Wusterhausen, where the young Crown Prince spent many of these early years of his life, was a rural retreat of the king about twenty miles southeast from Berlin. The palace consisted of a plain, unornamented, rectangular pile, surrounded by numerous outbuildings, and rising from the midst of low and swampy3 grounds tangled4 with thickets5 and interspersed6 with fish-pools. Game of all kinds abounded7 in those lakelets, sluggish8 streams, and jungles.
In the court-yard there was a fountain with stone steps, where Frederick William loved to sit on summer evenings and smoke his pipe. He frequently took his frugal9 dinner here in the open air under a lime-tree, with the additional protection of an awning10. After dinner he would throw himself down for a nap on a wooden bench, apparently11 regardless of the flaming sun.
37 There seems to have been but little which was attractive about this castle. It was surrounded by a moat, which Wilhelmina describes as a “black, abominable12 ditch.” Its pets were shrieking14 eagles, and two black bears ugly and vicious. Its interior accommodations were at the farthest possible remove from luxurious15 indulgence. “It was a dreadfully crowded place,” says Wilhelmina, “where you are stuffed into garrets and have not room to turn.”
Still Wusterhausen was but a hunting-lodge, which was occupied by the king only during a few weeks in the autumn. Fritz had many playmates—his brothers and sisters, his cousins, and the children of General Finkenstein. To most boys, the streams, and groves16, and ponds of Wusterhausen, abounding17 with fish and all kinds of game, with ponies18 to drive and boats to row, with picturesque19 walks and drives, would have been full of charms. But the tastes of Fritz did not lie in that direction. He does not seem to have become strongly attached to any of his young companions, except to his sister Wilhelmina. The affection and confidence which united their hearts were truly beautiful. They encountered together some of the severest of life’s trials, but heartfelt sympathy united them. The nickname which these children gave their unamiable father was Stumpy.
There were other abodes21 of the king, the Berlin and Potsdam palaces, which retained much of the splendor22 with which they had been embellished23 by the splendor-loving monarch24, Frederick I. There were but few regal mansions25 in the world which then surpassed them. And though the king furnished his own apartments with Spartan27 simplicity28 and rudeness, there were other portions of these royal residences, as also their surroundings in general, which were magnificent in the highest degree. The health of little Fritz was rather frail29, and at times he found it hard to devote himself to his sturdy tasks with the energy which his father required.
Though Fritz wrote a legible business hand, was well instructed in most points of useful knowledge, and had a very decided30 taste for elegant literature, he never attained31 correctness in spelling. The father was bitterly opposed to Latin. Perhaps it was the prohibition32 which inspired the son with an intense desire to learn that language. He took secret lessons. His vigilant33 father38 caught him in the very act, with dictionary and grammar, and a teacher by his side. The infuriated king, volleying forth34 his rage, would have caned35 the teacher had he not in terror fled.5
The king soon learned, to his inexpressible displeasure and mortification37, that his boy was not soldierly in his tastes; that he did not love the rude adventures of the chase, or the exposure and hardships which a martial38 life demands. He had caught Fritz playing the flute39, and even writing verses. He saw that he was fond of graceful40 attire41, and that he was disposed to dress his hair in the French fashion. He was a remarkably42 handsome boy, of fine figure, with a lady’s hand and foot, and soft blonde locks carefully combed. All this the king despised. Scornfully and indignantly he exclaimed, “My son is a flute-player and a poet!” In his vexation he summoned Fritz to his presence, called in the barber, and ordered his flowing locks to be cut off, cropped, and soaped in the most rigid43 style of military cut.
The father was now rapidly forming a strong dislike to the character of his son. In nothing were they in harmony. Five princesses had been born, sisters of Fritz. At last another son was born, Augustus William, ten years younger than Frederick. The king turned his eyes to him, hoping that he would be more in sympathy with the paternal44 heart. His dislike for Fritz grew continually more implacable, until it assumed the aspect of bitter hatred45.
Sophie Dorothee tenderly loved her little Fritz, and, with a mother’s fondness, endeavored to shield him, in every way in her power, from his father’s brutality46. Wilhelmina also clung to her brother with devotion which nothing could disturb. Thus both mother and daughter incurred47 in some degree the hatred with which the father regarded his son. It will be remembered that the mother of Fritz was daughter of George I. of England. Her brother subsequently became George II. He had a son, Fred, about the age of Wilhelmina, and a daughter, Amelia, six months older than Fritz. The mother, Sophie Dorothee, had set her heart upon a double marriage—of Wilhelmina with Fred,39 and of Fritz with Amelia. But many obstacles arose in the way of these nuptials49.
MAKING A SOLDIER OF HIM.
George was a taciturn, jealous, sullen50 old man, who quarreled with his son, who was then Prince of Wales. The other powers of Europe were decidedly opposed to this double marriage, as it would, in their view, create too intimate a union between Prussia and England, making them virtually one. Frederick William also vexatiously threw hinderances in the way. But the heart of the loving mother, Sophie Dorothee, was fixed51 upon these nuptials. For years she left no efforts of diplomacy52 or intrigue53 untried to accomplish her end. George I. is represented40 by Horace Walpole as a stolid54, stubborn old German, living in a cloud of tobacco-smoke, and stupefying his faculties55 with beer. He had in some way formed a very unfavorable opinion of Wilhelmina, considering her, very falsely, ungainly in person and fretful in disposition56. But at last the tact57 of Sophie Dorothee so far prevailed over her father, the British king, that he gave his somewhat reluctant but positive consent to the double matrimonial alliance. This was in 1723. Wilhelmina was then fourteen years of age. Fritz, but eleven years old, was too young to think very deeply upon the subject of his marriage. The young English Fred bore at that time the title of the Duke of Gloucester. He soon sent an envoy58 to Prussia, probably to convey to his intended bride presents and messages of love. The interview took place in the palace of Charlottenburg, a few miles out from Berlin. The vivacious59 Wilhelmina, in the following terms, describes the interview in her journal:
“There came, in those weeks, one of the Duke of Gloucester’s gentlemen to Berlin. The queen had a soiree. He was presented to her as well as to me. He made a very obliging compliment on his master’s part. I blushed and answered only by a courtesy. The queen, who had her eye on me, was very angry that I had answered the duke’s compliments in mere60 silence, and rated me sharply for it, and ordered me, under pain of her indignation, to repair that fault to-morrow. I retired61 all in tears to my room, exasperated62 against the queen and against the duke. I vowed63 I would never marry him.
“Meanwhile the King of England’s time of arrival was drawing nigh. We repaired on the 6th of October to Charlottenburg to receive him. My heart kept beating. I was in cruel agitations65. King George arrived on the 8th about seven in the evening. The King of Prussia, the queen, and all their suite66 received him in the court of the palace, the apartments being on the ground floor. So soon as he had saluted67 the king and queen I was presented to him. He embraced me, and, turning to the queen, said, ‘Your daughter is very large of her age.’ He gave the queen his hand and led her into her apartment, whither every body followed them. As soon as I came in he took a light from the table and surveyed me from head to foot. I stood motionless as a statue, and was much put out of countenance68. All41 this went on without his uttering the least word. Having thus passed me in review, he addressed himself to my brother, whom he caressed69 much and amused himself with for a good while.
