OwnCorrespondent"again，——notcomingbyelectrictelegraph，but（whatisasensibleadvantage）credibleineverypoint，whenhedoescome:——
"GOTHA，THURSDAY，15thSEPTEMBER。Grand—DukeandDuchess，likeeverybodyelse，havebeenmuchoccupiedallmorningwiththefact，thatthePrussianArmy[Seidlitzandaregimentortwo，nothingmore]isactuallyhere；tookpossessionoftheTown—GatesandMainGuardthismorning，——certainHungarian—Frenchhussarrabble，hatefultoeveryoneinGotha，havingmadeoffintime，rapidlytowardsEisenachandtheHills。
"Towardsnoon，hisRoyalMajestyinhighestperson，withhisLordBrotherthePrinceHenri’sRoyalHighness，arrivedinGotha；
sentstraightway，byoneofhisOfficers，acomplimenttotheGrand—Duke；and’wouldhavethepleasuretocomeanddine，ifhisSereneHighnesspermitted。’SereneHighness，selfandHouseholdalwayscordiallyFriedrich’s，wasjustaboutsittingdowntodinner；andansweredwithexuberantlygladsurprise，——orwasanswering，whenRoyalMajestyhimselfsteptinwithsmilingface；
andembracingtheDuke，said:’Itimedmyselftoarriveatthismoment，thinkingyourDurchlauchtwouldbeatdinner，thatImightbereceivedwithoutceremony，anddinelikeaneighboramongyou。’
Unexpectedasthisvisitwas，thejoyofDukeandDuchess，"alwaysfastfriendstoFriedrich，andthelattereverafterwardshiscorrespondent，"maybeconceived，butnotadequatelyexpressed；
asboththeSerenitiesweretouched，inthemostaffectingmanner，bythehonorofsogreataKing’ssuddenpresenceamongthem。
"HisMajestyrequestedthattheFrauvonBuchwald，ourMostGraciousDuchess’sHof—Dame，whosequalitieshemuchvalued，mightdinewiththem，"——beingalwaysfondofsensiblepeople，especiallysensiblewomen。"ThewholeHighestandHighcompany[Royal，thatis，andDucal]was，duringtable，uncommonlymerry。TheKingshowedhimselfaltogethercontent；andhisbrightclevertalkandsprightlysallies，awakeningeverybodytothelike，leftnottheleasttracevisibleoftheweightytoilshewasthenengagedin；——
asiftheweightierthesewere，thelessshouldtheyfetterthenobleopenness（FREYMUTHIGKEIT）ofthishighsoul，whichisnottobecastdownbytheheaviestburden。
"HisMajestyhavingtakenleaveofDukeandDuchess，andgraciouslypermittedthechiefestpersonsoftheGothaCourttopaytheirrespects，withdrewtohisArmy。"[LetterinHelden—
Geschichte，iv。638，639。]Slept，Ifindelsewhere，"atGamstadt，onthefloorofalittleInn；"meaningtoexaminePostsinthatpart，nextmorning。
HerehasbeenacheerfullittlesceneforFriedrich；thelasthehasintheseblackweeks。AlaboriousPredecessor，strivingtoelucidate，leavesmethisNote:——
"Whatapityoneknowsnothing，norcanknow，aboutthisDukeandDuchess，thoughtheirnames，especiallythelatter’sname，aremuchtossedtoandfrointheBooks！Weheardofthem，favorably，inVoltaire’stime；andmayagain，atleastoftheLady，whoishenceforthaCorrespondentofFriedrich’s。Theaboveisadimdirectviewofthem，probablyourlastaswellasfirst。Duke’snameisFriedrichIII。；Idobelieve，amanofsolidity，honorandpolitedignifiedsense，ahighlyrespectableDukeofSachsen—Gotha，contentedtobeobscure，andquietlydowhatwasstilldo—ableinthatenigmaticsituation。HeisUncletoourGeorgeIII。；——hisSisteristhenowPrincess—DowagerofWales，withaLordBute，andIknownotwhatquestionablefiguresandintrigues，orsuspicionsofintrigue，muchabouther。HisDuchess，LouisaDorothee，isaPrincessofdistinguishedqualities，literarytastes，——Voltaire’sHostess，Friedrich’sCorrespondent:abrightandquietlyshiningilluminationtothecirclesheinhabits。Dukeisnowfifty—eight，Duchessforty—seven；andtheylosttheireldestSonlastyear。
TherehasbeenlatelyaconsiderableprivatebrabbleastoTutorageoftheDukeofWeimar（Wilhelmina’smaddishDuke，whoisdeadlately；andaPrinceleft，whosoondiedalso，butleftaSon，whogrewtobeGoethe’sfriend）；TutorageclaimedbyvariousCousins，hasbeenadjudgedtothisone，KingFriedrichco—operatinginsuchresult。
"AstothefamedGrand—Duchess，sheisaSachsen—MeiningenPrincess，comeofErnstthePious，ofJohanntheMagnanimous，asherHusbandandalltheseSachsensare:whenVoltairewentprecipitant，withsuchvelocity，fromthePotsdamHeaven，shereceivedhimatGotha；sethimonwritinghisHISTORYOFTHE
