Chapter XI. - THE KING AND THE ABBOT.

Silently they passed through the lofty halls and corridors, which resounded with the steps of the strangers, and reached the rooms appropriated to the abbot. As they entered and the door closed behind them, shutting them off from the seeing and listening world, the face of the abbot assumed an expression of the most profound reverence and emotion. He crossed his hands over his breast, and bowing profoundly, he said: „Will your majesty allow me from the depths of my soul to welcome you? In the rooms of the Abbot Tobias Stusche, King Frederick need not preserve his incognito. Blessed be your entrance into my house, and may your departure also be blessed!“

The king smiled. „This blessed conclusion, I suppose, depends entirely upon your excellency. I really cannot say what danger threatens us. It certainly was not my intention to wander here; to stretch out my reconnoissance to such a distance. But what would you, sir abbot? I am not only a king and soldier, but I am a man, with eye and heart open to the beauties of nature, and I worship God in His works of creation. Your cloister enticed me with its beauty. In place of mounting my horse and riding back from Frankenstein, I was lured hither to admire your building and enjoy the splendid prospect from your tower. Allow me to rest awhile; give me a glass of wine, and then we will mount the tower.“

There was so much of calm, bold courage, so much of proud self- consciousness in the bearing of the king, that the poor, anxious abbot could not find courage to express his apprehensions. He turned and looked imploringly at the companion of the king, who was no other than the young officer of the life-guard, Frederick von Trenck. The youth seemed to share fully the careless indifference of his royal master; his face was smiling, and he did not seem to understand the meaning looks of the abbot.

„Will your majesty allow me, and me alone, to have the honor of serving you?“ said his excellency. „I am jealous of the great happiness which Providence has accorded me, and I will not divide it with another, not even with my monks.“

Frederick laughed heartily. „Confess, your excellency, that you dare not trust your monks. You do not know that they are as good Prussians as I have happily found you to be? Go, then, if it is agreeable to you, and with your own pious hands bring me a glass of wine, I need not say good wine--you cloistered men understand that.“

Frederick leaned back comfortably in his arm-chair and conversed cheerfully, even merrily, with his young adjutant and the worthy abbot, who hastened here and there, and drew from closets and hiding-places wine, fruit, and other rich viands. The cloistered stillness, the unbroken quiet which surrounded him, were pleasing to the king; his features were illuminated with that soft and at the same time imposing smile which played but seldom upon his lips, but which, like the sun, when it appeared, filled all hearts with light and gladness. Several hours passed--hours which the king did not seem to observe, but the heart of the poor abbot was trembling with apprehension.

„And now,“ said the king, „I am rested, refreshed, and strengthened. Will your excellency conduct me to the tower? then I will return to Frankenstein.“

„There is happily a way to the tower for my use alone,“ said the abbot, „where we are certain to be met by no one. I demand pardon, sire, the way is dark and winding, and we must mount many small steps.“

„Well, abbot, it resembles the way to eternal life; from the power of darkness to light; from the path of sin and folly to that of knowledge and true wisdom. I will seek after this knowledge from your tower, worthy abbot. Have you my field-glass, Trenck?“

The adjutant bowed, silently; they passed through the corridor and mounted the steps, reaching at last the platform at the top of the tower.

A wondrous prospect burst upon their view; the horizon seemed bounded by majestic mountains of porphyry--this third element or place of deposit of the enchanting primeval earth, out of which mighty but formless mass our living, breathing, and beautiful world sprang into creation, and the stars sang together for joy. In the midst of these mountains stood the „Giant,“ with his snow-crowned point, like the great finger of God, reaching up into the heavens, and contrasting strangely with the lofty but round green summits of the range, now gilded by the morning sun, and sparkling in changing rays of light.

The king looked upon this picture with rapture; an expression of prayer and praise was written upon his face. But with the proud reserve which ever belongs to those who, by exalted rank or genius, are isolated from other men, with the shrinking of a great soul, the king would allow no one to witness his emotion. He wished to be alone, alone with Nature and Nature's God; he dismissed the abbot and his adjutant, and commanded them to wait in the rooms below for him. And now, convinced that no one saw or heard him, the king gave himself up wholly to the exalted and pious feelings which agitated his soul. With glistening eyes he gazed upon the enchanting landscape, which glowed and shimmered in the dazzling sunshine.

„God, God!“ said he, in low tones; „who can doubt that He is, and that He is from everlasting to everlasting? Who, that looks upon the beauty, the harmony, and order of creation, can doubt of His wisdom, and that His goodness is over all His works? [Footnote: The king's own words. „OEuvres posthumes,“ page 162.] O my God, I worship you in your works of creation and providence, and I bow my head in adoration at the footstool of your divine Majesty. Why cannot men be content with this great, mysterious, exalted, and ever-enduring church, with which God has surrounded them? Why can they not worship in Nature's great cathedral? Why do they confine themselves to churches of brick and mortar, the work of men's hands, and listen to their hypocritical priests, rather than listen to and worship God in His beautiful world? They cry out against me and call me an infidel, but my heart is full of love and faith in my Creator, and I worship Him, not in priestly words, but in the depths of my soul.“

And now Frederick cast a smiling greeting to the lovely phenomena which lay at his feet. His thoughts had been with God, and his glance upward; but now his eyes wandered over the perfumed and blooming valley which lay in the depths between the mountains; he numbered the little cities and villages, with their red roofs and graceful church-spires; he admired the straw-thatched huts upon whose highest points the stork had built her nest, and stood by it in observant and majestic composure.

