enough? Without that reverence and its corresponding opposite-pole
of abhorrence, there is simply no possibility left. That, my
friend, is the outcome and summary of all virtues in this world,
for a man or for a Nation of men. It is the supreme strength and
glory of a Nation;--without which, indeed, all other strengths, and
enormities of bullion and arsenals and warehouses, are no strength.
None, I should say;--and are oftenest even the REVERSE.

Nations who have lost this quality, or who never had it, what
Friedrich can they hope to be possible among them? Age after age
they grind down their Friedrichs contentedly under the hoofs of
cattle on their highways; and even find it an excellent practice,
and pride themselves on Liberty and Equality. Most certain it is,
there will no Friedrich come to rule there; by and by, there will
none be born there. Such Nations cannot have a King to command
them; can only have this or the other scandalous swindling Copper
Captain, constitutional Gilt Mountebank, or other the like
unsalutary entity by way of King; and the sins of the fathers are
visited upon the children in a frightful and tragical manner,
little noticed in the Penny Newspapers and Periodical Literatures
of this generation. Oh, my friends--! But there is plain Business
waiting us at hand.



Chapter II.

REPAIRING OF A RUINED PRUSSIA.

That of Friedrich's sitting wrapt in a cloud of reflections