Book-bot.com - History of Friedrich II of Prussia — Volume 02 by Carlyle, Thomas, 1795-1881

History of Friedrich II of Prussia — Volume 02 by Thomas Carlyle
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Michaelis Chur und Furstlichen Hauser,
i. 257-259: Pauli, Allgemeine Preussische Staats-
Geschichte (Halle, 1760-1769), i. l-182 (the
"standard work" on Prussian History; in eight watery quartos,
intolerable to human nature): Kloss, Vuterlandische
Gemalde (Berlin, 1833), i. 59-108 (a Bookseller's
compilation, with some curious Excerpts):--under which lie modern
Sagittarius, ancient Adam of Bremen, Ditmarus
Merseburgensis, Witichindus Corbeiensis, Arnoldus Lubecensis, italic> &c. &c. to all lengths and breadths.] Which threw King
Mistevoi into a paroxysm, and raised the Wends. Their butchery of
the German population in poor Brandenburg, especially of the
Priests; their burning of the Cathedral, and of Church and State
generally, may be conceived. The HARLUNGSBERG,--in our time
MARIENBERG, pleasant Hill near Brandenburg, with its gardens,
vines, and whitened cottages:--on the top of this Harlungsherg
the Wends "set up their god Triglaph;" a three-headed Monster of
which I have seen prints, beyond measure ugly. Something like
three whale's-cubs combined by boiling, or a triple porpoise dead-
drunk (for the dull eyes are inexpressible, as well as the
amorphous shape): ugliest and stupidest of all false gods.
This these victorious Wends set up on the Harlungsberg, Year 1023;
and worshipped after their sort, benighted mortals,--with joy, for
a time. The Cathedral was in ashes, Priests all slain or fled,
shadowy Markgraves the like; Church and State lay in ashes;
and Triglaph, like a Triple Porpoise under the influence of
laudanum, stood (I know not whether on his head or on his tail)
aloft on the Harlungsberg, as the Supreme of this Universe, for
the time being.