"To kill him!" said he suddenly, as if answering the voices which
whispered in his soul; "that would be an imbecile, miserable resort,
and, moreover, we would not obtain our object; ho would not be
humiliated, but a martyr's crown would be added to his laurels.
When, however, ho is completely humbled, when, to this great victory
at Hochkirch, we add new triumphs, when we have taken Silesia and
revenged Saxony, then he might die; then we will seek a sure hand
which understands the dagger and its uses. Until then, silence and
caution; until then this contest must be carried on with every
weapon which wisdom and craft can place in our hands. I think my
weapons are good and sharp, well fitted to give a telling thrust;
and yet they are so simple, so threadbare--a cunning fortune-teller,
a love-sick fool, a noble coquette, and a poor prisoner! these are
my only weapons, and with these I will defeat the man whom his
flatterers call the heroic King of Prussia." He laughed aloud, but
it was a ferocious, threatening laugh, which shocked himself.
"Down, down, ye evil spirits," said he; "do not press forward so
boldly to my lips; they are consecrated now to soft words and tender
sighs alone.
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