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ich the magistrate intended for a throne。 The walls were covered with some portraits of the royal family of Prussia。 Around a wretched engraving of Frederick a wreath of immortelles and forget…me…nots was woven。 In a corner stood a large bed with clean white curtains in readiness for the king。 When every thing was arranged； with a last proud look at his handsome dwelling； the magistrate hurried to the front door； waiting anxiously for his guest。 His heart beat high with expectationhis whole being was in commotionhe was to see a king for the first time； and he asked himself how this king would look。 〃How glorious his eyes must be！ I think he must radiate like the sun。 It must almost blind the eyes to dwell upon his splendor。〃
Lost in these thoughts； he did not observe a cavalcade consisting of three riders passing through the street。 The foremost one was enveloped in an old faded blue mantle； his large three…cornered hat hung far over his brow； shading his eyes and his thin； pale countenance。 His heavy army boots were in need both of brushing and mending。 His two companions formed an agreeable contrast to him。 They wore the rich； glittering uniforms of Prussian staff officers。 All about them was neat and elegant； and pleased the magistrate right well。 The cavalcade now stopped at his house； and； to the amazement of the villagers； the two spruce young officers sprang to the groundand hastened to assist the man in the blue mantle to alight from his horse。 But he waved them aside； and springing lightly from the saddle； advanced to the house door。 The magistrate blocked up the way； and looking haughtily at the stranger； said：
〃You undoubtedly belong to the servants of the king； and think； therefore； to enter my house。 But that cannot be。 The king alone will dwell with me。 If you are what I suppose you to be； you must go next door。 My neighbor may have quarters for you。〃
The stranger smiled。 Fixing his large； brilliant eyes sternly upon the magistrate； he caused him to draw back almost in terror； feeling as if the sun had really blinded him。
〃I am not one of the king's servants；〃 said the stranger； gayly； 〃but I am invited to dine with him。〃
〃Then it is all right；〃 said the magistrate； 〃you can enter。 But you must first go into that little side…room and brush your shoes before the king sees you； for he would surely be enraged to find you in dusty boots。〃
The king laughed gayly； and entered the house。 〃I will go to the king's chamber at once。 I think he will forgive my shoes。〃 He beckoned to the two officers and entered his room； the door of which he left open。
The magistrate took no more notice of him； but remained outside； looking eagerly for the king。
Frederick still did not come to illuminate the street with his splendor。 In his stead came generals and officers； with gold epaulets and bright stars sparkling on their coats； and entered the king's chamber； without a word to the magistrate。
〃They are all waiting for the king；〃 murmured he； 〃but I shall see him first。 How splendid and magnificent are all these officers！ How grand； how glorious then must the king be； who is far nobler than they！ He does not come； I will enter and pass the time in looking at all these splendidly…dressed soldiers。〃 He stepped lightly to the door； and peered in。 He started； a low cry of terror escaped him； as he looked at the scene before him。
The generalsthe officers dressed in the gold and silver embroidered uniformsstood around the room with bared heads； in their midst stood the stranger with the dusty boots。 He alone had his hat on。 He alone bore neither epaulets nor stars： he was clad in simple uniform； without a single ornament； and still； wonderful to say； it now seemed to the magistrate that he was more noble； more splendid…looking than all the others。 He was the smallest amongst them； but seemed much taller。 They stood with bowed heads before him； he alone was raised proudly to his full height。 There was something grand and glorious in his countenance； and when his large； luminous eyes fell upon the magistrate； he endeavored in vain to slip awayhe was rooted to the spot as if by magnetism。
〃Will you not stay with us until the king comes？〃 said Frederick； laughing。
The magistrate answered the smile with a broad grin。 〃I see； sir；〃 said he； 〃that you are laughing at me。 You know that you yourself are the king。〃
Frederick nodded an assent； and then turned to Prince Anhalt von Dessau。
〃You see； sir； how precarious a thing is the glory and magnificence of a king。 This man took me for a servant； his dull eyes could not perceive my innate glory。〃
〃Your majesty justly calls this man's eyes dull；〃 said the prince； laughing。
Frederick looked at him kindly； and then began a low； earnest conversation with his generals； who listened attentively to his every word。
The magistrate still stood at the door。 It seemed to him that he had never seen any thing so splendid…looking as this man with the muddy boots； the simple coat； and torn； unwieldy hat； whose countenance beamed with beauty； whose eyes glittered like stars。
〃That； then； is really the king？〃 said he to one of the royal servants〃the King of Prussia； who for five years has been fighting with the empress for us？〃
〃Yes； it is him。〃
〃From to…day on I am a Prussian at heart；〃 continued the magistrate； 〃yes； and a good and true one。 The King of Prussia dresses badly； that is true； but I suppose his object is to lighten the taxes。〃 Passing his coat…sleeve across his misty eyes； he hastened to the kitchen to investigate dinner。
CHAPTER XV。
THE PROPOSAL OF MARRIAGE。
Some days had passed since the king entered Voiseilvitz。 He dwelt in the house of the magistrate； and the generals were quartered in the huts of the village。 The regiments were in the neighboring hamlets。 The king lived quietly in his house； wholly given up to anxiety and discontent。 He ate alone in his room； spoke to no one； or if he did； said only a few grave words。 All jesting was vanished from his lips； he was never seen to smile； never heard to play the flute。 The grief which oppressed his heart was too profound to be confided to the soft and melting tones of his flute。 Even that cherished companion could now give him no consolation。 Fearful； horrible intelligence had followed him from the encampment at trehlen。 It had poisoned these days of long…denied and necessary rest； and shrouded the gloomy future with yet darker presentiments of evil。
Schweidnitz； the strong fortress； the key of Silesia； which had been so long and with such mighty effort defended； had fallen！had yielded to the Austriansand Frederick had thus lost the most important acquisition of the last year； and thus his possession of Silesia was again made doubtful。 He looked sadly back upon all the precious blood which had been shed to no purposeupon all the great and hardly…won battles； won in vain。 He looked forward with an aching heart to the years of blood and battle which must follow。 Frederick longed for rest and peacehe was weary of bloodshed and of war。 Like an alluring； radiant picture of paradise； the image of his beloved Sans…Souci passed from time to time before his soul。 He dreamed of his quiet library and his beautiful picture…gallery。 And yet his courage was unconqueredand he preferred the torture of these wretched dayshe preferred death itself to the unfavorable and humiliating peace which his proud enemies； made presumptuous by their last successes； dared to offer him。 They stood opposed to him in monstrous superiority； but Frederick remained unshaken。 With a smaller army and fewer allies Alexander demolished Persia。 〃But happily；〃 he said to himself； 〃there was no Alexander to lead his enemies to victory。〃
Frederick did not despair； and yet he did not believe in the possibility of triumph。 He preferred an honorable death to a dishonorable peace。 He would rather fail amidst the proud ruins of Prussia； made great by his hand； than return with her to their former petty insignificance。 They offered him peace； but a peace which compelled him to return the lands he had conquered； and to pay to his victorious enemies the costs of the war。
The king did not regard these mortifying propositions as w