Pride,thejustnessofmycause,theunboundedconfidenceIhadinmyownresolution,andthelaboursofaninventiveheadandironbody——theseonlycouldhavepreservedmylife。Thesebodilylabours,thesecontinuedinventions,andprojectedplanstoobtainmyfreedom,preservedmyhealth。WhowouldsupposethatamanfetteredasIwascouldfindmeansofexercisinghimself?Byswingingmyarms,actingwiththeupperpartofmybody,andleapingupwards,Ifrequentlyputmyselfinastrongperspiration。AfterthuswearyingmyselfIsleptsoundly,andoftenthoughthowmanygenerals,obligedtosupporttheinclemenciesofweather,andallthedangersofthefield——howmanyofthosewhohadplungedmeintothisdenofmisery,wouldhavebeenmostgladcouldthey,likeme,havesleptwithaquietconscience。OftendidIreflecthowmuchhappierIwasthanthosetorturedonthebedofsicknessbygout,stone,andotherterriblediseases。HowmuchhappierwasIininnocencethanthemalefactordoomedtosufferthepangsofdeath,theignominyofmen,andthehorrorsofinternalguilt!
CHAPTERII。
InthefollowingpartofmyhistoryitwillappearIoftenhadmuchmoneyconcealedunderthegroundandinthewallsofmyden,yetwouldIhavegivenahundredducatsforamorselofbread,itcouldnothavebeenprocured。Moneywastomeuseless。InthisI
resembledthemiser,whohoards,yethivesinwretchedness,havingnojoyingentleactsofbenevolence。AsproudlymightIdelightmyselfwithmyhiddentreasureassuchmisers;nay,more,forIwassecurefromrobbers。
Hadfastidiouspompbeenmypleasure,Imighthaveimaginedmyselfsomeoldfield—marshalbedridden,whohearstwogrenadiersentinelsathisdoorcall,"Whogoesthere?"Myhonour,indeed,wasstillgreater;for,duringmylastyear’simprisonment,mydoorwasguardedbynolessthanfour。Myvanityalsomighthavebeenflattered:Imighthenceconcludehowhighwasthevaluesetuponmyhead,sinceallthistroublewastakentoholdmeinsecurity。
CertainitisthatinmychainsIthoughtmorerationally,morenobly,reasonedmorephilosophicallyonman,hisnature,hiszeal,hisimaginarywants,theeffectsofhisambition,hispassions,andsawmoredistinctlyhisdreamofearthlygood,thanthosewhohadimprisoned,orthosewhoguardedme。Iwasvoidofthefearsthathaunttheparasitewhoservilelywearsthefettersofacourt,anddailytremblesforthelossofwhatviceandcunninghaveacquired。
ThosewhohadusurpedtheSclavonianestates,andfeastedsumptuouslyfromtheserviceofplateIhadbeenrobbedof,neveratetheirdaintieswithsosweetanappetiteasImyammunitionbread,nordidtheirhigh—flavouredwinesflowsolimpidasmycoldwater。
Thus,themanwhothinks,beingpureofheart,willfindconsolationwhenunderthemostdreadfulcalamities,convinced,ashemustbe,thatthoseapparentlymostarefrequentlyleasthappy,insensibleastheyareofthepleasurestheymightenjoy。Evilisneversogreatasitappears。
"Sweetaretheusesofadversity,Which,likethetoad,uglyandvenomous,Wearsyetapreciousjewelinhishead。"
AsyouLIKEIT。
Happyhewho,likeme,havingsuffered,canbecomeanexampletohissufferingbrethren!
YOUTH,prosperous,andimaginingeternalprosperity,readmyhistoryattentively,thoughIshouldbeinmygrave!Readfeelingly,andblessmysleepingdust,ifithastaughttheewisdomorfortitude!
