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Why has Providence given hearts to kings as to other men? Why do we thirst so for love? as the intoxicating drink is always denied us, and we dare not drink it even when offered by the most bewitching enchantress!" Involuntarily his eye rested upon the beautiful picture of Barbarina. But he would have no pity with himself, as he dared not show mercy to his brother.
Baron Swartz, alarmed by her contemptuous and disrespectful bearing, drew near, in order to say that the king had vouchsafed to visit her, but Frederick motioned him to withdraw; and, in order that Barbarina might not understand him, he told him in German to leave the room and await him in the corridor. "I do not wish the signora to know that I am the king," said he.
The king had some cause to fear, for he had been severely treated by La Barbarina. In the king's bedroom we saw her portrait, that of La Cochois, sister to the actress who became Marchioness d'Argens, and that of Marie Theresa, with whom Frederick had been in love, or rather he had been in love with the idea of becoming emperor.
She lay the whole day stretched out upon her sofa, her eyes wide open, silent, and sighing, not responding to Marietta's loving words by a glance, or a movement of the eyelash. Marietta proposed to assemble her friends, but she affirmed that society was more wearisome than solitude. At the end of three days, Barbarina sprang from her sofa and tried to walk.
Barbarina stood radiant in grace and beauty, and smiled bewitchingly upon Cocceji. "Go on," said suddenly the clear, commanding voice of the king, as he nodded to the poor youth, who disappeared behind the curtain. "Go on," said the king again. The music commenced, and Barbarina, raising her garland of roses, swam like an elf over the boards. The audience thought not of her grace and beauty.
"Then I have come in vain," she said, breathing quickly; "you can make no use of me to-day?" "No, no, signora! your face is a star seldom seen in my heaven, and I must grasp the opportunity have the kindness to wait; I will hasten to the king and return with the picture." Without giving Barbarina time to answer, he left the room. Why did her heart beat so quickly?
She wished to remain incognito, and now her name had been called before the servant. All Berlin would know before night that she had visited Barbarina! "Give me my muff," she said impatiently to the servant; "it is not necessary you should carry it. I came on foot." "On foot?" said Barbarina, laughing merrily.
They were wholly occupied with this curious adventure; they had forgotten her disgrace. They thought only of Cocceji's passionate love, and declared he was jealous as a Turk. So Barbarina had gained her purpose. Early the next morning a plain, simple equipage stood at the gate of the new park in Potsdam. The king and the Marquis D'Argens entered the carriage alone.
Barbarina felt the blood mount to her cheek, and then retreat to her heart; she felt that it was impossible for her to preserve her self-control; she could not bear this cruel comparison of the portrait and the original, but she swore to herself that the king should not have the triumph of seeing her once more sink insensible at his feet; his proud, cold heart should not witness the outbreak of her scorn and wounded vanity.
"You understood me from the beginning, and left me hanging, like Absalom, upon the tree. That was cruel, Rothenberg." "Cruel, but well deserved, sire. Why would you not make known your wishes clearly? Why leave me to guess them?" "Why? My God! it is sometimes so agreeable and convenient to have your wishes guessed. The murder is out. You will invite the beautiful Barbarina.
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