History of Friedrich II of Prussia — Volume 18Carlyle, Thomas
History
History of Friedrich II of Prussia — Volume 18
Carlyle, Thomas
Frederick II, King of Prussia, 1712-1786; Prussia (Germany) -- History -- Frederick II, 1740-1786; Social problems
"ERFURT, TUESDAY 13th SEPTEMBER, 1757, About 10 in the morning [listen
to a faithful Witness], there appeared Hussars on the heights to
northward:--'Vanguard of his Prussian Majesty!' said Erfurt with alarm,
and our French guests with alarm. And scarcely were the words uttered,
when said Vanguard, and gradually the whole Prussian Army [only some
9,000, though we all thought it the whole], came to sight; posting
itself in half-moon shape round us there; French and Reichs folk
hurrying off what they could from the Cyriaksberg and Petersberg, by the
opposite gates,"--towards Gotha, and the Hills of Eisenach.
"Think what a dilemma for Erfurt, jammed between two horns in this
way, should one horn enter before the other got out! Much parleying and
supplicating on the part of Erfurt: Till at last, about 4 P.M., French
being all off, Erfurt flung its gates open; and the new Power did enter,
with some due state: Prussian Majesty in Person (who could have hoped
it!) and Prince Henri beside him; Cavalry with drawn swords; Infantry
with field-pieces, and the band playing"--Prussian grenadier march, I
should hope, or something equally cheering. "The rest of the Vanguard,
and, in succession, the Army altogether, had taken Camp outside, looking
down on the Northern Gate, over at Ilgertshofen, a village in the
neighborhood, about two miles off." [_Helden-Geschichte,_ iv. 636, 637.]
That is the first sight Friedrich has of "LA DAUPHINE," as the
Versailles people call this Bellona, come to "deliver Saxony;" and she
is considerably coyer than had been expected. Many sad days, and ardent
vain vows of Friedrich, before he could see the skirt of her again! From
Ilgertshofen, northwestward to Dittelstadt, Gamstadt, and other poor
specks of villages in Gotha Territory, is ten or fifteen miles; from
Dittelstadt eastward to Buttstadt and Buttelstadt, in Weimar Country,
may be twenty-five: in this area, Friedrich, shifting about, chiefly
for convenience of quarters,--head-quarter Kirschleben for a while,
Buttelstadt finally and longest,--had to wander impatiently to and
fro for four weeks and more; no work procurable, or none worth
mentioning:--in the humor of a man whose House is on fire, flaming
out of every window, front and rear; who has run up with quenching
apparatus; and cannot, being spell-bound, get the least bucket of
it applied. And is by nature the rapidest soul now alive. Figure his
situation there, as it gradually becomes manifest to him!
For the present, DAUPHINESS Bellona, hurrying to the Hills, has left
some tagrag of remnant in Gotha. Whereupon, the second day, here is an
"Own Correspondent" again,--not coming by electric telegraph, but (what
is a sensible advantage) credible in every point, when he does come:--
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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