the life and adventures of baron trenck-2-第14部分
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！
to light； and the unworthy be put to shame。 Nay； I forewarn you that Trenck shall not be much longer in your power； for were you to build your dungeon of steel； it would be insufficient to contain me。〃
They smiled at me。 Reichmann told me I might soon obtain my freedom in a proper manner。 My firm reliance on my friend； the lieutenant； gave me a degree of confidence that amazed them all。
It is necessary to explain this affair。 When I obtained my liberty； I visited Prince Ferdinand。 He informed me the majors had not made a true report。 Their story was； they had caught me at work； and； had it not been for their diligence； I should have made my escape。 Prince Ferdinand heard the truth； and informed the King； who only waited an opportunity to restore me to liberty。
Once more I was immured。 I waited in hope for the day when my deliverer was to mount guard。 What again was my despair when I saw another lieutenant！ I buoyed myself up with the hope that accident was the occasion of this； but I remained three weeks； and saw him no more。 I heard at length that he had left the corps of grenadiers； and was no longer to mount guard at the Star Fort。 He has my forgiveness； and I applaud myself for never having said anything by which he might be injured。 He might have repented his promise； he might have trusted another friend with the enterprise； and have been himself betrayed； but； be it as it may； his absence cut off all hope。
I now repented my folly and vanity； I had brought my misfortunes on myself。 I had myself rendered my dungeon impenetrable。 Death would have followed but for the dependence I placed in the court of Vienna。
The officers remarked the loss of my fortitude and thoughtfulness； the verses I wrote were desponding。 The only comfort they could give was〃Patience； dear Trenck； your condition cannot be worse； the King may not live for ever。〃 Were I sick； they told me I might hope my sufferings would soon have an end。 If I recovered they pitied me； and lamented their continuance。 What man of my rank and expectations ever endured what I did； ever was treated as I have been treated！
CHAPTER VI。
Peace had been concluded nine months。 I was forgotten。 At last； when I supposed all hope lost； the 25th of December； and the day of freedom； came。 At the hour of parade； Count Schlieben； lieutenant of the guards； brought orders for my release！
The sub…governor supposed me weaker in intellect than I was； and would not too suddenly tell me these tidings。 He knew not the presence of mind； the fortitude； which the dangers I had seen had made habitual。
My doors for the LAST TIME resounded！ Several people entered； their countenances were cheerful； and the sub…governor at their head at length said； 〃This time； my dear Trenck； I am the messenger of good news。 Prince Ferdinand has prevailed on the King to let your irons be taken off。〃 Accordingly； to work went the smith。 〃You shall also；〃 continued he； 〃have a better apartment。〃 〃I am free； then；〃 said I。 〃Speak！ fear not！ I can moderate my transports。〃
〃Then you are free！〃 was the reply。
The sub…governor first embraced me； and afterwards his attendants。
He asked me what clothes I would wish。 I answered； the uniform of my regiment。 The tailor took my measure。 Reichmann told him it must be made by the morning。 The man excused himself because it was Christmas Eve。 〃So； then； this gentleman must remain in his dungeon because it is holiday with you。〃 The tailor promised to be ready。
I was taken to the guard…room； congratulations were universal； and the town…major administered the oath customary to all state prisoners。
1st。 That I should avenge myself on no man。
2nd。 That I should neither enter the Prussian nor Saxon states。
3rd。 That I should never relate by speech or in writing what had happened to me。
4th。 And that； so long as the King lived； I should neither serve in a civil nor military capacity。
Count Schlieben delivered me a letter from the imperial minister； General Reidt； to the following purport：… That he rejoiced at having found an opportunity of obtaining my liberty from the King； and that I must obey the requisitions of Count Schlieben； whose orders were to accompany me to Prague。
〃Yes； dear Trenck；〃 said Schlieben； 〃I am to conduct you through Dresden to Prague； with orders not to suffer you to speak to any one on the road。 I have received three hundred ducats； to defray the expenses of travelling。 As all things cannot be prepared today； the； sub…governor has determined we shall depart to…morrow night。〃
I acquiesced； and Count Schlieben remained with me； the others returned to town； and I dined with the major and officers on guard； with General Walrabe in his prison。
