Once he marched with his grenadiers till very late at night. At last they halted, and the king said:
“Grenadiers, it is a very cold night; we must have a fire!” One was built at once. Frederick wrapped himself in his cloak, sat down on a few pieces of wood near the fire, and the soldiers grouped themselves around him. After a while General Ziethen came, and he also sat down on a little pile of wood. Both were extremely fatigued and soon fell asleep.
The king, on opening his eyes, perceived that Ziethen had slipped off his seat and that a grenadier was placing a fagot under his head for a pillow. In a loud voice Frederick said:
“Bravo! the old gentleman is very tired!” Soon after, a grenadier got up, half asleep, in order to light his pipe by the fire, and carelessly touched the General’s foot. The king, who was glad to see Ziethen take a little much needed rest, held up his hand and said whisperingly:
“Take care, grenadier, not to waken the General; he is very sleepy.”
A Double Reward
General Seydlitz once reported to Frederick II one of the skirmishes such as happened almost daily during the seven years’ war, and in doing so, praised a Lieutenant, whose conduct and splendid bravery well merited an order. The king had the young officer summoned and said to him pleasantly:
“I hear you have been very brave. I will reward you for it. Here are a hundred Friedrichsd’or, and here is the order of merit. You may choose.”
Without a moment’s hesitation, the officer took the money.
“You don’t seem to have much regard for honor, anyway,” said the king, displeased.