FATHER,readingthis,saytothychildren,Ifeltthuslikethem,inbloomingyouth,littleprophesiedofmisfortune,whichafterfellsoheavyonme,andbywhichIamevenstillpersecuted!SaythatI
hadvirtue,ambition,waseducatedinnobleprinciples;thatI
labouredwithallthezealofenthusiasticyouthtobecomewiser,better,greaterthanothermen;thatIwasguiltyofnocrimes,wasthefriendofmen,wasnodeceiverofmanorwoman;thatIfirstservedmyowncountryfaithfully,andafter,everyotherinwhichI
foundbread;thatIwasnever,duringlife,onceintoxicated;wasnogamester,nonightrambler,nocontemptibleidler;thatyet,throughenvyandarbitrarypower,Ihavefallentomiserysuchasnonebuttheworstofcriminalsoughttofeel。
BROTHER,flythosecountrieswherethelawgiverhimselfknowsnolaw,wheretruthandvirtuearepunishedascrimes;and,ifflyyoucannot,beityourendeavourtoremainunknown,unnoticed;insuchcountries,seeknotfavourorhonourableemploy,elsewillyoubecome,whenyourmeritsareknown,asIhavebeen,thevictimofslanderandtreachery:thebehestsofpowerwillpersecuteyou,andinnocencewillnotshieldyoufromtheshaftsofwickedmenwhoareenvious,orwhowishtoobtainthefavourofprinces,thoughbytheworstofmeans。
SIRE,imaginenotthatthoureadestaromance。Myheadisgrey,likethine。Read,yetdespisenottheworld,thoughithastreatedmethusunthankfully。GoodmenhaveIalsofound,whohavebefriendedmeinmisfortunes,andthere,whereIhadleastclaim,haveIfoundthemmost。Maymybookassisttheeinnoblethoughts;
mayestthoudieastranquillyasIshallrenderupmysoultoappearbeforetheJudgeofmeandmypersecutors。Bedeathbutthoughtatransitionfrommotiontorest。Fewarethedelightsofthisworldforhimwho,likeme,haslearnedtoknowit。Murmurnot,despairnotofProvidence。Me,throughstorms,ithasbroughttohaven;
throughmanygriefstoself—knowledge;andthroughprisonstophilosophy。Heonlycantranquillydescendtoannihilationwhofindsreasonnottorepenthehasonceexisted。Myrudderbrokenotamidtherocksandquicksands,butmybarkwascastuponthestrandofknowledge。Yet,evenontheseclearshoresareimpenetrableclouds。Ihaveseenmoredistinctlythanitissupposedmenoughttosee。Agewilldecaythefaculties,andmental,likebodilysight,mustthendecrease。Ievengrewwearyofscience,andenviedtheblind—born,orthosewho,tilldeath,havebeenwilfullyhoodwinked。HowoftenhaveIbeenasked,"Whatdidstthousee?"
AndwhenIansweredwithsincerityandtruth,howoftenhaveIbeenderidedasaliar,andbeenpersecutedbythosewhodeterminednottoseethemselves,asaninnovatorsingularandrash!
