frederick the great and his family-第119部分
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
； no other passion than this music； which was wholly unknown to him。 And now； with a powerful accord； the sweetly attuned human voices joined in； and the choir sang in melting unison the Te Deum Laudamus； which resounded solemnly； grandly through the aisles。 The king turned pale； and as the hymn of praise became more full and rich； his head sank back and his eyes were fixed upon the floor。
Louder and fuller rose the solemn tones； suddenly； from the midst of the choir； a soft； melting tenor sang in a sweet； touching voice； Tuba mirum spargeus sonum。 Frederick's head sank still lower upon his breast； and at last； no longer able to restrain his tears； he covered his face with his hands。
The lofty strains of this solemn hymn resounded through the empty church； which until now had been wrapped in gray clouds； but in a moment the sun burst from behind the clouds； darted its rays through the windows； and lighted up the church with golden glory。 The king who； until now； had been in the shadow of the cloud； was as if by magic bathed in a sea of light。 All eyes were fixed upon his bowed head； his face partially covered with his hands； and the tears gushing from his eyes。
No one could withstand the silent power of this scene； the eyes of the singers filled with tears； and they could only continue their chant in soft； broken； sobbing tones； but Benda was not angry； he dared not look at them； lest they might see that his own stern eyes were veiled in tears。
Frederick seemed more and more absorbed in himselflost in painful memories。 But the loud hosannas resounded and awakened him from his slumber； he dared no longer give himself up to brooding。 He arose slowly from his seat； and silent and alone； even as he had entered； he left the church。
CHAPTER II。
PRINCE HENRY。
Seven years had passed since Prince Henry had left his wife； to fight with his brother against his enemies。 During these long years of strife and contest； neither the king nor the prince had returned to Berlin。 Like the king； he also had won for himself fame and glory upon the battle…field。 Much more fortunate than his brother； he had won many victories； and had not sustained a single defeat with his army corps。 More successful in all his undertakings than Frederick； perhaps also more deliberate and careful； he had always chosen the right hour to attack the enemy； and was always prepared for any movement。 His thoughtfulness and energy had more than once released the king from some disagreeable or dangerous position。 To the masterly manner in which Prince Henry managed to unite his forces with those of his brother after the battle of Kunersdorf； the king owed his escape from the enemies which then surrounded him。 And to the great and glorious victory gained by Prince Henry over the troops of the empire and of Austria at Freiberg； the present happy peace was to be attributed。 This battle had subdued the courage of the Austrians； and had filled the generals of the troops of the empire with such terror； that they declared at once their unwillingness to continue the war； and their determination to return with their forces to their different countries。
The battle of Freiberg was the last battle of the Seven Years' War。 It brought to Prince Henry such laurels as the king had gained at Leignitz and Torgau； it placed him at his brother's side as an equal。 Frederick saw it without envy or bitterness； and rejoiced in the fulness of his great soul； in his brother's fame。 When he found himself； for the first time after the Seven Years' War； surrounded at Berlin by the princes and generals； he advanced with a cordial smile to his brother； and laying his hand gently on his shoulder； said aloud：
〃You see here； sirs； the only one amongst us all who did not commit a single mistake during the war！〃
Seven years had passed since Prince Henry had seen his young wife； Princess Wilhelmina。 He could at last return to herto his beloved Rheinsberg； and find rest after his many years of wandering。 He had written to the princess； and requested her not to meet him in Berlin； but to find some pretext for remaining at Rheinsberg。 His proud soul could not endure the thought that the woman he loved； who appeared to him fit to grace the first throne of the world； would occupy an inferior position at courtwould have to stand behind the queen。 He had never envied the king his crown or his position； but his heart now craved the crown of the queen； for the brow of his own beautiful wife； who seemed much better fitted to wear it than the gentle； timid Elizabeth Christine。 Princess Wilhelmina had therefore remained at Rheinsberg； feigning sickness。
It was night！ The castle of Rheinsberg glittered with the light of the torches by which the gates were adorned； to welcome the prince to his home。 The saloons and halls were brilliantly lighted； and in them a gay； merry crowd was assembled。 All the prince's friends and acquaintances had been invited by Princess Wilhelmina to greet his return。
