Frederick The Great and His Family

ne, no cheerful word or gay laughter was allowed in his presence. The servants looked at him sorrowfully; and when the prince appeared at the parade the day af

he solitude of his rooms. His heart was wounded unto death, his soul was agonized. Youth soon laid its healing

de a man of him; his brow, once so clear and youthful, had received its first mark of sorrow; the lines of his face were harsh

had expired, his door was again open t

mberlain, Baron Pollnitz. The prince welc

l me the chronique scandaleuse of our most honorable and virtu

No scandals or piquant adventures occur; baptisms, marriages, and burials are the only events. This is really a miserable exis

they exist," said the prince, smiling. "Tell me something of

before answering, I must allow myself to ask after

suffer; it received a heavy shower of

tulate you on your recovery, for truly there is

, therefore, your news without hesitation. You

von Kleist has marrie

s blow without betrayin

take place?" he asked,

er saw a happier or more brilliant bride. Love ha

and upon his heart with a

with a great effort. "Madame von Kleist is happy, and happiness always bea

of the bride-groom," said Po

e announced her approaching marriage. But I am

ides, a very good officer. The king gave him,

du Trouffle," said the prince, with a troubl

he name of

and obedience, with earnestness and confidence? Di

nd raised her eyes to heaven, as if pr

upon Pollnitz-"what is said of me? Am I regarded as a rejected lover, or as a faithless o

s a hard insinuation,"

cannot really

courtier, and one of the best and rarest type; you have intellect and knowledge, much experience and savoir vivre; I could desire no better company tha

esires me to tel

, I

ght Pollnitz. "Now, if I am adroit, I bel

my prince, you are regarded as a rejected lover, and Madame du Trouffle has succeeded in throwing a holy lustre around her beautiful brow. It

Pollnitz ceased, and looked searchin

ou have retired to your chambers to

ng eyes and darkened brow; "well, I will show this credulou

our hig

announce my visit; I w

approached the king; "the prince desires to m

y brother wishes of

I think he wishes to marry, in orde

duct him to me; then remain in the

ed, and the prince was announced. Henry stood in the doorway, and made the king a ceremonious bow. The king continued to play. The low,

n spirit before speaking to his brother? Perhaps both, for Frederic

, the king laid his flute as

conclude what I commence. Now, I am entirely at your service, and as I am unfortunately not accustomed t

bered but lightly. The king's words aroused i

er?" he said, hastily. "I will

and glanced angrily at the

s repeated, and all find that out he

ued me so long and unrelentingly? What have I done to

y love and confidence," said the king, sternly

ly frankly. I have done nothing to deserve your love, but also nothing to make me unworth

ure, you have desired to be a free man, to cast aside the yoke that Providence placed

ct me to resign this most natural of h

uthfully say that I have given my brot

you now wish to drive us to an extremity you have, doubtlessly, long since fo

not forgotten. I still feel the wou

t, my b

ince, and I am your king!' I have long since acknowledged that my father was right in his conduct to me. I w

u wept for this faithful and unfortunate

I neither placed the crown upon my head, nor the yoke upon your neck. We must bear them patiently, as God and Providence have ordained, an

t; but I hold you responsible for the happiness of this marriage. At God's throne, I will call you to justify yourself, and there we will speak as equals, as man to man. What right had you to rob me of my most holy and beautiful posse

" said the king, solemnly

ajesty has chosen

Wilhelmina, daughter of Prince Max, of Hesse-Cassel. She not

ally. "I would marry her if she were ugly, old, and u

rother, I am

breathed quickly and heavily, and a glow

Name your conditio

not only the entire court, but a goodly number of Berliners; I desire all Berlin to take part in my happiness, an

er wished to wound and humiliate his faithless sweetheart by his marriage; that Henry only submitted to his wishes because his proud hear

I hope you will allow me to be present at this beautiful fete, and con

one

t is

ll take place, at the

marriage over, for, after the gayeties, I wish to leave Berlin. All the arrangements and contracts are comp

, s

r in your heart, and I therefore give you a small memento of the same. Will you accept my castle of Rh

ing smile, to Henry, and received wit

r palaces are so appropriate for a prince who is discontented with his king. I have made that experience myself, and I give you Rheinsberg, as my father gave i

preparations for his wedding. "We will both make our preparations," said the king, as he bade the prince