stood on the Zobtenberg, if they stood on the
steeples of Breslau!" said Friedrich; and tramped diligently forward.
Day after day, as the real tidings arrive, his outlook in Silesia is
becoming darker and darker: a sternly dark march this altogether. Prince
Karl has thrown a garrison into Liegnitz on Friedrich's road; Prince
Karl lies encamped with Breslau at his back; has above 80,000 when fully
gathered; and reigns supreme in those parts. Darker march there seldom
was: all black save a light that burns in one heart, refusing to be
quenched till death.

Friedrich sends orders that Kyau shall be put in arrest; that Ziethen
shall be general of the Bevern wreck, shall bring it round by Glogau,
and rendezvous with Friedrich at a place and day,--Parchwitz, 2d of
December coming;--and be steady, my old Ziethen. Friedrich brushes past
the Liegnitz Garrison, leaves Liegnitz and it a trifle to the right;
arrives at Parchwitz November 28th; and there rests, or at least his
weary troops do, till Ziethen come up; the King not very restful, with
so many things to prearrange; a life or death crisis now nigh. Well, it
is but death; and death has been fronted before now! We who are after
the event, on the safe sunny side of it, can form small image of the
horrors and the inward dubieties to him who is passing through it;--and
how Hope is needed to shine heroically eternal in some hearts. Fire of
Hope, that does not issue in mere blazings, mad audacities and chaotic
despair, but advances with its eyes open, measuredly, counting its
steps, to the wrestling-place,--this is a godlike thing; much available
to mankind in all the battles they have; battles with steel, or of
whatever sort.

Friedrich, at Parchwitz, assembled his Captains, and spoke to them; it
was the night after Ziethen came in, night of December 3d, 1757; and
Ziethen, no doubt, was there: for it is an authentic meeting, this at
Parchwitz, and the words were taken down.

FRIEDRICH'S SPEECH TO HIS GENERALS (Parchwitz, 3d December, 1757). [From
RETZOW, i. 240-242 (slightly abridged).]

"It is not unknown to you, MEINE HERREN, what disasters have befallen
here, while we were busy with the French and Reichs Army. Schweidnitz is
gone; Duke of Bevern beaten; Breslau gone, and all our war-stores there;
good part of Silesia gone: and, in fact, my embarrassments would be
at the insuperable pitch, had not I boundless trust in you, and your
qualities, which have been so often man