History of Friedrich II of Prussia, vol 14 | Page 7

footing with the old Breslau magistrates;" &c. &c.]
OPENING OF THE OPERA-HOUSE AT BERLIN.
... December 7th, this Winter, Carnival being come or just coming,
Friedrich opens his New Opera-House, for behoof of the cultivated
Berlin classes; a fine Edifice, which had been diligently built by
Knobelsdorf, while those Silesian battlings went on. "One of the largest
and finest Opera-houses in the whole world; like a sumptuous Palace
rather. Stands free on all sides, space for 1,000 Coaches round it; Five
great Entrances, five persons can walk abreast through each; and
inside--you should see, you should hear! Boxes more like rooms or

boudoirs, free view and perfect hearing of the stage from every point:
air pure and free everywhere; water aloft, not only for theatrical
cascades, but to drown out any fire or risk of fire." [Seyfarth, i. 234;
Nicolai, Beschreibung von Berlin, i. 169.] This is
Seyfarth's account, still capable of confirmation by travelling readers of
a musical turn. I have seen Operas with much more brilliancy of gas
and gilding; but none nearly so convenient to the human mind and
sense; or where the audience (not now a gratis one) attended to the
music in so meritorious a way.
"Perhaps it will attract moneyed strangers to frequent our
Capital?"--some guess, that was Friedrich's thought. "At all events, it is
a handsome piece of equipage, for a musical King and People; not to be
neglected in the circumstances. Thalia, in general,--let us not neglect
Thalia, in such a dearth of worshipable objects." Nor did he neglect
Thalia. The trouble Friedrich took with his Opera, with his
Dancing-Apparatus, French Comedy, and the rest of that affair, was
very great. Much greater, surely, than this Editor would have thought of
taking; though, on reflection, he does not presume to blame. The world
is dreadfully scant of worshipable objects: and if your Theatre is your
own, to sweep away intrusive nonsense continually from the gates of it?
Friedrich's Opera costs him heavy sums (surely I once knew
approximately what, but the sibylline leaf is gone again upon the
winds!)--and he admits gratis a select public, and that only. [Preuss, i.
277; and Preuss, Buch fur Jedermann, i. 100.]
"This Winter, 1742-43, was unusually magnificent at Court: balls,
WIRTHSCHAFTEN [kind of MIMIC FAIRS], sledge-parties,
masquerades, and theatricals of all sorts;--and once even, December 2d,
the new Golden Table-Service [cost of it 200,000 pounds] was in action,
when the two Queens [Queen Regnant and Queen Mother] dined with
his Majesty."
FRIEDRICH TAKES THE WATERS AT AACHEN, WHERE
VOLTAIRE COMES TO SEE HIM.
Months before that of the Opera-House or those Silesian settlements,
Friedrich, in the end of August, what is the first thing visible in his

Domestic History, makes a visit, for health's sake, to Aachen
(Aix-la-Chapelle so called), with a view to the waters there. Intends to
try for a little improvement in health, as the basis of ulterior things.
Health has naturally suffered a little in these War-hardships; and the
Doctors recommend Aix. After Wesel, and the Westphalian Inspections,
Friedrich, accordingly, proceeds to Aix; and for about a fortnight (23th
August-9th September) drinks the waters in that old resting-place of
Charlemagne;--particulars not given in the Books; except that "he
lodged with Baege" (if any mortal now knew Baege), and did an
Audience or so to select persons now unknown. He is not entirely
incognito, but is without royal state; the "guard of twenty men, the
escort of 160 men," being no men of his, but presumably mere
Town-guard of Aix coming in an honorary way. Aix is proud to see
him; he himself is intent on the waters here at old Aix:--
Aquisgranum, urbs regalis, Sedes Regni principalis:-- italic>)
My friend, this was Charlemagne's high place; and his dust lies here,
these thousand years last past. And there used to soar "a very large Gilt
Eagle," ten feet wide or so, aloft on the Cathedral-steeple there; Eagle
turned southward when the Kaiser was in Frankenland, eastward when
he was in Teutsch or Teuton-land; in fact, pointing out the Kaiser's
whereabouts to loyal mankind. [Kohler, Reichs-Historie. italic>] Eagle which shines on me as a human fact; luminously gilt,
through the dark Dryasdustic Ages, gone all spectral under Dryasdust's
sad handling. Friedrich knows farther, that for many centuries after, the
"Reich's INSIGNIA (REICHS-KLEINODIEN)" used to be
here,--though Maria Theresa has them now, and will not give them up.
The whole of which points are indifferent to him. The practical, not the
sentimental, is Friedrich's interest;--not to say that WERTER and the
sentimental were not yet born into our afflicted Earth. A King
thoroughly practical;--yet an exquisite player on the flute withal, as we
often notice; whose adagio could draw tears from you. For in himself,
too,