History of Friedrich II of Prussia — Volume 01Carlyle, Thomas
History
History of Friedrich II of Prussia — Volume 01
Carlyle, Thomas
Frederick II, King of Prussia, 1712-1786; Prussia (Germany) -- History -- Frederick II, 1740-1786; Social problems
"Entering the room, I threw myself at the foot of her bed, testifying to
her in words my profound grief to see her in this state. After which
I took occasion to say, 'She might know now that Kings and Queens are
mortal equally with all other men; and that they are obliged to appear
before the throne of the majesty of God, to give an account of their
deeds done, no less than the meanest of their subjects.' To which her
Majesty replied, 'I know it well (_ Je le sais bien _).'--I went on to
say to her, 'Madam, your Majesty must also recognize in this hour the
vanity and nothingness of the things here below, for which, it may be,
you have had too much interest; and the importance of the things of
Heaven, which perhaps you have neglected and contemned.' Thereupon the
Queen answered, 'True (_ Cela est vrai _)!' 'Nevertheless, Madam,' said
I, 'does not your Majesty place really your trust in God? Do you not
very earnestly (_ bien serieusement_) crave pardon of Him for all the
sins you have committed? Do not you fly (_ n'a-t-elle pas recours _) to
the blood and merits of Jesus Christ, without which it is impossible
for us to stand before God?' The Queen answered, '_ Oui _ (Yes).'--While
this was going on, her Brother, Duke Ernst August, came into the Queen's
room,"--perhaps with his eye upon me and my motions?"As they wished to
speak together, I withdrew by order."
This Duke Ernst August, age now 31, is the youngest Brother of the
family; there never was any Sister but this dying one, who is four
years older. Ernst August has some tincture of soldiership at this time
(Marlborough Wars, and the like), as all his kindred had; but ultimately
he got the Bishopric of Osnabruck, that singular spiritual heirloom, or
HALF-heirloom of the family; and there lived or vegetated without
noise. Poor soul, he is the same Bishop of Osnabruck, to whose house,
twenty-two years hence, George I., struck by apoplexy, was breathlessly
galloping in the summer midnight, one wish now left in him, to be with
his brother;--and arrived dead, or in the article of death. That was
another scene Ernst August had to witness in his life. I suspect him
at present of a thought that M. de la Bergerie, with his pious
commonplaces, is likely to do no good. Other trait of Ernst August's
life; or of the Schloss of Hanover that night,--or where the sorrowing
old Mother sat, invincible though weeping, in some neighboring room,--I
cannot give. M. de la Bergerie continues his narrative:--
"Some time after, I again presented myself before the Queen's bed,
to see if I could have occasion to speak to her on the matter of her
salvation. But Monseigneur the Duke Ernst August then said to me, That
it was not necessary; that the Queen was at peace with her God (_ etait
bien avec son Dieu _)."--Which will mean also that M. de la Bergerie may
go home? However, he still writes:--
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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