frederick the great and his family-第5章

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efore。〃

〃Of　what　shall　I　speak；　your　majesty？〃　said　Louise；　confused　and　frightened。　She　knew　well　that　the　king　had　not　found　her　by　chance；　but　had　sought　her　with　a　determined　purpose。

〃Oh！　that　is　a　question　whose　naivete　reminds　me　of　the　little　Louise　Schwerin　of　earlier　days。　Well；　let　us　speak　on　that　subject　which　interests　most　deeply　all　who　know　you；　let　us　speak　of　your　happiness。　You　sigh。　Have　you　already　paid　your　tribute？　Do　you　realize　the　fleetness　of　all　earthly　bliss？〃

〃Ah！　your　majesty；　an　unhappy　marriage　is　the　most　bitter　offering　that　can　be　made　to　experience；〃　sighed　Madame　von　Kliest。〃　My　life　was　indeed　wretched　until　released　by　your　kindness　from　that　bondage。〃

〃Ah；　yes；　it　is　true　you　are　divorced。　When　and　upon　whom　will　you　now　bestow　this　small；　white　hand？〃

Louise　looked　up　astonished。　〃What！〃　she　stammered；　confused；　〃your　majesty　means〃

〃That　you　will　certainly　marry　again。　As　beautiful　a　lady　as　you　will　always　be　surrounded　by　lovers；　and　I　sincerely　hope　that　you　will　marry。　You　should　go　forward　as　an　example　to　my　brothers；　your　youthful　playmates；　and　I　will　tell　my　brother　Henry　that　marriage　is　not　so　bad　a　thing；　as　the　beautiful　Madame　von　Kleist　has　tried　it　for　the　second　time。〃

〃I　doubt　very　much；　sire；〃　said　Louise；　timidly；　〃if　the　example　of　so　insignificant　a　person　would　have　the　desired　effect　upon　the　prince。〃

〃You　do　yourself　injustice。　The　prince　has　too　strong　an　admiration　for　you；　not　to　be　influenced　by　your　encouraging　example。　My　brother　must　and　shall　marry　according　to　his　birth。　I　am　assured　that；　contrary　to　my　wishes　and　commands；　he　is　about　to　make　a　secret　and　illegitimate　marriage。　I　am　not　yet　acquainted　with　the　name　of　his　wily　mistress；　but　I　shall　learn　it；　and；　when　once　noted　in　my　memory；　woe　be　unto　her；　for　I　shall　never　acknowledge　such　a　marriage；　and　I　shall　take　care　that　his　mistress　is　not　received　at　courtshe　shall　be　regarded　as　a　dishonored　woman。〃

〃Your　majesty　is　very　stern　and　pitiless　toward　the　poor　prince；〃　said　Madame　Kleist；　who　had　succeeded　in　suppressing　her　own　emotions；　and；　following　the　lead　of　the　king；　she　was　desirous　to　let　it　appear　that　the　subject　was　one　of　no　personal　interest　to　herself。

〃No；〃　said　the　king；　〃I　am　not　cruel　and　not　pitiless。　I　must　forget　that　I　am　a　brother；　and　remember　only　I　am　a　king；　not　only　for　the　good　of　my　family；　but　for　the　prosperity　of　my　people。　My　brother　must　marry　a　princess　of　wealth　and　influence。　Tell　Prince　Henry　this。　Now；〃　said　the　king；　with　an　engaging　smile；　〃let　us　speak　of　your　lovely　self。　You　will；　of　course；　marry　again。　Have　you　not　confidence　enough　in　me　to　tell　me　the　name　of　your　happy　and　favored　lover？〃

〃Sire；〃　said　Louise；　smiling；　〃I　do　not　know　it　myself；　and　to　show　what　unbounded　confidence　I　have　in　your　majesty；　I　modestly　confess　that　I　am　not　positively　certain　whether　among　my　many　followers　there　is　one　who　desires　to　be　the　successor　of　Kleist。　It　is　easy　to　have　many　lovers；　but　somewhat　difficult　to　marry　suitably。〃

〃We　need　a　marrying　man　to　chase　away　the　crowd　of　lovers；〃　said　the　king；　smiling。　〃Think　awhilelet　your　lovers　pass　in　review　before　youperhaps　you　may　find　among　them　one　who　is　both　ardent　and　desirable。〃

Louise　remained　thoughtful　for　a　few　moments。　The　king　observed　her　closely。

〃Well；〃　he　said；　after　a　pause；　〃have　you　made　your　selection？〃

Madame　von　Kleist　sighed；　and　her　beautiful　bright　eyes　filled　with　tears。　She　took　leave　of　her　most　cherished　and　ambitious　dream　bade　farewell　to　her　future　of　regal　pomp　and　splendor。

〃Yes；　sire；　I　have　found　an　e'poitseur；　who　only　needs　encouragement；　to　offer　me　his　heart　and　hand。〃

〃Is　he　of　good　family？〃

〃Yes；　sire。〃

〃Military？〃

〃Yes；　sire。　He　wears　only　a　captain's　epaulets。　Your　majesty　sees　that　I　am　modest。〃

〃On　the　day　of　his　marriage　he　shall　be　major。　When　the　Church　pronounces　her　blessing；　the　king's　blessing　shall　not　be　wanting。　We　are；　of　course；　agreed。　When　will　you　be　engaged？〃

