Bismarck and Von Moltke, over a bowl of sherry punch, discuss “these poor times”—The Emperor-hunt begins.
Volumes have been written to explain the origin of the Franco-Prussian war, and the intricate and inter-related facts are gone over again and again, now with emphasis here, again on the other side.
It is trite1 to say that Bismarck foresaw that a war with France was inevitable2. Behind this simple statement is a world of intrigue3 and ambition. The French still hold that the annexation4 of Alsace-Lorraine was the price not of war but of Bismarck’s brigandage5. The French also believe that the candidacy of Prince Leopold Hohenzollern for the Spanish throne was a Prussian intrigue against France. The controversy6 on these points will never be settled, till the Doomsday Book is opened.[205]
When Bismarck sees that his work of unifying7 Germany cannot be completed without another war, the war comes!
His amazing insight into complex political, military and historical situations, in which with a few words he is able to divert public opinion to his own peculiar8 view, has been shown never with more diabolical9 cunning than at the time of the breaking out of the Franco-Prussian war. We refer here to the “Ems dispatch,” that played a startling part in bringing on the war; but the telegram, in itself, was really a simple thing.
For four years, Germany had been increasing her military power by ten-fold. The greatest military martinet10 of all time, Von Roon, had the men up at three and four in the morning drilling them as human beings were never drilled before. Von Moltke, “with the battle pictures in his brain,” was planning every detail against France.
The preparations were now complete. The Germans were thoroughly11 organized, led by generals guided by a single brain, von Moltke, master of tactics and strategy.
Just the day the war broke out von Moltke, who was always as taciturn as the Sphinx, “and in times of peace ugly and crabbed,” was sitting in his garden moodily12 declaiming against these poor times—with no war in sight!
Bismarck greeted his compatriot, bravely. Von Moltke ordered sherry punch and the two cronies began drinking each other’s health.
“You are not looking well, Chief?” began Bismarck.
“No, I have not been well, lately!”
“But you must cheer up. War is your business and you will now quickly mend. I remember when the Spanish war was the burning question you looked at least ten years younger. When I told you that the Hohenzollern prince gave the thing up, you became at once ten years older. This time, the French have made difficulties, and you look fresh and younger by ten years.”
In this light-hearted way Bismarck spoke13 of the oncoming strife—up to the year 1914 the bloodiest14 in the history of the world.
57[206]
The bugle15 blast “For God and Fatherland!” again resounds16 throughout Germany—The great host crosses the Rhine.
Up to 1914, there never was such a disciplined army since the world began! Neither Napoleon, C?sar nor Alexander ever had a power like the United German swarm17, now numbering 1,200,000 men, counting advance and reserve; however, the total strength was never called, as the war was practically over in seven weeks.
The hosts of Germany, 800,000 strong, helmeted, machine-like, moved silently and swiftly toward the Rhine, carrying their trusty needle-guns which had done such destruction at Koeniggraetz. As they marched they sang the war songs of their race, and swore to guard the Rhine.
Zum Rhine, zum Rhine, zum Deutchen Rhine, Wir alle wollen Hueter sein; Lieb Vaterland magst ruhig sein, Fest steht und treu die Wacht am Rhine!
The King immediately left for the seat of war, Mayennce being the first headquarters of the royal party. Bismarck was always close to the King.
Bismarck had been only a few days in the field when his health began to improve. Like von Moltke, Bismarck looked ten years younger.
The old-time biliousness18 and vein-swelling from which he suffered, now passed away; the irritability19 vanished; he was cool and collected.
He was attended throughout the war by a corps20 of cipherers, decipherers, cooks, privy21 counsellors, secretaries, and couriers. Faithful Dr. Busch, head of the Bismarck press-agency, was one of the busiest men of the hour. Bismarck, who learned the power of the press in shaping public opinion, kept Busch constantly employed sending out telegrams, giving the German side of the war.
[207]
The Chancellor22 wore the white uniform of Heavy Landwehr Cavalry23, with white cap and top boots.
Bismarck and his staff camped along the line of advance, wherever night fell—sometimes in the chateau24 of a French nobleman, again in the hut of a French peasant. The company ate at a common table, and had the same fare. Bismarck was called “Chief.”
Often the table was made by taking doors off their hinges and placing them on barrels or boxes; then waiters spread the cloth and brought out pewter plates and huge tumblers of a silver-like metal, lined with gilt25.
Candles were stuck in empty wine bottles. Thus the great man worked during the war, week after week.
Dr. Busch, although a very busy man, managed to gather two volumes of table talk, minute details of what Bismarck said, ate, drank, preached, the whole set forth26 in spirited style, affording an intimate picture of the Iron Chancellor to which all historians are henceforth under obligations.
