首页 >出版文学> The Life and Adventures of Baron Trenck>第22章
  LETTERII。
  "February24,1787。
  "DearFriend,——Afteranintervalofsilence,rememberingmypromise,Iagaincontinuemystory。
  "MypersonalsufferingshavenotbeenlessthanthoseofTrenck。
  His,IamacquaintedwithonlyfromtheinaccuraterelationsIhaveheard:myownIhavefelt。AcolonelinthePrussianservice,whosenamewasHallasch,wasfouryearsmycompanion;hewasinsane,andbelievedhimselftheChristthatwastoappearatthemillennium:hepersecutedmewithhisreveries,whichIwasobligedtolistento,andapprove,orsufferviolencefromonestrongerthanmyself。
  "Thesocietyofmenorbooks,everythingthatcouldconsoleoramuse,wereforbiddenme;andIconsidereditaswonderfulthatI
  didnotmyselfgrowmad,inthecompanyofthismadman。FourhardwintersIexistedwithoutfeelingthefeebleemanationofawintersun,muchlessthewarmthoffire。Themadmanfeltmorepitythanmykeeper,andlentmehiscloaktocovermybody,thoughtheotherdeniedmeatrussofstraw,notwithstandingIhadlosttheuseofmyhandsandfeet。Theplacewherewewereconfinedwascalledachamber;itratherresembledthetempleofCloacina。Thenoxiousdampsandvapourssopoisonedmybloodthatanunskilfulsurgeon,whotorturedmeduringninemonths,withinsultasaPrussiantraitor,andstatecriminal,Ilostthegreatestpartofmyjaw。
  "Schottendorfwasourgovernorandtyrant;amanwhorepaidthefriendshiphefoundinthemansionofmyfathers——withcruelty。Hewasripeforthesickle,andTimecuthimoff。TormentiniandGalerwerehissuccessorsinoffice,bythemwewerecarefullywatched,butweweretreatedwithcommiseration。Theirprecautionsrenderedimprisonmentlesswretched。EvershallIholdtheirmemorysacred。
  Yet,benevolentastheywere,theirgoodnesswasexceededbythatofRottensteiner,theheadgaoler。Heconsideredhisprisonersashischildren;andhewastheirbenefactor。OfthisIhadexperience,duringtwoyearsafterthereleaseofHallasch。
  "HereIbutcursorilydescribemisery,atwhichthemonarchshallshudder,ifthebloodofatyrantflownotinhisveins。Theresacouldnotwishthesethings。Butshewasfallible,andnotomniscient。
  "Fromtheabovenarrative,youwillperceivehowoppositetheeffectsmustbewhichthehistoriesofBaronTrenckandofmyselfmustproduce。
  "Trencklefthisdungeonshieldedfromcontempt;thedayoffreedomwasthedayoftriumph。I,onthecontrary,wasexposedtoeverycalamity。ThespiritofTrenckagainraiseditself。IhavelabouredmanyanightthatImightneitherbegnorperishthefollowingday:workingforjudgeswhoneitherknewlawnorhadpowersofmindtobeholdthebeautyofjustice:settlingaccountsthat,itemafteritem,didnotprovethatthelordtheywereintendedfor,wasanimbeciledupe。
  "Trenckremembershiscalamities,buttheremembranceisadvantageoustohimselfandhisfamily;whilewithme,thepastdidbutincrease,didbutagonise,thepresentandthefuture。Hewasnotlikeme,obligedtocrouchinpresenceofthosevulgar,thoseincapableminds,thatdobutconsiderthebentbackasthefootstoolofpride。Everymanistoobusytoactinbehalfofothers;pitymetherefore,butadvisemenottohopeassistance,bypetitioningprincesatsecondhand。Iknowyourgoodwishes,and,forthese,I
  havenothingtoreturnbutbarrenthanks。——Iam,&c"
  ThereasonswhyIpublishedtheforegoinglettersarealreadystated,andwillappearsatisfactorytothereader。Oncemoretoaffairsthatconcernmyself。
  ImetatBerlinmanyoldfriendsofbothsexes;amongothers,anagedinvalidcametoseeme,whowasatGlatz,in1746,whenIcutmywaythroughtheguard。Hewasoneofthesentinelsbeforemydoor,whomIhadthrowndownthestairs。
  ThehourofquittingBerlin,andcontinuingmyjourneyintoPrussia,towardsKonigsberg,approached。Ontheeveofmydeparture,IhadthehappinessofconversingwithherRoyalHighnessthePrincessAmelia,sisterofFrederictheGreat。Sheprotectedmeinmyhourofadversity;heapedbenefitsuponme,andcontributedtogainmydeliverance。Shereceivedmeasafriend,asanagedpatriot;andlaidhercommandsuponmetowritetomywife,andrequestthatshewouldcometoBerlin,inthemonthofJune,withhertwoeldestdaughters。Ireceivedherpromisethatthehappinessofthelattershouldbehercare;nay,thatshewouldremembermywifeinherwill。
  Atthismoment,whenabouttodepart,sheaskedmeifIhadmoneysufficientformyjourney:"Yes,madam,"wasmyreply;"Iwantnothing,asknothing;butmayyouremembermychildren!"
