the life and adventures of baron trenck-2-第2章
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TRENCK was built in the wall； in red brick； and under my feet was a tombstone with the name of TRENCK also cut on it； and carved with a death's head。 The doors to my dungeon were double； of oak； two inches thick； without these was an open space or front cell； in which was a window； and this space was likewise shut in by double doors。 The ditch； in which this dreadful den was built； was enclosed on both sides by palisades； twelve feet high； the key of the door of which was entrusted to the officer of the guard； it being the King's intention to prevent all possibility of speech or communication with the sentinels。 The only motion I had the power to make was that of jumping upward； or swinging my arms to procure myself warmth。 When more accustomed to these fetters； I became capable of moving from side to side； about four feet； but this pained my shin…bones。
The cell had been finished with lime and plaster but eleven days； and everybody supposed it would be impossible I should exist in these damps above a fortnight。 I remained six months； continually immersed in very cold water； that trickled upon me from the thick arches under which I was； and I can safely affirm that； for the first three months； I was never dry； yet did I continue in health。 I was visited daily； at noon； after relieving guard； and the doors were then obliged to be left open for some minutes； otherwise the dampness of the air put out their candles。
This was my situation； and here I sat； destitute of friends； helplessly wretched； preyed on by all the torture of thought that continually suggested the most gloomy； the most horrid； the most dreadful of images。 My heart was not yet wholly turned to stone； my fortitude was sunken to despondency； my dungeon was the very cave of despair； yet was my arm restrained； and this excess of misery endured。
How then may hope be wholly eradicated from the heart of man？ My fortitude； after some time； began to revive； I glowed with the desire of convincing the world I was capable of suffering what man had never suffered before； perhaps of at last emerging from this load of wretchedness triumphant over my enemies。 So long and ardently did my fancy dwell on this picture； that my mind at length acquired a heroism which Socrates himself certainly never possessed。 Age had benumbed his sense of pleasure； and he drank the poisonous draught with cool indifference； but I was young； inured to high hopes； yet now beholding deliverance impossible； or at an immense； a dreadful distance。 Such； too； were the other sufferings of soul and body； I could not hope they might be supported and live。
About noon my den was opened。 Sorrow and compassion were painted on the countenances of my keepers。 No one spoke； no one bade me good morrow。 Dreadful indeed was their arrival； for； unaccustomed to the monstrous bolts and bars； they were kept resounding for a full half… hour before such soul…chilling； such hope…murdering impediments were removed。 It was the voice of tyranny that thundered。
My night…table was taken out； a camp…bed； mattress； and blankets were brought me； a jug of water set down； and beside it an ammunition loaf of six pounds' weight。 〃That you may no more complain of hunger；〃 said the town…major； 〃you shall have as much bread as you can eat。〃 The door was shut； and I again left to my thoughts。
What a strange thing is that called happiness！ How shall I express my extreme joy when； after eleven months of intolerable hunger； I was again indulged with a full feast of coarse ammunition bread？ The fond lover never rushed more eagerly to the arias of his expecting bride； the famished tiger more ravenously on his prey； than I upon this loaf。 I ate； rested； surveyed the precious morsel； ate again； and absolutely shed tears of pleasure。 Breaking bit after bit； I had by evening devoured all my loaf。
Oh； Nature！ what delight hast thou combined with the gratification of thy wants！ Remember this； ye who gorge； ye who rack invention to excite appetite； and yet which you cannot procure！ Remember how simple are the means that will give a crust of mouldy bread a flavour more exquisite than all the spices of the East； or all the profusion of land or sea！ Remember this； grow hungry； and indulge your sensuality。
Alas！ my enjoyment was of short duration。 I soon found that excess is followed by pain and repentance。 My fasting had weakened digestion； and rendered it inactive。 My body swelled； my water…jug was emptied； cramps； colics； and at length inordinate thirst racked me all the night。 I began to pour curses on those who seemed to refine on torture； and； after starving me so long； to invite me to gluttony。 Could I not have reclined on my bed； I should indeed have been driven； this night； to desperation； yet even this was but a partial relief； for； not yet accustomed to my enormous fetters； I could not extend myself in the same manner I was afterwards taught to do by habit。 I dragged them； however； so together as to enable me to sit down on the bare mattress。 This； of all my nights of suffering； stands foremost。 When they opened my dungeon next day they found me in a truly pitiable situation； wondered at my appetite； brought me another loaf； I refused to accept it； believing I nevermore should have occasion for bread； they； however； left me one； gave me water； shrugged up their shoulders； wished me farewell； as； according to all appearance； they never expected to find me alive； and shut all the doors； without asking whether I wished or needed further assistance。
