Frederick　the　Great　and　His　Family
  by　L。　Muhlbach
  ＇Variant　spellings：　Louise　Muhlbach；　Luise　Muhlbach　and　Luise　von　Muhlbach＇
  TRANSLATED　FROM　GERMAN　BY
  MRS。　CHAPMAN　COLEMAN　AND　HER　DAUGHTERS
  CONTENTS。
  BOOK　I。
  I。　　　The　King
  II。　　　Prince　Henry
  III。　　　Louise　von　Kleist
  IV。　　　At　the　Masked　Ball
  V。　　　A　Secret　Captain
  VI。　　　The　Legacy　of　Von　Trenck；　Colonel　of　the　Pandours
  VII。　　　The　King　and　Weingarten
  VIII。　　　The　Unwilling　Bridegroom
  IX。　　　The　First　Disappointment
  X。　　　The　Conquered
  XI。　　　The　Travelling　Musicians
  XII。　　　Travelling　Adventures
  XIII。　　　The　Drag…Boat
  XIV。　　　In　Amsterdam
  XV。　　　The　King　without　Shoes
  BOOK　　II。
  I。　　　The　Unhappy　News
  II。　　　Trenck　on　his　Way　to　Prison
  III。　　　Prince　Henry　and　His　Wife
  IV。　　　The　Fete　in　the　Woods
  V。　　　Intrigues
  VI。　　　The　Private　Audience
  VII。　　　The　Traitor
  VIII。　　　Declaration　of　War
  IX。　　　The　King　and　his　Brothers
  X。　　　The　Laurel…Branch
  XI。　　　The　Ball　at　Count　Bruhl's
  XII。　　　The　Interrupted　Feast
  XIII。　　　The　Archives　at　Dresden
  XIV。　　　Saxony　Humiliated
  BOOK　　III。
  I。　　　The　Maiden　of　Brunen
  II。　　　News　of　Battle
  III。　　　The　Certificate　of　Enlistment
  IV。　　　Farewell　to　the　Village
  V。　　　The　Prisoner
  VI。　　　The　Prison　Barricade
  VII。　　　The　Battle　of　Collin
  VIII。　　　The　Inimical　Brothers
  IX。　　　The　Letters
  X。　　　In　the　Castle　at　Dresden
  XI。　　　The　Te　Deum
  XII。　　　Camp　Scene
  XIII。　　　The　Watch…Fire
  XIV。　　　The　Battle　of　Leuthen
  XV。　　　Winter　Quarters　in　Breslau
  XVI。　　　The　Broken　Heart
  BOOK　IV。
  I。　　　The　King　and　his　Old　and　New　Enemies
  II。　　　The　Three　Officers
  III。　　　Ranuzi
  IV。　　　Louise　du　Trouffle
  V。　　　The　Fortune…Teller
  VI。　　　A　Court　Day　in　Berlin
  VII。　　　In　the　Window…Niche
  VIII。　　　The　Nutshells　behind　the　Fauteuil　of　the　Queen
  IX。　　　The　Duel　and　its　Consequences
  X。　　　The　Five　Couriers
  XI。　　　After　the　Battle
  XII。　　　A　Heroic　Soul
  XIII。　　　The　Two　Grenadiers
  XIV。　　　The　Right　Counsel
  XV。　　　A　Hero　in　Misfortune
  BOOK　V。
  I。　　　The　Teresiani　and　the　Prussiani
  II。　　　Frederick　the　Great　as　a　Saint
  III。　　　The　Cloister　Brothers　of　San　Giovanni　e　Paolo
  IV。　　　The　Return　from　the　Army
  V。　　　The　Brave　Fathers　and　the　Cowardly　Sons
  VI。　　　The　Traitor's　Betrayal
  VII。　　　The　Accusation
  VIII。　　　Revenge
  IX。　　　Trenck
  X。　　　〃Trenck；　are　you　there？〃
  XI。　　　The　King　and　the　German　Scholar
  XII。　　　Gellert
  XIII。　　　The　Poet　and　the　King
  XIV。　　　The　King　and　the　Village　Magistrate
  XV。　　　The　Proposal　of　Marriage
  XVI。　　　The　Ambassador　and　the　Khan　of　Tartary
  BOOK　VI。
  I。　　　The　King's　Return
  II。　　　Prince　Henry
  III。　　　Mother　and　Daughter
  IV。　　　The　King　in　Sans…Souci
  V。　　　The　Engraved　Cup
  VI。　　　The　Princess　and　the　Diplomatist
  VII。　　　The　Royal　House…Spy
  VIII。　　　The　Clouds　Gather
  IX。　　　Brother　and　Sister
  X。　　　The　Stolen　Child
  XI。　　　The　Discovery
  XII。　　　The　Morning　at　Sans…Souci
  XIII。　　　A　Husband's　Revenge
  XIV。　　　The　Separation
  BOOK　I。
  CHAPTER　I。
  THE　KING。