„This is all mine; I won it with my spear and bow. It is mine, and I will never yield it up. I will prove to Maria Theresa that what was good to take was not good to restore. No, no! Silesia is mine; my honor, my pride, and my fame demand it. I will never give it up. I will defend it with rivers of blood, yes, with my own heart's blood!“

He took his glass and looked again over the luxurious valley; he started and fixed his glass steadily upon one point. In the midst of the smiling meadows through which the highway wound like a graceful stream, he saw a curious, glittering, moving mass. At the first glance it looked like a crowd of creeping ants; it soon, however, assumed larger proportions, and, at last, approaching ever nearer, the forms of men could be distinctly seen, and now he recognized a column of marching soldiers.

„Austrians,“ said the king, with calm composure. He turned his glass in the other direction, where a road led into the valley; this path was also filled with soldiers, who, by rapid marches, were approaching the cloister. „Without doubt they know that I am here,“ said the king; „they have learned this in the village, and have come to take me prisoner. Eh bien, nous verrons.“

So saying, Frederick put his glass in his pocket, descended the steps, and with cool indifference entered the room of the abbot.

„Messieurs,“ said he, laughing merrily, as he looked at the good- natured and unsuspicious faces of the worthy abbot and the young officer, „we must decide upon some plan of defence, for the Austrians draw near on every side of the cloister.“

„Oh, my prophetic soul!“ murmured the abbot, folding his hands in prayer.

Trenck rushed to the window and looked searchingly abroad. At this moment a loud knock was heard upon the door, and an anxious voice called to the abbot.

„All is lost, the Austrians are already here!“ cried Tobias Stusche, wringing his hands despairingly.

„No!“ said the king, „they cannot yet have reached the cloister, and that is not the voice of a soldier who commands, but that of a monk who prays, and is almost dead with terror; let us open the door.“

„O my God, your majesty! would you betray yourself?“ cried Stusche, and forgetting all etiquette, he rushed to the king, laid his hand upon his arm and held him back.

„No,“ said the king, „I will not betray myself, neither will I conceal myself. I will meet my fate with my face to the foe.“

„Open, open, for God's sake!“ cried the voice without.

„He prays in God's name,“ said the king. „I will open the door.“ He crossed the room and drew back the bolt.

And now, the pale and anxious face of Brother Anastasius appeared. He entered hastily, closed and fastened the door.

„Pardon,“ said he, trembling and breathless--“pardon that I have dared to enter. The danger is great; the Austrians surround the cloister.“

„Are they already here?“ said the king.

„No; but they have sent a courier, who commands us immediately to open all the doors and give entrance to the soldiers of Maria Theresa.“

„Have they given a reason for this command?“

„Yes; they say they know assuredly that the King of Prussia is concealed here, and they come to search the cloister.“

„Have you not said to them, that we are not only the servants of God, but the servants of the King of Prussia? Have you not said to them that the doors of our cloister can only open to Prussian troops?“

„Yes, your excellency. I told the soldier all this, but he laughed, and said the pandours of Colonel von Trenck knew how to obtain an entrance.“

„Ah! it is Trenck, with his pandours,“ cried the king, casting a searching glance at Frederick von Trenck, who stood opposite, with pale and tightly-compressed lips; he met the eye of the king boldly, however, and looked him steadily in the face.

„Is Colonel Trenck your relation?“ said the king, hastily.

„Yes, your majesty; he is my father's brother's son,“ said the young man, proudly.

„Ah! I see you have a clear conscience,“ said the king, laying his hand smilingly upon the youth's shoulder. „But, tell me, worthy abbot, do you know any way to rescue us from this mouse-trap?“

Tobias did not reply immediately; he stood thoughtfully with his arms folded, then raised his head quickly, as if he had come to some bold conclusion; energy and purpose were written in his face. „Will your majesty make use of the means which I dare to offer you?“

„Yes, if they are not unworthy. I owe it to my people not to lay upon them the burden of my ransom.“

„Then I hope, with God's help, to serve your majesty.“ He turned to the monk, and said, with a proud, commanding tone: „Brother Anastasius, listen to my commands. Go immediately to Messner, order him in my name to call all the brothers to high mass in the choir of the church; threaten him with my wrath and the severest punishment, if he dares to speak to one of the brethren. I will prove my monks, and see if they recognize that obedience is the first duty in a cloister.“

„While Messner assembles the priests, shall the bell sound for mass?“

„Hasten, Brother Anastasius; in ten minutes we must be all in the church.“

„And you expect to save me by celebrating high mass?“ said Frederick, shrugging his shoulders.

„Yes, sire, I expect it. Will your majesty graciously accompany me to my dressing-room?“