HISTORY OF FRIEDRICH II. OF PRUSSIA
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her to the other two," or to any and all others. Wedded, with
great pomp, 28th November, 1706; [Forster, i. 117.]--and Sophie
Dorothee, the same that was his pretty little Cousin at Hanover
twenty years ago, she is mother of the little Boy now born
and christened, whom men are to call Frederick the Great in
coming generations.

Sophie Dorothee is described to us by courtier contemporaries
as "one of the most beautiful princesses of her day:"
Wilhelmina, on the other hand, testifies that she was never
strictly to be called beautiful, but had a pleasant attractive
physiognomy; which may be considered better than strict beauty.
Uncommon grace of figure and look, testifies Wilhelmina; much
dignity and soft dexterity, on social occasions; perfect in all
the arts of deportment; and left an impression on you at once
kindly and royal. Portraits of her, as Queen at a later age,
are frequent in the Prussian Galleries; she is painted sitting,
where I best remember her. A serious, comely, rather plump,
maternal-looking Lady; something thoughtful in those gray still
eyes of hers, in the turn of her face and carriage of her head,
as she sits there, considerately gazing out upon a world which
would never conform to her will. Decidedly a handsome, wholesome
and affectionate aspect of face. Hanoverian in type, that is to
say, blond, florid, slightly PROFUSE;--yet the better kind of
Hanoverian, little or nothing of the worse or at least the worst
kind. The eyes, as I say, are gray, and quiet, almost sad;
expressive of reticence and reflection, of slow constancy rather
than of SPEED in any kind. One expects, could the picture speak,
the querulous sound of maternal and other solicitude; of a temper
tending towards the obstinate, the quietly unchangeable;--loyal
patience not wanting, yet in still larger measure royal impatience
well concealed, and long and carefully cherished. This is what I
read in Sophie Dorothee's Portraits,--probably remembering what
I had otherwise read, and come to know of her. She too will not a
little concern us in the first part of this History. I find, for
one thing, she had given much of her physiognomy to the Friedrich