the life and adventures of baron trenck-2-第16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!
n 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 ceremonies to the Empress…Queen。 The late Emperor entered the chamber; and asked whether I ever had any lucid intervals。 〃May it please your Majesty;〃 answered Alton; 〃he has been seven weeks in my barracks; and I never met a more reasonable man。 There is mystery in this affair; or he could not be treated as a madman。 That he is not so in anywise I pledge my honour。〃
The next day the Emperor sent Count Thurn; grand…master of the Archduke Leopold; to speak to me。 In him I found an enlightened philosopher; and a lover of his country。 To him I related how I had twice been betrayed; twice sold at Vienna; during my imprisonment; to him showed that my administrators had acted in this vile manner that I might be imprisoned for life; and they remain in possession of my effects。 We conversed for two hours; during which many things were said that prudence will not permit me to repeat。 I gained his confidence; and he continued my friend till death。 He promised me protection; and procured me an audience of the Emperor。
I spoke with freedom; the audience lasted an hour。 At length the Emperor retired into the next apartment。 I saw the tears drop from his eyes。 I fell at his feet; and wished for the presence of a Rubens or Apelles; to preserve a scene so honourable to the memory of the monarch; and paint the sensations of an innocent man; imploring the protection of a compassionate prince。 The Emperor tore himself from me; and I departed with sensations such as only those can know who; themselves being virtuous; have met with wicked men。 I returned to the barracks with joy; and an order the next day came for my release。 I went with Count Alton to the Countess Parr; and by her mediation I obtained an audience with the Empress。
I cannot describe how much she pitied my sufferings and admired my fortitude。 She told me she was informed of the artifices practised against me in Vienna; she required me to forgive my enemies; and pass all the accounts of my administrators。 〃Do not complain of anything;〃 said she; 〃but act as I desireI know allyou shall be recompensed by me; you deserve reward and repose; and these you shall enjoy。〃
I must either sign whatever was given to sign; or be sent to a madhouse。 I received orders to accompany M。 Pistrich to Counsellor Ziegler; thither I went; and the next day was obliged to sign; in their presence; the following conditions:…
FirstThat I acknowledged the will of Trenck to be valid。
SecondlyThat I renounced all claim to the Sclavonian estates; relying alone on her Majesty's favour。
ThirdlyThat I solemnly acquitted my accountants and curators。 And;
LastlyThat I would not continue in Vienna。
This I must sign; or languish in prison。
How did my blood boil while I signed! This confidence I had in myself assured me I could obtain employment in any country of Europe; by the labours of my mind; and the recital of all my woes。 At that time I had no children; I little regretted what I had lost; or the poor portion that remained。
I determined to avoid Austria eternally。 My pride would never suffer me; by insidious arts; to approach the throne。 I knew no such mode of soliciting for justice; hence I was not a match for my enemies; hence my misfortunes。 Appeals to justice were represented as the splenetic effusions of a man never to be satisfied。 My too sensitive heart was corroded by the treatment I met at Vienna。 I; who with so much fortitude had suffered so much in the cause of Vienna; I; on whom the eyes of Germany were fixed; to behold what should be the reward of these sufferings; I was again; in this country; kept a prisoner; and delivered to those by whom I had been plundered as a man insane!
Before my intended departure to seek my fortune; I fell ill; and sickness almost brought me to the grave。 The Empress; in her great clemency; sent one of her physicians and a friar to my assistance; both of whom I was obliged to pay。
At this time I refused a major's commission; for which I was obliged to pay the fees。 Being excluded from actual service; to me t