In spite of which the
Freiherr von Plotho fell on me with all rage; grasped me by the front of
the cloak, and said:--

PLOTHO. "'Take it back, wilt thou!' And as I resisted doing so, he stuck
it in upon me, and shoved it down with all violence between my coat
and waistcoat; and, still holding me by the cloak, called to the two
servants who had been there, 'Fling him down stairs!'--which they, being
discreet fellows, and in no flurry, did not quite, nor needed quite to
do ('Must, sir, you see, unless!'), and so forced me out of the house;
Excellenz Plotho retiring through his Anteroom, and his Body-servant,
who at first had been on the stairs, likewise disappearing as I got
under way,"--and have to report, in such manner, to the Universe
and Reichs Diet, with tears in my eyes. [Preuss, ii. 397-401; in
_Helden-Geschichte, _ iv. 745-749, Plotho's Account.]

What became of Reichs Ban after this, ask not. It fell dead by
Friedrich's victories now at hand; rose again into life on Friedrich's
misfortunes (August, 1758), threatening to include George Second in it;
upon which the CORPUS EVANGELICORUM made some counter-mumblement;--and,
I have heard, the French privately advised: "Better drop it; these two
Kings are capable of walking out of you, and dangerously kicking the
table over as they go!"--Whereby it again fell dead, positively for the
last time, and, in short, is worth no mention or remembrance more.

CORPUS EVANGELICORUM had always been against Reichs Ban: a few
Dissentients, or Half-Dissentients excepted,--as Mecklenburg wholly
and with a will; foolish Anspach wholly; and the Anhalts haggling some
dissent, and retracting it (why, I never knew);--for which Mecklenburg
and the Anhalts, lying within clutch of one, had to repent bitterly in
the years coming! Enough of all that.

The Haddick invasion, which had got its gloves, left-hand or not,
and part of its road-expenses, brought another consequence much more
important on the PER-CONTRA side. The triumphing, TE-DEUM-ing and
jubilation over it,--"His Metropolis captured; Royal Family in
flight!"--raised the Dauphiness Army, and especially Versailles,
into such enthusiasm, that Dauphiness came bodily out (on order from
Versailles); spread over the Country, plundering and insulting beyond
example; got herself reinforced by a 15,000 from the Richelieu Army;
crossed the Saale; determined on taking Leipzig, beating Friedrich, and
I know not what. Keith, in Leipzig with a