第 62 节
作者:江暖      更新:2024-04-09 19:51      字数:9321
  〃None of your mortal enemies; sire; and the mourning which now reigns in Berlin and will soon reign throughout Prussia; is caused by no enemy of your majesty but by Providence。〃
  The king looked at him earnestly for a moment。 〃I understand;〃 said he。 〃Some one of my family has died; is it not so?〃
  〃Yes; sire; your〃
  〃Be still!〃 said the king; sternly。 〃I do not yet wish to knowI have not the strength to bear itwait a while。〃
  Folding his hands upon his breast; he paced up and down his tent several times; laboring hard for breath。 He stood still; and leaning against the window; said: 〃Now; Le Catt; I can endure any thing; speakwho is it?〃
  〃Sire; it is her majesty。〃
  〃My wife?〃 interrupted the king。
  〃 No; sire; her majesty〃
  〃My mother!〃 cried the king; in a heart…broken voice。 〃My mother!〃
  He stood thus for a while; with his hands before his face; his form bowed down and trembling like an oak swayed by a storm。 Tears escaped through his hands and fell slowly to the groundgroans of agony were wrung from him。
  Le Catt could stand it no longer; he approached the king and ventured to say a few consoling words。
  〃Do not seek to comfort me;〃 said the king; 〃you do not know what inexpressible pain this loss has caused me。〃
  〃 Yes; sire; I well know;〃 said Le Catt; 〃for the queen…mother was the noblest; most gracious princess that ever lived。 I can therefore understand your sorrow。〃
  〃No; you cannot;〃 said the king; raising his pale; tearful countenance。 〃You carry your sorrow upon your lipsI upon my heart。 The queen was the best of women; and my whole land may well mourn for her。 It will not be forced grief; for every one who had the happiness to approach loved and admired her for her many virtues for her great kindness。 And I feel; I know; that sorrow for the ruin of Prussia has caused her death。 She was too noble a princess; too tender a mother; to outlive Prussia's destruction and her son's misfortune。〃
  〃But your majesty knows that the queen was suffering from an incurable disease。〃
  〃It is true I know it;〃 said the king; sinking slowly upon his camp… stool。 〃I feared that I might never see her again; and still this news comes totally unexpected。〃
  〃Your majesty will overcome this great grief as a philosopher; a hero。〃
  〃Ah; my friend;〃 said the king; sadly; 〃philosophy is a solace in past and future sufferings; but is utterly powerless for present grief; I feel my heart and strength fail。 For the last two years I have resembled a tottering wall。 Family misfortune; secret pain; public sorrow; continual disappointment; these have been my nourishment。 What is there wanting to make of me another Job? If I wish to survive these distressing circumstances; I must become a stoic。 For I cannot bring the philosophy of Epicurus to bear upon my great sorrows。 And still;〃 added the king; the dejected look disappearing from his countenance; and giving place to one of energy and determination; 〃still; I will not be overcome。 Were all the elements to combine against me; I will not fall beneath them。〃
  〃Ah!〃 cried Le Catt; 〃once more is my king the hero; who will not only overcome his grief; but also his enemies。〃
  〃God grant that you are a true prophet!〃 cried the king; earnestly。 〃This is a great era; the next few months will be decisive for Prussia: I will restore her or die beneath her ruins!〃
  〃You will restore!〃 cried Le Catt; with enthusiasm。
  〃And when I have made Prussia great;〃 said the king; relapsing into his former gloom; 〃my mother will not be here to rejoice with me。 Each one of my homereturning soldiers will have some onea mother; a sweetheartto meet them with tears of joy; to greet them tenderly。 I shall be alone。〃
  〃Your people will advance; gladly; to meet you; they will greet you with tears of joy。〃
  〃Ah; yes;〃 cried the king; with a bitter smile; 〃they will advance to meet me joyfully; but; were I to die the same day; they would cry: 'Le roi est mortvive le roi!' and would greet my successor with equal delight。 There is nothing personal in the love of a people to its sovereign; they love not in me the man; but the king。 But my mother loved not the king the warrior; she loved her son with her whole heart; and God knows he had but that one heart to trust in。 Leave me; Le Catt。 Seek not to console me。 Soon the king will gain the mastery。 Now I am but the son; who wishes to be alone with the mother。 Go。〃 Fearing he had wounded Le Catt; he pressed his hand tenderly。
  Le Catt raised it to his lips and covered it with kisses and tears。 The king withdrew it gently; and signed to him to leave the room。
