首页 >出版文学> The Life and Adventures of Baron Trenck>第21章
  Theartfulhecanencounterwithart;thosewhomenace,withfortitude;andwithwiseforesightcanaverttherisingstorm。Heseeksnotsplendourinsumptuousandostentatiousretinue;butifhecanonlyenrichthestate,andbeholdthepoorhappy,heishimselfwillingtoremainpoor。Hisestate,Briess,nearBerlin,isnoChanteloup,butamodeltothosepatriotswhowouldstudyeconomy。
  Herehe,everyWednesday,enjoysrecreation。Theservicesherendersthekingdomcostitonlyfivethousandrix—dollarsyearly;
  he,therefore,liveswithoutostentation,yetbecominghisstate,andwithsplendourwhensplendourisnecessary。Hedoesnotplunderthepublictreasurythathemaypreservehisownprivateproperty。
  ThismanwillliveintheannalsofPrussia:whowasemployedundertheGreatFrederic;hadsomuchinfluenceinthecabinetsofEurope;
  andwasawitnessofthelastactions,thelastsensations,ofhisdyingking;yetwhoneverasked,noreverreceived,theleastgratuity。ThisistheministerwhoseconversationIhadthehappinesstopartakeatAix—la—ChapelleandSpa,whosewelfareisthewishofmyheart,andwhosememoryIshalleverrevere。
  Iwasreceivedwithdistinctionathistable,andbecameacquaintedwiththosewhosesciencehadbenefitedthePrussianstates;norwasanythingmoreflatteringtomyself—lovethanthatmenliketheseshouldthinkmeworthytheirfriendship。
  NotmanydaysafterIwaspresentedtothecourtbythePrussianchamberlain,PrinceSacken,asitisnotcustomaryatBerlinforaforeignsubjecttobepresentedbytheministerofhisowncourt。
  ThoughaPrussiansubject,IworetheImperialuniform。
  TheKingreceivedmewithcondescension;alleyesweredirectedtowardsme,eachwelcomedmetomycountry。Thismovedmethemoreasitwasremarkedbytheforeignministers,whoaskedwhothatAustrianofficercouldbewhowasreceivedwithsomuchaffectionandsuchevidentjoyinBerlin。Thegraciousmonarchhimselfgavetokensofpleasureatbeholdingmethussurrounded。AmongtherestcametheworthyGeneralPrittwitz,whosaidaloud—
  "Thisisthegentlemanwhomighthaveruinedmetoeffecthisowndeliverance。"
  Confusedatsopublicadeclaration,Idesiredhimtoexpoundthisriddle;andheadded—
  "IwasobligedtobeoneofyourguardsonyourunfortunatejourneyfromDantzictoMagdeburg,in1754,whenIwasalieutenant。OntheroadIcontinuedalonewithyouinanopencarriage。Thisgaveyouanopportunitytoescape,butyouforbore。IafterwardssawthedangertowhichIhadexposedmyself。Hadyoubeenlessnoble—
  minded,hadsuchaprisonerescapedthroughmynegligence,Ihadcertainlybeenruined。TheKingbelievedyoualikedangerousanddeservingofpunishment。Ihereacknowledgeyouasmysaviour,andamingratitudeyourfriend。"Iknewnotthatthegenerousman,whowishedmesowell,wasthepresentGeneralPrittwitz。Thatheshouldhimselfremindmeofthisincidentdoeshimthegreaterhonour。
  Havingbeenintroducedatcourt,Ithoughtitnecessarytoobserveceremonies,andwaspresentedbytheImperialambassador,PrinceReuss,toallforeignministers,andsuchfamiliesasareinthehabitofadmittingsuchvisits。IwasreceivedbythePrinceRoyal,thereigningQueen,theQueen—Dowager,andtheroyalfamilyintheirvariousplaces,withfavournevertobeforgotten。HisRoyalHighnessPrinceHenryinvitedmetoaprivateaudience,continuedlonginconversationwithme,promisedmehisfutureprotection,admittedmetohisprivateconcerts,andsometimesmademesupatcourt。
  AlikereceptionIexperiencedinthepalaceofPrinceFerdinandofBrunswick,whereIfrequentlydinedandsupped。Hisprincesstookdelightinhearingmynarratives,andloadedmewithfavour。
  PrinceFerdinand’smodeofeducatingchildrenisexemplary。Thesonsareinstructedinthesoldier’sduties,theirbodiesareinuredtotheinclemenciesofweather;theyaretaughttoride,toswim,andaresteeledtoallthefatigueofwar。Theirheartsareformedforfriendship,whichtheycannotfailtoattain。Happythenationindefenceofwhichtheyaretoact!
