History of Friedrich II of Prussia V 11 [61]
or not.'"
Doctors insisting, the Kaiser replied: "'Since you are foolish
fellows, who know neither the cause nor the state of my disorder,
I command that, once I am dead, you open my body, to know what the
matter was; you can then come and let me know!"'
[ Anecdotes Germaniques (Paris, 1769),
p. 692.]--in which also there is perhaps a glimmering of distorted
truth, though, as Monsieur mistakes even the day ("18th October,"
says he, not 2Oth), one can only accept it as rumor from the
outside.
Here, by an extremely sombre domestic Gentleman of great
punctuality and great dulness, are the authentic particulars, such
as it was good to mention in Vienna circles. [(Anonymous)
Des &c. Romischen Kaisers Carl VI. Leben und Thaten
(Frankfurt und Leipzig, 1741), pp. 220-227.] An extremely dull
Gentleman, but to appearance an authentic; and so little defective
in reverence that he delicately expresses some astonishment at
Death's audacity this year, in killing so many Crowned Heads.
"This year 1740," says he, "though the weather throughout Europe
had been extraordinarily fine," or fine for a cold year, "had
already witnessed several Deaths of Sovereigns: Pope Clement XII.,
Friedrich Wilhelm of Prussia, the Queen Dowager of Spain
[Termagant's old stepmother, not Termagant's self by a great way].
But that was not enough: unfathomable Destiny ventured now on
Imperial Heads (WAGTE SICH AUCH AN KAISER-KRONEN): Karl VI.,
namely, and Russia's great, Monarchess;"--an audacity to be
remarked. Of Russia's great Monarchess (Czarina Anne, with the big
cheek) we will say nothing at present; but of Karl VI. only,--
abridging much, and studying arrangement.
"Thursday, October 13th, returning from Halbthurn, a Hunting Seat
of his," over in Hungary some fifty miles, "to the Palace Favorita
at Vienna, his Imperial Majesty felt slightly indisposed,"--
indigestion of mushrooms or whatever it was: had begun AT
Halbthurn the night before, we rather understand, and was the
occasion of his leaving. "The Doctors called it cold on the
stomach, and thought it of no consequence. In the night of
Saturday, it became alarming;" inflammation, thought the Doctors,
inflammation of the liver, and used their potent appliances, which
only made the danger come and go; "and on the Tuesday, all day,
the Doctors did not doubt his Imperial Majesty was dying.
["Look me in the eyes; pack of fools; you will have to dissect me,
you will then know:" Any truth in all that? No matter.]
"At noon of that Tuesday he took the Sacrament, the Pope's Nuncio
administering. His Majesty showed uncommonly great composure of
soul, and resignation to the Divine Will;" being indeed
"certain,"--so he expressed it to "a principal Official Person
sunk in grief" (Bartenstein, shall we guess?), who stood by him--
"certain of his cause," not afraid in contemplating that dread
Judgment now near: "Look at me! A man that is certain of his cause
can enter on such a Journey with good courage and a composed mind
(MIT GUTEM UND DELASSENEM MUTH)." To the Doctors, dubitating what
the disease was, he said, "If Gazelli" my late worthy Doctor,
"were still here, you would soon know; but as it is, you will
learn it when you dissect me;"--and once asked to be shown the Cup
where his heart would lie after that operation.
"Sacrament being over," Tuesday afternoon, "he sent for his
Family, to bless them each separately. He had a long conversation
with Grand Duke Franz," titular of Lorraine, actual of Tuscany,
"who had assiduously attended him, and continued to do so, during
the whole illness." The Grand Duke's Spouse,--Maria Theresa, the
noble-hearted and the overwhelmed; who is now in an interesting
state again withal; a little Kaiserkin (Joseph II.) coming in five
months; first child, a little girl, is now two years old;--"had
been obliged to take to bed three days ago; laid up of grief and
terror (VOR SCHMERZEN UND SCHRECKEN), ever since Sunday the 16th.
