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frederick the great and his family-第115章

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allowed to pass the time of their captivity at my capital。 Many among them have taken advantage of the confidence reposed in them and carried on a forbidden correspondence; they have also; by unmannerly and presumptuous conduct; greatly abused the privileges allowed them; I therefore feel myself constrained to send them to Spandau; which city must not be confounded with the fortress of the same name at Spandau; they will be no more restricted than in Berlin; but they will be more closely watched。〃

〃For this decision I cannot be blamed。 The law of nations and the example of my allied enemies justify me fully。 The Austrians have not allowed any of my officers who have fallen into their hands to go to Vienna。 The Russians have sent their captives to Kasan。 My enemies lose no opportunity to give a false aspect to my acts; I have; therefore; thought it wise to make known the causes which lead me to change my policy with regard to the prisoners of war。〃

〃FREDERICK。〃

Two of the officers; with whom we are acquainted; were not included in this sentence of banishment。

One was Count Belleville。 On the day that his comrades; deprived of their swords; left Berlin; his corpse was carried through the outer gate。 The shot of Baron Marshal made an amputation necessary; and death was the consequence。 While his friends; whose condemnation he had brought about; marched sadly to Spandau; his body was laid in the 〃Friedhof。〃 To the corpse had been granted a favor denied to the livinghis sword was allowed to deck his coffin。

The Austrian officer; Ranuzi; because of his wise and prudent conduct and the powerful support he gave to Baron Marshal; was permitted to remain in Berlin。 Ranuzi received this permission with triumphant joy。 As he looked from his window at the prisoners marching toward Spandau; he said with a proud smile〃It is written; 'Be wise as a serpent。' These fools have not regarded the words of Holy Writ; and therefore they are punished; while I shall be rewarded。 Yes; my work will succeed! God gives me a visible blessing。 Patience; then; patience! A day will come when I will take vengeance on this haughty enemy of the Church。 On that day the colors of the apostolic majesty of Austria shall be planted on the fortress of Magdeburg!〃




CHAPTER X。

THE FIVE COURIERS。


It was the morning of the thirteenth of August。 The streets of Berlin were quiet and empty。 Here and there might be seen a workman with his axe upon his shoulder; or a tradesman stepping slowly to his comptoir。 The upper circle of Berlin still slumbered and refreshed itself after the emotions and excitements of yesterday。

Yesterday had been a day of rejoicing; it had brought the news of the great and glorious victory which the crown prince; Ferdinand of Brunswick; had gained at Minden; over the French army under Broglie and Contades。

The crown prince had ever remembered that great moment in the beginning of the war; when his mother took leave of him in the presence of the Brunswick regiments。 Embracing him for the last time; she said: 〃I forbid you to appear before me till you have performed deeds of valor worthy of your birth and your allies!〃 'Footnote: Bodman。'

Her son; the worthy nephew of Frederick the Great had now bought the right to appear before his mother。

By the victories of Gotsfeld and Minden he had now wiped out the defeat at Bergen; and the laurels which Brissac had won there were now withered and dead。

Berlin had just received this joyful news。 After so much sorrow; so much humiliation and disappointment; she might now indulge herself in a day of festal joy; and; by public declarations and testimonials; make known to the world how dear to her heart was this victory of her king and his generals; and how deep and warm was the sympathy she felt。

All work was set aside in honor of this great celebrationthe people were spread abroad in the meadows and woods; shouting and rejoicing; playing and dancing; the rich and the distinguished joined them without ceremony; to prove to the world that in such great moments; all differences of rank were forgottenthat they were all members of one bodyunited in joy and in sorrow by an electric chain。

So they slumbered on; the streets were still empty; the windows still closed。

But see! There comes a horseman through the Frankfort gate; dusty and breathless; his glowing face was radiant with joy! As he dashed through the streets he waved a white handkerchief high in the air; and with a loud and powerful voice; cried out; 〃Victory! victory!〃

This one word had a magic influence。 The windows flew up; the doors were dashed open; and shouting and screaming crowds of men rushed after the horseman。 At a corner they surrounded his horse and compelled him to stop。 〃Who is victorious?〃 cried they tumultuously。

〃The kingthe great Frederick! He has whipped the Russians at Kunersdorf!〃

A cry of rapture burst from every lip。 〃The king is victorious! he has defeated the Russians!〃

Onward flew the courier to the palace; after him streamed the mad people。 〃The days of mourning are overthe blood of our sons has not been shed in vain; they are the honored deadtheir death brought victory to the fatherland; they have drenched the soil with the blood of our barbarous enemies。 We whipped the French at Minden; the Russians at Kunersdorf; and now we have defeated the Austrians and won back the trophies of their victory at Hochkirch!〃

The people surrounded the castle shouting and triumphing。 The courier had entered to give to the queen the joyful news。 Soon the royal messengers were flying into every corner of the city to summon the ministers and officers of state to the castle。 On foot; on horseback; in carriages; they hastened on; and the people received them with joyful shouts。 〃The king is victorious; the Russians are defeated!〃

And now a door opened on a balcony; and Minister Herzberg stepped out。 He waved his hat joyfully high in the air。 The people returned this greeting with a roar like an exulting lion。 He waved his hand; and the lion ceased to roarthere was death…like silence。 He then told them that the king had offered battle to the Russians; yesterday; not far from Frankfort。 The Russian army was greatly superior in numbers; they received the Prussians with a fearful; deadly fire! Unrestrainable; regardless of cannon…balls; or of death; the Prussians rushed on; stormed all the strongholds; and drove the Russian militia with fearful slaughter back to the graveyard of Kunersdorf。 At five o'clock the king sent off the courier and the victory was assured。

〃The victory was assured!〃 reechoed the mighty voice of the people。 With warm and kindly eyes they looked upon each other。 Proud; glad; happy; men who did not know each other; who had never met; now felt that they were brothers; the sons of one fatherland; and they clasped hands; and shouted their congratulations。

Suddenly; at the end of the street; another horseman appeared。 He drew nearer and nearer。 It is a second courier; a second message of our king to his family and his Berliners。

The people looked at him distrustfully; anxiously。 What means this second courier? What news does he bring?

His countenance gay; his brow 
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