Napoleon and the Queen of Prussia

by L. Mühlbach

  CHAPTER LVI.

  THE QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY.

  There were great rejoicings in Berlin. It was the 10th of March, thequeen's birthday, and she celebrated it again at the capital for thefirst time in three years. Every one hastened to manifest his love andsympathy for the queen, and all classes had sent in requests forpermission to choose committees to present their congratulations to hermajesty. The queen had cheerfully granted these requests, and thedeputations of the old aristocracy, the states, the clergy, themunicipality, the academy, the painters, and other artists, themechanics, and citizens, were assembled in the large hall of the royalpalace, waiting her arrival.

  The folding-doors at length opened, and the queen, preceded by thegrand-marshal of the court, entered. She looked pale and exhausted, butreceived with affability and grace the cheers given by the assembly ather appearance, and walked slowly down the long line of the deputations,addressing a kind word or casting a grateful glance to every one, andcharming all by her beauty, gentleness, and majesty. Suddenly hercountenance brightened, and she approached a tall, stout gentlemanstanding in the midst of the committee of the artists. "M. ManagerIffland,"[50] she said, "let me bid you welcome. I expected to see youhere to-day, in order to express once more my thanks for the joy youafforded me on my last birthday, and for the sufferings you underwentfor my sake. But I should like to hear an account of the event from yourown lips, and I ask of you, as a birthday present, to relate to me whathappened to you last year on this day."

  [Footnote 50: The celebrated German actor.]

  While uttering these words, the queen stepped back into the middle ofthe hall, and thereby compelled Iffland to leave the committee, andfollow her. "Your majesty is really too kind to remember soinsignificant an occurrence," said Iffland, bowing respectfully. "I wason that day only so happy as to give expression to the feelingsanimating all. 'Queen Louisa, our royal lady!' that was the mottoencouraging us to bear up under the foreign yoke; it was our consolationwhen we thought of his majesty, our beloved king. However galling ourchains might have been, we felt comfort. 'The royal lady is with him!'we said to each other, and with grateful tears every one remembered hisqueen."

  "Yes, it is true," exclaimed the queen with feeling, "we met with muchlove and fidelity during the years of affliction, and to-day I thankfrom the bottom of my heart all those who were faithful to us." Her eyesgazed long and affectionately on the brilliant circle of thoseassembled, and she then turned again to Iffland. "Well, how was it on mybirthday last year?" she asked. "Tell me, but speak loudly, that everyone may hear."

  "Last year on this day we were not as happy as we are to-day," saidIffland. "Our queen was not with us, and we could not let her read inour eyes the love and fidelity which we had been forbidden frommanifesting toward her by word or deed. The French authorities hadissued stringent orders everywhere, that the citizens should abstainfrom any allusions to or recollections of our queen's birthday, and thatno demonstrations whatever should be made. We were obliged to submit tothe petty tyranny, but our hearts were filled with anger, and the lovewhich we could not assert was strengthened in its concealment. It neededonly a spark to bring about an explosion, and the theatre was sofortunate as to kindle this spark in the hearts of the loyal Prussians.On the evening of that 10th of March, a small family drama which I hadwritten was to be performed. It was the simple and affecting history ofa family celebrating happily the reunion of a mother and her children.The mother's name was Louisa, and this name was sufficient to fill thehouse with a distinguished audience. All felt that the theatre was onthat day the only place where the public heart, devoted to the queen,was allowed to throb for her; where glances could be exchanged andunderstood, and where it was permitted to whisper, 'It is her birthdayto-day! Heaven bless her!' Every seat was occupied in the galleries aswell as in the dress-circle, in the orchestra stalls as well as in thepit, everywhere reigned the same joyous commotion. Only in the boxes ofthe French, faces were seen that cast an angry and hostile expression onthat audience.--The curtain rose, and the performance commenced. Theactor Lange and myself appeared in the first scene. Lange had to playthe part of a friend of the house, happening to arrive there on thatday. I represented the son of Louisa, the mother, and appeared on thestage with a large bouquet on my breast. 'Why do you look so happy andwell-dressed to-day?' said Lange. 'I suppose you are celebrating afamily festival?' 'Yes!' I exclaimed in a loud and joyous voice, 'we arecelebrating a family festival, and it is a beautiful festival; we arecelebrating the return of our beloved mother, God bless her! God blessthe dear lady who is to receive these flowers!' Carried away by myenthusiasm, I tore the bouquet from my breast, and held it out towardthe audience. Moved by one and the same feeling of love and admiration,the whole assembly rose, and thousands of voices shouted, as it werewith one mouth and from one heart, 'God bless her! God bless the dearlady--the adored mother!' Oh, queen, it was a sublime moment, and Godcounted the tears and understood the prayers that we addressed to Him.He has restored to us our queen, the beloved mother of her country andpeople!"

