into some
Guard-house near by." [The Schmettau DIARIUM in ANONYMOUS OF HAMBURG,
iii. 364-376 (corrected chiefly from TEMPELHOF): Protest, and
Correspondence in consequence, is in Seyfarth, _Beylagen,_ ii. 611-621;
in _ Helden-Geschichte,_ &c. &c.]

Schmettau's protest against all this is vehement, solemnly
circumstantial: but, except in regard to the trampled Nailer (Zweibruck
on that point "heartily sorry for the insult to your Excellency's
livery; and here the man is, with a thousand apologies"), Schmettau got
no redress. Nor had Friedrich any, now or henceforth. Friedrich did at
once, more to testify his disgust than for any benefit, order Schmettau:
"Halt at Wittenberg, not at Magdeburg as was pretended to be bargained.
Dismiss your Escort of Austrians there; bid them home at once, and out
of your sight." Schmettau himself he ordered to Berlin, to idle waiting.
Never again employed Schmettau: for sixteen years that they lived
together, never saw his face more.

Schmettau's ill-fortune was much pitied, as surely it deserved to be,
by all men. About Friedrich's severity there was, and still occasionally
is, controversy held. Into which we shall not enter for Yes or for No.
"You are like the rest of them!" writes Friedrich to him; "when the
moment comes for showing firmness, you fail in it." ["Waldau, 10th
September, 1759:" in Preuss, ii. URKUNDEN. p. 44.] Friedrich expects of
others what all Soldiers profess,--and what is in fact the soul of all
nobleness in their trade,--but what only Friedrich himself, and a select
few, are in the habit of actually performing. Tried by the standard
of common practice, Schmettau is clearly absolvable; a broken veteran,
deserving almost tears. But that is not the standard which it will
be safe for a King of men to go by. Friedrich, I should say, would be
ordered by his Office, if Nature herself did not order him, to pitch
his ideal very high; and to be rather Rhadamanthine in judging about it.
Friedrich was never accused of over-generosity to the unfortunate among
his Captains.

After the War, Schmettau, his conduct still a theme of argument, was
reduced to the Invalid List: age now sixty-seven, but health and heart
still very fresh, as he pleaded; complaining that he could not live on
his retiring Pension of 300 pounds a year. "Be thankful you have not had
your head struck off by sentence of Court-Martial," answered Friedrich.
Schmettau, after some farther troubles from Court quar