the Black Raven, at that time the most celebrated in
Amsterdam. They had been wandering about the entire day, examining with
never-ceasing interest and delight the treasures of art which the rich
patricians of Amsterdam had collected in their princely homes and the
public museums. No one supposed that this small man in the brown coat,
with dusty shoes and coarse, unadorned hat, could be a king--a king
whose fame resounded throughout the whole of Europe. Frederick had
enjoyed the great happiness of pursuing his journey and his studies
unnoticed and unknown. He had many amusing and romantic adventures; and
the joy of being an independent man, of which he had heretofore only
dreamed, he was now realizing fully.

The king was compelled now to confess that his freedom and manhood were
completely overcome. Hunger had conquered him--hunger! the earthly enemy
of all great ideas and exalted feelings. The king was hungry! He was
obliged to yield to that physical power which even the rulers of this
world must obey, and Balby and himself had returned to the hotel to eat
and refresh themselves.

"Now, friend, see that you order something to rejoice and strengthen
our humanity," said Frederick, stretching himself comfortably upon the
divan. "It is a real pleasure to rue to be hungry and partake of a good
meal--a pleasure which the King of Prussia will often envy the Messieurs
Zoller. To be hungry and to eat is one of life's rare enjoyments
generally denied to kings, and yet," whispered he, thoughtfully, "our
whole life is nothing but a never-ceasing hungering and thirsting
after happiness, content, and rest. The world alas! gives no repose, no
satisfying portion. Brother Henry, let us eat and be joyful; let us even
meditate on a good meal as an ardent maiden consecrates her thoughts to
a love-poem which she will write in her album in honor of her beloved.
Truly there are fools who in the sublimity of their folly wish to appear
indifferent to such earthly pleasures, declaring that they are necessary
evils, most uncomfortable bodily craving, and nothing more. They are
fools who do not understand that eating and drinking is an art, a
science, the soul of the soul, the compass of thought and feeling. Dear
Balby, order us a costly meal. I wish to be gay and free, light-minded
and merry-hearted to-day. In order to promote this we must, before all
other things, take care of these earthly bodies and not oppress them
with common food."

"W