EMPIRE，andendeavoredtobreakhisfall。ShewasnobletoVoltaire，andwellhonoredbythatuncertainSpirit。ThereisafineLibraryatGotha；andtheLadybrightlovesBooks，andthosethatcanwritethem；——afriendoftheLight，aDaughteroftheSunandtheEmpyrean，notofDarknessandtheStygianFens。"
[Michaelis，i。517；&c。&c。]
Friedrich’sfirstLettertoherHighnesswasoneofthanks，aboveayearago，foranactofkindness，actofjusticewithal，whichshedidtooneofhisOfficialpeople。Here，onthemorrowofthatdinner，isthesecondLetter，muchmoreaerialandcordial，inwhichstyletheyallcontinue，nowthathehasseentheadmiredPrincess。
TOTHEMOSTSERENEGRAND—DUCHESSOFSACHSEN—GOTHA。
DITTELSTADT，"16thSeptember，1757。
"MADAM，——YesterdaywasaDayIshallneverforget；whichsatisfiedajustdesireIhavehad，thislongwhile，toseeandhearaPrincesswhomallEuropeadmires。Iamnotsurprised，Madam，thatyousubduepeople’shearts；youaremadetoattracttheesteemandthehomageofallwhohavethehappinesstoknowyou。Butitisincomprehensibletomehowyoucanhaveenemies；andhowmenrepresentingCountriesthatbynomeanswishtopassforbarbarous，canhavebeensobasely（INDIGNEMENT）wantingintherespecttheyoweyou，andintheconsiderationwhichisduetoallsovereigns[FrenchnotfamousfortheirrefineddemeanorinSaxonythistime]。
WhycouldnotIflytopreventsuchdisorders，suchindecency！
Icanonlyofferyouagreatdealofgood—will；butIfeelwellthat，inpresentcircumstances，thethingwantediseffectiveresultsandreality。MayI，Madam，besohappyastorenderyousomeservice！Mayyourfortunebeequaltoyourvirtues！Iamwiththehighestconsideration，Madam，yourHighness’sfaithfulCousin，——F。"[OEuvresdeFrederic，xvii。166。]
ToWilhelminahesaysofit，nextday，stillgratified，thoughsadnewshavecomeintheinterim；——deathofWinterfeld，foroneblackitem:——……"ThedaybeforeyesterdayIwasinGotha。Itwasatouchingscenetoseethepartnersofone’smisfortunes，withlikegriefsandlikecomplaints。TheDuchessisawomanofrealmerit，whosefirmnessputsmanyamantoshame。MadamdeBuchwaldappearstomeaveryestimableperson，andonewhowouldsuityoumuch:
intelligent，accomplished，withoutpretensions，andgood—humored。
MyBrotherHenriisgonetoseethemto—day。Iamsooppressedwithgrief，thatIwouldratherkeepmysadnesstomyself。IhavereasontocongratulatemyselfmuchonaccountofmyBrotherHenri；hehasbehavedlikeanangel，asasoldier，andwelltowardsmeasaBrother。Icannot，unfortunately，saythesameoftheelder。
Hesulksatme（ILMEBODE），andhassulkilyretiredtoTorgau，fromwhence，Ihear，heisgonetoWittenberg。Ishallleavehimtohiscapricesandtohisbadconduct；andIprophesynothinggoodforthefuture，unlesstheyoungerguidehim。"["Kirschleben，nearErfurt，17thSeptember，1757"（OEuvresdeFrederic，xxvii。i。306）。]……
ThisispartofalongsadLettertoWilhelmina；partsofwhichwemayrecurto，asotherwiseillustrative。Butbeforegoingintothattragicbudgetofbadnews，letusgivethefinaleofGotha，whichoccurredthenextday，——tragi—comicinpart，——andisthelastbitofactioninthosedrearyfourweeks。
GOTHA，18thSEPTEMBER。"SinceThursday15th，Major—GeneralSeidlitz，"youngestMajor—GeneraloftheArmy，butarapidlyrisingman，"hasbeenCommandantinGotha，underflourishingcircumstances；popularandsupreme，thoughonlywithaforceof1，500，dragoonsandhussars。Mondaymorningearly，Seidlitz’sscoutsbringwordthattheSoubise—Hildburghausenpeopleareinmotionhitherward；FrenchhussarsandAustrian，Turpin’s，Loudon’s，allthatare；grenadiersinmass；——total，say，8，000horseandfoot，withabundanceofartillery；——havebeenonmarchallnight，toretakeGotha；withalltheChiefGeneralsandDignitariesoftheArmyfollowingintheircarriages，forsomehourspast，toseeitdone。Seidlitz，ascertainingthesethings，hasbutonecourseleft，——thatofclearinghimselfout，whichhedoeswithorderlyvelocity:andat9A。M。theDignitariesandtheir8，000findopengates，Seidlitzcleanoff；occupytheposts，withdueemphasisandflourish；andproceedtotheSchlossinagrandtriumphantway，——
whereprivatelytheyarenotverywelcome，thoughoneputsthebestfaceonit，andadinnerofimportanceisthefirstthingimperativetobesetinprogress。AflurriedCourt，thatofGotha，andmuchswashingofFrenchplumesthroughit，allthismorning，sinceSeidlitzhadtoflit。
