“The more the reason why I should not read it! A German comedy! That must be fine stuff for the German theatre, the most miserable of all. In Germany, Melpomene has untutored admirers, some walking on stilts, others crawling in the mire, from the altars of the goddess. The Germans will ever be repulsed, as they are rebels to her laws, and understand not the art to move and interest the heart.”
“But, sire, you have never deigned to become acquainted with ‘Minna von Barnhelm’ nor ‘Emilia Calotti.’”
“Well, well, Herzberg, do not be so furious; you are a lover of German literature, and some allowance must be made for those who are in love. You will not persuade me to read your things which you call German comedies and tragedies. I will take good care; my teeth are not strong enough to grind such hard bits. Now do not be angry, Herzberg. The first leisure hours that I have in this campaign I shall employ on my treatise.”
“And the first leisure hours that I have,” growled the minister, “I shall employ to translate a portion of Tacitus into our beautiful German language, to send to your majesty.”
“You are incorrigible,” said Frederick, smiling. “We shall see, and until then let us keep the peace, Herzberg. When one is about to go to war, it is well to be at peace with one’s conscience and with his friends; so let us be good friends.”
“Your majesty, your graciousness and kindness make me truly ashamed,” said the minister, feelingly. “I beg pardon a thousand times, if I have allowed myself to be carried away with unbecoming violence in my zeal for our poor neglected German literature.”
“I approve of your zeal, and it pleases me that you are a faithful knight, sans peur et sans reproche. I do not ascribe its poverty to the German nation, who have as much spirit and genius as any nation, the mental development of which has been retarded by outward circumstances, which prevented her rising to an equality with her neighbors. We shall one day have classical writers, and every one will read them to cultivate himself. Our neighbors will learn German, and it will be spoken with pleasure at courts; and it can well happen that our language, when perfectly formed, will spread throughout Europe. We shall have our German classics also.” [Footnote: The king’s words—see “Posthumous Works,” vol. III.]
The king smiled, well pleased, as he observed by stolen glances the noble, intelligent face of Herzberg brighten, and the gloomy clouds dispersed which had overshadowed it.
“Now, is it not true that you are again contented?” said the king, graciously.
“I am delighted with the prophecy for the German language, your majesty; and may I add something?”