History of Friedrich II of Prussia — Volume 14Carlyle, Thomas
History
History of Friedrich II of Prussia — Volume 14
Carlyle, Thomas
Frederick II, King of Prussia, 1712-1786; Prussia (Germany) -- History -- Frederick II, 1740-1786; Social problems
His Majesty gave it her at the moment when she was about to take leave
of the Two Queens. [No, Monsieur, not then; it came to her hand the
second evening hence, at Schwedt; [Her own Letter to Friedrich (_OEuvres
de Frederic,_ xxvii. 372; "Schwedt, 28th July, 1744").] most likely not
yet written at the time you fabulously give;--you foolish fantast, and
"artist" of the SHAM-kind!]--The Princess threw her eyes on it, and fell
into a faint [No, you Sham, not for IT]: the King had almost done the
like. His tears flowed abundantly. The Princes and Princesses were
overcome with sorrow. At last, Gotter judged it time to put an end to
this tragic scene. He entered the Hall, almost like Boreas in the
Ballet of THE ROSE; that is to say, with a crash. He made one or two
whirlwinds; clove the press, and snatched away the Princess from the
arms of the Queen-Mother, took her in his own, and whisked her out of
the Hall. All the world followed; the carriages were waiting in the
court; and the Princess in a moment found herself in hers. I was in such
a state, I know not how we got down stairs; I remember only that it was
in a concert of lamentable sobbings. Madam the Margrafin von Schwedt,
who had been named to attend the Princess to Stralsund [read Schwedt] on
the Swedish frontier, this high Lady and the two Dames d'Atours who were
for Sweden itself, having sprung into the same carriage, the door of
it was shut with a slam; the postillions cracked, the carriage shot
away,--and hid the adorable Ulrique from the eyes of King and Court,
who remained motionless for some minutes, overcome by their feelings."
[Bielfeld, ii. 107-110.]
We said this Marriage was like the other, important for Public Affairs.
In fact, security on the Russian and Swedish side is always an object
with Friedrich when undertaking war. "That the French bring about, help
me to bring about, a Triple Alliance of Prussia, Russia, Sweden:" this
was a thing Friedrich had bargained to see done, before joining in the
War ahead: but by these Two Espousals Friedrich hopes he has himself as
good as done it. Of poor Princess Ulrique and her glorious reception
in Sweden (after near miss of shipwreck, in the Swedish Frigate from
Stralsund), we shall say nothing more at present: except that her
glories, all along, were much dashed by chagrins, and dangerous
imminencies of shipwreck,--which latter did not quite overtake HER,
but did her sons and grandsons, being inevitable or nearly so, in that
element, in the course of time.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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