the life and adventures of baron trenck-2-第5部分
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e forth to the world the martyr of suffering virtue。
Some of my oppressors now rot in dishonourable graves。 Others； alas！ in Vienna； remain immured in houses of correction； as Krugel and Zeto； or beg their bread； like Gravenitz and Doo。 Nor are the wealthy possessors of my estates more fortunate； but look down with shame wherever I and my children appear。 We stand erect； esteemed； and honoured； while their injustice is manifest to the whole world。
Young man； be industrious： for without industry can none of the treasures I have described be purchased。 Thy labour will reward itself； then； when assaulted by misfortune； or even misery； learn of me and smile； or； shouldst thou escape such trials； still labour to acquire wisdom； that in old age thou mayest find content and happiness。
The years in my dungeon passed away as days； those moments excepted when； thinking on the great world； and the deeds of great men； my ambition was roused： except when； contemplating the vileness of my chains； and the wretchedness of my situation； I laboured for liberty； and found my labours endless and ineffectual； except while I remembered the triumph of my enemies； and the splendour in which those lived by whom I had been plundered。 Then； indeed； did I experience intervals that approached madness； despair； and horror： beholding myself destitute of friend or protector； the Empress herself； for whose sake I suffered； deserting me； reflecting on past times and past prosperity； remembering how the good and virtuous； from the cruel nature of my punishment； must be obliged to conclude me a wretch and a villain； and that all means of justification were cut off： O God！ How did my heart beat！ with what violence！ What would I not have undertaken； in these suffering moments； to have put my enemies to shame！ Vengeance and rage then rose rebellious against patience； long…suffering philosophy vanished； and the poisoned cup of Socrates would have been the nectar of the gods。
Man deprived of hope is man destroyed。 I found but little probability in all my plans and projects； yet did I trust that some of them should succeed； yet did I confide in them and my honest Gelfhardt； and that I should still free myself from my chains。
The greatest of all my incitements to patient endurance was love。 I had left behind me； in Vienna； a lady for whom the world still was dear to me； her would I neither desert nor afflict。 To her and my sister was my existence still necessary。 For their sakes； who had lost and suffered so much for mine； would I preserve my life； for them no difficulty； no suffering was too great； yet； alas！ when long…desired liberty was restored； I found them both in their graves。 The joy； for which I had borne so much； was no more to be tasted。
About three weeks after my attempt to escape； the good Gelfhardt first came to stand sentinel over me； and the sentinel they had so carefully set was indeed the only hope I could have of escape； for help must be had from without； or this was impossible。
The effort I had made had excited too munch surprise and alarm for me to pass without strict examination； since； on the ninth day after I was confined； I had； in eighteen hours； so far broken through a prison built purposely for myself； by a combination of so many projectors； and with such extreme precaution； that it had been universally declared impenetrable。
Gelfhardt scarcely had taken his post before we had free opportunity of conversing together； for； when I stood with one foot on my bedstead； I could reach the aperture through which light was admitted。
Gelfhardt described the situation of my dungeon； and our first plan was to break under the foundation which he had seen laid； and which he affirmed to be only two feet deep。
Money was the first thing necessary。 Gelfhardt was relieved during his guard； and returned bringing within him a sheet of paper rolled on a wire； which he passed through my grating； as he also did a piece of small wax candle； some burning amadone （a kind of tinder）； a match； and a pen。 I now had light； and I pricked my finger； and wrote with my blood to my faithful friend； Captain Ruckhardt； at Vienna； described my situation in a few words； sent him an acquittance for three thousand florins on my revenues； and requested he would dispose of a thousand florins to defray the expenses of his journey to Gummern； only two miles from Magdeburg。 Here he was positively to be on the 15th of August。 About noon； on this same day； he was to walk with a letter in his hand； and a man was there to meet him； carrying a roll of smoking tobacco； to whom he must remit the two thousand florins； and return to Vienna。
I returned the written paper to Gelfhardt by the same means it had been received； gave him my instructions； and he sent his wife with it to Gummern； by whom it was safely put in the post。
