HISTORY OF FRIEDRICH II. OF PRUSSIA
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mind resisted in a very strange way: the princely body, namely,
flung itself suddenly out of a third-story window, nothing but the
hands left within; and hanging on there by the sill, and fixedly
resolute to obey gravitation rather than Montbail, soon brought
the poor lady to terms. Upon which, indeed, he had been taken from
her, and from the women altogether, as evidently now needing
rougher government. Always an unruly fellow, and dangerous to
trust among crockery. At Hanover he could do no good in the way of
breeding: sage Leibnitz himself, with his big black periwig and
large patient nose, could have put no metaphysics into such a boy.
Sublime Theodicee (Leibnitzian
"justification of the ways of God") was not an article this
individual had the least need of, nor at any time the least value
for. "Justify? What doomed dog questions it, then? Are you for
Bedlam, then?"--and in maturer years his rattan might have been
dangerous! For this was a singular individual of his day;
human soul still in robust health, and not given to spin its
bowels into cobwebs. He is known only to have quarrelled much with
Cousin George, during the year or so he spent in those parts.

But there was another Cousin at Hanover, just one other, little
Sophie Dorothee (called after her mother), a few months older than
himself; by all accounts, a really pretty little child, whom he
liked a great deal better. She, I imagine, was his main resource,
while on this Hanover visit; with her were laid the foundations of
an intimacy which ripened well afterwards. Some say it was already
settled by the parents that there was to be a marriage in due
time. Settled it could hardly be; for Wilhelmina tells us,
[ Memoires de la Margrave de Bareith, i. l.]
her Father had a "choice of three" allowed him, on coming to wed;
and it is otherwise discernible there had been eclipses and
uncertainties, in the interim, on his part. Settled, no; but hoped
and vaguely pre-figured, we may well suppose. And at all events,
it has actually come to pass; "Father being ardently in love with
the Hanover Princess," says our Margravine, "and much preferring