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！
Dresden； by the course of the Elbe itself； was not far from equal； and may be called about 150 miles。 They marched with diligence； not with hurry； had their pauses； rest…days； when business required。 They got to their ground； with the simultaneousness appointed； on the eleventh or twelfth day。
The middle Column； under the King； where Marshal Keith is second in command； goes by Torgau （detaching Moritz of Dessau to pick up Wittenberg； and ruin the slight works there）； crosses the Elbe at Torgau； September 2d； marches； cantoning itself day after day； along the southern bank of the River； leaves Meissen to the left； I perceive； does not pass through Meissen； comes first at Wilsdruf on ground where we have been；and portions of it； I doubt not； were billeted in Kesselsdorf； and would take a glance at the old Field； if they had time。 There is strict discipline in all the Columns； the authorities complying on summons； and arranging what is needful。 Nobody resists； town…guards at once ground arms； and there is no soldier visible； soldiers all ebbing away； whitherward we guess。 ＇ Helden…Geschichte； iii。 732； 733； OEuvres de Frederic； iv。 81。＇
At Wilsdruf； Friedrich first learns for certain； that the Saxon Army； with King； with Bruhl and other chief personages； are withdrawn to Pirna； to the inexpugnable Konigstein and Rock… Country。 The Saxon Army had begun assembling there； September 1st； directly on the news that Friedrich was across the Border； September 9th； on Friedrich's approach； the King and Dignitaries move off thither； from Dresden； out of his way。 Excellency Broglio has put them on that plan。 Which may have its complexities for Friedrich； hopes Broglio；though perhaps its still greater for some other parties concerned！ For Bruhl and Polish Majesty； as will appear by and by； nothing could have turned out worse。
Meanwhile Friedrich pushes on： 〃Forward； all the same。〃 Polish Majesty； dating from Struppen； in the Pirna Country； has begun a Correspondence with Friedrich； very polite on both hands； and his Adjutant…General； the Chevalier Meagher （〃Chevalier de MARRE；〃 as Valori calls him；MA'AR； as he calls himself in Irish）； has just had； at Wilsdruf； an interview with Friedrich； but is far from having got settlement on the terms he wished。 Polish Majesty magnanimously assenting to 〃a Road through his Country for military purposes；〃 offers 〃the strictest Neutrality； strictest friendship even； has done； and will do； no injury whatever to his Prussian Majesty＇〃Did we ever SIGN anything？〃 whisper comfortably Bruhl and he to one another＇；expects； therefore； that his Prussian Majesty will march on； whither he is bound； and leave him unmolested here。〃 ＇ Helden…Geschichte； iii。 774。＇
That was Meagher's message； that is the purport of all his Polish Majesty's Eleven Letters to Friedrich； which precede or follow； reiterating with a certain ovine obstinacy； insensible to time or change； That such is Polish Majesty's fixed notion： 〃Strict neutrality； friendship even； and leave me unmolested here。〃 ＇In OEuvres de Frederic； iv。 235…260 （〃29th August…10th September…18th September；〃 1756）； are collected now； the Eleven Letters； with their Answers。＇ 〃Strict neutrality； yes： but disperse your Army； then；〃 answers Friedrich； send your Army back to its cantonments： I must myself have the keeping of my Highway； lest I lose it； as in 1744。〃 This is Friedrich's answer； this at first； and for some time coming； though； as the aspects change； and the dangerous elements heap themselves higher； Friedrich's answer will rise with them； and his terms； like the Sibyl's； become worse and worse。 This is the utmost that Meagher； at Wilsdruf； can make of it； and this； in conceivable circumstances； will grow less and less。
Next day； September 9th； Friedrich； with some Battalions； entered Dresden； most of his Column taking Camp near by； General Wylich had entered yesterday； and is already Commandant there。 Friedrich sends； by Feldmarschall Keith； highest Officer of his Column； his homages to her Polish Majesty：nothing given us of Keith's Interview； except by a side…wind； 〃That Majesty complained of those Prussian Sentries walking about in certain of her corridors〃 （with an eye to Something； it may be feared！）of which； doubtless； Keith undertook to make report。 Friedrich himself waits upon the Junior Princes； who are left here： is polite and gracious as ever； though strict； and with business enough； lodges； for his own part； 〃in the Garden…House of Princess Moczinska；〃and next morning leads off his Column； a short march eastward； to the Pirna Country； where； on the right and on the left； Ferdinand at Cotta； Bevern at Lohmen （if readers will look on their Map）； he finds the other Two in their due positions。 Head…quarter is Gross…Sedlitz （westernmost skirt of the Rock…region）； and will have to continue so； much longer than had been expected。
The Diplomatic world in Dresden is in great emotion； more especially just at present。 This morning； before leaving； Friedrich had to do an exceedingly strict thing： secure the Originals of those Menzel Documents。 Originals indispensable to him； for justifying his new procedures upon Saxony。 So that there has been； at the Palace； a Scene this morning of a very high and dissonant nature；〃Marshal Keith〃 in it； 〃Marshal Keith making a second visit〃 （say some loose and false Accounts）；the facts being strictly as follows。
Far from removing those Prussian sentries complained of last night； here seems to be a double strength of them this morning。 And her Polish Majesty； a severe； hard…featured old Lady； has been filled with indignant amazement by a Prussian OfficerMajor von Wangenheim； I believe it isrequiring； in the King of Prussia's name； the Keys of that Archive…room； Prussian Majesty absolutely needing sight； for a little while； of certain Papers there。 〃Enter that room？ Archives of a crowned Head？ Let me see the living mortal that will dare to do it！〃one fancies the indignant Polish Majesty's answer； and how； calling for materials； she 〃openly sealed the door in question；〃 in Wangenheim's presence。 As this is a celebrated Passage； which has been reported in several loose ways； let us take it from the primary source； Chancery style and all。 Graf von Sternberg； Austrian Excellency； writing from the spot and at the hour； informs his own Court； and through that all Courts； in these solemnly Official terms：
〃DRESDEN； 10th SEPTEMBER； 1756。 The Queen's Majesty； this forenoon； has called to her all the Foreign Ministers now at Dresden； and in Highest Own Person has signified to us； How； the Prussian intrusions and hostilities being already known； Highest said Queen's Majesty would now simply state what had farther taken place this morning：
〃Highest said Queen's Majesty； to wit； had； in her own name； requested the King of Prussia； in conformity with his assurances ＇by Keith； yesternight＇ of paying every regard for Her and the Royal Family； To remove the Prussian Sentries pacing about in those Corridors；〃Corridors which lead to the Secret Archives； important to some of us！〃Instead of which； the said King had not only doubled his Sentries