Firing was going on around the royal party, often dangerously near by, and now and then a battle would take place close to where the King was encamped, with his faithful minister. They would ride out, to see the fight. Bismarck read dispatches, made notes, talked to His Majesty27, gave instructions on state matters, counseled with von Moltke on military matters, received visits, and studied maps. This continued all day and sometimes all night.
58
Germans drink 2,500,000 bottles of champagne28 at Rheims—Bismarck’s ironical29 revenge!
The high tension of war was relieved by amusing episodes, from day to day. In the evening of the arrival at Rheims, Bismarck humored himself trying various brands of champagne. Word was brought that the day before a squadron of Prussian hussars had been fired on from a leading hotel. Bismarck ordered that the house should at once be torn down and the landlord sent to prison; but when it was explained[208] that none had been injured, Bismarck waggishly30 decided31 to let the landlord off if he would give 2,500 bottles of champagne to the squadron—an obligation which the man quickly proceeded to settle.
The Prussians drank, in and around Rheims, some 2,500,000 bottles of champagne; and, for that matter, the highways all the way to Paris were marked with long lines of empty bottles!
Thus Bismarck had his ironical revenge on France; took his cherry brandy or his champagne as he pleased, while the great war waged.
“Verily, in all history,” wrote Carlyle to the London Times, “there is no instance of an insolent32 unjust neighbor that ever got so complete, instantaneous and ignominious33 a smashing down, as France now got from Germany.” The whole civilized34 world looked on in amazement35.
France had declared war July 15th, and the crushing defeat at Sedan came September 1.
However, it took seven months before Bismarck was satisfied that the final papers were drawn36 to his satisfaction.
Louis Napoleon being a prisoner of war, had lost his throne; and consequently Bismarck insisted that any peace made with France would have to be ratified37 by some central authority. It is a long, interesting story, but Bismarck finally won his point.
59
Sedan and the Belgian weaver38’s hut; the highways to Paris are strewn with wine bottles; death drinks a toast to “German Unity39.”
As it had been the Iron Chancellor’s fortune to be present at the crowning victory of Koeniggraetz, in the Austrian war, likewise it was now his destiny to be a spectator at the two battles that decided the issue of the French war, Gravelotte and Sedan.[209]
The spoils were immense, the glory set Germany in flames. Bismarck, von Roon and von Moltke were held to be the greatest men of all time.
Gravelotte, the bloodiest battle of the campaign, engaged 333,000 men and 1,362 cannon40. The King commanded in person, on the right, and Bismarck was with him.
The carnage was frightful41. Bismarck busied himself carrying water to the wounded. When the sun went down, German victory was complete, at the loss of every tenth man!
That night, Bismarck bivouacked on the battlefield, amidst serried42 ranks of the dead. Says one who saw the terrifying scene: “Anon, the watchfires of the Prussians blazed round about; and worn out by incredible exertions43 at last Bismarck fell asleep, among the living and the dead. He was now to have evidence of the result of his life-long ambition; he had plunged44 his country into three great wars, with all their dreadful toll45 of human life; but he slept that night the sleep of the just—because he saw, in the complex blending of his ideas, no inconsistency in paying any price for the glory of his country.”
The whole bloody46 day at Gravelotte Bismarck had nothing to eat. Finally, he found a hen’s nest with five eggs; giving three to half-starving soldiers near by, Bismarck with his sword broke the shells of the two remaining and sucked the eggs.
Next morning he had some sausage soup, the first warm food that had passed his lips for 36 hours.
While he was standing47 dismounted, a concealed48 French battery began a tremendous cannonade; the shells dropping all around, exploded, and plowed49 up the ground.
Night again. Nothing to eat. A sutler had some miserable50 rum and wine. Bismarck took that, at once, but there was not a morsel51 to eat. In the village, a few cutlets were found after a hard search, just enough for the King.
His Majesty decided not to bivouac among the dead again, but took shelter at a little public house.
Bismarck with General Sheridan set off to find a sleeping place. House after house was filled with the wounded.[210]
Finally they found three empty beds with straw mattresses52. Here Bismarck and General Sheridan took up their quarters and slept capitally.
Sheridan was present as official observer for the United States Army. In his life, he had seen many great battles, including Gettysburg and Sedan.
Bismarck talked to Sheridan in English; and at dinner they drank champagne and porter, Bismarck’s favorite beverage53.
With tens of thousands of Cuirassiers as companions the King and Bismarck rode down the broad highways, toward Paris; Bismarck wore his famous big top-boots.
