the life and adventures of baron trenck-2-第22章

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〃My　personal　sufferings　have　not　been　less　than　those　of　Trenck。　His；　I　am　acquainted　with　only　from　the　inaccurate　relations　I　have　heard：　　my　own　I　have　felt。　　A　colonel　in　the　Prussian　service；　whose　name　was　Hallasch；　was　four　years　my　companion；　he　was　insane；　and　believed　himself　the　Christ　that　was　to　appear　at　the　millennium：　　he　persecuted　me　with　his　reveries；　which　I　was　obliged　to　listen　to；　and　approve；　or　suffer　violence　from　one　stronger　than　myself。

〃The　society　of　men　or　books；　everything　that　could　console　or　amuse；　were　forbidden　me；　and　I　considered　it　as　wonderful　that　I　did　not　myself　grow　mad；　in　the　company　of　this　madman。　　Four　hard　winters　I　existed　without　feeling　the　feeble　emanation　of　a　winter　sun；　much　less　the　warmth　of　fire。　　The　madman　felt　more　pity　than　my　keeper；　and　lent　me　his　cloak　to　cover　my　body；　though　the　other　denied　me　a　truss　of　straw；　notwithstanding　I　had　lost　the　use　of　my　hands　and　feet。　　The　place　where　we　were　confined　was　called　a　chamber；　it　rather　resembled　the　temple　of　Cloacina。　　The　noxious　damps　and　vapours　so　poisoned　my　blood　that　an　unskilful　surgeon；　who　tortured　me　during　nine　months；　with　insult　as　a　Prussian　traitor；　and　state　criminal；　I　lost　the　greatest　part　of　my　jaw。

〃Schottendorf　was　our　governor　and　tyrant；　a　man　who　repaid　the　friendship　he　found　in　the　mansion　of　my　fatherswith　cruelty。　　He　was　ripe　for　the　sickle；　and　Time　cut　him　off。　　Tormentini　and　Galer　were　his　successors　in　office；　by　them　we　were　carefully　watched；　but　we　were　treated　with　commiseration。　　Their　precautions　rendered　imprisonment　less　wretched。　　Ever　shall　I　hold　their　memory　sacred。　Yet；　benevolent　as　they　were；　their　goodness　was　exceeded　by　that　of　Rottensteiner；　the　head　gaoler。　　He　considered　his　prisoners　as　his　children；　and　he　was　their　benefactor。　　Of　this　I　had　experience；　during　two　years　after　the　release　of　Hallasch。

〃Here　I　but　cursorily　describe　misery；　at　which　the　monarch　shall　shudder；　if　the　blood　of　a　tyrant　flow　not　in　his　veins。　　Theresa　could　not　wish　these　things。　　But　she　was　fallible；　and　not　omniscient。

〃From　the　above　narrative；　you　will　perceive　how　opposite　the　effects　must　be　which　the　histories　of　Baron　Trenck　and　of　myself　must　produce。

〃Trenck　left　his　dungeon　shielded　from　contempt；　the　day　of　freedom　was　the　day　of　triumph。　　I；　on　the　contrary；　was　exposed　to　every　calamity。　　The　spirit　of　Trenck　again　raised　itself。　　I　have　laboured　many　a　night　that　I　might　neither　beg　nor　perish　the　following　day：　　working　for　judges　who　neither　knew　law　nor　had　powers　of　mind　to　behold　the　beauty　of　justice：　　settling　accounts　that；　item　after　item；　did　not　prove　that　the　lord　they　were　intended　for；　was　an　imbecile　dupe。

〃Trenck　remembers　his　calamities；　but　the　remembrance　is　advantageous　to　himself　and　his　family；　while　with　me；　the　past　did　but　increase；　did　but　agonise；　the　present　and　the　future。　　He　was　not　like　me；　obliged　to　crouch　in　presence　of　those　vulgar；　those　incapable　minds；　that　do　but　consider　the　bent　back　as　the　footstool　of　pride。　　Every　man　is　too　busy　to　act　in　behalf　of　others；　pity　me　therefore；　but　advise　me　not　to　hope　assistance；　by　petitioning　princes　at　second　hand。　　I　know　your　good　wishes；　and；　for　these；　I　have　nothing　to　return　but　barren　thanks。I　am；　&c〃


The　reasons　why　I　published　the　foregoing　letters　are　already　stated；　and　will　appear　satisfactory　to　the　reader。　　Once　more　to　affairs　that　concern　myself。

I　met　at　Berlin　many　old　friends　of　both　sexes；　among　others；　an　aged　invalid　came　to　see　me；　who　was　at　Glatz；　in　1746；　when　I　cut　my　way　through　the　guard。　　He　was　one　of　the　sentinels　before　my　door；　whom　I　had　thrown　down　the　stairs。