  The　king　laid　his　flute　aside；　and　with　his　hands　folded　behind　his　back；　walked　thoughtfully　up　and　down　his　room　in　Sans…Souci。　His　countenance　was　now　tranquil；　his　brow　cloudless；　with　the　aid　of　music　he　had　harmonized　his　soul；　and　the　anger　and　displeasure　he　had　so　shortly　before　felt　were　soothed　by　the　melodious　notes　of　his　flute。
  The　king　was　no　longer　angry；　but　melancholy；　and　the　smile　that　played　on　his　lip　was　so　resigned　and　painful　that　the　brave　Marquis　d'Argens　would　have　wept　had　he　seen　it；　and　the　stinging　jest　of　Voltaire　have　been　silenced。
  But　neither　the　marquis　nor　Voltaire；　nor　any　of　his　friends　were　at　present　in　Potsdam。　D'Argens　was　in　France；　with　his　young　wife；　Barbe　Cochois；　Voltaire；　after　a　succession　of　difficulties　and　quarrels；　had　departed　forever；　General　Rothenberg　had　also　departed　to　a　land　from　which　no　one　returnshe　was　dead！　My　lord　marshal　had　returned　to　Scotland；　Algarotti　to　Italy；　and　Bastiani　still　held　his　office　in　Breslau。　Sans…Souci；　that　had　been　heretofore　the　seat　of　joy　and　laughing　witSans…Souci　was　now　still　and　lonely；　youth；　beauty；　and　gladness　had　forsaken　it　forever；　earnestness　and　duty　had　taken　their　place；　and　reigned　in　majesty　within　those　walls　that　had　so　often　echoed　with　the　happy　laugh　and　sparkling　jest　of　the　king's　friends　and　contemporaries。
  Frederick　thought　of　this；　as　with　folded　hands　he　walked　up　and　down；　and　recalled　the　past。　Sunk　in　deep　thought；　he　remained　standing　before　a　picture　that　hung　on　the　wall　above　his　secretary；　which　represented　Barbarina　in　the　fascinating　costume　of　a　shepherdess；　as　he　had　seen　her　for　the　first　time　ten　years　ago；　it　had　been　painted　by　Pesne　for　the　king。　What　recollections；　what　dreams　arose　before　the　king's　soul　as　he　gazed　at　that　bewitching　and　lovely　face；　at　those　soft；　melting　eyes；　whose　glance　had　once　made　him　so　happy！　But　that　was　long　ago；　it　had　passed　like　a　sunbeam　on　a　rainy　day；　it　had　been　long　buried　in　clouds。　These　remembrances　warmed　the　king's　heart　as　he　now　stood　so　solitary　and　loveless　before　this　picture；　and　he　confessed　to　that　sweet　image；　once　so　fondly　loved；　what　he　had　never　admitted　to　himself；　that　his　heart　was　very　lonely。
  But　these　painful　recollections；　these　sad　thoughts；　did　not　last。　The　king　roused　himself　from　those　dangerous　dreams；　and　on　leaving　the　picture　cast　upon　it　almost　a　look　of　hatred。
  〃This　is　folly；〃　he　said；　〃I　will　to　work。〃
  He　approached　the　secretary；　and　seized　the　sealed　letters　and　packets　that　were　lying　there。　〃A　letter　and　packet　from　the　queen；〃　he　said；　wonderingly　opening　the　letter　first。　Casting　a　hasty　glance　through　it；　a　mocking　smile　crossed　his　face。　〃She　sends　me　a　French　translation　of　a　prayer…book；〃　he　said；　shrugging　his　shoulders。　〃Poor　queen！　her　heart　is　not　yet　dead；　though；　by　Heaven！　it　has　suffered　enough。〃
  He　threw　the　letter　carelessly　aside；　without　glancing　at　the　book；　its　sad；　pleading　prayer　was　but　an　echo　of　the　thoughts　trembling　in　her　heart。
