History of Friedrich II of Prussia V 11 [68]
Moi je ne vous quitterais pas."
[ OEuvres de Frederic (xiv. 167);
OEuvres de Voltaire; &c. &c.]
--Meaning, perhaps, in brief English: V. "Ah, you are but a
beautiful coquette; you charm away our hearts, and do not give
your own [won't tell me your secret at all]!" F. "Treacherous
Lothario, it is you that quit me for a coquette [your divine
Emilie; and won't stay here, and be of my Academy];
but however--!" Friedrich looked hopingly on the French, but could
not give his secret except by degrees and with reciprocity.
Some days hence he said to Marquis de Beauvau, in the Audience of
leave, a word which was remembered.
VIEW OF FRIEDRICH BEHIND THE VEIL.
As to Friedrich himself, since about the middle of November his
plans seem to have been definitely shaped out in all points;
Troops so many, when to be on march, and how; no important detail
uncertain since then. November 17th, he jots down a little Note,
which is to go to Vienna, were the due hour come, by a special
Ambassador, one Count Gotter, acquainted with the ground there;
and explain to her Hungarian Majesty, what his exact demands are,
and what the exact services he will render. Of which important
little Paper readers shall hear again. Gotter's demands are at
first to be high: Our Four Duchies, due by law so long; these and
even more, considering the important services we propose; this is
to be his first word;--but, it appears, he is privately prepared
to put up with Two Duchies, if he can have them peaceably:
Duchies of Sagan and Glogau, which are not of the Four at all, but
which lie nearest us, and are far below the value of the Four, to
Austria especially. This intricate point Friedrich has already
settled in his mind. And indeed it is notably the habit of this
young King to settle matters with himself in good time: and in
regard to all manner of points, he will be found, on the day of
bargaining about them, to have his own resolution formed and
definitely fixed;--much to his advantage over conflicting parties,
who have theirs still flying loose.
Another thing of much concernment is, To secure himself from
danger of Russian interference. To this end he despatches Major
Winterfeld to Russia, a man well known to him;--day of
Winterfeld's departure is not given; day of his arrival in
Petersburg is "19th December" just coming. Russia, at present, is
rather in a staggering condition; hopeful for Winterfeld's object.
On the 28th of October last, only eight days after the Kaiser,
Czarina Anne of Russia, she with the big cheek, once of Courland,
had died; "audacious Death," as our poor friend had it, "venturing
upon another Crowned Head" there. Bieren her dear Courlander, once
little better than a Horse-groom, now Duke of Courland, Quasi-
Husband to the late Big Cheek, and thereby sovereign of Russia,
this long while past, is left Official Head in Russia. Poor little
Anton Ulrich and his august Spouse, well enough known to us, have
indeed produced a Czar Iwan, some months ago, to the joy of
mankind: but Czar Iwan is in his cradle: Father and Mother's
function is little other than to rock the cradle of Iwan;
Bieren to be Regent and Autocrat over him and them in the interim.
To their chagrin, to that of Feldmarschall Munnich and many
others: the upshot of which will be visible before long.
Czarina Anne's death had seemed to Friedrich the opportune removal
of a dangerous neighbor, known to be in the pay of Austria:
here now are new mutually hostile parties springing up; chance,
surely, of a bargain with some of them? He despatches Winterfeld
on this errand;--probably the fittest man in Prussia for it.
How soon and perfectly Winterfeld succeeded, and what Winterfeld
was, and something of what a Russia he found it, we propose to
mention by and by.
These, and all points of importance, Friedrich has settled with
himself some time ago. What his own private thoughts on the
Silesian Adventure are, readers will wish to know, since they can
at first hand. Hear Friedrich
[
--Meaning, perhaps, in brief English: V. "Ah, you are but a
beautiful coquette; you charm away our hearts, and do not give
your own [won't tell me your secret at all]!" F. "Treacherous
Lothario, it is you that quit me for a coquette [your divine
Emilie; and won't stay here, and be of my Academy];
but however--!" Friedrich looked hopingly on the French, but could
not give his secret except by degrees and with reciprocity.
Some days hence he said to Marquis de Beauvau, in the Audience of
leave, a word which was remembered.
VIEW OF FRIEDRICH BEHIND THE VEIL.
As to Friedrich himself, since about the middle of November his
plans seem to have been definitely shaped out in all points;
Troops so many, when to be on march, and how; no important detail
uncertain since then. November 17th, he jots down a little Note,
which is to go to Vienna, were the due hour come, by a special
Ambassador, one Count Gotter, acquainted with the ground there;
and explain to her Hungarian Majesty, what his exact demands are,
and what the exact services he will render. Of which important
little Paper readers shall hear again. Gotter's demands are at
first to be high: Our Four Duchies, due by law so long; these and
even more, considering the important services we propose; this is
to be his first word;--but, it appears, he is privately prepared
to put up with Two Duchies, if he can have them peaceably:
Duchies of Sagan and Glogau, which are not of the Four at all, but
which lie nearest us, and are far below the value of the Four, to
Austria especially. This intricate point Friedrich has already
settled in his mind. And indeed it is notably the habit of this
young King to settle matters with himself in good time: and in
regard to all manner of points, he will be found, on the day of
bargaining about them, to have his own resolution formed and
definitely fixed;--much to his advantage over conflicting parties,
who have theirs still flying loose.
Another thing of much concernment is, To secure himself from
danger of Russian interference. To this end he despatches Major
Winterfeld to Russia, a man well known to him;--day of
Winterfeld's departure is not given; day of his arrival in
Petersburg is "19th December" just coming. Russia, at present, is
rather in a staggering condition; hopeful for Winterfeld's object.
On the 28th of October last, only eight days after the Kaiser,
Czarina Anne of Russia, she with the big cheek, once of Courland,
had died; "audacious Death," as our poor friend had it, "venturing
upon another Crowned Head" there. Bieren her dear Courlander, once
little better than a Horse-groom, now Duke of Courland, Quasi-
Husband to the late Big Cheek, and thereby sovereign of Russia,
this long while past, is left Official Head in Russia. Poor little
Anton Ulrich and his august Spouse, well enough known to us, have
indeed produced a Czar Iwan, some months ago, to the joy of
mankind: but Czar Iwan is in his cradle: Father and Mother's
function is little other than to rock the cradle of Iwan;
Bieren to be Regent and Autocrat over him and them in the interim.
To their chagrin, to that of Feldmarschall Munnich and many
others: the upshot of which will be visible before long.
Czarina Anne's death had seemed to Friedrich the opportune removal
of a dangerous neighbor, known to be in the pay of Austria:
here now are new mutually hostile parties springing up; chance,
surely, of a bargain with some of them? He despatches Winterfeld
on this errand;--probably the fittest man in Prussia for it.
How soon and perfectly Winterfeld succeeded, and what Winterfeld
was, and something of what a Russia he found it, we propose to
mention by and by.
These, and all points of importance, Friedrich has settled with
himself some time ago. What his own private thoughts on the
Silesian Adventure are, readers will wish to know, since they can
at first hand. Hear Friedrich