"Seidlitzhasnotflittedveryfar。Seidlitzhasrankedhissmalldragoon—hussarforceinahollow，twomilesoff；hasgotwarningsenttoathirdregimentwithinreachofhim，’Cometowardsme，andinacertaindefile，visiblefromGothaeastward，spreadyourselvessoandso！’——andjudgesbytheswashinghehearsofupyonder，thatperhapssomethingmaystillbedone。Dinner，upintheSchloss，isjustbeingtakenfromthespit，andtheswashingatitsheight，when——’Hahwhatisthat，though？’andallplumespause。ForitisSeidlitz，artisticallyspreadintosinglefiles，ontheprominentpointsofvision；advancingagain，morelike15，000than1，500:
’AndintheDefileyonder，thatregiment，doyoumarkit；theKing’svanguard，Ishouldsay？——Tohorse！’
"ThatisSeidlitz’sfineBitofPainting，hungoutyonder，hookedontheskyitself，astemporarybackgroundtoGotha，tobejudgedofbytheconnoisseurs。Forpictorialeffect，breadthoftouch，truthtoNatureandrealpowerontheconnoisseur，Ihaveheardofnothingequalbyanyartist。ThehighGeneralcy，Soubise，Hildburghausen，Darmstadt，mountinthehighesthaste；everybodymounts，happyhewhohasanythingtomount；thegrenadierstumbleoutoftheSchloss；dragoons，artillerytumbleout；Dauphinesstakeswhollytoherheels，atanextraordinarypace:sothatSeidlitz’shussarscouldhardlygetastrokeather；caughtsixtyandodd，nineofthemOfficersnotofmark；didkillthirty；andhadsuchahaulofequipagesandvaluableeffects，cosmeticagoodfewofthem，habilatory，artistic，ascausedthehussarhearttosingforjoy。Amongotherplunder，wasLoudon’sCommissionofMajor—General，justonitsroadfromVienna[poorMannstein’sdeaththesuggestingcause，saysome]；——undoubtedlyashiningLoudon；
towhomFriedrich，nextday，forwardedtheDocumentwithapoliteNote。"[Helden—Geschichte，iv。640；
Westphalen，ii。37；OEuvresdeFrederic，
iv，147。]’
ThedayafterthisbrightfeatofSeidlitz’s，whichwasaslightconsolationtoFriedrich，therecameaLetterfromtheDuchess，notofcomplimentonly；theLetteritselfhadtobeburntonthespot，being，aswouldseem，dangerousfortheHighLady，whowasmuchafriendofFriedrich’s。TheirCorrespondence，verypoliteandgraceful，butformostpartgonetotheunintelligiblestate，andbecomevacantandspectral，figuresconsiderablyintheBooks，andwas，nodoubt，aconsiderablefacttoFriedrich。HisAnsweronthisoccasionmaybegiven，sincewehaveit，——lestthereshouldnotelsewherebeopportunityforasecondspecimen。
FRIEDRICHTOTHEGRAND—DUCHESSOFSACHSEN—GOTHA。
"KIRSCHLEBEN，NEABERFURT，20thSeptember，1757。
"MADAM，——Nothingcouldhappenmoreglorioustomytroopsthanthatoffighting，Madam，underyoureyesandforyourdefence。Iwishtheirhelpcouldbeusefultoyou；butIforeseethereverse。IfI
wereobstinatelytoinsistonmaintainingthepostofGothawithInfantry，IshouldruinyourCityforyou，Madam，byattractingthitherandfixingtherethetheatreoftheWar；whereas，bythepresentcourse，youwillonlyhavetosufferlittlerubs（PASSADES），whichwillnotlastlong。
"Athousandthanksthatyoucould，inadaylikeyesterday，findthemomenttothinkofyourFriends，andtoemployyourselfforthem。[Seidlitz’sattackwasbrisk，quitesudden，withaneffectlikeHarlequin’sswordinPantomimes；andGothaineverycorner，especiallyintheSchlossbelowandahovestairs，——dinnercookedforA，andeatenbyB，inthatmanner，——musthavebeenthemostagitatedoflittleCities。]Iwillneglectnothingofwhatyouhavethegoodnesstotellme；Ishallprofitbythesenotices。
HeavengrantitmightbeforthedeliveranceandthesecurityofGermany！
"ThemostsignalmarkofobedienceIcangiveyouconsistsunquestionablyindoingyourbiddingwiththisLetter。[Burnit，sosoonasread。]Ishouldhavekeptitasamonumentofyourgenerosityandcourage:but，Madam，sinceyoudisposeofitotherwise，yourordersshallbeexecuted；persuadedthatifonecannotserveone’sfriends，onemustatleastavoidhurtingthem；
thatonemaybelesscircumspectforone’sowninterest，butthatonemustbeprudentandeventimidfortheirs。Iam，withthehighestesteemandthemostperfectconsideration，Madam，yourHighness’smostfaithfulandaffectionateCousin，——F。"
[OEuvresdeFrederic，xvii。167。]
FromErfurt，onthenightofhisarrival，findingtheDauphinessinsuchhumor，FriedrichhadorderedFerdinandofBrunswickwithhisDivisionandPrinceMoritzwithhis，bothofwhomwerestillatNaumburg，togoondifferenterrands，——FerdinandoutHalberstadt—