Sire,Ifurthersaytothee,teachthydescendantstoseekthegoldenmean,andsaywithGellert——"TheboyFritzneedsnothing;——
hisstupiditywillinsurehissuccess,Examineourwealthyandtitledlords,whataretheirabilitiesandhonours,theninquirehowtheywereattained,and,ifthoucanst,discoverinwhattruehappinessconsists。"
Oncemoretomyprison。Thefailureofmyescape,andtherecoveryoflifefromthisstateofdespair,ledmetomoralisedeeperthanI
hadeverdonebefore;andinthisdepthofthoughtIfoundunexpectedconsolationandfortitude,andafirmpersuasionIyetshouldaccomplishmydeliverance。
Gelfhardt,myhonestgrenadier,hadinfusedfreshhope,andmymindnowbusilybegantomeditatenewplans。Asentinelwasplacedbeforemydoor,thatImightbemorenarrowlywatched,andthemarriedmenofthePrussianstateswereappointedtothisduty,who,asIwillhereaftershow,weremoreeasytopersuadeinaidingmyflightthanforeignfugitives。ThePomeranianwilllisten,andisbynaturekind,thereforemayeasilybemoved,andinducedtosuccourdistress。
Ibegantobemoreaccustomedtomyirons,whichIhadbeforefoundsoinsupportable;Icouldcomboutmylonghair,andcouldtieitatlastwithonehand。Mybeard,whichhadsolongremainedunshaven,gavemeagrimappearance,andIbegantopluckitupbytheroots。
Thepainatfirstwasconsiderable,especiallyaboutthelips;butthisalsocustomconquered,andIperformedthisoperationinthefollowingyears,onceinsixweeks,ortwomonths,asthehairthuspluckeduprequiredthatlengthoftimebeforethenailscouldagaingethold。Vermindidnotmolestme;thedampnessofmydenwasinimicaltothem。Mylimbsneverswelled,becauseoftheexerciseI
gavemyself,asbeforedescribed。ThegreatestpainIfoundwasinthecontinuedunvivifyingdimnessinwhichIlived。
Ihadreadmuch,hadlivedin,andseenmuchoftheworld。Vacuityofthought,therefore,Iwaslittletroubledwith;theformertransactionsofmylife,andtheremembranceofthepersonsIhadknown,Irevolvedsoofteninmymind,thattheybecameasfamiliarandconnectedasiftheeventshadeachbeenwrittenintheorderitoccurred。Habitmadethismentalexercisesoperfecttome,thatI
couldcomposespeeches,fables,odes,satires,allofwhichI
repeatedaloud,andhadsostoredmymemorywiththemthatIwasenabled,afterIhadobtainedmyfreedom,tocommittowritingtwovolumesofmyprisonlabours。Accustomedtothisexercise,daysthatwouldotherwisehavebeendaysofmiseryappearedbutasamoment。Thefollowingnarrativewillshowhowmunchesteem,howmanyfriends,thesecompositionsprocuredme,eveninmydungeon;
insomuchthatIobtainedlight,paper,andfinallyfreedomitself。
FortheseIhavetothanktheindustriousacquirementsofmyyouth;
thereforedoIcounselallmyreaderssotoemploytheirtime。
Riches,honours,thefavoursoffortune,maybeshoweredbymonarchsuponthemostworthless;butmonarchscangiveandtake,sayandunsay,raiseandpulldown。Monarchs,however,canneithergivewisdomnorvirtue。Arbitrarypoweritself,inthepresenceofthese,isfoiled。
HowwiselyhasProvidenceordainedthattheendowmentsofindustry,learning,andscience,givenbyourselves,cannotbetakenfromus;
while,onthecontrary,whatothersbestowisafantasticaldream,fromwhichanyaccidentmayawakenus!ThewrathofFredericcoulddestroylegions,anddefeatarmies;butitcouldnottakefrommethesenseofhonour,ofinnocence,andtheirsweetconcomitant,peaceofmind——couldnotdeprivemeoffortitudeandmagnanimity。I
defiedhispower,restedonthejusticeofmycause,foundinmyselfexpedientswherewithtoopposehim,wasatlengthcrownedwithconquest,andcameforthtotheworldthemartyrofsufferingvirtue。
