.

This contract between Prussia and France would have been the signal
for a general war, for which all the powers of Europe were now arming
themselves. But France did not extend her hand soon enough to obtain
the friendship of Prussia. France distrusted Prussia, even as Austria,
England, Russia, and Saxony distrusted and feared the adroit young
adventurer, who in the last fifty years had placed himself firmly
amongst the great powers of Europe, and was bold, brave, and wise enough
to hold a powerful and self-sustained position in their circle.

France--that is to say, Louis the Fifteenth--France--that is to say, the
Marquise de Pompadour, hated the King of Prussia manfully. By his bold
wit he had often brought the French court and its immoralities into
ridicule and contempt.

Austria and her minister Kaunitz and Maria Theresa hated Frederick of
Prussia, because of his conquest of Silesia.

Russia--that is to say, Elizabeth and Bestuchef--hated the King of
Prussia for the same reason with France. Frederick's cutting wit had
scourged the manners of the Russian court, as it had humiliated and
exposed the court of France.

Saxony--that is to say, Augustus the Third, and his minister, Count
Bruhl--hated Frederick from instinct, from envy, from resentment. This
insignificant and small neighbor had spread her wings and made so bold a
flight, that Saxony was completely over-shadowed.

England hated no one, but she feared Prussia and France, and this fear
led her to master the old-rooted national hatred to Russia, and form an
alliance with her for mutual protection. But the English people did not
share the fears of their king; they murmured over this Russian ally, and
this discontent, which found expression in Parliament, rang so loudly,
that Frederick might well have heard it, and formed his own conclusions
as to the result. But did he hear it? Was the sound of his flute so
loud? Was his study hermetically sealed, so that no echo from the
outside world could reach his ears?

There was no interruption to his quiet, peaceful life; he hated nobody,
made no warlike preparations; his soldiers exercised no more than
formerly. Truly they exercised; and at the first call to battle, 150,000
men would be under arms.

But Frederick seemed not inclined to give this call; not inclined to
exchange the calm pleasures of Sans-Souci for the rude noises of tents
and battle-fields. He seemed to be in peaceful harmony with all nations.