the life and adventures of baron trenck-2-第27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！
too busy to act in behalf of others； pity me therefore； but advise me not to hope assistance； by petitioning princes at second hand。 I know your good wishes； and； for these； I have nothing to return but barren thanks。I am； &c〃
The reasons why I published the foregoing letters are already stated； and will appear satisfactory to the reader。 Once more to affairs that concern myself。
I met at Berlin many old friends of both sexes； among others； an aged invalid came to see me； who was at Glatz； in 1746； when I cut my way through the guard。 He was one of the sentinels before my door； whom I had thrown down the stairs。
The hour of quitting Berlin； and continuing my journey into Prussia； towards Konigsberg； approached。 On the eve of my departure； I had the happiness of conversing with her Royal Highness the Princess Amelia； sister of Frederic the Great。 She protected me in my hour of adversity； heaped benefits upon me； and contributed to gain my deliverance。 She received me as a friend； as an aged patriot； and laid her commands upon me to write to my wife； and request that she would come to Berlin； in the month of June； with her two eldest daughters。 I received her promise that the happiness of the latter should be her care； nay； that she would remember my wife in her will。
At this moment； when about to depart； she asked me if I had money sufficient for my journey： 〃Yes； madam；〃 was my reply； 〃I want nothing； ask nothing； but may you remember my children！〃
The deep feeling with which I pronounced these words moved the princess； she showed me how she comprehended my meaning； and said； 〃Return； my friend； quickly： I shall be most happy to see you。〃
I left the room： a kind of indecision came over me。 I was inclined to remain longer at Berlin。 Had I done so； my presence would have been of great advantage to my children。 Alas！ under the guidance of my evil genius； I began my journey。 The purpose for which I came to Berlin was frustrated： for after my departure； the Princess Amelia died！
Peace be to thy ashes； noble princess！ Thy will was good； and be that sufficient。 I shall not want materials to write a commentary on the history of Frederic； when； in company with thee； I shall wander on the banks of Styx； there the events that happened on this earth may be written without danger。
So proceed we with our story。
CHAPTER X。
On the 22nd of March I pursued my journey to Konigsberg； but remained two days at the court of the Margrave of Brandenburg； where I was received with kindness。 The Margrave had bestowed favours on me； during my imprisonment at Magdeburg。
I departed thence through Soldin to Schildberg； here to visit my relation Sidau； who had married the daughter of my sister； which daughter my sister had by her first husband； Waldow； of whom I have before spoken。 I found my kinsman a worthy man； and one who made the daughter of an unfortunate sister happy。 I was received at his house within open arms； and； for the first time after an interval of two…and…forty years； beheld one of my own relations。
On my journey thither； I had the pleasure to meet with Lieutenant… General Kowalsky： This gentleman was a lieutenant in the garrison of Glatz； in 1745； and was a witness of my leap from the wall of the rampart。 He had read my history； some of the principal facts of which he was acquainted with。 Should anyone therefore doubt concerning those incidents； I may refer to him； whose testimony cannot be suspected。
From Schildberg I proceeded to Landsberg； on the Warta。 Here I found my brother…in…law； Colonel Pape； commander of the Gotz dragoons； and the second husband of my deceased sister： and here I passed a joyous day。 Everybody congratulated me on my return into my country。
I found relations in almost every garrison。 Never did man receive more marks of esteem throughout a kingdom。 The knowledge of my calamities procured me sweet consolation； and I were insensible indeed； and ungrateful； did my heart remain unmoved on occasions like these。
In Austria I never can expect a like reception； I am there mistaken； and I feel little inclination to labour at removing mistakes so rooted。 Yet； even there am I by the general voice； approved。 Yes； I am admired； but not known； pitied but not supported； honoured； but not rewarded。
