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history of friedrich ii of prussia v 19-第21部分

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at gifts from Nature; and the noble use he makes of them; is above all others the circumstance that saved him in such a duel with the Hydras。

On the back of Kunersdorf; accordingly; there was not only no finishing stroke upon Friedrich; but for two months no stroke or serious attempt whatever in those neighborhoods where Friedrich is。 There are four Armies hereabouts: The Grand Russian; hanging by Frankfurt; Friedrich at Furstenwalde (whitherward he marched from Reitwein August 16th); at Furstenwalde or farther south; guarding Berlin;then; unhurt yet by battle of any kind; there are the Grand Daunish or Mark…Lissa Army; and Prince Henri's of Schmottseifen。 Of which latter Two the hitchings and manoeuvrings from time to time become vivid; and never altogether cease; but in no case come to anything。 Above two months' scientific flourishing of weapons; strategic counter…dancing; but no stroke struck; or result achieved; except on Daun's part irreparable waste of time: all readers would feel it inhuman to be burdened with any notice of such things。 One march of Prince Henri's; which was of a famous and decisive character; we will attend to; when it comes; that is; were the end of September at hand; the rest must be imagined as a general strategic dance in those frontier parts;Silesia to rearward on one side; the Lausitz and Frankfurt on the other;and must go on; silently for most part; in the background of the reader's fancy。 Indeed; Saxony is the scene of action; Friedrich; Henri; Soltikof; Daun; comparatively inactive for the next six weeks and more。

Some days before Kunersdorf; Daun personally; with I will forget how many thousands; had made a move to northward from Mark…Lissa; 60 miles or so; through Sagan Country; and lies about Priebus; waiting there ever since。 Priebus is some 40 miles north of Gorlitz; about 60 west of Glogau; south of Frankfurt 80。 This is where the Master…Smith; having various irons in the fire; may be handiest for clutching them out; and forging at them; as they become successively hot。 Daun; as Master…Smith; has at least three objects in view。 The FIRST is; as always; Reconquest of Silesia: this is obstructed by Prince Henri; who sits; watchful on the threshold; at Schmottseifen yonder。 The SECOND is; as last year; Capture of Dresden: which is much the more feasible at present; there being; except the Garrisons; no Prussian force whatever in Saxony; and a Reichs Army now actually there at last; after its long haggling about its Magazines; and above all; a Friedrich with his hands full elsewhere。 To keep Friedrich's hands full;in other words; to keep the Russians sticking to him;that is the THIRD object: or indeed we may call it the first; second and third; for Daun is well aware that unless Soltikof can manage to keep Friedrich busy; Silesia; Saxony and all else becomes impossible。

Ever since the fortunate junction of Loudon with Soltikof; Daun has sat; and still sits; expectant; elaborately calculative; gathering Magazines in different parts; planting out…parties; this way; that way; with an eye to these three objects; all or each;especially to the third object; which he discerns to be all AND each。 Daun was elaborately calculative with these views: but to try any military action; upon Prince Henri for example; or bestir himself otherwise than in driving provender forward; and marching detachments hither and thither to the potentially fit and fittest posts; was not in Daun's way;so much the worse for Daun; in his present course of enterprise。

Prince Henri had lain quiet at Schmottseifen; waiting his Brother's adventure; did not hear the least tidings of him till six days after Kunersdorf; and then only by rumor; hideous; and; though still dubious; too much of it probable! On the very day of Kunersdorf; Henri had begun effecting some improvements on his right flank;always a sharply strategic; most expert creature; and made a great many motions; which would be unintelligible here。 'Detailed; every fibre of them (as is the soul…confusing custom there); in Tempelhof; iii。 228 et seq。' Henri feels now that upon him lies a world of duties; and foremost of all; the instant duty of endeavoring to open communication with his Brother。 Many marches; in consequence; much intricate marching and manoeuvring between Daun and him: of which; when we come to Henri's great March (of 25th September); there may be again some hint。

For the present; let readers take their Map; and endeavor to fix the following dates and localities in their mind。 Here; in summary; are the King's various Marches; and Two successive Encampments; two only; during those Six Weeks of forced inaction; while he is obliged to stand watching the Russians; and to witness so many complicacies and disasters in the distance; which he struggles much and fruitlessly to hinder or help:

ENCAMPMENT 1st (Furstenwalde; August 18th…30th)。 Friedrich left Reitwein AUGUST 16th; 17th; he is at Madlitz 'Note to Wunsch written there; which we read'; 18th; to Furstenwalde; and encamp。 Furstenwalde is on the Spree; straight between Frankfurt and Berlin; 25 miles from the former; 35 from the latter。 Here for near a fortnight。 At first; much in alarm about the Russians and Berlin; but gradually ascertaining that the Russians intend nothing。