“The queen made me a sign to follow her, and passed into a neighboring apartment, where she had the English and Germans of King George’s suite successively presented to her. After some talk with these gentlemen she withdrew, leaving me to entertain them, and saying, ‘Speak English to my daughter; you will find she speaks it very well.’ I felt much less embarrassed when the queen was gone, and, picking up a little courage, entered into conversation with these English. As I spoke70 their language like my mother tongue I got pretty well out of the affair, and every body seemed charmed with me. They made my eulogy71 to the queen; told her I had quite the English air, and was made to be their sovereign one day. It was saying a great deal on their part; for these English think themselves so much above all other people that they imagine that they are paying a high compliment when they tell any one he has got English manners.
“Their king” (Wilhelmina’s grandfather) “was of extreme gravity, and hardly spoke a word to any body. He saluted Madam Sonsfeld, my governess, very coldly, and asked if I was always so serious, and if my humor was of a melancholy72 turn. ‘Any thing but that, sire,’ answered Madam Sonsfeld; ‘but the respect she has for your majesty73 prevents her from being as sprightly74 as she commonly is.’ He shook his head and said nothing. The reception he had given me, and this question, gave me such a chill that I never had the courage to speak to him.”
The wife of George I., the mother of Sophie Dorothee, was the subject of one of the saddest of earthly tragedies. Her case is still involved in some obscurity. She was a beautiful, haughty75, passionate76 princess of Zelle when she married her cousin George, Elector of Hanover. George became jealous of Count K?nigsmark, a very handsome courtier of commanding address. In an angry altercation77 with his wife, it is said that the infuriate husband boxed her ears. Suddenly, on the 1st of July, 1694, Count K?nigsmark disappeared. Mysteriously he vanished from earth, and was heard of no more. The unhappy wife, who had given birth to the daughter Sophie Dorothee, bearing her mother’s name, and to a son, afterward78 George II., almost frenzied79 with42 rage, was divorced from her husband, and was locked up in the gloomy castle of Ahlden, situated80 in the solitary81 moors82 of Luneburg heath. Here she was held in captivity83 for thirty years, until she died. In the mean time, George, ascending84 the throne of England, solaced85 himself in the society of female favorites, none of whom he honored with the title of wife. The raging captive of Ahlden, who seems never to have become submissive to her lot, could, of course, exert no influence in the marriage of her grandchildren.
Wilhelmina says that her grandpapa George was intolerably proud after he had attained the dignity of King of England, and that he was much disposed to look down upon her father, the King of Prussia, as occupying a very inferior position. Vexatiously he delayed signing the marriage treaty, to which he had given a verbal assent86, evading87 the subject and presenting frivolous88 excuses. The reputation of the English Fred was far from good. He had attained eighteen years of age, was very unattractive in personal appearance, and extremely dissolute. George I., morose89 and moody90, was only rendered more obstinate91 by being pressed. These delays exasperated Frederick William, who was far from being the meekest92 of men. Poor Sophie Dorothee was annoyed almost beyond endurance. Wilhelmina took the matter very coolly, for she declared that she cared nothing about her cousin Fred, and that she had no wish to marry him.
The months rolled rapidly on, and Fritz, having entered his fourteenth year, was appointed by his father, in May, 1725, captain in the Potsdam Grenadier Guard. This giant regiment93 has attained world-wide renown94, solely95 from the peculiarity97 of its organization. Such a body of men never existed before, never will again. It was one of the singular freaks of the Prussian king to form a grenadier guard of men of gigantic stature98. In the prosecution99 of this senseless aim not only his own realms were ransacked100, but Europe and even Asia was explored in search of giants. The army was with Frederick William the great object of life, and the giant guard was the soul of the army. This guard consisted of three battalions101, 800 in each, 2400 in all. The shortest of the men were nearly seven feet high. The tallest were almost nine feet in height. They had been gathered, at an enormous expense, out of every country where they could be found. No greater favor could be conferred upon the king than to obtain for him a giant. Many amusing anecdotes102 are related of the stratagems103 to which the king resorted to obtain these mammoth104 soldiers. Portraits were painted of all of them. Frederick William paid very little regard to individual rights or to the law of nations if any chance presented itself by which he could seize upon one of these monster men. Reigning105 in absolutism, compared with which the despotism of Turkey is mild, if he found in his domains106 any young woman of remarkable108 stature, he would compel her to marry one of his giants. It does not, however, appear that he thus succeeded in perpetuating109 a gigantic race.
43
CAPTAIN OF THE GIANT GUARDS.
44 Prussian recruiters were sent in all directions to search with eagle eyes for candidates for the Potsdam Guard. Their pay was higher than that of any other troops, and they enjoyed unusual privileges. Their drill and discipline were as perfect as could by any possibility be achieved. The following stories are apparently well-authenticated, describing the means to which the king often resorted to obtain these men.
In the town of Zulich there was a very tall young carpenter by the name of Zimmerman. A Prussian recruiting officer, in disguise, Baron110 von Hompesch, entered the shop and ordered a stout111 chest to be made, “six feet six inches in length, at least—at all events, longer than yourself, Mr. Zimmerman. Mind you,” he added, “if too short it will be of no service to me.” At the appointed time he called for the chest. Looking at it, he exclaimed, in apparent disappointment, “Too short, as I dreaded112!” “I am certain it is over six feet six,” said the carpenter, taking out his rule. “But I said that it was to be longer than yourself,” was the reply. “Well, it is,” rejoined the carpenter. To prove it, he jumped into the chest. Hompesch slammed down the lid, locked it, whistled, and three stout fellows came in, who shouldered the chest and carried it through the streets to a remote place outside of the town. Here the chest was opened, and poor Zimmerman was found dead, stifled113 to death.
On another occasion, an Austrian gentleman, M. Von Bentenrieder, who was exceedingly tall, was journeying from Vienna to Berlin as the embassador from the Emperor Charles VI. to the Congress of Cambrai. When near Halberstadt some part of his carriage broke. While the smith was repairing it, M. Bentenrieder walked on. He passed a Prussian guard-house, alone, in plain clothes, on foot, an immensely tall, well-formed man. It was too rich a prize to be lost. The officials seized him, and hurried him into the guard-house. But soon his carriage came along with his suite. He was obsequiously114 hailed as “Your Excellency.” The recruiting officers of Frederick William, mortified115 and chagrined116, with many apologies released the embassador of the emperor.
As we have mentioned, the agents of the King of Prussia were45 eager to kidnap tall men, in whatever country they could find them. This greatly exasperated the rulers of the various realms of all sizes and conditions which surrounded the Prussian territory. Frederick William was always ready to apologize, and to aver117 that each individual act was done without his orders or knowledge. Still, there was no abatement118 of this nuisance. Several seizures119 had been made in Hanover, which was the hereditary120 domain107 of George I., King of England. George was very angry. He was increasingly obstinate in withholding121 his assent to the double marriage, and even, by way of reprisal122, seized several of the subjects of Frederick William, whom he caught in Hanover.