Someofmyoppressorsnowrotindishonourablegraves。Others,alas!inVienna,remainimmuredinhousesofcorrection,asKrugelandZeto,orbegtheirbread,likeGravenitzandDoo。Norarethewealthypossessorsofmyestatesmorefortunate,butlookdownwithshamewhereverIandmychildrenappear。Westanderect,esteemed,andhonoured,whiletheirinjusticeismanifesttothewholeworld。
Youngman,beindustrious:forwithoutindustrycannoneofthetreasuresIhavedescribedbepurchased。Thylabourwillrewarditself;then,whenassaultedbymisfortune,orevenmisery,learnofmeandsmile;or,shouldstthouescapesuchtrials,stilllabourtoacquirewisdom,thatinoldagethoumayestfindcontentandhappiness。
Theyearsinmydungeonpassedawayasdays,thosemomentsexceptedwhen,thinkingonthegreatworld,andthedeedsofgreatmen,myambitionwasroused:exceptwhen,contemplatingthevilenessofmychains,andthewretchednessofmysituation,Ilabouredforliberty,andfoundmylaboursendlessandineffectual;exceptwhileIrememberedthetriumphofmyenemies,andthesplendourinwhichthoselivedbywhomIhadbeenplundered。Then,indeed,didI
experienceintervalsthatapproachedmadness,despair,andhorror:
beholdingmyselfdestituteoffriendorprotector,theEmpressherself,forwhosesakeIsuffered,desertingme;reflectingonpasttimesandpastprosperity;rememberinghowthegoodandvirtuous,fromthecruelnatureofmypunishment,mustbeobligedtoconcludemeawretchandavillain,andthatallmeansofjustificationwerecutoff:OGod!Howdidmyheartbeat!withwhatviolence!WhatwouldInothaveundertaken,inthesesufferingmoments,tohaveputmyenemiestoshame!Vengeanceandragethenroserebelliousagainstpatience;long—sufferingphilosophyvanished,andthepoisonedcupofSocrateswouldhavebeenthenectarofthegods。
Mandeprivedofhopeismandestroyed。Ifoundbutlittleprobabilityinallmyplansandprojects;yetdidItrustthatsomeofthemshouldsucceed,yetdidIconfideinthemandmyhonestGelfhardt,andthatIshouldstillfreemyselffrommychains。
Thegreatestofallmyincitementstopatientendurancewaslove。I
hadleftbehindme,inVienna,aladyforwhomtheworldstillwasdeartome;herwouldIneitherdesertnorafflict。Toherandmysisterwasmyexistencestillnecessary。Fortheirsakes,whohadlostandsufferedsomuchformine,wouldIpreservemylife;forthemnodifficulty,nosufferingwastoogreat;yet,alas!whenlong—desiredlibertywasrestored,Ifoundthembothintheirgraves。Thejoy,forwhichIhadbornesomuch,wasnomoretobetasted。
Aboutthreeweeksaftermyattempttoescape,thegoodGelfhardtfirstcametostandsentineloverme;andthesentineltheyhadsocarefullysetwasindeedtheonlyhopeIcouldhaveofescape;forhelpmustbehadfromwithout,orthiswasimpossible。
TheeffortIhadmadehadexcitedtoomunchsurpriseandalarmformetopasswithoutstrictexamination;since,ontheninthdayafterIwasconfined,Ihad,ineighteenhours,sofarbrokenthroughaprisonbuiltpurposelyformyself,byacombinationofsomanyprojectors,andwithsuchextremeprecaution,thatithadbeenuniversallydeclaredimpenetrable。
Gelfhardtscarcelyhadtakenhispostbeforewehadfreeopportunityofconversingtogether;for,whenIstoodwithonefootonmybedstead,Icouldreachtheaperturethroughwhichlightwasadmitted。
Gelfhardtdescribedthesituationofmydungeon,andourfirstplanwastobreakunderthefoundationwhichhehadseenlaid,andwhichheaffirmedtobeonlytwofeetdeep。
