suggesting it) hints farther, "If his Prussian Majesty, in the
mere greatness of his mind, were to appear suddenly in Dresden
when his royal Friend was next there,--what a sunburst after
clouds were that; how welcome to the Polish Majesty!"--"Hm, Na,
would it, then?"--The Polish Majesty puts that out of question;
specially sends invitation for the Carnival-time just coming;
and Friedrich Wilhelm will, accordingly, see Dresden and him on
that occasion. [Ib. i. 108, 109; Pollnitz, ii. 254; Fassman,
p. 374.] In those days, Carnival means "Fashionable Season," rural
nobility rallying to head-quarters for a while, and social
gayeties going on; and in Protestant Countries it means
nothing more.

This, in substance, was the real origin of Friedrich Wilhelm's
sudden visit to Dresden, which astonished the world, in January
next. It makes a great figure in the old Books. It did kindle
Dresden Carnival and the Physically Strong into supreme
illumination, for the time being; and proved the seal of good
agreement, and even of a kind of friendliness between this
heteroclite pair of Sovereigns,--if anybody now cared for those
points. It is with our Crown-Prince's share in it that we are
alone concerned; and that may require a Chapter to itself.



Chapter III.

VISIT TO DRESDEN.

One of the most important adventures, for our young Crown-Prince,