What a picture the King, Bismarck and von Moltke marching down the highways of France, at their back their almighty54 army, up to 1914 the greatest in all history, its fighting strength 600,000 men, perfectly56 drilled and armed with deadly needle-guns. In puffs57 of smoke the reign58 of Napoleon the Little was ending; and it is now curious to recall that, 50 years before, as a young lieutenant59, the present King of Prussia had traversed almost the identical route with the Allies, to help defeat Napoleon the Great!
The iron heel of war was grinding men’s lives into the dust, setting fire to the country, and leaving a trail of destruction.
France looked along the German route as though a cyclone60 had devastated61 the face of nature.
Past cities, towns, vineyards, chateaux, the tramp, tramp, tramp; the roll of the war drums; the rumbling62 of wheels—so the terrible Prussians marched on!
“Summer was passing,” says Lowe, “Autumn was coming fast; France had turned from the sap green of the vineyards to the golden hues63 of the harvest; but it was the harvest of Death.”
Now came a gigantic cavalry movement, to the right, a prodigious64 wheel, to round-up the French MacMahon, who had dodged65 and doubled in the basin of the Meuse. “The chase,[211]” said Bismarck, “reminds me of a wolf hunt in the Ardennes, but when we arrived, the wolf had vanished!”
To make common ground with Bazaine, MacMahon concentrated his troops, with the idea of breaking the siege of Metz, where 175,000 French soldiers were undergoing the horrors of starvation.
The Germans outwitted MacMahon, who finally decided to make a last stand around the frontier fortress66 of Sedan.
On the night of August 31, the Germans closed in on him, in what proved to be one of the momentous67 battles in the world’s history.
Von Roon and Moltke had 121,000 infantry68 and 618 cannon, the French 70,000 of all arms, 320 cannon and 70 Mitrailleuses.
On the slopes of Frenois, the Prussian King, Bismarck and a brilliant retinue69 witnessed for ten hours the dreadful carnage reddening the fields.
“More artillery70!” cried the King, surprised that the French would not yield.
In the King’s retinue stood Bismarck, a crowd of princes, dukes, aide-de-camps, marshals, besides army attaches of Russia, England and America.
On the King’s order, 600 German guns began drawing the most terrific artillery fire in the history of battles, concentrating an ever-narrowing circle of flame and shell around the doomed71 place. It was too much for flesh and blood; a white flag was hoisted72.
The Prussian flag of truce73 to inquire for the commander, was led into the presence of Napoleon, trapped at Sedan!
Moltke’s terms were short; the whole French army was to surrender as prisoners of war.
The French regarded this as too severe after their heroism74, but the Prussians were inexorable; an armistice75 left the final decision till daylight.
Bismarck passed the night at the house of Dr. Jeanpot, at Donchery, a few miles from the bloody field of Sedan.
Along about daybreak, a servant awakened76 Bismarck, telling[212] him a French general was at the door. It was Reille, Napoleon’s messenger, saying “Napoleon is on the way over to see the King of Prussia!”
What a moment! How Bismarck’s pride must have risen; how he must have gritted77 his wolf’s teeth and felt his gorge78 rise as he realized that the hour of his life-long revenge was at hand, against his old enemy.
And yet, that night, he had been reading in his room after the dreadful Sedan carnage—what do you thinkHuman inconsistency! “Daily Refreshment79 for Believing Christians,” by the Moravian brotherhood80.
Unwashed, breakfastless, Bismarck immediately set out, his revolver in his belt; down the road Napoleon’s carriage, “evidently a hired one,” said Bismarck afterwards, recounting the scene, “came into view; the Emperor was escorted by a handful of officers; Napoleon had on his military uniform, wore white kid gloves, and was smoking a cigarette!”
Bowing and asking His Majesty’s pleasure, Napoleon asks Bismarck, “I wish to meet the King of Prussia.” Bismarck replies, “Unfortunately impossible; the King is quartered some fifteen miles away.” However, it is only a trick to gain time. Bismarck has certain powerful reasons why he does not desire, just then, that Napoleon and William should meet. We shall see, presently.
Napoleon drives slowly onward81, but nearing Donchery hesitates on account of the crowd; and spying a solitary82 cottage near by, asks if he could not remain there.
It is the hut of a weaver of Donchery—a mean, dirty place—and stands about fifteen paces from the high-road, which is lined with poplars; the house is one-story, yellow, with four windows, and has a slate83 roof.
Bismarck and Napoleon ascend84 a rickety, narrow staircase giving entrance to a gloomy chamber85, in which are a deal table and two rush-bottomed chairs. Here the two men sit alone for an hour. What a moment in history!