Moneywasthefirstthingnecessary。Gelfhardtwasrelievedduringhisguard,andreturnedbringingwithinhimasheetofpaperrolledonawire,whichhepassedthroughmygrating;ashealsodidapieceofsmallwaxcandle,someburningamadone(akindoftinder),amatch,andapen。Inowhadlight,andIprickedmyfinger,andwrotewithmybloodtomyfaithfulfriend,CaptainRuckhardt,atVienna,describedmysituationinafewwords,senthimanacquittanceforthreethousandflorinsonmyrevenues,andrequestedhewoulddisposeofathousandflorinstodefraytheexpensesofhisjourneytoGummern,onlytwomilesfromMagdeburg。Herehewaspositivelytobeonthe15thofAugust。Aboutnoon,onthissameday,hewastowalkwithaletterinhishand;andamanwastheretomeethim,carryingarollofsmokingtobacco,towhomhemustremitthetwothousandflorins,andreturntoVienna。
IreturnedthewrittenpapertoGelfhardtbythesamemeansithadbeenreceived,gavehimmyinstructions,andhesenthiswifewithittoGummern,bywhomitwassafelyputinthepost。
Myhopesdailyrose,andasoftenasGelfhardtmountedguard,sooftendidwecontinueourprojects。The15thofAugustcame,butitwassomedaysbeforeGelfhardtwasagainonguard;andoh!howdidmyheartpalpitatewhenhecameandexclaimed,"Allisright!wehavesucceeded。"Hereturnedintheevening,andwebegantoconsiderbywhatmeanshecouldconveythemoneytome。Icouldnot,withmyhandschainedtoanironbar,reachtheapertureofthewindowthatadmittedair——besidesthatitwastoosmall。ItwasthereforeagreedthatGelfhardtshould,onthenextguard,performtheofficeofcleaningmydungeon,andthathethenshouldconveythemoneytomeinthewater—jug。
Thisluckilywasdone。Howgreatwasmyastonishmentwhen,insteadofone,Ifoundtwothousandflorins!ForIhadpermittedhimtoreservehalftohimself,asarewardforhisfidelity;he,however,hadkeptbutfivepistoles,whichhepersistedwasenough。
WorthyGelfhardt!ThiswastheactofaPomeraniangrenadier!Howrarearesuchexamples!Bethynameandmineeverunited!Livethouwhilethememoryofmeshalllive!Neverdidmyacquaintancewiththegreatbringtomyknowledgeasoulsonoble,sodisinterested!
Itistrue,Iafterwardsprevailedonhimtoacceptthewholethousand;butweshallsoonseeheneverhadthem,andthathisfoolishwife,threeyearsafter,sufferedbytheirmeans;however,shesufferedalone,forhesoonmarchedtothefield,andthereforewasunpunished。
Havingmoneytocarryonmydesigns,Ibegantoputmyplanofburrowingunderthefoundationintoexecution。Thefirstthingnecessarywastofreemyselffrommyfetters。Toaccomplishthis,Gelfhardtsuppliedmewithtwosmallfiles,andbytheaidofthese,thislabour,thoughgreat,waseffected。
Thecap,orstaple,ofthefootringwasmadesowidethatIcoulddrawitforwardaquarterofaninch。Ifiledtheironwhichpassedthroughitontheinside;themoreIfiledthisaway,thefartherI
coulddrawthecapdown,tillatlastthewholeinsideiron,throughwhichthechainspassed,wascutquitethrough!bythismeansI
couldslipoffthering,whilethecapontheoutsidecontinuedwhole,anditwasimpossibletodiscoveranycut,asonlytheoutsidecouldbeexamined。Myhands,bycontinuedefforts,Isocompressedastobeabletodrawthemoutofthehandcuffs。Ithenfiledthehinge,andmadeascrew—driverofoneofthefoot—longflooringnails,bywhichIcouldtakeoutthescrewatpleasure,sothatatthetimeofexaminationnoproofscouldappear。Therimroundmybodywasbutasmallimpediment,exceptthechain,whichpassedfrommyhand—bar:andthisIremoved,byfilinganapertureinoneofthelinks,which,atthenecessaryhour,Iclosedwithbread,rubbedoverwithrusty—iron,firstdryingitbytheheatofmybody;andwouldwageranysumthat,withoutstrikingthechainlinkbylink,withahammer,noonenotinthesecretwouldhavediscoveredthefracture。
