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The king listened to this assurance with rather a contemptuous smile。 He directed Icilius； however； to present to him some of the Leipsic scholars and authors。
〃I will present to your majesty the most renowned scholar and philologist of Leipsic； Professor Gottsched； and the celebrated author； Gellert；〃 said Icilius； with great animation。 〃Which of the two will your majesty receive first？〃
〃Bring me first the scholar and philologist；〃 said the king； laughing。 〃Perhaps the man has already discovered in this barbarous Dutch tongue a few soft notes and turns； and if so； I am curious to hear them。 Go； then； and bring me Professor Gottsched。 I have often heard of him； and I know that Voltaire dedicated an ode to him。 In the mean time I will read a little in my Lucretius and prepare my soul for the interview with this great Dutchman。〃
Icilius hastened off to summon the renowned professor to the king。
Gottsched； to whom； at that time； all Germany rendered homage； and who possessed all the pride and arrogance of a German scholar； thought it most natural that the king should wish to know him； and accepted the invitation with a gracious smile。 In the complete； heart…felt conviction of his own glory； in the rigid； pedantic array of a magnificent； long…tailed wig； the German professor appeared before the king。 His majesty received him in his short； simple； unostentatious manner； and smiled significantly at the pompous manner of the renowned man。 They spoke at first of the progress of German philosophy； and the king listened with grave attention to the learned deductions of the professor； but he thought to himself that Gottsched understood but little how to make his knowledge palatable； he was probably a learned； but most certainly a very uninteresting man。
The conversation was carried on with more vivacity when they spoke of poetry and history； and the king entered upon this theme with warm interest。
〃In the history of Germany； I believe there is still much concealed；〃 said Frederick； 〃I am convinced that many important documents are yet hidden away in the cloisters。〃
Gottsched looked up at him proudly。 〃Pardon； sire；〃 said he； in his formal； pedantic way。 〃I believe those can be only unimportant documents。 To my view； at least； there is no moment of German history concealedall is clear； and I can give information on every point！〃
The king bowed his head with a mocking smile。 〃You are a great scholar； sir； I dare not boast of any preeminence。 I only know the history of the German States written by Pere Barre。〃
〃He has written a German history as well as a foreigner could write it；〃 said Gottsched。 〃For this purpose he made use of a Latin work； written by Struve； in Jena。 He translated this booknothing more。 Had Barre understood German； his history would have been better； he would have had surer sources of information at his command。〃
〃But Barre was of Alsace； and understood German；〃 said Frederick； eagerly。 〃But you； who are a scholar； an author； and a grammarian； tell me； if any thing can be made of the German language？〃
〃Well； I think we have already made many beautiful things of it；〃 said Gottsched； in the full consciousness of his own fame。 〃But you have not been able to give it any melody； or any grace；〃 said Frederick。 〃The German language is a succession of barbarous sounds； there is no music in it。 Every tone is rough and harsh； and its many discords make it useless for poetry or eloquence。 For instance； in German you call a rival 'Nebenbuhler；' what a fatal； disgusting sound'Buhler！'〃 ＇Footnote： The king's own words。Archenholtz； vol。 ii。； p。 272。＇
〃Ah； your majesty；〃 said Gottsched； impatiently； 〃that is also a sound in the French tongue。 You should know this； for no one understands better； more energetically than yourself； how to circumvent the 'boules！'〃
Frederick laughed； and this gay rejoinder of the learned professor reconciled him somewhat to his puffed…up and haughty self…conceit。 〃It is true；〃 said he； 〃this time you are right； but you must admit that； in general； the French language is softer and more melodious！〃
〃I cannot admit it；〃 said Gottsched； fiercely。 〃I assert that German is more musical。 How harsh； how detestable sounds； for instance； the French 'amour；' how soft and tenderyes； I may say； how characteristicsounds the word 'liebe！'〃
〃Aha！〃 said the king； 〃you are certainly most happily married； or you would not be so enthusiastic about German 'liebe；' which I admit is a very different thing from French 'amour。' I am； however； convinced that the French language has many advantages over the German。 For instance； in the French one word may often suffice to convey many different meanings； while for this purpose several German words must be combined。〃
〃That is true。 There your majesty is right；〃 said Gottsched； thoughtfully。 〃The French language has this advantage。 But this shall be no longer sowe will change it！ Yes； yeswe will reform it altogether！〃
Frederick looked astonished and highly diverted。 This assumption of the learned scholar； 〃to change all that；〃 impressed him through its immensity。 ＇Footnote： Many years afterward the king repeated this declaration of Gottsched to the Duchess of Gotha； 〃We will change all that；〃 and was highly amused。＇ 〃Bring that about sir；〃 said the king； gayly。 〃Wave your field…marshal's staff and give to the German language that which it has never possessed； grace； significance； and facility； then breathe upon it the capability to express soft passion and tender feeling； and you will do for the language what Julius Caesar did for the people。 You will be a conqueror； and will cultivate and polish barbarians！〃
Gottsched did not perceive the mockery which lay in these words of the king； but received them smilingly as agreeable flattery。 〃The German language is well fitted to express tender emotions。 I pledge myself to translate any French poem faithfully； and at the same time melodiously；〃 said he。
〃I will put you to the proof； at once；〃 said the king； opening a book which lay upon the table。 〃Look！ These are the Odes of Rousseau； and we will take the first one which accident presents Listen to this：〃
〃'Sous un plus heureux auspice； La Deesse des amours； Veut qu'un nouveau sacrifice； Lui consacre vos beaux jours； Deja le bucher s'allume。 L'autel brille； l'encens fume； La victime s'embellit； L'amour meme la consume； Le mystere s'accomplit。'
＇Footnote： 〃Under a most happy omen； The goddess of love Wished that a new sacrifice Should consecrate to her our bright days。 Already the fagots are lighted； The altar glows； the incense fumes； The victim is adorned By love itself it is consumed； The mystery accomplished。〃＇
〃Do you believe it is possible to translate this beautiful stanza into German？〃 said the king。
〃If your majesty allows me； I will translate it at once；〃 said he。 〃Give me a piece of paper and a pencil。〃
〃Take them；〃 said Frederick。 〃We will divert ourselves by a little rivalry in song； while you translate the verses of the French poet into German。 I will sing to the praise of the German author in French rhyme。 Let us not disturb each other。〃
Frederick stepped to the window and wrote off hastily a few verses； then waited till he saw that Gottsched had also ceased to write。 〃I am ready； sir；〃 said the king。
〃And I also；〃 said the scholar； solemnly。 〃Listen； your majesty； and be pleased to take the book and compare as I read；〃 then with a loud nasal voice he read his translation：
〃'Mit ungleich gluecklicherm Geschicke； Gebeut die Koenigin zarter Pein； Hin； Deine schoenen Augenblicke； Zum Opfer noch einmal zu weihn； Den Holzstoss liebt man aufzugeben； Der Altar glaenzt； des Weihrauchs Duefte Durchdringen schon die weiten Luefte； Das Opfer wird gedoppelt schoen； Durch Amors Glut ist es verflogen； Und das Geheimniss wird vollzogen。'〃
〃Now； your majesty；〃 said Gottsched； 〃do you not find that the German language is capable of repeating the French verses promptly and concisely？〃
〃I am astonished that you have been able to translate this beautiful poem。