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！
of the king。
A fearful day's work was finishedhow fearful； could be seen by the wounded； the dying lying pell…mell upon the battle…field amidst the dead； too exhausted to move。 But the day had passed。 The cries and shouts of the flying enemy had now ceasedthe victory； the battle… field； belonged to the Prussians。 What was now most needed by them was an hour's rest。 Above the bloody battle…field； above the dying； the sleeping； the groaning； the sighing； now rose the moon grandly； solemnly； as if to console the dead and to lead the living to raise their grateful prayers to heaven。 And grateful praise ascended above that nightthanks for the preservation of their own and their friends' livesthanks for their hero's victory。 Side by side； whispering in low tones； lay the soldiersfor the hour seemed to all too solemn to be broken by any loud sound。
No hearts were so full of gratitude and joy as those of Charles Henry Buschman and Fritz Kober。 In the pressure of the battle they had been separated and had not again met during the engagement。 In vain they had sought and called upon one another； and each one thought of the fearful possibility that the other had fallen。 At last they stumbled upon each other。 With shouts of joy they rushed into each other's arms。
〃You are not wounded； Fritz Kober？〃 said Charles Henry； with a beating heart。
〃I am unharmed； but you； my friend？〃
〃Only a little cut in the hand； nothing more。 How many prisoners did you take？〃
〃Seven； Charles Henry。〃
〃You will be promoted！ You will be an officer！〃
〃Not unless you are also。 How many prisoners did you take？〃
〃I am not sure； Fritz； I think there were nine。 But the captain will know。〃
〃We will both be promoted； the king promised it； and now I am willing to accept it。〃
〃But what is this to us now； my friend？〃 said Charles Henry； 〃we have found one another； and I am indifferent to all else。〃
〃You are right； Charles Henry； this has been a fearful； a terrible day。 My knees tremble beneath melet us rest a while。〃
He laid himself upon the ground。 Charles Henry knelt beside him； laying one hand upon his shoulder； and looked at the starry sky； a holy smile glorified his countenance。 As he gazed at the moon； tender feelings were at work in his heart。 He thought of his distant homeof the graves of his loved parents； upon which the moon was now shining as brightly as upon this bloody battle…field。 He thought how kind and merciful God had been to preserve his friend； his only consolation； the one joy of his weary； lonesome life。 The solemn stillness by which he was surrounded； the bright moon； light which illuminated the battle…field； the thought of the hard struggle of the past day； all acted strongly upon his feelings。 The brave； daring soldier； Charles Henry Buschman； was once more transformed into the gentle； soft…hearted Anna Sophia Detzloff； now； when danger was past； she felt herself a weak； trembling woman。 Deep； inexpressible emotion； earnest prayers to God； were busy in Anna Sophia's heart。
Kneeling upon the ground； resting on her friend； she raised her eyes heavenward； and commenced singing in an earnest； impassioned tone that glorious hymn； 〃Thanks unto God！〃 Fritz Kober； actuated by the same feelings； joined in the hymn； and here and there a comrade lent his voice to swell the anthem； it became stronger； louder； until at last； like a mighty stream； it passed over the battle…field； knocking at every heart； and urging it to prayer； finding everywhere an open ear。
The moon stood smiling above the battle…field； upon which eight thousand dead and wounded men were lying。 Even the wounded； who a short time before filled the air with groans of pain and agony； raised themselves to join in the song of praise which was now sung； not by a hundred； not by a thousand； but by thirty thousand soldiers； thirty thousand heroes； who； after that bloody day had earned the right to sing 〃Thanks unto God。〃
CHAPTER XV。
WINTER QUARTERS IN BRESLAU。
Faint and exhausted； the king had withdrawn to his room； he was alone。 To…day was the twenty…fourth of January； Frederick's birthday； and； although he had forbidden all congratulations； he could not avoid receiving the highest tribunals of Breslau； and also a few deputations of the citizens of this reconquered city。 These visits wearied the king； he was grave and out of spirits。 Once more alone； he could indulge in the sad memories that came over him involuntarily and forcibly。 For here in Breslau he had lately experienced a bitter disappointment； every thing in the castle reminded him of the treacherous friend whom he bad loved so dearly； and who had so shamefully betrayed him。
The king was now thinking of the Bishop von Schaffgotsch。 An expression of painful gloom clouded his face； he felt solitary and deserted； the cold； silent room chilled his heart； and the snow blown against the window by the howling winds； oppressed him strangely。 He was more dejected and anxious than he had ever felt before a battle。
〃The marquis cannot travel in such weather；〃 he said； sighing； 〃and my musicians will be careful not to trust themselves upon the highway； they will imagine the snow has blocked up the way； and that it is impossible to come through。 They will remain in Berlin； caring but little that I am counting the weary hours until they arrive。 Yes； yes； this is an example of the almighty power of a king； a few snow…flakes are sufficient to set his commands aside； and the king remains but an impotent child of the dust。 Of what avail is it that I have conquered the Austrians and the French？ I have sown dragons' teeth from which new enemies will arise； new battles； perhaps new defeats。 What have I gained by consecrating my heart to my friends？ They are but serpentsI have nourished them in my breast； and they will sting when I least suspect them。 Even those whom I still trust； forsake me now when I most need them！〃
The wild storm increased； and blew a cloud of snow…flakes against the window； and the wind whistled mournfully in the chimney。
〃No；〃 murmured the king； 〃D'Argens will certainly not come； he will remain quietly in his beloved bed； and from there write me a touching epistle concerning the bonds of friendship。 I know that when feeling does not flow from the hearts of men； it flows eloquently from ink as a pitiful compensation。 But；〃 he continued after a pause； 〃this is all folly！ Solitude makes a dreamer of meI am sighing for my friends as a lover sighs for his sweetheart！ Am I then so entirely alone？ Have I not my books？ Come； Lucretius； thou friend in good and evil days； thou sage； thou who hast never left me without counsel and consolation！ Come and cheer thy pupilteach him how to laugh at this pitiful world as it deserves！〃
Taking Lucretius from the table； and stretching himself upon the sofa； he commenced reading。 Deep stillness surrounded him。 Bells were ringing in the distance in honor of the royal birthday。 The Breslauers； who had so shortly before joyfully welcomed the conquering Austrians； now desired to convince the King of Prussia that they were his zealous subjects。 The evening of the kingly birthday they wished to show the joy of their hearts by a brilliant illumination。
The king still read； and became so absorbed that he did not hear the door gently opened。 The tall； slender form of the Marquis d'Argens appeared at the threshold。 Overcome with joyful emotions； he remained standing； and gazing with clouded eyes at the king。 Composing himself； he closed the door softly behind him and advanced。
〃Sire； will you forgive me for entering unannounced？〃
The king sprang from his seat and held out both his hands。 〃Welcome； welcome！ I thank you for coming。〃
The marquis could not reply； he pressed his lips silently upon the king's hands。 〃My God；〃 he said； in a trembling voice； 〃how my heart has longed for this happy momenthow many offerings I have vowed to Heaven if allowed to see the king once more。〃
〃You did not win Heaven by promises alone； friend； but you have offered up a victim。 You have left that precious bed which you have occupied for the past eight monthsyou have gained a victory over yourself which is of more value than many victories。〃
〃Ah； your maje