Berlin and Sans-Souci, Or, Frederick the Great and His Friends: An Historical Romance

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BOOK I. PAOl

n. The Old Courtier, ...... IS

nL The MonuDg Hours of a KId^ ..... 21

lY. The Pardoned Courtier, ..... 28

y. How the Princess Ulrica became Queen of Sweden, . . 86

TL The Tempter, ...... 42

TH. The Fir^t Interview, ..«••• 61

YUL Sgnon Barbarina, .••••• 68

Du The King and Barbarina, . • • • • 62

XL A Life Question, ..«•••, 76

XIL Superstition and Piety, • • • • • 81

Book II

Chap. L The Two Sisters,

n. The Tempter,

IIL The Wedding-Festival of the Princess Ulrica,

lY. Behind the Curtain, . . ,

Y. The Sham&-faoed King, . . ,

YI. The First Rendezvous, ' , ,

YIL On the Balcony, . , , -,

YUL The First Cloud, . ,

IX. The Council of War, .

X. The Cloister of Camens,

XL Ihe King and the Abbot,

CONTElinS.

Xn. The Unknown' Abbot,

Xin. The Levee of a Dancer, .

XTV. The Studio, .

Xy. The Ck)nfession, .

XVI. The Traitor, .

XVII. The ilveNWare,

XVIIL The First Flash of Lightning,

PAGE

Book III

Chap. I. The Actors in Halle, n. The Student Lupinus, IIL The Disturbance in the Theatre, rV. The Friends, .

V. The Order of the King, .

VL The Battle of Sohr, .

VIL After the Battle, VIIL A Letter Pregnant with Fate, IX. The Return to Berlin, .

X. Job's Poet, .

XL The Undeodred, * .

XIL Trenck*8 First Flight, XIIL The Flighty Xrv. "I will," . •XV. The Last Struggle for Power, XVL The Disturbance m the Theatre^ XVn. Sans^ud,

Book IV

Cjup. L The Promise,

n. Voltaire and his Royal Friend,

nL The Ck>nfidence-Table,

rV. The Confidential Dinner,

V. Rome SauT^e, . •

VL A Woman's Heart,

VIL Madame Cocceji,

PAGI

YUL Voltdre, 846

IX. A Day in the life of Voltaire, .... 855

XL BartMuina, ....... 875

XIL Intrigues, . . ' . . . . .882

XTTI, The Last Struggle, ...... 888

BERLIN AND SANS-SOUCI;

OB,

FREDEBICE THE GREAT AND HIS FRIENDS.

BOOK L

CHAPTER I. TBS alcbskist's zvoahtatiov

It was a Iprely May morning ! The early rays of the stit had not withered the blossoms, or paled the fresh green of the garden of Charlottenbuig, bat quickened them into new life and beaaty. The birds sang merrily in the groyes. The wind, with light whispers^ swqyt thronffh the long avennes of lanr^l and orange trees, which sorroonded the snperb greenhonses and conservatories, and scattered far and wide thronghont the garden donds of intoxicating perfume.

The garden was quiet and solitary, and the closed shutters of the castle proved tiiat not only 'the king, but the entire household, from the dignified ftnd important chamberlain to the frisky garden-boy, still slept Suddenly the silence was broken by the sound of hasty fltepa. A young man, in shnple citizen costume, ran up the great avenue which led fix)m the garden gate to the conservatory ; then cautiously looking about hun, he &ew near to a window of the lower story in a wins of the castle. The window was closed and secured with inside iwutters ; a small piece of white paper was seen between the glass and the shutter. A passer-by might have supposed ibis was accidental^ but the young burgher knew that this little piece of paper was a signal. His li^ht stroke upon the window disturbed for a moment the deathlike silence arouno, but produced no other effect ; he struck again, more loudly, and listened breathlessly. The abutters were slowly and cautiously opened from within, and behind the glass was seen the wan, sick nee of Fredersdorf, the private secleta^ and fiivorite of the king. When he saw the young man, hia 1*

10 BEBLUr AND 8AKB-60TTCI ; OB,

featnres assumed a more animated expression, and a hopeful smile played up6n bis Up ; hastily opening the window, he gave the youth his hand* '' Good-morning, Joseph," said he ; '* I have not slept during the whole night, I was so impatient to receive news from you. Has he shown himself 9 "

Joseph bowed his head sadly. '' He has not yet shown himself" he replied in a hollow voice ; " all our efforts have been in vain ; we have again sacrificed time, money, and strength. He has not yet appeared."

