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 and Quantz sat doing music, an unlawful thing, in this pleasant,
but also unlawful costume; when Lieutenant Katte, who was on watch in
the outer room, rushes in, distraction in his aspect: Majesty just here!
Quick, double quick! Katte snatches the music-books and flutes, snatches
Quantz; hurries with him and them into some wall-press, or closet for
firewood, and stands quaking there. Our poor Prince has flung aside
his brocade, got on his military coatie; and would fain seem busy with
important or indifferent routine matters. But, alas, he cannot undo
the French hairdressing; cannot change the graceful French bag into the
strict Prussian queue in a moment. The French bag betrays him; kindles
the paternal vigilance,--alas, the paternal wrath, into a tornado pitch.
For his vigilant suspecting Majesty searches about; finds the brocade
article behind a screen; crams it, with loud indignation, into the
fire; finds all the illicit French Books; confiscates them on the
spot, confiscates all manner of contraband goods:--and there was mere
sulphurous whirlwind in those serene spaces for about an hour! If
his Majesty had looked into the wood-closet? His Majesty, by Heaven's
express mercy, omitted that. Haude the Bookseller was sent for; ordered
to carry off that poisonous French cabinet-library in mass; sell every
Book of it, to an undiscerning public, at what price it will fetch.
Which latter part of his order, Haude, in deep secrecy, ventured to
disobey, being influenced thereto. Haude, in deep secrecy, kept the
cabinet-library secure; and "lent" the Prince book after book from it,
as his Royal Highness required them.
Friedrich, it is whispered in Tobacco-Parliament, has been known, in
his irreverent impatience, to call the Grenadier uniform his "shroud
(STERBEKITTEL, or death-clothes);" so imprisoning to the young mind
and body! Paternal Majesty has heard this blasphemous rumor; hence
doubtless, in part, his fury against the wider brocade garment.
It was Quantz himself that reported this explosion to authentic Nicolai,
many years afterwards; confessing that he trembled, every joint of him,
in the wood-closet, during that hour of hurricane; and the rather as he
had on "a red dress-coat," whioh color, foremost of the flaring colors,
he knew to be his Majesty's aversion, on a man's back. [Nicolai,
_Anekdoten_ (Berlin, 1790), ii. 148.] Of incomparable Quantz, and
his heart-thrilling adagios, we hope to hear again, under
joyfuler circumstances. Of Lieutenant von Katte,--a short stout young
fellow, with black eyebrows, pock-marked face, and rather dissolute
manners,--we shall not fail to hear.
Chapter VIII. -- CROWN-PRINCE GETTING BEYOND HIS DEPTH IN TROUBLE.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account