  HowridiculousthesetheirROYALHIGHNESSESappearwho,thoughborntorule,arenotdeservingtobethelackeystotheleastofthosewhomtheytreatwithcontempt;andyetwhoswell,strut,stride,andcontemplatethemselvesascreaturesessentiallydifferentbynature,andofasuperiorrankinthescaleofbeings,though,inreality,theirmindsareofthelowest,themeanestclass。
  Happythestatewhoseprinceisimpressedwithasensethatthepeoplearenothisproperty,buthethepropertyofthepeople!A
  princebelovedbyhispeoplewilleverrenderanationmorehappythosehewhoseonlywishistoinspirefear。
  ThepleasureIreceivedatBerlinwasgreatindeed。WhenIwenttocourt,thecitizenscrowdedtoseeme,andwhenanyoneamongthemsaid,"ThatisTrenck,"therestwouldcry,"Welcomeoncemoretoyourcountry,"whilemanywouldreachmetheirhands,withthetearsstandingintheireyes。FrequentwerethescenesIexperiencedofthiskind。Nomalefactorwouldhavebeensoreceived。Itwastherewardofinnocence;thisrewardwasbestowedthroughoutthePrussianterritories。
  Ohworld,ill—judgingworld,deceivedbyshow!Dostthounotblindlyfollowtheopinionoftheprince,behesevere,arbitrary,orjust?Thycensureandthypraiseequallyoriginateincommonreport。InMagdeburgIlay,chainedtothewall,tenyears,sighinginwretchedness,everycalamityofhunger,cold,nakedness,andcontempt。Andwherefore?BecausetheKing,deceivedbyslanderers,pronouncedmeworthyofpunishment。BecauseawiseKingmistookme,andtreatedmewithbarbarity。BecauseaprudentKingknewhehaddonewrong,yetwouldnothaveitsosupposed。Sowashisheartturnedtostone;nay,opposedbymanlyfortitude,wasenragedtocruelty。MostmenwereconvincedIwasaninnocentsufferer;"Yetdidtheyallcryoutthemore,saying,lethimbecrucified!"Myrelationswereashamedtohearmyname。Mysisterwasbarbarouslytreatedbecausesheassistedmeinmymisfortunes。Nomandurstavowhimselfmyfriend,durstownImeritedcompassion;or,muchless,thattheinfallibleKinghaderred。Iwasthemostdespised,forlornmanonearth;andwhenthusputontherack,hadIthereexpired,myepitaphwouldhavebeen,"Hereliesthetraitor,Trenck。"
  Fredericisdead,andthesceneischanged;anothermonarchhasascendedthethrone,andthegrubhaschangedtoabeautifulbutterfly!ThewitnessestoallIhaveassertedarestillliving,loudlynowproclaimthetruth,andembracemewithheart—feltaffection。
  Doestheworthofamandependuponhisactions?hisrewardorpunishmentuponhisvirtue?Inarbitrarystates,certainlynot。
  Theydependonthebreathofaking!Fredericwasthemostpenetratingprinceofhisage,butthemostobstinatealso。Avicedreadfultothosewhomheselectedasvictims,whomustbesacrificedtothepromotingofhisarbitraryviews。
  Howmanyperished,thesinofferingsofFrederic’sobstinateself—
  will,whoseorphanchildrennowcrytoGodforvengeance!Thedead,alas!cannotplead。Trialbeganandendedwithexecution。Thefewwords——ITISTHEKING’SCOMMAND——werewordsofhorrortothepoorcondemnedwretchdeniedtopleadhisinnocence!YetwhatistheUkase(Imperialorder)inRussia,Telestnotrebonplaisir(Suchisourpleasure)inFrance,ortheAllergnadigsteHofresolution(Theall—gracioussentenceofthecourt),pronouncedwiththesweettoneofaViennamatron?Inwhatdothesedifferfromthearbitraryorderofamilitarydespot?
