Carlyle's "History of Friedrich II of Prussia" BOOK VIII.
Page: 35

other than a shroud!] as you called it?" Prince's answer wanting.
--"Likely enough my company does not suit you: I have no French
manners, and cannot bring out BON-MOTS in the PETIT-MAITRE way;
and truly regard all that as a thing to be flung to the dogs.
I am a German Prince, and mean to live and die in that character.
But you can now say what you have got by your caprices and
obstinate heart; hating everything that I liked; and if I
distinguished any one, despising him! If an Officer was put in
arrest, you took to lamenting about him. Your real friends, who
intended your good, you hated and calumniated; those that
flattered you, and encouraged your bad purpose, you caressed.
You see what that has come to. In Berlin, in all Prussia for some
time back, nobody asks after you, Whether you are in the world or
not; and were it not one or the other coming from Custrin who
reports you as playing tennis and wearing French hair-bags, nobody
would know whether you were alive or dead."

Hard sayings; to which the Prince's answers (if there were any
beyond mournful gestures) are not given. We come now upon
Predestination, or the GNADENWAHL; and learn (with real interest,
not of the laughing sort alone) how his "Majesty, in the most
conclusive way, set forth the horrible results of that
Absolute-Decree notion; which makes out God to be the Author of
Sin, and that Jesus Christ died only for some! Upon which the
Crown-Prince vowed and declared (HOCH UND THEUER), he was now
wholly of his Majesty's orthodox opinion."

The King, now thoroughly moved, expresses satisfaction at the
orthodoxy; and adds with enthusiasm, "When godless fellows about
you speak against your duties to God, the King and your Country,
fall instantly on your knees, and pray with your whole soul to
Jesus Christ to deliver you from such wickedness, and lead you on
better ways. And if it come in earnest from your heart, Jesus, who
would have all men saved, will not leave you unheard." No! And so
may God in his mercy aid you, poor son Fritz. And as for me, in
hopes the time coming will show fruits, I forgive you what is
past.--To which the Crown-Prince answered with monosyllables, with