is power. He expected always to succeed by help of others: and
to show them an example, and go vigorously to work himself, was what he
never could resolve on. Could play only Fabius Cunctator, it would seem;
and never was that part less wanted than now! Under such a Chief Figure,
the "incoherency of action," instead of diminishing, as Friedrich had
feared, rose daily towards its maximum; and latterly became extreme. The
old Lernean Hydra had many heads; but they belonged all to one body. The
many heads of this Anti-Friedrich Hydra had withal each its own body,
and separate set of notions and advantages. Friedrich was at least a
unity; his whole strength going one way, and at all moments, under his
own sole command. The value of this circumstance is incalculable; this
is the saving-clause of Pitt and his England (Pitt also a despotic
sovereign, though a temporary one); this, second only to Friedrich's
great gifts from Nature, and the noble use he makes of them, is above
all others the circumstance that saved him in such a duel with the
Hydras.

On the back of Kunersdorf, accordingly, there was not only no finishing
stroke upon Friedrich, but for two months no stroke or serious attempt
whatever in those neighborhoods where Friedrich is. There are four
Armies hereabouts: The Grand Russian, hanging by Frankfurt; Friedrich
at Furstenwalde (whitherward he marched from Reitwein August 16th), at
Furstenwalde or farther south, guarding Berlin;--then, unhurt yet by
battle of any kind, there are the Grand Daunish or Mark-Lissa Army, and
Prince Henri's of Schmottseifen. Of which latter Two the hitchings and
manoeuvrings from time to time become vivid, and never altogether
cease; but in no case come to anything. Above two months' scientific
flourishing of weapons, strategic counter-dancing; but no stroke
struck, or result achieved, except on Daun's part irreparable waste of
time:--all readers would feel it inhuman to be burdened with any notice
of such things. One march of Prince Henri's, which was of a famous and
decisive character, we will attend to, when it comes, that is, were
the end of September at hand; the rest must be imagined as a general
strategic dance in those frontier parts,--Silesia to rearward on one
side, the Lausitz and Frankfurt on the other,--and must go on, silently
for most part, in the background of the reader's fancy. Indeed, Saxony
is the scene of action; Friedrich, Henri, Soltikof, Daun, comparatively
inact