Louisa of Prussia and Her Times

tars are your eyes, and the lights are the two days I alluded to before-the day on which I saw you for the first time, and the day on which you arrived in Berlin. Oh, Louisa,

the previous day. We met in a small and unpretending villa, situated in the midst of a large garden. The two sovereigns conver

about the military operations, will we not permit the young gentleman there to wait upon

ittle attention was paid to ceremonies. I followed the footman, who told me the ladies were in the garden, whither he conducted me. We walked through a long avenue and a number of side-paths. The footman, going

sides of your rosy cheeks, and your head wreathed with the full and fragrant roses which seemed to bend down upon you from the bower in order to kiss and adorn you, your round white arms only half covered with clear lace sleeves, and a full-blown rose in your right hand which you had raised to your waist. And seeing you thus before me, I believed I had been removed from earth, and it seemed to me I beheld an angel of innocence and beauty, through whose voice Heaven wished to greet me. [Footnote: Goethe saw the young princess at the same time, and speaks of her "divine beauty."] At last I stood close before you, and in my fascination I entirely forgot to salute you. I only looked at you. I only heard those jubilant voices in my heart, singing, 'There is your wife-the wife you will love now and forever!' It was no maudling sentimentality, but a clear

py, too happy!" exclaimed the queen, closi

ch, lest I should becom

I had gone out among the crowd and, assisted by a trusty servant, obtained a place behind one of the pillars of the triumphal arch. Suddenly tremendous cheers burst forth from a hundred thousand throats, thousands of arms were waving white handkerchiefs from the windows and roofs of the houses, the bells were rung, the cannon commenced thundering, for you had just crossed the Brandenburger Gate. Alighting from your carriage, you walked up the Linden with your suite, the wildest enthusiasm greeting every step you made, and finally you entered the triumphal arch, not suspecting how near I was to you, and how fervently my heart was yearning for you. A number of little girls in white, with myrtle-branches in their hands, met you there; and one of them, bearing a myrtle-wreath on an embroidered cushion, presented it to you and recited a simple and touching poem. Oh, I see even now, how your eyes were glowing, how a profound emotion lighted up your features, and how, overpo

you, which are engraved upon my heart, may always resemble you, and you will be sure to win all hearts. Oh, my Louisa, your task is an easy one, you only have to be true to yourself, you only have to follow your faithful companions the Graces, and success will never fail you. My t

esture placed her hand u

ink back from it?-your hands, as free from guilt and firm and strong as those of a true man should be! I know nothing about politics, and shall never dare to meddle with public affairs and to advise you in regard to them; but I know

greatly surprise

reat and solemn hour. Oh, it was indeed a sacred hour, and never have I spoken of it to anybody, for every word would have looked to me like a desecration. But you, my noble wife, you can only con

head from his shoulder and folding her han

or a moment, and

the beech-tree. A last beam of the setting sun was playing on his face, and rendered his glorious eyes even more radiant. I stood before him in reverential awe, and he gazed upon me with a kindly smile. Then he commenced examining me about my studies, and finally he drew a volume of La Fontaine's 'Fables' from his pocket, opened the book and asked me to translate the fable on the page he showed me. I did so-but when he afterward was going to praise me for the skill wi

," she said, "and so is your heart. My Frederick is too proud and

eluded enough to fan the flame. The masses below commence moving already, and when the explosion finally takes place, the devil will be to pay. I am afraid your own position one day will be a most difficult one. Arm yourself, therefore, for the strife!-be firm!-think of me! Watch over our honor and our glory! Beware of injustice, but do not permit any one to treat you unjustly!' He paused again, and slowly walked on. While deeply moved and conscious of the importance of the interview, I inwardly repeated every word he had said, in order to remember them as long as I lived. We had now reached the obelisk, near the gate of Sans-Souci. The king here gave me his left hand, and with his uplifted right hand he pointed at the obelisk. 'Look at it,' he said, loudly and solemnly; 'the obelisk is tall and slender, and yet it stands firm amid the most furious storms. It says

ick will be with you and remain wit

know that I am weak and inexperienced; I stan

his exclaiming, "Come in!" the door was opened

e said, bowing reverentially; "but I must request your majesty to de

the king, rising and wa

al table, and I beseech your majesty to read and approv

ented a paper to the king, who

ed, sharply, "two cours

he marshal, humbly, "it i

. "No, sir, the meals shall remain the same as heretofore, [Footnote: Vide Eylert, vol. i., p

said, with a charming smile; "neither has

e, then," said the king

they make in order to bring about a change in our simple and unassuming ways of liv

at uncle," said the queen, "and when they overwhelm us on all sides with th

d whatever our new life may have in store

or was heard, and a r

Kockeritz, your majest

ck on the mantel-piece. "I sent him word to call on me a

and he tenderly pressed to hi

as straight as an arrow, waiting for the king's

e I suddenly grown so much stouter that I can no longe

raising her beautiful, radiant eyes with an indescribable expression to heaven, she whispered: "