“You have expressed precisely my own views,” cried Frederick, with delight.  “If this is your conclusion, messieurs.  I rejoice to lay before you another document.  It was above all other things the desire of my heart, as long as it was possible, to preserve the peace of Germany.  I have sacrificed my personal inclination and my ambition to this aim.  I have united the German princes for the protection of Charles the Seventh.  The Frankfort union should be a lever to restore freedom to Germany, dignity to the emperor, and peace to Europe.  But no success has crowned this union; discord prevails amongst them.  A part of our allies have left us, under the pretext that France will not pay the promised gold.  Charles the Seventh is flying from place to place, and our poor land is groaning under the burdens of a crippling and exhausting war.  We must put an end to this.  In such dire need and necessity it is better to die an honorable death than to bear disgrace, to live like beggars by the grace of our enemies.  I have not the insolence and courage of cowardice so to live.  I will die or conquer!  I will wash out these scornful words of the King of England with blood.  Silesia, my Silesia, which I have conquered, and which is mine by right, I will hold against all the efforts of the Hungarian queen.  Look, now, at this document; it is a treaty which I have closed with France against Austria, and for the protection of the Emperor Charles.  And now, here is another paper.  It is a manifesto which Maria Theresa has scattered throughout all Silesia, in which she declares that she no longer considers herself bound by the treaty of Breslau, but claims Silesia and Glatz as her own.  Consequently she commands the Silesians to withdraw from the protection of Prussia, and give their allegiance to their rightful inheritor.”

“That is an open breach of contract,” said one of the generals.

“That is contrary to all justice and the rights of the people,” cried another.

“That is Austrian politics,” said the king, smiling.  “They hold to a solemn contract, which was detrimental to them, only so long as necessity compels it; so soon as an opportunity offers to their advantage, they prove faithless.  They do not care to be considered honorable, they only desire to be feared, and above all, they will bear no equals and no rivals in Germany.  Maria Theresa feels herself strong enough to take back this Silesia I won from her, and a peace contract is not sacred in her eyes.  Austria was and is naturally the enemy of Prussia, and will never forgive us because our father, by the power of his genius, made himself a king.  Austria would gladly see the King of Prussia buried in the little Elector of Brandenburg, and make herself rich with our possessions.  Will we suffer that, messieurs!”

“Never!” said the generals, and the fire of battle flashed in their eyes.

“The Queen of Hungary has commanded her troops to enter Glatz.  Shall we wait till this offence is repeated?”