Sophie Dorothee seemed to have but one thought—the double marriage. This would make Wilhelmina queen of England, and would give her dear son Frederick an English princess for his bride. Her efforts, embarrassments123, disappointments, were endless. Frederick William began to be regarded by the other powers as a very formidable man, whose alliance was exceedingly desirable. His army, of sixty thousand men, rapidly increasing, was as perfect in drill and discipline as ever existed. It was thoroughly124 furnished with all the appliances of war. The king himself, living in Spartan simplicity, and cutting down the expenses of his court to the lowest possible figure, was consecrating125 the resources of his realm to the promotion126 of its physical strength, and was accumulating iron-bound casks of gold and silver coin in the cellars of his palace. It became a matter of much moment to every court in Europe whether such a monarch should be its enemy or its ally.
After a long series of intrigues127, a narrative128 of which would not interest the reader, Frederick William was induced to enter into an alliance, offensive and defensive129, with the Emperor Charles VI. of Germany. This was renouncing130 the alliance with England, and threw an additional obstacle in the way of the double marriage. Sophie Dorothee was bitterly disappointed, and yet pertinaciously131 struggled on to accomplish her end.
There was an institution, if we may so call it, in the palace of the King of Prussia which became greatly renowned132, and which was denominated “The Tobacco College,” or “Tobacco Parliament.” It consisted simply of a smoking-room very plainly furnished,46 where the king and about a dozen of his confidential133 advisers134 met to smoke and to talk over, with perfect freedom and informality, affairs of state. Carlyle thus quaintly135 describes this Tabagie:
THE TOBACCO PARLIAMENT.
“Any room that was large enough, and had height of ceiling and air circulation, and no cloth furniture, would do. And in each palace is one, or more than one, that has been fixed upon and fitted out for that object. A high room, as the engravings give it us; contented136, saturnine137 human figures, a dozen or so of them, sitting around a large, long table furnished for the occasion; a long Dutch pipe in the mouth of each man; supplies of knaster easily accessible; small pan of burning peat, in the Dutch fashion (sandy native charcoal138, which burns slowly without smoke), is at your left hand; at your right a jug139, which I find to consist of excellent, thin, bitter beer; other costlier140 materials for drinking, if you want such, are not beyond reach. On side-tables stand wholesome141 cold meats, royal rounds of beef not wanting, with bread thinly sliced and buttered; in a rustic143, but neat and abundant way, such innocent accommodations, narcotic144 or nutritious145, gaseous146, fluid, and solid, as human nature can require.47 Perfect equality is the rule; no rising or no notice taken when any body enters or leaves. Let the entering man take his place and pipe without obligatory147 remarks. If he can not smoke, let him at least affect to do so, and not ruffle148 the established stream of things. And so puff149, slowly puff! and any comfortable speech that is in you, or none, if you authentically150 have not any.”
Distinguished151 strangers were often admitted to the Tabagie. The Crown Prince Fritz was occasionally present, though always reluctantly. The other children of this numerous family not unfrequently came in to bid papa good-night. Here every thing was talked of, with entire freedom, all court gossip, the adventures of the chase, diplomacy, and the administrative152 measures of the government. Frederick William had but very little respect for academic culture. He had scarcely the slightest acquaintance with books, and gathered around him mainly men whose knowledge was gained in the practical employments of life. It would seem, from many well-authenticated anecdotes, which have come down to us from the Tabagie, that these smoking companions of the king, like Frederick William himself, must have been generally a coarse set of men.
One of this smoking cabinet was a celebrated153 adventurer named Gundling, endowed with wonderful encyclopedian knowledge, and an incorrigible154 drunkard. He had been every where, seen every thing, and remembered all which he had either heard or seen. Frederick William had accidentally picked him up, and, taking a fancy to him, had clothed him, pensioned him, and introduced him to his Tabagie, where his peculiar96 character often made him the butt142 of ridicule155. He was excessively vain, wore a scarlet156 coat, and all manner of pranks157 were cut up by these boon158 companions, in the midst of their cups, at his expense.
Another adventurer, by the name of Fassman, who had written books, and who made much literary pretension159, had come to Berlin and also got introduced to the Tabagie. He was in character very like Gundling, and the two could never agree. Fassman could be very sarcastic160 and bitter in his speech. One evening, as the king and his smoking cabinet were sitting enveloped161 in the clouds which they were breathing forth, and were all muddled162 with tobacco and beer—for the king himself was a hard drinker—Fassman so enraged163 Gundling by some cutting48 remarks, that the latter seized his pan of burning peat and red-hot sand and dashed it into the face of his antagonist164. Fassman, who was much the more powerful of the two, was seriously burned. He instantly grasped his antagonist, dragged him down, and beat him savagely166 with his hot pan, amidst roars of laughter from the beer-stupefied bacchanals.
The half-intoxicated king gravely suggests that such conduct is hardly seemly among gentlemen; that the duel167 is the more chivalric168 way of settling such difficulties. Fassman challenges Gundling. They meet with pistols. It is understood by the seconds that it is to be rather a Pickwickian encounter. The trembling Gundling, when he sees his antagonist before him, with the deadly weapon in his hand, throws his pistol away, which his considerate friends had harmlessly loaded with powder only, declaring that he would not shoot any man, or have any man shoot him. Fassman sternly advances with his harmless pistol, and shoots the powder into Gundling’s wig169. It blazes into a flame. With a shriek13 Gundling falls to the ground as if dead. A bucket of water extinguishes the flames, and roars of laughter echo over the chivalric field of combat.
Such was the Tobacco Parliament in its trivial aspects. But it had also its serious functions. Many questions were discussed there which stirred men’s souls, and which roused the ambition or the wrath170 of the stern old king to the utmost pitch.
We have now reached the year 1726. The Emperor of Germany declares that he can never give his consent to the double marriage with the English princes. Frederick William, who is not at all fond of his wife’s relatives, and is annoyed by the hesitancy which his father-in-law has manifested in reference to it, is also turning his obstinate will against the nuptial48 alliance. A more imperative171 and inflexible172 man never breathed. This year the unhappy wife of George I. died, unreconciled, wretched, exasperated, after thirty years’ captivity in the castle of Ahlden. Darker and darker seemed the gloom which enveloped the path of Sophie Dorothee. She still clung to the marriages as the dearest hope of her heart. It was with her an ever-present thought. But Frederick William was the most obdurate173 and obstinate of mortals.
“The wide, overarching sky,” writes Carlyle, “looks down on49 no more inflexible sovereign man than him, in the red-collared blue coat and white leggins, with the bamboo in his hand; a peaceable, capacious, not ill-given sovereign man, if you will let him have his way; but to bar his way, to tweak the nose of his sovereign royalty174, and ignominiously175 force him into another way, that is an enterprise no man or devil, or body of men or devils, need attempt. The first step in such an attempt will require to be the assassination176 of Frederick Wilhelm, for you may depend upon it, royal Sophie, so long as he is alive the feat177 can not be done.”
