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
Truth is, the Dauphiness is in exultant spirits, this morning; intending
great things against a certain "little Marquis of Brandenburg," to whom
one does so much honor. Generals looking down yesterday on the King of
Prussia's Camp, able to count every man in it (and half the men being
invisible, owing to bends of the ground), counted him to 10,000 or so;
and had said, "Pshaw, are not we above 50,000; let us end it! Take him
on his left. Round yonder, till we get upon his left, and even upon his
rear withal, St. Germain co-operating on the other side of him: on left,
on rear, on front, at the same moment, is not that a sure game?" A very
ticklish game, answers surly sagacious Lloyd: "No general will permit
himself to be taken in flank with his eyes open; and the King of Prussia
is the unlikeliest you could try it with!"
Trying it meanwhile they are; marching along by the low grounds here,
intending to sweep gradually leftwards towards Janus-Hill quarter; there
to sweep home upon him, coil him up, left and rear and front, in their
boa-constrictor folds, and end his trifle of an Army and him. "Why not,
if we do our duty at all, annihilate his trifle of an Army; take himself
prisoner, and so end it?" Report says, Soubise had really, in some
moment of enthusiasm lately, warned the Versailles populations to expect
such a thing; and that the Duchess of Orleans, forgetful of poor King
Louis's presence, had in HER enthusiasm, exclaimed: "TANT MIEUX, I shall
at last see a King, then!" But perhaps it is a mere French epigram, such
as the winds often generate there, and put down for fact.--Friedrich's
retreat to Weissenfels is cut off for Friedrich: an Austrian party has
been at the Herren-Muhle Bridge this morning, has torn it up and pitched
it into the river; planks far on to Merseburg by this time. And, in
fact, unless Friedrich be nimble--But that he usually is.
Friedrich's dinner had gone on with deliberation for about two hours,
Friedrich's intentions not yet known to any, but everybody, great and
small, waiting eagerly for them, like greyhounds on the slip,--when
Adjutant Gaudi, who had been on the House-top the while, rushes into the
Dining-room faster than he ought, and, with some tremor in his voice and
eyes, reports hastily: "At Schevenroda, at Pettstadt yonder! Enemy has
turned to left. Clearly for the left."--"Well, and if he do? No flurry
needed, Captain!" answered Friedrich,--(NOT in these precise words; but
rebuking Gaudi, with a look not of laughter wholly, and with a certain
question, as to the state of Gaudi's stomachic part, which is still
known in traditionary circles, but is not mentionable here);--and went,
with due gravity, himself to the roof, with his Officers. "To the
left, sure enough; meaning to attack us there:" the thing Friedrich had
despaired of is voluntarily coming, then;--and it is a thing of stern
qualities withal; a wager of life, with glorious possibilities behind.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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