Carlyle's "History of Friedrich II of Prussia" BOOK VIII.
Page: 10

the Economic Sciences and Practices, if he show faculty and
diligence;--which in fact he turns out to do, in a superior
degree, having every motive to try.

This kind of life lasted with him for the next fifteen months, all
through the year 1731 and farther; and must have been a very
singular, and was probably a highly instructive year to him, not
in the Domain Sciences alone. He is left wholly to himself.
All his fellow-creatures, as it were, are watching him.
Hundred-eyed Argus, or the Ear of Dionysius, that is to say,
Tobacco-Parliament with its spies and reporters,--no stirring of
his finger can escape it here. He has much suspicion to encounter:
Papa looking always sadly askance, sadly incredulous, upon him.
He is in correspondence with Grumkow; takes much advice from
Grumkow (our prompter-general, president in the Dionysius'-Ear,
and not an ill-wisher farther); professes much thankfulness to
Grumkow, now and henceforth. Thank you for flinging me out of the
six-story window, and catching me by the coat-skirts!--Left
altogether to himself, as we said; has in the whole Universe
nothing that will save him but his own good sense, his own
power of discovering what is what, and of doing what will be
behooveful therein.

He is to quit his French literatures and pernicious practices, one
and all. His very flute, most innocent "Princess," as he used to
call his flute in old days, is denied him ever since he came to
Custrin;--but by degrees he privately gets her back, and consorts
much with her; wails forth, in beautiful adagios, emotions for
which there is no other utterance at present. He has liberty of
Custrin and the neighborhood; out of Custrin he is not to lodge,
any night, without leave had of the Commandant. Let him walk
warily; and in good earnest study to become a new creature, useful
for something in the Domain Sciences and otherwise.



Chapter III.

WILHELMINA IS TO WED THE PRINCE OF BAIREUTH.

Crown-Prince Friedrich being settled so far, his Majesty takes up
the case of Wilhelmina, the other ravelled skein lying on hand.
Wilhelmina has been prisoner in her Apartment at Berlin all this