the life and adventures of baron trenck-2-第24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！
nued alone with you in an open carriage。 This gave you an opportunity to escape； but you forbore。 I afterwards saw the danger to which I had exposed myself。 Had you been less noble… minded； had such a prisoner escaped through my negligence； I had certainly been ruined。 The King believed you alike dangerous and deserving of punishment。 I here acknowledge you as my saviour； and am in gratitude your friend。〃 I knew not that the generous man； who wished me so well； was the present General Prittwitz。 That he should himself remind me of this incident does him the greater honour。
Having been introduced at court； I thought it necessary to observe ceremonies； and was presented by the Imperial ambassador； Prince Reuss； to all foreign ministers； and such families as are in the habit of admitting such visits。 I was received by the Prince Royal； the reigning Queen； the Queen…Dowager； and the royal family in their various places； with favour never to be forgotten。 His Royal Highness Prince Henry invited me to a private audience； continued long in conversation with me； promised me his future protection； admitted me to his private concerts； and sometimes made me sup at court。
A like reception I experienced in the palace of Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick； where I frequently dined and supped。 His princess took delight in hearing my narratives； and loaded me with favour。
Prince Ferdinand's mode of educating children is exemplary。 The sons are instructed in the soldier's duties； their bodies are inured to the inclemencies of weather； they are taught to ride； to swim； and are steeled to all the fatigue of war。 Their hearts are formed for friendship； which they cannot fail to attain。 Happy the nation in defence of which they are to act！
How ridiculous these their ROYAL HIGHNESSES appear who； though born to rule； are not deserving to be the lackeys to the least of those whom they treat with contempt； and yet who swell； strut； stride； and contemplate themselves as creatures essentially different by nature； and of a superior rank in the scale of beings； though； in reality； their minds are of the lowest； the meanest class。
Happy the state whose prince is impressed with a sense that the people are not his property； but he the property of the people！ A prince beloved by his people will ever render a nation more happy those he whose only wish is to inspire fear。
The pleasure I received at Berlin was great indeed。 When I went to court； the citizens crowded to see me； and when anyone among them said； 〃That is Trenck；〃 the rest would cry； 〃Welcome once more to your country；〃 while many would reach me their hands； with the tears standing in their eyes。 Frequent were the scenes I experienced of this kind。 No malefactor would have been so received。 It was the reward of innocence； this reward was bestowed throughout the Prussian territories。
Oh world； ill…judging world； deceived by show！ Dost thou not blindly follow the opinion of the prince； be he severe； arbitrary； or just？ Thy censure and thy praise equally originate in common report。 In Magdeburg I lay； chained to the wall； ten years； sighing in wretchedness； every calamity of hunger； cold； nakedness； and contempt。 And wherefore？ Because the King； deceived by slanderers； pronounced me worthy of punishment。 Because a wise King mistook me； and treated me with barbarity。 Because a prudent King knew he had done wrong； yet would not have it so supposed。 So was his heart turned to stone； nay； opposed by manly fortitude； was enraged to cruelty。 Most men were convinced I was an innocent sufferer； 〃Yet did they all cry out the more； saying； let him be crucified！〃 My relations were ashamed to hear my name。 My sister was barbarously treated because she assisted me in my misfortunes。 No man durst avow himself my friend； durst own I merited compassion； or； much less； that the infallible King had erred。 I was the most despised； forlorn man on earth； and when thus put on the rack； had I there expired； my epitaph would have been； 〃Here lies the traitor； Trenck。〃
Frederic is dead； and the scene is changed； another monarch has ascended the throne； and the grub has changed to a beautiful butterfly！ The witnesses to all I have asserted are still living； loudly now proclaim the truth； and embrace me with heart…felt affection。
Does the worth of a man depend upon his actions？ his reward or punishment upon his virtue？ In arbitrary states； certainly not。 They depend on the breath of a king！ Frederic was the most penetrating prince of his age； but the most obstinate also。 A vice dreadful to those whom he selected as victims； who must be sacrificed to the promoting of his arbitrary views。