While these scenes were transpiring178 the Crown Prince was habitually179 residing at Potsdam, a favorite royal residence about seventeen miles west from Berlin. Here he was rigidly180 attending to his duties in the giant regiment. We have now, in our narrative, reached the year 1727. Fritz is fifteen years of age. He is attracting attention by his vivacity181, his ingenuous182, agreeable manners, and his fondness for polite literature. He occasionally is summoned by his father to the Smoking Cabinet. But the delicacy183 of his physical organization is such that he loathes184 tobacco, and only pretends to smoke, with mock gravity puffing185 from his empty, white clay pipe. Neither has he any relish186 for the society which he meets there. Though faithful to the mechanical duties of the drill, they were very irksome to him. His books and his flute were his chief joy. Voltaire was just then rising to celebrity187 in France. His writings began to attract the attention of literary men throughout Europe. Fritz, in his youthful enthusiasm, was charmed by them. In the latter part of June, 1729, a courier brought the intelligence to Berlin that George I. had suddenly died of apoplexy. He was on a journey to Hanover when he was struck down on the road. Almost insensible, he was conveyed, on the full gallop188, to Osnabrück, where his brother, who was a bishop189, resided, and where medical aid could be obtained. But the shaft190 was fatal. At midnight his carriage reached Osnabrück. The old man, sixty-seven years of age, was heard to murmur191, “It is all over with me,” and his spirit passed away to the judgment192.
The death of George I. affected193 the strange Frederick William very deeply. He not only shed tears, but, if we may be pardoned the expression, blubbered like a child. His health seemed50 to fail, and hypochondria, in its most melancholy form, tormented194 him. As is not unusual in such cases, he became excessively religious. Every enjoyment195 was deemed sinful, if we except the indulgence in an ungovernable temper, which the self-righteous king made no attempt to curb196. Wilhelmina, describing this state of things with her graphic197 pen, writes:
“He condemned198 all pleasures; damnable all of them, he said. You were to speak of nothing but the Word of God only. All other conversation was forbidden. It was always he who carried on the improving talk at table, where he did the office of reader, as if it had been a refectory of monks199. The king treated us to a sermon every afternoon. His valet de chambre gave out a psalm200, which we all sang. You had to listen to this sermon with as much devout201 attention as if it had been an apostle’s. My brother and I had all the mind in the world to laugh. We tried hard to keep from laughing, but often we burst out. Thereupon reprimand, with all the anathemas202 of the Church hurled203 on us, which we had to take with a contrite204, penitent205 air—a thing not easy to bring your face to at the moment.”
In this frame of mind, the king began to talk seriously of abdicating206 in favor of Frederick, and of retiring from the cares of state to a life of religious seclusion207 in his country seat at Wusterhausen. He matured his plan quite to the details. Wilhelmina thus describes it:
“He used to say that he would reserve for himself ten thousand crowns a year, and retire with the queen and his daughters to Wusterhausen. ‘There,’ added he, ‘I will pray to God, and manage the farming economy, while my wife and girls take care of the household matters. You, Wilhelmina, are clever; I will give you the inspection208 of the linen209, which you shall mend and keep in order, taking good charge of laundry matters. Frederica, who is miserly, shall have charge of all the stores of the house. Charlotte shall go to market and buy our provisions. My wife shall take charge of the little children and of the kitchen.’”
At that time the family consisted of nine children. Next to Wilhelmina and Fritz came Frederica, thirteen; Charlotte, eleven; Sophie Dorothee, eight; Ulrique, seven; August Wilhelm, five; Amelia, four; and Henry, a babe in arms.
51 Some of the courtiers, in order to divert the king from his melancholy, and from these ideas of abdication210, succeeded in impressing upon him the political necessity of visiting Augustus, the King of Poland, at Dresden. The king did not intend to take Fritz with him. But Wilhelmina adroitly211 whispered a word to Baron Suhm, the Polish embassador, and obtained a special invitation for the Crown Prince. It is a hundred miles from Berlin to Dresden—a distance easily traversed by post in a day. It was the middle of January, 1728, when the Prussian king reached Dresden, followed the day after by his son. They were sumptuously212 entertained for four weeks in a continuous round of magnificent amusements, from which the melancholic213 King of Prussia recoiled214, but could not well escape.
Augustus, King of Poland, called “Augustus the Strong,” was a man of extraordinary physical vigor215 and muscular strength. It was said that he could break horseshoes with his hands, and crush half-crowns between his finger and thumb. He was an exceedingly profligate216 man, introducing to his palaces scenes of sin and shame which could scarcely have been exceeded in Rome in the most corrupt2 days of the C?sars. Though Frederick William, a stanch217 Protestant, was a crabbed218, merciless man, drinking deeply and smoking excessively, he was irreproachable219 in morals, according to the ordinary standard. Augustus, nominally220 a Catholic, and zealously221 advocating political Catholicism, though a good-natured, rather agreeable man, recognized no other law of life than his own pleasure.
Augustus had formed apparently the deliberate resolve to test his visitor by the most seductive and adroitly-arranged temptations. But, so far as Frederick William was concerned, he utterly222 failed. Upon one occasion his Prussian majesty, when conducted by Augustus, whirled around and indignantly left the room. That evening, through his minister, Grumkow, he informed the King of Poland that if there were any repetition of such scenes he would immediately leave Dresden.
Fritz, however, had not his father’s strength to resist the allurements223 of this wicked court. He was but sixteen years of age. From childhood he had been kept secluded225 from the world, and had been reared under the sternest discipline. He was remarkably handsome, full of vivacity, which qualified226 him to shine52 in any society, and was heir to the Prussian monarchy227. He was, consequently, greatly caressed, and every conceivable inducement was presented to him to lure224 him into the paths of guilty pleasure. He fell. From such a fall one never on earth recovers. Even though repentance228 and reformation come, a scar is left upon the soul which time can not efface229.
This visit to Dresden, so fatal to Fritz, was closed on the 12th of February. The dissipation of those four weeks introduced the Crown Prince to habits which have left an indelible stain upon his reputation, and which poisoned his days. Upon his return to Potsdam he was seized with a fit of sickness, and for many years his health remained feeble. But he had entered upon the downward course. His chosen companions were those who were in sympathy with his newly-formed tastes. The career of dissipation into which the young prince had plunged230 could not be concealed231 from his eagle-eyed father. The king’s previous dislike to his son was converted into contempt and hatred, which feelings were at times developed in almost insane ebullitions of rage.
Still the queen-mother, Sophie Dorothee, clung to the double marriage. Her brother, George II., was now King of England. His son Fred, who had been intended for Wilhelmina, was not a favorite of his father’s, and had not yet been permitted to go to England. In May, 1728, he was twenty-one years of age. He was living idly in Hanover, impatient to wed64 his cousin Wilhelmina, who was then nineteen years of age. He seems to have secretly contemplated232, in conference with Wilhelmina’s mother, Sophie Dorothee, a trip incognito233 to Berlin, where he would marry the princess clandestinely234, and then leave it with the royal papas to settle the difficulty the best way they could. The plan was not executed. Wilhelmina manifested coquettish indifference235 to the whole matter. She, however, writes that Queen Sophie was so confidently expecting him that “she took every ass26 or mule236 for his royal highness.”
