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
Podewils the Minister said something, not too much; to which one
Prittwitz, head of a Silesian Family of which we shall know individuals,
made pithy and pretty response, before swearing. "There were above Four
Hundred of Quality present, all in gala." The customary Free-Gift of the
STANDE Friedrich magnanimously refused: "Impossible to be a burden to
our Silesia in such harassed war-circumstances, instead of benefactor
and protector, as we intended and intend!" The Ceremony, swearing and
all, was over in two hours; hundreds of silver medals, not to speak of
the gold ones, flying about; and Breslau giving itself up joyfully
to dinner and festivities. And, after dinner, that evening, to
Illumination; followed by balls and jubilations for days after, in
a highly harmonious key. Of the lamps-festoons, astonishing
transparencies, and glad symbolic devices, I could say a great deal;
but will mention only two, both of comfortably edible or quasi-edible
tendency:--1. That of David Schulze, Flesher by profession; who had a
Transparency large as life, representing his own fat Person in the act
of felling a fat Ox; to which was appended this epigraph:--
"Wer mir wird den Konig in Preussen verachten,
Den will ich wie diesen Ochsen schlacten."
"Who dares me the King of Prussia insult,
Him I will serve like this fat head of nolt."
Signed "DAVID SCHULER, A BRANDENBURGER."--
And then,
2. How, in another quarter, there was set aloft IN RE, by some
Pastry-cook of patriotic turn: "An actual Ox roasted whole; filled with
pheasants, partridges, grouse, hares and geese; Prussian Eagle atop,
made of roasted fowls, larks and the like,"--unattainable, I doubt,
except for money down. [_Helden-Geschichte,_ ii. 359.]
On the fifth morning, 9th November,--after much work done during this
short visit, much ceremonial audiencing, latterly, and raising to the
peerage,--Friedrich rolled on to Glogau. Took accurate survey of the
engineering and other interests there, for a couple of days; thence to
Berlin (noon of the 11th), joyfully received by Royal Family and all
the world;--and, as we might fancy, asking himself: "Am I actually home,
then; out of the enchanted jungles and their devilries; safe here, and
listening, I alone in Peace, to the universal din of War?" Alas, no;
that was a beautiful hypothesis; too beautiful to be long credible!
Before reaching Berlin,--or even Breslau, as appears,--Friedrich,
vigilantly scanning and discerning, had seen that fine hope as good as
vanish; and was silently busy upon the opposite one.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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