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Updated: May 15, 2025
"There is a remedy," said Ellart, "but I dare not give it to your majesty." "And why not?" said the king. "Because its strength must first be tested, to see if it can be used without danger; it must first be tried by a patient upon whose life the happiness of millions does not depend."
"Then try it on me," said the king, positively. "Give me the powder." It was in vain that Ellart called upon the cavaliers to support his opinion; in vain that they begged and implored the king not to take the powder, not to put his life in danger. "My life is in God's hands," said the king, earnestly; "and God, who created me, created also this bark.
Frederick was ill of a fever, which had tormented him the whole summer, which had kept him from visiting Amsterdam, and which confined him to his bed in the castle of Moyland, while Orttaire was paying his long expected visit, had again taken a powerful hold upon him and made of the king a pale, trembling man, who lay shivering and groaning upon his bed, scoffing at Ellart, his physician, because he could not cure him.
Are we not to act Voltaire's 'Death of Caesar? No, I will not return to Berlin. A trifle such as the emperor's death should not create such great disturbances. We will remain here and renew our former happy days, and forget that we have any duty but our enjoyment. Now, gentlemen, leave me, I am well. You see, Ellart, I did well to take that medicine; I will dress. Fredersdorf, remain here.
And amid the breathless silence of the room, the king took the medicine. "Now your majesty must rest," said Ellart; "you must, by no means, return to Berlin; by my holy right of physician, I forbid it." "And why should I return to Berlin?" said the king, laughingly. "Why should our harmless pleasure and amusements be given up?
"Listen, Fredersdorf," said he, "what meaning have all these mysterious words and looks; why are you all so grave? Is one of my dogs dead? or are you only peevish because this abominable fever has cheated you of the rehearsal?" "No, your majesty. The dogs are in excellent health." "The king's pulse is perfectly quiet," said Ellart, "you can communicate your news to him."
It must not be said that a miserable fever changed my intentions and condemned me to idleness; I must have no fever on the day the news of the emperor's death arrives, or the good people of Vienna will believe that I was made ill with fright. Give me that powder, Ellart, I will take it." "But I told your majesty that I cannot, dare not give it to you, for I have not tried its effect yet."
I trust more in God's medicine than in that of man. Quick, give me the powder!" And as Ellart still hesitated, he continued in a stern voice: "I command you, as your king and master, to give it to me. On my head rests the responsibility." "If your majesty commands I must obey, but I take these gentlemen to witness that I but do it on compulsion."
"A human life is always sacred, and if not certain of your remedy, it is as vicious to give it to a beggar as to a king." "I believe," said Ellart, "as entirely in this remedy as Louis the Fourteenth, who bought it secretly from Talbot, the Englishman, and paid him a hundred Napoleons for a pound. The wife of the King of Spain was cured by it."
Fredersdorf now entered, and through the open door the anxious, inquiring faces of Pollnitz, Bielfeld, Jordan, and Kaiserling could be seen. On tip-toe Ellart approached the private chamberlain. "How is the king?" said he, hastily. "Is he in a condition to hear some important news?" "Not now. Wait an hour; he will then be free from fever."
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