按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
eat family which feels a thirst to express its joy and its rapture to each other。 And then it was possible the king might send another courier。 Who could go home till they knew that the Russians were driven from their last stronghold； that Gudenberg was drenched in Russian blood？
No one doubted that this news would comemust come。 Not the slightest fear； the least doubt troubled the proud； pure joy of this hour。 The victory was achieved； but it was still charming to hear it confirmed； to receive these heavenly messages。 Every open space was filled with men。 Each one would see and hear for himself。 No man thought himself too distinguished； too sick； too weak； to stand for hours in the burning sun； carried about involuntarily by this fluctuating wave of humanity。 Side by side with the laborer stood the elegant lady in her silk robes； near the poor beggar in his ragged jacket were seen the high official and the wealthy banker in their rich dresses。
Move than fifty thousand men were now assembled and waitingwaiting for what they knew notfor newsfor a courier who could give the details。 It was not enough to know that the king had conquered； they wished to know the extent and the significance of this victory； and lastly； they would know the bloody offering which this victory had cost。 The dinner…hour was passed。 What cared this happy people for dinner？ They hungered for no earthly food； they thirsted for no earthly drink； they were satisfied with the joy of victory。 The clock struck three。 Yes； there comes a horseman； his bridle is hanging loosehe is covered with dustbut how； what means this？ His face is pale as death； his eyes are misty； he looks around shame…faced and confused。 No happy news is written upon this dark and clouded brow。 What means this messenger of death in the midst of joy； triumph； and proud consciousness of victory？ They seek to hold him； to question him； but he gives no answer。 He spurs his wearied horse till he springs aloft； and the men in rash terror are crushed against each other； but the horseman makes no sign。 Silently he dashes on through the laughing； chatting crowd； but wherever he passes； laughter and smiles disappear； and speech is silenced。
It seemed as if the angel of death had touched his brow； and the happy ones shuddered at his untimely presence。 Now he has reached the castle； he descends from his horse。 In breathless silence； pallid； trembling they know not why； those who have seen this dumb messenger look up shudderingly to the balcony。 At last； after long waiting； the Minister Herzberg appeared once more。
But； O God！ what means this？ he is palehis eyes are filled with tears。 He opens his mouth to speak； but strength has left him。 He holds on to the bars of the balcony； otherwise he would sink。 At last he collects himself。 It is not necessary to ask for silence； the silence of the grave is upon those torpid men。 He speaks！ his voice is faint and weak； and tremblesoh； so fearfully！ only a few in the first rank can hear his words。
〃The battle is lost！ The Russians have conquered！ The Austrians came to their assistance！ The presence of the Austrians was not known； they had their tents in holes in the ground！ As our militia rushed upon the last intrenchment at Judenberg and were only a hundred steps distant； Loudon suddenly advanced with his fresh troops； against the worn…out and exhausted victors。 He received the Prussians with so murderous a fire； that their ranks faltered； wavered； and； at last； broke loose in wild flight； pursued furiously by the raging enemy。 The fortunes of the day had turned； we lost the battle。 But all is not lost。 The king lives！ he is slightly wounded； three horses were shot under him。 He lives； and so long as he lives； there is hope。 In the far distance； in the midst of the terrible disaster？ which have befallen himself and his army； he thinks of his Berliners。 He sends you a father's greeting； and exhorts every one of you to save his possessions； as far as possible。 Those who do not feel safe in Berlin； and who fear the approaching enemy； the king counsels to withdraw； if possible； with their money； to Magdeburg； where the royal family will take refuge this evening。〃
The minister was silent； and the people who had listened； dumb with horror； now broke out in wild cries of anguish and despair。 Terror was written in every face； tears gushed from every eye。 Cries of unspeakable agony burst from those lips； which； a few moments before； were eloquent with hope and gladness。
As if it were impossible to believe in these misfortunes without further confirmation； some men called loudly for the messenger； and the distant crowd； as if inspired with new hope； roared louder and louder：
〃The courier！ the courier！ we will ourselves speak with the courier！〃
The demand was so threatening； so continuous； it must be complied with。 Herzberg stepped upon the balcony； and informed the crowd that the courier would at once descend to the public square。 A breathless silence succeeded； every eye was fixed upon the castle…gate； through which the courier must come。 When he appeared； the crowd rushed forward toward him in mad haste。 Cries of woe and suffering were heard。 The people； withmad with pain； beside themselves with despair； had no longer any mercy； any pity for each other。 They rushed upon the messenger of misfortune； without regarding those who； in the midst of this wild tumult； were cast down； and trodden under foot。
The messenger began his sad story。 He repeated all that the minister had said； he told of the deadly strife； of the bloody havoc； of the raging advance of the Austrians； and of the roar for vengeance of the reassured Russians。 He told how the cannon…balls of the enemy had stricken down whole ranks of Prussians； that more than twenty thousand dead and wounded Prussians lay upon the battle…field； that all the cannon and all the colors had fallen into the hands of the enemy。
The people received this news with tears； cries； and lamentations。 The courier spoke also of the king。 He； himself； had belonged to the body…guard of the kinghad been ever near him。 He had seen the king standing in the midst of the thickest shower of balls； when his two adjutants fell at his side。 At last； a ball came and wounded the king's horsethe Vogelso fearfully； that the brave steed fell。 Frederick mounted another horse； but remained upon the same spot； a second ball wounded this horse； and the king quietly mounted that of Captain Gotzen。 At this moment； a bullet struck the king in the breast； but the golden etui which the king carried in his pocket； had turned it aside； and thus saved his life。 In vain had the generals and adjutants entreated him to leave this place； and think of his personal safety。 His answer was〃We must seek； at this point； to win the battle。 I must do my duty here with the rest。〃 ＇Footnote： The king's own words。See Thiebault； p。 214。＇
Many voices cried out〃Where is the king now？〃
The courier did not answer； but the question was so fiercely； so stormily repeated； that he was compelled to go on。
〃The king； in the midst of the confusion and horror of the flight； had called him； and commanded him to gallop to Berlin； and bear the fatal news to Minister Herzberg。 He had then galloped by him； exactly against the enemy； as if he wished their balls to strike him； a little troop of his most faithful soldiers had followed！〃
〃The king is lost！ the king is a prisonerwoundedperhaps dead！〃 cried the terrified people。
Suddenly； the mad tumult was interrupted by loud shouts of joy； which swelled and thundered like an avalanche from the other side of the square。 A fifth courier had arrived； and brought the news of the complete defeat of the Russians； and a glorious Prussian victory。 Now； one of those memorable； wondrousgrand scenes took place； which no earthly phantasy could contrive or prepare； to which only Providence could give form and color。 As if driven by the storm… winds of every powerful earthly passion； this great sea of people fluctuated here and there。 At one point； thousands were weeping over the news which the unhappy messenger had brought。 Near by； thousands were huzzaing and shouting over the joyful intelligence brought by the fifth courier；