APTER XIX

THE KING AND THE AUSTRIAN DIPLOMAT.

Frederick commenced the campaign against the house of Hapsburg with all
the energy and bold courage of former days. The diplomats had once
more been permitted to seek the arts of negotiation, and, these
having failed, the king advanced rapidly, and entered Bohemia with his
advance-guard. The imperial army, informed of the approach of the enemy,
retired hurriedly to their intrenchments at Koeniggratz, beyond the
Elbe, without a decisive battle. In the skirmishes at the outposts the
Prussians had been victorious. On the opposite shore of the Elbe, at
Welsdorf, the king took up his headquarters. Why did he not pursue his
bold run of victory? Why did he not surprise the imperial army, which he
knew was scattered, and not in a position to resist the strength of the
Prussian forces? Moreover, the second column of the Prussian army, under
the command of Prince Henry, had also entered Bohemia, and fortified a
camp near Rimburg, having united with the Saxon allies, which caused the
imperialists under Field-Marshal Loudon to seek protection beyond the
Iser, near Muenchengratz and Yung-bunzlau. Why did the king then stop
in the midst of his victorious career? He had advanced to the field
with his fresh, youthful fire, a shining example to all. He was always
mounted, shunning no danger, but taking part in the hardships and
fatigue incident to the changing life of war; even showing himself
personally active at the discovery of foraging-parties. Why did he
suddenly hesitate and lie inactive in camp? Why did he not summon his
generals and staff-officers to his quarters, instead of his Minister von
Herzberg? Every one asked himself the question, and every one answered
it differently.--Some said, "Because the Empress of Russia had raised
objections to this war of German brothers;" others, that "the King of
the French had offered to settle the quarrel as intermediator." A third
said, the "empress-queen, Maria Theresa, was terrified at the rapid
advance of the Prussians, and had immediately commenced negotiations for
peace."

While the wise politicians of Germany and all Europe read and pondered,
Frederick tarried quietly in his peasant-house, in which he had taken up
his quarters, and which had been arranged very comfortably with
carpets, camp-stools, and curtains. He sat in his cabinet upon the
high, leather-covered arm-chair, which had been brought for him from the
neighboring parson