say
the cunning ones. It may be so; and, at any rate, he probably wished to
act the King in such matters, and not grudge a little money. He really
loved music, even opera music, and knew that his people loved it; to
the rough natural man, all rhythm, even of a Barberina's feet, may be
didactic, beneficial: do not higgle, let us do what is to be done in a
liberal style. His agent at Venice--for he has agents everywhere on
the outlook for him--reports that here is a Female Dancer of the first
quality, who has shone in London, Paris and the Capital Cities, and
might answer well, but whose terms will probably be dear. "Engage her,"
answers Friedrich. And she is engaged on pretty terms; she will be
free in a month or two, and then start. [Zimmermann, _Fragmente uber
Friedrich den Grossen_ (Leipzig, 1790), i. 88-92; Collini, ubi infra;
Denina; &c.: compare Rodenbeck, p. 191.]

Well;--but Barberina had, as is usual, subsidiary trades to her dancing:
in particular, a young English Gentleman had followed her up and down,
says Zimmermann, and was still here in Venice passionately attached to
her. Which fact, especially which young English gentleman, should have
been extremely indifferent to me, but for a circumstance soon to be
mentioned. The young English gentleman, clear against Barberina's
Prussian scheme, passionately opposes the same, passionately renews his
own offers;--induces Barberina to inform the Prussian agent that she
renounces her engagement in that quarter. Prussian agent answers that it
is not renounceable; that he has legal writing on it, and that it must
be kept. Barberina rises into contumacy, will laugh at all writing and
compulsion. Prussian agent applies to Doge and Senate on the subject,
in his King's name; who answer politely, but do nothing: "How happy
to oblige so great a King; but--" And so it lasts for certain months;
Barberina and the young English gentleman contumacious in Venice, and
Doge and Senate merely wishing we may get her.

Meanwhile a Venetian Ambassador happens to be passing through Berlin,
in his way to or from some Hyperborean State; arrives at some hotel,
in Berlin;--finds, on the morrow, that his luggage is arrested by Royal
Order; that he, or at least IT, cannot get farther, neither advance
nor return, till Barberina do come. "Impossible, Signor: a bargain is
a bargain; and States ought to have law-courts that enforce contracts
entered into in their territories." The Venetian Doge an