frederick the great and his family-第47章
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。 Behind a group of trees was a lofty structure of the purest marble； a shell； borne aloft by gigantic Tritons and mermaids； in which there was room for fifty musicians； who were to fill the air with sweet sounds； and never to become so loud as to weary the ear or disturb conversation。 If the tents； the rushing cascades； the rare flowers； the many colored birds； were a beautiful sight by daylight； how much more entrancing it would be at night； when illuminated by thousands of brilliant lamps！
The count； having taken a last look at the arrangements and seen that they were perfect； now retired to his rooms； and there； with the aid of his twelve valets； he commenced his toilet。 The countess had already been in the hands of her Parisian coiffeur for some hours。
The count wore a suit of blue velvet。 The price of embroidery in silver and pearls on his coat would have furnished hundreds of wretched； starving families with bread。 His diamond shoe…buckles would almost have sufficed to pay the army； which had gone unpaid for months。 When his toilet was finished； he entered his study to devote a few moments； at least； to his public duties； and to read those letters which to…day's post had brought him from all parts of the world； and which his secretary was accustomed to place in his study at this hour。 He took a letter； broke the seal hastily； and skimming over it quickly； threw it aside and opened another； to read anew the complaints； the prayers； the flatteries； the assurances of love； of his correspondents。 But none of them were calculated to compel the minister's attention。 He had long ago hardened his heart against prayers and complaints； as for flattery； he well knew that he had to pay for it with pensions； with position； with titles； with orders； etc。； etc。 But it seemed as if the letters were not all of the usual sort； for the expression of indifference which had rested upon his countenance while reading the others； had vanished and given place to one of a very different character。 This letter was from Flemming； the Saxon ambassador in Berlin； and contained strange； wild rumors。 The King of Prussia； it seemed； had left Berlin the day before； with all the princes and his staff officers； and no one knew exactly where he was going！ Rumor said； though； that he and his army were marching toward Saxony！ After reading this； Count Bruhl broke out into a loud laugh。
〃Well；〃 said he； 〃it must be granted that this little poet…king； Frederick； has the art of telling the most delightful fairy…tales to his subjects； and of investing every action of his with the greatest importance。 Ah； Margrave of Brandenburg！ we will soon be in a condition to take your usurped crown from your head。 Parade as much as you likemake the world believe in you and your absurd manoeuvresthe day will soon come when she will but see in you a poor knight with naught but his title of marquis。〃 With a triumphant smile he threw down the letter and grasped the next。 〃Another from Flemming？〃 said he。 〃Why； truly； the good count is becoming fond of writing。 Ah；〃 said he； after reading it carelessly； 〃more warnings！ He declares that the King of Prussia intends attacking Saxonythat he is now already at our borders。 He then adds； that the king is aware of the contract which we and our friends have signed； swearing to attack Prussia simultaneously。 Well； my good Flemming； there is not much wisdom needed to tell me that if the king knows of our contract； he will be all the more on his guard； and will make preparations to defend himself； for he would not be so foolhardy as to attempt to attack our three united armies。 No； no。 Our regiments can remain quietly in Poland； the seventeen thousand men here will answer all purposes。〃
〃There is but one more of these begging letters；〃 said he； opening it； but throwing it aside without reading it。 Out of it fell a folded piece of paper。 〃Why；〃 said the count； taking it up； 〃there are verses。 Has Flemming's fear of the Prussian king made a poet of him？〃 He opened it and read aloud：
〃'A piece of poetry which a friend； Baron Pollnitz； gave me yesterday。 The author is the King of Prussia。'〃
〃Well；〃 said the count； laughing； 〃a piece of poetry about methe king does me great honor。 Let us see； perhaps these verses can be read at the table to…day； and cause some amusement。 'Ode to Count Bruhl；' with this inscription： 'il ne faut pas s'inquieter de I'avsnir。' That is a wise philosophical sentence； which nevertheless did not spring from the brain of his Prussian majesty。 And now for the verses。〃 And straightening the paper before him； he commenced。
〃Esclave malheureux de la haute fortune； D'un roi trop indolent souverain absolu； Surcharge de travaux dont le soin L'importune。 Bruhl； quitte des grandeurs L'embarras superflu。 Au sein de ton opulence Je vois le Dieu des ennuis； Et dans ta magnificence Le repos fait tes units。
〃Descend de ce palais dont le superbe faite Domine sur la Saxe； s'elevent aux cieux。 D'ou ton esprit craintif conjure la tempete Que souleve ala cour un peuple d'envieux： Vois cette grandeur fragile Et cesse enfln d'admirer L'eclat pompeux d'une ville Ou tout feint de t'adorer。〃
The count's voice had at first been loud； pathetic； and slightly ironical； hut it became gradually lower； and sank at last almost to a whisper。 A deep； angry red suffused his face； as he read on。 Again his voice became louder as he read the last two verses：
〃Connaissez la Fortune inconstante et legere； La perflde se plait aux plus cruels revers； On la voit； abuber le sage； le vulgaire； Jouer insolemment tout ce faible univers； Aujourd'hui c'est sur ma tete Qu'elle repand des faveurs； Des demain elle s'apprete A les emporter ailleurs。〃
〃Fixe…t…elle sur moi sa bizarre inconstance； Mon cocur lui saura gre' du bien qu'elle me fait Veut'elle en d'autres lieux marquer sa bienvellance； Je lui remets ses dons sans chagrin； sans regret。 Plein d'une vertu plus forte J'epouse la pauvrete' Si pour dot elle m'apporte L'honneur et la probite'〃
＇Footnote： ODE TO COUNT BRUHL。 Inscription。〃It is not necessary to make ourselves uneasy about the future。〃
〃High Destiny's unhappy slave； Absolute lord of too indolent a king； Oppressed with work whose care importunes him Bruhl； leave the useless perplexities of grandeur。 In the bosom of thine opulence I see the God of the wearied ones； And in thy magnificence Repose makes thy nights。〃
〃Descend from this palace； whose haughty dome Towering o'er Saxony；rises to the skies； In which thy fearful mind confines the tempest。 Which agitates at the court； a nation of enviers。 Look at this fragile grandeur； And cease at last to admire The pompous shining of a city Where all feign to adore thee。〃
〃Know that Fortune is light and inconstant； A deceiver who delights in cruel reverses； She is seen to abuse the wise man； the vulgar Insolently playing with all this weak universe。 To…day it is on my head That she lets her favors fall； By to…morrow she will be prepared To carry them elsewhere。〃
〃Does she fix on me her wayward fickleness； My heart will be grateful for the good she does me； Does she wish to show elsewhere her benevolence； I give her back her gifts without painwithout regret。 Filled with strongest virtue； I will espouse Poverty； If for dower she brings me Honor and probity。〃＇
The paper fell from the count's hand and he looked at it thoughtfully。 An expression of deep emotion rested upon his countenance； which； in spite of his fifty years； could still be called handsomeas he repeated in a low； trembling voice：
〃J'epouse la pauvrete； Si pour dot elle m'apporte L'honneur et la probite。〃
The sun coming through the window rested upon his tall form； causing the many jewels upon his garments to sparkle like stars on t