Thewindowwasneverstrictlyexamined;Ithereforedrewthetwostaplesbywhichtheironbarswerefixedtothewall,andwhichI
dailyreplaced,carefullyplasteringthemover。IprocuredwirefromGelfhardt,andtriedhowwellIcouldimitatetheinnergrating:findingIsucceededtolerably,Icuttherealgratingtotallyaway,andsubstitutedanartificialoneofmyownfabricating,bywhichIobtainedafreecommunicationwiththeoutside,additionalfreshair,togetherwithallnecessaryimplements,tinder,andcandles。
Thatthelightmightnotbeseen,Ihungthecoverlidofmybedbeforethewindow,sothatIcouldworkfearlessandundetected。
Everythingprepared,Iwenttowork。Thefloorofmydungeonwasnotofstone,butoakplank,threeinchesthick;threebedsofwhichwerelaidcrossways,andwerefastenedtoeachotherbynailshalfaninchindiameter,andafootlong。Ravingworkedroundtheheadofanail,Imadeuseoftheholeattheendofthebar,whichseparatedmyhands,todrawitout,andthisnail,sharpeneduponmytombstone,madeanexcellentchisel。
Inowcutthroughtheboardmorethananinchinwidth,thatImightworkdownwards,andhavingdrawnawayapieceofboardwhichwasinsertedtwoinchesunderthewall,Icutthissoasexactlytofit;
thesmallcreviceitoccasionedIstoppedupwithbreadandstrewedoverwithdust,soastopreventallsuspiciousappearance。Mylabourunderthiswascontinuedwithlessprecaution,andIhadsoonworkedthroughmynine—inchplanks。UnderthemIcametoafinewhitesand,onwhichtheStarFortwasbuilt。MychipsIcarefullydistributedbeneaththeboards。IfIhadnothelpfromwithout,I
couldproceednofarther;fortodigwereuseless,unlessIcouldridmyselfofmyrubbish。Gelfhardtsuppliedmewithsomeellsofcloth,ofwhichImadelongnarrowbags,stuffedthemwithearth,andpassedthembetweentheironbars,toGelfhardt,who,ashewasonguard,scatteredorconveyedawaytheircontents。
Furnishedwithroomtosecretethemunderthefloor,Iobtainedmoreinstruments,togetherwithapairofpistols,powder,ball,andabayonet。
Inowdiscoveredthatthefoundationofmyprison,insteadoftwo,wassunkenfourfeetdeep。Time,labour,andpatiencewereallnecessarytobreakoutunheardandundiscovered;butfewthingsareimpossible,whereresolutionisnotwanting。
TheholeImadewasobligedtobefourfeetdeep,correspondingwiththefoundation,andwideenoughtokneelandstoopin:thelyingdownonthefloortowork,thecontinualstoopingtothrowouttheearth,thenarrowspaceinwhichallmustbeperformed,thesemadethelabourincredible:and,afterthisdailylabour,allthingsweretobereplaced,andmychainsagainresumed,whichalonerequiredsomehourstoeffect。Mygreatestaidwasinthewaxcandles,andlightIhadprocured;butasGelfhardtstoodsentinelonlyonceafortnight,myworkwasmuchdelayed;thesentinelswereforbiddentospeaktomeunderpainofdeath:andIwastoofearfulofbeingbetrayedtodaretoseeknewassistance。
Beingwithoutastove,Isufferedmuchthiswinterfromcold;yetmyheartwascheerfulasIsawtheprobabilityoffreedom;andallwereastonishedtofindmeinsuchgoodspirits。
Gelfhardtalsobroughtmesuppliesofprovisions,chieflyconsistingofsausagesandsaltmeats,readydressed,whichincreasedmystrength,andwhenIwasnotdigging,Iwrotesatiresandverses:
thustimewasemployed,andIcontentedeveninprison。
Lulledintosecurity,anaccidenthappenedthatwillappearalmostincredible,andbywhicheveryhopewasnearlyfrustrated。
Gelfhardthadbeenworkingwithme,andwasrelievedinthemorning。
AsIwasreplacingthewindow,whichIwasobligedtoremoveontheseoccasions,itfelloutofmyhand,andthreeoftheglasspaneswerebroken。Gelfhardtwasnottoreturntillguardwasagainrelieved:Ihadthereforenoopportunityofspeakingwithhim,orconcertinganymodeofrepair。Iremainednearlyanhourconjecturingandhesitating;forcertainlyhadthebrokenwindowbeenseen,asitwasimpossibleIshouldreachitwhenfettered,I