  ThedeepfeelingwithwhichIpronouncedthesewordsmovedtheprincess;sheshowedmehowshecomprehendedmymeaning,andsaid,"Return,myfriend,quickly:Ishallbemosthappytoseeyou。"
  Ilefttheroom:akindofindecisioncameoverme。IwasinclinedtoremainlongeratBerlin。HadIdoneso,mypresencewouldhavebeenofgreatadvantagetomychildren。Alas!undertheguidanceofmyevilgenius,Ibeganmyjourney。ThepurposeforwhichIcametoBerlinwasfrustrated:foraftermydeparture,thePrincessAmeliadied!
  Peacebetothyashes,nobleprincess!Thywillwasgood,andbethatsufficient。IshallnotwantmaterialstowriteacommentaryonthehistoryofFrederic,when,incompanywiththee,IshallwanderonthebanksofStyx;theretheeventsthathappenedonthisearthmaybewrittenwithoutdanger。
  Soproceedwewithourstory。
  CHAPTERX。
  Onthe22ndofMarchIpursuedmyjourneytoKonigsberg,butremainedtwodaysatthecourtoftheMargraveofBrandenburg,whereIwasreceivedwithkindness。TheMargravehadbestowedfavoursonme,duringmyimprisonmentatMagdeburg。
  IdepartedthencethroughSoldintoSchildberg,heretovisitmyrelationSidau,whohadmarriedthedaughterofmysister,whichdaughtermysisterhadbyherfirsthusband,Waldow,ofwhomIhavebeforespoken。Ifoundmykinsmanaworthyman,andonewhomadethedaughterofanunfortunatesisterhappy。Iwasreceivedathishousewithinopenarms;and,forthefirsttimeafteranintervaloftwo—and—fortyyears,beheldoneofmyownrelations。
  Onmyjourneythither,IhadthepleasuretomeetwithLieutenant—
  GeneralKowalsky:ThisgentlemanwasalieutenantinthegarrisonofGlatz,in1745,andwasawitnessofmyleapfromthewalloftherampart。Hehadreadmyhistory,someoftheprincipalfactsofwhichhewasacquaintedwith。Shouldanyonethereforedoubtconcerningthoseincidents,Imayrefertohim,whosetestimonycannotbesuspected。
  FromSchildbergIproceededtoLandsberg,ontheWarta。HereI
  foundmybrother—in—law,ColonelPape,commanderoftheGotzdragoons,andthesecondhusbandofmydeceasedsister:andhereI
  passedajoyousday。Everybodycongratulatedmeonmyreturnintomycountry。
  Ifoundrelationsinalmosteverygarrison。Neverdidmanreceivemoremarksofesteemthroughoutakingdom。Theknowledgeofmycalamitiesprocuredmesweetconsolation;andIwereinsensibleindeed,andungrateful,didmyheartremainunmovedonoccasionslikethese。
  InAustriaInevercanexpectalikereception;Iamtheremistaken,andIfeellittleinclinationtolabouratremovingmistakessorooted。Yet,eventhereamIbythegeneralvoice,approved。Yes,Iamadmired,butnotknown;pitiedbutnotsupported;honoured,butnotrewarded。
  WhenatBerlin,IdiscoveredanerrorIhadcommittedinthecommencementofmylife。AtthetimeIwroteIbelievedthatthepostmaster—generalofBerlin,MrDerschau,wasmymother’sbrother,andthesamepersonwho,in1742,wasgrandcounselloratGlogau,andafterwards,presidentinEastFriesland。Iwasdeceived;theDerschauwhoismymother’sbrotherisstillliving,andpresidentatAurichinEastFriesland。ThepostmasterwasthesonoftheoldDerschauwhodiedageneral,andwhowasonlydistantlyrelatedtomymother。NeitheristheyoungerDerschau,whoisthecolonelofaregimentatBurg,thebrotherofmymother,butonlyherfirstcousin;oneoftheirsistersmarriedLieut。—ColonelOstau,whoseson,thePresidentOstau,nowlivesonhisownestate,atLablackinPrussia。
  Iwaslikewisedeceivedinhavingsuspectedalieutenant,namedMollinie,inthenarrativeIgaveofmyflightfromGlatz,ofhavingactedasaspyuponmeatBraunau,andofhavingsentinformationtoGeneralFouquet。Iamsorry。Thishonestmanisstillalive,acaptaininBrandenburg。Hewasaffectedatmysuspicion,fullyjustifiedhimself,andhereIpubliclyapologise。Hethenwas,andagainisbecomemyfriend。
