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ten。〃
The stranger bowed。 〃First； I must pray your worship's forgiveness； for having dared to deceive you。 I am no merchant； and have nothing to do with relics； I am a soldier！ my name is Cocceji； and I have the honor to be an adjutant of the King of Prussia。 My royal master has intrusted me with a most important and secret mission； and I am commissioned by your brother； the Abbe Bastiani； to ask in his name for your assistance in this great matter。〃
〃In what does your mission consist？〃 said the prior； calmly。
The Baron Cocceji smiled。 〃It is difficultyes； impossible to tell you in a few words。 Your worship must allow me a wider scope； in order to explain myself fully。〃
〃Speak on！〃 said the prior。
〃I see； by the maps and the arrangements of the pins； that your worship knows exactly the position and circumstances of my royal master； whom all Europe admires and wonders at； and whom his enemies fear most when they have just defeated him。 They know that my king is never so great； never so energetic and bold in action； as when he is seemingly at a disadvantage； and overwhelmed by misfortunes。 The bold glance of the great Frederick discovers ever…new fountains of help； he creates in himself both power and strength； and when his enemies think they have caught the royal lion in their nets； his bold eye has already discovered the weak spot； he tears it apart； and makes his foes； bewildered with terror and astonishment； fly before him。 It is true； the king has just lost three battles！ The Austrians and Russians defeated him at Hochkirch； at Kunersdorf； and at Mayen。 But what have they gained？ They have； in these three battles； lost more than the king； they have exhausted their resourcestheir own； and those of their allies； but Frederick stands still opposed to them； full of strength and power。 His army is enlarged； from every side； from every province； shouting crowds stream onward to join the colors of their king。 Enthusiasm makes a youth of the graybeard； and changes boys to men。 Each one of them will have his part in the experience and fame of the great Frederick； and demands this of him as a holy right。 The king's treasury is not exhausted； the people； with joy and gladness； have offered up upon the altar of the fatherland； their possessions； their jewels； and their precious things； and submit with enthusiasm to all the restrictions and self…denials which the war imposes upon them。 They desire nothing but to see their king victorious； to help him to this； they will give property； bloodyes； life itself。 It is this warm； enthusiastic love of his people which makes the king so fearful to his enemies； it protects him like a diamond shield； steels him against the balls of his adversaries； and fills his proud； heroic soul with assurances of triumph。 All Europe shares this enthusiasm and these convictions of ultimate success with the Prussians and their dear…loved king。 All Europe greets the hero with loud hosannas； who alone defies so many and such mighty foes； who has often overcome them； and from whom they have not yet wrung one single strip of the land they have watered with their blood； and in whose bosom their fallen hosts lie buried in giant graves。 This has won for him the sympathy of all Europe； and the love and admiration of even the subjects of his great and powerful foes。 In Francethat France； whose warriors suffered so shameful a defeat at Rossbach； and whose government is filled with rage and thirsty for revenge against this heroic kingeven in France is Frederick admired and worshipped。 Even in the palace of the king； they no longer refuse to acknowledge his worth and glory。 But lately； the young Duke de Belleisle exhorted the Marquise de Pompadour to implore King Louis to prosecute the war with earnestness and ardor； otherwise King Frederick might soon be expected in Paris with his army。 The Marquise de Pompadour cried out warmly； 'Good！ then I shall at last see a king！' In Germany； his enemies seek in vain to arouse the fanaticism of the people against the heretical king。 Catholic Bavariathe Palatinate…Mainenter murmuringly and reluctantly into this war against this Protestant king； although they wear the beads in their pockets； and the scapular over their shoulders。 Even if Frederick the Second is now overcome by his enemies； in the public opinion he is the conqueror； and the whole world sympathizes with him。 But public opinion is his only ally； and the sympathy of the people is his only source of revenue； outside of the subsidy from England； which will soon be exhausted。 Frederick； therefore； must look after other allies； other friends； who will render him assistance； in so far as not to unsheathe the sword against him； and to prepare some difficulties for his adversaries； and occupy a portion of their attention。 Such friends the king hopes to find in Italy； and to attain this object； I would ask counsel and help of your worship。〃
〃And in how far is it thought that I can be useful in this matter？〃 said the prior； thoughtfully。
〃Your worship has a second brother； who is minister of the King of Sardinia； and it is well known he is the king's especial confidant and favorite。〃
〃And my noble brother； Giovanni； merits fully the favor of his king！〃 said the prior； heartily。 〃He is the most faithful； the most exalted servant of his master！〃
〃In all his great and good characteristics； he resembles his brother； the Prior of San Giovanni； and I hope； in this also； that he is the friend of the King of Prussia！〃 said the stranger。
〃But I fear neither the friendship of my brother Giovanni nor my own can be useful to the King of Prussia。 I am a poor and powerless monk； suspected and watched。 My offence is； that I have not； like the fanatical priests of the Church； wished for the destruction and death of the great Frederick。 My brother is the minister of a king； whose land is neither rich enough in gold to pay subsidies； nor in men to place an army in the field。〃
〃Well； then； we must take occasion to increase the territory of the King of Sardinia！〃 said Baron Cocceji。 〃We must give him so large a realm； that he will be a dangerous neighbor to France and Austria。 This is the plan and the intention of my king。 Upon these points turn the proposals I will make in Turin； for the furtherance of which； I pray your assistance。 The King of Sardinia has well… grounded claim to Milan； to Mantua； and to Bologna； by the treaty of Aix…la…Chapelle； why not make himself King of Lombardy？ Unhappy Italy is like unhappy Germanytorn to pieces。 In place of obeying one master； they must submit to the yoke of many。 The dwellers in Italy； instead of being Italians； call themselves Milanese； Venetians； Sardinians； Tuscans； Romans； Neapolitans； and I know not what。 All this weakens the national pride； and takes from the people the joyful consciousness of their greatness。 Italy must be one in herself； in order to be once more great and powerful。 Let the King of Sardinia take possession of Upper Italy； and he will； with his rightful inheritance； and as King of Lombardy； be a powerful prince… …feared by his enemies； and welcomed by his allies。〃
〃And do you think that Naples would look quietly on and witness this rapid growth of Sardin