History of Friedrich II of Prussia — Volume 06Carlyle, Thomas
History
History of Friedrich II of Prussia — Volume 06
Carlyle, Thomas
Frederick II, King of Prussia, 1712-1786; Prussia (Germany) -- History -- Frederick II, 1740-1786; Social problems
"At table his Majesty told the Queen that he had Letters from Anspach;
the young Margraf to be at Berlin in May for his wedding; that M. Bremer
his Tutor was just coming with the ring of betrothal for Louisa. He
asked my Sister, If that gave her pleasure? and How she would regulate
her housekeeping when married? My Sister had got into the way of telling
him whatever she thought, and home-truths sometimes, without his taking
it ill. She answered with her customary frankness, That she would have
a good table, which should be delicately served; and, added she, 'which
shall be better than yours. And if I have children, I will not maltreat
them like you, nor force them to eat what they have an aversion
to.'--'What do you mean by that?' replied the King: 'what is there
wanting at my table?'--'There is this wanting,' she said, 'that one
cannot have enough; and the little there is consists of coarse potherbs
that nobody can eat.' The King," as was not unnatural, "had begun to get
angry at her first answer: this last put him quite in a fury; but
all his anger fell on my Brother and me. He first threw a plate at my
Brother's head, who ducked out of the way; he then let fly another at
me, which I avoided in like manner. A hail-storm of abuse followed these
first hostilities. He rose into a passion against the Queen; reproaching
her with the bad training she gave her children; and, addressing my
Brother: 'You have reason to curse your Mother,' said he, 'for it is she
that causes your being an ill-governed fellow (UN MAL GOUVERNE). I had
a Preceptor,' continued he, 'who was an honest man. I remember always a
story he told me in my youth. There was a man, at Carthage, who had
been condemned to die for many crimes he had committed. While they were
leading him to execution, he desired he might speak to his Mother.
They brought his Mother: he came near, as if to whisper something to
her;--and bit away a piece of her ear. I treat you thus, said he, to
make you an example to all parents who take no heed to bring up their
children in the practice of virtue!--Make the application,' continued
he, always addressing my Brother: and getting no answer from him, he
again set to abusing us till he could speak no longer. We rose from
table. As we had to pass near him in going out, he aimed a great blow at
me with his crutch; which, if I had not jerked away from it, would have
ended me. He chased me for a while in his wheel-chair, but the
people drawing it gave me time to escape into the Queen's chamber."
[Wilhelmina, i. 159.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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