Only a few years before, that is to say, in October, 1865, Bismarck had sought out Napoleon III, or “Napoleon the[213] Little,” and had held a famous political interview; the meeting at Biarritz found Napoleon filled with ambitions to emulate86 the illustrious career of his uncle, Napoleon Bonaparte; but the secret although well kept did not escape the vision of Bismarck.
The Iron Chancellor came as a friend, on a pleasant exchange of diplomatic courtesies, but in secret he was sounding Napoleon’s possible attitude in the oncoming Prussian war, against Austria. The Emperor was completely tricked. Bismarck talked frankly87 of the necessity of “reform” in the German Confederation, and Napoleon, whose hobby was that peoples speaking the same language should be under one rule, fell in quite naturally with the plan to “reform” Prussia. The Emperor thought that Bismarck had in mind only certain constitutional changes in Prussia, not dynastic changes, destroying the European balance of power and preparing the way for German Unity.
Bismarck made clear to the Emperor that, in return for keeping out of any impending88 Austrian clash, France would be rewarded by enlarged boundaries. As an enlightened egotist, Bismarck felt that it was “only fair” to acknowledge French help with the left bank of the Rhine. It was all a bluff89. But Napoleon, with his hunger to enlarge French territory, and to appear before France as a sort of second Napoleon the Great, fell in with the conspiracy90. Herein, the Bismarckian skill at stacking the cards reaches its height.
And now to think that the next meeting of the French lamb and the Prussian wolf should take place in a weaver’s hut, Napoleon stripped of glory and power by the man who was to “give” great lands to France.
The Emperor had been caught in his own trap; his armies had been crushed; his government destroyed by Bismarck’s genius for political intrigue. The rise to power of Prussia over Austria, against which Napoleon had been tricked not to protest, was a turning point in the history of modern Europe. Hence we say that these two contrasted interviews, the one of glory, the other of the downfall, Biarritz and the Weaver’s Hut, show our Otto von Bismarck as the supreme91 politico-military genius of his time.[214]
A curious sidelight on the famous interview at Biarritz is supplied by Bismarck’s writings. “Napoleon said things could not go on as they had been doing, in Prussia,” wrote Bismarck, “otherwise there would soon be an uprising in Berlin and a revolution in the whole country. I told him that the people of our country were not barricade-builders, and that in Prussia revolutions were made only by the kings. If the King could stand the strain on him for three or four years he would certainly win the game. Unless he got tired and left me, I would not fail him. The Emperor at that time said of me, ‘Ce n’est pas un homme serieux,’ (Bismarck is not a serious man), a mot of which I did not think myself at liberty to remind him, in the weaver’s hut, at Donchery.”
Bismarck exercised all his mighty55 ingenuity92 to keep Napoleon from urging too far that the King of Prussia be brought forward. Bismarck knew that King William was tender-hearted, and, tempted93 by the disaster that had come to Napoleon, would in consequence be inclined to deal leniently94 with the Emperor.
Bismarck, setting his iron jaws95 hard, determined96 then and there to keep the Prussian King out of it till the terms of peace had been arranged.
Come, come, are we not justified97 in our character study of BismarckWho now is master, who now servantWho now is shown to be the real power behind the throneAnd if Bismarck did not actually bring on this awful war, then he well knew the art of making other nations declare war. Oh, he has learned a thing or two in his long and eventful life; and he is now about to create his diplomatic masterpiece—in the Belgian weaver’s hut.
Sedan surrendered 40 generals, 2,825 various other officers, 83,000 prisoners of war, 184 pieces of artillery, 350 field guns, 70 Mitrailleuses, 12,000 horses, and enormous quantities of military stores.
The broken-hearted Emperor was sent away to the castle at Wilhelmshoehe, near Cassel.[215]
And the King of Prussia opened the champagne at his royal headquarters at Vendresse, and toasted von Roon, Moltke and Bismarck: “You, General von Roon, whetted98 our sword; you General von Moltke, wielded99 it; and you, Count Bismarck, have brought Prussia to its present prominence100 by the way in which you have directed its policy for several years.”
60
In which Bismarck reaches the zenith of his stupendous career; diplomatist, ministerial C?sar, unifier101 of his country.
The Iron Chancellor held firmly to his plan to strip France of her last franc.
The siege of Paris continued, with Bismarck and the King of Prussia installed at Versailles, within the shadow of the stately palace of the Kings of France.
It is a long, vivid story leading to the 5,000,000,000 francs indemnity102, and the cessation of Alsace-Lorraine.
