Napoleon and the Queen of Prussia

by L. Mühlbach

  CHAPTER XXIII.

  THE SLANDEROUS ARTICLES.

  Queen Louisa was in her cabinet, engaged in reading the letters andjournals brought by the courier, who had just arrived from Berlin. Sheglanced hastily over the papers, and then turned to the letters that layunopened before her. On the other side of the small table, standing infront of the divan, sat the young Countess von Truchsess, who wasoccupied in arranging the journals. The queen meantime was reading herletters; during the perusal her features lighted up more and more, and adelicate blush mantled her pale cheeks.

  Louisa had but just recovered from a severe and dangerous illness, whichhad attacked her soon after her arrival at Koenigsberg. The sufferingwhich her courageous soul was enduring with so much constancy andheroism had undermined her body; weaker than her mind, it had succumbedto the burden of her grief. A nervous fever had confined her to her bedfor weeks; it had afforded her at least some consolation by renderingher unconscious of misfortune, and causing her, in her deliriousmoments, to live again through the joyful days of the past. While shewas dreaming and believing herself happy in the splendors of a formerlife, real and fearful disasters had befallen her cause. She had notlearned that the French were approaching nearer to Koenigsberg, and thatthe unfortunate royal family were no longer safe there. She had not beenconscious in her fever that she had been lifted from her couch into thetravelling-coach, to be conveyed to Memel--that her carriage had beentransformed into a sick-bed, and that she had lain on the cushions withburning cheeks, singing sweet lullabies, and rejoicing in her fanciedhappiness.

  But at length her fever subsided, and consciousness returned. All themournful news which during her illness had been concealed from her,overwhelmed her as soon as she recovered, and for this reason her healthhad improved but very slowly. At this hour, as we have said, the blushhad returned to her cheeks, and her eyes were beaming again with thefire of former days. The letters gave a glimmer of hope to her soul.They told her of the brave defenders of the fortresses that had notsurrendered, and of heroic Ferdinand von Schill, who, with his soldiers,was doing so much injury to the enemy, and who had succeeded incapturing one of the commanding generals of the besieging army, MarshalVictor. They told her of Graudenz, the commander of which had sworn tobe buried under the ruins of that fortress rather than open its gates tothe enemy; they told her also of Dantzic, which was still courageouslyholding out and hoping for the succor the Russians had promised. Andthese letters contained still other hopeful news: that Berlin, which,according to former statements, was said to have already submitted toNapoleon, was bowing very reluctantly to the behests of the autocrat,and still waiting for the hour of deliverance.

  "Oh, I knew well enough," said the queen, laying aside the last of herletters, "I knew well enough that the inhabitants of Berlin areaffectionately devoted to us. I never doubted their constancy, and howshould I? Those whom you meet with a heart full of love are compelled,as it were, to return your love. The king and I always loved Berlin, andalways counted on its fealty. I am glad, therefore, to hear that ourhopes will be fulfilled one day! It is still a dark, stormy night, butdaylight will come--the rising sun will dispel the storm and scatter thedarkness. You shake your head, Countess Truchsess? You do not believe inmy prophecies?"

  "I do not believe in the fidelity of the inhabitants of Berlin, yourmajesty," sighed the countess, "they are a frivolous, fickle people, whorevile those to-day whom they admired but yesterday."

  "Oh!" exclaimed the queen, sinking back upon the sofa, "the throbbing ofmy heart tells me that you have to communicate bad news! What is it?"

  "No, most gracious queen, command me rather to be silent," said the ladyof honor, imploringly. "Your majesty looks so pale that I am afraid anyexcitement would injure your weak nerves. You need repose and ought notto be irritated; besides, what does your majesty care for the slandersof the populace? Such arrows recoil from the pure."

  "Ah," said the queen, with a faint smile, "you are dealing with me asdid Robert the hunter with the count in Schiller's 'Walk to the Forge.'You are stimulating my curiosity by mysterious words--you are talkingabout slanders, and yet you do not tell me what they are."

  "Only with the difference, your majesty, that Robert the hunter toldfalsehoods, which he himself had invented, while I alluded only to thoseof others, and despise them from the bottom of my heart."

  "Then you mean to say that I have been slandered," exclaimed the queen,in a low voice. "Tell me, countess, what did your friends write to you?What stories have been disseminated? I desire to know!"

  "Gracious queen, my friends did not write any thing on the subject. Isaw only what, unfortunately, thousands have already seen."

  "What did you see?" said the queen, angrily. "What do you refer to? Donot speak any longer in riddles, if you please."

  "Your majesty, I have glanced at the pamphlets and journals lying there,and request you not to insist to-day on my reading to you the articlescontained in them."

  "Ah, that is it!" exclaimed Louisa, laying both her hands on theperiodicals which the countess seemingly wished to withhold from her."These contain the slanders. I must know what they are. Read them to me,countess." And the queen folded her arms with a resolute air.

  "Have mercy on me, your majesty! I am really afraid--my lips cannoteasily recite those vile lines, and your majesty, besides, will be angrywith me for complying."

