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Updated: June 4, 2025
Splendidly dressed, with two companions, he frequented an honest man's house at Rothenberg. He boasted that he was a foreign nobleman of immense wealth, and, for a time, was as successful as an Italian courier has been known to be at one of our fashionable watering-places.
"Maria Theresa is so bold and insolent because Bellona is a woman, consequently her sister; but we will prove to her that Dame Bellona will rather ally herself with gallant men than with sentimental women," said General Rothenberg. "Now, messieurs, what say you? shall we have peace or war?" "War, war!" cried they all in one breath, and with one movement.
"Your majesty graciously permits me to invite the Signora Barbarina?" said Rothenberg, looking the king steadily in the face; a rich blush suffused the cheeks of Frederick. Suddenly he laughed aloud, and laying his arm around the neck of his friend, he looked in his radiant face with an expression of confidence and love. "You are a provoking scamp," said Frederick.
Without looking around, he hastened to the door which led into the cabinet of the king. Rothenberg and Algarotti drew near to him, and greeted him joyously, then told him of the strange seclusion of the king. The countenance of the marquis was troubled, and his eyes filled with tears.
"This proves that Wisdom herself must take the trouble to make herself popular," said Rothenberg. "True fame is only obtained by popularity. Alexander the Great and Caesar were popular, and their names were therefore in the mouths of the people. This was their inheritance, handed down from generation to generation, from father to son. So will it be with King Frederick the Second.
The king shrugged his shoulders almost contemptuously. "Only death stamps fame upon kings' lives. For the present, I am content to fulfil my duties to the best of my ability. To be a true king, a monarch must be willing to resign all personal happiness. As for me, Rothenberg, on this day, when I, as a king, am peculiarly fortunate, my heart is wrung by the loss of two dear friends.
"My Rothenberg," said the king, with his deep, tender voice, "look at me, and tell me what men call you, when they speak of you and me?" "I hope they call me your majesty's most faithful servant." "No, they call you my favorite, and what they say is true. Vox populi vox Dei. Come to my heart, my favorite."
It was known that more than once the Barbarina had supped with the king at the house of General Rothenberg; it was known that the king, every time the Barbarina danced, was behind the curtain, and that, he had commanded the court painter, Pesne, to paint her portrait, life size, for him.
"Command him to do so, sire, and then to make a life-size picture from the sketch." "Ah! so you wish a portrait of the Barbarina?" "Yes, sire; but not for myself." "For whom, then?" "To have the pleasure of presenting it to my king." "And why?" "Because I am vain enough to believe that, as my present, the picture would have some value in your eyes," said Rothenberg, mockingly.
"I mean to say, signora, that it will be a happiness to the king, if the sad experience of the last few days should make you milder and gentler of mood," said Algarotti. Rothenberg and himself had gone to Barbarina to find out, if possible, the whole truth. They wished to deceive her to lead her to believe that the king had fully confided in them.
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