  Now he was alonealone with his pain; with his griefalone with his mother。 And; truly; during this hour he was but the loving son; his every thought was of his mother; he conversed with her; he wept over her; but; as his sorrow became more subdued; he took his flute from the table; the one constant companion of his life。 As the soft; sweet tones were wafted through the tent; he seemed to hear his mother whispering words of love to him; to feel her hallowed kiss upon his brow。 And now he was king once more。 As he heard without the sound of trumpets; the beating of drums; the loud shouts and hurrahs of his soldiers; a new fire burned in his eyes; he laid his flute aside; and listened for a time to the joyous shouts; then raising his right hand; he said: 〃Farewell; mother; you died out of despair for my defeat at Collin; but I swear to you I will revenge your death and my defeat tenfold upon my enemies when I stand before them again in battle array。 Hear me; spirit of my mother; and give to your son your blessing!〃
  CHAPTER X。
  IN THE CASTLE AT DRESDEN。
  The Queen Maria Josephine of Poland; Princess elect of Saxony; paced her room violently; and with deep emotion and painful anxiety she listened to every noise which interrupted the stillness that surrounded her。
  〃If he should be discovered;〃 she murmured softly; 〃should this letter be found; all is betrayed; and I am lost。〃
  She shuddered; and even the paint could not conceal her sudden pallor。 She soon raised herself proudly erect; and her eyes resumed their usual calm expression。
  〃Bah! lost;〃 she said; shrugging her shoulders; 〃who will dare to seize a queen and condemn her for fighting for her honor and her country? Only the insolent and arrogant Margrave of Brandenburg could have the temerity to insult a queen and a woman in my person; and he; thank God; is crushed and will never be able to rally。 But where is Schonberg;〃 she said; uneasily; 〃if he does not come to… day; all is lostall!〃
  Loud voices in the antechamber interrupted her; she listened in breathless expectation。 〃It is he;〃 she murmured; 〃it is Schonberg; the officer on guard forbids his entrance。 What insults I endure! I am treated as a prisoner in my own castle; I am even denied the right of seeing my own servants。〃
  She ceased; and listened again; the voices became louder and more violent。 〃He is; apparently; speaking so loudly to attract my attention;〃 she said; 〃I will go to his relief。〃 She crossed the chamber hastily; and opened the door leading into the anteroom。 〃What means this noise?〃 she said; angrily; 〃how dare you be guilty of such unseemly conduct?〃
  Silence followed this question。 The two gentlemen; who had just exchanged such angry words; were dumb; approached the queen; and bowed profoundly。
  〃I beg your majesty's forgiveness;〃 said the Prussian officer; 〃my commander ordered me this morning to admit no one until he had seen your highness himself。〃
  〃I wished to announce to your majesty;〃 said Schonberg; 〃that I had returned from my estate; and desired the favor of being again received into your service; this gentleman refused to allow me to enter。〃
  The queen turned upon the officer with an expression of contempt。 〃Am I a prisoner; sir; allowed to see no one but my jailer?〃
  〃Your majesty favors me with a question I am unable to answer;〃 said the officer; 〃I am a soldier; and must obey the command of those above me。 I know not whether your majesty is a prisoner。〃
  The queen reddened; she felt that; in the excitement of passion; she had forgotten her rank and dignity。
  〃It is true;〃 she said; 〃it is not for you to answer this question。 I must demand a reply from your king。 You are but a machine; moved by foreign power。 I think you will not dare to keep my servants from me;〃 and; without allowing the confused officer time to answer; she turned to the chamberlain; Baron von Schonberg。 〃I am delighted to receive you again; you shall resume your service immediately; as you desire it; follow me to my room; I have an important letter to dictate to you。〃
  She stepped over the sill of the door; and gave the chamberlain a sign to follow her; as he approached the door; however; the officer stepped before him。
  〃Forgive me;〃 he said; in a pleading tone; 〃I have strict orders to admit only those who usually surround the queen; do you understand; sir; to admit no one to her majesty this morning? I can make no exceptions。〃
  〃I belong to those who usually surround her majesty;〃 said the chamberlain; 〃I have had an eight days' leave of absence; that cannot make an exception against me。〃
  〃Baron von Schonberg; did I not order you to