frederick the great and his family-第46章
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n。 An old fable says that these laurels grew spontaneously upon Virgil's grave； and that they are indestructible。 May this be a blessed omen for me！ I greet you； Virgil's holy shadow！ I bow down before you； and kiss in all humility your ashes； which have been turned into laurels！〃
Thus speaking； the king bowed his head； and pressed a fervent kiss upon the laurel。 He then handed it to Winterfeldt。 〃Do likewise； my friend；〃 said he； 〃your lips are worthy to touch this holy branch； to inhale the odor of these leaves which grew upon Virgil's grave。 Kiss this branchand now let us swear to become worthy of this kiss； swear that in this war； which will soon begin； laurels shall either rest upon our brows or upon our graves！〃
Winterfeldt having sworn； repeated these words after him； 〃Amen！〃 said the king； 〃God and Virgil have heard us。〃
CHAPTER XI。
THE BALL AT COUNT BRUHL'S。
Count Bruhl； first minister to the King of Saxony； gave to…day a magnificent fete in his palace； in honor of his wife； whose birthday it was。 The feast was to be honored by the presence of the King of Poland； the Prince Elector of Saxony； Augustus III。； and Maria Josephine； his wife。 This was a favor which the proud queen granted to her favorite for the first time。 For she who had instituted there the stern Spanish etiquette to which she had been accustomed at the court of her father； Joseph I。； had never taken a meal at the table of one of her subjects； so holy did she consider her royal person； that the ambassadors of foreign powers were not permitted to sit at the same table with her。 Therefore； at every feast at the court of Dresden； there was a small table set apart for the royal family； and only the prime minister； Count Bruhl； was deserving of the honor to eat with the king and queen。 This was a custom which pleased no one so well as the count himself； for it insured him from the danger that some one might approach the royal pair； and inform them of some occurrence of which the count wished them to remain in ignorance。
There were many slanderers in this wretched kingdommany who were envious of the count's high positionmany who dared to believe that the minister employed the king's favor for his own good； and not for that of his country。 They said that he alone lived luxuriously in this miserable land； while the people hungered； that he spent every year over a million of thalers。 They declared that he had not less than five millions now lying in the banks of Rotterdam； Venice； and Marseilles； others said that he had funds to the amount of seven millions。 One of these calumniators might possibly approach the king's table and whisper into the royal ear his wicked slanders； one of these evil…doers might even have the audacity to make his unrighteous complaints to the queen。 This it was that caused Count Bruhl to tremble； this it was that robbed him of sleep at night； of peace by day； this fear of a possible disgrace。
He was well acquainted with the history of Count Lerma； minister to King Philip IV。 of Spain。 Lerma was also the ruler of a king； and reigned over Spain； as Bruhl over Saxony。 All had succumbed to his power and influence； even the royal family trembled when he frowned； and felt themselves honored by his smile。 What was it that caused the ruin of this all…powerful； irreproachable favorite？ A little note which King Philip found between his napkin one day； upon which was this address： 〃To Philip IV。； once King of Spain； and Master of both the Indies； but now in the service of Count Lerma！〃 This it was that caused the count's ruin； Philip was enraged by this note； and the powerful favorite fell into disgrace。
Count Bruhl knew this history； and was on his guard。 He knew that even the air which he breathed was poisoned by the malice of his enemies； that those who paused in the streets to greet him reverentially when he passed in his gilded carriage； cursed him in their inmost hearts； that those friends who pressed his hand and sung songs in his praise； would become his bitterest enemies so soon as he ceased paying for their friendship with position； with pensions； with honors； and with orders。 He spent hundreds of thousands yearly to gain friends and admirers； but still he was in constant fear that some enemy would undermine him。 This had indeed once happened。 During the time that the king's favor was shared equally with Count Bruhl； Count Sulkovsky； and Count Hennicke； whilst playing cards； a piece of gold was given to the king； upon which was represented the crown of Poland； resting upon the shoulders of three men； with the following inscription： 〃There are three of us； two pages and one lackey！〃 The King of Poland was as much enraged by this satirical piece of gold as was the King of Spain by his satirical note。 But Count Bruhl succeeded in turning the king's anger upon the two other shoulder…bearers of his crown。 Counts Sulkovsky and Hennicke fell into disgrace； and were banished from the court； Count Bruhl remained； and reigned as absolute master over Poland and Saxony！
But reigning； he still trembled； and therefore he favored the queen's fancy for the strictest etiquette； therefore； no one but Count Bruhl was to eat at the royal table； he himself took their napkins from their plates and handed them to the royal couple； no one was to approach the sovereigns who was not introduced by the prime minister； who was at once master of ceremonies； field…marshal； and grand chamberlain； and received for each of these different posts a truly royal salary。 Etiquette and the fears of the powerful favorite kept the royal pair almost prisoners。
But for to…day etiquette was to be done away with； the crowned heads were to be gracious； so as to lend a new glory to their favorite's house。 To…day the count was fearless； for there was no danger of a traitor being among his guests。 His wife and himself had drawn up the list of invitations。 But still； as there might possibly be those among them who hated the count； and would very gladly injure him； he had ordered some of the best paid of his friends to watch all suspicious characters； not to leave them alone for a moment； and not to overlook a single word of theirs。 Of course； it was understood that the count and his wife must remain continually at the side of the king and queen； that all who wished to speak to them must first be introduced by the host or hostess。
The count was perfectly secure to…day； and therefore gay and happy。 He had been looking at the different arrangements for this feast； and he saw with delight that they were such as to do honor to his house。 It was； to be a summer festival： the entire palace had been turned into a greenhouse； that served only for an entrance to the actual scene of festivities。 This was the immense garden。 In the midst of the rarest and most beautiful groups of flowers； immense tents were raised； they were of rich； heavy silk； and were festooned at the sides with golden cords and tassels。 Apart from these was a smaller one； which outshone them all in magnificence。 The roof of this tent rested upon eight pillars of gold； it was composed of a dark…red velvet； over which a slight gauze； worked with gold and silver stars； was gracefully arranged。 Upon the table below this canopy； which rested upon a rich Turkish carpet； there was a heavy service of gold； and the most exquisite Venetian glass； the immense pyramid in the middle of the table was a master…work of Benevenuto Cellini； for which the count had paid in Rome one hundred thousand thalers。 There were but seven seats； for no one was to eat at this table but the royal pair； the prince…elector and his wife； the Prince Xavier； and the Count and Countess Bruhl。 This was a new triumph that the count had prepared for himself； he wished his guests to see the exclusive royal position he occupied。 And no one could remain in ignorance of this triumph； for from every part of the garden the royal tent could be seen； being erected upon a slight eminence。 It was like a scene from fairyland。 There were rushing cascades； beautiful marble statues； arbors and bowers； in which were birds of every color from every clime。 Behind a group of trees was a lofty structure of the purest marble； a shell； borne aloft by gigant
