Carlyle's "History of Friedrich II of Prussia" BOOK VIII.
Page: 4

away with; death resolved upon in some way! thinks the desperate
young man? [Nicolai, Anekdoten,
vi. 183-189.]

That scene of Katte's execution, and of the Prince's and other
people's position in regard to it, has never yet been humanly set
forth, otherwise the response had been different. Not humanly set
forth,--and so was only barked at, as by the infinitude of little
dogs, in all countries; and could never yet be responded to in
austere VOX HUMANA, deep as a DE PROFUNDIS, terrible as a Chorus
of AEschylus,--for in effect that is rather the character of it,
had the barking once pleased to cease. "King of Prussia cannot
sleep," writes Dickens: "the officers sit up with him every night,
and in his slumbers he raves and talks of spirits and
apparitions." [Despatch, 3d October, 1730.] We saw him,
ghost-like, in the night-time, gliding about, seeking shelter with
Feekin against ghosts; Ginkel by daylight saw him, now clad in
thunderous tornado, and anon in sorrowful fog. Here, farther on,
is a new item,--and joined to it and the others, a remarkable
old one:--

"In regard to Wilhelmina's marriage, and whether a Father cannot
give his daughter in wedlock to whom he pleases, there have been
eight Divines consulted, four Lutheran, four Reformed (Calvinist);
who, all but one [he of the Garrison Church, a rhadamanthine
fellow in serge], have answered, 'No, your Majesty!' It is
remarkable that his Majesty has not gone to bed sober for this
month past." [Dickens, 9th and 19th December, 1730.]

What Seckendorf and Grumkow thought of all these phenomena?
They have done their job too well. They are all for mercy;
lean with their whole weight that way,--in black qualms, one of
them withal, thinking tremulously to himself, "What if his now
Majesty were to die upon us, in the interim!"



Chapter II.

CROWN-PRINCE TO REPENT AND NOT PERISH.

In regard to Friedrich, the Court-Martial needs no amendment from
the King; the sentence on Friedrich, a Lieutenant-Colonel guilty
of desertion, is, from President and all members except two, Death
as by law. The two who dissented, invoking royal clemency and