Magdeburgway，whitherRichelieu，vulture—like，ifnoteagle—like，isonwing；MoritztoTorgau，tosecureourmagazineandbeontheoutlookthere。Bothofthemmarchedonthemorrow（November14th）:
andaresendinghimnews，——seldomcomfortablenews；mainlythat，inspiteofallonecando（anditisnotlittleonFerdinand’spart，theRichelieuvultures，80，000ofthem，floatingonward，leaguesbroad，arenottobekeptoutofHalberstadt，wellifoutofMagdeburgitself；——andthat，inshort，thegeneralconflagration，inthosepartstoo，isprogressive。[InOrlich’sFirstMoritz，pp。71—89；andinWestphalen，ii。23—143（aboutFerdinand）:interestingDocumentarydetails，AutographsofFriedrich，&c。，inregardtoboththeseExpeditions。]Moritz，peaceableforsomeweeksinTorgauCountry，wastohaveaneyeonBrandenburgwithal，onBerlinitself；andbeforelongMoritzwillseesomethingnoticeablethere！
FromPreussen，Friedrichhearsofmereravagingsandhorridcruelties，Cossack—Calmuckatrocities，whichmakehumannatureshudder:[InHelden—Geschichte，iv。427—437，thehideousdetails。]"Fightthosemonsters；gointothematallhazards！"hewritestoLehwaldperemptorily。Lehwald，25，000
against80，000，doesso；drawsup，infrontofWehlau，notfareastofKonigsberg，amongwoodyswamps，AUGUST30th，ataHamletcalledGROSS—JAGERSDORF，withhisbestskill；fightswell，thoughnotwithoutmistakes；andisbeatenbycannonandnumbers。
[Tempelhof，i。299；Retzow，i。212；&c。&c。（"Russianslostabout9，000，"bytheirowntale5，000；"thePrussians3，000"andtheField）。]PreussennowliesatApraxin’sdiscretion。ThisbitofnewstooisontheroadforErfurtCountry。Suchasixweeksfortheswiftman，obligedtostandspell—bound，——idleposterityneverwillconceiveit；anddescriptionisuseless。
Letusaddhere，thatApraxindidnotadvanceonKonigsberg，orfartherintoPreussenatall；but，aftersomeloitering，turned，toeverybody’ssurprise，andwendedslowlyhome。"Couldgetnoprovision，"saidApraxinforhimself。"ThoughttheCzarinawasdying，"saidtheworld；"andthatPeterhersuccessorwouldtakeitwell！"Ploddedslowlyhome，forcertain；Lehwaldfollowinghim，nottooclose，tillovertheborder。NothingleftofApraxin，andhishugeExpedition，butMemelalone；Memel，andagreatmanygravesandruins。SothatLehwaldcouldberecalled，toattendontheSwedes，beforeWintercame。AndFriedrich’sworstforebodingsdidnottakeeffectinthiscase；——norinsomeothers，asweshallsee！
LAMENTATION—PSALMSOFFRIEDRICH。
Meanwhile，isitnotremarkablethatFriedrichwrotemoreVerses，thisAutumn，thanalmostinanyotherthreemonthsofhislife？
Singular，yes；thoughperhapsnotinexplicable。Andifreaderscouldfairlyunderstandthatfact，insteadofrunningawaywiththeshellofit，andleavingtheessence，itwouldthrowagreatlightonFriedrich。Heisnotabroodinginarticulateman，then；butabright—glancing，articulate；nottobestruckdumbbythefaceofDeathitself。Flashesclear—eyedintothephysiognomyofDeath，andRuin，andtheAbysmalHorrorsopening；andhasasharpwordtosaytothem。TheexplanationofhislargecargoofVersesthisAutumnis，Thatalways，alternatingwithsuchfieryvelocity，hehadintolerableperiodsofwaitingtillthingswereready。Andtooktoverses，bywayofexpectoratinghimself，andkeepingdownhisdevils。Notabadplan，inthecircumstances，——especiallyifyouhavesowonderfulaturnforexpectorationbyspeech。"AllbadasPoetry，thoseVerses？"asksthereader。Well，someofthemarenotoffirst—rategoodness。Shouldhavebeenburnt；orthetimemarkedwhichtheytookup，andwhetheritwasgoodtimewasted（whichI
supposeitalmostneverwas），orbadtimeskilfullygotover。
Time，thatisthegreatpoint；andtheheart—truthofthem，ormerelip—truth，another。Wemustgivesomespecimens，atanyrate。
EspeciallythatnotableSpecimenfromtheZittauCountries:
the"EpistletoWilhelmina（EPITREAMASOEUR[OEuvresdeFrederic，xii。36—42。]；"whichisthekey—note，asitwere；thefountain—headofmuchotherverse，andofmuchprosewithal，andCorrespondencingnotwithWilhelminaalone，ofwhichalsosometastemustbegiven。PrimaryEPITRE；written，Iperceive，inthatintervalofwaitingforKeithandthemagazines，——thoughthefinaldateis"Bernstadt，August24th。"Concerningwhich，Smelfungustakes，over—hastily，thelibertytosay:"Strange，isitnot，tobeonthepointoffightingforone’sexistence；
