according to the order of the king. The most of them were old and
worn out, body and mind. They all looked morose and sorrowful. The
great news of the approaching war with Austria had spread through
the military. The old laurel-crowned generals of the Seven Years'
War were unwilling to go forth to earn new laurels, for which they
had lost all ambition. Not one dared betray his secret thoughts to
another, or utter a word of disapproval. The king's spies were
everywhere, and none could trust himself to converse with his
neighbor, as he might prove to be one of them. There reigned an
anxious, oppressive silence; the generals and staff-officers
exchanged the ordinary greetings. All eyes were turned toward the
door through which the king would enter, bowed down, like his
generals, with the cares of life, and the burden of old age. The
king slowly entered. He was, indeed, an old man, like those he came
amongst, and now saluted. An expression of imperishable youth
lighted up his pale, sunken face, and his eyes flashed with as much
daring and fire as thirty-eight years before, when he had assembled
his young officers around him in this very hall, to announce to them
that he would march against Austria. How many wars, how many
battles, how many illusions, victories, and defeats had the king
experienced in these thirty-eight years! How little the youthful,
fiery king of that day resembled the weak old man of to-day; how
little in common the young King Frederick had with "Alten Fritz."
And now in this feeble body dwelt the same courageous spirit. In the
course of these years King Frederick II had become Frederick the
Great! And great he was to-day, this little old man--great in his
intentions and achievements, never heeding his own debility and need
of repose. All his thoughts and endeavors concentrated on the
welfare of his people and his country--on the greatness and glory of
Germany. Those eyes which now glanced over the circle of generals