BOOK XX.

FRIEDRICH IS NOT TO BE OVERWHELMED:
THE SEVEN-YEARS WAR GRADUALLY ENDS.

25th April, 1760-15th February, 1763.


Chapter I.

FIFTH CAMPAIGN OPENS.

There were yet, to the world's surprise and regret, Three Campaigns
of this War; but the Campaign 1760, which we are now upon, was what
produced or rendered possible the other two;--was the crisis of
them, and is now the only one that can require much narrative from
us here. Ill-luck, which, Friedrich complains, had followed him
like his shadow, in a strange and fateful manner, from the day of
Kunersdorf and earlier, does not yet cease its sad company; but, on
the contrary, for long months to come, is more constant than ever,
baffling every effort of his own, and from the distance sending him
news of mere disaster and discomfiture. It is in this Campaign,
though not till far on in it, that the long lane does prove to have
a turning, and the Fortune of War recovers its old impartial form.
After which, things visibly languish: and the hope of ruining such
a Friedrich becomes problematic, the effort to do it slackens also;
the very will abating, on the Austrian part, year by year, as of
course the strength of their resources is still more steadily
doing. To the last, Friedrich, the weaker in material resources,
needs all his talent,--all his luck too. But, as the strength, on