who counts upon their favor. It is all the same
to me whether they like or hate me. I shall always do my duty to my
subjects according to the best of my knowledge and ability, as it
becomes an honorable and faithful officer. As the chief and most
responsible servant of my kingdom, I should be mindful to increase
her income and diminish her expenses--to lay taxes upon the rich, and
lighten them for the poor. This is my task, and I will fulfil it so long
as I live!"

"Oh," cried Herzberg, with enthusiasm, "would that the entire nation
might hear these words, and engrave them upon their hearts!"

"Why that, mon cher?" asked Frederick, shrugging his shoulders. "I do
not ask to be deified; my subjects are perfectly welcome to discuss
my acts, so long as they pay me punctually, and order and quiet are
respected and preserved."

"All that is done," said Herzberg, joyfully. "The machine of state is so
well arranged, that she has fulfilled her duty during the war, and will
soon reestablish prosperity."

"Particularly," cried the king, "if we rightly understand the art of
agriculture. In the end every thing depends upon him who best cultivates
his field. This is the highest art, for without it there would be no
merchants, courtiers, kings, poets, or philosophers. The productions
of the earth are the truest riches. He who improves his ground, brings
waste land under the plough, drains the swamps, makes the most glorious
conquests over barbarism."

"And those are also conquerors, sire," said Herzberg, smiling, "who
drain the mental swamps, and improve the waste mental ground. Such are
those who increase the schools and instruct the people. I have caused
the school authorities to report to me, according to your majesty's
command. A happy progress has been noticed everywhere. Cultivation
and education are advancing; and since our teachers have adopted the
principles of Rousseau, a more humane spirit is perceptible throughout
our schools."

"What principle do we owe to Jean Jacques?" asked the king.

"Sire, the principle that man is good by nature!"

"Ah, mon cher, who says that knows but little of the abominable race to
which we belong!" [Footnote: The king's words.--See "Prussia." vol. iv.,
p. 221.]

"Do you not believe in this doctrine?" asked Herzberg.

The king raised his large blue eyes musingly to the busts placed upon
the bookcases, and around the walls. They lingered long upon those of
Homer, Plato, and D'Alembe