the life and adventures of baron trenck-2-第3章
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oot long； when my knife snapped； and the broken blade dropped to the ground！
God of Omnipotence！ what was I at this moment？ Was there； God of Mercies！ was there ever creature of Thine more justified than I in despair？ The moon shone very clear； I cast a wild and distracted look up to heaven； fell on my knees； and in the agony of my soul sought comfort： but no comfort could be found； nor religion nor philosophy had any to give。 I cursed not Providence； I feared not annihilation； I dared not Almighty vengeance； God the Creator was the disposer of my fate； and if He heaped afflictions upon me He had not given me strength to support； His justice would not therefore punish me。 To Him； the Judge of the quick and dead； I committed my soul； seized the broken knife； gashed through the veins of my left arm and foot； sat myself tranquilly down； and saw the blood flow。 Nature； overpowered fainted； and I know not how long I remained； slumbering； in this state。 Suddenly I heard my own name； awoke； and again heard the words； 〃Baron Trenck！〃 My answer was； 〃Who calls？〃 And who indeed was itwho but my honest grenadier Gelfhardtmy former faithful friend in the citadel！ The good； the kind fellow had got upon the rampart； that he might comfort me。
〃How do you do？〃 said Gelfhardt。 〃Weltering in my blood；〃 answered I； 〃to…morrow you will find me dead。〃〃Why should you die？〃 replied he。 〃It is much easier for you to escape here than from the citadel！ Here is no sentinel； and I shall soon find means to provide you with tools； if you can only break out； leave the rest to me。 As often as I am on guard； I will seek opportunity to speak to you。 In the whole Star…Fort； there are but two sentinels： the one at the entrance； and the other at the guard…house。 Do not despair； God will succour you； trust to me。〃 The good man's kindness and discourse revived my hopes： I saw the possibility of an escape。 A secret joy diffused itself through my soul。 I immediately tore my shirt； bound up my wounds； and waited the approach of day； and the sun soon after shone through the window； to me； with unaccustomed brightness。
Let the reader judge how far it was chance； or the effect of Divine providence； that in this dreadful hour my heart again received hope。 Who was it sent the honest Gelfhardt； at such a moment； to my prison？ For； had it not been for him； I had certainly； when I awoke from my slumbers； cut more effectually through my arteries。
Till noon I had time to consider what might further be done： yet what could be done； what expected； but that I should now be much more cruelly treated； and even more insupportably ironed than beforefinding； as they must； the doors cut through and my fetters shaken off？
After mature consideration； I therefore made the following resolution； which succeeded happily； and even beyond my hopes。 Before I proceed； however； I will speak a few words concerning my situation at this moment。 It is impossible to describe how much I was exhausted。 The prison swam with blood； and certainly but little was left in my body。 With painful wounds； swelled and torn hands； I there stood shirtless； felt an inclination to sleep almost irresistible； and scarcely had strength to keep my legs； yet was I obliged to rouse myself； that I might execute my plan。
With the bar that separated my hands； I loosened the bricks of my seat； which； being newly laid； was easily done； and heaped them up in the middle of my prison。 The inner door was quite open； and with my chains I so barricaded the upper half of the second as to prevent any one climbing over it。 When noon came and the first of the doors was unlocked； all were astonished to find the second open。 There I stood； besmeared with blood； the picture of horror； with a brick in one hand； and in the other my broken knife； crying； as they approached； 〃Keep off； Mr。 Major； keep off！ Tell the governor I will live no longer in chains； and that here I stand； if so he pleases； to be shot； for so only will I be conquered。 Here no man shall enterI will destroy all that approach； here are my weapons； lucre will I die in despite of tyranny。〃 The major was terrified； wanted resolution； and made his report to the governor。 I meantime sat down on my bricks； to wait what might happen： my secret intent； however； was not so desperate as it appeared。 I sought only to obtain a favourable capitulation。
The governor； General Borck； presently came； attended by the town… major and some officers； and entered the outward cell； but sprang back the moment he beheld a figure like me； standing with a brick and uplifted arm。 I repeated what I had told the major； and he immediately ordered six grenadiers to force the door。 The front cell was scarcely six feet broad； so that no more than two at a time could attack my intrenchment； and when they saw my threatening bricks ready to descend； they leaped terrified back。 A short pause ensued； and the old town…major； with the chaplain； advanced towards the door to soothe me： the conversation continued some time： whose reasons were most satisfactory； and whose cause was the most just； I leave to the reader。 The governor grew angry； and ordered a fresh attack。 The first grenadier was knocked down； and the rest ran back to avoid my missiles。
The town…major again began a parley。 〃For God's sake； my dear Trenck；〃 said he； 〃in what have I injured you； that you endeavour to effect my ruin？ I must answer for your having； through my negligence； concealed a knife。 Be persuaded； I entreat you。 Be appeased。 You are not without hope； nor without friends。〃 My answer was〃But will you not load me with heavier irons than before？〃