In May the King of Poland returned the visit of Frederick William. He came with a numerous retinue237 and in great splendor. During the past year his unhappy wife had died; and he, then fifty-five years of age, was seeking to bargain for the hand of Wilhelmina, hoping, by an alliance with Prussia, to promote53 some of his political schemes. The wicked old Polish king was much broken by age and his “terrible debaucheries.” He had recently suffered the amputation238 of two toes from an ulcerated foot, which no medical skill could cure. He was brought into the palace at Berlin in a sedan, covered with red velvet239 embroidered240 with gold. Wilhelmina had no suspicion of the object of his visit, and was somewhat surprised by the intensity241 of his gaze and his glowing compliments. Diplomatic obstacles arose which silenced the question of the marriage before Wilhelmina knew that it had been contemplated.
Fritz had been for some time confined to his chamber242 and to his bed. He was now getting out again. By his mother’s persuasion243 he wrote to his aunt, Queen Caroline of England, expressing, in the strongest terms, his love for her daughter the Princess Amelia, and his unalterable determination never to marry unless he could lead her to the altar. Though Frederick William knew nothing of these intrigues, he hated his son with daily increasing venom244. Sometimes, in a surly fit, he would not speak to him or recognize him. Again he would treat him with studied contempt, at the table refusing to give him any food, leaving him to fast while the others were eating. Not unfrequently, according to Wilhelmina’s account, he even boxed his ears, and smote245 him with his cane36. Wilhelmina gives us one of the letters of her brother to his father about this time, and the characteristic paternal answer. Frederick writes, under date of September 11, 1728, from Wusterhausen:
“My dear Papa,—I have not, for a long while, presumed to come near my dear papa, partly because he forbade me, but chiefly because I had reason to expect a still worse reception than usual; and for fear of angering my dear papa by my present request, I have preferred making it in writing to him.
“I therefore beg my dear papa to be gracious to me; and can here say that, after long reflection, my conscience has not accused me of any the least thing with which I could reproach myself. But if I have, against my will and knowledge, done any thing which has angered my dear papa, I herewith most submissively beg forgiveness, and hope my dear papa will lay aside that cruel hatred which I can not but notice in all his treatment of me. I54 could not otherwise suit myself to it, as I always thought I had a gracious papa, and now have to see the contrary. I take confidence, then, and hope that my dear papa will consider all this, and again be gracious to me. And in the mean while I assure him that I will never, all my days, fail with my will; and, notwithstanding his disfavor to me, remain my dear papa’s most faithful and obedient servant and son,
Frederick.”
The returning messenger took back the following reply. It was, as usual, ungrammatical, miserably246 spelled, and confused. Contemptuously the king spoke of his son in the third person, writing he and his instead of you and yours. Abruptly247 he commences:
“His obstinate perverse248 disposition which does not love his father; for when one does every thing, and really loves one’s father, one does what the father requires, not while he is there to see it, but when his back is turned too. For the rest he knows very well that I can endure no effeminate fellow who has no human inclination249 in him; who puts himself to shame, can not ride or shoot; and, withal, is dirty in his person, frizzles his hair like a fool, and does not cut it off. And all this I have a thousand times reprimanded, but all in vain, and no improvement in nothing. For the rest, haughty; proud as a churl250; speaks to nobody but some few, and is not popular and affable; and cuts grimaces251 with his face as if he were a fool; and does my will in nothing but following his own whims252; no use to him in any thing else. This is the answer.
Frederick William.”
Still the question of the marriages remained the subject of innumerable intrigues. There were several claimants for the hand of Wilhelmina, and many nuptial alliances suggested for Fritz. Frederick William proposed the marriage of Wilhelmina to Fred, the Prince of Wales, and to let the marriage of Fritz and Amelia for the present remain undecided. But England promptly253 replied “No; both marriages or none.” It is intimated by the ministers of the Prussian king that he was influenced in his vacillating course respecting the marriages not only by his doubts whether the English or a German alliance would be most desirable,55 but also by avarice254, as he knew not what dowry he could secure with the English princess, and by jealousy255, as he was very unwilling256 to add to the importance and the power of his hated son Fritz. He also disliked extremely his brother-in-law, George II.6
About the middle of January, 1729, the king went upon a hunt with his companions, taking with him Fritz, who he knew detested257 the rough barbaric sport. This hunting expedition to the wilds of Brandenburg and Pommern was one of great renown. Three thousand six hundred and two wild swine these redoubtable258 Nimrods boasted as the fruits of their prowess. Frederick William was an economical prince. He did not allow one pound of this vast mass of wild pork to be wasted. Every man, according to his family, was bound to take a certain portion at a fixed price. From this fierce raid through swamps and jungles in pursuit of wild boars the king returned to Potsdam. Soon after he was taken sick. Having ever been a hard drinker, it is not strange that his disease proved to be the gout. He was any thing but an amiable20 patient. The pangs259 of the disease extorted260 from him savage165 growls261, and he vented262 his spleen upon all who came within the reach of his crutch263 or the hearing of his tongue. Still, even when suffering most severely264, he never omitted any administrative duties. His secretaries every morning came in with their papers, and he issued his orders with his customary rigorous devotion to business. It was remarked that this strange man would never allow a profane265 expression or an indelicate allusion266 in his presence. This sickness lasted five weeks, and Wilhelmina writes, “The pains of Purgatory267 could not equal those which we endured.”
During this sickness a very curious scene occurred, characteristic of the domestic life of this royal family. The second daughter, Frederica Louisa, “beautiful as an angel, and a spoiled child of fifteen,” was engaged to the Marquis of Anspach. We will allow Wilhelmina to describe the event which took place at the56 table. It was early in March, 1729, while the king was still suffering from the gout:
“At table his majesty told the queen that he had letters from Anspach; the young marquis to be at Berlin in May for his wedding; that M. Bremer, his tutor, was just coming with the ring of betrothal268 for Louisa. He asked my sister if that gave her pleasure, and how she would regulate her housekeeping when married. My sister had got into the way of telling him whatever she thought, and home truths sometimes, without his taking it ill. She answered, with her customary frankness, that she would have a good table, which should be delicately served, and, added she, ‘which shall be better than yours. And if I have children I will not maltreat them like you, nor force them to eat what they have an aversion to.’
“‘What do you mean by that?’ replied the king; ‘what is there wanting at my table?’
“‘There is this wanting,’ she said, ‘that one can not have enough; and the little there is consists of coarse pot-herbs that nobody can eat.’