overwhelmedwithsomanybusinesses；anddisposedtogointoverseinaddition！CONCEIVEthatformofmind；itwouldilluminatesomethingofFriedrich’scharacter:Icannotyetrightlyunderstandsuchanaspectofstructure，andknownotwhattosayofit，except’Strange！’"——
Understanditornot，wedogatherbymeansofitsomeindisputableglimpses，nearlyallthedirectinsightallowedusoutofanysource，intoFriedrich’sinnerman；whathisthoughtswere，whathishumorwasinthatuniquecrisis；andtoreadersinquestofthat，thesePieces，fallenobsoleteandfrostytoallotherkindsofreaders，arewellworthperusing，andagainperusing。
MostveraciousDocuments，wecanobserve；nothingcouldbetruer；
Confessionstheyare，inthemostemphaticsense；notruerevermadetoaPriestinthenameoftheMostHigh。LikeasoliloquyofNight—Thoughts，accidentallybecomingaudibletous。Mahomet，I
find，wrotetheKoraninthismanner。FromthesepoorPoems，whicharevoicesDEPROFUNDIS，theremight，bypropercareandselection，beconstructedaFriedrich’sKoran；and，withcommentaryandelucidation，itwouldbepleasanttoread。TheKoranofFriedrich，ortheLamentation—PsalmsofFriedrich！ButitwouldneedanEditor，——otherthanDryasdust！Mahomet’sKoran，treatedbytheArabDryasdust（merelyturningupthebottomofthatBoxofShoulder—
blades，andprintingthem），hasbecomedreadfullytoughreading，onthissideoftheGlobe；andhasgivenrisetotheimpossiblestnotionsaboutMahomet！Indisputableitis，Heroes，intheiraffliction，MahometandDavid，havesolacedthemselvesbysnatchesofPsalms，bySuras，burstsofUtterancerisingintoSong；——andifFriedrich，onfarotherconditions，didthelike，whathasHistorytosayofblametohim？
Wilhelminacomesoutverystrong，inthisseasonoftrouble；
almostthelastweseeofourexcellentWilhelmina。Likealioness；
likeashrillmotherwhenherchildrenareinperil。AnoblesisterlyaffectionisinWilhelmina；shrillPythianvehemencetryingtheimpossible。ThataBrother，andsuchaBrother，themostheroicnowbreathing，braveandtrue，andthesoulofhonorinallthings，shouldhavethewholeworldriseroundhim，likeadeliriousSorcerer’s—Sabbath，intenttohurlthemountainsonhim，——seemssuchahorrorandamadnesstoWilhelmina。Likethebrood—
henflyinginthefaceofwilddogs，andpacksofhoundsinfulltrail！MostChristianPompadourKings，enragedCzarinas，implacableEmpress—Queens；awholeworldinarmeddeliriumrusheson，regardlessofWilhelmina。Nevermind，mynobleone；yourBrotherwillperhapsmanagetocomeupwiththisleviathanorthatamongtheheapofthem，atagoodtime，andsmiteintothefifthribofhim。YourBrotherdoesnottheleastshapetowardsgivingin；
thanktheHeavens，hewillstandtohimselfatleast；hisownpoorstrengthwillallbeonhisownside。
Wilhelmina’shopesofaPeacewithFrance；missionofherMirabeau，missionsandschemesnotafew，wehaveheardofonWilhelmina’spartwiththisview；butthenotablestisstilltomention:thatofstirringup，byVoltaire’smeans，animportant—lookingCardinaldeTencintolaborinthebusiness。EminencyTencinlivesinLyon，knowntothePrincessonherItalianTour；——shyofaskingVoltairetodinneronthatfineoccasion，——but，exceptOfficially，isnototherwisethanwell—affectedtoVoltaire。WasonceChiefMinisterofFrance，andwouldfainagainbe；doesnotliketheseBernisnoveltiesandAustrianAlliances，hadhenowanypowertooversetthem。LethimcorrespondwithMostChristianMajesty，atleast；
pleadforaPeacewithPrussia，Prussiabeingsoreadythatway。
EminencyTencin，onVoltaire’ssuggestion，didso，perhapsisevennowdoingso；tillorderedtoholdHISpeaceonsuchsubjects。
Thisiscertainandwellknown；butnothingelseisknown，ortousknowable，aboutit；Voltaire，invagueform，beingouroneauthority，throughwhomitisvaintohunt，andagainhunt。
[OEuvres（Memoires），ii。92，93；IB。i。143；
Preuss，ii。84。]TheDates，muchmorethefeaturesandcircumstances，alllieburiedfromus，and——tillperhapstheLamentation—Psalmsarewelledited——mustcontinuelying。Asafactcertain，butundeniablyvague。
Voltaire’sprocedure，onecangather，ispolite，buttwo—faced；