  Everyprayerofmanshouldbeconsecratedtoman’sgeneralgood;forhimtoobtainfreedomanduniversaljustice!Togethershouldwecrywithonevoice,and,ifunabletoshacklearbitrarypower,stillshouldweendeavourtoshowhowdangerousitis!Thepriestsoflibertyshouldofferuptheirthankstothemonarchwhodeclares"thewordofpower"anullity,and"thesentence"ofjusticeomnipotent。
  WhocannamethecourtinEuropewhereLouis,Peter,orFrederic,eachandallsurnamedTheGreat,havenotbeen,andarenot,imitatedasmodelsofperfection?。Lettres—de—cachet,theknout,andcabinet—orders,supersedingallright,arebecomelaw!
  Noreasoning,saysthecorporaltothepoorgrenadier,whomhecanes!——Noreasoning!exclaimjudges;thecourthasdecided。——Noreasoning,rashandpertinaciousTrenck,willtheprudentreaderecho。Throwthypeninthefire,andexposenotthyselftobecomethemartyrofastateinquisition。
  Myfateis,andmustremain,criticalandundecided。Ihavesix—
  and—thirtyyearsbeenintheserviceofAustria,unrewarded,andbeholdingtherepeatedandgenerouseffortsImadeeffectuallytoservethatstate,unnoticed。TheEmperorJosephsupposesmeold,thatthefruitiswasted,andthatthehuskonlyremains。ItisalsosupposedIshouldnotbesatisfiedwithalittle。Tocontinuetooppresshimwhohasoncebeenoppressed,andwhopossessqualitiesthatmaymakeinjusticemanifest,isthepolicyofstates。
  MyjourneytoBerlinhasgiventheslandererfurtheropportunityofpaintingmeasasuspiciouscharacter:Ismileattheineffectualattempt。
  IappearedintheImperialuniformandbeliedsuchinsinuations。Tothispurposeitwaswrittentocourt,inNovember,whenIwentintoHungary,"ThemotionsofTrenckoughttobeobservedinHungary。"
  Yepoormaliciousblood—suckersofthevirtuous!Yeshallnotbeabletohurtahairofmyhead。Yecannotinjurethemanwhohassixtyyearslivedinhonour。Iwillnot,inmyoldage,bringuponmyselfthereproachofinconstancy,treachery,ordesireofrevenge。
  Iwillbetraynopoliticalsecrets:IwishnottoinjurethosebywhomIhavebeeninjured。——SuchactsIwillnevercommit。Ineveryetdescendedtotheofficeofspy,norwillIdiearewardedvillain。
  Yes,IappearedinBerlinamongtheuprightandthejust。Insteadofbeingitssupposedenemy,Iwasdeclaredanhonourtomycountry。
  IappearedintheImperialuniformandfulfilledthedutiesofmystation:andnowmustthePrussianTrenckreturntoAustria,theretoperformafather’sduty。
  YetmoreofwhathappenedinBerlin。
  SomedaysafterIhadbeenpresentedtotheKing,Ientreatedaprivateaudience,andonthe12thofFebruaryreceivedthefollowingletter:—
  "Inanswertoyourletterofthe8thofthismonth,Iinformyouthat,ifyouwillcometometo—morrow,atfiveo’clockintheafternoon,Ishallhavethepleasuretospeakwithyou;meantime,I
  prayGodtotakeyouintohisholykeeping。
  "FREDERICWILLIAM。
  "Berlin,Feb。12,1787。"
  "P。S。——Aftersigningtheabove,Ifinditmoreconvenienttoappointto—morrow,atnineinthemorning,aboutwhichtimeyouwillcomeintotheapartmentnamedtheMarmorKammer(marblechamber)。"
  TheanxietywithwhichIexpectedthiswished—forinterviewmaywellbeconceived。IfoundthePrussianTitusalone,andhecontinuedinconversationwithmemorethananhour。
  Howkindwasthemonarch!Howgreat!Hownoblydidheconsolemeforthepast!Howentirelydidhisassuranceoffavouroverpowermywholesoul!Hehadreadthehistoryofmylife。WhenprinceofPrussia,hehadbeenaneyewitness,inMagdeburg,ofmymartyrdom,andmyattemptstoescape。HisMajestypartedfrommewithtokensofesteemandcondescension。——Myeyesbadeadieu,butmyheartremainedinthemarblechamber,incompanywithaprincecapableofsensationssodignified;andmywishesforhiswelfareareeternal。
  IhavesincetravelledthroughthegreaterpartofthePrussianstates。Whereisthecountryinwhichthepeopleareallsatisfied?
