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untrymen had decked his brow。
But Ewald von Kleist is no longer a poet or a herohe is a poor； suffering； tortured child of earth； he lies on the damp ground； he pleads for a few rags to cover his wounds； into which the muddy water of the hole in which he lies is rushing。
And now fate seems favorable。 A Russian officer is riding byhe takes pity on the naked man with the gaping wounds； he throws him a soldier's old mantle； a piece of bread； and a half gulden。 ＇Footnote： 〃Seven Years' War；〃 353。＇ The German poet receives the alms of the Russian thankfullyhe covers himself with the cloak； he tries to eat the bread。
But destiny is never propitious to German poets。 The Cossacks swarm again upon the battle…field； and again they approach the groaning warrior in the open grave； he has no longer a glittering uniform； but the Cossack takes all； the poor old mantle excites his greedhe tears it from the unresisting soldier； he opens his hands and takes out the half gulden which Ewald von Kleist had received from the Russian hussar。
Again he lies naked； again the muddy water forces into his wounds； and adds cruel torture to the agonies of death。 So lies he till the next day； till the enemy takes pity upon him and carries him as a prisoner to Frankfort。 ＇Footnote： Ewald von Kleist died a few days after this； on the 24th of August。 The Russians gave him an honorable burial； and as there was no sword upon his coffin； Captain Bulow； chief of the Russian dragoons； took his own from his side and placed it upon the bier； saying； 〃So worthy an officer shall not be buried without every mark of honor。〃Archenholtz； 262。＇
Happy those who meet with sudden death。 It is true all the living did not share the cruel fate of Ewald von Kleist； but all those thousands who were borne wounded and bleeding from the battle…field were conscious of their sufferings and their defeat。
The little village of Octshef near the battle…field was a hospital。 During the battle all the inhabitants had fled。 The wounded had taken possession of the huts and the surgeons were hastening from house to house giving relief where it was possible。 No one entered into those two little huts which lay at the other end of the village； somewhat separated from the others。 And yet those huts contained two wounded men。 They had been brought here during the battlethe surgeon had examined their wounds and gone out silently； never to return。 Groaning from time to time； these two wounded men lay upon the straw； their eyes fixed upon the door； longing for the surgeon to bring them help； or at least alleviation。
And now the door was indeed opened； and an officer entered。 Was it the obscurity of twilight； or had blood and pain blinded the eyes of the wounded men so that； they could not recognize the stranger？ It was true his noble and generally cheerful face was now grave and stern； his cheeks were ashy pale； and his great； flashing eyes were dim； but there was still something inexpressibly majestic and commanding in his appearancethough defeated and cast down； he was still a hero； a kingFrederick the Great！
Frederick had come to take up his quarters in this lonely hut； to be alone in his great grief； but when he saw the two wounded men； his expression changed to one of earnest sympathy。 With hasty steps he drew near to the two officers； bowed over and questioned them kindly。 They recognized his voicethat voice which had so often inspired them to bold deeds in the wild whirl of battle； but whose tones were now mild and sympathetic。
〃The king！〃 cried both in joyful surprise； and forgetting their wounds and helplessness； they strove to rise； but sank back with hollow groans； with the blood streaming anew from their wounds。
〃Poor children；〃 said Frederick； 〃you are badly wounded。〃
〃Yes；〃 groaned Lieutenant von Grabow； 〃badly wounded； but that is of small consequence； if； your majesty； we only knew that we had gained the day。 We had taken two redoubts； and were storming the third； when this misfortune befell us。 Tell us； your majesty； is it not true？ Is not the victory ours？〃
A dark shadow passed over the face of the king； but soon disappeared。
〃You must now think only of yourselves。 You have proved that you are bravethe rest is accident or fate。 Do not despond； all will be well。 Have your wounds been dressed？ Have you been fed？〃
〃Ah； sire； no devil will dress our wounds；〃 groaned Lieutenant von Hubenfall。
〃How；〃 cried the king； 〃have they left you here without care and assistance？〃
〃Yes； sire； there is no earthly hope for us。〃
The king was about to answer； when several people； bearing hand… barrows； accompanied by a surgeon； entered。
〃What do you wish？〃 said the king； angrily。
〃Sire；〃 answered the surgeon； 〃we will remove the wounded； as your majesty will make your night…quarters here。〃
The king threw a scornful glance upon them。
〃And you suppose that I will allow this？ The wounded men remain here。 I will seek shelter elsewhere。 But； above all things； examine the wounds of these two officers at once； and dress them。〃
The surgeon advanced； and examined them carefully； then drew near the king。
〃Your majesty；〃 said he； shrugging his shoulders； 〃it would be all in vain。 A cannon…ball has torn off the right arm of one of these men； and he must die of gangrene。 The other has a cartridge…load of iron in his face and in his body。 It is impossible to bind up these wounds。〃
The king did not answer him。 He stepped hastily to the straw…bed； and took both the wounded men by the hand。 Then； turning to the surgeon； he said
〃Look； now； these two men are young and powerfulthey have no fever。 With such young blood and fresh hearts Nature often does wonders。 Dress them； and bind up their wounds； and； above all things； see that they have nourishmentthey have need of it。〃
〃Ah； yes； your majesty； we have been hungry and thirsty a long time；〃 said Grabow。
The king smiled。 〃See； now； you think they are lost； and yet they have healthy stomachs； so long as a man is hungry he will not die。〃
The surgeon opened his case of instruments and commenced to dress the wounds。 The king watched him for a long time； then stooped down and said； tenderly； 〃Children； do not despair； I will learn how it goes with you； and if you are no longer fit for service； I will take care of you。 Believe that I will not forget you。〃 He bowed kindly and left the room。 His adjutants were awaiting him at the door of the tent。 ＇Footnote： The king's own words。 The whole scene is historical。 These two officers； whom the king saved in this way from death； recovered rapidly。 After they were completely restored； they again took part in the contest； and were again severely wounded at Kolberg。 They served until peace was declared； and then retired on the invalid list； and； by the express order of the king； were most kindly cared for。See Nicolai。＇ The king signed to them to follow him； and stepping rapidly through the village； he passed by the huts from which loud cries of anguish and low murmurs were heard。
〃Ah；〃 cried Frederick； 〃Dante did not know all the horrors of hell； or he forgot to paint those I now suffer。〃 He hastened ononon； in the obscure twilight of the summer night； pursued by the sighs and groans of his dying and wounded soldiers； a deep； immeasurable sadness lay upon his brow； his lips were trembling； cold perspiration stood upon his forehead； his eyes wandered over the battle…field； then were raised to heaven with a questioning and reproachful expression。 Already the village lay far behind him； but he hurried on； he had no aim； no object； he wished only to escape this hell； this cry of despair and woe from the condemned。 An adjutant dared at last to step forward and awake him from his sad mood。
〃Sire；〃 said he； 〃the Cossacks are swarming in every direction； and if your majesty goes on； the most fearful results may be anticipated。 The Cossacks shoot at every man who wears a good coat。〃
The king shook his head sadly。 〃There is no ball for me；〃 said he in a low tone； 〃I have in vain called upon death。 I have prayed in mercy for a ball； it came； but it only grazed my breast。 No； no there is no ball for me！〃 He advanced； and the adjutant dared once more to interrupt him。