for not knowing, and are even thankful
that he did not.

Chapter II. -- THE GERMAN ELEMENT.

So that, as we said, there are two elements for young Fritz, and
highly diverse ones, from both of which he is to draw nourishment, and
assimilate what he can. Besides that Edict-of-Nantes French element, and
in continual contact and contrast with it, which prevails chiefly in the
Female Quarters of the Palace,--there is the native German element
for young Fritz, of which the centre is Papa, now come to be King, and
powerfully manifesting himself as such. An abrupt peremptory young King;
and German to the bone. Along with whom, companions to him in his social
hours, and fellow-workers in his business, are a set of very rugged
German sons of Nature; differing much from the French sons of Art.
Baron Grumkow, Leopold Prince of Anhalt-Dessau (not yet called the "OLD
Dessauer," being under forty yet), General Glasenap, Colonel Derschau,
General Flans; these, and the other nameless Generals and Officials,
are a curious counterpart to the Camases, the Hautcharmoys and Forcades,
with their nimble tongues and rapiers; still more to the Beausobres,
Achards, full of ecclesiastical logic, made of Bayle and Calvin kneaded
together; and to the high-frizzled ladies rustling in stiff silk, with
the shadow of Versailles and of the Dragonnades alike present to them.

Born Hyperboreans these others; rough as hemp, and stout of fibre as
hemp; native products of the rigorous North. Of whom, after all our
reading, we know little.--O Heaven, they have had long lines of rugged
ancestors, cast in the same rude stalwart mould, and leading their rough
life there, of whom we know absolutely nothing! Dumb all those preceding
busy generations; and this of Friedrich Wilhelm is grown almost dumb.
Grim semi-articulate Prussian men; gone all to pipe-clay and mustache
for us. Strange blond-complexioned, not unbeautiful Prussian
honorable women, in hoops, brocades, and unintelligible head-gear and
hair-towers,--ACH GOTT, they too are gone; and their musical talk,
in the French or German language, that also is gone; and the hollow
Eternities have swallowed it, as their wont is, in a very surprising
manner!--

Grumkow, a cunning, greedy-hearted, long-headed fellow, of the old
Pomeranian Nobility by birth, has a kind of superficial polish put upon
his Hyperboreanisms; he has been in foreign countries, doing legations,
diplomacies, for which, at least for t