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
off, and leaving it scattered in different places over the face of
Thuringen in general); so that they had the trouble of a new one
lately." [Rodenbeck, _Beitrage,_ i. 299; ib. p. 385, Lithograph of the
poor extinct Monument itself.]
From Friedrich the "Army of the Circles," that is, Dauphiness and
Company,--called HOOPERS or "Coopers" (TONNELIERS), with a desperate
attempt at wit by pun,--get their Adieu in words withal. This is the
famed CONGE DE L'ARMEE DES CERCLES ET DES TONNELIERS; a short metrical
Piece; called by Editors the most profane, most indecent, most &c.; and
printed with asterisk veils thrown over the worst passages. Who
shall dare, searching and rummaging for insight into Friedrich, and
complaining that there is none, to lift any portion of the veil; and
say, "See--Faugh!" The cynicism, truly, but also the irrepressible
honest exultation, has a kind of epic completeness, and fulness of
sincerity; and, at bottom, the thing is nothing like so wicked as
careless commentators have given out. Dare to look a little:--
"ADIEU, GRANDS ERASEURS DE ROIS," so it starts: "Adieu, grand crushers
of Kings; arrogant wind-bags, Turpin, Broglio, Soubise,--Hildburghausen
with the gray beard, foolish still as when your beard was black in the
Turk-War time:--brisk journey to you all!" That is the first stanza;
unexceptionable, had we room. The second stanza is,--with the veils
partially lifted; with probably "MOISE" put into the first blank, and
into the third something of or belonging to "CESAR,"--
"Je vows ai vu comme...
Dans des ronces en certain lieu
Eut l'honneur de voir...
Ou comme au gre de sa luxure
Le bon Nicomede a l'ecart
Aiguillonnait sa flamme impure
Des..."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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