" Alas I " cried Fredersdorf, " who could believe it so diflScult to move tbe devil to appear in person, when he makes his presence known daily and hourly through the deeds of men ? I must and will see him I He must and shall make known this mystery. He shall teach me how and of what to make gold."

'' He will yield at last I " cried Joseph, solemnly.

" What do you say ? Will we succeed ? Is not all hope lost ? "

*^ All is not lost : the astrologer heard this night, during his incantations, the voice of the devil, and saw for one moment the glare of his eye, though he could not see his person."

** He saw the glare of his eye I " repeated Fredersdorf joyfully. ^ Oh, we will yet compel him to show himself wholly. He must teach us to make gold. And what said the voice of the devil to our astrologer!"

'* He said these words : ' Would you see my face and hear words of golden wisdom from my fips ? so ofier me^ when next the moon is fuU and dimmers like liquid gold in the heavens, a black ram ; and if you shed his blood for me, and if not one white hair can be discovered upon him, I will appear and be subject to you.' "

"Another month of waiting, of impatience, and of torture," murmured Fredersdorf. " Four weeks to search for this black ram without a single white hair ; it will be difficult to find I "

" Oh, the world is large ; we will send our messengers in every Quarter; we will find it Those who truly seek, find at last what tney covet. But we will require much gold, and we are suffering now, unhappily, for the want of it." *

" We ? whom do you mean by we ? " asked Fredersdorf, with a contemptuous shrug of the shoulders.

" I, in my own person, above all others, need gold. Tou can well understand, my brother, that a student as I am has no superfluous gold^ even to pay his tailor's biUs, much less to buy black rams. Captain Eleist, in whose house the assembly meets to-night, has already offered up ha more valuable things than a score of black rams ; he has sacrificed his health, his rest, and his domestic peace. His beautiful wife finds it strange, indeed, that he should sees the devil every night everywhere else than in her lovely presence."

" Yes, I understand that I The bewitching Madame Eleist must rBKDKETQg THB OBEAT AJXD HIS FBIKMDB. 11

erer remain the vain-glorionB and coqnettisli Louise von Schwerin; marriaf^e has infused no water in ber veins."

" No I but it baa poured a river of wine in tbc blood of ber busband, and in tbis turbid stream tbeir love and bappiness is drowned. Kleist ia but a corpse, wbom we must soon bury fi-om our sigbt. The king bas made separation and divorce easy ; yes, easier tban marriage. Is it jiot so, my brotber? Ab, you blusb; you find tbat your ligbt-bearted brotber bas more observant eyes tban you tbougbt, and sees tbat wbicb you intended to conceal. Yes, yes I I have indeed seen tbat you bave been wounded by Cupid's arrow, and tbat your beart bleeds wbile our noble king refuses bis consent to your marriage.'*

" Ab, let me once discover tbis boly mystery — once learn how to make gold, and I will bave no &vor to ask of any eartbly monarch ; I shall acknowledge no other sovereign than my own will"

^* And to become possessor of this secret, and your own master, you require nothing but a black ram. Create for us, then, my powerfcu and wealthy brotber, a black ram, and the work is done I "

" Alas ! to think," cried Fredersdorf, " that I cannot absent myself; that I must fold my bands and wait silently and quietly I What slavery is tbis I but you, you are not in bondage as I am. The whole world is before you ; you can seek throughout the universe for this blood-offering demanded by the devil."

" Give us gold, brother, and we will seek-; without gold, no black ram ; without tbe black ram, no devil I "

Fredersdorf disappeared a moment and returned with a wcU-fillcd purse, which he banded to bis brother. " There, take tbe gold ; send your messengers in every quarter ; go yourself and search. You must either find or create him. I swear to you, if you do not succeed, I will withdraw my protection fi-om you ; you will be only a poor student, and must maintain yourself by your studies."