Three days had passed before I could again eat a morsel of bread； and my mind； brave in health； now in a sick body became pusillanimous； so that I determined on death。 The irons； everywhere round my body； and their weight； were insupportable； nor could I imagine it was possible I should habituate myself to them； or endure them long enough to expect deliverance。 Peace was a very distant prospect。 The King had commanded that such a prison should be built as should exclude all necessity of a sentinel； in order that I might not converse with and seduce them from what is called their duty： and； in the first days of despair； deliverance appeared impossible； and the fetters； the war； the pain I felt； the place； the length of time； each circumstance seemed equally impossible to support。 A thousand reasons convinced me it was necessary to end my sufferings。 I shall not enter into theological disputes： let those who blame me imagine themselves in my situation； or rather let them first actually endure my miseries； and then let them reason。 I had often braved death in prosperity； and at this moment it seemed a blessing。
Full of these meditations； every minute's patience appeared absurdity； and resolution meanness of soul； yet I wished my mind should be satisfied that reason； and not rashness； had induced the act。 I therefore determined； that I might examine the question coolly； to wait a week longer； and die on the fourth of July。 In the meantime I revolved in my mind what possible means there were of escape； not fearing； naked and chained； to rush and expire on the bayonets of my enemies。
The next day I observed； as the four doors were opened； that they were only of wood； therefore questioned whether I might not even cut off the locks with the knife that I had so fortunately concealed： and should this and every other means fail； then would be the time to die。 I likewise determined to make an attempt to free myself of my chains。 I happily forced my right hand through the handcuff； though the blood trickled from my nails。 My attempts on the left were long ineffectual； but by rubbing with a brick； which I got from my seat； on the rivet that had been negligently closed； I effected this also。
The chain was fastened to the run round my body by a hook； one end of which was not inserted in the rim； therefore； by setting my foot against the wall； I had strength enough so far to bend this hook back； and open it； as to force out the link of the chain。 The remaining difficulty was the chain that attached my foot to the wall： the links of this I took； doubled； twisted； and wrenched； till at length； nature having bestowed on me great strength； I made a desperate effort； sprang forcibly up； and two links at once flew off。
Fortunate； indeed； did I think myself： I hastened to the door； groped in the dark to find the clinkings of the nails by which the lock was fastened； and discovered no very large piece of wood need be cut。 Immediately I went to work with my knife； and cut through the oak door to find its thickness； which proved to be only one inch； therefore it was possible to open all the four doors in four… and…twenty hours。
Again hope revived in my heart。 To prevent detection I hastened to put on my chains； but； O God！ what difficulties had I to surmount！ After much groping about； I at length found the link that had flown off； this I hid： it being my good fortune hitherto to escape examination； as the possibility of ridding myself of such chains was in nowise suspected。 The separated iron links I tied together with my hair ribbon； but when I again endeavoured to force my hand into the ring； it was so swelled that every effort was fruitless。 The whole might was employed upon the rivet； but all labour was in vain。
Noon was the hour of visitation； and necessity and danger again obliged me to attempt forcing my hand in； which at length； after excruciating torture； I effected。 My visitors came； and everything had the appearance of order。 I found it； however； impossible to force out my right hand while it continued swelled。
I therefore remained quiet till the day fixed； and on the determined fourth of July； immediately as my visitors had closed the doors upon me； I disencumbered myself of my irons； took my knife； and began my Herculean labour on the door。 The first of the double doors that opened inwards was conquered in less than an hour； the other was a very different task。 The lock was soon cut round； but it opened outwards； there was therefore no other means left but to cut the whole door away above the bar。
Incessant and incredible labour made this possible； though it was the more difficult as everything was to be done by feeling； I being totally in the dark； the sweat dropped； or rather flowed； from my body； my fingers were clotted in my own blood； and my lacerated hands were one continued wound。
Daylight appeared： I clambered over the door that was half cut away； and got up to the window in the space or cell that was between the double doors； as before described。 Here I saw my dungeon was in the ditch of the first rampart： before me I beheld the road from the rampart； the guard but fifty paces distant； and the high palisades that were in the ditch； and must be scaled before I could reach the rampart。 Hope grew stronger； my efforts were redoubled。 The first of the next double doors was attacked； which likewise opened inward； and was soon conquered。 The sun set before I had ended this； and the fourth was to be cut away as the second had been。 My strength failed； both my hands were raw； I rested awhile； began again； and had made a cut of a foot long； when my knife snapped； and the broken blade dropped to the ground！
God of Omnipotence！
