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！
na and reaps the harvest which belongs rightly to you； General Loudon。 You act； while he hesitatesyou are full of energy and ever ready for the strife； Daun is dilatory； and while he is resolving whether to strike or not； the opportunity is lost。〃
〃The empress； my exalted sovereign； has honored him with her especial confidence；〃 said Loudon； 〃he must therefore merit it。〃
〃Yes； and in Vienna they have honored you and myself with their especial distrust；〃 said Soltikow； stormily； and swallowing a full cup of wine。 〃You； I know； receive rare and scanty praise； eulogies must be reserved for Daun。 We are regarded with inimical and jealous eyes； and our zeal and our good…will are forever suspected。〃
〃This is true；〃 said Loudon； smiling； 〃it is difficult for us to believe in the sincere friendship of the Russians； perhaps； because we so earnestly desire it。〃
〃Words； words！〃 said Soltikow； angrily。 〃The German has ever a secret aversion to the Russianyou look upon us as disguised tigers； ever ready to rob and devour your glorious culture and accomplishments。 For this reason you gladly place a glass shade over yourselves when we are in your neighborhood； and show us your glory through a transparent wall that we may admire and envy。 When you are living in peace and harmony； you avoid us sedulously； then the German finds himself entirely too educated； too refined； for the barbaric Russian。 But when you quarrel and strive with each other； and cannot lay the storm； then you suddenly remember that the Russian is your neighbor and friend； that he wields a good sword； and knows how to hew with it right and left。 You call lustily on him for help； and offer him your friendshipthat means； just so long as hostilities endure and you have use for us。 Even when you call us your friends you distrust us and suspect our good…will。 Constant charges are brought against us in Vienna。 Spresain languishes in chainsAustria charges him with treachery and want of zeal in the good cause； Fermor and Butterlin are also accused of great crimes they have sought to make both their sincerity and ability suspected by the empress； and to bring them into reproach。 This they have not deserved。 I know； also； that they have charged me with disinclination to assist the alliesthey declare that I have no ardor for the common cause。 This makes bad blood； messieurs； and if it were not for the excellent wine in your beautiful Germany； I doubt if our friendship would stand upon a sure footing。 Therefore； sir general； take your cup and let us drink togetherdrink this glorious wine to the health of our friendship。 Make your glasses ring； messieurs； and that the general may see that we mean honorably with our toast； empty them at a draught。〃
They all accepted the challenge and emptied a cup of the old； fiery Rhine wine； which Soltikow so dearly loved； their eyes flashed； their cheeks were glowing。
Loudon saw this with horror； and he cast an anxious glance at Montalembert； who returned it with a significant shrug of the shoulder。
〃And now； your excellency；〃 said Loudon； 〃that we have enjoyed the German wine； let us think a little of Germany and the enemy who can no longer disturb her peace； if we act promptly。 Our troops have had some hours' rest； and will now be in a condition to advance。〃
〃Always the same old song；〃 said Soltikow； laughing； 〃but I shall not be waked up from my comfortable quarters； I have done enough！ my troops also。〃
〃I have just received a courier from Daun；〃 said Loudon； softly； 〃he makes it my duty to entreat your excellency to follow up our victory and crush the enemy completely。〃
〃That will be easy work；〃 said Montalembert； in a flattering tone。 〃The army of the King of Prussia is scattered and flying in every direction； they must be prevented from reassembling； the scattering troops must be harassed and more widely separated； and every possibility of retreat cut off for Frederick。〃
〃Well； well； if that must be；〃 said Soltikow； apathetically； placing the cup just filled with wine to his lips； 〃let Field…Marshal Daun undertake the duty。 I have won two battles； I will wait and rest； I make no other movements till I hear of two victories won by Daun。 It is not reasonable or just for the troops of my empress to act alone。〃 ＇Footnote： Soltikow's own words。See Archenholtz； p。 266。＇
〃But；〃 said the Marquis Montalembert； giving himself the appearance of wishing not to be heard by Loudon； 〃if your excellency now remains inactive and does not press forward vigorously； the Austrians alone will reap the fruits of your victory。〃
〃I am not at all disposed to be jealous；〃 said Soltikow； laughing； 〃from my heart I wish the Austrians more success than I have had。 For my part； I have done enough。 ＇Footnote： Historical。＇ Fill your glasses； messieurs； fill your glasses！ We have won a few hours of happiness from the goddess Bellona； let us enjoy them and forget all our cares。 Let us drink once more； gentlemen。 Long live our charming mistress； the Empress Elizabeth！〃 The Russian officers clanged their glasses and chimed in zealously； and the fragrant Rhine wine bubbled like foaming gold in the silver cups。 Soltikow swallowed it with ever…increasing delight； and he became more and more animated。
The officers sat round the table with glowing cheeks and listened to their worshipped general who； in innocent gayety； related some scenes from his youth； and made his hearers laugh so loud； so rapturously； that the walls trembled； and Fritz Kober； who was crouching down in the bushes； could with difficulty prevent himself from joining in heartily。
The gayety of the Russians became more impetuous and unbridled。 They dreamed of their home； here and there they began to sing Russian love…songs。 The Cossacks； on the floor； grinned with delight and hummed lightly the refrain。
The wine began to exercise its freedom and equality principles upon the heart； and all difference of rank was forgotten。 Every countenance beamed with delight； every man laughed and jested； sang and drank。 No one thought of the King of Prussia and his scattered army； they remembered the victory they had achieved； but the fragrant wine banished the remembrance of the conquered。 ＇Footnote： See Prussia； Frederick the Great。Gebhard； p。 73。＇
Montalembert and Loudon took no part in the general mirth。 They had left the table； and from an open window watched the wild and frenzied group。
〃It is in vain；〃 whispered Loudon； 〃we cannot influence him。 The German wine lies nearer his heart than his German allies。〃
〃But you； general； you should do what Soltikow omits or neglects。 You should draw your own advantage from this tardiness of the Russian general； and pursue and crush the King of Prussia。〃
〃I would not be here now；〃 said Loudon； painfully； 〃if I could do that。 My hands are bound。 I dare not undertake any thing to which the allies do not agree； we can only act in concert。〃
A loud roar of laughter from the table silenced the two gentlemen。 Soltikow had just related a merry anecdote； which made the Cossacks laugh aloud。 One of the Russian generals rewarded them by throwing them two tallow…candles。 This dainty little delicacy was received by them with joyful shouts。
〃Let us withdraw；〃 whispered Montalembert； 〃the scene becomes too Russian。〃
〃Yes； let us go；〃 sighed Loudon； 〃if we must remain here inactive； we can at least employ the time in sleep。〃
No one remarked the withdrawal of the two gentlemen。 The gay laughter； the drinking and singing went on undisturbed； and soon became a scene of wild and drunken confusion。
〃We can now also withdraw；〃 whispered Charles Henry to Fritz Kober。 〃Come； come！ you know we are expected。〃
With every possible caution； they hastened away； and only after they had left the camp of the Russians and Austrians far behind them； and passed again over the battle…field did Fritz Kober break silence。 〃Well；〃 said he； sighing； 〃what have we to say to the king？〃
〃All that we have heard；〃 said Charles Henry。
〃Yes； but we have heard nothing；〃 murmured Fritz。 〃I opened my ears as wide as possible； but it was all in vain。 Is it not base and vile to come to Germany and speak this gibberish； not a word of which can be understood？ In Germany me