ohn Duke of Marlborough's time,
"Corporal John will get us through it!"--That same evening Friedrich
rode into the Camp, where the regiments he had were now all gathered,
out of their cantonments, to march on the morrow. First regiment he came
upon was the Life-Guard Cuirassiers: the men, in their accustomed way,
gave him good-evening, which he cheerily returned. Some of the more
veteran sort asked, ruggedly confidential, as well as loyal: "What is
thy news, then, so late?" "Good news, children (KINDER): to-morrow
you will beat the Austrians tightly!" "That we will, by--!" answered
they.--"But think only where they stand yonder, and how they have
intrenched themselves?" said Friedrich. "And if they had the Devil in
front and all round them, we will knock them out; only thou lead us
on!"--"Well, I will see what you can do: now lay you down, and sleep
sound; and good sleep to you!" "Good-night, Fritz!" answer all; [Muller,
p. 21 (from Kaltenhorn, of whom INFRA); Preuss, &c. &c.] as Fritz ambles
on to the next regiment, to which, as to every one, he will have some
word.

Was it the famous Pommern regiment, this that he next spoke to,--who
answered Loudon's summons to them once (as shall be noticed by and by)
in a way ineffable, though unforgettable? Manteuffel of Foot; yes, no
other! [Archenholtz, ii. 61; and Kutzen, p. 35.] They have their own
opinion of their capacities against an enemy, and do not want for a
good conceit of themselves. "Well, children, how think you it will be
to-morrow? They are twice as strong as we." "Never thou mind that;
there are no Pommerners among them; thou knowest what the Pommerners can
do!"--FRIEDRICH: "Yea, truly, that do I; otherwise I durst not risk the
battle. Now good sleep to you! to-morrow, then, we shall either have
beaten the Enemy or else be all dead." "Yea," answered the whole
regiment; "dead, or else the Enemy beaten:" and so went to deep sleep,
preface to a deeper for many of them,--as beseems brave men. In this
world it much beseems the brave man, uncertain about so many things, to
be certain of himself for one thing.

These snatches of Camp Dialogue, much more the Speech preserved to us
by Retzow Junior, appear to be true; though as to the dates, the
circumstances, there has been debating. [Kutzen, pp. 175-181.] Other
Anecdotes, dubious or more, still float about in quantity;--of which
let us give only one; that of the Deserter (which has merit as a myth).
"What made thee de