登陆注册
6246000000702

第702章

"Brave General Nassau, who much distinguishes himself in these businesses, has (though Friedrich does not yet know it) dexterously seized Kolin, westward in those Elbe parts,--ground that will be notable in years coming. Important little feat of Nassau's; of which anon. On the other hand, our Magazine at Pardubitz, eastward on the Elbe, is not out of danger: Pandours and regulars 2,000 and odd, 'sixty of the Pandour kind disguised as peasants leading hay-carts,' made an attempt there lately; but were detected by the vigilant Colonel, and blown to pieces, in the nick of time, some of them actually within the gate. [<italic> OEuvres de Frederic, <end italic> iii. 65.] Nay, a body of Austrian regulars were in full march for Kolin lately, intending to get hold of the Elbe itself at that point (midway between Prag and Pardubitz): but the prompt General Nassau, as we remarked, had struck in before them; and now holds Kolin;--though, for several days, Friedrich could not tell what had become of Nassau, owing to the swarms of Pandours.

"Friedrich, standing with his back to Prag, which is fifty miles from him, and rather in need of his support than able to give him any; and drawing his meal from the uncertain distance, with Pandours hovering round,--is in difficult case. While old Traun is kept luminous as mid-day; the circumambient atmosphere of Pandours is tenebrific to Friedrich, keeps him in perpetual midnight. He has to read his position as with flashes of lightning, for most part.

A heavy-laden, sorely exasperated man; and must keep his haggard miseries strictly secret; which I believe he does. Were Valori here, it is very possible he might find the countenance FAROUCHEagain; eyes gloomy, on damp November mornings! Schwerin, in a huff, has gone home: Since your Majesty is pleased to prefer his young Durchlaucht of Anhalt's advice, what can an elderly servant (not without rheumatisms) do other?--'Well!' answers Friedrich, not with eyes cheered by the phenomenon. The Elbe-Sazawa tract, even this looks as if it would be hard to keep. A world very dark for Friedrich, enveloped so by the ill chances and the Pandours.

But what help?

"From the French Camp far away, there comes, dated 17th October (third week of their Siege of Freyburg), by way of help to Friedrich, magnanimous promise: 'So soon as this Siege is done, which will be speedily, though it is difficult, we propose to send fifty battalions and a hundred squadrons,'"--say only 60,000 horse and foot (not a hoof or toe of which ever got that length, on actually trying it),--"towards Westphalia, to bring the Elector of Koln to reason [poor Kaiser's lanky Brother, who cannot stand the French procedures, and has lately sold himself, that is sold his troops, to England], and keep the King of England and the Dutch in check,"--by way of solacement to your Majesty. Will you indeed, you magnanimous Allies?--This was picked up by the Pandours; and I know not but Friedrich was spared the useless pain of reading it.

[Orlich, ii. 73.]

"NOVEMBER 1st-9th: FRIEDRICH LOSES SAZAWA-ELBE COUNTRY TOO. On the first day of November, here is a lightning-flash which reveals strange things to Friedrich. Traun's late manoeuvrings, which have been so enigmatic, to right and to left, upon Prag and other points, issue now in an attempt towards Pardubitz; which reveals to Friedrich the intention Traun has formed, of forcing him to choose one of those two places, and let go the other. Formidable, fatal, thinks Friedrich; and yet admirable on the part of Traun: 'a design beautiful and worthy of admiration.' If we stay near Prag, what becomes of our communication with Silesia; what becomes of Silesia itself? If we go towards Pardubitz, Prag and Bohmen are lost!

What to do? 'Despatch reinforcement to Pardubitz; thanks to Nassau, the Kolin-Pardubitz road is ours!' That is done, Pardubitz saved for the moment. Could we now get to Kuttenberg before the old Marshal, his design were overset altogether. Alas, we cannot march at once, have to wait a day for the bread. Forward, nevertheless;and again forward, and again; three heavy marches in November weather: let us make a fourth forced march, start to-morrow before dawn,--Kuttenberg above all things! In vain; to-morrow, 4th November, there is such a fog, dark as London itself, from six in the morning onwards, no starting till noon: and then impossible, with all our efforts, to reach Kuttenberg. We have to halt an eight miles short of it, in front of Kolin; and pitch tents there. On the morrow, 5th November, Traun is found encamped, unattackable, between us and our object; sits there, at his ease in a friendly Country, with Pandour whirlpools flowing out and in; an irreducible case to Friedrich. November 5th, and for three days more, Friedrich, to no purpose, tries his utmost;--finds he will have to give up the Elbe-Sazawa region, like the others. Monday, November 9th, Friedrich gathers himself at Kolin; crosses the Elbe by Kolin Bridge, that day. Point after point of the game going against him."Kolin was, of course, attacked, that Monday evening, so soon as the main Army crossed: but, so soon as the Army left, General Nassau had taken his measures; and, with his great guns and his small, handled the Pandours in a way that pleased us. [<italic> OEuvres de Frederic, <end italic> iii. 68.] Thursday night following, they came back, with regular grenadiers to support; under cloud of night, in great force, ruffian Trenck at the head of them:

a frightful phenomenon to weak nerves. But this also Nassau treated in such a fiery fashion that it vanished without return;three hundred dead left on the ground, and ruffian Trenck riding off with his own crown broken,--beautiful indigo face streaking itself into GINGHAM-pattern, for the moment!