  〃Bagatelles！　nothing　more；〃　he　murmured；　after　reading　the　other　letters　and　laying　them　aside。　He　then　rang　hastily；　and　bade　the　servant　send　Baron　Pollnitz　to　him　as　soon　as　he　appeared　in　the　audience…chamber。
  A　few　minutes　later　the　door　opened；　and　the　old；　wrinkled；　sweetly　smiling　face　of　the　undaunted　courtier　appeared。
  〃Approach；〃　said　the　king；　advancing　a　few　steps　to　meet　him。　〃Do　you　bring　me　his　submission？　Does　my　brother　Henry　acknowledge　that　it　is　vain　to　defy　my　power？〃
  Pollnitz　shrugged　his　shoulders。　〃Sire；　〃he　said；　sighing；　〃his　highness　will　not　understand　that　a　prince　must　have　no　heart。　He　still　continues　in　his　disobedience；　and　declares　that　no　man　should　marry　a　woman　without　loving　her；　that　he　would　be　contemptible　and　cowardly　to　allow　himself　to　be　forced　to　do　what　should　be　the　free　choice　of　his　own　heart。〃
  Pollnitz　had　spoken　with　downcast　eyes　and　respectful　countenance；　he　appeared　not　to　notice　that　the　king　reddened　and　his　eyes　burned　with　anger。
  〃Ah！　my　brother　dared　to　say　that？〃　cried　the　king。　〃He　has　the　Utopian　thought　to　believe　that　he　can　defy　my　wishes。　Tell　him　he　is　mistaken；　he　must　submit　to　me　as　I　had　to　submit　to　my　father。〃
  〃He　gives　that　as　an　example　why　he　will　not　yield。　He　believes　a　forced　marriage　can　never　be　a　happy　one；　that　your　majesty　had　not　only　made　yourself　unhappy　by　your　marriage；　but　also　your　queen；　and　that　there　was　not　a　lady　in　the　land　who　would　exchange　places　with　your　wife。〃
  The　king　glanced　piercingly　at　Pollnitz。　〃Do　you　know　it　would　have　been　better　had　you　forgotten　a　few　of　my　wise　brother's　words？〃
  〃Your　majesty　commanded　me　to　tell　you　faithfully　every　word　the　prince　said。〃
  〃And　you　are　too　much　a　man　of　truth　and　obedience；　too　little　of　a　courtier；　not　to　be　frank　and　faithful。　Is　it　not　so？　Ah！　vraiment；　I　know　you；　and　I　know　very　well　that　you　are　playing　a　double　game。　But　I　warn　you　not　to　follow　the　promptings　of　your　wicked　heart。　I　desire　my　brother　to　marry；　do　you　hear？　I　will　it；　and　you；　the　grand　chamberlain；　Baron　Pollnitz；　shall　feel　my　anger　if　he　does　not　consent。〃
  〃And　if　he　does？〃　said　Pollnitz；　in　his　laughing；　shameless　manner；　〃if　I　persuade　the　prince　to　submit　to　your　wishes；　what　recompense　shall　I　receive？〃
  〃On　the　day　of　their　betrothal；　I　will　raise　your　income　five　hundred　crowns；　and　pay　your　debts。〃
  〃Ah；　sire；　in　what　a　pitiable　dilemma　you　are　placing　me！　Your　majesty　wishes　Prince　Henry　to　engage　himself　as　soon　as　possible；　and　I　must　now　wish　it　to　be　as　late　as　possible。〃
  〃And　why？〃
  〃Because　I　must　hasten　to　make　as　many　debts　as　possible；　that　your　majesty　may　pay　them。〃
  〃You　are　and　will　remain　an　unmitigated　fool；　old　age　will　not　even　cure　you；〃　said　the　king；　smiling。　〃But　speak；　do　you　think　my　brother　may　be　brought　to　reason？〃
  Pollnitz　shrugged　his　shoulders；　gave　a　sly　smile；　but　was　silent。
  〃You　do　not　answer　me。　Is　my　brother　in　love？　and　has　he　confided　in　you？〃
  〃Sire；　I　believe　the　prince　is　in　love