〃Sire；　that　depends　upon　my　lover；　and　when　I　succeed　in　bringing　him　to　terms。〃

〃We　will　say　in　eight　days。　You　see　I　am　anxious　to　become　speedily　acquainted　with　one　blissful　mortal；　and　I　think　that　the　husband　of　the　beautiful　Madame　Kleist　will　be　supremely　happy。　In　eight　days；　then；　you　will　be　engaged；　and；　to　complete　your　good　work；　you　must　announce　this　happy　fact　to　my　brother　Henry。　Of　course；　he　must　not　even　surmise　that　you　sacrifice　yourself　in　order　to　set　him　a　good　example。　No；　you　will　complete　your　noble　work；　and　tell　him　that　a　love　which　you　could　not　control　induced　you　to　take　this　step；　and　that　he　may　not　doubt　your　words；　you　will　tell　your　story　cheerfullyyes；　joyously。〃

〃Sire；　it　is　too　muchI　cannot　do　it；〃　cried　Madame　von　Kleist。　〃It　is　enough　to　trample　upon　my　own　heart；　your　majesty　cannot　desire　me　to　give　the　prince　his　death…blow。〃

The　king's　eyes　flashed　angrily；　but　he　controlled　himself。

〃His　death！〃　he　repeated；　shrugging　his　shoulders；　〃as　if　men　died　of　such　small　wounds。　You　know　better　yourself。　You　know　that　the　grave　of　one　love　is　the　cradle　of　another。　Be　wise；　and　do　as　I　tell　you：　in　eight　days　you　will　be　engaged；　and　then　you　will　have　the　kindness　to　acquaint　Prince　Henry　with　your　happy　prospects。〃

〃Ah；　sire；　do　not　be　so　cruel　as　to　ask　this　of　me；〃　cried　Louise；　gliding　from　the　divan　upon　her　knees；　〃be　merciful。　I　am　ready　to　obey　the　commands　of　my　king；　to　make　the　sacrifice　that　is　asked　of　melet　it　not　be　too　great　a　one。　Your　majesty　asks　that　I　shall　draw　down　the　contempt　of　the　man　I　love　upon　myself；　that　this　man　must　not　only　give　me　up；　but　scorn　me。　You　require　too　much。　This　is　more　than　the　strongest；　bravest　heart　can　endure。　Your　majesty　knows　that　the　prince　loves　me　passionately。　Ah；　sire；　your　brother　would　have　forfeited　his　rank　and　your　favor　by　marrying　me；　but　he　would　have　been　a　happy　man；　and　I　ask　the　king　if　that　is　not；　at　last；　the　best　result？　Are　you；　sire；　content　and　happy　since　you　trampled　your　breathing；　loving　heart　to　death　at　the　foot　of　the　throne？　You　command　your　brother　to　do　as　you　have　done。　Well；　sire；　I　submitnot　only　to　resign　the　prince；　but　to　marry　again；　to　marry　without　love。　Perhaps　my　soul　will　be　lost　by　this　perjury；　but　what　matters　thatit　is　a　plaything　in　the　hands　of　the　king？　He　may　break　my　heart；　but　it　shall　not　be　dishonored　and　trodden　in　the　dust。　The　prince　shall　cease　to　love　me；　but　I　will　not　be　despised　by　him。　He　shall　not　think　me　a　miserable　coquette；　despise；　and　laugh　at　me。　Now；　sire；　you　can　crush　me　in　your　anger。　I　have　said　what　I　had　to　sayyou　know　my　decision。〃

She　bowed　her　head　almost　to　the　earth；　motionless；　kneeling　at　the　foot　of　the　king；　her　hands　folded　on　her　breast；　she　might　in　reality　have　been　taken　for　an　odalisque　but　that　her　sad；　tearful　face　was　not　in　unison　with　the　situation　or　costume。

A　long　pause　ensueda　solemn；　fearful　pause。　The　king　struggled　with　his　rage；　Louise　with　her　disappointment　and　distress。　Sounds　of　laughter；　the　gay　notes　of　music　reached　them　from　the　dancing…　saloon。　The　ball　had　commenced；　and　youth　and　beauty　were　mingling　in　the　dance。　These　sounds　aroused　the　king；　and　the　sad　contrast　made　Louise　shudder。

〃You　will　not；　then；　comply　with　my　request？〃　said　the　king；　sternly。

〃Sire；　I　cannot！〃　murmured　Louise；　raising　her　hands　imploringly　to　the　king。

〃You　cannot！〃　cried　the　king；　whose　face　glowed　with　anger；　〃you　cannot；　that　means　you　will　not；　because　your　vain；　coquettish　heart　will　not　resign　the　love　of　the　prince。　You　submit　to　resign　his　hand；　because　you　must；　but　you　wish　to　retain　his　love：　he　must　think　of　you　as　a　heavenly　ideal；　to　be　adored　and　longed　for；　placed　amongst　the　stars　for　worship。　Ah；　madame；　you　are　not　willing　to　make　the　gulf　between　you　impassable！　You　say　you　wish；　at　least；　to　retain　the　respect　of　Prince　Henry。　I　ask　you；　madame；　what　you　have　done　to　deserve　his　respect？　You　were　an　ungrateful　and　undutiful　daughter；　you　did　not　think　of　the　shame　and　sorrow　you　prepared　for　your　parents；　when　you　arranged　your　flight　with　the　gardener。　I　succeeded　in　rescuing　you　from