  The queen at first listened smilingly: gradually, however, hercountenance became grave. She was standing with profound emotion infront of Iffland, when he concluded his narrative, and tears droppedfrom her downcast eyes. Silence reigned in the vast hall, and all faceswere turned to the queen. She raised her eyes slowly, and directed themtoward Iffland with an expression of indescribable kindness. "I thankyou," said Louisa; "you stood faithfully by your queen at a time whenmany were deserting her. You have been a faithful knight of mine, andthe king, therefore, wants you to retain always the title of knight. Hepermits me to give you to-day another decoration instead of the bouquetyou wore on your breast a year ago. In the name of his majesty I have topresent to you the insignia of the order of the Red Eagle."

  A pallor overspread. Iffland's countenance, while he received the orderwhich the queen handed to him. "O queen," he said, deeply affected,"such an honor to me, the actor! I thank your majesty in the name of allmy colleagues, from whom you have removed at this moment the interdictexcluding them from the honors and dignities of other men."

  The queen smiled. "It is true," she said, "I believe you are the firstactor who ever received an order in Prussia. And are you not indeed thefirst actor? However, you owe us still the conclusion of your narrative.You described to us the scene at the theatre, but not the disagreeableconsequences of the occurrence."

  "Ah! your majesty," exclaimed Iffland, smiling, "the consequences wereeasy to bear after the sublime moment which I had witnessed. I wasimprisoned for forty-eight hours at the French guard-house, where theyput me on a diet of bread and water. That was all."

  "I thank you for suffering so cheerfully for me," said the queen,dismissing Iffland with a pleasant nod. "Would I were able to reward allthose who have suffered for us, and endured persecution in love andpatience, and to return days of joy for days of sorrow!"

  Iffland, who looked proud and happy, stepped back among the members ofhis committee, and Louisa continued her walk, uttering words ofgratitude and acknowledgment, and charming all by her winning and withalqueenly bearing.

  After the reception was over, she returned to her apartments. The smiledisappeared from her lips, and her countenance assumed a melancholyexpression. She motioned to her two ladies of honor to leave her, andremained alone with her confidante, Madame von Berg. "Oh, Caroline,"sighed the queen, "I can bear it no longer. My heart succumbs underthese tortures. They call this day a holiday, but to me it is a day ofterror. To-night a party at the palace--a banquet previous to it,--and Imust be gay, though suffering severe pain! My heart is bleeding, and yetI am to dance, address pleasant words to every one, and assume anappearance of happiness. I do not know whither to escape with my grief!To whom will Prussia belong a year hence? Whither shall we all bescattered? God have mercy on us!"

  "Your majesty views the situation in too gloomy a light," said Madamevon Berg, consolingly. "No further events have occurred that need alarmyou."

>   "No further events!" exclaimed the queen, vehemently. "You do not know,then, Caroline, that Count Krusemark arrived from Paris this morning?"

  "No," replied Madame von Berg, anxiously; "I do not know any thing aboutit. What is the meaning of this unexpected arrival of the ambassador?"

  "A new calamity is threatening us. Count Krusemark is the bearer of aletter from Napoleon to the king. Oh, Caroline, what a letter it is! Onecannot help blushing with shame and anger on reading it, and yet it isnecessary for us to be silent. Napoleon menaces because the warcontributions are not promptly paid: he talks as a superior to hisinferior who neglects his duty; he scolds as a schoolmaster does hispupil who has not learned his task. And we must bear it, we must stoopso low as to beg him to be indulgent! Caroline, we must now solicit theforbearance of the man who has insulted us by every word he addressed tous, and by every look he cast upon us. For do you really know what hethreatens to do? He writes that if the king does not immediately pay upthe arrears of the war contributions, he will send an army to Prussia,to collect the money, and punish the king for his breach of faith. Hewill send another army to Prussia!--that is to say, the war is to beginanew, and, as we have become powerless, and cannot defend our frontiers,he means to crush us. He will take every thing, and Prussia will ceaseto exist. And we cannot pay, we have no means to obtain those millionsso unjustly claimed!"