notsublimeonthisoccasion。Infact，isintendedtoservehimself。TothehighPrincesshewritesdevotionally，readytoobeyinallthings；andthentohisEminencyCardinalTencin，itratherseemsasifthetonewere:"Pooh！yes，yourEminency；sucharethepoorLady’snotions。ButdoesyourEminencytakenoticehowhighmyconnectionsare；whatserviceapoorobscurecreaturemightperhapsdotheStatesomeday？"Friedrichhimselfis，intheseways，broughtintocorrespondencewithVoltaireagain；andoccasionallywritestohiminthisWar，andeverafterwards:Voltairerespondswithfinesympathy，alwaysprettily，intheenthusiasmofthemoment；——andatothertimeshewritesagooddealaboutFriedrich，oftenestinratheramischievousdialect。"Thetraitor！"exclaimsomePrussianwriters，notmanyorimportant，inourtime。Infact，thereisaconsiderabletouchofgrinningmalice（asofMonkeyVERSUSCat，whohadonceburntHISpaw，insteadofgettinghisownburnt），inthoseutterancesofVoltaire；someofwhichthereaderwillgrinovertoo，withoutmuchtragicfeeling，——theratherastheydidourFelisLeonomannerofill，andshowourincomparableSINGEwithasparkleoftheTIGREinhim；theoreticsparklemerelyandformoments，whichmakeshimallthemoreentertainingandinterestingatthedomestichearth。
OfFriedrich’sLamentation—PsalmsweproposetogivetheFirstandtheLast:these，withcertainProsePieces，intermediateandconnecting，mayperhapsbemadeintelligibletoreaders，andthrowsomelightonthesetragicweeksoftheKing’sHistory:——
1。EPITREAMASOEUR（FirstoftheLamentation—Psalms）。——Thisisthefamed"EpistletoWilhelmina，"alreadyspokenof；whichtheKingdespatchedfromBernstadt"August24th，"justwhilequittingthoseparts，ontheErfurtErrand；——thoughwrittenbefore，inthetediumofwaitingforKeith。ThePieceislong，vehement，altogethersincere；lyricallysingsaloud，ordeclaimsinrhyme，whatone’sindignantthoughtreallyisonthesurroundingwoesandatrocities。Wefaithfullyabridge，andcondenseintoourbriefestProse；——readerscanaddwaterandthejingleofFrenchrhymesAD
LIBITUM。Itstartsthus:——
"Osweetanddearhopeofmyremainingdays；OSister，whosefriendship，sofertileinresources，sharesallmysorrows，andwithahelpfularmassistsmeinthegulf！ItisinvainthattheDestinieshaveoverwhelmedmewithdisasters:ifthecrowdofKingshaveswornmyruin；iftheEarthhaveopenedtoswallowme，——
youstillloveme，nobleandaffectionateSister:lovedbyyou，whatisthereofmisfortune？[Branchesoffintosomesurveyofit，nevertheless。]
"Hugecontinentsofthunder—cloud，plotsthickeningagainstme[inthoseMenzelDocuments]，Iwatchedwithterror；theskygettingblacker，nocovertformevisible:onasudden，fromthedeepsofHell，startsforthDiscord[withcapitalletter]，andthetempestbroke。
CefutdanstonSenat，OfouqueuseAngleterre！
Oucemonstreinhumainfiteclaterlaguerre:
ItwasfromthySenate，stormfulEngland，thatshefirstlaunchedoutWar。Inremoteclimatesfirst；inAmerica，faraway；——betweenFranceandthee。OldOceanshookwithit；Neptune，inthedepthsofhiscaves（SESGROTTESPROFONDES），sawtheEnglishsubjectinghiswaves（SESONDES）:thewildIroquois，prizeofthesecrimes（FORFAITS），burstsout；detestingthetyrantswhodisturbhisForests，"——andscalpingBraddock’speople，andthelike。
"Discord，charmedtoseesuchanAmerica，andfeeblemortalscrossingtheOceantoexterminateoneanother，addressestheEuropeanKings:’Howlongwillyoubeslavestowhatarecalledlaws？Isitforyoutobendunderworn—outnotionsofjustice，right？MarsistheoneGod:MightisRight。AKing’sbusinessistodosomethingfamousinthisworld。’
"OdaughteroftheCaesars，"MariaTheresa，"how，atthesewords，ambition，burninginthysoul，breaksoutuncontrollable！
Probity，honor，treaties，duty:feebleconsiderationsthese，toaheartlettinglooseitsflamypassions；determiningtorobthegenerousGermansoftheirliberties；todegradethyequals；
toextinguish’Schism’（socalled），andsetupdespotismonthewrecksofall。"
"Hugeproject"——"FIERTRIUMVIRAT，"——whatnot:"FromRoussillonandthesunnyPyreneestofrozenRussia，allarmforAustria，andmarchatherbidding。Theyconcertmydownfall，trampleonmyrights。
"TheDaughteroftheCaesars，proudlycertainofvictory，——’tisthewayoftheGreat，whosecommonplacevirtue，pusillanimousinreverses，overbearinginsuccess，cannotbridletheircupidity，——
designatestotheTriumviratewhatKingsaretobeproscribed[BritannicGeorgeandme，Reichbusyonusbothevennow]，andthoseungratefultyrants，byunitedcrime，immolatetoeachother，withoutremorse，theirdearestallies。"Forinstance:——
