; his prophecy had been
fulfilled--the battle was lost.

"Ah," whispered the king, "how poor, how weak is man! The happiness of
an hour intoxicates him, and he defies his coming fate; he should know
that happiness is a fleeting guest, but that misfortune is the constant
companion of man. I have allowed myself to be deceived by fortune, and
she has turned against me. Fortune is a woman, and I am not gallant. The
fickle goddess watches carefully, and makes good use of my faults. It
was a great fault to dare, with twenty-three battalions of infantry, to
attack an army of sixty thousand men, half of whom are cavalry. Ah! my
great ancestor, Frederick William, what have you to say of your poor
nephew, who, with his little host, is fighting against Russia, Austria,
a large part of Germany, and a hundred thousand French troops? Will you
assist me? Will you be my guardian angel, praying for me above? Yes,
yes! you will assist me if I assist myself, and do not give way to my
faults. Had I been killed in to-day's battle, I would now be in a safe
haven, beyond the reach of storms. But now I must swim still farther
into the stormy sea, until at last I find in the grave that rest and
peace which I shall never attain in this world. This is a consoling
thought; it shall rouse me again to life. I am glad I did not die
to-day. I can still repair my fault. All the responsibility will be
thrown on me; it will be said, the battle would have been won, but for
Frederick's obstinacy. But let this be! It is a necessary consequence
that a warrior should suffer for the faults of his followers. Through
me this battle was lost, and in history it will go down thus to future
generations. But many a victory shall still be recorded, and as the
defeat was owing to me, so shall the victory also come through me alone.
I alone will bear upon my shoulders Prussia's honor, Prussia's glory.
It lies now, with me, bleeding on the ground. It shall be lifted and
sustained by me alone!" And raising his burning eyes heavenward, he
seemed to see these future victories branded upon the skies. Gradually
the inspiration left his countenance, giving place to deep thought. He
had delivered his funeral oration to the lost battle, and now gave his
thought to his future victories. He drew lines and figures upon the sand
with his cane. It may have been a drawing of the last or a sketch of the
next battle.

The king was so absorbed in this occupation, that he did not perceiv