My hopes daily rose； and as often as Gelfhardt mounted guard； so often did we continue our projects。 The 15th of August came； but it was some days before Gelfhardt was again on guard； and oh！ how did my heart palpitate when he came and exclaimed； 〃All is right！ we have succeeded。〃 He returned in the evening； and we began to consider by what means he could convey the money to me。 I could not； with my hands chained to an iron bar； reach the aperture of the window that admitted airbesides that it was too small。 It was therefore agreed that Gelfhardt should； on the next guard； perform the office of cleaning my dungeon； and that he then should convey the money to me in the water…jug。
This luckily was done。 How great was my astonishment when； instead of one； I found two thousand florins！ For I had permitted him to reserve half to himself； as a reward for his fidelity； he； however； had kept but five pistoles； which he persisted was enough。
Worthy Gelfhardt！ This was the act of a Pomeranian grenadier！ How rare are such examples！ Be thy name and mine ever united！ Live thou while the memory of me shall live！ Never did my acquaintance with the great bring to my knowledge a soul so noble； so disinterested！
It is true； I afterwards prevailed on him to accept the whole thousand； but we shall soon see he never had them； and that his foolish wife； three years after； suffered by their means； however； she suffered alone； for he soon marched to the field； and therefore was unpunished。
Having money to carry on my designs； I began to put my plan of burrowing under the foundation into execution。 The first thing necessary was to free myself from my fetters。 To accomplish this； Gelfhardt supplied me with two small files； and by the aid of these； this labour； though great； was effected。
The cap； or staple； of the foot ring was made so wide that I could draw it forward a quarter of an inch。 I filed the iron which passed through it on the inside； the more I filed this away； the farther I could draw the cap down； till at last the whole inside iron； through which the chains passed； was cut quite through！ by this means I could slip off the ring； while the cap on the outside continued whole； and it was impossible to discover any cut； as only the outside could be examined。 My hands； by continued efforts； I so compressed as to be able to draw them out of the handcuffs。 I then filed the hinge； and made a screw…driver of one of the foot…long flooring nails； by which I could take out the screw at pleasure； so that at the time of examination no proofs could appear。 The rim round my body was but a small impediment； except the chain； which passed from my hand…bar： and this I removed； by filing an aperture in one of the links； which； at the necessary hour； I closed with bread； rubbed over with rusty…iron； first drying it by the heat of my body； and would wager any sum that； without striking the chain link by link； with a hammer； no one not in the secret would have discovered the fracture。
The window was never strictly examined； I therefore drew the two staples by which the iron bars were fixed to the wall； and which I daily replaced； carefully plastering them over。 I procured wire from Gelfhardt； and tried how well I could imitate the inner grating： finding I succeeded tolerably； I cut the real grating totally away； and substituted an artificial one of my own fabricating； by which I obtained a free communication with the outside； additional fresh air； together with all necessary implements； tinder； and candles。
That the light might not be seen； I hung the coverlid of my bed before the window； so that I could work fearless and undetected。
Every thing prepared； I went to work。 The floor of my dungeon was not of stone； but oak plank； three inches thick； three beds of which were laid crossways； and were fastened to each other by nails half an inch in diameter； and a foot long。 Raving worked round the head of a nail； I made use of the hole at the end of the bar； which separated my hands； to draw it out； and this nail； sharpened upon my tombstone； made an excellent chisel。
I now cut through the board more than an inch in width； that I might work downwards； and having drawn away a piece of board which was inserted two inches under the wall； I cut this so as exactly to fit； the small crevice it occasioned I stopped up with bread and strewed over with dust； so as to prevent all suspicious appearance。 My labour under this was continued with less precaution； and I had soon worked through my nine…inch planks。 Under them I came to a fine white sand； on which the Star Fort was built。 My chips I carefully distributed beneath the boards。 If I had not help from without； I could proceed no farther； for to dig were useless； unless I could rid myself of my rubbish。 Gelfhardt supplied me with some ells of cloth； of which I made long narrow bags； stuffed them with earth； and passed them between the iron bars； to Gelfhardt； who； as he was on guard； scattered or conveyed away their contents。
Furnished with room to secrete them under the floor； I obtained more instruments； together with a pair of pistols； powder； ball； and a bayonet。
I now discovered that the foundation of my prison； instead of two； was sunken four feet deep。 Time； labour； and patience were all necessary to break out unheard and undiscovered； but few things are impossible；
