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
Fritz's love of music, especially of fluting, is already known to us.
Now a certain Quantz was one of his principal instructors in that art,
and indeed gave him the last finish of perfection in it. Quantz, famed
Saxon music-master and composer, Leader of the Court-Band in Saxony,
king of flute-players in his day,--(a village-farrier's son from
the Gottingen region, and himself destined to shoe horses, had not
imperative Nature prevailed over hindrances);--Quantz, ever from Fritz's
sixteenth year, was wont to come occasionally, express from Dresden, for
a week or two, and give the young man lessons on the flute. The young
man's Mother, good Queen Feekin, had begged this favor for him from the
Saxon Sovereignties; and pleaded hard for it at home, or at worst kept
it secret there. It was one of the many good maternities, clandestine
and public, which she was always ready to achieve for him where
possible;--as he also knew full well in his young grateful heart, and
never forgot, however old he grew! Illustrious Quantz, we say, gives
Fritz lessons on the flute; and here is a scene they underwent;--they
and a certain brisk young soldier fellow, Lieutenant von Katte, who was
there too; of whom the reader will tragically hear more in time.
On such occasions Fritz was wont to pull off the tight Prussian coat or
COATIE, and clap himself into flowing brocade of the due roominess and
splendor,--bright scarlet dressing-gown, done in gold, with tags and
sashes complete;--and so, in a temporary manner, feel that there was
such a thing as a gentleman's suitable apparel. He would take his
music-lessons, follow his clandestine studies, in that favorable
dress:--thus Buffon, we hear, was wont to shave, and put on clean linen,
before he sat down to write, finding it more comfortable so. Though,
again, there have been others who could write in considerable disorder;
not to say litter, and palpable imperfection of equipment: Samuel
Johnson, for instance, did some really grand writing in a room where
there was but one chair, and that one incapable of standing unless you
sat on it, having only three feet. A man is to fit himself to what is
round him: but surely a Crown-Prince may be indulged in a little brocade
in his leisure moments!--
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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