^* That would be a sad support, indeed," said the young man, smiling. '' I am more than willing to choose another path in life. I would, indeed, prefer being an artist to being a philosopher."

" An artist I cried Fredersdorf, contemptuously ; " have you discovered in yourself an artist's vein ? "

" Yes; or rather, Eckbof has awakened my sleeping talent"

« Eckbof— who is Eckbof? "

^* How ? you ask who is Eckbof? You know not, then, this great, this exalted artist, who arrived here some weeks since, and has entranced every one who has a German beart in bis bosom, by bis glorious acting i I saw him a few days since in Golsched's Cato. Ah I my brother, on that evening it was clear to me that I also was bom for something greater tban to sit in a lonely study, and seek in musty books for useless scraps of knowledge. No I I will not make the world still darker and mistier for myself with the dust of ancient

12 BEBLm AND SAKB-SOUCi; OR,

books ; I will illuminate my world by the noblest of all arts — I will become an actor I "

" Fantastic fool ! " said his brother. " A German actor / that is to say, a beggar and a vagabond I who wanders from city to city, and from village to village, with his stage finery, who is laughed at everywhere, even as the monkeys are laughed at when they make their somersets over the camels' backs ; it might answer to be a dancer, or, at least, a French actor."

" It is true that the German stage is a castaway — a Cinderella — thrust aside, and. clothed with sackcloth and ashes, while the spoiled and petted step-child is clothed in gold-embroidered robes. Alas I alas I it is a bitter thing that the French actors are summoned by the king to perform in the royal castle, while Schonemein, the director of the German theatre, must rent the Council-bouse for a laige sum of money, and must pay a heavy tax for the permission to give to the German public a German stage. Wait patiently, brother, all this shall be changed, when the mystery of mysteries is discovered, when we have found the black ram I I bless the accident which gave me a knowledge of your secret, which forced you to receive me as a member in order to secure my silence. I shall be rich, powerful, and influential ; I will build a superb theatre, and fill the German heart with wonder and rapture."

" Well, well, let us first understand the art of making gold, and we will make the whole world our theatre, and all mankind shall play before us I Hasten, therefore, brother, hasten I By the next full moon we will be the almighty rulers of the earth and all that is therein I "

" Always provided that we have found the black ram." . " We will find him I If necessary, we will give his weight in gold, and gold can do all things. Honor, love, power, position, and fame, can all be bought with gold I T^t us, then, make haste to be rich. To be rich is to be independent, free, and gloriously happy. Go, my brother, go I and may you soon return crowned with success."

** I have still a few weighty questions to ask. In the first place, where shall I go ! "

" To seek the black ram — ^it makes no difference- where."

" Ah ! it makes no difference ! You do not seem to remember that the vacation is over, that the professors of the University of Halle have threatened to dismiss me if my attendance is so irregular. I must, therefore, return to Halle to-day, or — ^"

" Return to Halle to-day I " cried Fredersdorf, with horror. " That is impossible ! You cannot return to Halle, unless you have already found what we need."

" And that not being the case, I shall not return to Halle ; I shall be dismissed, and will cease to be a student Do you consent, then, that I shall become an actor, and take the great Eckhof for my only professor!'*

** Tea, I consent, provided the command of the alchemist is complied with."

** And how if the alchemist, notwithstanding the blood of the black ram, is unhappily not able to bring up the devil ? "

At this question, a feverish crimson spot took possession of the wan cheek of Fredersdorf, which was instantly chased away by a more intense pallor. '* If that is the result, I will either go mad or die,^ he murmured.

" And then will you see the devil face to face I " cried his brother, with a gay laugh. ^' But perhaps you might find a Enrydice to unlock the under world for you. Well, we shall see. Till then, farewell; brother, farewell" Nodding merrily to Fredersdorf, Joseph hurried away.

Fredersdorf watched his fiall and graceful figure as it disappeared among the trees with a sad smile.

** He possesses something which is worth more than power or

fold; he is young, healthy, full of hope and confidence. The world elongs to him, while I — ^*' The sound of footsteps called his attention again to the allie.