Nor would his Imperial Majesty permit her to enter
Doctors insisting, the Kaiser replied: "'Since you are foolish
fellows, who know neither the cause nor the state of my disorder,
I command that, once I am dead, you open my body, to know what the
matter was; you can then come and let me know!"'
[
p. 692.]--in which also there is perhaps a glimmering of distorted
truth, though, as Monsieur mistakes even the day ("18th October,"
says he, not 2Oth), one can only accept it as rumor from the
outside.
Here, by an extremely sombre domestic Gentleman of great
punctuality and great dulness, are the authentic particulars, such
as it was good to mention in Vienna circles. [(Anonymous)
Des &c. Romischen Kaisers Carl VI. Leben und Thaten
(Frankfurt und Leipzig, 1741), pp. 220-227.] An extremely dull
Gentleman, but to appearance an authentic; and so little defective
in reverence that he delicately expresses some astonishment at
Death's audacity this year, in killing so many Crowned Heads.
"This year 1740," says he, "though the weather throughout Europe
had been extraordinarily fine," or fine for a cold year, "had
already witnessed several Deaths of Sovereigns: Pope Clement XII.,
Friedrich Wilhelm of Prussia, the Queen Dowager of Spain
[Termagant's old stepmother, not Termagant's self by a great way].
But that was not enough: unfathomable Destiny ventured now on
Imperial Heads (WAGTE SICH AUCH AN KAISER-KRONEN): Karl VI.,
namely, and Russia's great, Monarchess;"--an audacity to be
remarked. Of Russia's great Monarchess (Czarina Anne, with the big
cheek) we will say nothing at present; but of Karl VI. only,--
abridging much, and studying arrangement.
"Thursday, October 13th, returning from Halbthurn, a Hunting Seat
of his," over in Hungary some fifty miles, "to the Palace Favorita
at Vienna, his Imperial Majesty felt slightly indisposed,"--
indigestion of mushrooms or whatever it was: had begun AT
Halbthurn the night before, we rather understand, and was the
occasion of his leaving. "The Doctors called it cold on the
stomach, and thought it of no consequence. In the night of
Saturday, it became alarming;" inflammation, thought the Doctors,
inflammation of the liver, and used their potent appliances, which
only made the danger come and go; "and on the Tuesday, all day,
the Doctors did not doubt his Imperial Majesty was dying.
["Look me in the eyes; pack of fools; you will have to dissect me,
you will then know:" Any truth in all that? No matter.]
"At noon of that Tuesday he took the Sacrament, the Pope's Nuncio
administering. His Majesty showed uncommonly great composure of
soul, and resignation to the Divine Will;" being indeed
"certain,"--so he expressed it to "a principal Official Person
sunk in grief" (Bartenstein, shall we guess?), who stood by him--
"certain of his cause," not afraid in contemplating that dread
Judgment now near: "Look at me! A man that is certain of his cause
can enter on such a Journey with good courage and a composed mind
(MIT GUTEM UND DELASSENEM MUTH)." To the Doctors, dubitating what
the disease was, he said, "If Gazelli" my late worthy Doctor,
"were still here, you would soon know; but as it is, you will
learn it when you dissect me;"--and once asked to be shown the Cup
where his heart would lie after that operation.
"Sacrament being over," Tuesday afternoon, "he sent for his
Family, to bless them each separately. He had a long conversation
with Grand Duke Franz," titular of Lorraine, actual of Tuscany,
"who had assiduously attended him, and continued to do so, during
the whole illness." The Grand Duke's Spouse,--Maria Theresa, the
noble-hearted and the overwhelmed; who is now in an interesting
state again withal; a little Kaiserkin (Joseph II.) coming in five
months; first child, a little girl, is now two years old;--"had
been obliged to take to bed three days ago; laid up of grief and
terror (VOR SCHMERZEN UND SCHRECKEN), ever since Sunday the 16th.
Nor would his Imperial Majesty permit her to enter