The Project Gutenberg EBook of History Of Friedrich II. of Prussia, Vol.
VIII. (of XXI.), by Thomas Carlyle

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Title: History Of Friedrich II. of Prussia, Vol. VIII. (of XXI.)
Frederick The Great--Crown-Prince Reprieved: Life At
Custrin--November, 1730-February, 1732

Author: Thomas Carlyle

Posting Date: June 13, 2008 [EBook #2108]
Release Date: March 2000

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HISTORY OF FRIEDRICH II. ***

Produced by D.R. Thompson

HISTORY OF FRIEDRICH II. OF PRUSSIA

FREDERICK THE GREAT

By Thomas Carlyle

Volume VII.

BOOK VIII. -- CROWN-PRINCE REPRIEVED: LIFE AT CUSTRIN -- November,
1730-February, 1732.

Chapter I. -- CHAPLAIN MULLER WAITS ON THE CROWN-PRINCE.

Friedrich's feelings at this juncture are not made known to us by
himself in the least; or credibly by others in any considerable degree.
As indeed in these confused Prussian History-Books, copulent in
nugatory pedantisms and learned marine-stores, all that is human remains
distressingly obscure to us; so seldom, and then only as through endless
clouds of ever-whirling idle dust, can we catch the smallest direct
feature of the young man, and of his real demeanor or meaning, on the
present or other occasions! But it is evident this last phenomenon
fell upon him like an overwhelming cataract; crushed him down under the
immensity of sorrow, confusion and despair; his own death not a theory
now, but probably a near fact,--a welcome one in wild moments, and then
anon so unwelcome. Frustrate, bankrupt, chargeable with a friend's lost
life, sure enough he, for one, is: what is to become of him? Whither
is he to turn, thoroughly beaten, foiled in all his enterprises? Proud
young soul as he was: the ruling Powers, be they just, be they unjust,
have proved too hard for him! We hear of tragic vestiges still traceable
of Friedrich, belonging to this time: texts of Scripture quoted by
him, pencil-sketches of his drawing; expressive of a mind dwelling
in Golgothas, and pathetically, not defiantly, contemplating the very
worst.

Chaplain Muller of the Gens-d'Armes, being found a pious and intel