History of Friedrich II of Prussia, vol 1 | Page 4

a pair of eyes as no man or lion or lynx of that Century bore
elsewhere, according to all the testimony we have. "Those eyes," says
Mirabeau, "which, at the bidding of his great soul, fascinated you with
seduction or with terror (portaient, au gre de son ame
heroique, la seduction ou la terreur)." [Mirabeau,
Histoire Secrete de la Cour de Berlin, Lettre
28?? (24 September, 1786) p. 128 (in edition of Paris, 1821)]. Most
excellent potent brilliant eyes, swift-darting as the stars, steadfast as the
sun; gray, we said, of the azure-gray color; large enough, not of glaring
size; the habitual expression of them vigilance and penetrating sense,
rapidity resting on depth. Which is an excellent combination; and gives
us the notion of a lambent outer radiance springing from some great
inner sea of light and fire in the man. The voice, if he speak to you, is
of similar physiognomy: clear, melodious and sonorous; all tones are in
it, from that of ingenuous inquiry, graceful sociality, light- flowing
banter (rather prickly for most part), up to definite word of command,
up to desolating word of rebuke and reprobation; a voice "the clearest
and most agreeable in conversation I ever heard," says witty Dr. Moore.
[Moore, View of Society and Manners in France, Switzerland and

Germany (London, 1779), ii. 246.] "He speaks a great deal," continues
the doctor; "yet those who hear him, regret that he does not speak a
good deal more. His observations are always lively, very often just; and
few men possess the talent of repartee in greater perfection."
Just about threescore and ten years ago, [A.D. 1856,--17th August,
1786] his speakings and his workings came to finis in this World of
Time; and he vanished from all eyes into other worlds, leaving much
inquiry about him in the minds of men;--which, as my readers and I
may feel too well, is yet by no means satisfied. As to his speech, indeed,
though it had the worth just ascribed to it and more, and though masses
of it were deliberately put on paper by himself, in prose and verse, and
continue to be printed and kept legible, what he spoke has pretty much
vanished into the inane; and except as record or document of what he
did, hardly now concerns mankind. But the things he did were
extremely remarkable; and cannot be forgotten by mankind. Indeed,
they bear such fruit to the present hour as all the Newspapers are
obliged to be taking note of, sometimes to an unpleasant degree.
Editors vaguely account this man the "Creator of the Prussian
Monarchy;" which has since grown so large in the world, and
troublesome to the Editorial mind in this and other countries. He was
indeed the first who, in a highly public manner, notified its creation;
announced to all men that it was, in very deed, created; standing on its
feet there, and would go a great way, on the impulse it had got from
him and others. As it has accordingly done; and may still keep doing to
lengths little dreamt of by the British Editor in our time; whose
prophesyings upon Prussia, and insights into Prussia, in its past, or
present or future, are truly as yet inconsiderable, in proportion to the
noise he makes with them! The more is the pity for him,--and for
myself too in the Enterprise now on hand.
It is of this Figure, whom we see by the mind's eye in those Potsdam
regions, visible for the last time seventy years ago, that we are now to
treat, in the way of solacing ingenuous human curiosity. We are to try
for some Historical Conception of this Man and King; some answer to
the questions, "What was he, then? Whence, how? And what did he
achieve and suffer in the world?"-- such answer as may prove

admissible to ingenuous mankind, especially such as may correspond to
the Fact (which stands there, abstruse indeed, but actual and
unalterable), and so be sure of admissibility one day.
An Enterprise which turns out to be, the longer one looks at it, the more
of a formidable, not to say unmanageable nature! Concerning which, on
one or two points, it were good, if conveniently possible, to come to
some preliminary understanding with the reader. Here, flying on loose
leaves, are certain incidental utterances, of various date: these, as the
topic is difficult, I will merely label and insert, instead of a formal
Discourse, which were too apt to slide into something of a Lamentation,
or otherwise take an unpleasant turn.
1. FRIEDRICH THEN, AND FRIEDRICH NOW.
This was a man of infinite mark to his contemporaries; who had
witnessed surprising feats from him in the world; very questionable
notions and ways, which he