Part 95 (1/2)

It was now the philosopher's turn to look wonderingly at the postmaster.

”It will not set out?” he asked. ”Why not?”

”It is impossible, in the general confusion and excitement. There are neither horses nor men to be had to-day. Everybody is anxious and terrified.”

”But what has happened?” asked the philosopher, in a low voice.

”What? Then you do not know yet the terrible events of the day, Mr.

Professor?” exclaimed the postmaster, in dismay.

”I do not know any thing about them,” said the philosopher, timidly, and almost ashamed of himself. ”Perhaps you did not hear, in your study, the thunders of the artillery?”

”I heard occasionally a dull, long-continued noise, but I confess I did not pay any attention to it. What has occurred?”

”A battle has occurred,” exclaimed the postmaster, ”and when I say a battle, I mean two battles; one was fought here at Jena, and the other at Auerstadt; but here they did not know that a battle was going on at Auerstadt, and at Auerstadt, like you, Mr. Professor, they did not hear the artillery of Jena.”

”And who has won the battle?” asked Hegel, feelingly.

”Who but the conqueror of the world, the Emperor Napoleon!” exclaimed the postmaster. ”The Prussians are defeated, routed, dispersed; they are escaping in all directions; and when two French hors.e.m.e.n are approaching, hundreds of Prussians throw their arms away and beg for mercy! The whole Prussian army has exploded like a soap-bubble. The king was constantly in the thickest of the fray; he wished to die when he saw that all was lost, but death seemed to avoid him. Two horses were killed under him, but neither sword nor bullet struck him. He is retreating now, but the French are at his heels. G.o.d grant that he may escape!

The commander-in-chief, the Duke of Brunswick, was mortally wounded; a bullet struck him in the face and destroyed his eyes. Oh, it is a terrible disaster! Prussia is lost, and so is Saxe-Weimar, for the Emperor Napoleon will never forgive our duke that, instead of joining the Confederation of the Rhine, he stood by Prussia and fought against France. Our poor state will have to atone for it!”

Hegel had listened sadly to the loquacious man, and his features had become gloomier and gloomier. He felt dizzy, and a terrible burden weighed down his breast. He nodded to the postmaster and went out again into the street.

But his knees were trembling under him. He slowly tottered toward his residence.