  Manycomplainedofhardtimes,orindustryunrewarded。Myanswerwas:—
  "Friends,kneelwiththerisingsun,andthanktheGodofheaventhatyouarePrussians。Ihaveseenandknownmuchofthisworld,andIassureyou,youareamongthehappiestpeopleofEurope。
  Causesofcomplainteverywhereexist;butyouhaveaking,neitherobstinate,ambitious,covetous,norcruel:hiswillisthathispeopleshouldhavecauseofcontent,andshouldheerrbychance,hisheartisnottoblameifthesubjectsuffers。"
  Prussiaisneitherwantinginablenorlearnedmen。Thewarmthofpatriotsglowsintheirveins。Everythingremainswithequalstability,asunderthereignofFrederic;andshouldthethunderburst,thereadyconductorswillrendertheshockineffectual。
  Hertzbergstilllaboursinthecabinet,stillthinks,writes,andactsashehasdoneforyears。Thekingisdesirousthatjusticeshallbedonetohissubjects,andwillpunish,perhaps,withmoreseverity,wheneverhefindshimselfdeceived,thanfromthegoodnessofhisdisposition,mightbesupposed。Thetreasuryisfull,thearmycontinuesthesame,andthereislittlereasontodoubtbutthatindustry,population,andwealthwillincrease。Nonebutthevileandthewickedwouldleavethekingdom;whiletheoppressedandbestsubjectsofotherstateswouldflyfromtheirnativecountry,certainoffindingencouragementandsecurityinPrussia。
  ThepersonalqualitiesofFredricWilliammeritdescription。Heistallandhandsome,hismienismajestic,andhisaccomplishmentsofmindandbodywouldprocurehimtheloveofmen,werehenotaking。
  Heisaffablewithoutdeceit,friendlyandkindinconversation,andstatelywhenstatelinessisnecessary。Heisbountiful,butnotprofuse;heknowsthatwithouteconomythePrussianmustsink。Heisnottormentedbythespiritofconquest,hewishesharmtononation,yethewillcertainlynotsufferothernationstomakeencroachments,norwillhebeterrifiedbymenaces。
  ThewiseFrederic,whenliving,thoughhimselflearned,andaloverofthesciences,neverencouragedtheminhiskingdom。Germany,underhisreign,mighthaveforgottenherlanguage:hepreferredtheliteratureofFrance。Konigsberg,oncetheseminaryoftheNorth,contains,atpresent,fewprofessors,orstudents;theformerarefallenintodisrepute,andareillpaid;thelatterrepairtoLeipsicandGottingen。Wehaveeveryreasontosupposethepresentmonarch,thoughnostudiousmanhimself,willencouragetheacademiesoftheliterati,thatmenlearnedinjurisprudenceandthesciencesmaynotbewanting:whichwantisthemoretobeapprehendedasthenobilitymust,withoutexception,serveinthearmy,sothatlearninghasbutfewadherents,andthesearedeprivedofthemeansofimprovement。
  FredericWilliamisalsotoomuchthefriendofmentosufferthemtopineinprisons。Heabhorsthebarbaritywithwhichthesoldiersarebeaten:hisofficerswillnotbefetteredhandandfoot;
  slavishsubordinationwillbebanished,andthenobleinheartwillbethenobleoftheland。Mayhe,inhispeople,findperfectcontent!Mayhispeoplebeeverworthyofsuchaprince!Longmayhereign,andmayhisministersbeeverenlightenedandhonourablemen!