“The king, as was not unnatural269, had begun to get angry at her first answer. This last put him quite in a fury. But all his anger fell on my brother and me. He first threw a plate at my brother’s head, who ducked out of the way. He then let fly another at me, which I avoided in like manner. A hail-storm of abuse followed these first hostilities270. He rose into a passion against the queen, reproaching her with the bad training which she gave her children, and, addressing my brother, said,
“‘You have reason to curse your mother, for it is she who causes your being an ill-governed fellow. I had a preceptor,’ continued he, ‘who was an honest man. I remember always a story which he told me in his youth. There was a man at Carthage who had been condemned to die for many crimes he had committed. While they were leading him to execution he desired he might speak to his mother. They brought his mother. He came near, as if to whisper something to her, and bit away a piece of her ear. “I treat you thus,” said he, “to make you an example to all parents who take no heed271 to bring up their children in the practice of virtue272.” Make the application,’ continued he, always addressing my brother; and, getting no answer57 from him, he again set to abusing us till he could speak no longer.
ROYALTY AT DINNER.
“We rose from table. As we had to pass near him in going out, he aimed a great blow at me with his crutch, which, if I had not jerked away from it, would have ended me. He chased me for a while in his wheel-chair, but the people drawing it gave me time to escape to the queen’s chamber.”
That evening Wilhelmina was taken sick with burning fever and severe pain. Still she was compelled to rise from her bed and attend a court party. The next morning she was worse. The king, upon being told of it, exclaimed gruffly, “Ill? I will58 cure you!” and compelled her to swallow a large draught273 of wine. Soon her sickness showed itself to be small-pox. Great was the consternation274 of her mother, from the fear that, even should she survive, her beauty would be so marred275 that the English prince would no longer desire her as his bride. Fortunately she escaped without a scar.
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1
brutal
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| adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的 | |
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corrupt
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| v.贿赂，收买；adj.腐败的，贪污的 | |
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swampy
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| adj.沼泽的，湿地的 | |
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tangled
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| adj. 纠缠的，紊乱的 动词tangle的过去式和过去分词 | |
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thickets
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| n.灌木丛( thicket的名词复数 )；丛状物 | |
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interspersed
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| adj.[医]散开的；点缀的v.intersperse的过去式和过去分词 | |
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abounded
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| v.大量存在，充满，富于( abound的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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sluggish
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| adj.懒惰的，迟钝的，无精打采的 | |
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frugal
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| adj.节俭的，节约的，少量的，微量的 | |
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awning
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| n.遮阳篷；雨篷 | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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abominable
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| adj.可厌的，令人憎恶的 | |
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13
shriek
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| v./n.尖叫，叫喊 | |
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shrieking
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| v.尖叫( shriek的现在分词 ) | |
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luxurious
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| adj.精美而昂贵的；豪华的 | |
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groves
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| 树丛，小树林( grove的名词复数 ) | |
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abounding
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| adj.丰富的，大量的v.大量存在，充满，富于( abound的现在分词 ) | |
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ponies
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| 矮种马，小型马( pony的名词复数 )； ￡25 25 英镑 | |
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picturesque
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| adj.美丽如画的，（语言）生动的，绘声绘色的 | |
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amiable
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| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
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abodes
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| 住所( abode的名词复数 )； 公寓； （在某地的）暂住； 逗留 | |
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splendor
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| n.光彩；壮丽，华丽；显赫，辉煌 | |
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embellished
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| v.美化( embellish的过去式和过去分词 )；装饰；修饰；润色 | |
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monarch
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| n.帝王，君主，最高统治者 | |
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mansions
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| n.宅第，公馆，大厦( mansion的名词复数 ) | |
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ass
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| n.驴；傻瓜，蠢笨的人 | |
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spartan
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| adj.简朴的，刻苦的；n.斯巴达；斯巴达式的人 | |
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simplicity
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| n.简单，简易；朴素；直率，单纯 | |
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frail
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| adj.身体虚弱的；易损坏的 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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attained
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| （通常经过努力）实现( attain的过去式和过去分词 )； 达到； 获得； 达到（某年龄、水平、状况） | |
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prohibition
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| n.禁止；禁令，禁律 | |
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vigilant
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| adj.警觉的，警戒的，警惕的 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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caned
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| vt.用苔杖打（cane的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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cane
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| n.手杖，细长的茎，藤条；v.以杖击，以藤编制的 | |
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mortification
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| n.耻辱，屈辱 | |
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martial
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| adj.战争的，军事的，尚武的，威武的 | |
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flute
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| n.长笛；v.吹笛 | |
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40
graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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41
attire
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| v.穿衣，装扮[同]array；n.衣着；盛装 | |
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remarkably
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| ad.不同寻常地，相当地 | |
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43
rigid
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| adj.严格的，死板的；刚硬的，僵硬的 | |
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44
paternal
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| adj.父亲的，像父亲的，父系的，父方的 | |
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45
hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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46
brutality
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| n.野蛮的行为，残忍，野蛮 | |
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47
incurred
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| [医]招致的，遭受的； incur的过去式 | |
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nuptial
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| adj.婚姻的，婚礼的 | |
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nuptials
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| n.婚礼；婚礼( nuptial的名词复数 ) | |
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50
sullen
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| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
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51
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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52
diplomacy
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| n.外交；外交手腕，交际手腕 | |
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53
intrigue
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| vt.激起兴趣，迷住；vi.耍阴谋；n.阴谋，密谋 | |
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54
stolid
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| adj.无动于衷的，感情麻木的 | |
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faculties
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| n.能力( faculty的名词复数 )；全体教职员；技巧；院 | |
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disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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57
tact
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| n.机敏，圆滑，得体 | |
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envoy
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| n.使节，使者，代表，公使 | |
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vivacious
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| adj.活泼的，快活的 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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exasperated
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| adj.恼怒的 | |
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vowed
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| 起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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wed
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| v.娶，嫁，与…结婚 | |
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agitations
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| （液体等的）摇动( agitation的名词复数 )； 鼓动； 激烈争论； （情绪等的）纷乱 | |
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suite
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| n.一套(家具)；套房；随从人员 | |
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saluted
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| v.欢迎，致敬( salute的过去式和过去分词 )；赞扬，赞颂 | |
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countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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caressed
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| 爱抚或抚摸…( caress的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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spoke
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| 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 | |
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71
eulogy
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| n.颂词；颂扬 | |
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melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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sprightly
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| adj.愉快的，活泼的 | |
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haughty
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| adj.傲慢的，高傲的 | |
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passionate
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，激昂的，易动情的，易怒的，性情暴躁的 | |
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altercation
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| n.争吵，争论 | |
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afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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frenzied
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| a.激怒的；疯狂的 | |
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situated
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| adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的 | |
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81
solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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82
moors
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| v.停泊，系泊（船只）( moor的第三人称单数 ) | |
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83
captivity
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| n.囚禁；被俘；束缚 | |
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84
ascending
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| adj.上升的，向上的 | |
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solaced
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| v.安慰，慰藉( solace的过去分词 ) | |
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assent
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| v.批准，认可；n.批准，认可 | |
