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
"Standard first, which flies to the westward or leftward, has
'Reisberg' (no such place on this distracted globe, but meaning Bevern's
REICHENBERG, perhaps),--'Reisberg,' 'Prague,' 'Collin.' Middle standard
curves beautifully round its staff, and gives us to read, 'Welham'
(non-extant, too; may mean WELMINA or Lobositz), 'Rossbach' (very good),
'Breslau' (poor Bevern's, thought a VICTORY in Worcester at this time!).
Standard third, which flies to eastward or right hand, has 'Neumark'
(that is, NEUMARKT and the Austrian Bread-ovens, 4th December); 'Lissa'
(not yet LEUTHEN in English nomenclature); and 'Breslau' again, which
means the capture of Breslau CITY this time, and is a real success,
7th-19th December;--giving us the approximate date, Christmas, 1757, to
this hasty Mug. A Mug got up for temporary English enthusiasm, and the
accidental instruction of posterity. It is of tolerable China; holds a
good pint, 'To the Protestant Hero, with all the honors;'--and offers,
in little, a curious eyehole into the then England, with its then lights
and notions, which is now so deep-hidden from us, under volcanic ashes,
French Revolutions, and the wrecks of a Hundred very decadent Years."
Chapter XI.--WINTER IN BRESLAU: THIRD CAMPAIGN OPENS.
Friedrich, during those grand victories, is suffering sadly in health,
"COLIQUE DEPUIS HUIT JOURS, neither sleep nor appetite;" "eight months
of mere anguishes and agitations do wear one down." He is tired too, he
says, of the mere business-talk, coarse and rugged, which has been his
allotment lately; longs for some humanly roofed kind of lodging, and
a little talk that shall have flavor in it. [Letters of his to Prince
Henri (December 26th, &c.: _ OEuvres,_ xxvi. 167, 169; Stenzel, v:
123).] The troops once all in their Winter-quarters, he sits down in
Breslau as his own wintering-place: place of relaxation,--of rest, or
at least of changed labor,--no man needing it more. There for some
three months he had a tolerable time; perhaps, by contrast, almost a
delightful. Readers must imagine it; we have no details allowed us, nor
any time for them even if we had.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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