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history of friedrich ii of prussia v 17-第16章

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inacy; and other circumstances; retarded the execution of it to an unexpected extent; lamentable to Friedrich and to some others。

The Prussian…Saxon military operations for the next five weeks need not detain us。 Their respective positions on the Heights behind that Brook Gottleube; and on the plainer Country in front of it; How the Prussians lie; first Division of them; from Gross…Sedlitz to Zehist; under the King; then second Division from Zehist to Cotta; and onward by 〃the Rothschenke〃 (RED…HOUSE Tavern); by Markersbach; and sparsely as far as Hellendorf on the Prag Highway; in brief; where all the Divisions of them lie; and under whom; and where the Prussians; watching Elbe itself; have Batteries and Posts on the north side of it: all this is marked on the Map; to satisfy ingenuous curiosity; should it make tour in those parts。 To which add only these straggles of Note; as farther elucidative:

〃The Saxons; between Elbe and their Lines; possess about thirty square miles of country。 From Pirna or Sonnenstein to Konigstein; as the crow flies; may be five miles east to west; but by Langen… Hennersdorf; and the elbow there; it will be ten: at Konigstein; moreover; Elbe makes an abrupt turn northward for a couple of miles; instead of westward as heretofore; turning abruptly westward again after that: so that the Saxon 'Camp' or Occupancy here; is an irregular Trapezium; with Pirna and Konigstein for vertices; and with area estimable as above;ploughable; a fair portion of it; and not without corn of its own。 So that the 'two weeks' provision' spun themselves out (short allowance aiding) to two months; before actual famine came。

。。。 〃The High…road from the Lausitz parts crosses Elbe at Pirna; falls into the Dresden…Prag High…road there; and from Pirna towards Toplitz; for the first few miles; this latter runs through the Prussian Posts; but we may guess it is not much travelled at present。 North of Elbe; too; the Prussians have batteries on the fit points; detachments of due force; from Gross…Sedlitz Bridge…of… Pontoons all round to Schandau; or beyond; could fire upon the Konigstein; across the River: they have plugged up the Saxon position everywhere。 They have a Battery especially; and strong post; to cannonade the Bridge at Pirna; should the Saxons think of trying there。 It is now the one Saxon or even Half…Saxon Bridge; Sonnenstein and Pirna command the Saxon end of it; a strong battery the Prussian end: a Bridge lying mainly idle; like the general Highway to Toplitz at this time。 Beyond the Konigstein; again; at a place called Wendisch…Fahre (WENDS'…FERRY); the Prussians have; by means of boats swinging wide at anchor on the swift current; what is called a Flying…bridge; with which the north side can communicate with the south。 They have a post at Nieder…Raden (OBER Raden; railway station in our time; is on the south side): Nether Raden is an interesting little Hamlet; mostly invisible to mankind (built in the THROAT of the stone chasms there); from which you begin mounting to the BASTEI far aloft。 A Raden to be noted; by the Tourist and us。〃

Little; or even nothing; of fighting there is: why should there be? The military operations are a dead…lock; and require no word。 Thirty thousand; half of the Prussian Force; lie; vigilant as lynxes; blockading here; other half; 32;000; under Marshal Keith; have marched forward to Aussig; to Nollendorf on the Bohemian frontier; to clear the ways; and look into any Austrian motion thereabouts;with whom; with some Pandour detachment of whom; Duke Ferdinand; leading the vanguard; has had a little brush among the Hills; smiting them home again; in his usual creditable way (September 13th); and taking Camp at Peterswalde; he and others of the Force; that night。 ' OEuvres de Frederic;  iv。 85; ANONYMOUS OF HAMBURG; i。 19。' It is with this Keith Army; with this if with any; that adventures are to be looked for at present。

