up lightly?'"--With more of the like sort; which Friedrich,
in writing of it long after, seems rather ashamed of; and would fain
consider to have been mock fustian, provoked by the real fustian of Sir
Thomas Robinson, "who negotiated in a wordy high-droning way, as if he
were speaking in Parliament," says Friedrich (a Friedrich not taken
with that style of eloquence, and hoping he rather quizzed it than was
serious with it, [_OEuvres de Frederic,_ ii. 84.]--though Robinson and
Hyndford found in him no want of vehement seriousness, but rather the
reverse!)--He concludes: "Have I need of Peace? Let those who need it
give me what I want; or let them fight me again, and be beaten again.
Have not they given whole Kingdoms to Spain? [Naples, at one swoop, to
the Termagant; as broken glass, in that Polish-Election freak!] And to
me they cannot spare a few trifling Principalities? If the Queen does
not now grant me all I require, I shall in four weeks demand Four
Principalities more! [Nay, I now do it, being in sibylline tune.] I
now demand the whole of Lower Silesia, Breslau included;--and with that
Answer you can return to Vienna.'

ROBINSON. "'With that Answer: is your Majesty serious?'

KING. "'With that.'" A most vehement young King; no negotiating with
him, Sir Thomas! It is like negotiating for the Sibyl's Books: the
longer you bargain, the higher he will rise. In four weeks, time he will
demand Four Principalities more; nay, already demands them, the whole of
Lower Silesia and Breslau. A precious negotiation I have made of it! Sir
Thomas, wide-eyed, asks a second time:--

ROBINSON. "'Is that your Majesty's deliberate answer?'

KING. "'Yes, I say! That is my Answer; and I will never give another.'

HYNDFORD and ROBINSON (much flurried, to Podewils). "'Your Excellency,
please to comprehend, the Proposals from Vienna were--'

KING. "'Messieurs, Messieurs, it is of no use even to think of it.' And
taking off his hat," slightly raising his hat, as salutation and finale,
"he retired precipitately behind the curtain of the interior corner of
the tent," says the reporter: EXIT King!

ROBINSON (totally flurried, to Podewils). "'Your Excellency, France will
abandon Prussia, will sacrifice Prussia to self-interest.'

PODEWILS. "'No, no! France will not deceive us; we have not deceived
France.'" (SCENE CLOSES; CURTAIN FALLS.) [State-Paper Office (Robinson
to Harrington, Breslau, 9th August, 1741); Raumer, pp. 106-110. Compa