History of Friedrich II of Prussia — Volume 13Carlyle, Thomas
History
History of Friedrich II of Prussia — Volume 13
Carlyle, Thomas
Frederick II, King of Prussia, 1712-1786; Prussia (Germany) -- History -- Frederick II, 1740-1786; Social problems
As to the Prince of Orange, him we have seen more than once in times
past: a young fellow in comparison, sprightly, reckoned clever, but
somewhat humpbacked; married an English Princess, years ago ("Papa, if
he were as ugly as a baboon!")--which fine Princess, we find, has stopt
short at Cassel, too fatigued on the present occasion. "His ESPRIT,"
continues Wilhelmina, "and his conversation, delighted me. His Wife,
he said, was at Cassel; he would persuade her to come and make my
acquaintance;"--could not; too far, in this cold season. "These two
Serene Highnesses would needs take me home in their carriage; they asked
the Margraf to let them stay supper: from that hour they were never out
of our house. Next morning, by means of them, the secret had got abroad.
Kur-Koln [lanky hook-nosed gentleman, richest Pluralist in the Church]
had set spies on us; next evening he came up to me, and said, 'Madam,
I know your Highness; you must dance a measure with me!' That comes of
one's head-gear getting awry! We had nothing for it but to give up the
incognito, and take our fate!"
This dancing Elector of Koln, a man still only entering his forties, is
the new Emperor's Brother: [Clement August (Hubner, t. 134).] do readers
wonder to see him dance, being an Archbishop? The fact is certain,--let
the Three Kings and the Eleven Thousand Virgins say to it what they
will. "He talked a long time with me; presented to me the Princess
Clemence his Niece [that is to say, Wife of his Nephew ClemENT; one
of the Two whom his now Imperial Majesty saw married the other
day], [Michaelis, ii. 256, 123; Hubner, tt. 141, 134.] and then the
Princess"--in fact, presented all the three Sulzbach Princesses (for
there is a youngest, still to wed),--"and then Prince Theodor [happy
Husband of the eldest], and Prince Clement [ditto of the younger];" and
was very polite indeed. How keep our incognito, with all these people
heaping civilities upon us? Let us send to Baireuth for clothes,
equipages; and retire to our country concealment till they arrive.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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