M. Thiers treated in vain to get softer terms; but Bismarck kept the King out of it and stuck to his hard bargaining.
“This is not war, it is confiscation103!” Thiers exclaimed one day in terrible anger, and eloquently104 he parleyed to have the amount reduced.
Bismarck thereupon began to talk in German!
“I have not enough French to answer such a charge as you have just made!” he thundered. “Henceforth, we carry on our affairs in German.”
M. Thiers threatened to appeal to Europe to intervene, but at this Bismarck broke into a hoarse105 laugh.
He knew that he had in his pocket a secret quit-claim from Russia and Italy, Denmark and Belgium were tied in another way, Spain was hostile to the French, and as for England—he snapped his fingers!
“Defy me, and I tell you what I will do! We have in Germany about 100,000 excellent French troops, captured at Metz, who are still wholly devoted106 to the old Imperial cause.[216] I will release them and bring back the Bonapartists! I care not who is in power so long as the proper sovereign government of France signs our peace demands for indemnity. Napoleon cannot do it, as his throne is in ruins; and even if he did, the next party in power would probably set it aside. So part of my duty is not only to demand for my King the just rewards of our victory, but to start France again with some new form of government.”
Going behind this stern diplomatic language, what Bismarck really meant was this: “The longer the French Assembly hesitates to call an election the more we will starve the city into submission107. Live on horseflesh, stale bread, cats and dogs!—die of fever and pestilence108!—the sooner it is over! Our siege guns will continue to bark night and day, Paris will be reduced to ashes, crumble109 to ruins, but the demands of the Prussian King must be obeyed. No power on this earth can turn me from my project. I am resolved to wage a war of extermination—and I have spoken!”
“Very well, then!” exclaimed M. Thiers, “M. le Comte, as you will! Rob us of our homes!—provinces!—burn down our homes!—strangle our peaceful inhabitants!—in a word, complete your work! We shall fight you as long as our breath remains110. Perhaps we shall die—but we shall never be dishonored.”
Bismarck seemed touched, but said all he had to do was to obey the orders of the King.
Meantime he went out and was closeted again with Moltke and His Majesty.
“I do not believe,” said M. Favre, “that any criminal ever waited for the judgment111 with more feverish112 anxiety. Motionless, we followed with bewildered gaze the hands of the clock.
“The door opened; Bismarck stood on the threshold, announcing that he would not insist on the German troops entering Paris—provided we gave up Belfort!
“There was a moment of inexpressible agony, but an exchange of glances sufficed. ‘We should be wanting in patriotism[217] if we accepted!’ exclaimed M. Thiers. The door closed and Bismarck disappeared again.
“At eight o’clock, M. Thiers had reaped the reward of his heroic endeavors. He had saved Belfort, but in all other respects he had absolutely failed to move the man of blood and iron. For five fearful days they had wrestled113 with the problem of the 5,000,000,000—and had lost! Bismarck had his own banker, the Jew Bleichroder, to show that after all the indemnity would be adding ‘only about one-fourth’ to France’s national debt.”
On Sunday, February 26, the preliminaries of peace were signed. As Thiers signed, Bismarck took him by the hand, saying, “You are the last who ought to have been burdened by France with this sorrow—for of all Frenchmen you have the least deserved it!”
Bismarck, radiant with joy, signed the papers with a new golden pen sent him for this express purpose by the ladies of the German town of Pforsheim.
Said M. Favre: “The countenance114 of M. de Bismarck was most happy. With theatrical115 pomp, he sent for a golden pen.... M. Thiers approached the little table on which lay the documents; he wrote his name without betraying the feelings that tortured him. I tried to imitate him, and we withdrew. The sacrifice was accomplished116.
“As a special understanding, it was agreed that the siege should be lifted that morning at four o’clock and that France should fire the last shot.
“What sentiment in this, for Paris! Along then, in the deep night that precedes the dawn, with the sky illuminated117 by occasional flashes of the siege guns, at last the fire lessened118, slackened gradually, and then solemn silence fell. Suddenly, through the night, a loud report was heard from the Paris ramparts, followed by a path of fire through the sky; this immediately died away, and deep silence, now unbroken, continued.
“The long siege was over!”
On the third day after signing the hard conditions, 30,000[218] German troops made their triumphal entry into Paris, after being reviewed on the plain of Longchamps.
With the victorious119 Prussians, Bismarck rode as far as the Arc de Triomphe.
It was one of the greatest incidents of his eventful life.
We have transposed to the last an episode that took place January 18th, 1871, the anniversary of the day on which the first King of Prussia had himself crowned at Koenigsberg, 1701.
In the Hall of Mirrors, at Versailles, King William I of Prussia was crowned German Emperor, amidst a clash of arms, martial120 music, hymns121 of praise, and the felicitations of a brilliant throng122.