How many perished； the sin offerings of Frederic's obstinate self… will； whose orphan children now cry to God for vengeance！ The dead； alas！ cannot plead。 Trial began and ended with execution。 The few wordsIT IS THE KING'S COMMANDwere words of horror to the poor condemned wretch denied to plead his innocence！ Yet what is the Ukase （Imperial order） in Russia； Tel est notre bon plaisir （Such is our pleasure） in France； or the Allergnadigste Hofresolution （The all…gracious sentence of the court）； pronounced with the sweet tone of a Vienna matron？ In what do these differ from the arbitrary order of a military despot？
Every prayer of man should be consecrated to man's general good； for him to obtain freedom and universal justice！ Together should we cry with one voice； and； if unable to shackle arbitrary power； still should we endeavour to show how dangerous it is！ The priests of liberty should offer up their thanks to the monarch who declares 〃the word of power〃 a nullity； and 〃the sentence〃 of justice omnipotent。
Who can name the court in Europe where Louis； Peter； or Frederic； each and all surnamed The Great； have not been； and are not； imitated as models of perfection？。 Lettres…de…cachet； the knout； and cabinet…orders； superseding all right； are become law！
No reasoning； says the corporal to the poor grenadier； whom he canes！No reasoning！ exclaim judges； the court has decided。No reasoning； rash and pertinacious Trenck； will the prudent reader echo。 Throw thy pen in the fire； and expose not thyself to become the martyr of a state inquisition。
My fate is； and must remain； critical and undecided。 I have six… and…thirty years been in the service of Austria； unrewarded； and beholding the repeated and generous efforts I made effectually to serve that state； unnoticed。 The Emperor Joseph supposes me old； that the fruit is wasted； and that the husk only remains。 It is also supposed I should not be satisfied with a little。 To continue to oppress him who has once been oppressed； and who possess qualities that may make injustice manifest； is the policy of states。 My journey to Berlin has given the slanderer further opportunity of painting me as a suspicious character： I smile at the ineffectual attempt。
I appeared in the Imperial uniform and belied such insinuations。 To this purpose it was written to court； in November； when I went into Hungary； 〃The motions of Trenck ought to be observed in Hungary。〃 Ye poor malicious blood…suckers of the virtuous！ Ye shall not be able to hurt a hair of my head。 Ye cannot injure the man who has sixty years lived in honour。 I will not； in my old age； bring upon myself the reproach of inconstancy； treachery； or desire of revenge。 I will betray no political secrets： I wish not to injure those by whom I have been injured。Such acts I will never commit。 I never yet descended to the office of spy； nor will I die a rewarded villain。
Yes； I appeared in Berlin among the upright and the just。 Instead of being its supposed enemy； I was declared an honour to my country。 I appeared in the Imperial uniform and fulfilled the duties of my station： and now must the Prussian Trenck return to Austria； there to perform a father's duty。
Yet more of what happened in Berlin。
Some days after I had been presented to the King； I entreated a private audience； and on the 12th of February received the following letter：…
〃In answer to your letter of the 8th of this month； I inform you that； if you will come to me to…morrow； at five o'clock in the afternoon； I shall have the pleasure to speak with you； meantime； I pray God to take you into his holy keeping。
〃FREDERIC WILLIAM。
〃Berlin； Feb。 12； 1787。〃
〃P。S。After signing the above； I find it more convenient to appoint to…morrow； at nine in the morning； about which time you will come into the apartment named the Marmor Kammer （marble chamber）。〃
The anxiety with which I expected this wished…for interview may well be conceived。 I found the Prussian Titus alone； and he continued in conversation with me more than an hour。
How kind was the monarch！ How great！ How nobly did he console me for the past！ How entirely did his assurance of favour overpower my whole soul！ He had read the history of my life。 When prince of Prussia； he had been an eyewitness； in Magdeburg； of my martyrdom； and my attempts to escape。 His Majesty parted from me with tokens of esteem and condescension。My eyes bade adieu； but my heart remained in the marble chamber； in company with a prince capable of sensations so dignified
