Part 54 (2/2)
”This light is just what the Rosicrucians will take care to extinguish like a tallow candle with too long a wick, and it is good fortune that the astronomers have awarded me a little glorification in the heavens, and accorded me a star, for the Rosicrucians would not let it s.h.i.+ne here below. I must console myself with this, and recall that when it is dark and lowering here, I have a star above in the sky!”
”This star is Frederick's honor,” cried Herzberg. ”It will beam upon future generations, and become the guiding light of the sons and nephews of your house, and they will learn to be as sagacious and wise as the Great Frederick.”
”There you have made a great error, Herzberg,” replied the king, quickly. ”Future generations are newer taught by the past--grandchildren think themselves wiser than their grandparents. The greatest of heroes is forgotten, and his deeds buried in the dust of ages. You have given me a glorious t.i.tle of honor, and I know how little I deserve it.”
”A t.i.tle which will be confirmed in centuries to come, for every history will speak of Frederick the Second as Frederick Great.”
”In history it may be, but the people will speak of me as 'Old Fritz'--that will be on the lips of those who love me, and expression of endearment; on the lips of those who hate me, one of disaffection. I am, indeed, 'Old Fritz,' which the Bischofswerders and Woellners also call me, and try to make the crown prince believe that I have outlived my period, and do not understand or esteem the modern time. In their eyes I am a dismantled s.h.i.+p of state, which the storms of life have rendered unseaworthy. They would refit the vessel, and give it a new flag, sending Old Fritz, the helmsman, to the devil! The day of my death they will hoist this flag, with 'Modern Time' inscribed upon it in large letters. I shall then be united in Elysium with Voltaire, Jordan, Suhm, and all my other friends, as we were wont to be at Sans-Souci, and look down with a pitying smile upon the Modern Time and Old Folly!--Vale!”
CHAPTER x.x.xVII. THE ESPOUSALS.
Both Bischofswerder and Woellner hastened to avail themselves of the commanding ”adieu,” and quit the royal presence. Without, the carriage was ready to reconvey them to the new palace. They were so exhausted that neither of them uttered a word, the last injunctions of the king ringing in their ears.
Silently they alighted upon arriving, but as the footman came out to meet them they asked, simultaneously, if his royal highness had dined.
”His highness is not here, having departed immediately after the two gentlemen, and is not yet returned,” he answered.
”You may serve us something to eat as quickly as possible in the little dining-room. Let it be ready in a quarter of an hour,” commanded Bischofswerder.
”Now that we are alone, what do you think of this affair?” asked Woellner.
”I cannot vouchsafe a reply until I have eaten a pheasant's wing, and drunken my champagne,” replied Bischofswerder.
He kept his word, preserving a solemn silence until a good half of the bird had disappeared, and many gla.s.ses of iced champagne.
Then Bischofswerder leaned back in his comfortable armchair with infinite ease, whilst his friend occupied himself with the most pious zeal with the pheasant, rejoicing at this revelation of the Invisibles.
Bischofswerder let him enjoy it, and ordered the footman to serve the dessert and withdraw.
”Now I am prepared to reply to you, my dear friend, that we are alone. I believe the king would have sent us to Spandau at once if we had opposed his free-thinking opinions.”
”I am convinced of it,” sighed Woellner, eyeing the remains of the bird with a melancholy glance. ”We shall have much to endure for the holy cause which we serve.”
”That is to say, we will have much to suffer if we, in fanatical indiscretion, do not submit to circ.u.mstances,” said Bischofswerder.
”You cannot traduce the sublime Fathers!” cried Woellner;--”for the body's security, we cannot endanger the salvation of our souls, and, like Peter, deny our master.”
”No, my much-loved and n.o.ble friend. But we must be wise as serpents, and our duty to the holy order is to preserve its useful tools that they may not be lost. You will agree with me in this?”
”Indeed, I do admit it,” replied Wollner, pathetically.
”Further, you will acknowledge that we are very useful, and I might say indispensable tools of the Sublime Order of the Rosicrucians and the Invisible Fathers of the Order of Jesus? It is our task to secure an abiding-place to the proscribed and, cursed, to plough and sow the field, which will yield good fruit for humanity entire, and particularly our order, when the crown prince ascends the throne. We will here erect a kingdom of the future, and it is all-important to lay so secure a corner-stone in the heart of his highness that nothing can shake or dislodge it. Who could perfect this work if we were not here? Who would dare to undertake the difficult task if we should fail? Who would carry on a secret and continued warfare with this artful and powerful seductress if we were conquered?”
”No one would do it,” sighed Woellner, ”no one would sacrifice themselves like Samson for this Delilah.”
”We will together be the Samson,” replied Bischofswerder, drawing a gla.s.s of sparkling champagne. ”We will be the Samson which the Philistines drove out, but this woman shall not practise the arts of Delilah upon us in putting our eyes out or cutting off our hair. Against two Samsons the most artful and beautiful Delilah is not wary enough; and if we cannot conquer her, we must resort to other means.”
”What may they be, dear brother?”
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