Though having just looked at Carlyle for the discussion with Selena over in Rheinsberg, I see Carlyle quotes this passage from letter to Nicolai from the son of Muller (Muller the father is the field preacher who came with Katte to Küstrin and left us some of our evidence on the execution). I thought you might find it interesting. I haven't put it in italics just so I can put the Fritz Bible quote in italics. Commentary is Carlyle's.
As my Father brought him proofs from Scripture, the Prince asked him one time, How he could keep chapter and verse so exactly in his memory? Father drew from his pocket a little Hand-Concordance, and showed it him as one help. This he had to leave with the Prince for some days. On getting it back, he found inside on the fly-leaf, sketched in pencil,"— what is rather notable to History,—"the figure of a man on his knees, with two swords hanging crosswise over his head; and at the bottom these words of Psalm Seventy-third (verses 25, 26), Whom have I in Heaven but thee? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee. My flesh and my heart fainteth and faileth; but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion forever."— Poor Friedrich, this is a very unexpected pen-sketch on his part; but an undeniable one; betokening abstruse night-thoughts and forebodings in the present juncture!—
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Bible reading in Küstrin
Date: 2021-03-21 01:06 pm (UTC)Though having just looked at Carlyle for the discussion with Selena over in Rheinsberg, I see Carlyle quotes this passage from letter to Nicolai from the son of Muller (Muller the father is the field preacher who came with Katte to Küstrin and left us some of our evidence on the execution). I thought you might find it interesting. I haven't put it in italics just so I can put the Fritz Bible quote in italics. Commentary is Carlyle's.
As my Father brought him proofs from Scripture, the Prince asked him one time, How he could keep chapter and verse so exactly in his memory? Father drew from his pocket a little Hand-Concordance, and showed it him as one help. This he had to leave with the Prince for some days. On getting it back, he found inside on the fly-leaf, sketched in pencil,"— what is rather notable to History,—"the figure of a man on his knees, with two swords hanging crosswise over his head; and at the bottom these words of Psalm Seventy-third (verses 25, 26), Whom have I in Heaven but thee? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee. My flesh and my heart fainteth and faileth; but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion forever."— Poor Friedrich, this is a very unexpected pen-sketch on his part; but an undeniable one; betokening abstruse night-thoughts and forebodings in the present juncture!—