History of Friedrich II of Prussia — Volume 20Carlyle, Thomas
History
History of Friedrich II of Prussia — Volume 20
Carlyle, Thomas
Frederick II, King of Prussia, 1712-1786; Prussia (Germany) -- History -- Frederick II, 1740-1786; Social problems
Six weeks ago, Prince Henri and Daun had finished their Saxon Campaign
in a much more harmless manner. NOVEMBER 5th, Daun, after infinite
rallying, marshalling, rearranging, and counselling with Loudon, who
has sat so long quiescent on the Heights at Kunzendorf, ready to aid and
reinforce, did at length (nothing of "rashness" chargeable on Daun)
make "a general attack on Prince Henri's outposts", in the Meissen
or Mulda-Elbe Country, "from Rosswein all across to Siebeneichen;"
simultaneous attack, 15 miles wide, or I know not how wide, but done
with vigor; and, after a stiff struggle in the small way, drove them
all in;--in, all of them, more or less;--and then did nothing farther
whatever. Henri had to contract his quarters, and stand alertly on his
guard: but nothing came. "Shall have to winter in straiter quarters,
behind the Mulda, not astride of it as formerly; that is all." And so
the Campaign in Saxony had ended, "without, in the whole course of it",
say the Books, "either party gaining any essential advantage over the
other." [Seyfarth, iii. 54; Tempelhof, v. 275 et seq. (ibid. pp. 263-280
for the Campaign at large, in all breadth of detail).]
Chapter X.--FRIEDRICH IN BRESLAU; HAS NEWS FROM PETERSBURG.
Since December 9th, Friedrich is in Breslau, in some remainder of his
ruined Palace there; and is represented to us, in Books, as sitting
amid ruins; no prospect ahead of him but ruin. Withdrawn from Society;
looking fixedly on the gloomiest future. Sees hardly anybody; speaks,
except it be on business, nothing. "One day," I have read somewhere,
"General Lentulus dined with him; and there was not a word uttered at
all." The Anecdote-Books have Dialogues with Ziethen; Ziethen still
trusting in Divine Providence; King trusting only in the iron Destinies,
and the stern refuge of Death with honor: Dialogues evidently symbolical
only. In fact, this is not, or is not altogether, the King's common
humor. He has his two Nephews with him (the elder, old enough to learn
soldiering, is to be of next Campaign under him); he is not without
society when he likes,--never without employment whether he like or
not; and, in the blackest murk of despondencies, has his Turk and other
Illusions, which seem to be brighter this Year than ever. [LETTERS to
Henri: in SCHONING, iii. (SOEPIUS).]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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