登陆注册
15395700000113

第113章

OLD FRITZ.

The war terminated, the hostile armies returned to their different German countries. Frederick the Great had gained his point, forcing Austria to renounce the possession of Bavaria. The Prince of Zweibruecken had been solemnly recognized by him as the rightful heir to the electorate, and the lawful ruler and possessor of Bavaria. The Emperor Joseph had submitted with profound regret and bitter animosity to the will of his mother, the reigning empress, and consented to the peace negotiations of Baron von Thugut. Having signed the document of the same, in his quality of co-regent, he angrily threw aside the pen, casting a furious glance at the hard, impenetrable face of Thugut, saying: "Tell her majesty that I have accomplished my last act as co-regent, and I now abdicate. From henceforth I will still lie her obedient son, but no submissive joint ruler, to only follow devotedly her imperial will. Therefore Iresign, and never will trouble myself in future about the acts of the government." The emperor kept his word. He retired, piqued, into solitude, wounded in the depths of his soul, and afterward travelled, leaving the government entirely to the empress and her pious confessors.

Bavaria was rescued! It owed its existence to the watchfulness, sagacity, and disinterested aid of Prussia's great king. The Elector Maximilian vowed in his delight that he, as well as his successors and heirs, would never forget that Bavaria must ascribe its continuance to Prussia alone, and therefore the gratitude of the princes of this electorate could not and never would be extinguished toward the royal house of Prussia. Frederick received these overflowing acknowledgments with the calmness of a philosopher and the smile of a skeptic. He understood mankind sufficiently to know what to expect from their oaths; to know that in the course of time there is nothing more oppressive and intolerable than gratitude, that it soon becomes a burden which they would gladly throw off their bent shoulders at any price, and become the enemy of him to whom they had sworn eternal thankfulness. Frederick regarded these oaths of Bavaria not as a security for the future, but as a payment on account of the past.

"I did not go forth to render the Bavarian princes indebted to me,"said he, to his only confidante, Count Herzberg, as he brought to him, at Sans-Souci, the renewed expression of thanks of the prince elector. "I would only protect Germany against Austria's grasp, and preserve the equilibrium of the German empire. Believe me, the house of Hapsburg is a dangerous enemy for the little German principalities, and if my successor does not bear it in mind, and guard himself against their flatteries and cat's-paws, Austria will fleece him as the cat the mouse who is enticed by the odor of the bacon. Prussia shall be neither a mouse in the German empire, nor serve as a roast for Austria. But she shall be a well-trained shepherd's dog for the dear, patient herd, and take care that none go astray and are lost.""Your majesty has drawn an unfortunate character for the future of our country," sighed Herzberg, thoughtfully, "and I must grant that it is sketched with severe but correct outlines so it follows that poor Germany has many combats and hardships in store.""What do you mean?" asked the king. "What characteristic did Iname?"

"Your majesty pointed out Austria as the cat watching for prey in Germany. Prussia, on the contrary, as the shepherd's dog, which should watch the native herd, and occasionally bite those who wander from the flock. The comparison is apt, and clearly exposes the natural hostility of the two nations. Nature has placed the cat and the dog in eternal enmity, and there is no compromise to be thought of, to say nothing of friendship. There may, now and then, be a truce; the cat may draw in her claws, and the dog may cease to howl and growl, but the combat will renew itself, and never end, but in the death of one party, and the victorious triumph of the other.""You are right," said the king, nodding slightly. "From this natural hostility will proceed many combats and storms for our land, and much blood will be shed on its account. Let us look to the future, and try to ward off the coming evil, in erecting high barriers against the cat-like springs of the enemy. I will think out a security for Germany. But first, mon cher ami, we have to care for our own country and people. The war has greatly injured my poor subjects. Industry is prostrated and prosperity disturbed. We must seek new sources of acquisition, and sustain those which are exhausted. For this, we must think of fresh taxes, and other sources of income.""Sire," said Herzberg, shrugging his shoulders, "the taxes are already so heavy that it will be difficult to increase them.""You are greatly mistaken," cried the king, with increased animation. "I will impose a tax upon those things which are now exempt, and establish a capable administration for the purpose.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 传家宝

    传家宝

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 欢喜冤家:捕获逗逼娇妻

    欢喜冤家:捕获逗逼娇妻

    他与她曾是高中同学,她是仅16岁的高三学姐,男生们的女神,女生们的老大,自从他的到来,全校第一被抢了,所有属于她的专利被抢了,她的小的们也都跑到了他的阵营。一次意外,全校人都以为她喜欢他!吵嘴吵不过他,打架还没出手就被KO了,夜半闯入男生宿舍偷袭他,被吃净豆腐不说,还被全校人误会她想霸王硬上弓!她发誓与他势不两立!四年之后,这男人居然高调回归,只是这一副求抚摸求包*养,又撒娇又卖萌的是咋回事?她内心咆哮:还我那个高冷孤傲的厉狗蛋!但是成为他的未婚妻兼专属秘书又是咋回事?结果反倒是某女醉酒地把某只扑倒在床:“厉孤尘,老娘今晚就要做了你!把你榨干!”某只奸诈地笑了。
  • 重生之王者天下

    重生之王者天下

    人生没有重生,但假如有呢?南宫逸就是这个假如,他重生到了十年前。这个时候,异能界的几大王者还没开始行动。所以,他开始行动了,凭借着他的“人皇印”系统。你是富二代,对不起,“沈万三”的“聚宝”教你做人你是天才,对不起,“郭嘉”的“鬼才”告诉你什么是天才。站在东方明珠顶端,俯视天下,南宫逸低语:“待我君临之日,背叛者皆当服诛!”
  • 法师大时代

    法师大时代

    一个逐渐衰落家族出生的少年,为了得到自己想要的,只能自己创造机会,自己去获取,一步步走了出去
  • 愿生在那幻想乡

    愿生在那幻想乡

    一万个人的心中会有一万个幻想乡!PS:其实就是幻想乡的故事合集啦,每一卷主角,设定都会不一样。不过都是幻想里面发生的故事就是了。
  • 倾世狂妃:王爷你别嚣张

    倾世狂妃:王爷你别嚣张

    一道圣旨,是一根长长的红线;一颦一笑,都牵动着我的心,是否可以爱的久一点,爱的深一点。
  • 吴郡图经续记

    吴郡图经续记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 水光苍老

    水光苍老

    每一个人都有一段不可以回去的青春,每个人的青春故事都是不可复制的,当青春里的懵懂遭遇爱情的那一刻,谁的劫难,谁的救赎,都是一场未知的电影。
  • 斗罗大陆之天外飞仙

    斗罗大陆之天外飞仙

    出世,觉醒,命运注定不凡的她与身边的人会有哪些深深浅浅的羁绊?紫龙血凤,二者结合,又会产生怎样的故事?一切,尽在《斗罗大陆之天外飞仙》。
  • 霸道王妃,等等我

    霸道王妃,等等我

    在现代被渣男、白莲花妹妹害死。穿越到星空大陆,帮身体的原主报仇。遇到了冷王,她们会发生怎样的故事呢?