The　hour　of　quitting　Berlin；　and　continuing　my　journey　into　Prussia；　towards　Konigsberg；　approached。　　On　the　eve　of　my　departure；　I　had　the　happiness　of　conversing　with　her　Royal　Highness　the　Princess　Amelia；　sister　of　Frederic　the　Great。　　She　protected　me　in　my　hour　of　adversity；　heaped　benefits　upon　me；　and　contributed　to　gain　my　deliverance。　　She　received　me　as　a　friend；　as　an　aged　patriot；　and　laid　her　commands　upon　me　to　write　to　my　wife；　and　request　that　she　would　come　to　Berlin；　in　the　month　of　June；　with　her　two　eldest　daughters。　　I　received　her　promise　that　the　happiness　of　the　latter　should　be　her　care；　nay；　that　she　would　remember　my　wife　in　her　will。

At　this　moment；　when　about　to　depart；　she　asked　me　if　I　had　money　sufficient　for　my　journey：　　〃Yes；　madam；〃　was　my　reply；　〃I　want　nothing；　ask　nothing；　but　may　you　remember　my　children！〃

The　deep　feeling　with　which　I　pronounced　these　words　moved　the　princess；　she　showed　me　how　she　comprehended　my　meaning；　and　said；　〃Return；　my　friend；　quickly：　　I　shall　be　most　happy　to　see　you。〃

I　left　the　room：　　a　kind　of　indecision　came　over　me。　　I　was　inclined　to　remain　longer　at　Berlin。　　Had　I　done　so；　my　presence　would　have　been　of　great　advantage　to　my　children。　　Alas！　under　the　guidance　of　my　evil　genius；　I　began　my　journey。　　The　purpose　for　which　I　came　to　Berlin　was　frustrated：　　for　after　my　departure；　the　Princess　Amelia　died！

Peace　be　to　thy　ashes；　noble　princess！　　Thy　will　was　good；　and　be　that　sufficient。　　I　shall　not　want　materials　to　write　a　commentary　on　the　history　of　Frederic；　when；　in　company　with　thee；　I　shall　wander　on　the　banks　of　Styx；　there　the　events　that　happened　on　this　earth　may　be　written　without　danger。

So　proceed　we　with　our　story。



CHAPTER　X。



On　the　22nd　of　March　I　pursued　my　journey　to　Konigsberg；　but　remained　two　days　at　the　court　of　the　Margrave　of　Brandenburg；　where　I　was　received　with　kindness。　　The　Margrave　had　bestowed　favours　on　me；　during　my　imprisonment　at　Magdeburg。

I　departed　thence　through　Soldin　to　Schildberg；　here　to　visit　my　relation　Sidau；　who　had　married　the　daughter　of　my　sister；　which　daughter　my　sister　had　by　her　first　husband；　Waldow；　of　whom　I　have　before　spoken。　　I　found　my　kinsman　a　worthy　man；　and　one　who　made　the　daughter　of　an　unfortunate　sister　happy。　　I　was　received　at　his　house　within　open　arms；　and；　for　the　first　time　after　an　interval　of　two…and…forty　years；　beheld　one　of　my　own　relations。

On　my　journey　thither；　I　had　the　pleasure　to　meet　with　Lieutenant…　General　Kowalsky：　　This　gentleman　was　a　lieutenant　in　the　garrison　of　Glatz；　in　1745；　and　was　a　witness　of　my　leap　from　the　wall　of　the　rampart。　　He　had　read　my　history；　some　of　the　principal　facts　of　which　he　was　acquainted　with。　　Should　anyone　therefore　doubt　concerning　those　incidents；　I　may　refer　to　him；　whose　testimony　cannot　be　suspected。

From　Schildberg　I　proceeded　to　Landsberg；　on　the　Warta。　　Here　I　found　my　brother…in…law；　Colonel　Pape；　commander　of　the　Gotz　dragoons；　and　the　second　husband　of　my　deceased　sister：　　and　here　I　passed　a　joyous　day。　　Everybody　congratulated　me　on　my　return　into　my　country。

I　found　relations　in　almost　every　garrison。　　Never　did　man　receive　more　marks　of　esteem　throughout　a　kingdom。　　The　knowledge　of　my　calamities　procured　me　sweet　consolation；　and　I　were　insensible　indeed；　and　ungrateful；　did　my　heart　remain　unmoved　on　occasions　like　these。

In　Austria　I　never　can　expect　a　like　reception；　I　am　there　mistaken；　and　I　feel　little　inclination　to　labour　at　removing　mistakes　so　rooted。　　Yet；　even　there　am　I　by　the　general　voice；　approved。　　Yes；　I　am　admired；　but　not　known；　pitied　but　not　supported；　honoured；　but　not　rewarded。