• CHAPTER II.

THB OLD OOURTIEB.

Tm figure of a man was seen approaching, but with steps less light and active than young Joseph's. As the stranger drew nearer, Fredersdorf's features expressed great surprise. When at last he drew up at the window, the secretory burst into a hearty laugh.

** Von Pollnitz 1 really and truly I do not deceive myself," cried Fredersdorf, flapping his hands together, and again and again uttering peals 01 laughter, in which Pollnitz heartily joined.

Tlien suddenly assuming a grave and dignified manner, Frcdcrsdbrf bowed lowly and reverentially. " Pardon, Baron Pollnitz, pardon," said he in a tone of mock humility, " that I have dared to welcome you in such an unseemly manner. I was indeed amazed to see you again ; you had taken an eternal leave of the court, we had shed rivers of tears over your irreparable loss, and your unexpected presence completely overpowered me."

" Mock and jeer at me to your heart's content, dear Fredersdorf; I will joyfully and lustily unite in your laughter and your sport, as soon as I have recovered from the fearful jolting of the carriage which brought me here. Be pleased to open the window a little more,

14 BEBLm AKD SAlffS-BOTTOI ; OB,

and place a cliair on the ontside, that I may climb in, like an ardent, eager lover. I have not patience to go round to the castle door."

Fredersdorf silently obeyed orders, and in a few moments, Von Polhiitz was lying comfortably stretched out on a silk divan, in the secretary's room.

" Ask me no questions, Fredersdorf," said he, breathing loudly ; " leave me awhile to enjoy undisturbed the coinfort of your sofa, and do me the favor first to answer me a few questions, before I reply to yours."

*^ Demand, baron, and I will answer," said Fredersdorf, seating himself on a chair near the sofa.

" First of all, who is King of Prussia ? You, or Jordan,— or General Kothenberg,— or Chazot,— or — speak, man, who is King of Prussia ? "

" Frederick the Second, and he alone ; and he so entirely, that even his ministers are nothing more than his secretaries, to write at his dictation ; and his generals are only subordinate engineers to draw the plans of battle which he has already fully determined upon ; his composers are only the copyists of his melodies and his musical conceptions ; the architects are carpenters to build according to the plan which he has either drawn or chosen from amongst old Grecian models : in short, all who serve him are literally servants in this great state machine ; they understand his will and obey it, nothing more."

" lium ! that is bad, very bad," said PoUnitz. " I have found, however, that there arc two sorts of men, and you have mentioned in your catalogue but one species, who have fallen so completely under the hand of Frederick. You have said nothmg of his cook, of his valet-de-chambre, and yet these are most important persons. You must know that in the presence of these powers, a king ceases to be a king, and indeed becomes an entirely commonplace mortal, who eats and drinks and clothes himself, and who must either conceal or adorn his bodily necessities and weaknesses like any other man."

Fredersdorf shook his head sadly. " It seems to me that Frederick the Second is beyond the paJe of temptation ; for even with his cook and his valet he is still a king ; his cook may prepare him the most costly and luxurious viands, but unhappily they do not lead him into temptation ; a bad dish makes him angry; but the richest and choicest food has no effect upon his humor ; he is exactly the same before dinner as after, fasting or feasting, and the &vor he refuses before the champagne, he never grants afterward."

" The devil I that is worse still," murmured POllnitz. " And the valet — with him also does the king remain kins ! "

'' Yes, so entirely, that he scarcely allows his valet to touch him. He shaves, ooifs, and dresses himselfl"

FBEDEBIOK THE GBEAT AND HIS SSIENDB. 15

** Mj God ! jvhoj then, has any inflnence over him ? To whom can I tarn to obtain a favor for me ? "

** To his dogs, dear baron ; they are now the only influential dependants ! "

" Do you mean truly the four-footed dogs ? — or — ^"

^ The four-footed, dearest baron I Frederick has more confidence in them than in any two-legged animaL You know the king always trusted much to the instincts of his dogs ; he has now gone so f&T in this confidence, as to believe that the hounds have an instinctive aversion to all false, wicked, and evil-minded men. It is therefore very important to every new-comer to be well received by the hounds, as the king's reception is somewhat dependent upon theirs." ^ Is Biche yet with the king ? "

" Yes, still his greatest favorite."

