prosperity, he simplified
administration, he improved judicial procedure. But the enjoyment of all
these blessings was spoiled for him by his own fault.

KING.

Well--well--by his own fault!

SECKENDORF (_aside_).

The young man must indeed have been drinking heavily.

PRINCE.

His vivacity of spirit kept him in a continual unrest which was as
painful to others as to himself. When fatigued he could not conceal his
desire for pleasant recreation, but his tastes were sufficiently simple
to let him prefer satisfying this desire in the bosom of his own family.

EVERSMANN.

There'll be a misfortune, surely!

PRINCE.

But even here, where he might have reposed on a couch of roses, this
unfortunate sovereign made for himself a bed of thorns. His son's
unhappy history is so well known that I can pass over it in silence....

KING.

In silence--?

PRINCE.

Friedrich Wilhelm could not understand the freedom of the human will. He
would have grafted stem to stem, son on father, youth on age. In
planning to bestow the hand of his charming daughter, now here, now
there, it never came to his mind that her heart might have a right to
choose--it never occurred to him to ask: "Does my choice make you happy,
child?"

KING.

Eversmann, take this pipe.

PRINCE.

Now he is departed. Those minions who during his lifetime came between
the heart of the mother and the heart of the husband and father, those
minions tremble now. It remains to be seen how the misunderstood son
will dispose of them. The father's deeds will remain the foundation of
this state. But a milder spirit will reign in the land; the arts and
sciences will outdistance the fame of cannon and bullet. And the soaring
eagle of Prussia will now truly fulfil his device, _Nec Soli
Cedis_--or, to put it in German, "Even the sun's glance shall not
dazzle thee! Even the sun shall stand aside from out thy path!" [_He
recollects himself, and after a pause returns to the table, again
pretending drunkenness_.] Hotham, give me something to drink.

KING (_after a pause_).

What hour is it?

EVERSMANN.

Eleven past, Your Majesty. (_Aside_.) If we should meet the Prince of
Wales now, woe unto him.

KING (_taking a tankard from the table_).

Prince, when you have come to your senses tomorrow, let them tell you
that the King touched glasses with you.

PRINCE.

At Your Majesty's service.

KING.

He doesn't understand, Hotham. Translate it into sober langua