In the semi-circle stood princes, grand dukes, dukes, crown princes, hereditary123 princes, generals, ministers, military and political figures, against a background of Prussian hussars.
The Hall of Mirrors at Versailles had seen many astonishing sights in the centuries gone by; and doubtless that night the shades of Richelieu, Louis XIV, Napoleon, Marie Antoinette, Marie Theresa, Madam Pompadour, looked down on one of the strangest incidents in all history, a German Emperor receiving his crown in the very palace of the old French kings, who in their turn, had waged some twenty hard wars upon Germany, and more than once had placed some part of German soil in pawn124. Who read the proclamation to the assembled company expressing the new dignity of the sovereign over United Germany?
The Man of Blood and Iron, Otto von Bismarck, at last had demonstrated the dream of his life, that is to say, he had in truth not only long been King’s Man, but also long had upheld the King his master; had unified125 Germany;—and now had made his master more than king, as William I, German Emperor.
Bismarck’s life work was now practically over; however, he was a busy man for twenty years to come, trying to settle Germany’s perplexing internal problems; but in the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles he reached the zenith of his stupendous career as unifier of his country.[219]
In this magnificent state apartment of Louis XIV are seventeen arcades126 of looking-glass, corresponding to the seventeen large windows; the ceiling by Lebrun shows thirty incidents in the life of Louis the Magnificent, each painting bordered by rich gilded127 sculptures.
The entire gallery is decorated with marbles and grand trophies128 of gilded copper129, by Coysevox.
In Louis’s time, the gallery was hung in white damask brocaded with gold; there were orange trees in rare boxes; the great central chandelier of gilded silver was by famous smiths; priceless Savonnerie carpets muffled130 the lightest foot-fall; round about were silver stools, with green velvet131 coverings surrounded by bands of gold brocade. Later, the silver was melted down, on Louis’s order, and the money squandered132.
These great artists worked in the Hall of Mirrors and neighboring apartments: Berain, Monsart, Lebrun, Lenotre, Grissey, Vigarani, Audran, Baptiste, Coustau, Coypel, Van Cleve, Taffieri, Taupin, Tempore, Temporiti, numbering among them painters, sculptors133, designers, architects, wood carvers, silversmiths and lockmakers extraordinary.
Here, Louis, surrounded by some 1,500 flatterers of all degree, high and low, kept his court of pleasure bestowing134 ribbons, favors, dinners, golden swords for the men, diamond necklaces for the women.
However, 1789 ended all that; the mob stormed into imperial chambers135 and through the apartments of the old aristocratic French courtesans; and with clubs, axes and fires laid in ruin art treasures that stood unmatched through centuries.
To this Versailles come now the Prussian soldiers to proclaim their German Emperor; in this palace, where the Bourbons had expended136 some 200,000,000 francs, as money is reckoned today; to say nothing of the free labor137 of thousands of convicts.
No record tells what Louis spent on the place, but in August, 1684, 8,000 horses and 20,000 convicts were working there, and in 1685 at one time as many as 36,000 convicts, in charge of soldiers, added their vast free labor to heighten the peculiar[220] glory of the great French monarchs138, as the sublime139 representatives of kingcraft—in its splendor140 and in its downfall.
All hail, William I, German Emperor! All hail, Bismarck! All hail, United Germany!