  Hesentformeasecondtime,conversedmuchwithme,andconfirmedthoseideaswhichmyfirstinterviewhadinspired。
  Onthe11thofMarchIpresentedmysonatanotheraudience,whomI
  intendedforthePrussianservice。TheKingbestowedacommissiononhiminthePosadowskydragoons,atmyrequest。
  IsawhimatthereviewatVelau,andhissuperiorofficersformedgreatexpectationsfromhiszeal。TimewilldiscoverwhetherhewhoisintheAustrian,orthisinthePrussianservice,willfirstobtaintherewardsduetotheirfather。Shouldtheybothremainunnoticed,IwillbestowhimontheGrandTurk,ratherthanonEuropeancourts,whenceequitytomeandmineisbanished。
  ToAustriaIowenothanks;allthatcouldbetakenfrommewastaken。IwasacaptainbeforeIenteredthoseterritories,and,aftersix—and—thirtyyears’service,Ifindmyselfintherankofinvalidmajor。TheproofofallIhaveasserted,andofhowlittleIamindebtedtothisstateismostincontestable,sincethehistoryofmylifeisallowedbytheroyalcensortobepubliclysoldinVienna。
  Itisremarkablethatoneonlyofalltheeightofficers,withwhomIserved,inthebodyguard,in1745,isdead。Lieutenant—colonelCountBlumenthallivesinBerlin;PannewitziscommanderoftheKnightsofMalta:bothgavemeafriendlyreception。Wagnitzislieutenant—generalintheserviceofHesse—Cassel;hewasmytentcomrade,andwasacquaintedwithallthathappened。KalkreuterandGrethusenliveontheirestates,andJaschinskyisnowaliveatKonigsberg,butsuperannuated,andtorturedbysickness,andremorse。He,insteadofpunishment,hasfortyyearsenjoyedapensionofathousandrix—dollars。Ihaveseenmylandsconfiscated,oftheincomeofwhichIhavebeenforty—twoyearsdeprived,andneveryetreceivedretribution。
  Timemustdecide;thekingisgenerous,andIhavetoomuchpridetobecomeabeggar。ThenameofTrenckshallbefoundinthehistoryoftheactsofFrederic。Atyranthimself,hewastheslaveofhispassions;andevendidnotthinkaninquiryintomyinnocenceworththetrouble。Tobeashamedofdoingright,becausehehasdonewrong,ortopersistinerror,thatfools,andfoolsonly,canthinkhiminfallible,isadreadfulprincipleinaruler。
  SinceIhavebeenatBerlin,andwasreceivedtherewithsomanytestimoniesoffriendship,thenewspapersofGermanyhavepublishedvariousarticlesconcerningme,intendingtocontributetomyhonourorease。TheysaidmyeldestdaughterisappointedthegovernessoftheyoungPrincess。Thishasbeenthejokeofsomewittycorrespondent;formyeldestdaughterisbutfifteen,andstandsinneedofagovernessherself。Perhapstheymaysupposememeanenoughtocirculatefalsehood。
  IdailyreceivelettersfromallpartsofGermany,whereinthesensationsofthefeelingheartareevident。AmongtheseletterswasonewhichIreceivedfromBahrdt,ProfessoratHalle,datedApril10,1787whereinhesays,"Receive,nobleGerman,thethanksofonewho,likeyou,hasencountereddifficulties;yet,farinferiortothoseyouhaveencountered。You,withgiganticstrength,havemetahostoffoes,andconquered。Thepestsofmenattackedmealso。Fromtowntotown,fromlandtoland,Iwaspursuedbypriestcraftandpersecution;yetIacquiredfame。IfledforrefugeandreposetothestatesofFrederic,butfoundthemnot。
  Ihaveeightyearslabouredunderafflictionwithperseverance,buthavefoundnoreward。ByindustryhaveImademyselfwhatIam;byministerialfavour,never。Wornoutandweak,thehistoryofyourlife,worthysir,fellintomyhands,andpouredbalsamintomywounds。ThereIsawsufferingsimmeasurablygreater;there,indeed,beheldfortitudemostworthyofadmiration。Comparedtoyou,ofwhatcouldIcomplain?Receive,nobleGerman,mywarmestthanks;
  whileIlivetheyshallflow。Andshouldyoufindafortunatemoment,inthepresenceofyourKing,speakofmeasoneconsignedtopoverty;asonewhosetalentsareburiedinoblivion。Saytohim——’MightyKing!stretchforththyhand,anddryuphistears。’I
  knowthenoblenessofyourmind,anddoubtnotyourgoodwishes。"
  TotheProfessor’sletterIreturnedthefollowinganswer:—
  "Iwasaffected,sir,byyourletter。Ineveryetwasunmoved,whenthepenwasobedienttothedictatesoftheheart。Ifeelforyoursituation;andifmyexamplecanteachwisdomeventothewise,I
  havecausetotriumph。Thisisthesweetestofrewards。AtBerlinIhavereceivedmuchhonour,butlittlemore。Menaredeaftohimwhoconfidesonlyinhisright。WhathaveIgained?Shadowyfameformyself,andthevapourofhopeformyheirs!