  "No, no," exclaimed the queen, impatiently, "I am not angry with you.You only did your duty in calling my attention to these things, andhaving taken upon yourself the task of being my reader, perform it now!What pamphlets are those sent to us?"

  "Your majesty," said the countess, in an embarrassed tone of voice,"there is, first, a pamphlet entitled 'A True Account of the Interviewof the Emperor Alexander with the King of Prussia at the Grave ofFrederick the Great.'"

  "Read it," replied the queen, dryly, "it is always good to listen to thetrue account of events in which we have taken part." And withoututtering a word--without even a frown, she listened to the comments onthe scene at the grave of Frederick. They were malicious and scornful,representing it as a farce.

  "Well," said the queen, when the countess had finished, "if that is theworst, I feel at ease again. We must submit to abuse, and I sincerelypardon all those who expose me to the derision of the world by depictingme as a martial Joan of Arc. It has not been permitted me to livequietly in the shade of domestic happiness. A queen stands alone on asummit; she is seen and watched by every one, and it is, therefore, butnatural that she should be hated and abused more relentlessly than otherwomen, particularly if she be unhappy. For sovereigns are neverpardoned, although they are subject to human failings, and theirmisfortunes are always regarded as their own faults. Let the malicious,therefore, deride us as much as they please; the good will only love andrespect us the more. Proceed, countess! What else did we receive?"

  "Nothing, your majesty, but a few numbers of the _Telegraph_."

  "Ah, read them," exclaimed the queen. "I know that journal will notslander me. Its editor, Professor Lange, is a patriot, and, for thisreason, I had promised to lend him the portrait of the king which I amwearing in a locket, that he might give his readers a good likeness oftheir beloved monarch. The disastrous events of the war, and mydeparture from Berlin, prevented me from fulfilling my promise. Butthere will be better times for us, perhaps, and I shall then be able toreward all those who remain faithful to us."

  "And I hope your majesty will also be able to punish those who provetreacherous," exclaimed the countess, vehemently.

  The queen shook her head. "No," she said, "those who wrong me I willpardon, and those who are faithless I will leave to their ownconscience. Now, countess, read to me the articles of the _Telegraph_."

  "Does your majesty command me?"

  "I do!"

  The countess took one of the sheets and read in a tremulous voice: "'Areliable account of the reasons why the queen compelled her husband, inspite of his reluctance, to conclude an alliance with t
he Emperor ofRussia, and why she herself entered into a love-affair with Alexander ofRussia--'"

  Louisa started, and a deathly pallor covered her face like a veil.

  "Oh, my queen!" exclaimed the countess, imploringly, "do not insist on myreading any further. I have not courage to do so."

  "If I have courage enough to listen, you must have courage enough toread," said the queen, almost harshly, "Read--I command you."

  And the countess, in a low and tremulous voice, read the disgracefulcharge preferred by that journal, which accused the queen of loving theEmperor Alexander in the most passionate manner. "Queen Louisa," saidthe editor, "was in favor of the alliance with Russia, because herheart had concluded an alliance with the handsome emperor, and she metwith her 'fine-looking' friend for the last time in the presence of herhusband at the grave of Frederick the Great. The alliance of theirhearts was sealed there by a glowing kiss, which Alexander imprinted onthe lips of Louisa."

  The queen uttered a cry, and sprang up like an angry lioness. "That isnot true--that cannot be in the paper!" she cried, almost besideherself.

  The lady of honor silently handed her the paper. Louisa seized it, butshe trembled so violently that she was hardly able to decipher thecharacters. She at last read the slanderous article herself.Heart-rending groans escaped her, and a strange twitching and quiveringdistorted her features. "It is indeed true, I have been wickedlyreviled!" she exclaimed, throwing the paper aside. "My enemies will robme of the only thing remaining--my honor--my good name. They desire toexpose me to the scorn of the world. Oh, this disgrace is more shockingthan all my other sufferings. It will kill me!" She covered her facewith her hands and wept piteously. The tears trickled between herfingers, and fell on her black dress as if adorning it with diamonds.

  The Countess von Truchsess was touched by the queen's grief. She softlygathered up the other papers, and was about to leave the room, but thenoise of her footsteps aroused Louisa from the stupor of her despair.She quickly dropped her hands from her face and dried her tears. "Stayhere," she said; "read the remainder. I want to hear it all." And as thelady of honor remonstrated against this order--as she implored the queento spare herself, and to close her ears against such slanders, Louisasaid, gravely and imperiously: "I want to know it all! Unknown terrorsare even worse than those which we do know. Read!"

  The countess, therefore, was obliged to read. The remaining numbers ofthe journal repeated the same charge. They stated, though in differentwords, that the queen alone was in favor of the alliance with Russia;that the king would be quite willing to make peace with France, but thathis wife would never permit it, because she was passionately enamouredof the emperor of Russia, and maintained a tender _liaison_ with him.The queen listened as immovable and cold as a statue; her whole vitalityseemed suspended; she then pressed her right hand firmly against herheart; with her left she clung convulsively to the back of the sofa, onwhich she was sitting, as though she wished to prevent herself fromfalling. Her eyes stared wildly, as if strange and fearful visionspassed before them. Thus she sat, long after the countess had paused,an image of grief and horror. The lady of honor dared not interrupt her;but clasping her hands, and weeping softly, she gazed at the queen, who,in her grief-stricken beauty, seemed to her a martyr. Nothing was heardbut the monotonous ticking of the clock, and, at times, a low whistlingof the canary-bird, in its gilt cage at the window.

