Section 207 The King and the Miller. I.
In the reign1 of Frederick the Great (see S. 192, N. 1), king of Prussia, there was2 a mill near Potsdam which obstructed the view from the windows of the palace of Sans Souci. Annoyed by this drawback to his favourite residence3, the king sent4 to the owner of the mill inquiring the price for which he would sell it. “For no price,” was the reply of the sturdy Prussian; and in a moment of anger the monarch gave orders5 that the mill should be pulled down. “The king may do this,” said the miller, quietly folding his arms; “but there are (S. 82, N. 7) laws in Prussia, and he will find them out6”. Forthwith he commenced a law-suit against the monarch, the issue of which was7, that the court gave a decision against His Majesty, compelling him8 to rebuild the mill, and in addition9 to pay a large sum of money as a compensation for the injury he had done10. The king felt mortified (S. 87, N. 6) at having been worsted by one of his subjects, but had the magnanimity to say, addressing11 his courtiers: “I am glad to find that there are just laws and upright judges in my kingdom who are bold enough to decide against me when they think I am in the wrong.” Many years afterwards (App. § 14), a descendant of the honest miller, who had in due course of time succeeded to the hereditary possession of the property12, found himself involved in pecuniary difficulties that had become insurmountable.
Notes
1 = At (zu) the time of the reign. See S. 53, N. 9.
2 there — Potsdam = stood near (bei) Potsdam a mill.
3 Der seinem Lieblingsschlosse hierdurch erwachsende Nachteil verdroß den König sehr.
4 = and he sent.
5 = the order.
6 = and he will soon convince himself of it.
7 the — was, welcher damit endete.
8 = and compelled him.
9 and in addition, und noch obendrein; sum — compensation, Entschädigungssumme, f.
10 Supply ‘to the miller’.
11 = to.
12 Liter. = who in course of time and through inheritance had come into the possession of the mill.