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
Long lawsuit, in consequence; lengthy law-pleadings, and much parchment
and wiggery, in that German Triple-Elixir of Chancery;--little to
the joy of Friedrich Wilhelm. Friedrich Wilhelm, from the first, was
fairness itself: "Pay me back the money; and let it be, in all points,
as you say!" answered Friedrich Wilhelm, from the first. Alas, the
money was eaten; how could the money be paid back? The Reichshofrath
dubitatively shook its wig, for years: "Bargain bad in Law; but Money
clearly repayable: the Money was and is good;--what shall be done about
the Money!" At length, in 1722, Friedrich Wilhelm, of himself, settled
with this present Margraf, then Heir-Presumptive, How, by steady slow
instalments, it could be possible, from the revenues of Baireuth,
thriftily administered, to pay back that Half-Million and odd Thalers;
and the now Margraf, ever since his accession in 1726, has been annually
doing it. So that there is, at this time, nothing but composed kinship
and friendship between the two Courts, the little and the big: only
Friedrich Wilhelm, especially with his will crossed in this matter of
the Baireuth Marriage, thinks to himself, "Throw more money into such
a gulf? The 600,000 Thalers had better be got out first!" and says, he
will give no Dowry at all, nor take any charge, not so much as give away
the Bride, but be passive in the matter.
Queen Sophie, delighted to conquer Grumkow at any rate, is charmed
with this notion of Baireuth; and for a moment forgets all other
considerations: Should England prove slack and fail, what a resource
will Baireuth be, compared with Weissenfels! And Wilhelmina entering,
her Majesty breaks forth into admiration over the victory, or
half-victory, just gained: What a husband for you this, my dear, in
comparison! And as Wilhelmina cannot quite join in the rapture on
a sudden; and cannot even consent, unless Papa too give his real
countenance to the match, Mamma flies out upon the poor young Lady:
[Wilhelmina, i. 201.] "Take the Grand Turk or the Great Mogul, then,"
said the Queen, "and follow your own caprice! I should not have brought
so many sorrows on myself, had I known you better. Follow the King's
bidding, then; it is your own affair. I will no longer trouble myself
about your concerns;--and spare me, please, the sorrow of your odious
presence, for I cannot stand it!" Wilhelmina wished to reply, but the
answer was, "Silence! Go, I tell you!" "And I retired all in tears."
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