  But suddenly Louisa seemed to awake from her stupor; a tremor pervadedher whole frame; the flash of: life and consciousness returned to hereyes. "That is his work," she muttered; "this attack comes fromhim--from my mortal enemy. It is Napoleon who has aimed this poisonedarrow at my heart, because he knew that nothing could hurt me and myhusband more fatally than this dreadful calumny." And uttering a loudcry of despair, and wringing her hands, she exclaimed: "Oh, my God, whatdid I do, to deserve so terrible a disgrace! What did my husband do thathe should be thus exposed to the relentless malice of his foe? Was notthe measure of our wretchedness full? Could not that cruel man, whocalls himself Emperor of the French, content himself with hurling usinto the dust, and with robbing my husband of his states? Is the honorof his wife also to be sacrificed?"

  A flood of tears burst from her eyes, and lifting up her arms to heaven,she cried: "My God, why didst Thou desert me! Have mercy on me, and senddeath to me, that I may conceal my reviled head in the grave! I amaccused of an ignominious, sinful love, although I love no one on earthbut my husband and my children! And a German pen was bought to writethat slander--German eyes did not shrink from reading it, and German menand women permitted it to be repeated in this journal time and again!They did not feel that they were disgraced and reviled in myperson--that all Germany was calumniated! For, in my grief as well as inmy love, I am the representative of Germany, and to insult me is toinsult all German wives and mothers. Woe to you, Napoleon, for stoopingto such an outrage! I pardon your attempts to rob me of my crown, but solong as I breathe, I will not forgive your attacks upon my honor!"

  She rose slowly and proudly, and lifted her arms and eyes as if to uttera solemn imprecation. "Woe to you, Napoleon!" she cried, in a loud,ringing voice, "woe to you that you did not respect the innocence of thewife, and had no mercy on the honor of a mother! The tears which I amshedding at this hour will one day fall like burning coals on yourheart, and for this torment I am now enduring I shall call you toaccount above! You think you are master of the earth, and, like fateitself, can dispose of empires; but you will be crushed at last--youwill one day feel that you are only a weak creature--only dust, like allof us. You will yet sink down in your affliction, and cry for mercy. Letme live to see that day, my God: then my tears will be avenged!"

  She paused, her eyes still directed toward heaven, her whole appearancebreathing a sublime enthusiasm. She looked like a prophetess with herbeaming face and uplifted arms. But after a while her arms dropped, hereyes turned to earth again, and the inspired prophetess was once moretransformed into the unhappy woman, who feared she would die beneath theburden of her grief. She burst again into tears, and repeated again andagain that terrible accusation, although every word of it struck herheart like a dagger. Gradually, however, the reviled woman, conscious ofher innocence, became the proud and pure queen! With quiet dignity shestretched out her hand toward the countess, who rushed to her, pressedher lips on the royal hand, and sobbing asked to be forgiven.

  "I have nothing to forgive," said Louisa, with a faint smile. "I knowyour intentions were good. Oh, believe me, during hours of greataffliction the soul sees and comprehends many things that were hithertoconcealed from it. Thus I understood in the outburst of my despair whyall this had occurred, and why I had to undergo all these sufferings.Napoleon's poisoned arrow might have fallen powerless at my feet, ifyour uncle had not instructed you to pick it up and make me feel it.Hush! Do not utter a word of apology! Your uncle, General von Zastrow,is a patriot in his way, and intended to teach me by your interventionhow to become a good patriot in his sense--that is to say, to hateRussia, and to turn away from this alliance, for the sake of which Ihave been insulted. It was policy that induced the Emperor Napoleon toinvent these calumnies, and it was policy again that induced your uncleto have you communicate them to me. This is a consolation; for, as itis, I am suffering only for the sake of my people, and you made me amartyr of the German cause. But I will bear all without complaining,however painful it may be; I do not wish it to cease if the welfare andhappiness of Prussia should be delayed thereby but a single hour. Ishall not ask the king to break off the alliance with Russia. QueenLouisa yesterday believed an alliance with Russia to be necessary andadvantageous to the welfare and honor of Prussia; she will not changeher mind to-day because Louisa, the woman, is charged with adishonorable love for the Emperor of Russia. The woman may die of thiscalumny, but dying she will still be a queen, and say, 'I die for mycountry, and for my people! May my death be advantageous to Prussia!' Goto your uncle, countess, and tell him so! And now give me the numbersof the journal, and the p
amphlet too; I will take them to the king. Myfate, as well as that of Prussia, is in his hands. He alone can absolveme from the charge preferred against me. Give me the papers!"