  "But the ministers will devise means to pay the contribution, dearestqueen; the minister of finance will be able to suggest a scheme tofulfil the engagements that have been entered into, and to discharge theclaims which Napoleon has against us."

  The queen laughed scornfully. "Baron von Altenstein, the minister offinance, is not of your opinion," she said. "The king asked him tosuggest measures by which the liabilities we had incurred might bedischarged. But Altenstein replied that he did not know of any, and hethen proposed to the king to pay the debt by ceding the province ofSilesia to Napoleon."

  "Dreadful!" exclaimed Madame von Borg, indignantly. "A Prussian ministerdoes not shrink from advising the king, although we are at peace, tosacrifice the best province that has remained, and which even thedefeats of Jena and Friedland, and the intriguing days of Tilsit did notendanger!"

  "And if we do not consent to such a sacrifice (and we shall not), whatnext?" exclaimed the queen, despairingly. "Napoleon will send his armyand expel or imprison us, as he treated the unfortunate royal family ofSpain. Oh, Caroline, I shall be uneasy night and day. Dreadfulapprehensions are constantly meeting me. I think of Spain, and fearsoppress me lest my husband have the same fate as King Charles. Believeme, his life, his liberty is threatened, and he is every day in dangerof being suddenly seized and taken away as a hostage, until we havefulfilled the behests of the tyrant, and given him all that stillbelongs to us--our honor, our crown, and, perhaps, our lives. We aresurrounded by French spies: every word, every look, is watched; only apretext is sought to ruin us, and it will be found, as it was in Spain.Oh, he will take my husband from me! he will drag him as a prisoner fromone place to another as he did the King of Spain; he will sow the seedsof discord in our family as he did in that unhappy country. He, thetyrant Napoleon, brought about a quarrel between the Infante and hisfather; he compelled, with his iron hand, the unfortunate King Charlesto write that his son's guilt had raised a barrier between father andson. But whose hand was it that constructed it? Can there be any doubt?It was his alone! Oh, will there be a time, and shall I live to see it,when the hand of God will at length write the 'Mene, mene, tekel,' onhis wall?"

  "Your majesty will live to see that time," exclaimed Madame von Berg."You will witness the judgment of Heaven and of the nations overthrowingthe tyrant."

  The queen shook her head. "No," she whispered, "I shall not live to seeit. I think this will be the last time that I celebrate my birthdayhere."[51]

  [Footnote 51: The queen's own words.]

  "Oh, Louisa," cried Madame von Berg, bursting into tears, "do not tittersuch cruel, heart-rending words. You will live, you must live, for theconsolation and joy of us all. It would be an injustice, and we shoulddespair of divine equity, if our queen depart without having seen againthe days of deliverance and happiness."

  "My dear, Providence permits such acts of injustice," said Louisa, witha mournful smile. "Was it just that noble Palm should be shot, thatSchill had to fall, and to be stigmatized as a deserter for his heroicactions? Was it just that Andrew Hofer had to expiate his gloriousstruggle for freedom by his death? The Emperor of Austria was in thesame position as we were. He had to sacrifice Andrew Hofer as weFerdinand von Schill. The cruel hand of the tyrant rested on him as itdid on us. And now they have shot the brave, heroic leader of theTyrolese at Mantua! My soul mourns for him, for I hoped in him. It isbut recently that I understood Schiller's words, 'On the mountains thereis freedom!' They resounded in my heart like a prophecy, when in mythought I looked over to the mountaineers who had risen at Hofer's call.My heart fought at his side! And what a man this dear, honest, simpleAndrew Hofer was! A peasant who had become a general, and what ageneral! His weapon--prayer! His ally--God! He fought with folded hands,with bended knees, and struck down the enemy as with a cherub's sword.And the brave Tyrolese were fighting with him--children in thesimplicity of their hearts, they fought like Titans, by hurling downrocks from the summits of their fastnesses. And yet it was all in vain!They were sacrificed, and their leader was shot by the man who to-morrowmarries the daughter of their emperor. And you doubt that Providencepermits acts of injustice? Oh, I do not doubt that God is just, but wemortals are often unable to comprehend his justice, because our life istoo short to witness the result of that of which we have seen only theinception; but He knows the end from the beginning. And an end will comefor Napoleon with all his glory. But shall I or any of us ever live towitness it?"

