zed Troppau, Friedenthal; nay Olmutz itself, the Capital of
Mahren,--in one day (December 27th), garrison of Olmutz being too weak
to resist, and the works in disrepair. "In Heaven's name, what are
your intentions, then?" asked the Austrians there. "Peaceable in the
extreme," answered Schwerin, "if only yours are. And if they are
NOT--!" There sits Schwerin ever since, busy strengthening himself, and
maintains the best discipline; waiting farther orders.

"The Austrians will not complete their bargain of Klein-Schnellendorf?"
thinks this young King; "Very well; we will not press them to
completion. We will not ourselves complete, should they now press.
We will try another method, and that without loss of time."--It was
a pungent reflection with Friedrich that Karl Albert had not pushed
forward on Vienna, from Linz that time, but had blindly turned off to
the left, and thrown away his one chance. "Cannot one still mend it;
cannot one still do something of the like?" thinks Friedrich now:
"Schwerin in Olmutz; Prussian Troops cantoned in the Highlands of
Silesia, or over in Bohemia itself, near the scene of action; the Saxons
eastward as far as Teutschbrod, still nearer; the French triumphant at
Prag, and reinforcement on the road for them: a combined movement on
Vienna, done instantly and with an impetus!" That is the thing Friedrich
is now bent upon; nor will he, like Karl Albert, be apt to neglect the
hour of tide, which is so inexorable in such operations.

At Berlin, accordingly, he has been hurrying on his work, inspection,
preparation of many kinds,--Marriage of his Brother August Wilhelm,
for one business; [6th January, 1742 (in Bielfeld, ii. 55-69, exuberant
account of the Ceremony, and of B.'s part in it).]--and (January 18th),
after a stay of two months, is off fieldward again, on this new project.
To Dresden, first of all; Saxony being an essential element; and Valori
being appointed to meet him there on the French side. It is January
20th, 1742, when Friedrich arrives; due Opera festivities, "triple
salute of all the guns," fail not at Dresden; but his object was not
these at all. Polish Majesty is here, and certain of the warlike Bastard
Brothers home from Winter-quarters, Comte de Saxe for one; Valori also,
punctually as due; and little Graf von Bruhl, highest-dressed of human
creatures, who is factotum in this Court.

"Your Polish Majesty, by treaty and title you are King of Moravia
withal: now is the tim