History of Friedrich II of Prussia — Volume 12Carlyle, Thomas
History
History of Friedrich II of Prussia — Volume 12
Carlyle, Thomas
Frederick II, King of Prussia, 1712-1786; Prussia (Germany) -- History -- Frederick II, 1740-1786; Social problems
We have often said, the Spanish-English War was itself likely to
have kindled Europe; and again Friedrich's Silesian War was itself
likely,--France being nearly sure to interfere. But if both these Wars
were necessary ones, and if France interfered in either of them on the
wrong side, the blame will be to France, not to the necessary Wars.
France could, in no way, have interfered in a more barefacedly unjust
and gratuitous manner than she now did; nor, on any terms, have so
palpably made herself the author of the conflagration of deliriums
that ensued for above Seven years henceforth. Nay for above Twenty
years,--the settlement of this Silesian Pragmatic-Antipragmatic matter
(and of Jenkins's Ear, incidentally, ALONG with this!) not having fairly
completed itself till 1763.
HOW BELLEISLE MADE VISIT TO TEUTSCHLAND; AND THERE WAS NO FIT HENRY THE
FOWLER TO WELCOME HIM.
It is very wrong to keep Enchanted Wiggeries sitting in this world, as
if they were things still alive! By a species of "conservatism," which
gets praised in our Time, but which is only a slothful cowardice, base
indifference to truth, and hatred to trouble in comparison with
lies that sit quiet, men now extensively practise this method of
procedure;--little dreaming how bad and fatal it at all times is. When
the brains are out, things really ought to die;--no matter what lovely
things they were, and still affect to be, the brains being out, they
actually ought in all cases to die, and with their best speed get
buried. Men had noses, at one time; and smelt the horror of a deceased
reality fallen putrid, of a once dear verity become mendacious,
phantasmal; but they have, to an immense degree, lost that organ since,
and are now living comfortably cheek-by-jowl with lies. Lies of that sad
"conservative" kind,--and indeed of all kinds whatsoever: for that kind
is a general mother; and BREEDS, with a fecundity that is appalling, did
you heed it much!--
It was pity that the "Holy Romish Reich, Teutsch by Nation," had not
got itself buried some ages before. Once it had brains and life, but now
they were out. Under the sway of Barbarossa, under our old anti-chaotic
friend Henry the Fowler, how different had it been! No field for a
Belleisle to come and sow tares in; no rotten thatch for a French
Sun-god to go sailing about in the middle of, and set fire to! Henry,
when the Hungarian Pan-Slavonic Savagery came upon him, had got ready in
the interim; and a mangy dog was the "tribute" he gave them; followed
by the due extent of broken crowns, since they would not be content with
that. That was the due of Belleisle too,--had there been a Henry to meet
him with it, on his crossing the marches, in Trier Country, in Spring,
1741: "There, you anarchic Upholstery-Belus, fancying yourself God of
the Sun; there is what Teutschland owes you. Go home with that; and mind
your own business, which I am told is plentiful, if you had eye for it!"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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