the life and adventures of baron trenck-2-第25章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
。 Of this wound； dreadful as it was； he was soon cured。 I myself have seen the two scars； and can affirm the fact； I also learned this； and many others in 1746； from officers who had served in the same army。
During this campaign he behaved with great honour； was wounded by an arrow in the leg； and gained the affection of Field…marshal Munich； but excited the envy of all the Russians。 Towards the conclusion of the war he had a new misfortune； his regiment was incommoded on all sides by the enemy： he entreated his colonel； for leave to attack them。 The colonel was once more a Russian； and he was refused。 Trenck gave him a blow； and called aloud to the soldiers to follow him。 They however being Russians； remained motionless； and he was put under arrest。 The court…martial sentenced him to death； and all hope of reprieve seemed over。 The general would have granted his pardon； but as he was himself a foreigner； he was fearful of offending the Russians。 The day of execution came； and he was led to the place of death； Munich so contrived it that Field…marshal Lowenthal should pass by； at this moment； in company within his lady。 Trenck profited by the opportunity； spoke boldly； and prevailed。 A reprieve was requested； and the sentence was changed into banishment and labour in Siberia。
Trenck protested against this sentence。 The Field…marshal wrote to Petersburg； and an order came that he should be broken； and conducted out of the Russian territories。 This order was executed； and he returned into Hungary to his father。 At this period he espoused the daughter of Field…marshal Baron Tillier； one of the first families in Switzerland。 The two brothers of his wife each became lieutenant…general； one of whom died honourably during the seven years' war。 The other was made commander…general in Croatia； where he is still living； and is at the head of a regiment of infantry that bears his name。 Trenck did not live long with his lady。 She was pregnant； and he took her to hunt with him in a marsh： she returned ill； and died without leaving him an heir。
Having no opportunity to indulge his warlike inclination； because of the general peace； he conceived the project of extirpating the Sclavonian banditti。
Trenck； to execute this enterprise； employed his own pandours。 The contest now commenced and activity and courage were necessary to ensure success in such a war。 Trenck seemed born for this murderous trade。 Day and night he chased them like wild beasts； killing now one； then another； and without distinction； treating them with the utmost barbarity。
Two incidents will sufficiently paint the character of this unaccountable man。 He had impaled alive the father of a Harum… Bashaw。 One evening he was going on patrol； along the banks of a brook； which separated two provinces。 On the opposite shore was the son of this impaled father； with his Croats。 It was moonlight； and the latter called aloud〃I heard thy voice； Trenck！ Thou hast impaled my father！ If thou hast a heart in thy body； come hither over the bridge； I will send away my followers； leave thy firearms； come only with thy sabre； and we will then see who shall remain the victor。〃 The agreement was madeand the Harum…Bashaw sent away his Croats； and laid down his musket。 Trenck passed the wooden bridge； both drew their sabres； but Trenck treacherously killed his adversary with a pistol； that he had concealed； after which he severed his head from his body； took it with him； and stuck it upon a pole。
One day； when hunting； he heard music in a lone house which belonged to one of his vassals。 He was thirsty； entered； and found the guests seated at table。 He sat down and ate within them； not knowing this was a rendezvous for the banditti。 As he was seated opposite the door； he saw two Harum…Bashaws enter。 His musket stood in a corner； he was struck with terror； but one of them addressed him thus：… 〃Neither thee； nor thy vassals； Trenck； have we ever injured； yet thou dost pursue us with cruelty。 Eat thy fill。 When thou hast satisfied thy hunger； we will then； sabre in thy hand； see who has most justice on his side； and whether thou art as courageous as men speak thee。〃
Hereupon they sat down and began to eat and drink and make merry。 The situation of Trenck could not be very pleasant。 He recollected that besides these； there might be more of their companions； without； ready to fall upon him； he； therefore； privately drew his pistols； held them under the table while he cocked them； presented each hand to the body of a Harum…Bashaw； fired them both at the same instant； overset the table on the guests； and escaped from the house。 As he went he had time to seize on one of their muskets； which was standing at the door。 One of the Croats was left weltering in his blood； the other disengaged himself from the table； and ran after Trenck； who suffered him to approach； killed him within his own gun； struck off his head and brought it home in triumph。 By this action the banditti were deprived of their two most valorous chiefs。
War broke out about this time； in 1740； when all the Hungarians took up arms in defence of their beloved queen。 Trenck offered to raise a free corps of pandours； and requested an amnesty for the banditti who should join his troops。 His request was granted； he published the amnesty； and began to raise recruits； he therefore enrolled his own vassals； formed a corps of 500 men； went in search of the robbers； drove them into a strait between the Save and Sarsaws； where they capitulated； and 300 of them enrolled themselves with his pandours。 Most of these men were six feet in height； determined； and experienced soldiers。 To indulge them on certain occasions in their thirst of pillage were means which he successfully employed to lead them where he pleased； and to render them victorious。 By means like these Trenck became at once the terror of the enemies of Austria； and rendered signal services to his Empress。
