Then again, spring 1709, after his marriage and after his Father's marriage, "the Court being full of intrigues," and nothing but silence recommendable there, a certain renowned friend of his, Leopold, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau, of whom we shall yet hear a great deal,--who, still only about thirty, had already covered himself with laurels in those wars (Blenheim, Bridge of Casano, Lines of Turin, and other glories), but had now got into intricacies with the weaker sort, and was out of command,--agreed with Friedrich Wilhelm that it would be well to go and serve there as volunteers, since not otherwises.

[Varnhagen von Ense, _ Furst Leopold von Anhalt-Dessau _ (in _ Biographische Denkmale, _ 2d edition, Berlin, 1845), p.185._ Thaten und Leben des weltberuhmten Furstens Leopoldi von Anhalt-Dessau _ (Leipzig, 1742), p.73.Forster, i.

129.] A Crown-Prince of Prussia, ought he not to learn soldiering, of all things; by every opportunity?
Which Friedrich Wilhelm did, with industry; serving zealous apprenticeship under Marlborough and Eugene, in this manner; plucking knowledge, as the bubble reputation, and all else in that field has to be plucked, from the cannon's mouth.

Friedrich Wilhelm kept by Marlborough, now as formerly; friend Leopold being commonly in Eugene's quarter, who well knew the worth of him, ever since Blenheim and earlier.

Friedrich Wilhelm saw hot service, that campaign of 1709; siege of Tournay, and far more;--stood, among other things, the fiery Battle of Malplaquet, one of the terriblest and deadliest feats of war ever done.