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87
evading
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| 逃避( evade的现在分词 )； 避开； 回避； 想不出 | |
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frivolous
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| adj.轻薄的；轻率的 | |
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morose
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| adj.脾气坏的，不高兴的 | |
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90
moody
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| adj.心情不稳的，易怒的，喜怒无常的 | |
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91
obstinate
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| adj.顽固的，倔强的，不易屈服的，较难治愈的 | |
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92
meekest
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| adj.温顺的，驯服的( meek的最高级 ) | |
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93
regiment
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| n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制 | |
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94
renown
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| n.声誉，名望 | |
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95
solely
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| adv.仅仅，唯一地 | |
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96
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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97
peculiarity
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| n.独特性，特色；特殊的东西；怪癖 | |
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98
stature
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| n.（高度）水平，（高度）境界，身高，身材 | |
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99
prosecution
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| n.起诉，告发，检举，执行，经营 | |
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100
ransacked
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| v.彻底搜查( ransack的过去式和过去分词 )；抢劫，掠夺 | |
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101
battalions
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| n.（陆军的）一营（大约有一千兵士）( battalion的名词复数 )；协同作战的部队；军队；（组织在一起工作的）队伍 | |
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102
anecdotes
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| n.掌故，趣闻，轶事( anecdote的名词复数 ) | |
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103
stratagems
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| n.诡计，计谋( stratagem的名词复数 )；花招 | |
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104
mammoth
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| n.长毛象；adj.长毛象似的，巨大的 | |
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105
reigning
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| adj.统治的，起支配作用的 | |
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106
domains
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| n.范围( domain的名词复数 )；领域；版图；地产 | |
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107
domain
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| n.(活动等)领域，范围；领地，势力范围 | |
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108
remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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109
perpetuating
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| perpetuate的现在进行式 | |
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110
baron
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| n.男爵；(商业界等)巨头，大王 | |
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112
dreaded
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| adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
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113
stifled
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| （使）窒息， （使）窒闷( stifle的过去式和过去分词 )； 镇压，遏制； 堵 | |
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114
obsequiously
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115
mortified
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| v.使受辱( mortify的过去式和过去分词 )；伤害（人的感情）；克制；抑制（肉体、情感等） | |
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116
chagrined
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|
| adj.懊恼的，苦恼的v.使懊恼，使懊丧，使悔恨( chagrin的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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117
aver
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| v.极力声明；断言；确证 | |
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118
abatement
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| n.减(免)税，打折扣，冲销 | |
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119
seizures
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| n.起获( seizure的名词复数 )；没收；充公；起获的赃物 | |
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120
hereditary
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| adj.遗传的，遗传性的，可继承的，世袭的 | |
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121
withholding
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| 扣缴税款 | |
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122
reprisal
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| n.报复，报仇，报复性劫掠 | |
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123
embarrassments
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| n.尴尬( embarrassment的名词复数 )；难堪；局促不安；令人难堪或耻辱的事 | |
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124
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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125
consecrating
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| v.把…奉为神圣，给…祝圣( consecrate的现在分词 )；奉献 | |
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126
promotion
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| n.提升，晋级；促销，宣传 | |
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127
intrigues
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| n.密谋策划( intrigue的名词复数 )；神秘气氛；引人入胜的复杂情节v.搞阴谋诡计( intrigue的第三人称单数 )；激起…的好奇心 | |
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128
narrative
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|
| n.叙述，故事；adj.叙事的，故事体的 | |
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129
defensive
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| adj.防御的；防卫的；防守的 | |
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130
renouncing
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| v.声明放弃( renounce的现在分词 )；宣布放弃；宣布与…决裂；宣布摒弃 | |
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131
pertinaciously
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| adv.坚持地；固执地；坚决地；执拗地 | |
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132
renowned
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| adj.著名的，有名望的，声誉鹊起的 | |
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133
confidential
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| adj.秘（机）密的，表示信任的，担任机密工作的 | |
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134
advisers
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| 顾问，劝告者( adviser的名词复数 )； （指导大学新生学科问题等的）指导教授 | |
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135
quaintly
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| adv.古怪离奇地 | |
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136
contented
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| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
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137
saturnine
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| adj.忧郁的，沉默寡言的，阴沉的，感染铅毒的 | |
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138
charcoal
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|
| n.炭，木炭，生物炭 | |
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139
jug
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| n.(有柄，小口，可盛水等的)大壶，罐，盂 | |
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140
costlier
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|
| adj.昂贵的( costly的比较级 )；代价高的；引起困难的；造成损失的 | |
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141
wholesome
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| adj.适合；卫生的；有益健康的；显示身心健康的 | |
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142
butt
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| n.笑柄；烟蒂；枪托；臀部；v.用头撞或顶 | |
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143
rustic
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| adj.乡村的，有乡村特色的；n.乡下人，乡巴佬 | |
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144
narcotic
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| n.麻醉药，镇静剂；adj.麻醉的，催眠的 | |
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145
nutritious
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|
| adj.有营养的，营养价值高的 | |
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146
gaseous
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|
| adj.气体的，气态的 | |
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147
obligatory
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| adj.强制性的，义务的，必须的 | |
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148
ruffle
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| v.弄皱，弄乱；激怒，扰乱；n.褶裥饰边 | |
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149
puff
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| n.一口(气)；一阵(风)；v.喷气，喘气 | |
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150
authentically
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| ad.sincerely真诚地 | |
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151
distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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152
administrative
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| adj.行政的，管理的 | |
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153
celebrated
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|
| adj.有名的，声誉卓著的 | |
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154
incorrigible
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| adj.难以纠正的，屡教不改的 | |
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155
ridicule
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| v.讥讽，挖苦；n.嘲弄 | |
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156
scarlet
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| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
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157
pranks
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| n.玩笑，恶作剧( prank的名词复数 ) | |
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158
boon
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| n.恩赐，恩物，恩惠 | |
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159
pretension
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| n.要求；自命，自称；自负 | |
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160
sarcastic
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|
| adj.讥讽的，讽刺的，嘲弄的 | |
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161
enveloped
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| v.包围，笼罩，包住( envelop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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162
muddled
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|
| adj.混乱的；糊涂的；头脑昏昏然的v.弄乱，弄糟( muddle的过去式)；使糊涂；对付，混日子 | |
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163
enraged
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| 使暴怒( enrage的过去式和过去分词 )； 歜； 激愤 | |
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164
antagonist
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| n.敌人，对抗者，对手 | |
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165
savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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166
savagely
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| adv. 野蛮地，残酷地 | |
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167
duel
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| n./v.决斗；(双方的)斗争 | |
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168
chivalric
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| 有武士气概的，有武士风范的 | |
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169
wig
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| n.假发 | |
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170
wrath
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| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
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171
imperative
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| n.命令，需要；规则；祈使语气；adj.强制的；紧急的 | |
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172
inflexible
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|
| adj.不可改变的，不受影响的，不屈服的 | |
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173
obdurate
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| adj.固执的，顽固的 | |
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174
royalty
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| n.皇家，皇族 | |
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175
ignominiously
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|
| adv.耻辱地，屈辱地，丢脸地 | |
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176
assassination
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| n.暗杀；暗杀事件 | |
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177
feat
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| n.功绩；武艺，技艺；adj.灵巧的，漂亮的，合适的 | |
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178
transpiring
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| （事实，秘密等）被人知道( transpire的现在分词 )； 泄露； 显露； 发生 | |
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179
habitually
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| ad.习惯地，通常地 | |
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180
rigidly
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| adv.刻板地，僵化地 | |
