these　circumstances　are　calculated　to　distress　me　deeply；　had　I　not　a　boundless　confidence　in　your　courage；　your　resolution；　and　your　devoted　love　to　your　country。　There　is；　I　think；　not　one　among　us　who　has　not　been　distinguished　for　some　great；　some　noble　deed。　I　feel　assured　that　your　courage　will　not　now　fail　in　this　hour　of　direst　need。　I　would　feel　as　if　I　had　accomplished　nothing　were　I　to　leave　Silesia　in　the　possession　of　the　Austrians。　Against　all　acknowledged　rules　of　war；　I　am　determined　to　attack　the　army　of　Charles　of　Lothringen；　though　it　is　three　times　as　strong　as　my　own。　Notwithstanding　the　number　of　the　enemy；　or　its　advantageous　position；　I　feel　confident　of　success。　This　step　must　be　taken；　or　all　is　lost！　We　must　defeat　the　Austrians；　or　fall　beneath　their　batteries！　This　is　my　opinion；　and　thus　I　shall　act。　Make　my　determination　known　to　every　officer。　Acquaint　the　soldiers　with　the　events　that　will　soon　occurtell　them　that　I　require　unconditional　obedience！　Remember　that　you　are　Prussians！do　not　show　yourselves　unworthy　of　the　name！　But　should　there　be　any　among　you　who　fear　to　share　these　dangers　with　us；　they　can　leave　at　once；　and　shall　not　be　reproached　by　me。〃
  The　king　ceased　speaking；　and　looked　inquiringly　at　his　listeners。　Upon　every　countenance　he　read　determination；　courage；　and　inspiration；　but　here　and　there　were　some　whose　brows　became　clouded　at　the　king's　last　suggestion；　and　tears　were　sparkling　in　old　General　Rohr's　eyes。　The　king　pressed　the　general's　hand　almost　tenderly。
  〃Ah；　my　dear　friend；〃　said　he；　〃I　did　not　suspect　you。　But　I　again　say；　that　if　any　amongst　you　wishes　leave　of　absence；　he　shall　have　it。〃
  Profound　quiet　followed　these　words。　No　one　approached　the　kingno　sound　disturbed　the　solemn　stillness。　At　a　distance；　the　loud　shouts　and　hurrahs　of　the　soldiers；　preparing　for　battle；　could　be　heard。　The　king's　countenance　became　clear；　and　he　continued　with　enthusiasm：
  〃I　knew　beforehand　that　none　of　you　would　leave　me。　I　counted　upon　your　assistance；　with　it；　I　shall　be　victorious。　Should　I　fall　in　this　battle；　you　must　look　to　your　country　for　reward；　and　now；　away　to　the　camp；　and　repeat　to　your　men　what　I　have　said　to　you。　Farewell；　gentlemen；　before　long　we　will　either　have　defeated　the　enemy；　or　we　will　see　one　another　no　more。〃
  And　now　there　arose　from　the　generals　and　officers　loud；　joyous　shouts。
  〃We　will　conquer　or　die！〃　cried　Seidlitz；　whose　daring；　youthful　countenance　sparkled　with　delight。　〃We　will　conquer　or　die！〃　was　repeated　by　all。
  At　last　the　brave　words　reached　the　camp；　and　were　re…echoed　by　thirty　thousand　lusty　throats。　There　was　universal　joy。　Old　gray…　headed　warriors；　who　had　followed　the　king　into　many　battles；　who　had　conquered　repeatedly　with　him；　shook　hands　with　and　encouraged　each　other；　and　warned　the　younger　soldiers　to　be　brave　and　fearless。
  Resting　upon　his　horse；　the　king　had　been　a　joyful　witness　to　all　this　enthusiasm。　At　this　moment；　a　troop　of　soldiers；　numbering　about　fifty；　approached　him。　The　commanding　officer　was　greeted　with　a　kindly　smile。