'* I am rejoiced to hear that I I was always in &vor with the Signora Biche ; it was her custom to smell my pocket, hoping to find chocolate. I beseech you, therefore, dearest friend, to give me some chocolate, with which I may touch and soften the heart of the noble signora, and thus induce the king to look upon me favorably."

'' I will stick a half pound in each of your pockets, %nd if Biche still growls at you, it will be a proof that she is far more noble than men ; in short, that she cannot be bribed. Have vou finished with your questions? I tliink it is now my time to begin."

''Not so, my fnend. My head is still entirely filled with questions, and they are twining and twisting about like the fishingworms in a bag, by the help of which men hope to secure fish. Be pitiful and allow me to fasten a few more of these questions to my fishing-rod, and thus try to secure my future." • ** Well, then, go dt— ask further ! "

*' Does Frederick show no special interest in any prima donna of the opera, the ballet, or the theatre ? "

"^ No, he cares for none of these things."

'^ Is his heart, then, entirely turned to stone !"

" Wholly and entirely."

^ And the queen-mother, has she no influence ? "

'' My God I Baron PoUnitz, how long have you been away f You ask me as many questions as if you had fallen directly from the moon, and knew not even the outward appearance of the court**

'' Dear firiend, I have been a whole year away, that is to say, an eternity. The court is a very slippery place ; and if a man does not accustom himself hourly to walk over this glassy parquet, he will surely fall

'* Also, there is nothing so uncertain as a court life ; that which u true to-day, is to-morrow considered incredible ; that which was

16 BSBLIN Aim BAlinS-SOtTOX ; OB,

beantifdl yesterday is tlirast aside to-day, as hateful to loolc upon ; that which wo despise to-day is to-morrow soDgfat after as a rare and precious gem.

'* Oh, I have had my experiences. I remember, that while I was residing at the court of Saxony, I composed a poem in honor of the Countess Aurora of K5nigsmark. This was by special command of the kin^ ; the poem was to be set to music by Elasse, and sung by the Italian singers on . the birthday of Aurora. Well, tbe Countess Aurora was cast aside before my poem was finished, and the Countess Kozel had taken her place. I finished my poem, bat Amelia, and not Aurora, was my heroine. Hasse composed the music, and no one who attended the concert, given in honor of the birthday of the Countess Eozel, had an idea that this festal cantata had been ori^nally ordered for Aurora of K5nigsmarkl

'' Once, while I was in Russia, I had an audience from the Empress Elizabeth. As I approached the castle, leaning on the arm of the Captain Ischerbatow, I observed the guard, who stood before the door, and presented arms. Well, eight weeks later, this common guard was a general and a prince, and Ischerbatow was compelled to bow before nim I

"I saw in Venice a picture of the day of judgment, by Tintoretto. In this picture both Paradise and Hell were portrayed. I saw in Paradise a lovely woman glowing with youth, beauty, and grace. She was reclining in a most enchanting attitude, upon a bed of roses, and surrounded by angels. Below, on the other half of the picture — that is to say, in Hell — I saw the same woman ; she had no couch of roses, but was stretched upon a glowing gridiron ; no smiling angels surrounded her, but a hideous, grinning devil tore her flesh with redhot pincers.

" Pope Adrian had commanded Tintoretft to paint this picture, to make it a monument in honor of the lovely Cinnia, and to glorify her by all the power of art. Cinnia was a very dear friend of Adrian. He was not only a pope, but a man, and a man who took pleasure in all beautiful things. Cinnia was enchanting, and it was Tintoretto's first duty to paint her picture, and make her the principal object in Paradise. But look you! the Last Judgment by Tintoretto was a large painting, so large that to count even the heads upon it is laborious. The heads in each comer are counted separately, and then added together. It required some years, of course, to paint such a picture ; and by the time Tintoretto had completed Paradise and commenced the lower regions, many sad changes had occurred. The fond heart df the seducing Cinnia had withdrawn itself from the pope and clung tenaciously to Prince Colonna. The Holy Father, as we have said before, notwithstanding he was pope, had some human weaknesses ; he naturaUy hated the &ir inconstant, and sought revenge. He recommended

