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第17章

history of friedrich ii of prussia v 17-第17章

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nesday; 6th October;〃 the day of it; seemingly); ib。 i。 312; &c。' Court; in high dudgeon; commanded Valori to quit Berlin without taking leave。 Valori; in his private capacity; wrote an Adieu; 'Friedrich's kind Letter in answer to it; 〃2d November; 1756;〃 in Valori; i。 313。' and in his public; as the fact stood; That he was gone without Adieu。〃

And the Dauphiness; daughter of those injured Polish Majesties; fell on her knees (Pompadour permitting and encouraging) at the feet of Most Christian Majesty; on her knees; all in passion of tears; craved help and protection to her loved old Mother; in the name of Nature and of all Kings: could any King resist? And his Pompadour was busy: 〃Think of that noble Empress; who calls me COUSIN AND DEAR PRINCESS; think of that insolent Prussian Robber: Ah; your Majesty:〃 …and King Louis; though not a hating man; did privately dislike Friedrich; and evil speeches of Friedrich's had been reported to him。 And; in short; the upshot was: King Louis; bound only to 24;000 for help of Austria; determined to send; and did send; above 100;000 across the Rhine; next Year; for that object; as will be seen。 And all Frenchmenall except Belleisle; who is oldare charmed with these new energetic measures; and beautiful new Austrian connections。

Certain it is; the Austrians are coming; her Imperial Majesty bent with all her might on relief of those Saxon martyrs; which indeed is relief of herself; as she well perceives: 〃Courage; my friends; endure yet a little!〃 Messengers smuggle themselves through the Mountain paths; and go and return; though with difficulty。

Since September 19th; the Correspondence with Polish Majesty has ceased: no persuading of the Polish Majesty。 Winterfeld went twice to him; conferred at large; Bruhl forbidden to be there; on the actual stringencies and urgencies of Fact between the Two Countries; but it was with no result at all。 Polish Majesty has not the least intention that Saxony shall be even a Highway for Friedrich; if at any time Polish Majesty can hinder it: 〃Neutrality;〃 therefore; will not do for Friedrich; he demands Alliance; practical Partnership; and to that his Polish Majesty is completely abhorrent。 Diplomatizing may cease; nothing but wrestle of fight will settle this matter。

Friedrich; able to get nothing from the Sovereign of Saxony; is reduced to grasp Saxony itself: and we can observe him doing it; always the closer; always the more carefully; as the complicacy deepens; and the obstinacy becomes more dangerous and provoking。 What alternative is there? On first entering Saxony; Friedrich had made no secret that he was not a mere bird of passage there。 At Torgau; there was at once a 〃Field…Commissariat〃 established; with Prussian Officials of eminence to administer; the Military Chest to be deposited there; and Torgau to be put in a state of defence。 Torgau; our Saxon Metropolis of War…Finance; is becoming more and more the Metropolis of Saxon Finance in general。 Saxon Officials were liable; from the first; to be suspended; on Friedrich's order。 Saxon Finance…Officials; of all kinds; were from the first instructed; that till farther notice there must be no disbursements without King Friedrich's sanction。 And; in fact; King Friedrich fully intends that Saxony is to help him all it can; and that it either will or else shall; in this dire pressure of perplexity; which is due in such a degree to the conduct of the Saxon Government for twelve years past。 Would Saxony go with him in any form of consent; how much more convenient to Friedrich! But Saxony will not; Polish Majesty; not himself suffering hunger; is obstinate as the decrees of Fate (or as sheep; when too much put upon); regardless of considerations;and; in fine; here is Browne actually afoot; coming to relieve Polish Majesty!The Austrians had uncommonly bestirred themselves:

The activity; the zeal of all ranks; ever since this expedition into Saxony; and clutching of Saxony by the throat; contemporary witnesses declare to have been extraordinary。 〃Horses for Piccolomini's Cavalry;they had scarcely got their horses; not to speak of training them; not to speak of cannon and the heavier requisites; when Schwerin began marching out of Glatz on Piccolomini。 As to the cannon for Browne and him; draught…cattle seem absolutely unprocurable。 Whereupon Maria Theresa flings open her own Imperial Studs: 'There; yoke these to our cannon; let them go their swiftest;'which awoke such an enthusiasm; that noblemen and peasants crowded forward with their coach…horses and their cart…horses; to relay Browne; all through Bohemia; at different stages; and the cannon and equipments move to their places at the gallop; in a manner;〃 'Archenholtz; i。 24。'and even Browne; at the base of the Metal Mountains; has got most of his equipments。 And is astir towards Pirna (Army of 60;000; rumor says); for relief of the Saxon martyrs。 Friedrich's complexities are getting day by day more stringent。

From the middle of September; Marshal Keith; as was observed; with Half of the Prussians; Duke Ferdinand of Brunswick under him; has been on the Bohemian slope of the Metal Mountains; securing the roads; towns and passes thereabouts; and looking out for the advance of Marshal Browne from the interior parts。 Town of Aussig; and the River…road (castle of Tetschen; on its high rock known to Tourists; which always needs to be taken on such occasions); these Keith has secured。 Lies encamped from Peterswalde to Aussig; the middle or main strength of him being in the Hamlet of Johnsdorf (discoverable; if readers like): there lies Keith; fifteen miles in length; like a strap; or bar; thrown across the back of that Metal… Mountain Range;or part of its back; for the range is very broad; and there is much inequality; and many troughs; big and little; partial and general; in the crossing of it。 A tract which my readers and I have crossed before now; by the 〃Pascopol〃 or Post… road and otherwise; and shall often have to cross!

Browne; vigorously astir in the interior (cannon and equipments coming by relays at such a pace); is daily advancing; with his best speed: in the last days of September; Browne is encamped at Budin; may cross the Eger River any day; and will then be within two marches of Keith。 His intentions towards Pirna Country are fixed and sure; but the plan or route he will take is unknown to everybody; and indeed to Browne himself; till he see near at hand and consider。 Browne's problem; he himself knows; is abundantly abstruse;bordering on the impossible; but he will try his best。 To get within reach of the Saxons is almost impossible to Browne; even were there no Keith there。 As good as impossible altogether; by any line of march; while Keith is afoot in those parts。 By Aussig; down the River; straight for the interior of their Camp; it is flatly impossible: by the south or southeast corner of their Camp (Gottleube way); or by the northeast (by Schandau way; right bank of Elbe); it is virtually so;at least without beating Keith。 Could one beat Keith indeed;but that will not be easy! And that; unluckily; is the preliminary to everything。

〃By the Hellendorf…Hennersdorf side; in the wastes where Gottleube Brook gathers itself; Browne might have a chance。 There; on that southeast corner of their Camp; were he once there to attack the Prussians from without; while the Saxons burst up from within; there;〃 thinks a good judge; 〃is much the favorablest place。 But unless Browne's Army had wings; how is it ever to get there? Across those Metal…Mountain ranges; barred by Keith:by Aussig; with the rocks overhanging Elbe River and him; he cannot go in auy case。 Were there no Keith; indeed (but there always is; standing ready on the spring); one might hold to leftward; and by stolen marches; swift; far round about!

〃By Schandau region; north side of the Elbe; is Browne's easiest; and indeed one feasible; point of approach;no Prussians at present between him and that; the road open; though a far circuit northward for Browne;were he to cross the Elbe in Leitmeritz circle; and march with velocity? That too will be difficult; nearly impossible in sight of Keith。 And were that even done; the egress for the Saxons; by Schandau side; is through strait 

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