  〃You　are　Lieutenant　von　Frankenberg？〃　said　the　king。　And　as　the　lieutenant　bowed　in　answer；　he　continued：　〃General　Kleist　has　spoken　of　you　as　being　a　brave　and　trustworthy　officer。　I　have　therefore　a　strange　commission　for　you。　Listen　well！　do　not　lose　a　word　of　what　I　say。　Come　nearer。　And　now；〃　said　the　king；　in　a　low　voice；　〃be　attentive。　In　the　approaching　battle；　I　will　have　to　expose　myself　more　than　usual；　you　and　your　fifty　men　shall　guard　me。　You　must　watch　over　me；　and　be　careful　that　I　fall　not　into　the　hands　of　the　enemy。　Should　I　fall；　cover　my　body　with　your　mantle；　and　carry　me　to　the　wagon；　which　shall　be　stationed　behind　the　first　battalion。　Leave　me　there；　and　tell　no　one　of　what　has　occurred。　The　battle　must　continuethe　enemy　must　be　defeated。〃
  When　the　king　had　thus　made　his　testament；　he　dismissed　the　lieutenant；　and　advanced　toward　his　body…guard。
  〃Good…morning！〃　cried　the　king；　cheerfully。
  〃Good…morning；　father！〃　was　the　universal　answer。　Then　the　old　graybeards；　standing　beside　the　king；　said　again：
  〃Good…morning；　father！　it　is　very　cold　to…day。〃
  〃It　will　be　warm　enough　before　the　day　is　over；　boys！〃　said　the　king。　〃There　is　much　to　be　done。　Be　brave；　my　children；　and　I　will　care　for　you　as　a　father。〃
  An　old　soldier；　with　silver　hair；　and　the　scars　of　many　wounds　upon　his　face；　approached　the　king。
  〃Your　majesty；〃　said　he；　in　an　earnest　voice；　〃if　we　are　crippled　what　will　become　of　us？〃
  〃You　shall　be　taken　care　of；〃　said　the　king。
  〃Will　your　majesty　give　me　your　hand　upon　this　promise？〃
  This　question　was　followed　by　deep　silence。　All　present　were　gazing　anxiously　at　the　king　and　the　old　guard。　The　king　advanced；　and　laid　his　hand　in　that　of　the　old　soldier。
  〃I　swear；　that　any　of　you　who　are　crippled；　shall　be　taken　care　of。〃
  The　old　warrior　turned　with　tearful　eyes　to　his　comrades。
  〃Well；〃　said　he；　〃you　hear　him？　he　is　and　will　continue　to　be　the　King　of　Prussia　and　our　father。　The　one　who　deserts　is　a　rascal。〃
  〃Long　live　our　Fritz！〃　and　throughout　the　whole　camp　resounded　the　cry〃Long　live　our　Fritz！　Long　live　our　king！〃
  〃Onward！　onward！〃　was　the　cry；　for　at　the　end　of　the　plain　the　enemy　could　be　seen　approaching。
  〃Forward！〃　cried　the　soldiers；　falling　one　by　one　into　their　places；　as　the　king；　followed　by　Lieutenant　Frankenberg　and　his　men；　galloped　past　them。
  A　turn　in　the　road　showed　the　Prussians　the　enormous　size　of　the　enemy's　army。　Silence　prevailed　for　a　few　moments。　Suddenly；　here　and　there　a　voice　could　be　heard　singing　a　battle…hymn；　and　soon；　accompanied　by　the　band；　the　whole　army　was　breathing　out　in　song　an　earnest　prayer　to　God。
  A　guard；　approaching　the　king；　said：
  〃Is　it　your　majesty's　desire　that　the　soldiers　should　cease　singing？〃
  The　king　shook　his　head　angrily。
  〃No！〃　said　he；　〃let　them　alone。　With　such　an　army；　God　can　but　give　me　victory。〃
