History of Friedrich II of Prussia V 11 [12]
to be pulled down bought or bargained for;
[Rodenbeck, p. 15 (30th June-23d Aug. 1740); and correct Stenzel
(iv. 44).]--which enterprise, however, was renounced, no doubt
with consent, as the public aspects darkened. Nothing in the way
of honor, in the way of real affection heartily felt and
demonstrated, was wanting to Queen Sophie in her widowhood.
But, on the other hand, of public influence no vestige was
allowed, if any was ever claimed; and the good kind Mother lived
in her Monbijou, the centre and summit of Berlin society;
and restricted herself wisely to private matters. She has her
domesticities, family affections, readings, speculations;
gives evening parties at Monbijou. One glimpse of her in 1742 we
get, that of a perfectly private royal Lady; which though it has
little meaning, yet as it is authentic, coming from Busching's
hand, may serve as one little twinkle in that total darkness, and
shall be left to the reader and his fancy:--
A Count Henkel, a Thuringian gentleman, of high speculation, high
pietistic ways, extremely devout, and given even to writing of
religion, came to Berlin about some Silesian properties,--a man I
should think of lofty melancholic aspect; and, in severe type,
somewhat of a lion, on account of his Book called "DEATH-BED
SCENES, in four Volumes." Came to Berlin; and on the 15th August,
1742, towards evening (as the ever-punctual Busching looking into
Henkel's Papers gives it), "was presented to the Queen Mother;
who retained him to supper; supper not beginning till about ten
o'clock. The Queen Mother was extremely gracious to Henkel;
but investigated him a good deal, and put a great many questions,"
not quite easy to answer in that circle, "as, Why he did not play?
What he thought of comedies and operas? What Preachers he was
acquainted with in Berlin? Whether he too was a Writer of Books?
[covertly alluding to the DEATH-BED SCENES, notes Busching].
And abundance of other questioning. She also recounted many
fantastic anecdotes (VIEL ABENTEUERLICHES) about Count von
Zinzendorf [Founder of HERNNHUTH, far-shining spiritual Paladin of
that day, whom her Majesty thinks rather a spiritual Quixote]; and
declared that they were strictly true." [Busching's
Beitrage, iv. 27.]' Upon which, EXIT Henkel, borne by
Busching, and our light is snuffed out.
This is one momentary glance I have met with of Queen Sophie in
her Dowager state. The rest, though there were seventeen years of
it in all, is silent to mankind and me; and only her death, and
her Son's great grief about it, so great as to be surprising, is
mentioned in the Books.
Actual painful sorrow about his Father, much more any new outburst
of weeping and lamenting, is not on record, after that first
morning. Time does its work; and in such a whirl of occupations,
sooner than elsewhere: and the loved Dead lie silent in their
mausoleum in our hearts,--serenely sad as Eternity, not in loud
sorrow as of Time. Friedrich was pious as a Son, however he might
be on other heads. To the last years of his life, as from the
first days of his reign, it was evident in what honor he held
Friedrich Wilhelm's memory; and the words "my Father," when they
turned up in discourse, had in that fine voice of his a tone which
the observers noted. "To his Mother he failed no day, when in
Berlin, however busy, to make his visit; and he never spoke to
her, except hat in hand."
With his own Queen, Friedrich still consorts a good deal, in these
first times; is with her at Charlottenburg, Berlin, Potsdam,
Reinsberg, for a day or two, as occasion gives; sometimes at
Reinsberg for weeks running, in the intervals of war and business:
glad to be at rest amid his old pursuits, by the side of a kind
innocent being familiar to him. So it lasts for a length of time.
But these happy intervals, we can remark, grow rarer: whether the
Lady's humor, as they became rarer, might not sink withal, and
produce an acceleration in the rate of decline? She was thought to
be capable of "pouting (FAIRE
[Rodenbeck, p. 15 (30th June-23d Aug. 1740); and correct Stenzel
(iv. 44).]--which enterprise, however, was renounced, no doubt
with consent, as the public aspects darkened. Nothing in the way
of honor, in the way of real affection heartily felt and
demonstrated, was wanting to Queen Sophie in her widowhood.
But, on the other hand, of public influence no vestige was
allowed, if any was ever claimed; and the good kind Mother lived
in her Monbijou, the centre and summit of Berlin society;
and restricted herself wisely to private matters. She has her
domesticities, family affections, readings, speculations;
gives evening parties at Monbijou. One glimpse of her in 1742 we
get, that of a perfectly private royal Lady; which though it has
little meaning, yet as it is authentic, coming from Busching's
hand, may serve as one little twinkle in that total darkness, and
shall be left to the reader and his fancy:--
A Count Henkel, a Thuringian gentleman, of high speculation, high
pietistic ways, extremely devout, and given even to writing of
religion, came to Berlin about some Silesian properties,--a man I
should think of lofty melancholic aspect; and, in severe type,
somewhat of a lion, on account of his Book called "DEATH-BED
SCENES, in four Volumes." Came to Berlin; and on the 15th August,
1742, towards evening (as the ever-punctual Busching looking into
Henkel's Papers gives it), "was presented to the Queen Mother;
who retained him to supper; supper not beginning till about ten
o'clock. The Queen Mother was extremely gracious to Henkel;
but investigated him a good deal, and put a great many questions,"
not quite easy to answer in that circle, "as, Why he did not play?
What he thought of comedies and operas? What Preachers he was
acquainted with in Berlin? Whether he too was a Writer of Books?
[covertly alluding to the DEATH-BED SCENES, notes Busching].
And abundance of other questioning. She also recounted many
fantastic anecdotes (VIEL ABENTEUERLICHES) about Count von
Zinzendorf [Founder of HERNNHUTH, far-shining spiritual Paladin of
that day, whom her Majesty thinks rather a spiritual Quixote]; and
declared that they were strictly true." [Busching's
Beitrage,
Busching, and our light is snuffed out.
This is one momentary glance I have met with of Queen Sophie in
her Dowager state. The rest, though there were seventeen years of
it in all, is silent to mankind and me; and only her death, and
her Son's great grief about it, so great as to be surprising, is
mentioned in the Books.
Actual painful sorrow about his Father, much more any new outburst
of weeping and lamenting, is not on record, after that first
morning. Time does its work; and in such a whirl of occupations,
sooner than elsewhere: and the loved Dead lie silent in their
mausoleum in our hearts,--serenely sad as Eternity, not in loud
sorrow as of Time. Friedrich was pious as a Son, however he might
be on other heads. To the last years of his life, as from the
first days of his reign, it was evident in what honor he held
Friedrich Wilhelm's memory; and the words "my Father," when they
turned up in discourse, had in that fine voice of his a tone which
the observers noted. "To his Mother he failed no day, when in
Berlin, however busy, to make his visit; and he never spoke to
her, except hat in hand."
With his own Queen, Friedrich still consorts a good deal, in these
first times; is with her at Charlottenburg, Berlin, Potsdam,
Reinsberg, for a day or two, as occasion gives; sometimes at
Reinsberg for weeks running, in the intervals of war and business:
glad to be at rest amid his old pursuits, by the side of a kind
innocent being familiar to him. So it lasts for a length of time.
But these happy intervals, we can remark, grow rarer: whether the
Lady's humor, as they became rarer, might not sink withal, and
produce an acceleration in the rate of decline? She was thought to
be capable of "pouting (FAIRE