Once at liberty； I walked about the fortifications； to collect the money I had concealed in my dungeon。 To every man on guard I gave a ducat； to the sentinels； each three； and ten ducats to be divided among the relief…guard。 I sent the officer on guard a present from Prague； and the remainder of my money I bestowed on the widow of the worthy Gelfhardt。 He was no more； and she had entrusted the thousand florins to a young soldier； who； spending them too freely； was suspected； betrayed her； and she passed two years in prison。 Gelfhardt never received any punishment； he was in the field。 Had he left any children； I should have provided for them。 To the widow of the man who hung himself before my prison door； in the year 1756； I gave thirty ducats； lent me by Schlieben。
The night was riotous； the guard made merry； and I passed most of it in their company。 I was visited by all the generals of the garrison on Christmas morning； for I was not allowed to enter the town。 I dressed； viewed myself in the glass； and found pleasure； but the tumult of my passions； the congratulations I received； and the vivacity round me； prevented my remembering incidents minutely。
Yet how wonderful an alteration in the countenances of those by whom I had been guarded！ I was treated with friendship； attention； and flattery。 And why？ Because these fetters had dropped off which I had never justly borne。
Evening came； and with it Count Schlieben； a waggon； and four post… horses。 After an affecting farewell； we departed。 I shed tears at leaving Magdeburg。 It seems strange that I lived here ten years； yet never saw the town。
The duration of my imprisonment at Magdeburg was nearly ten years； and with the term of my imprisonment at Glatz； the time is eleven years。 Thus was I robbed of time； my body weakened； my health impaired； so that in my decline of life； a second time； I suffer the gloom and chains of the dungeon at Magdeburg。
The reader would now hope that my calamities were at an end； yet； upon my honour； I would prefer the suffering of the Star Fort to those I have since endured in Austria； especially while Krugel and Zetto were my referendaries and curators。
At this moment I am obliged to be guarded in my expressions。 I have put my enemies to shame； but the hope of justice or reward is vain。 No rewards are bestowed on him who； with the consciousness of integrity； demands； and does not deplore。 The facts I shall relate will seem incredible； yet I have； in my own hands； the vouchers of their veracity。
〃If my right hand is guilty of writing untruths in this book； may the executioner sever it from my body； and； in the memory of posterity； may I live a villain！〃
I will proceed with my history。
On the 2nd of January I arrived； with Count Schlieben； at Prague； the same day he delivered me to the governor； the Duke of Deuxponts。 He received me with kindness； we dined with him two days； and all Prague were anxious to see a man who had surmounted ten years of suffering so unheard of as mine。 Here I received three thousand florins； and paid General Reidt his three hundred ducats； which he had advanced Count Schlieben； for my journey； the repayment of which he demanded in his letter； although he had received ten thousand florins。 The expense of returning I also paid to Schlieben； made him a present； and provided myself with some necessaries。 After remaining a few days at Prague； a courier arrived from Vienna； to whom I was obliged to pay forty florins； with an order from government to bring me from Prague to Vienna。 My sword was demanded； Captain Count Wela； and two inferior officers； entered the carriage； which I was obliged to purchase； in company with me； and brought me to Vienna。 I took up a thousand florins more； in Prague； to defray these expenses； and was obliged； in Vienna； to pay the captain fifty ducats for travelling charges back。
I was brought back like a criminal； was sent as a prisoner to the barracks； there kept in the chamber of Lieutenant Blonket； with orders that I should be suffered to write to no one； speak to no one； without a ticket from the counsellors Kempt or Huttner。
Thus I remained six weeks； at length； the colonel of the regiment of Poniatowsky； the present field…marshal； Count Alton； spoke to me。 I related what I supposed were the reasons of my being kept a prisoner in Vienna； and to the exertions of this man am I indebted that the intentions of my enemies were frustrated； which were to have me imprisoned as insane in the fortress of Glatz。 Had they once removed me from Vienna； I should certainly have pined away my life in a madhouse。 Yet I could never obtain justice against these men。 The Empress was persuaded that my brain was affected； and that I uttered threats against the King of Prussia。 The election of a king of the Romans was then in agitation； and the court was apprehensive lest I should offend the Prussian envoy。 General Reidt had been obliged to promise Frederic that I should not appear in Vienna； and that they should hold a wary eye over me。 The Empress…Queen felt compassion for my supposed disease； and asked if no assistance could be afforded me； to which they answered； I had several times let blood； but that I still was a dangerous man。 They added； that I had squandered four thousand florins in six days at Prague； that it would be proper to appoint guardians to impede such extravagancies。
Count Alton spoke of me and my hard destiny to the Countess Parr； mistress of the ce