  "All of us will," said Madame von Berg; "our belief in the finalretribution of Divine justice will give us our strength, I hope, formany years."

  "I shall not live to see that blessed time," said the queen, solemnly."This man, who is to be married to a German princess to-morrow, haswounded my heart so that it will at last destroy me. I do not speakfiguratively, but mean what I say. There is something in my heart thatleaves me no rest night and day. Its palpitations strike like adeath-watch. There is something gnawing there incessantly; at times Ifeel that it has nearly pierced my life, that death is surely near. AndI am dying of the wretchedness and disgrace which he who is enthroned inFrance has brought upon Prussia! I am dying, and he will win furthertriumphs; the whole of Europe will lie prostrate at his feet, and hissongs of victory will be my dirge, leaving me no rest even in my grave.But hush, hush! Let us say no more. I have allowed you to look into thedepths of my soul. You, my friend, are the only one to whom I sometimesraise the veil covering my bleeding heart. But tell no one what you haveseen; keep my secret a little while longer, my dear Caroline.--And howis your friend, excellent Baron von Stein? You told me yesterday you hadreceived letters from him. What does he write? Where does he live?"

  "He lives in Bruenn; his wife and children have joined him, and his lifetherefore is outwardly at least less sad than formerly. He is inconstant communication with the prominent statesmen of Germany; allpatriots hope in him, and receive advice and consolation from him. He ispreparing quietly and secretly the great work of deliverance, which,when completed, will delight the eyes of my queen and receive herblessing. His eyes are constantly turned toward Prussia, and it is hisprofoundest sorrow that he is not permitted in these times to devote hisservices to the king."

  "Yes," said the queen, sighing, "it is the terrible misfortune of theking that, in times so calamitous as these, he is deprived of theassistance of the patriotic men who alone would be able to save him andthe state. The tyrannous decrees of Napoleon have taken his noblest andbest servants from him. Stein is in exile. Hardenberg has to keep alooffrom us because the emperor so ordered it. We might have ministerscompetent to hold the helm of the ship of state and take hersuccessfully into port,
but we are not allowed to employ them. Ourinterests are consequently intrusted to weak and ill-disposed ministers,who will ruin them, and we shall perish, unless assistance comesoon--very soon! Stein and Hardenberg are exiled, and we have onlyMinister Altenstein, who is bold enough to propose the voluntary cessionof Silesia to the king! Oh, my beloved, unfortunate Prussia, where isthere a prospect of safety for thee?--Ah, the worm is again at myheart--oh, it oppresses me so that I can scarcely breathe! Tell me,Caroline, what else has Baron von Stein written to you?"

  "He describes the deep and painful impression which the marriage of theArchduchess Maria Louisa with the Emperor Napoleon has made throughoutAustria. There was no rejoicing, for all regarded it as anotherhumiliation of Austria--as a chain by which she fastens herself toFrance, and makes herself a vassal of a powerful enemy. The Vienneseparticularly received the intelligence with profound indignation, andeven seditious gatherings took place, which had to be dispersed by thetroops. In their sorrow, the inhabitants of the Austrian capitalconsoled themselves with a little wit; for, on the day when the Viennesehad to illuminate their city in honor of the betrothal, the populace,marching through the streets, reached the residence of the Frenchambassador, and shouted in a loud and scornful tone: 'Napoleon is nowruined! We have at last played him a trick! We have inoculated him withAustrian bad luck and Austrian stupidity!'"[52]

  [Footnote 52: Hormayr, vol. I., p. 89, and other historians relate thisoccurrence.]

