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Article CHARACTER OF FREDERICK II. Page 1 of 1 Article ANECDOTES. Page 1 of 1
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Character Of Frederick Ii.
CHARACTER OF FREDERICK II .
TCTNDOWED with resolution of character and a flexibility of minr ? , - " ^ Frederick had improved them both by study and reflection . From history he learnt those lessons which rendered him at once a profound politician and an able general ; his frequent intercourse with philosophers and men of superior genius , had raised him to the rank of a distinguished author . While he was Prince Royal only ,
beseemed emulous of the fame of the Antonines- or of a Marcus Aurelius : but was scarcely seated on the throne when he took for his models an Alexander and a Philip . Rising victorious from a _ war which had threatened him with ruin , he extended the limits of his dominions , and on the second-ivy power which he inherited by descent he raised one of the most authoritative sceptres in Europe . _ To the titles of politician and conqueror , that of legislator he acquired with iustice . The code which bears his name merited , in many respects ,
the gratitude of his subjects . Disdaining luxury from inclination , and fearful of it from ceconomy , his pride was founded on the number of his soldiers . Laborious , vig ilant , indefatigable , his mind was occupied , to the last moment of his life , in the administration of his kingdom : but at the same time he shewed himself more jealous of establishing his authority , and of the prosperity of Prussia , than of the happiness of the PrussiansDid he himself live happily ? It may
. be answered in the negative , since he was neither husband , lover , nor father , -and often suffered himself to be governed by two cruel passions , avarice and ambition . He longed for the surname oi Great : that he obtained from the age in which he lived , and doubtless posterity will confirm the boon .
Anecdotes.
ANECDOTES .
SOC KATES . t CO long , ' says he , ' as Philosophers are not Kings , or Kings Philo-^ sophers ; so long as Philosophy and the Sceptre , instead of atting in concert , shall be separated , just so long public happiness will not exist . ' THE SIEGE OF PHAGTJE .
"WHILST Chevert was preparing in silence every thing necessary for insuring the success of the escalade , Maurice covered his design , by making two false attacks . They wanted a soldier intrepid enough not to reason upon danger , and sufficiently courageous to climb first upon the rampart . M . de Chevert , who knew the art of addressing every one , in his own way , gave this strange but persuasive instrucfor the execution of his
tion to a grenadier , whom- he pitched upon project . ' Listen tome , ' said he , ( in a tone of confidence , ) ' when you have scaled the rampart , advance towards the sentinel ; he will cry out' who goes there ? ' No answer . He will accost you the second time ; beware again of giving him a reply : he will fire upon and miss you ; then do you rush forward , and kill him ; I shall be present to support you . '
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Character Of Frederick Ii.
CHARACTER OF FREDERICK II .
TCTNDOWED with resolution of character and a flexibility of minr ? , - " ^ Frederick had improved them both by study and reflection . From history he learnt those lessons which rendered him at once a profound politician and an able general ; his frequent intercourse with philosophers and men of superior genius , had raised him to the rank of a distinguished author . While he was Prince Royal only ,
beseemed emulous of the fame of the Antonines- or of a Marcus Aurelius : but was scarcely seated on the throne when he took for his models an Alexander and a Philip . Rising victorious from a _ war which had threatened him with ruin , he extended the limits of his dominions , and on the second-ivy power which he inherited by descent he raised one of the most authoritative sceptres in Europe . _ To the titles of politician and conqueror , that of legislator he acquired with iustice . The code which bears his name merited , in many respects ,
the gratitude of his subjects . Disdaining luxury from inclination , and fearful of it from ceconomy , his pride was founded on the number of his soldiers . Laborious , vig ilant , indefatigable , his mind was occupied , to the last moment of his life , in the administration of his kingdom : but at the same time he shewed himself more jealous of establishing his authority , and of the prosperity of Prussia , than of the happiness of the PrussiansDid he himself live happily ? It may
. be answered in the negative , since he was neither husband , lover , nor father , -and often suffered himself to be governed by two cruel passions , avarice and ambition . He longed for the surname oi Great : that he obtained from the age in which he lived , and doubtless posterity will confirm the boon .
Anecdotes.
ANECDOTES .
SOC KATES . t CO long , ' says he , ' as Philosophers are not Kings , or Kings Philo-^ sophers ; so long as Philosophy and the Sceptre , instead of atting in concert , shall be separated , just so long public happiness will not exist . ' THE SIEGE OF PHAGTJE .
"WHILST Chevert was preparing in silence every thing necessary for insuring the success of the escalade , Maurice covered his design , by making two false attacks . They wanted a soldier intrepid enough not to reason upon danger , and sufficiently courageous to climb first upon the rampart . M . de Chevert , who knew the art of addressing every one , in his own way , gave this strange but persuasive instrucfor the execution of his
tion to a grenadier , whom- he pitched upon project . ' Listen tome , ' said he , ( in a tone of confidence , ) ' when you have scaled the rampart , advance towards the sentinel ; he will cry out' who goes there ? ' No answer . He will accost you the second time ; beware again of giving him a reply : he will fire upon and miss you ; then do you rush forward , and kill him ; I shall be present to support you . '