Frederick the Great and His Court

groups of flowers which he had placed in the saloons; and the major domo superintended the tables in the picture gallery. The guests of the queen will enjoy to-n

wing that this evening there was no danger of blows and kicks, of fierce threats and trembling terror. Happily t

upon the spirit of the ruler of Prussia. He felt that the reign of Frederick the First would soon be at an end; that th

should reign in his stead; that this weak, riotous youth, this dreamer, surrounded in Rheinsberg with poets and musicians, sowing

and that Voltaire was as great a king-yes, greater than all the kings anointed by the Pope!" What use has Prussia for such a sovereign? No, Frederick William would not, could not die! His son should not reign in Prussia, destroying what his father had built up! Never should Prussia fall into the hands of a dreaming poet! The king was resolved, therefore, that no one should know he was ill; no one shou

l, and the world should see that the que

at high with delight. For a queen is still a woman, and Sophia Dorothea had so often suffered the pains and sorrows of woman, that she longed once more to experience the proud happiness of a queen. She resolved to wear all her jewels; fastened, herself, the sparkling diadem upon her brow, clasped upon her neck and arms the splendid brilliants, and adorned her ears with the long pendants; then stepping to the Venetian mirror, she examined herself critically. Yes, Sophia had reason to be pleased; hers was a queenly toilet. She looked in the glass, and thought on bygone days, on buried hopes and vanished dreams. These diamonds her exalted father had given when she was betrothed to Frederick William. This diadem had adorned her brow when she married. The necklace her brother had sent at the birth of her first child; the bracelet her husband had clasped upon her arm when at last, after long waiting, and many prayers, Prince Frederick was

vanished from her features as her eyes rested u

she danced gayly around her mother. "Heaven with all its stars has fallen aro

eard you, he would scold fearfully. If you com

ho harnesses the sun an

s his path. Poor sun!-poor queen!-she has n

smiling, and pointing to the diadem, "for I imagine that our most royal

could see me he would expire with rage and sc

reet with this diadem, and that at least ten giants could be purchased for the G

dered you? Have you lost your speech, or are you thinking whom

husband that I shall be entirely free to choose my toilet, and I will never be forbidden to wear diamonds! When I am a

arranged, and not a doubt remained; know you that the king, our father, intends you for a queen? Perhaps he has already

nd to such a one!" said

ield, if your father comm

rica, "I woul

to bring him, and our hands are too weak to clasp him to our hearts! No, Ulrica, you must bow y

"bound to a wife whom he love

n to be handled like a piece of goods, and knocked down to the highest bidder? I, for my part, will se

nd most obscure man, if I loved him, than the richest

mes to announce that the guests are assembled. Put on a cheerful countenance. The king commands us to be joyous and merry! but remember that Frederick has his spies everywhere. When you speak with Pollnitz, never forget that he repeats every word to your father; be friendly with him; and above

she stepped, to the sound of soft music, into the throne saloon, and saw all those cavaliers, covered with stars and orders-all those beautiful and richly-dressed women bowing humbly before her. She knew that her will was more powerful than the will of all assembled there; that her smiles were more dearly prized than those of the most-beloved bride; that h