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
trite
|
|
| adj.陈腐的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
inevitable
|
|
| adj.不可避免的，必然发生的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
intrigue
|
|
| vt.激起兴趣，迷住；vi.耍阴谋；n.阴谋，密谋 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
annexation
|
|
| n.吞并，合并 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
brigandage
|
|
| n.抢劫；盗窃；土匪；强盗 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
controversy
|
|
| n.争论，辩论，争吵 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
unifying
|
|
| 使联合( unify的现在分词 )； 使相同； 使一致； 统一 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
peculiar
|
|
| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
diabolical
|
|
| adj.恶魔似的，凶暴的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
martinet
|
|
| n.要求严格服从纪律的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
thoroughly
|
|
| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
moodily
|
|
| adv.喜怒无常地；情绪多变地；心情不稳地；易生气地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
spoke
|
|
| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
bloodiest
|
|
| adj.血污的( bloody的最高级 )；流血的；屠杀的；残忍的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
bugle
|
|
| n.军号，号角，喇叭；v.吹号，吹号召集 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
resounds
|
|
| v.（指声音等）回荡于某处( resound的第三人称单数 )；产生回响；（指某处）回荡着声音 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
swarm
|
|
| n.(昆虫)等一大群；vi.成群飞舞；蜂拥而入 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
biliousness
|
|
| [医] 胆汁质 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
|
19
irritability
|
|
| n.易怒 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
corps
|
|
| n.(通信等兵种的)部队；(同类作的)一组 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
privy
|
|
| adj.私用的；隐密的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
chancellor
|
|
| n.(英)大臣；法官；(德、奥)总理；大学校长 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
cavalry
|
|
| n.骑兵；轻装甲部队 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
chateau
|
|
| n.城堡，别墅 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
gilt
|
|
| adj.镀金的；n.金边证券 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
forth
|
|
| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
majesty
|
|
| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
champagne
|
|
| n.香槟酒；微黄色 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
ironical
|
|
| adj.讽刺的，冷嘲的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
waggishly
|
|
| adv.waggish（滑稽的，诙谐的）的变形 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
|
31
decided
|
|
| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
insolent
|
|
| adj.傲慢的，无理的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
ignominious
|
|
| adj.可鄙的，不光彩的，耻辱的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
civilized
|
|
| a.有教养的，文雅的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
amazement
|
|
| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
drawn
|
|
| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
ratified
|
|
| v.批准，签认（合约等）( ratify的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
weaver
|
|
| n.织布工；编织者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
unity
|
|
| n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
cannon
|
|
| n.大炮，火炮；飞机上的机关炮 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
frightful
|
|
| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
serried
|
|
| adj.拥挤的；密集的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
exertions
|
|
| n.努力( exertion的名词复数 )；费力；（能力、权力等的）运用；行使 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
plunged
|
|
| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
toll
|
|
| n.过路(桥)费；损失，伤亡人数；v.敲(钟) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
bloody
|
|
| adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
standing
|
|
| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
concealed
|
|
| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
plowed
|
|
| v.耕( plow的过去式和过去分词 )；犁耕；费力穿过 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
miserable
|
|
| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
morsel
|
|
| n.一口，一点点 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
mattresses
|
|
| 褥垫，床垫( mattress的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
beverage
|
|
| n.(水，酒等之外的)饮料 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
almighty
|
|
| adj.全能的，万能的；很大的，很强的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
mighty
|
|
| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
perfectly
|
|
| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
puffs
|
|
| n.吸( puff的名词复数 )；（烟斗或香烟的）一吸；一缕（烟、蒸汽等）；（呼吸或风的）呼v.使喷出( puff的第三人称单数 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
reign
|
|
| n.统治时期，统治，支配，盛行；v.占优势 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
lieutenant
|
|
| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
cyclone
|
|
| n.旋风，龙卷风 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
devastated
|
|
| v.彻底破坏( devastate的过去式和过去分词)；摧毁；毁灭；在感情上（精神上、财务上等）压垮adj.毁坏的；极为震惊的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
rumbling
|
|
| n. 隆隆声, 辘辘声 adj. 隆隆响的 动词rumble的现在分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
hues
|
|
| 色彩( hue的名词复数 )； 色调； 信仰； 观点 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
prodigious
|
|
| adj.惊人的，奇妙的；异常的；巨大的；庞大的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
dodged
|
|
| v.闪躲( dodge的过去式和过去分词 )；回避 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
fortress
|
|
| n.堡垒，防御工事 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
momentous
|
|
| adj.重要的，重大的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
infantry
|
|
| n.[总称]步兵(部队) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
retinue
|
|
| n.侍从；随员 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
artillery
|
|
| n.(军)火炮，大炮；炮兵(部队) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
71
doomed
|
|
| 命定的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
72
hoisted
|
|
| 把…吊起，升起( hoist的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
73
truce
|
|
| n.休战，(争执，烦恼等的)缓和；v.以停战结束 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