When at Berlin； I discovered an error I had committed in the commencement of my life。 At the time I wrote I believed that the postmaster…general of Berlin； Mr Derschau； was my mother's brother； and the same person who； in 1742； was grand counsellor at Glogau； and afterwards； president in East Friesland。 I was deceived； the Derschau who is my mother's brother is still living； and president at Aurich in East Friesland。 The postmaster was the son of the old Derschau who died a general； and who was only distantly related to my mother。 Neither is the younger Derschau； who is the colonel of a regiment at Burg； the brother of my mother； but only her first cousin； one of their sisters married Lieut。…Colonel Ostau； whose son； the President Ostau； now lives on his own estate； at Lablack in Prussia。
I was likewise deceived in having suspected a lieutenant； named Mollinie； in the narrative I gave of my flight from Glatz； of having acted as a spy upon me at Braunau； and of having sent information to General Fouquet。 I am sorry。 This honest man is still alive； a captain in Brandenburg。 He was affected at my suspicion； fully justified himself； and here I publicly apologise。 He then was； and again is become my friend。
I have received a letter from one Lieutenant Brodowsky。 This gentleman is offended at finding his mother's name in my narrative； and demands I should retract my words。
My readers will certainly allow the virtue of Madame Brodowsky； at Elbing； is not impeached。 Although I have said I had the fortune to be beloved by her； I have nowhere intimated that I asked； or that she granted； improper favours。
By the desire of a person of distinction； I shall insert an incident which I omitted in a former part。 This person was an eye…witness of the incident I am about to relate； at Magdeburg； and reminded me of the affair。 It was my last attempt but one at flight。
The circumstances were these：…
As I found myself unable to get rid of more sand； after having again cut through the planking； and mined the foundation； I made a hole towards the ditch； in which three sentinels were stationed。 This I executed one night； it being easy； from the lightness of the sand； to perform the work in two hours。
No sooner had I broken through； than I threw one of my slippers beside the palisades； that it might be supposed I had lost it when climbing over them。 These palisades； twelve feet in length； were situated in the front of the principal fosse； and my sentinels stood within。 There was no sentry…box at the place where I had broken through。
This done； I returned into my prison； made another hole under the planking； where I could hide myself； and stopped up the passage behind me； so that it was not probable I could be seen or found。
When daylight came； the sentinel saw the hole and gave the alarm； the slipper was found； and it was concluded that Trenck had escaped over the palisades； and was no longer in prison。
Immediately the sub…governor came from Magdeburg； the guns were fired； the horse scoured the country； and the subterranean passages were all visited： no tidings came； no discovery was made； and the conclusion was I had escaped。 That I should fly without the knowledge of the sentinels； was deemed impossible； the officer； and all the guard； were put under arrest； and everybody was surprised。
I； in the meantime； sat quiet in my hole； where I heard their searches； and suppositions that I was gone。
My heart bounded with joy； and I held escape to be indubitable。 They would not place sentinels over the prison the following night； and I should then really have left my place of concealment； and； most probably have safely arrived in Saxony。 My destiny； however； robbed me of all hope at the very moment when I supposed the greatest of my difficulties were conquered。
Everything seemed to happen as I could wish。 The whole garrison came； and visited the casemates； and all stood astonished at the miracle they beheld。 In this state things remained till four o'clock in the afternoon。 At length； an ensign of the militia came； a boy of about fifteen or sixteen years of age； who had more wit than any or all of them。 He approached the hole； examined the aperture next the fosse； thought it appeared small； tried to enter it himself； found he could not； therefore concluded it was impossible a man of my size could have passed through； and accordingly called for a light。
This was an accident I had not foreseen。 Half stifled in my hole； I had opened the canal under the planking。 No sooner had the youth procured a light； than he perceived my shirt； examined nearer； felt about； and laid hold of me by the arm。 The fox was caught； and the laugh was universal。 My confusion may easily be imagined。 They all came round me； paid me their compliments； and finding nothing better was to be done； I laughed in company with them； and； thus laughing was led back wit
