Carlyle's "History of Friedrich II of Prussia"




BOOK IX.

LAST STAGE OF FRIEDRICH'S APPRENTICESHIP:
LIFE IN RUPPIN.

1732-1736.

Chapter I.

PRINCESS ELIZABETH CHRISTINA OF BRUNSWICK-BEVERN.

We described the Crown-Prince as intent to comply, especially in
all visible external particulars, with Papa's will and pleasure;--
to distingnish himself by real excellence in Commandantship of the
Regiment Goltz, first of all. But before ever getting into that,
there has another point risen, on which obedience, equally
essential, may be still more difficult.

Ever since the grand Catastrophe went off WITHOUT taking
Friedrich's head along with it, and there began to be hopes of
a pacific settlement, question has been, Whom shall the
Crown-Prince marry? And the debates about it in the Royal breast
and in Tobacco-Parliament, and rumors about it in the world at
large, have been manifold and continual. In the Schulenburg
Letters we saw the Crown-Prince himself much interested, and