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181
vivacity
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| n.快活，活泼，精神充沛 | |
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182
ingenuous
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| adj.纯朴的，单纯的；天真的；坦率的 | |
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183
delicacy
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| n.精致，细微，微妙，精良；美味，佳肴 | |
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184
loathes
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| v.憎恨，厌恶( loathe的第三人称单数 )；极不喜欢 | |
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185
puffing
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| v.使喷出( puff的现在分词 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧 | |
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186
relish
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|
| n.滋味，享受，爱好，调味品；vt.加调味料，享受，品味；vi.有滋味 | |
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187
celebrity
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| n.名人，名流；著名，名声，名望 | |
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188
gallop
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| v./n.(马或骑马等)飞奔；飞速发展 | |
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189
bishop
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| n.主教，（国际象棋）象 | |
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190
shaft
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| n.(工具的)柄，杆状物 | |
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191
murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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192
judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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193
affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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194
tormented
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| 饱受折磨的 | |
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195
enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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196
curb
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| n.场外证券市场，场外交易；vt.制止，抑制 | |
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197
graphic
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| adj.生动的，形象的，绘画的，文字的，图表的 | |
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198
condemned
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| adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词 | |
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199
monks
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| n.修道士，僧侣( monk的名词复数 ) | |
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200
psalm
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| n.赞美诗，圣诗 | |
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201
devout
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| adj.虔诚的，虔敬的，衷心的 (n.devoutness) | |
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202
anathemas
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| n.（天主教的）革出教门( anathema的名词复数 )；诅咒；令人极其讨厌的事；被基督教诅咒的人或事 | |
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203
hurled
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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204
contrite
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| adj.悔悟了的，后悔的，痛悔的 | |
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205
penitent
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| adj.后悔的；n.后悔者；忏悔者 | |
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206
abdicating
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| 放弃（职责、权力等）( abdicate的现在分词 )； 退位，逊位 | |
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207
seclusion
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| n.隐遁，隔离 | |
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208
inspection
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| n.检查，审查，检阅 | |
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209
linen
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| n.亚麻布，亚麻线，亚麻制品；adj.亚麻布制的，亚麻的 | |
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210
abdication
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| n.辞职；退位 | |
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211
adroitly
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| adv.熟练地，敏捷地 | |
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212
sumptuously
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| 奢侈地，豪华地 | |
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213
melancholic
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| 忧郁症患者 | |
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214
recoiled
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| v.畏缩( recoil的过去式和过去分词 )；退缩；报应；返回 | |
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215
vigor
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| n.活力，精力，元气 | |
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216
profligate
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| adj.行为不检的；n.放荡的人，浪子，肆意挥霍者 | |
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217
stanch
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| v.止住（血等）；adj.坚固的；坚定的 | |
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218
crabbed
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| adj.脾气坏的；易怒的；（指字迹）难辨认的；（字迹等）难辨认的v.捕蟹( crab的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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219
irreproachable
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| adj.不可指责的，无过失的 | |
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220
nominally
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| 在名义上，表面地； 应名儿 | |
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221
zealously
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| adv.热心地；热情地；积极地；狂热地 | |
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222
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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223
allurements
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| n.诱惑( allurement的名词复数 )；吸引；诱惑物；有诱惑力的事物 | |
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224
lure
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| n.吸引人的东西，诱惑物；vt.引诱，吸引 | |
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225
secluded
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| adj.与世隔绝的；隐退的；偏僻的v.使隔开，使隐退( seclude的过去式和过去分词) | |
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226
qualified
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| adj.合格的，有资格的，胜任的，有限制的 | |
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227
monarchy
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| n.君主，最高统治者；君主政体，君主国 | |
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228
repentance
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| n.懊悔 | |
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229
efface
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| v.擦掉，抹去 | |
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230
plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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231
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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232
contemplated
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| adj. 预期的 动词contemplate的过去分词形式 | |
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233
incognito
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| adv.匿名地；n.隐姓埋名；adj.化装的，用假名的，隐匿姓名身份的 | |
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234
clandestinely
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| adv.秘密地，暗中地 | |
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235
indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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236
mule
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| n.骡子，杂种，执拗的人 | |
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237
retinue
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| n.侍从；随员 | |
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238
amputation
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| n.截肢 | |
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239
velvet
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| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
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240
embroidered
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| adj．绣花的 | |
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241
intensity
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| n.强烈，剧烈；强度；烈度 | |
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242
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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persuasion
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| n.劝说；说服；持有某种信仰的宗派 | |
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244
venom
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| n.毒液，恶毒，痛恨 | |
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245
smote
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| v.猛打，重击，打击( smite的过去式 ) | |
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246
miserably
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| adv.痛苦地；悲惨地；糟糕地；极度地 | |
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247
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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248
perverse
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| adj.刚愎的；坚持错误的，行为反常的 | |
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249
inclination
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| n.倾斜；点头；弯腰；斜坡；倾度；倾向；爱好 | |
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250
churl
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| n.吝啬之人；粗鄙之人 | |
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251
grimaces
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| n.（表蔑视、厌恶等）面部扭曲，鬼脸( grimace的名词复数 )v.扮鬼相，做鬼脸( grimace的第三人称单数 ) | |
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252
WHIMS
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| 虚妄，禅病 | |
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253
promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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254
avarice
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| n.贪婪；贪心 | |
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255
jealousy
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| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
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256
unwilling
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| adj.不情愿的 | |
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257
detested
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| v.憎恶，嫌恶，痛恨( detest的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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258
redoubtable
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| adj.可敬的；可怕的 | |
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259
pangs
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| 突然的剧痛( pang的名词复数 )； 悲痛 | |
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260
extorted
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| v.敲诈( extort的过去式和过去分词 )；曲解 | |
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261
growls
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的第三人称单数 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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262
vented
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| 表达，发泄（感情，尤指愤怒）( vent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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263
crutch
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| n.T字形拐杖；支持，依靠，精神支柱 | |
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264
severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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265
profane
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| adj.亵神的，亵渎的；vt.亵渎，玷污 | |
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266
allusion
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| n.暗示，间接提示 | |
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267
purgatory
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| n.炼狱；苦难；adj.净化的，清洗的 | |
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268
betrothal
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| n. 婚约, 订婚 | |
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269
unnatural
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| adj.不自然的；反常的 | |
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270
hostilities
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| n.战争；敌意(hostility的复数)；敌对状态；战事 | |
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271
heed
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| v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心 | |
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272
virtue
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| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
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273
draught
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| n.拉，牵引，拖；一网（饮，吸，阵)；顿服药量，通风；v.起草，设计 | |
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274
consternation
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| n.大为吃惊，惊骇 | |
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275
marred
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| adj. 被损毁, 污损的 | |
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