  "TruthandTrenck,mygoodfriend,flourishnotincourts。Youcomplainofpriestcraft。Hewhowoulddisturbtheircovetousness,hewhospeaksagainstthefalseopinionstheyscatter,considersnotpriests,andtheiraim,whichistodazzlethestupidandstupefythewise。Deprecatetheirwrath!avoidtheirpoisonedshafts,ortheywillinfecttinypeace:willblastthyhonour。Andwhereforeshouldweincurthisdanger。Tocureignoranceoferrorisimpossible。Letusthensilentlystealtoourgraves,andthussmallweescapethebreathofenvy。Hewhoshouldenjoyalleventhoughtcouldgrasp,shouldyethavebutlittle。Havingacquiredthisknowledge,thepassionsofthesoularelulledtoapathy。I
  beholderror,andIlaugh;dothou,myfriend,laughalso。Ifthatcancomfortus,menwilldoourmemoryjustice——whenwearedead!
  Fameplantsherlaurelsoverthegrave,andtheretheyflourishbest。
  "BARONTRENCK
  "Schangulach,nearKonigsberg,April30th,1787。"
  "P。S——Ihavespoken,worthyProfessor,thefeelingsofmyheart,inanswertoyourkindpanegyric。Youwillbutdomejustice,whenyoubelieveIthinkandactasIwritewithrespecttomyinfluenceatcourt,itisasinsignificantatBerlinasatViennaoratConstantinople"
  AmongthevariouslettersIhavereceived,asitmayansweragoodpurpose,Ihopethereaderwillnotthinktheinsertionofthefollowingimproper。
  Inaletterfromanunknowncorrespondent,whodesiredmetospeakforthispersonatBerlin,eightotherswereenclosed。Theycamefromtheabovepersonindistress,tothiscorrespondent:andIwasrequestedtoletthemappearintheBerlinJournal。Iselectedtwoofthem,andherepresentthemtotheworld,asitcandomeinjury,whiletheydescribeanunhappyvictimofanextraordinarykind:andmayperhapsobtainhimsomerelief。
  Shouldthishopebeverified,Iamacquaintedwithhimwhowishestoremainconcealed,canintroducehimtotheknowledgeofsuchasmightwishtointerfereinhisbehalf。Shouldtheynot,thereaderwillstillfindthemwell—writtenandaffectingletters;suchasmayinspirecompassion。ThefollowingisthefirstofthoseIselected。
  LETTERI
  "Neuland,Feb12th,1787。
  "IthoughtIhadsosatisfactorilyansweredyoubymylast,thatyouwouldhaveleftmeinpeacefulpossessionofmysorrows!butyourremarks,entreaties,andremonstrances,succeedeachotherwithsuchrapidity,thatIaminducedtorenewthecontest。Cowardice,I
  believe,youareconvinced,isnotanativeinmyheart,andshouldInowyield,youmightsupposethatageandthemiseriesIhavesuffered,hadweakenedmypowersofmindaswellasbody;andthatI
  oughttohavebeenclassedamongtheunhappymultitudeswhosesufferingshavesunkthemtodespondency。
  "BaronTrenck,thatmanofmanywoes,oncesodespised,butwhonowisheldinadmiration,wherehewasbeforesomuchtheobjectofhatred;whonowspeakssoloudlyinhisowndefence,where,formerly,themanwhohadbutwhisperedhisnamewouldhavelivedsuspected;BaronTrenckyouproposeasanexampleofsalvationforme。Youarewrong。Haveyouconsideredhowdissimilarourpastliveshavebeen;howdifferent,too,areourcircumstances?Or,omittingthese,haveyouconsideredtowhomyouwouldhavemeappeal?