He went out； spoke with the governor； and gave me his word of honour that the affair should be no further noticed； and that everything should be exactly reinstated as formerly。
Here ended the capitulation； and my wretched citadel was taken。 The condition I was in was viewed with pity； my wounds were examined； a surgeon sent to dress them； another shirt was given me； and the bricks； clotted with blood； removed。 I； meantime； lay half dead on my mattress； my thirst was excessive。 The surgeon ordered me some wine。 Two sentinels were stationed in the front cell； and I was thus left four days in peace； unironed。 Broth also was given me daily； and how delicious this was to taste； how much it revived and strengthened me； is wholly impossible to describe。 Two days I lay in a slumbering kind of trance； forced by unquenchable thirst to drink whenever I awoke。 My feet and hands were swelled； the pains in my back and limbs were excessive。
On the fifth day the doors were ready； the inner was entirely plated with iron； and I was fettered as before： perhaps they found further cruelty unnecessary。 The principal chain； however； which fastened me to the wall； like that I had before broken； was thicker than the first。 Except this； the capitulation was strictly kept。 They deeply regretted that； without the King's express commands； they could not lighten my afflictions； wished me fortitude and patience； and barred up my doors。
It is necessary I should here describe my dress。 My hands being fixed and kept asunder by an iron bar； and my feet chained to the wall； I could neither put on shirt nor stockings in the usual mode； the shirt was therefore tied； and changed once a fortnight； the coarse ammunition stockings were buttoned on the sides； a blue garment； of soldier's cloth； was likewise tied round me； and I had a pair of slippers for my feet。 The shirt was of the army linen； and when I contemplated myself in this dress of a malefactor； chained thus to the wall in such a dungeon； vainly imploring mercy or justice； my conscience void of reproach； my heart of guiltwhen I reflected on my former splendour in Berlin and Moscow； and compared it with this sad； this dreadful reverse of destiny； I was sunk in grief； or roused to indignation； that might have hurried the greatest hero or philosopher to madness or despair。 I felt what can only be imagined by him who has suffered like me； after having like me flourished； if such can be found。
Pride； the justness of my cause； the unbounded confidence I had in my own resolution； and the labours of an inventive head and iron bodythese only could have preserved my life。 These bodily labours； these continued inventions； and projected plans to obtain my freedom； preserved my health。 Who would suppose that a man fettered as I was could find means of exercising himself？ By swinging my arms； acting with the upper part of my body； and leaping upwards； I frequently put myself in a strong perspiration。 After thus wearying myself I slept soundly； and often thought how many generals； obliged to support the inclemencies of weather； and all the dangers of the fieldhow many of those who had plunged me into this den of misery； would have been most glad could they； like me； have slept with a quiet conscience。 Often did I reflect how much happier I was than those tortured on the bed of sickness by gout； stone； and other terrible diseases。 How much happier was I in innocence than the malefactor doomed to suffer the pangs of death； the ignominy of men； and the horrors of internal guilt！
CHAPTER II。
In the following part of my history it will appear I often had much money concealed under the ground and in the walls of my den； yet would I have given a hundred ducats for a morsel of bread； it could not have been procured。 Money was to me useless。 In this I resembled the miser； who hoards； yet hives in wretchedness； having no joy in gentle acts of benevolence。 As proudly might I delight myself with my hidden treasure as such misers； nay； more； for I was secure from robbers。
Had fastidious pomp been my pleasure； I might have imagined myself some old field…marshal bedridden； who hears two grenadier sentinels at his door call； 〃Who goes there？〃 My honour； indeed； was still greater； for； during my last year's imprisonment； my door was guarded by no less than four。 My vanity also might have been flattered： I might hence conclude how high was the value set upon my head； since all this trouble was taken to hold me in security。 Certain it is that in my chains I thought more rationally； more nobly； reasoned more philosophically on man； his nature； his zeal； his imaginary wants； the effects of his ambition； his passions； and saw more distinctly his dream of earthly good； than those who had imprisoned； or those who guarded me。 I was void of the fears that haunt the parasite who servilely wears the fetters of a court； and daily trembles for the loss of what vice and cunning have acquired。 Those who had usurped the Sclavonian estates； and feasted sumptuously from the service of plate I had been robbed of； never ate their dainties with so sweet an appetite as I my ammunition bread； nor did their high…flavoured wines flow so limpid as my cold water。
Thus； the man who thinks； being pure of heart； will find consolation when under the most dreadful calamities； convinced； as he must be； that those apparently most are frequently least happy； insensible as they are of the pleasures they might enjoy。 Evil is never so great as it appears。
〃Sweet are the uses of adversity； Which； like the toad； ugly and venomous； Wears
