frederick the great and his family-第178章

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e　count's　conscience　was　busy　at　work　in　this　gloomy　chamber。　He　could　endure　it　no　longer；　and　was　preparing　to　leave；　when　the　door　was　opened；　and　an　adjutant　entered　to　conduct　him　to　the　king's　apartments。

The　king　was　in　his　sitting…room。　As　Count　Kalkreuth　entered；　he　laid　aside　the　book　he　had　been　reading；　and　rose。　In　a　stern；　imperious　manner　he　advanced　to　meet　him。

〃As　my　brother　desired　it；　I　have　appointed　you　lieutenant…general　of　the　third　army　corps；〃　said　he；　harshly。　〃You　leave　at　once　for　Konigsbergyou　know　your　duties。　Go；　and　endeavor　to　fulfil　them。〃

〃Sire！〃　said　the　count；　softly。

〃Go！　not　another　word！〃

Count　Kalkreuth；　almost　unable　to　make　the　military　salute；　left　the　room；　stifling　his　anger。

The　king　looked　after　him　thoughtfully。　〃Poor　Henry！〃　murmured　he；　softly；　〃had　you　also　to　receive　the　Judas…kiss　from　a　friend？　Poor　brother！　you　were　so　happywhy　did　cruel　fate　disenchant　you？　There　is　much　in　being　happy　in　your　own　estimationthere　is　upon　the　earth　no　other　sort　of　happiness；　and　whether　true　or　false；　the　peace　it　brings　is　alike。　I；　I　am　so　poor　that　I　no　longer　believe　in　the　one　or　the　other。　And　still　men　envy　me！　Envy　a　poor；　disenchanted；　solitary　manenvy　him　because　he　wears　a　crown！　What　sort　of　an　existence　have　I？　My　life　is　full　of　work；　full　of　sorrow；　nothing　else！　I　work　for　my　subjects；　they　do　not　thank　me；　and　will　greet　and　welcome　my　successor　some　day；　be　he　ever　so　mean　and　contemptible；　as　they　once　greeted　and　welcomed　me。　The　love　of　a　people　for　their　king　is　a　love　full　of　egotism　and　self…interest。　Who　has　ever　loved　me　otherwise　than　selfishly？　I　met　my　friends　with　an　open　heartwhen　with　them　I　forgot　that　I　was　a　king；　but　they　never　forgot　it；　not　one；　not　a　single　one　loved　in　me　the　man。　The　foolish　populace　call　me　a　hero；　and　speak　of　the　laurels　that　crown　my　brow；　but　of　the　thorns　they　have　woven　in　it　they　know　nothing。　Would　I　need　have　no　more　to　do　with　men；　for　they　have　poor；　slavish　souls！　They　deceive　themselvesthey　all　deceive　me。〃

As　the　king　ceased　speaking；　he　felt　his　foot　touched。　Somewhat　startled；　he　looked　down。　His　greyhound　Diana　was　lying　at　his　feet；　gazing　at　him　with　her　large；　intelligent　eyes。　A　soft　smile　crossed　Frederick's　countenance。　Stooping　to　caress　her；　he　said：

〃You　come　to　remind　me　that　there　is　still　love　and　truth　upon　the　earth；　but　one　must　not　be　silly　enough　to　look　for　it　among　men。　Come　here；　Diana；　my　little　companion；　I　was　wrong　to　call　myself　solitary；　for　are　you　not　here？　and　then　have　I　not　my　flute？　Is　she　not　a　loving；　trustworthy　friend；　to　whom　every　thing　can　be　confided？　You　two　shall　be　my　sole　companions　this　evening。〃

Raising　his　flute；　he　commenced　to　play　softly；　walking　up　and　down　his　room。　Diana　followed　him　slowly；　listening　in　seeming　devotion　to　the　long；　wailing　tones　of　her　rival。

Sad　and　wonderful　to　hear　was　the　music　of　this　solitary　king；　like　broken；　dying　sighs　and　sobs　were　its　tones；　and　the　howling　wind；　rushing　in　through　the　window；　added　its　mournful　wail　to　Federick　the　Great's　song　of　woe。







End