  "In1767,Ibecameacquainted,inVienna,withthissuffereroffortitude,thisagreeablecompanion。Wearetaughtthatanobleaspectbespeaksacorrespondingmind;thisIbelievehimtopossess。
  ButwhatexpectationscanIformfromBaronTrenck?
  "Iwillbrieflyanswerthequestionsyouhaveput。BaronTrenckwasamanborntoinheritgreatestates;thisandthefireofhisyouth,fannedbyflatteringhopesfromhisfamouskinsman,renderedhimtoohaughtytohisKing;andthisalonewastheoriginofallhisfuturesufferings。I,onthecontrary,thoughthesonofaSilesiannoblemanofproperty,didnotinheritsomuchasthepayofacommonsoldier;thefamilyhavingbeenrobbedbythehandofpower,afterbeingaccusedbywickednessunderthemaskofvirtue。Youknowmyfather’sfate,theesteeminwhichhewasheldbytheEmpressTheresa;andthatapretendedmiraclewastheoccasionofhisfall。
  Suddenlywasheplungedfromtheheighttowhichindustry,talents,andvirtuehadraisedhim,tothedepthofpoverty。Atlength,atthebeginningofthesevenyears’war,oneoftheKingofPrussia’ssubjectsrepresentedhimtotheAustriancourtasadangerouscorrespondentofMarshalSchwerin’s。Thenatsixtyyearsofage,myfatherwasseizedatJagerndorf,andimprisonedinthefortressofGratz,inStyria。Hehadanallowancejustsufficienttokeephimaliveinhisdungeon;but,forthespaceofsevenyears,neverbeheldthesunriseorset。Iwasaboywhenthishappened,however,Iwasnotheard。IonlyreceivedsomepecuniaryrelieffromtheEmpress,withpermissiontoshedmybloodinherdefence。
  Inthissituationwefirstvowedeternalfriendship;butfromthisI
  soonwassnatchedbymyfather’senemies。WhattheEmpresshadbestowed,herministerstorefromme。Iwasseizedatmidnight,andwasbrought,incompanywithtwootherofficers,tothefortressofGratz。HereIremainedimmuredsixyears。Mytruenamewasconcealed,andanothergivenme。
  "Peacebeingrestored,Trenck,I,andmyfatherwerereleased;butthemodeofourreleasewasverydifferent。ThefirstobtainedhisfreedomattheintercessionofTheresa,she,too,affordedhimaprovision。We,onthecontrary,accordingtotheamnesty,stipulatedinthetreatyofpeace,wereledfromourdungeonsasstateprisoners,withoutinquiryconcerningtheverityorfalsehoodofourcrimes。Extremepoverty,wretchedness,andmisery,wereourrewardforthesufferingswehadendured。
  "Notonlywasmyhealthdestroyed,butmyjawbonewaslost,eatenawaybythescurvy。IlaidbeforeFrederictheGreattheproofsofthecalamitiesIhadundergone,andthedismalstatetowhichIwasreduced,byhisfoe,andforhissake;entreatedbreadtopreservemeandmyfatherfromstarving,buthisearwasdeaftomyprayer,hisheartinsensibletomysighs。
  "Providence,however,raisedmeupasaviour,——CountGellhornwastheman。AfterthetakingofBreslau,hehadbeenalsosentastateprisonertoGratz。Duringhisimprisonment,hehadheardthereportofmysufferingsandmyinnocence。NosoonerdidhelearnIwasreleased,thanhebecamemybenefactor,myfriend,andrestoredmetotheconverseofmen,towhichIhadsolongbeendead。
  "Ideferthecontinuanceofmynarrativetothenextpost。Theremembranceofpastwoesinflictnewones。Iameternally。"