〃In effect; all this while Soltikof lay at Lossow; 10 miles south of Frankfurt; with his right on Oder; totally motionless; inactive; except listening; often rather gloomily; to Daun's and Montalembert's suasive eloquences and advices;and once; August 22d; in the little Town of Guben; holding Conference with Daun 'of which by and by'。 In consequence of which; AUGUST 28th; Soltikof and his Russians and Austrians got under way again; southward; but only a few marches: first to Mullrose; then to Lieberose:whom; the instant he heard of their movements; Friedrich; August 30th; hastened to follow; but had not to follow very far。 Whereupon ensues

〃ENCAMPMENT SECOND (Waldau; till September 15th)。 AUGUST 30th; Friedrich; we say; rose from Furstenwalde; hastened to follow this Russian movement; and keep within wind of it: up the valley of the Spree; first to Mullrose neighborhood 'where the Russians; loitering some time; spoiled the canal…locks of the Friedrich… Wilhelm Canal; if nothing more';thence to Lieberose neighborhood; Waldau; the King's new place of encampment;Waldau; with Spree Forest to rear of it: silent both parties till September 15th; when Soltikof did fairly march; not towards Berlin; but quite in the opposite direction。〃

By the middle of September; when the Russians did get on foot; and moved eastward; especially on and after September 25th; when Henri made his famous March westward; then it will behoove us to return to Friedrich and these localities。 For the present we must turn to Saxony; where; and not here; the scene of action is。 Take; farther; only the following bits of Note; which will now be readable。 First; these Utterances to D'Argens; direct glimpses into the heavy…laden; indeed hag…ridden and nearly desperate inner man of Friedrich; during the first three weeks after his defeat at Kunersdorf:


THE KING TO MARQUIS D'ARGENS (at Berlin): Six Notes。

1。 〃MADLITZ 'road from Reitwein to Furstenwalde'; 16th AUGUST; 1759。 We have been unfortunate; my dear Marquis; but not; by my fault。 The victory was ours; and would even have been a complete one; when our infantry lost patience; and at the wrong moment abandoned the field of battle。 The enemy to…day is on march to Mullrose; to unite with Haddick 'not to Mullrose for ten days yet; Haddick had already got united with THEM'。 The Russian infantry is almost totally destroyed。 Of my own wrecks; all that I have been able to assemble amounts to 32;000 men; with these I am pushing on to throw myself across the enemy's road; and either perish or save the Capital。 That is not what you 'you Berliners' will call a deficiency of resolution。

〃For the event I cannot answer。 If I had more lives than one; I would sacrifice them all to my Country。 But if this stroke fail; I think I am clear…scores with her; and that it will be permissible to look a little to myself。 There are limits to everything。 I support my misfortune; courage not abated by it: but I am well resolved; after this stroke; if it fail; to open an outgate for myself 'that small glass tube which never quits me'; and no longer be the sport of any chance。〃

2。 Furstenwalde; 20th AUGUST。 。。。 〃Remain at Berlin; or retire to Potsdam; in a little while there will come some catastrophe: it is not fit that you suffer by it。 If things take a good turn; you can be back to Berlin 'from Potsdam' in four hours。 If ill…luck still pursue us; go to Hanover or to Zelle; where you can provide for your safety。

〃I protest to you; that in this late Action I did what was humanly possible to conquer; but my people〃Oh; your Majesty!

3。 FURSTENWALDE; 21st AUGUST。 。。。 〃The enemy is intrenching himself near Frankfurt; a sign he intends no attempt。 If you will do me the pleasure to come out hither; you can in all safety。 Bring your bed with you; bring my Cook Noel; and I will have you a little chamber ready。 You will be my consolation and my hope。〃

This day;let readers mark the circumstance;Friedrich; in better spirits; detaches Wunsch with some poor 6;000; to try if he can be of help in Saxony; where the Reichs Army; now arrived in force; and with nothing whatever in the field against them; is taking all the Northward Garrison…Towns; and otherwise proceeding at a high rate。 Too possibly with an eye towards Dresden itself! Wunsch sets out August 21st。 'Tempelhof; iii。 211。' And we shall hear of him in those Saxon Countries before long。

4。 FURSTENWALDE; 22d AUGUST。 〃Yesterday I wrote to you to come; but to…day I forbid it。 Daun is at Kotbus; he is marching on Luben and Berlin 'nothing like so rash!'。Fly these unhappy Countries! This news obliges me again to attack the Russians between here and Frankfurt。 You may imagine if this is a desperate resolution。 It is the sole hope that remains to me; of not being cut off from Berlin on the one side or the other。 I will give the discouraged troops some brandy〃alas!〃but I promise myself nothing of success。 My one consolation is; that I shall die sword in hand。〃

5。 SAME PLACE AND 

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