"Ojourdigned’oubli！Quelleatroceimprudence！
Therese，c’estl’AnglaisquetuvendsalaFrance:
Theresa！itisEnglandthouartsellingtoFrance；"——Yes，athingworthnoting。"Thygeneroussupportinthyfirstadversities；
thyonefriendthen，whenaworldhadrisentodevourthee。
Thoureignestnow:——butitwasEnglandalonethatsavedtheeanythingtoreignover！
Turegnes，matsluiseulasauvetesetats:
Lesbienfaitschezlesroisnefontquedesingrats。
"Andthou，lazyMonarch，"——stupidLouis，letusomithim:——
"Pompadour，sellingherlovertothehighestbidder，makesFrance，inourday，Austria’sslave！"WeomitKolinBattle，too，spokenofwithaproudmodesty（Pragisnotspokenofatall）；andhowtheneighboringravenousPowers，on—lookershitherto，haveopenedtheirthroatswithoneaccordtoswallowPrussia，thinkingitsdownfallcertain:"PoormercenarySweden，oncesofamousunderitssoldierKings，nowdebasedbyavenalSenate；"——Sweden，"whatsayI？myownkindred[foolishAnspachandothers]，drivenbyperversemotives，joinintheplotofhorrors，andbecomesatellitesoftheprosperingTriumvirs。
"Andthou，lovedPeople[myownPrussians]，whosehappinessismycharge[notablehowoftenherepeatsthis]itisthylamentabledestiny，itisthedangerwhichhangsoverthee，thatpiercesmysoul。ThepompsofmyrankIcouldresignwithoutregret。Buttorescuethee，inthisblackcrisis，Iwillspendmyheart’sblood。
WhoseISthatbloodbutthine？WithjoywillIrallymywarriorstoavengethyaffront；defydeathatthefootoftheramparts[ofDaunandhisEckartsberg，aheadyonder]，andeitherconquer，orbeburiedunderthyruins。"Verywell；butah，——
"Preparingwithsuchpurpose，yeHeavens，whatmournfulcriesarethosethatreachus:’DeathhaalaidlowthyMother！’——Hah，thatwasthelaststroke，then，whichangryFatehadreservedforme。——
OMother，Deathfliesmymisfortunes，andspreadshislividhorrorsoverthee！[Verytender，verysad，whathesaysofhisMother；
butmustbeomittedandimagined。Generalfinaleis:]
"ThusDestinywithadelugeoftormentsfillsthepoisonedremnantofmydays。Thepresentishideoustome，thefutureunknown:
what，yousayIamthecreatureofaBENEficentBeing？——
Quoiserais—feformeparunDieubienfaisati？
Ah！s’iletaitsibon，tendrepoursonouvrage"——
——Husht，mylittleTitan！
"Andnow，yepromotersofsacredlies，goonleadingcowardsbythenose，inthedarkwindingsofyourlabyrinth:——tometheenchantmentisended，thecharmdisappears。IseethatallmenarebutthesportofDestiny。Andthat，iftheredoexistsomeGloomyandInexorableBeing，whoallowsadespisedherdofcreaturestogoonmultiplyinghere，hevaluesthemasnothing；looksdownonaPhalariscrowned，onaSocratesinchains；onourvirtues，ourmisdeeds，onthehorrorsofwar，andallthecruelplagueswhichravageEarth，asathingindifferenttohim。Wherefore，mysolerefugeandonlyhaven，lovedSister，isinthearmsofDeath:——
AinsimonseulasileetmonuniqueportSetrouve，cheresoeur，danslesbrasdelamort。"
[OEuvres，xii。36—42；issentofftoWilhelmina24thAugust。]
2。WILHELMINATOVOLTAIRE，WITHSOMETHINGOFANSWER（FirstofcertainintercalaryProsePieces）。——WilhelminahasbeenwritingtoVoltairebefore，andgettingconsolationssinceKolin；butherLettersarelost，tillthistheearliestthatisleftus:——
BAIREUTH，19thAUGUST，1757（TOVOLTAIRE）。——"Onefirstknowsone’sfriendswhenmisfortunesarrive。TheLetteryouhavewrittendoeshonortoyourwayofthinking。IcannottellyouhowmuchIamsensibletowhatyouhavedone[setCardinalTencinastir，withresultwewillhope]。TheKing，myBrother，isasmuchsoasI。
YouwillfindaNotehere，whichhebidsmetransmittoyou[Notelost]。Thatgreatmanisstillthesame。Hesupportshismisfortuneswithacourageandafirmnessworthyofhim。HecouldnotgettheNotetranscribed。Itbeganbyverses。Insteadofthrowingsandonit，hetooktheink—bottle；thatisthereasonwhyitiscutintwo。"
——ThisNote，wesay，islosttous；——allbutaccidentallythus:
Voltaire，12thSeptember，writestwicetofriends。WritingtohisD’Argentals，hesays:"TheaffairsofthisKing[Friedrich]gofrombadtoworse。IknownotifItoldyouoftheLetterhewrotetomeaboutthreeweeksago[sayAugust17th—18th:thissameNotethroughWilhelmina，evidently]:’Ihavelearned，’sayshe，’thatyouhadinterestedyourselfinmysuccessesandmisfortunes。Thereremainstomenothingbuttosellmylifedear，’&c。HisSisterwritesmeonemuchmorelamentable；"theonewearenowreading:——