FKEDSRICK THB GSOUX AMD BIB VSIBSmB. 17

Tintoretto to bring the erring one ooce more before the pabiic — ^tbis time, bowever, as a gniltv and condemned sinner in belL

'* Dear Frederedorf, I think always of this picture when. I look at the &Torite8 of princes and kings, and I amnse myself with their pride and arrogance. When I see them in their smmy paradise of power and influence, I say to myself ' All's well for the fleeting present, m wait patiently ; soon I shall see jou roasting on the gk>wing gridiron of royal displeasure, and the enrious devils of this world filled with rapture at your downfall, will tear your flesh to pieces.' Friend Fredersdorf, that is my answer to your question as to whether I ha?e in one short year forgotten (he quality of court life."

"And by Heaven, that is a profound answer, which shows at least that Baron Pollnitz has undergone no dhange during the last year, but is still the ^cpericnced man of the worid and the wise cavalier ! "

^ But why do you not give me my tiUe, Fredersdoif } Why do you not call me grand chamberlain f

<* Because you are no long^ in the service of the king, but have received your dismissal"

^AJasl God grant that the Signora Biche is favorable to me; then wiU the king, as I hope,*fQiget this dismissaL One question more. You say that the queen-mother has no influence; how is it with the wife of the king, Elizabeth Christine f Is she indeed the reigning sovereign ? " '

" When did you return to Beriin ?"

^ Now, to-night; and when I left the carriage, I bast^ied here."

" Weil, that is some excuse for your question. If you have only just arrived, you could not possibly know of the important event which will take place at the court to-night. This evening the king viU present his orothdr, Augustus Will^m, to the court as Prince of Prussia, and his successor. I think that is a sufficient answer to your question. As to Queen Elizabeth Christine, she lives in SchOnhausen, and might be called the widow of her husband. The king never addresses one word to her, not even on grand festal days, when etiquette compels him to take a seat by her at table."

^ Now one last question, dear friend. How is it with yourself ? Are you influential ? Does Frederick love you as warmly as he did a vear ago f Do you hope to reach the goal of your ambition, and to become all-powerful ? "

**l have ceased to be ambitious," sighed Frod^rsdorf. ''I no longer thirst to bo the king of a kW. My only desire is to bo independent of comts and Mugs — in short, to be my own master. Perhaps I may^ succeed in this ; if not, be ruined, os many others have been. If I cannot tear my chains apart, I will perish under them 1 As for my influence over the king, it is sufBcient to say, that for six months I have loved a woman to distraction, who returns my pa»-

18 BERLIN AND BANS-SOUCi; OB,

sion with ardor, and I cannot marry her because the king, notwithstanding my prayers and a<yony, will not consent."

** He is right," said Pollnitz, earnestly, as he stretched himself out comfortably on the sofa ; ** he is a fool who thinks of yielding up his manly freedom to any woman."

" You say that, baron ? you, who gave up king and court, and went to Numberg in order that you might marry ! "

" Aha ! how adroitly you have played the knife out of my hands, and have yourself become the questioner I Well, it is but just that you also should have your curiosity satisfied. DemJEmd of me now and I will answer frankly."

" You are not married, baron ? "

'' Not in the least ; and I have sworn that the goddess Fortnna alone shaU be my beloved. I will have no mortal wife."

" The report, then, is untrue that you have again changed your religion, and become Protestant ? "

" No, this time rumor has spoken the truth. The Numberger patrician would accept no hand offered by a Catholic ; so I took off the glove of my Catholicism and drew on my Protestant one. My God! to a man of the world, his outside faith is nothing more than an article of the toilet. Do you not ' know that it is bon ion for princes when they visit -strange courts to wear the orders and uniforms of their entertainers f So it is my rule of etiquette to adopt the religion which the circumstances in which I find myself seem to make suitable and profitable. My situation in Nurnbeig demanded that I should become a Protestant, and I became one."