74
heroism
|
|
| n.大无畏精神，英勇 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
75
armistice
|
|
| n.休战，停战协定 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
76
awakened
|
|
| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
77
gritted
|
|
| v.以沙砾覆盖（某物），撒沙砾于( grit的过去式和过去分词 )；咬紧牙关 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
78
gorge
|
|
| n.咽喉，胃，暴食，山峡；v.塞饱，狼吞虎咽地吃 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
79
refreshment
|
|
| n.恢复，精神爽快，提神之事物；（复数）refreshments:点心，茶点 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
80
brotherhood
|
|
| n.兄弟般的关系，手中情谊 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
81
onward
|
|
| adj.向前的，前进的；adv.向前，前进，在先 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
82
solitary
|
|
| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
83
slate
|
|
| n.板岩，石板，石片，石板色，候选人名单；adj.暗蓝灰色的，含板岩的；vt.用石板覆盖，痛打，提名，预订 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
84
ascend
|
|
| vi.渐渐上升，升高；vt.攀登，登上 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
85
chamber
|
|
| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
86
emulate
|
|
| v.努力赶上或超越，与…竞争；效仿 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
87
frankly
|
|
| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
88
impending
|
|
| a.imminent, about to come or happen | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
89
bluff
|
|
| v.虚张声势，用假象骗人；n.虚张声势，欺骗 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
90
conspiracy
|
|
| n.阴谋，密谋，共谋 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
91
supreme
|
|
| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
92
ingenuity
|
|
| n.别出心裁；善于发明创造 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
93
tempted
|
|
| v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
94
leniently
|
|
| 温和地，仁慈地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
95
jaws
|
|
| n.口部；嘴 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
96
determined
|
|
| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
97
justified
|
|
| a.正当的，有理的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
98
whetted
|
|
| v.（在石头上）磨（刀、斧等）( whet的过去式和过去分词 )；引起，刺激（食欲、欲望、兴趣等） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
99
wielded
|
|
| 手持着使用（武器、工具等）( wield的过去式和过去分词 )； 具有； 运用（权力）； 施加（影响） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
100
prominence
|
|
| n.突出；显著；杰出；重要 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
101
unifier
|
|
| 联合者，统一者，使一致的人（或物）； 通代 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
102
indemnity
|
|
| n.赔偿，赔款，补偿金 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
103
confiscation
|
|
| n. 没收, 充公, 征收 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
104
eloquently
|
|
| adv. 雄辩地(有口才地, 富于表情地) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
105
hoarse
|
|
| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
106
devoted
|
|
| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
107
submission
|
|
| n.服从，投降；温顺，谦虚；提出 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
108
pestilence
|
|
| n.瘟疫 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
109
crumble
|
|
| vi.碎裂，崩溃；vt.弄碎，摧毁 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
110
remains
|
|
| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
111
judgment
|
|
| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
112
feverish
|
|
| adj.发烧的，狂热的，兴奋的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
113
wrestled
|
|
| v.（与某人）搏斗( wrestle的过去式和过去分词 )；扭成一团；扭打；（与…）摔跤 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
114
countenance
|
|
| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
115
theatrical
|
|
| adj.剧场的，演戏的；做戏似的，做作的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
116
accomplished
|
|
| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
117
illuminated
|
|
| adj.被照明的；受启迪的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
118
lessened
|
|
| 减少的，减弱的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
119
victorious
|
|
| adj.胜利的，得胜的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
120
martial
|
|
| adj.战争的，军事的，尚武的，威武的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
121
hymns
|
|
| n.赞美诗，圣歌，颂歌( hymn的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
122
throng
|
|
| n.人群，群众；v.拥挤，群集 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
123
hereditary
|
|
| adj.遗传的，遗传性的，可继承的，世袭的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
124
pawn
|
|
| n.典当，抵押，小人物，走卒；v.典当，抵押 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
125
unified
|
|
| (unify 的过去式和过去分词)； 统一的； 统一标准的； 一元化的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
126
arcades
|
|
| n.商场( arcade的名词复数 )；拱形走道（两旁有商店或娱乐设施）；连拱廊；拱形建筑物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
127
gilded
|
|
| a.镀金的，富有的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
128
trophies
|
|
| n.（为竞赛获胜者颁发的）奖品( trophy的名词复数 )；奖杯；（尤指狩猎或战争中获得的）纪念品；（用于比赛或赛跑名称）奖 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
129
copper
|
|
| n.铜；铜币；铜器；adj.铜(制)的；(紫)铜色的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
130
muffled
|
|
| adj.（声音）被隔的；听不太清的；（衣服）裹严的；蒙住的v.压抑，捂住( muffle的过去式和过去分词 )；用厚厚的衣帽包着（自己） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
131
velvet
|
|
| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
132
squandered
|
|
| v.（指钱，财产等）浪费，乱花( squander的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
133
sculptors
|
|
| 雕刻家，雕塑家( sculptor的名词复数 )； [天]玉夫座 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
134
bestowing
|
|
| 砖窑中砖堆上层已烧透的砖 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
135
chambers
|
|
| n.房间( chamber的名词复数 )；（议会的）议院；卧室；会议厅 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
136
expended
|
|
| v.花费( expend的过去式和过去分词 )；使用（钱等）做某事；用光；耗尽 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
137
labor
|
|
| n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
138
monarchs
|
|
| 君主，帝王( monarch的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
139
sublime
|
|
| adj.崇高的，伟大的；极度的，不顾后果的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
140
splendor
|
|
| n.光彩；壮丽，华丽；显赫，辉煌 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |