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
Readers may figure this scene too, and shudder over it. Some rather
handsome male Cousin of Mamsell, Medical Graduate or whatever he was,
had appeared in Dessau:--"Seems, to admire Mamsell much; of course, in a
Platonic way," said rumor:--"He? Admire?" thinks Leopold;--thinks a
good deal of it, not in the philosophic mood. As he was one day passing
Fos's, Mamsell and the Medical Graduate are visible, standing together
at the window inside. Pleasantly looking out upon Nature,--of course
quite casually, say some Histories with a sneer. In fact, it seems
possible this Medical Graduate may have been set to act shoeing-horn;
but he had better not. Leopold storms into the House, "Draw, scandalous
canaille, and defend yourself!"--And in this, or some such way, a
confident tradition says, he killed the poor Medical Graduate there and
then. One tries always to hope not: but Varnhagen is positive, though
the other Histories say nothing of it. God knows. The man was a Prince;
no Reichshofrath, Speyer-Wetzlar KAMMER, or other Supreme Court, would
much trouble itself, except with formal shakings of the wig, about such
a peccadillo. In fine, it was better for Leopold to marry the Miss
Fos; which he actually did (1698, in his twenty-second year), "with
the left-hand,"--and then with the right and both hands; having got her
properly ennobled before long, by his splendid military services. She
made, as we have hinted, an excellent Wife to him, for the fifty or
sixty ensuing years.
This is a strange rugged specimen, this inarticulate Leopold; already
getting mythic, as we can perceive, to the polished vocal ages; which
mix all manner of fables with the considerable history he has. Readers
will see him turn up again in notable forms. A man hitherto unknown
except in his own country; and yet of very considerable significance to
all European countries whatsoever; the fruit of his activities, without
his name attached, being now manifest in all of them. He invented the
iron ramrod; he invented the equal step; in fact, he is the inventor of
modern military tactics. Even so, if we knew it: the Soldiery of every
civilized country still receives from this man, on parade-fields and
battle-fields, its word of command; out of his rough head proceeded
the essential of all that the innumerable Drill-sergeants, in various
languages, daily repeat and enforce. Such a man is worth some transient
glance from his fellow-creatures,--especially with a little Fritz
trotting at his foot, and drawing inferences from him.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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