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history of friedrich ii of prussia v 18-第3章

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case; Plotho never lacks; on spur of the hour: and is indeed a very commendable parliamentary mastiff; and honorable and melodious in the bark of him; compared with those infuriated porcine specimens。 He has Kur…Hanover for ally on common occasions; and generally from most Protestant members individually; or from the CORPUS EVANGELICORUM in mass; some feeble whimper of support。 Finds difficulty in getting his Reich's Pleadings printed; dangerous; everywhere in those Southern Parts; to print anything whatever that is not Austrian: so that Plotho; at length; gets printers to himself; and sets up a Printing…Press in his own house at Regensburg。 He did a great deal of sonorous pleading for Friedrich; proud; deep…voiced; ruggedly logical; fairly beyond the Austrian quality in many cases;and always far briefer; which is another high merit。 October coming; we purpose to look in upon Plotho for one minute; 〃October 14th; 1757;〃 which may be reckoned essentially the acme or tuming…point of these unpleasant thunderings。 ' Helden…Geschichte;  iv。 745…749。'

What good he did to Friedrich; or could have done with the tongue of angels in such an audience; we do not accurately know。 Some good he would do even in the Reich's…Diet there; and out of doors; over a German public; still more; and is worth his frugal wages;say 1;000 pounds a year; printing and all other expense included! This is a mere guess of mine; Dryasdust having been incurious: but; to English readers it is incredible for what sums Friedrich got his work done; no work ever better。 Which is itself an appreciable advantage; computable in pounds sterling; and is the parent of innumerable others which no Arithmetic or Book…keeping by Double Entry will take hold of; and which are indeed priceless for Nations and for persons。 But this poor old bedridden Reich; starting in agonistic spasm at such rate: is it not touching; in a Corpus moribund for so many Centuries past! The Reich is something; though it is not much; nothing like so much as even Kaiser Franz supposes it。 Much or not so much; Kaiser Franz wishes to secure it for himself; Friedrich to hinder him;and it must be a poor something; if not worth Plotho's wages on Friedrich's part。

It would insult the patience of every reader to go into these   spasmodic tossings of the poor paralytic Reich; or to mention the least item of them beyond what had some result; or fraction of result; on the world's real affairs。 We shall say only; therefore; that after tempests not a few of porcine squealing; answered always by counter…latration on the vigilant Plotho's part;squealing; chiefly; from the Reich's…Hofrath at Vienna; the Head Tribunal of Imperial Majesty; which sits judging and denouncing there; touched to the soul; as if by a knife driven into its side; by those unheard…of treatments of Saxony and disregard to our DEHORTATORIUMS; and which bursts out; peal after peal; filling the Universe; Plotho not unvigilant;the poor old Reich's…Diet did at last get into an acting posture; and determine; by clear majority of 99 against 60; that there should be a 〃Reich's Execution Army〃 got on foot。 Reich's Execution Army to coerce; by force of arms; this nefarious King of Prussia into making instant restitution to Saxony; with ample damages on the nail; that right be done to Kurfursts of this Reich。 To such height of vigor has the Reich's… Diet gone;and was voting it at Regensburg January 10th; 1757; ' Helden…Geschichte;  iv。 252; 302; 330; Stenzel; v。 32。' that very day when nefarious Friedrich at Berlin; case…hardened in iniquity to such a pitch; sat writing his INSTRUCTION TO COUNT FINCK; which we read not long since。 Simultaneous movements; unknown to one another; in this big wrestle。

Reich's…Diet perfected its Vote; had it quite through; and sanctioned by the Kaiser's Majesty; January 29th: 〃Arming to be a TRIPLUM〃 (triple contingent required of you this time); with Romish…months (ROMERMONATE) of cash contributions from all and sundry (rigorously gathered; I should hope; where Austria has power); so many as will cover the expense。 Army to be got on actual foot hastily; instantly if possible: an 〃EILENDE REICHS…EXECUTIONS ARMEE;〃 so it ran; but the word EILENDE (speedy) had a mischance in printing; and was struck off into ELENDE (contemptibly wretched): so that on all Market…Squares and Public Places of poor Teutschland; you read flaming Placards summoning out; not a speedy or immediate; but 〃a MISERABLE Reich's Execution Army!〃 A word which; we need not say; was laughed at by the unfeeling part of the public; and was often called to mind by the Reich's Execution Army's performances; when said SPEEDY Army did at last take the field。

For the Reich performed its Vote; actually had a Reich's Execution Army; the last it ever had in this world; not by any means the worst it ever had; for they used generally to be bad。 Commanders; managers are named; Romermonate are gathered in; or the sure prospect of them; and; through May…June; 1757; there is busy stir; of drumming; preparing and enlisting; all over the Reich。 End of July; we shall see the Reich's Army in Camp; end of August; actually in the field; and later on; a touch of its fighting withal。 Many other things the Reich tried against unfortunate Friedrich;gradual advance; in fact; to Ban of the Reich (or total anathema and cutting…off from fire and water): but in none of these; in Ban as little as any; did it come to practical result at all; or acquire the least title to be remembered at this day。 Finis of Ban; some eight months hence; has something of attractive as futility; the curious Death of a Futility。 Finis of Ban (October 14th; already indicated) we may for one moment look in upon; if there be one moment to spare; the restreaders may fancy it; and read only of the actuality and fighting part; which will itself be enough for them on such a matter。


FRIEDRICH SUDDENLY MARCHES ON PRAG。

Four Invasions; from their respective points of the compass; northeast; northwest; southeast and southwest: here is a formidable outlook for the one man against whom they are all advancing open… mouthed。 The one manwith nothing but a Duke of Cumberland and his Observation Army for backing in such duelhad need to look to himself! Which; we well know; he does; wrapt in profoundly silent vigilance; with his plans all laid。 Of the Four Invasions; three; the Russian; French; Austrian; are very large; and the two latter; especially the last; are abundantly formidable。 The Swedish; of which there is rumoring; he hopes may come to little; or not come at all。 Nor is Russia; though talking big; and actually getting ready above 100;000 men; so immediately alarming。 Friedrich always hopes the English; with their guineas and their managements; will do something for him in that quarter; and he knows; at worst; that the Russian Hundred Thousand will be a very slow…moving entity。 The Swedish Invasion Friedrich; for the present; leaves to chance: and against Russia; he has sent old Marshal Lehwald into those Baltic parts; far eastward; towards the utmost Memel Frontier; to put the Country upon its own defence; and make what he can of it with 30;000 men;West…Prussian milit
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