  Nearer　and　nearer　came　the　enemy；　covering　the　plain　with　their　numbers；　and　gazing　with　amazement　at　the　little　army　that　dared　to　oppose　them。　By　the　Austrian　generals；　smiling　so　contemptuously　upon　their　weak　opponents；　one　thing　had　been　forgotten。　The　Austrians；　confident　of　success；　were　not　in　the　least　enthusiastic；　the　Prussians；　aware　of　their　danger；　and　inspired　by　love　for　their　king；　had　nerved　themselves　to　the　contest。　The　armies　now　stood　before　each　other　in　battle　array。　The　king　was　at　the　front；　the　generals　were　flying　here　and　there；　delivering　their　orders。　In　obedience　to　these　orders；　the　army　suddenly　changed　its　position；　and　so　strange；　so　unsuspected　was　the　change；　that　General　Daun；　turning　to　the　Prince　Lothringen；　said：
  〃The　Prussians　are　retreating！　we　will　not　attack　them。〃
  Certain　of　this　fact；　they　were　off　their　guard；　and　disorder　reigned　in　their　camp。　This　security　was　suddenly　changed　to　terror。　They　saw　the　Prussians　rapidly　approaching；　threatening　at　once　both　wings　of　their　army。　Messenger　upon　messenger　was　sent；　imploring　help　from　General　Daun　and　Charles　of　Lothringen。　The　Prussians　were　upon　them；　felling　them　to　the　earth；　regardless　of　danger　regardless　of　the　numerous　cannon　which　were　playing　upon　them。　Daun；　with　a　part　of　his　command；　hurried　to　the　aid　of　General　Luchesi；　but　he　was　too　late；　Luchesi　had　fallen；　and　terror　and　disorder　were　rapidly　spreading　in　the　right　wing；　while　from　the　left；　Nadasky　had　already　dispatched　ten　messengers；　imploring　assistance　from　Charles　of　Lothringen。　In　doubt　as　to　which　most　needed　help；　he　at　last　determined　upon　the　right　wing；　whose　ranks　were　thinning　rapidly；　he　sent　them　aid；　and　took　no　notice　of　Nadasky's　messengers。　And　now　the　Prussians　fell　upon　the　left　wing　of　the　Austrians。　This　attack　was　made　with　fury；　and　the　Austrians　retreated　in　wild　disorder。　It　was　in　vain　that　other　regiments　came　to　their　aid；　they　had　no　time　to　arrange　themselves　before　they　were　forced　back。　They　stumbled　upon　one　another；　the　flying　overtaking　and　trampling　upon　the　flying。　Again　and　again　the　imperial　guards　endeavored　to　place　themselves　in　line　of　battle；　they　were　at　once　overpowered　by　the　Prussian　cavalry；　who；　intoxicated　with　victory；　threw　themselves　upon　them　with　demoniac　strength。　Yes；　intoxicatedmad　with　victory；　were　these　Prussians。　With　perfect　indifference　they　saw　their　friends；　their　comrades；　fall　beside　them；　they　did　not　mourn　over　them；　but　revenged　their　death　tenfold　upon　the　enemy。　Those　even　who　fell　were　inspired　by　enthusiasm　and　courage。　Forgetful　of　their　wounds；　of　their　torn　and　broken　limbs；　they　gazed　with　joy　and　pride　at　their　comrades；　joining　in　their　shouts　and　hurrahs；　until　death　sealed　their　lips。
  A　Prussian　grenadier；　whose　left　leg　had　been　shot　off　in　the　early　part　of　the　battle；　raised　himself　from　the　ground：　using　his　gun　as　a　crutch；　he　dragged　himself　to　a　spot　which　the　army　had　to　pass；　and　cried　to　the　comrades　who　were　looking　pityingly　upon　his　bleeding　limb：　〃Fight　like　brave　Prussians；　brothers！　Conquer　or　die　for　your　king！〃
  Another　grenadier；　who　had　lost　both　legs；　lay　upon　the　ground　weltering　in　his　blood；　quietly　smoking　his　pipe。　An　Austrian　general　gallopi