Every thing in the castle bore the appearance of happinessall seemed gay and cheerful。 But still； there was one whose heart was beating anxiously at the thought of the approaching hourit was the Princess Wilhelmina。 She was gorgeously dressed； diamonds glittered on her brow and throat； bright roses gleamed upon her breast； and a smile was on her full； red lips。 No one knew the agony this smile cost her！ No one knew that the red which burned upon her cheek was caused； not by joy； but terror！
Yes； terror！ She was afraid of this meeting； in which she was to receive the prince as her loved husband； while； during the long years of absence； he had become a perfect stranger to her。 Not even bound to him by the daily occurrences of life； she had no sympathies with the husband who had been forced upon her； and who had once contemptuously put aside the timid heart that was then prepared to love him。 This stranger she was now to meet with every sign of love； because he had one day waked up to the conviction that the heart he had once spurned was worthy of him。 It was her duty now to return this loveto consecrate the rich treasures of her heart to him who had once scorned them。 Her soul rose in arms at this thought like an insulted lioness； and she felt some of that burning hatred that the lioness feels for her master who wishes to tame her with an iron rod。 The prince was to her but her master； who had bound and held her heart in irons； to keep it from escaping from him。
During these seven long years； she had experienced all the freedom and happiness of girlhood； her heart had beat with a power； a fire condemned by the princess herself； but which she was incapable of extinguishing。
Trembling and restless； she wandered through the rooms； smiling when she would have given worlds to have shrieked out her pain； her agony； decked in splendid garments； when she would gladly have been in her shroud。 Every sound every step； filled her with terror； for it might announce the arrival of her husband； whom she must welcome with hypocritical love and joy。 Could she but show him her scorn； her hatred； her indifference！ But the laws of etiquette held her in their stern bonds and would not release her。 She was a princess； and could not escape from the painful restraints of her position。 She had not the courage to do so。 At times in her day…dreams； she longed to leave all the cold； deceitful glare； by which she was surrounded… …to go to some far distant valley； and there to live alone and unknown； by the side of her lover； where no etiquette would disturb their happinesswhere she would be free as the birds of the air； as careless as the flowers of the field。 But these wild dreams vanished when the cold； cruel reality appeared to her。 By the side of the once loving woman stood again the princess； who could not surrender the splendor and magnificence by which she was surrounded。 She had not the courage nor the wish to descend from her height to the daily life of common mortals。 There was dissension in her soul between the high…born princess and the loving； passionate woman。 She was capable of making any and every sacrifice for her love； but she had never openly confessed this love； and even in her wildest dreams she had never thought of changing her noble name and position for those of her lover。 She could have fled with him to some distant valley； but would she be happy？ Would she not regret her former life？ Princess Wilhelmina felt the dissension in her soul； and therefore she trembled at the thought of her husband's return。 This meeting would decide her whole future。 Perhaps she could still be saved。 The prince； returning covered with fame and crowned with laurels； might now win her love； and drive from her heart every other thought。 But if he cannot win itif his return is not sufficient to loosen the chains which bind herthen she was lostthen she could not resist the intoxicating whispers luring her to ruin。
These were Princess Wilhelmina's thoughts as she leaned against a window of the brilliant ball…room； the protection of whose heavy curtains she had sought to drive for a moment from her face the gay smile and to breathe out the sighs that were almost rending her heart。 She was gazing at the dark night withoutat the bright； starry sky above。 Her lips moved in a low prayerher timid soul turned to God with its fears。
〃O God； my God！〃 murmured she； 〃stand by me。 Take from me the sinful thoughts that fill my heart。 Make me to love my husband。 Keep my soul free from shame and sin。〃
Hasty steps； loud； merry voices from the hall； disturbed her dreams。 She left her retreat； meeting everywhere gay smiles and joyous faces。 At the door stood the prince her husband。 He advanced eagerly to her side； and ignoring etiquette and the gay assemblage alike he pressed the princess to his heart and kissed her on both cheeks。
Wilhelmina drew from him in deadly terror； and a burning anger filled her heart。 Had she loved the prince； this public demonstration of his tenderness would perhaps have pleased and surely been forgiven by her。 As it was； she took his embrace and kisses as an insult； which was only to be endured by compulsionfor which she would surely revenge herself。
Prince Henry was so joyous； so happy at meeting his wife o
