History of Friedrich II of Prussia — Volume 04 — John Shaqi
History of Friedrich II of Prussia — Volume 04Carlyle, Thomas
History
History of Friedrich II of Prussia — Volume 04
Carlyle, Thomas
Frederick II, King of Prussia, 1712-1786; Prussia (Germany) -- History -- Frederick II, 1740-1786; Social problems
We perceive the little creature has got much from Nature; not the big
arena only, but fine inward gifts, for he is well-born in more senses
than one;--and that in the breeding of him there are two elements
noticeable, widely diverse: the French and the German. This is
perhaps the chief peculiarity; best worth laying hold of, with the due
comprehension, if our means allow.
FIRST EDUCATIONAL ELEMENT, THE FRENCH ONE.
His nurses, governesses, simultaneous and successive, mostly of French
breed, are duly set down in the Prussian Books, and held in mind as
a point of duty by Prussian men; but, in foreign parts, cannot be
considered otherwise than as a group, and merely with generic features.
He had a Frau von Kamecke for Head Governess,--the lady whom Wilhelmina,
in her famed _Memoires,_ always writes KAMKEN; and of whom, except the
floating gossip found in that Book, there is nothing to be remembered.
Under her, as practical superintendent, SOUS-GOUVERNANTE and
quasi-mother, was the Dame de Roucoulles, a more important person for
us here. Dame de Roucoulles, once de Montbail, the same respectable
Edict-of-Nantes French lady who, five-and-twenty years ago, had taken
similar charge of Friedrich Wilhelm; a fact that speaks well for the
character of her performance in that office. She had done her first
edition of a Prussian Prince in a satisfactory manner; and not without
difficult accidents and singularities, as we have heard: the like of
which were spared her in this her second edition (so we may call it);
a second and, in all manner of ways, an improved one. The young Fritz
swallowed no shoe-buckles; did not leap out of window, hanging on by the
hands; nor achieve anything of turbulent, or otherwise memorable, in his
infantine history; the course of which was in general smooth, and runs,
happily for it, below the ken of rumor. The Boy, it is said, and is
easily credible, was of extraordinary vivacity; quick in apprehending
all things, and gracefully relating himself to them. One of the
prettiest, vividest little boys; with eyes, with mind and ways, of
uncommon brilliancy;--only he takes less to soldiering than the paternal
heart could wish; and appears to find other things in the world fully as
notable as loud drums, and stiff men drawn up in rows. Moreover, he is
apt to be a little unhealthy now and then, and requires care from his
nurses, over whom the judicious Roucoulles has to be very vigilant.
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