When　at　Berlin；　I　discovered　an　error　I　had　committed　in　the　commencement　of　my　life。　　At　the　time　I　wrote　I　believed　that　the　postmaster…general　of　Berlin；　Mr　Derschau；　was　my　mother's　brother；　and　the　same　person　who；　in　1742；　was　grand　counsellor　at　Glogau；　and　afterwards；　president　in　East　Friesland。　　I　was　deceived；　the　Derschau　who　is　my　mother's　brother　is　still　living；　and　president　at　Aurich　in　East　Friesland。　　The　postmaster　was　the　son　of　the　old　Derschau　who　died　a　general；　and　who　was　only　distantly　related　to　my　mother。　　Neither　is　the　younger　Derschau；　who　is　the　colonel　of　a　regiment　at　Burg；　the　brother　of　my　mother；　but　only　her　first　cousin；　one　of　their　sisters　married　Lieut。…Colonel　Ostau；　whose　son；　the　President　Ostau；　now　lives　on　his　own　estate；　at　Lablack　in　Prussia。

I　was　likewise　deceived　in　having　suspected　a　lieutenant；　named　Mollinie；　in　the　narrative　I　gave　of　my　flight　from　Glatz；　of　having　acted　as　a　spy　upon　me　at　Braunau；　and　of　having　sent　information　to　General　Fouquet。　　I　am　sorry。　　This　honest　man　is　still　alive；　a　captain　in　Brandenburg。　　He　was　affected　at　my　suspicion；　fully　justified　himself；　and　here　I　publicly　apologise。　　He　then　was；　and　again　is　become　my　friend。

I　have　received　a　letter　from　one　Lieutenant　Brodowsky。　　This　gentleman　is　offended　at　finding　his　mother's　name　in　my　narrative；　and　demands　I　should　retract　my　words。

My　readers　will　certainly　allow　the　virtue　of　Madame　Brodowsky；　at　Elbing；　is　not　impeached。　　Although　I　have　said　I　had　the　fortune　to　be　beloved　by　her；　I　have　nowhere　intimated　that　I　asked；　or　that　she　granted；　improper　favours。

By　the　desire　of　a　person　of　distinction；　I　shall　insert　an　incident　which　I　omitted　in　a　former　part。　　This　person　was　an　eye…witness　of　the　incident　I　am　about　to　relate；　at　Magdeburg；　and　reminded　me　of　the　affair。　　It　was　my　last　attempt　but　one　at　flight。

The　circumstances　were　these：…

As　I　found　myself　unable　to　get　rid　of　more　sand；　after　having　again　cut　through　the　planking；　and　mined　the　foundation；　I　made　a　hole　towards　the　ditch；　in　which　three　sentinels　were　stationed。　　This　I　executed　one　night；　it　being　easy；　from　the　lightness　of　the　sand；　to　perform　the　work　in　two　hours。

No　sooner　had　I　broken　through；　than　I　threw　one　of　my　slippers　beside　the　palisades；　that　it　might　be　supposed　I　had　lost　it　when　climbing　over　them。　　These　palisades；　twelve　feet　in　length；　were　situated　in　the　front　of　the　principal　fosse；　and　my　sentinels　stood　within。　　There　was　no　sentry…box　at　the　place　where　I　had　broken　through。

This　done；　I　returned　into　my　prison；　made　another　hole　under　the　planking；　where　I　could　hide　myself；　and　stopped　up　the　passage　behind　me；　so　that　it　was　not　probable　I　could　be　seen　or　found。

When　daylight　came；　the　sentinel　saw　the　hole　and　gave　the　alarm；　the　slipper　was　found；　and　it　was　concluded　that　Trenck　had　escaped　over　the　palisades；　and　was　no　longer　in　prison。

Immediately　the　sub…governor　came　from　Magdeburg；　the　guns　were　fired；　the　horse　scoured　the　country；　and　the　subterranean　passages　were　all　visited：　　no　tidings　came；　no　discovery　was　made；　and　the　conclusion　was　I　had　escaped。　　That　I　should　fly　without　the　knowledge　of　the　sentinels；　was　deemed　impossible；　the　officer；　and　all　the　guard；　were　put　under　arrest；　and　everybody　was　surprised。

I；　in　the　meantime；　sat　quiet　in　my　hole；　where　I　heard　their　searches；　and　suppositions　that　I　was　gone。

My　heart　bounded　with　joy；　and　I　held　escape　to　be　indubitable。　They　would　not　place　sentinels　over　the　prison　the　following　night；　and　I　should　then　really　have　left　my　place　of　concealment；　and；　most　probably　have　safely　arrived　in　Saxony。　　My　destiny；　however；　robbed　me　of　all　hope　at　the　very　moment　when　I　supposed　the　greatest　of　my　difficulties　were　conquered。

Everything　seemed　to　happen　as　I　cou