按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
There was a long and painful pause； not a word was spoken。 Those who were arranging the tents for the king's troops were moving actively about； and now they drew near with their measuring…line； exactly to the spot upon which the king stood。 He was forced to take another position； he turned his horse； and stood exactly in front of his generals。 His countenance was not calm and cold； it flashed with rage。 The Prince of Prussia had the courage to brave his anger； and； drawing near； he bowed profoundly。
The king did not answer his greeting； and； indeed； appeared not to see him。 A black cloud was on his brow； and it became still blacker as the other generals dared to approach and salute him。 Suddenly； in that tone of voice he was accustomed to use only upon the field ff battle the king called out：
〃Goltz； come here！〃
The general advanced from the circle； with a firm military bearing； and approached the king。
〃Goltz；〃 said he； loudly； and looking as if he wished to crush the unhappy general〃Goltz； tell my brother and the other generals that if I did justice； I would take off their headsWinterfeldt only excepted。〃 ＇Footnote： The king's own words〃Characteristics of the Seven Years' War。〃＇
A murmur of discontent was heard amongst the generals； and every eye was fixed angrily upon Winterfeldt。 He turned deadly pale； and looked down； as if ashamed of the exception the king had made； and dared not gaze upon those whose guilt he shared； and whose punishment he escaped。
The king fixed his eye so piercingly upon the murmurers； that they felt his glance upon them； without daring to meet it。 Only the Prince of Prussia drew still nearer to the king。
〃Sire；〃 said he； in a calm voice； 〃my duty demands that I should give your majesty a list of the army。 Will you be graciously pleased to accept it from me？〃 He took the paper from his pocket； and handed it to the king； who snatched it from him hastily； and turned his back again upon them。
〃Withdraw； messieurs；〃 said he； 〃your presence oppresses me； you remind me of the disgraceful defeat my army has suffered； through the guilt of its leaders。〃
〃Sire；〃 said the Duke of Severn； 〃will your majesty listen to our justification？〃
〃Justification！〃 cried the king； with flashing eyes〃if this unparalleled disgrace which you have all brought upon my army could be justified； I might pity； but I must curse you。 Go； sir duke； I will not look upon you。〃 And springing with youthful activity from his horse； he entered his tent。
The generals were alone。 They looked upon each other's death…like faces with suppressed scorn upon their trembling lips； and tears of rage in their eyes。
〃Shall we bear this shame silently？〃 said one。
〃Shall we allow ourselves to be scolded like schoolboys？〃 said another。 〃Shall we suffer foul accusations to be brought against us； and no opportunity granted for justification？〃
As the murmur of the generals became louder； the Prince of Prussia； who had been standing aside in deep thought； came forward。 An expression of calm resolve was written upon his noble features。
〃No； gentlemen； you shall not suffer this。 I undertake to justify you to the king。〃
〃Do not attempt it； prince；〃 said the Duke of Wurteinberg； 〃at least； not in this hour。 The king will crush you in his rage！〃
Prince Augustus William cast his eyes to heaven； saying； 〃I am in the hands of God。 I would rather die by the king's rage than to endure his contempt。 The king made me commander…in…chief of this army corps； and accuses me of failure in duty！ He shall hear my defence。 As a Hohenzollern； as a general； as his brother； I demand the right to make my report。〃 He advanced hastily toward the king's tent； but the Duke of Severn held him back。
〃Will your royal highness allow me to accompany you？〃 said he。 〃The king's scorn fell upon me personally； and I also demand a hearing。〃
〃No one shall accompany me；〃 said the prince； solemnly。 〃None but God shall be witness to what we have to say。 Wait for me； therefore； gentlemen。 I shall soon return。〃 He bowed and entered the king's tent。
〃Announce me to his majesty；〃 he said to the guard； who returned immediately and opened the inner door of the tent。
The prince entered with a firm step and head erectthe door closed behind himthe two brothers were alone。
The king sat upon a camp…stool by a little table covered with papers。 He held in his hand the paper which the prince had given him； and appeared to be reading it eagerly。 The prince stood for some time silently at the door； at last； weary of waiting； he entered the tent and stepped directly before the king。
King Frederick arose and fixed his great eyes scornfully upon his brother。 〃I gave you an army corps of thirty…six thousand men； and you bring me back sixteen thousand！ Where have you left my soldiers？〃
〃They lie in the narrow pass of Gabelin the chasms of the Erz mountainsthey have died of hunger and thirst； and they have deserted；〃 said Prince Augustus； solemnly。
〃And you dare to tell me this？〃 said the king。
〃I dare to tell you what fate has brought upon us。〃
〃Fate？〃 cried the king； shrugging his shoulders。 〃Fate is ever the excuse for the crimes； and follies of man。 Your obstinacy and your disobedience are what you call fate。 Prince Augustus William of Prussia； how did you dare to act contrary to my instructions； and to conduct this retreat through the mountains； and not by the highways？〃
〃Your majesty gave me no instructions；〃 said the prince； eagerly。 〃Your majesty commanded me to take counsel of my generals in every movement； and I did so。 I should not have retreated through the mountains had they not advised it in consideration of the real approach of the enemy。 But I do not say this to excuse myself； or to accuse them； but to prove to my brother the king that it was unjust to place me under the guardianship and direction of his generals unjust to place a mentor by my side who is my enemywho hates me and seeks my destruction！〃
〃Do you dare to reproach me？〃 said the king； in a thundering voice。
〃In this hour I dare all；〃 said the prince； steadily。 〃This is a decisive hour between you and me； my brother。 It is a strife of intellect； of spirit； and although I know I am too weak to conquer； I will at least fall with honorwith my sword in my hand！ I shall fall； but you shall not consider me a cowardly mute who does not dare to defend himself。 I know that I have been slandered to you； I know that those whom you honor with your friendship are spies upon my every word and look； and report to your majesty what they hear and what they do not hearwhat is true and what is not true。 I know I have been robbed of my brother's love； but I will not consent to the loss of his respect and consideration。 Sire； Winterfeldt wrote to you； I know that he did so。 If he wrote that I was obstinate and self…willed； and alone answerable for the disasters of the army； ＇Footnote： Warner's 〃Campaigns of Frederick the Great。〃＇ I call God to witness that he slandered me。 Your majesty speaks of instructions。 I received none。 I would remind you that I entreated you in vain to give me partial instructionsthat I wrote down your majesty's verbally expressed opinions； and implored you