同类推荐
  • 七佛赞呗伽他

    七佛赞呗伽他

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 风骚要式

    风骚要式

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 毛诗指说

    毛诗指说

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 东林始末

    东林始末

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 玄天上帝启圣录

    玄天上帝启圣录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 星际武装战神

    星际武装战神

    一个从实验室杀出来的怪才,怎么样一步一步成长为超越前人的存在,怎样在帮助自己的兄弟报血海深仇,又是在怎样的生死存亡的战争里保家卫国!主角在未来的星际时空里,在实验室过够了被当小白鼠的生活,杀了出来,一开始遇到了贵人,也就是师傅的哥哥……最后打破了阶级的存在成为了一个逍遥自在的人,他拯救了人类,过上了平静的生活。
  • 涩·舞郎

    涩·舞郎

    [花雨授权]学校选修的舞蹈课让人尴尬得要死,鉴于与他的赌约不得不参加,开始酝酿种种阴谋诡计……身为“暗之末裔”的他会乖乖就范吗?首相千金与黑街教父之子,到底谁的道行更深呢?什么?他接手家族事业,被她爸爸通缉了?
  • 傲娇一浅向阳

    傲娇一浅向阳

    被迫与他结婚,不曾想自己会与傲娇高冷的总裁纠缠在了一起,他助她虐继母,夺回家产。婚前高冷,婚后腹黑,吃干抹净,为我生个宝宝吧,宠你一辈子。
  • 优秀中学生的学习方法与能力

    优秀中学生的学习方法与能力

    本书要告诉你的学习方法包括:何谓正确的学习习惯,如何培养这些学习习惯?如何轻松高效地进行预习?如何利用好每一堂课?如何做课后复习和作业?如何做好一段时间后的复习?如何在考试中发军出色而获得较好的成绩?应该说,本书并没有完全包括学习方法的每一个细节。但是,本书通过大量真实的案例,试图通过轻松、简单的方式,达到让读者接受的目的。
  • 狂学日记

    狂学日记

    养儿方知父母恩,教育才懂老师难,学习立晓学生苦、科研秒懂家国情!这是一个高知的时代,高能的社会,我们为了家必须学习,为了国必须科研,哪怕仅仅是为了自己,也必须努力。学渣进不了世界五百强,低能保不住温馨家,世界上没有永远的“铁饭碗”,只有领先的“金脑壳”才能成为学霸,拥有事业,保鲜爱情。不信,你看魏民生和魏星萌的狂学日记,这里都是你或你的父母曾经经历、正在经历或即将经历的事情。不知道他们的秘籍适合不适合你,但是,他们的酸甜苦辣确是很有味道,也很耐人寻味的。
  • 白目公主的帅气王子

    白目公主的帅气王子

    天真单纯的傻丫头在被男友劈腿后,想要醉宿,奈何啤酒也欺负她,难喝得不得了,搞笑的用红茶醒酒,巧的是不远方有对情侣在kiss傻丫头含在嘴里的红茶一口喷了出去却觉得背后阴风阵阵还没反应过来就被一个帅小子给提溜了起来。。。
  • 金牛潭

    金牛潭

    边民皆知金牛潭深,却从不知其深几许。水深超过四百米的潭下,竟是那样的景象;朱家王朝之圣物除了能预知福祸的翡翠玲珑枕,其实还有一物,便是相传已失窃的浮纹铜盆;几千年来,令人闻风丧胆的苗疆巫蛊,究竟是什么?身中蛊毒又该如何自救?如果你知道,所有的西藏天珠拼起来其实是一幅星际航线图……
  • 重生末日之恶女复仇记

    重生末日之恶女复仇记

    恶女重生,第一要务:独宠自家木头哥哥,囤积物资打怪兽,顺便收拾上辈子伤害自家哥哥的坏人们。阿勒勒~原来木头的芯是腹黑的!好吧,本文纯属本恶女看完一系列末世文后对部分情节及其不爽索性自己写宠文,努力不太监。补充一下,本文全文极宠无虐,各种虐坏人,因为看末世文的时候不喜欢太多杀丧尸场面,所以主要篇幅还是在复仇上。另外,主角三观正,只整害过她的人,不殃及池鱼。
  • 葬冥帝诀

    葬冥帝诀

    一卷古经,打开修仙之路。一块石头,奠定永恒传奇。“忘记是为了新的开始,既来到这里,便要放下过往的一切。”一切,从此开始……
  • 帝本倾风华

    帝本倾风华

    二十一世纪的顶尖杀手穿到女子为尊的女帝国家,做了女帝最小的嫡幺女,父女宠溺无边,放任原主文不成武不就,成为了百姓眼中最蠢笨无能的草包五皇女,闲散王爷,一招被毒死。然而重获新生的凤冥,活死人,肉白骨,扮猪吃老虎,玩转整个凤辰国,更是引得风度翩翩玉树临风青梅竹马的丞相之子温玉对她温柔体贴。还有两看相厌,欢喜冤家死对头镇国将军沈凌忱,凤辰国唯一的也是第一个骁勇善战的男镇国将军追妻火葬场。更有青烟楼楼主花魁景珏,这个有名的花魁,绝色无双的清倌,邪媚得勾人魂魄,贵族一掷千金都难见一面,都一见倾心。