In 1741； while he was exercising his regiment； a company fired upon Trenck； and killed his horse； and his servant that stood by his side。 He ran to the company； counted one； two； three； and beheaded the fourth。 He was continuing this； when a Harum…Bashaw left the ranks； drew his sword； and called aloud； 〃It is I who fired upon thee； defend thyself。〃 The soldiers stood motionless spectators。 Trenck attacked him and hewed him down。 He was proceeding to continue the execution of the fourth man； but the whole regiment presented their arms。 The revolt became general； and Trenck； still holding his drawn sabre； ran amidst them； hacking about him on all sides。 The excess of his rage was terrific； the soldiers all called 〃Hold！〃 each fell on their knees； and promised obedience。 After this he addressed them in language suitable to their character； and from that time they became invincible soldiers whenever they were headed by himself。 Let the situation of Trenck be considered； he was the chief of a band of robbers who supposed they were authorised to take whatever they pleased in an enemy's country； a banditti that had so often defied the gallows； and had never known military subordination。 Let such men be led to the field and opposed to regular troops。 That they are never actuated by honour is evident： their leader is obliged to excite their avidity by the hope of plunder to engage them in action； for if they perceive no personal advantage； the interest of the sovereign is insufficient to make them act。
Trenck had need of a particular species of officers。 They must be daring； yet cautious。 They are partisans； and must be capable of supporting fatigue； desirous of daily seeking the enemy； and hazarding their lives。 As he was himself never absent at the time of action； he soon became acquainted with those whom he called old women； and sent them from his regiment。 These officers then repaired to Vienna； vented their complaints； and were heard。 His avarice prevented him from making any division of his booty with those gentlemen who constituted the military courts； thus neglecting what was customary at Vienna： and in this originated the prosecution to which he fell a victim。 Scarcely had he entered Austria with his troops before he found an opportunity of reaping laurels。 The French army was defeated at Lintz。 Trenck pursued them； treated his prisoners with barbarity； and； never granting quarter in battle； the very appearance of his pandours inspired terror。
Trenck was a great warrior； and knew how to profit by the slightest advantage。 From this time he became renowned； gained the confidence of Prince Charles； and the esteem of the Field…marshal Count Kevenhuller； who discovered the worth of the man。 No partisan had ever before obtained so much power as Trenck； he everywhere pursued the enemy as far as Bavaria； carrying fire and sword wherever he went。 As it was known Trenck gave no quarter； the Bavarians and the French flew at the sight of a red mantle。 Pillage and murder attended the pandours wherever they went； and their colonel bought up all the booty they acquired。 Chamb； in particular； was a scene of a dreadful massacre。 The city was set on fire and the people perished in the flames； women and children who endeavoured to fly； were obliged to pass over a bridge； where they were first stripped； and afterwards thrown into the water。 This action was one of the accusations brought against Trenck when he was prosecuted； but he alleged his justification。
The banks of the Iser to this day reverberate groans for the barbarities of Trenck。 Deckendorf and Filtzhofen felt all his fury。 In the first of these towns 600 French prisoners capitulated； although his forces were four miles distant； but he formed a kind of straw men； on which he put pandour caps and cloaks； and set them up as sentinels； and the garrison； deceived by this stratagem； signed the capitulation。 The services he rendered the army during the Bavarian war are well known in the history of Maria Theresa。 The good he has done has been passed over in silence； because he died under misfortunes； and did not leave his historian a legacy。 He was informed that either at Deckendorf or Filtzhofen there was a barrel containing 20；000 florins； concealed at the house of an apothecary。 Impelled by the desire of booty； Trenck hastened to the place； with a candle in his hand； searching everywhere； and； in his hurry； dropped a spark into a quantity of gunpowder； by the explosion of which he was dreadfully scorched。 They carried him off； but the scars and the gunpowder with which his skin was blackened rendered his countenance terrific。
The present Field…marshal Laudohn was at that time a lieutenant in his regiment； and happened to be at the door when his colonel was burnt。 Scarcely was Trenck cured before his spies informed him that Laudohn had plenty of money。 Immediately he suspected that Laudohn had found the barrel of florins； and from that moment he persecuted him by all imaginable arts。 Wherever there was danger he sent him； at the head of 30 men； against 300； hoping to have him cut off； and to make himself his heir。 This was so often repeated that Laudohn returned to Vienna； where； joining the crowd of the enemies of Trenck； he became instrumental in his destruct
