Here there stood the Temple of Friendship.
There was an embarrassing silence between them, but Frederick, who
had learnt self-control, was the first to find the thread which they
had lost. But he had to introduce the conversation by commencing
with their present surroundings.
"What a peaceful evening, Monsieur! Peace in nature and in human
life! Have you noticed that there has been no war in the world for
seven years--that is, since the Peace of Aachen?"
"Now I have not thought about it. Well, you can now expect the seven
lean kine--I mean years."
"Who knows! You spoke just now of Kian Loung, the peaceful prince
who philosophises and writes verses on tea-plant blossoms; who
serves his people and makes them happy. His neighbour Japan has
enjoyed peace for a hundred years. In India the French and English
are rivalling each other in trade. That is the great East, which we
shall soon have to take into account--. If we consider our portion
of the world, with which I reckon Egypt, the latter lies asleep
under Pashas and Mamelukes. Greece, our motherland, has entered its
last sleep. The Athens of Pericles is an appendage of the Sultan's
harem, and is ruled by black eunuchs. Rome, or rather Italy, is
parcelled out between Lorraine, the House of Bourbon, and Savoy.
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