shouldimmediatelyhavebeenmorerigidlyexamined,andthefalsegratingmusthavebeendiscovered。
Ithereforecametoaresolution,andspoketothesentinel(whowasamusinghimselfwithwhistling),thus:"Mygoodfellow,havepity,notuponme,butuponyourcomrades,who,shouldyourefuse,willcertainlybeexecuted:Iwillthrowyouthirtypistolesthroughthewindow,ifyouwilldomeasmallfavour。"Heremainedsomemomentssilent,andatlastansweredinalowvoice,"What,haveyoumoney,then?"——Iimmediatelycountedthirtypistoles,andthrewthemthroughthewindow。Heaskedwhathewastodo:Itoldhimmydifficulty,andgavehimthesizeofthepanesinpaper。Themanfortunatelywasboldandprudent。Thedoorofthepallisadoes,throughthenegligenceoftheofficer,hadnotbeenshutthatday:
heprevailedononeofhiscomradestostandsentinelforhim,duringhalfanhour,whilehemeantimeranintothetown,andprocuredtheglass,onthereceiptofwhichIinstantlythrewhimouttenmorepistoles。Beforethehourofnoonandvisitationcame,everythingwasoncemorereinstated,myglazieryperformedtoamiracle,andthelifeofmyworthyGelfhardtpreserved!——Suchisthepowerofmoneyinthisworld!Thisisaveryremarkableincident,forIneverspokeaftertothemanwhodidmethissignalservice。
Gelfhardt’salarmmayeasilybeimagined;hesomedaysafterreturnedtohispost,andwasthemoreastonishedasheknewthesentinelwhohaddonemethisgoodoffice;thathehadfivechildren,andamanmosttobedependedonbyhisofficers,ofanyoneinthewholegrenadiercompany。
Inowcontinuedmylabour,andfounditverypossibletobreakoutunderthefoundation;butGelfhardthadbeensoterrifiedbythelateaccident,thathestartedathousanddifficulties,inproportionasmyendwasmorenearlyaccomplished;andatthemomentwhenIwishedtoconcertwithhimthemeansofflight,hepersisteditwasnecessarytofindadditionalhelp,toescapeinsafety,andnotbringbothhimandmyselftodestruction。Atlengthwecametothefollowingdetermination,which,however,aftereightmonths’
incessantlabour,renderedmywholeprojectabortive。
IwroteoncemoretoRuckhardt,atVienna;senthimanewassignmentformoney,anddesiredhewouldagainrepairtoGummern,whereheshouldwaitsixseveralnights,withtwosparehorses,ontheglacisofKlosterbergen,atthetimeappointed,everythingbeingpreparedforflight。WithinthesesixdaysGelfhardtwouldhavefoundmeans,eitherinrotation,orbyexchangingtheguard,tohavebeenwithme。Alas!thesweethopeofagainbeholdingthefaceofthesun,ofoncemoreobtainingmyfreedom,enduredbutthreedays:Providencethoughtproperotherwisetoordain。GelfhardtsenthiswifetoGummernwiththeletter,andthissillywomantoldthepost—masterherhusbandhadalawsuitatVienna,thatthereforeshebeggedhewouldtakeparticularcareoftheletter,forwhichpurposesheslippedtenrix—dollarsintohishand。
ThisunexpectedliberalityraisedthesuspicionsoftheSaxonpost—
master,whothereforeopenedtheletter,readthecontents,andinsteadofsendingittoVienna,oratleasttothegeneralpost—
masteratDresden,hepreferredthetraitorousactoftakingithimselftothegovernorofMagdeburg,whothen,asatpresent,wasPrinceFerdinandofBrunswick。
Whatweremyterrors,whatmydespair,whenIbeheldthePrincehimself,aboutthreeo’clockintheafternoon,entermyprisonwithhisattendants,presentmyletter,andask,inanauthoritativevoice,whohadcarriedittoGummern。Myanswerwas,"Iknownot。"