  The queen laughed. "That sounds very silly, and does not indicate muchself-esteem, but there is a deep meaning in it after all. A connectionwith Austria has always been disastrous to France. Louis XVI. died ofhis marriage with Marie Antoinette, and Napoleon will not derive muchbenefit from his with the archduchess. He intends to strengthen hisempire by this step, but it will alienate his own people from him. Bythis connection with an old dynasty he recedes from the people and fromthe liberal ideas of the revolution, which enabled him to ascend thethrone. If this throne should ever be shaken, he would find that Austriawill not support him."

  "It will be shaken and fall!" exclaimed Madame von Berg. "There is anominous commotion everywhere. Spain is the first fruit of the new eraabout to dawn upon us. She has not yet been conquered, nor will she be,notwithstanding Napoleon's high-sounding phrases and so-calledvictories. She is as a rock that will first break the waves of hishaughty will. As a proof of the hatred prevailing in Spain, Baron vonStein sent me a page from the catechism, which the priests are teachingthe people at the present time, and he added to it a few passages fromthe new French catechism. Will your majesty permit me to read them?"

  "Read," exclaimed the queen; "pray, dear Caroline, let me hear them!"

  Madame von Berg drew several papers from her pocket. "Let us first beedified by the Spanish catechism, if it please your majesty," and sheread:

  "Who are you, my child?"

  "A Spaniard, by the grace of God."

  "What does that mean?"

  "A man of honor."

  "Who is our enemy?"

  "The Emperor of the French."

  "What is the Emperor of the French?"

  "A villain, the source of all evil."

  "How many natures has he?"

  "Two. A human and a diabolical nature."

  "How many Emperors of the French are there?"

  "One emperor in three."

  "What are their names?"

  "Napoleon, Murat, and Manuel Godoy."

  "Which is the worst?"

  "They are all equally bad."

  "Whence does Napoleon come?"

  "From sin."

  "Murat?"

  "From Napoleon."

  "Godoy?"

  "From both."

  "What are the French?"

  "Christians who have become heretics."

  "What punishment deserves the Spaniard who neglects his duties?"

  "The death and disgrace of a traitor."

  "Is it a sin to kill a Frenchman?"

  "No, a man gains heaven by killing one of the heretical dogs."

  "Horrible!" exclaimed the queen, shuddering. "But that is theircatechism, and these are the doctrines which are actually taught thepeople, and which filled them with such desperate courage at Saragossa.And now, Caroline, let me hear something of the French catechism."

  "Here is a passage reading: 'To honor and serve our Emperor Napoleon, isto honor and serve God Himself, for it is he whom the Lord has given tous, that he may restore the holy faith of our fathers and to rule overus with wisdom and firmness. He is the anointed of the Lord, owing tothe consecration he has received at the hands of the pope, the head ofthe Holy Catholic Church. Those who would not fulfil their duties to theEmperor Napoleon would rebel against the will of God, and be doomedeternally.'"

  "That is the fanaticism of a man who believes in nothing but himself,and whom this self-deification nevertheless will one day hurl into theabyss," exclaimed the queen. "But hark, it strikes twelve! The king willsoon be here to take me to the palace. I will dress, for I must not keephim long waiting. Ah, there he is already!" Louisa rose quickly from thesofa and hastened toward the king, who entered the room. Madame von Bergwithdrew quietly, and the king and the queen remained alone.

  The king took the hands which the queen extended toward him, and pressedthem tenderly to his lips. "I come, perhaps, earlier than you expected,"he said, "but I wished to see my beloved Louisa on this festive day,before she again becomes the queen. It seems to me I have not yet seenyou to-day. Since early morning the people offering congratulations andpresents have perfectly besieged the house."

  "That is the consequence of celebrating my birthday in Berlin, myfriend," exclaimed the queen laughing; "it is your just punishment forrefusing to spend the day with me and the children quietly at our dearParez, as we always used to do."

  "I could not do that," said the king, gravely. "I had to give oursubjects an opportunity to manifest their love for you and to indemnifythem for the last three years, when they were unable to do so. But doyou know, Louisa, why I come now? I should like to present you twoacceptable gifts."

  "More gifts?" exclaimed the queen, almost reproachfully. "Your love haslavished so many costly and beautiful presents on me to-day that Ihardly know what you may give me."

  "You need not be afraid, for the gifts are not very expensive; they areonly two pieces of paper. They will not make your casket heavier, but Ihope they will render your heart lighter. Here is the first." He drew aletter from his bosom and handed it to the queen. "Read the address," hesaid.

