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！
he had so often confirmed by oaths。 My love； at least was unselfish； and deserved not to be betrayed。 But he was false in the hour of danger； like Peter who betrayed his Master。 The Austrians had scarcely entered Breslau； when he not only denied me； but went furtherhe trampled upon the orders of my house； and held a Te Deum in the dome in honor of the Austrian victory at Collin。〃 The king ceased and turned away； that the marquis might not see the tears that clouded his eyes。
〃Sire；〃 cried the marquis； deeply moved； 〃forget the ingratitude of these weak souls； who were unworthy of a hero's friendship。〃
〃I will； but enough of this。 You are here； and I still believe in you； marquis。 You and the good Lord Marshal are the only friends left me to lean upon when the baseness of men makes my heart fail。〃
〃These friends will never fail you； sire；〃 said the marquis； deeply moved； 〃your virtues and your love made them strong。〃
The king took his hand affectionately。 〃Let us forget the past；〃 said he； gayly； 〃and as we both； in our weak hours； consider ourselves poets； let us dream that we are in my library in our beloved Sans…Souci。 We will devote this holy time of peace to our studies； for that is； without doubt； the best use we can make of it。 You shall see a flood of verses with which I amused myself in camp； and some epigrams written against my enemies。〃
〃But if we were even now in Sans…Souci； sire； I do not think you would give this hour to books。 I dare assert you would be practising with Quantz； and preparing for the evening concerts。〃
〃Yes； yes； but here we are denied that happiness；〃 said the king； sadly。 〃I have written for a part of my band； and they will be here I hope in eight days； but Graun and Quantz will certainly not〃 The king paused and listened attentively。 It seemed to him as if he heard the sound of a violin in the adjoining room； accompanied by the light tones of a flute。 Yes； it was indeed so； some one was tuning a violin and the soft sound of the flute mingled with the violoncello。 A flush of rosy joy lighted the king's facehe cast a questioning glance upon the marquis； who nodded smilingly。 With a joyful cry the king crossed the rooman expression of glad surprise burst from his lips。
There they were； the loved companions of his evening concerts。 There was Graun； with his soft； dreamy； artistic face； there was Quantz； with his silent； discontented lookwhose grumbling； even Frederick was compelled to respect； there was the young Fasch； whom the king had just engaged； and who played the violoncello in the evening concerts。
As the king advanced to meet them； they greeted him loudly。 〃Long live our king！our great Frederick！〃 Even Quantz forgot himself for a moment； and laughed good…humoredly。
〃Listen； sire； it will be a mortal sin if you scold us for coming to you without being summoned by your majesty。 This is throughout all Prussia a festal day； and no one should desecrate it by scolding or fault…findingnot even the king。〃
〃Oh； I am not disposed to scold；〃 said Frederick； in low tones； he did not wish them to hear how his voice trembled〃I do not scoldI thank you heartily。〃
〃We had nothing better to send your majesty on your birthday than our unworthy selves；〃 said Graun； 〃we come； therefore； to lay ourselves at our king's feet； and say to him： 'Accept our hearts； and do not spurn the gift。' A warm； human heart is the richest gift one man can offer another。 Your majesty is a great king； and a good and great man； and we dare approach you； therefore； as man to man。〃
〃And my Graun is so renowned a composer； that any man must count it an honor to be beloved by him；〃 said Frederick； tenderly。
〃For myself；〃 said Quantz； gravely； handing the king a small roll carefully wrapped up； 〃I have brought something more than my naked heart in honor of my king's birthday。 I pray your majesty to accept it graciously。〃 ＇Footnote： Pocus； 〃Frederick the Great and his Friends。〃＇
The king opened it hastily。 〃A flute！〃 cried he； joyfully； 〃and a flute made for me by the great master Quantz； I am sure。〃
〃Yes； your majesty； all the time you were in the field； I have worked upon it。 As the courier brought the news of the battle of Leuthen； all Berlin shouted for joy； and the banners floated in every street and at every window。 Then this flute broke its silence for the first timeits first music was a hosanna to our great king。〃
〃From this time forth；〃 said Frederick； 〃let no man dare to say that battles are in vain。 The bloody field of Leuthen produced a flute from Quantz； and by Heaven； that is a greater rarity than the most complete victory in these warlike days！〃
〃Sire；〃 said the marquis； drawing some letters from his pocket； 〃I have also some gifts to offer。 This is a letter from Algarotti； and a small box of Italian snuff； which he begs to add as an evidence of his rejoicing in your victories。 ＇Footnote： Ibid。＇ Here is a letter from Voltaire； and one from Lord Marshal。〃
〃From all my distant friendsthey have all thought of me；〃 said Frederick； as he took the letters。
〃But I have no time to read letters now； we will have music； and if agreeable to you； messieurs； we will practise a quartet which I composed during my solitude these last few days。〃
〃Let us try it；〃 said Quantz； carelessly opening the piano。
Frederick went to his room to seek his note…book； and place his letters upon the table； but； before he returned； he called the marquis to him。
〃D'Argens；〃 said he； 〃may I not thank you for this agreeable surprise？〃
〃Yes； sire； I proposed it； and took the responsibility upon myself。 If your majesty is displeased； I am the only culprit！〃
〃And why have you made yourself the postilion； and brought me all these letters； marquis？〃
〃Sire； because〃
〃I will tell you； marquis；〃 said Frederick； with a loving glance； and laying his hand upon D'Argens' shoulder； 〃you did this； because you knew my poor heart had received a deep wound； and you wished to heal it。 You wished to surround me with many friends； and make me forget the one who fails； and who betrayed me。 I thank you； marquis！ Yours is a great heart； and I believe your balsam has magic in it。 I thank you for this hour； it has done me good； and though the world may succeed in poisoning my heart； I will nevernever distrust you； I will never forget this hour！〃
〃And now； messieurs；〃 said Frederick； as he returned to the musicians； 〃we will take our parts； and you； Quantz； take your place at the piano。〃
The concert began。 Frederick stood behind the piano； at which Quantz sat； Graun and Fasch had withdrawn to the window； in order to enjoy the music； as Frederick was first to play a solo on his flute； with a simple piano accompaniment。
The king played artistically； and with a rare enthusiasm。 The marquis was in ecstasy； and Graun uttered a few low bravos。 Suddenly； all the musicians shuddered； and Quantz was heard to mutter angrily。 The king had committed a great fault in his compositiona fault against the severest rules of art。 He played on； however； quietly； and said； when he had completed the page〃Da capo！〃 and recommenced。 Again came the false notes； frightful to the ears of musicians。 And now Graun and Fasch could no