"Iaminafrightfulstate；andwillnotsurvivethedestructionofmyHouseandFamily。Thatistheoneconsolationthatremainstome。YouwillhavefinesubjectsformakingTragediesof。Otimes！
Omanners！Youwill，bytheillusoryrepresentation，perhapsdrawtears；whileallcontemplatewithdryeyestherealityofthesemiseries:thedownfallofawholeHouse，againstwhich，ifthetruthwereknown，thereisnosolidcomplaint。Icannotwritefartherofit:mysoulissotroubledthatIknownotwhatIamdoing。Butwhateverhappen，bepersuadedthatIammorethaneveryourfriend，——WILHELMINA。"[InOEuvresdeFrederic，lxxvii。30。]
Friedrich，whileWilhelminawritesso，isatthefootoftheEckartsberg，eagerlymanoeuvringwiththeAustrians，inhopesofgettingbattleoutofthem，——whichhecannot。Friedrich，whilehewrotethatNotetoVoltaire，andinsteadofsand—boxshooktheink—bottleoverit，wasjustgoingoutonthaterrand。
VOLTAIRE，12thSEPTEMBER（toaLadywhoseSonisintheD’Estreeswars）。[Ib。lxxii。55。56。]——"Herearemightyrevolutions，Madame；
andwearenotattheendyet。Theysaytherehave18，000
HanoveriansbeendisposedofatStade[ConventionofKloster—
Zeven]。Thatisnosmallmatter。IcanhopeM。Richelieu[whois"MONHEROS，"whenIwritetohimself]willadornhisheadwiththelaurelstheyhavestuckinhispocket。IwishMonsieuryourSonabundanceofhonorandglorywithoutwounds，andtoyou，Madame，unalterablehealth。TheKingofPrussiahaswrittenmeaverytouchingLetter[onelineofwhichwehaveread]；butIhavealwaysMadameDenis’sadventureonmyheart，"atFrankfurtyonder。"IfI
werewell，IwouldtakearuntoFrankfurtmyselfonthebusiness，"
——nowthatSoubise’sreservesareinthoseparts，andcouldgiveFreytagandSchmidtsuchadustingforme，iftheyliked！ShallI
writetoCollinionit？Doeswrite，andagainwrite，thesecondyearhence，asstillbetterchancesrise。[Collini，pp。208—211
（"January—May，1759"）。]
3。WILHELMINATOVOLTAIREAGAIN，WITHANSWER（SecondoftheProsePieces）。——NotaveryzealousfriendofFriedrich’s，afterall，thisVoltaire！PoorWilhelmina，terrifiedbythatEPITREofherBrother’s，andhisfixedpurposeofseekingDeath，has，inherdespair（thoughherLetterislost），beenurgingVoltairetowritedissuadinghim；——asVoltairedoes。Ofwhichpresently。HerLettertoVoltaireonthisthrice—importantsubjectislost。ButintheveryhourswhileVoltairesatwritingwhatwehavejustread，"alwayswithMadameDenis’sadventureonmyheart，"Wilhelmina，atBaireuth，isagainwritingtohimasfollows:——
BAIREUTH，12thSEPTEMBER，1757（TOVOLTAIRE）。——"YourLetterhassensiblytouchedme；thatwhichyouaddressedtomefortheKing[bothLetterslosttous]hasproducedthesameeffectonhim。
IhopeyouwillbesatisfiedwithhisAnswerastowhatconcernsyourself；butyouwillbeaslittlesoasIamwiththeresolutionshehasformed。Ihadflatteredmyselfthatyourreflectionswouldmakesomeimpressiononhismind。YouwillseethecontrarybytheLetteradjoined。"Tomethereremainsnothingbuttofollowhisdestinyifitisunfortunate。Ihaveneverpiquedmyselfonbeingaphilosopher；thoughIhavemademyeffortstobecomeso。ThesmallprogressImadedidteachmetodespisegrandeursandriches:butI
couldneverfindinphilosophyanycureforthewoundsoftheheart，exceptthatofgettingdonewithourmiseriesbyceasingtolive。ThestateIaminisworsethandeath。Iseethegreatestmanofhisage，myBrother，myfriend，reducedtothefrightfulestextremity。IseemywholeFamilyexposedtodangersandperhapsdestruction；mynativeCountrytornbypitilessenemies；theCountrywhereIam[ReichsArmy，Anspach，whatnot]menacedbyperhapssimilarmisfortune。WouldtoHeavenIwerealoneloadedwithallthemiseriesIhavedescribedtoyou！Iwouldsufferthem，andwithfirmness。
"Pardonthesedetails。Youinviteme，bythepartyoutakeinwhatregardsme，toopenmyhearttoyou。Alas，hopeiswell—nighbanishedfromit。Fortune，whenshechanges，isasconstantinherpersecutionsasinherfavors。Historyisfullofthoseexamples:——
butIhavefoundnoneequaltotheonewenowsee；noranyWarasinhumanandascruelamongcivilizednations。YouwouldsighifyouknewthesadsituationofGermanyandPreussen。ThecrueltieswhichtheRussianscommitinthatlatterCountrymakenatureshudder。
[Details，horriblebutauthentic，inHelden—Geschichte，alreadycited。]HowhappyyouinyourHermitage；