  The queen read: "'To his excellency, Count von Hardenberg, at present atthe farm of Grohnde.'"--"What?" she asked, looking joyously at the king."My friend, you have yourself written to Hardenberg?"

  The king nodded, "I myself," he said.

  "And what did you write to him?"

  "I requested him to come to me without delay, if he feel strong enough,and resume his former position at the head of the government."

  "But you know Napoleon does not want Hardenberg to be your minister."

  "I am now again, and intend remaining, master in my own country."

  "Napoleon ordered that Hardenberg should not come within twenty leaguesof the place where the king resides. Remember, dear friend, he isproscribed."

  "But I disregard this proscription, and call Hardenberg to my side. Ifhe is courageous enough he will come, and when he is here we shall takepains to pacify the emperor's wrath. He is at present too busily engagedin arranging his wedding festivities, and in preparing for the receptionof his young wife; he will not have time to notice that the little Kingof Prussia has chosen another minister. We shall try to manage thematter as prudently as possible, and prevail upon Napoleon to leaveHardenberg at the head of my cabinet. I cannot do any thing with aminister who proposes to me to sacrifice the province of Silesia, andto sell loyal subjects like cattle. I will dismiss Altenstein, andappoint Hardenberg in his place. I have called him. If he is a goodpatriot, he will come; he must write a penitent letter to th
e emperor,that he may permit him to remain with us."[53]

  [Footnote 53: Hardenberg complied immediately with the king's request,and came to Potsdam, where he had a long interview with him, anddeclared his readiness to resume his position at the head of theadministration. He submitted also to the galling necessity ofconciliating Napoleon by an humble letter, in which he assured theemperor of his devotedness to France, and promised that thewar-contributions should be promptly paid. Napoleon was favorablyimpressed with this letter, and ceased to object to Hardenberg'sappointment.]

  "Oh, he will come, my friend, and also write the letter," exclaimed thequeen.

  "And do you approve my resolution to intrust Hardenberg withAltenstein's department?" asked the king.

  "Approve it? My heart rejoices at it! Now I have hopes again of Prussia;now I look full of confidence into the future, for Hardenberg is a trueGerman patriot, who has the honor and dignity of his country at heart,who does not want us to become mere vassals of France, and who will notpropose to sacrifice provinces when we may discharge our liabilitieswith money. Oh, my dear, beloved friend, how grateful I am to you forthis joyful surprise! This paper is my most precious birthday gift, andit really makes my heart glad."

  "But I have another paper which will afford you pleasure," said theking, drawing it from his bosom. "Here, my dear, affectionate Princessof Mecklenburg, here is my second gift!"

  He placed a folded paper into the hands of the queen. She opened it, anda joyous cry burst from her lips. "'Passenger ticket for Queen Louisa,good for a trip to Mecklenburg-Strelitz,'" she read, laughing. "'Firsttravelling companion: Frederick William.' I am to go to Mecklenburg,"cried the queen, joyously, "and you will accompany me? Oh, my belovedhusband, you have divined, then, the most secret and ardent wish of myheart, and you grant it even before my lips have uttered it! Oh, howshall I thank you, my own dear friend?" She encircled the king's neckwith her arms, with passionate tenderness, and pressed a long kiss onhis lips. "Dear, dear husband, how shall I thank you?" she whispered,once more with tearful eyes.

  The king looked at her long and lovingly. "That you are with me is mygreatest happiness. I was thinking to-day of a poem written by good oldClaudius; it expresses my own feelings. It is an echo of my heart'sgratitude!"

  "What poem is it?" asked the queen.

  Frederick William laid his hand on her head, raised his eyes towardheaven, and said aloud:

  "Ich danke dir mein Wohl, mein Glueck in diesem Leben, Ich war wohl klug, dass ich dich fand; Doch ich fand nicht, Gott hat dich mir gegeben, So segnet keines Menschen Hand!"[54]

  [Footnote 54:

  "On thee my joy, my hopes rely! How wise to win thee mine! But surely it was Heaven--not I, That made me ever thine.

  To thee, my loving spouse, I owe Whate'er of good may be, Nor could a human hand bestow This priceless gift on me."