Polish Majesty's Head…quarters are at Struppen; well in the centre of the Saxon lines; 〃goes always to the Konigstein to sleep。〃 Polish Majesty's own table is; by Friedrich's permission for that special object; supplied AD LIBITUM: but the common men were at once put on short allowance; which grows always the shorter。 Polish Majesty corresponds with Friedrich; as we saw; and above all; sends burning Messages to Austria; to France; to every European Court; charged with mere shrieks: 〃Help me; a robber has me!〃 In which sense; Excellencies of all kinds; especially one Lord Stormont; the English Excellency; daily running out from Dresden to Gross…Sedlitz; are passionately industrious with Friedrich; who is eager enough to comply; were there any safe means possible。 But there are none。 Unfortunately; too; it appears the Austrians are astir; Feldmarschall Browne actually furbishing himself at Prag yonder with an eye hitherward; and extraordinary haste and spirit shown: which obliges Friedrich to rise in his demands; ovine obstinacy; on the other side; naturally increasing from the same cause。

〃Polish Majesty; we say; has liberty to bring in proviant for self and suite; rigorously for no mortal more; and he lives well; in the culinary sense;surely for most part 'in his dressing…gown;' too; poor loose collapsed soul! Bruhl and he have plenty of formal business: but their one real business is that of crying; by estafettes and every conceivable method; to Austria; 'Get us out of this!' To which Austria has answered; 'Yes; only patience; and be steady!'Friedrich's head…quarters are at Sedlitz; and the negotiating and responding which he has; transcends imagination。 His first hope was; Polish Majesty might be persuaded to join with him;on the back of that; certainty; gradually coming; that Polish Majesty never would; and that the Austrians would endeavor a rescue; were they once ready。 Starvation; or the Austrians; which will be first here? is the question; and Friedrich studies to think it will be the former。 At all events; having settled on the starvation method; and seen that all his posts are right; we perceive he does not stick close by Sedlitz; but runs now hither now thither; is at Torgau; where an important establishment; kind of New Government for Saxony; on the Finance side; is organizing itself。 What his work with Ambassadors was; and how delicate the handling needed; think!〃Here is another Clipping:

。。。 〃Polish Majesty passes the day at Struppen; amid many vain noises of Soldiering; of Diplomatizing; the night always at Konigstein; and finally both day and night;quite luxuriously accommodated; Bruhl and he; to the very end of this Affair。 Towards Struppen 'this is weeks farther on; but we give it here'; Comte de Broglio 'Old Broglio's elder Son; younger is in the Military line'; who is Ambassador to his Saxon…Polish Majesty; sets out from Dresden for an interview with said Majesty。 At the Prussian lines; he is informed; 'Yes; you can go; but; without our King's Order; you cannot return。' 'What? The Most Christian Majesty's Ambassador; and treated in this way? I will go to where the Polish King is; and I will return to my own King; so often as I find business: stop me at your peril!' and threatened and argued; and made a deal of blusterous noise;far too much; thinks Valori; think the Prussian Officers; who are sorry; but inflexible。 Margraf Karl; Commandant of the place; in absence of King Friedrich (who is gone lately; on a Business we shall hear of); earnestly dissuaded Excellency Broglio; but it was to no purpose。 Next day Broglio appeared in his state…carriage; formally demanding entrance; free thoroughfare: 'Do you dare refuse me?' 'Yes;' answered Margraf Karl; 'we do and must。' Indignant Broglio reappeared; next day; on foot; Lieutenant…General Prince Friedrich Eugen of Wurtemberg the chief man in charge: 'Do you dare?' 'Indubitably; Yes;'and Broglio still pushing on incredulous; Eugen actually raised his arm;elbow and fore…arm across the breast of Most Christian Majesty's Ambassador;who recoiled; to Dresden; in mere whirlwinds of fire; and made the most of it 'unwisely; thinks Valori' in writing to Court。 'Valori; ii。 349; 209; 353 (〃Wednesday; 6th October;〃 the day of it; seemingly); ib。 i。 312; &c。' Court; in high dudgeon; commanded 
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