has been writing some description of her to the Crown-Prince.
Description of an unfavorable nature; below the truth, not above
it, to avert disappointment, nay to create some gleam of inverse
joy, when the actual meeting occurs. That is his art in driving
the fiery little Arab ignominiously yoked to him; and it is clear
he has overdone it, for once. This is Friedrich's THIRD utterance
to him; much the most emphatic there is:--

TO THE GENERAL FELDMARSCHALL VON GRUMKOW.

"CUSTRIN, 19th February, 1732.

"Judge, my dear General, if I can have been much charmed with the
description you give of the abominable object of my desires!
For the love of God, disabuse the King in regard to her [show him
that she is a fool, then]; and let him remember well that fools
commonly are the most obstinate of creatures.

"Some months ago he wrote a Letter to Walden," the obsequious
Goldstick, "of his giving me the choice of several Princesses:
I hope he will not give himself the lie in that. I refer you
entirely to the Letter, which Schulenburg will have delivered,"--
little Schulenburg called here, in passing your way; all hands
busy. "For there is no hope of wealth, no reasoning, nor chance of
fortune that could change my sentiment as expressed there [namely,
that I will not have her, whatever become of me]; and miserable
for miserable, it is all one! Let the King but think that it is
not for himself that he is marrying me, but for MYself; nay he too
will have a thousand chagrins, to see two persons hating one
another, and the miserablest marriage in the world;--to hear their