  IhavereceivedaletterfromoneLieutenantBrodowsky。Thisgentlemanisoffendedatfindinghismother’snameinmynarrative,anddemandsIshouldretractmywords。
  MyreaderswillcertainlyallowthevirtueofMadameBrodowsky,atElbing,isnotimpeached。AlthoughIhavesaidIhadthefortunetobebelovedbyher,IhavenowhereintimatedthatIasked,orthatshegranted,improperfavours。
  Bythedesireofapersonofdistinction,IshallinsertanincidentwhichIomittedinaformerpart。Thispersonwasaneye—witnessoftheincidentIamabouttorelate,atMagdeburg,andremindedmeoftheaffair。Itwasmylastattemptbutoneatflight。
  Thecircumstanceswerethese:—
  AsIfoundmyselfunabletogetridofmoresand,afterhavingagaincutthroughtheplanking,andminedthefoundation,Imadeaholetowardstheditch,inwhichthreesentinelswerestationed。ThisI
  executedonenight,itbeingeasy,fromthelightnessofthesand,toperformtheworkintwohours。
  NosoonerhadIbrokenthrough,thanIthrewoneofmyslippersbesidethepalisades,thatitmightbesupposedIhadlostitwhenclimbingoverthem。Thesepalisades,twelvefeetinlength,weresituatedinthefrontoftheprincipalfosse,andmysentinelsstoodwithin。Therewasnosentry—boxattheplacewhereIhadbrokenthrough。
  Thisdone,Ireturnedintomyprison,madeanotherholeundertheplanking,whereIcouldhidemyself,andstoppedupthepassagebehindme,sothatitwasnotprobableIcouldbeseenorfound。
  Whendaylightcame,thesentinelsawtheholeandgavethealarm,theslipperwasfound,anditwasconcludedthatTrenckhadescapedoverthepalisades,andwasnolongerinprison。
  Immediatelythesub—governorcamefromMagdeburg,thegunswerefired,thehorsescouredthecountry,andthesubterraneanpassageswereallvisited:notidingscame;nodiscoverywasmade,andtheconclusionwasIhadescaped。ThatIshouldflywithouttheknowledgeofthesentinels,wasdeemedimpossible;theofficer,andalltheguard,wereputunderarrest,andeverybodywassurprised。
  I,inthemeantime,satquietinmyhole,whereIheardtheirsearches,andsuppositionsthatIwasgone。
  Myheartboundedwithjoy,andIheldescapetobeindubitable。
  Theywouldnotplacesentinelsovertheprisonthefollowingnight,andIshouldthenreallyhaveleftmyplaceofconcealment,and,mostprobablyhavesafelyarrivedinSaxony。Mydestiny,however,robbedmeofallhopeattheverymomentwhenIsupposedthegreatestofmydifficultieswereconquered。
  EverythingseemedtohappenasIcouldwish。Thewholegarrisoncame,andvisitedthecasemates,andallstoodastonishedatthemiracletheybeheld。Inthisstatethingsremainedtillfouro’clockintheafternoon。Atlength,anensignofthemilitiacame,aboyofaboutfifteenorsixteenyearsofage,whohadmorewitthananyorallofthem。Heapproachedthehole,examinedtheaperturenextthefosse,thoughtitappearedsmall,triedtoenterithimself,foundhecouldnot,thereforeconcludeditwasimpossibleamanofmysizecouldhavepassedthrough,andaccordinglycalledforalight。
  ThiswasanaccidentIhadnotforeseen。Halfstifledinmyhole,I
  hadopenedthecanalundertheplanking。Nosoonerhadtheyouthprocuredalight,thanheperceivedmyshirt,examinednearer,feltabout,andlaidholdofmebythearm。Thefoxwascaught,andthelaughwasuniversal。Myconfusionmayeasilybeimagined。Theyallcameroundme,paidmetheircompliments,andfindingnothingbetterwastobedone,Ilaughedincompanywiththem,and,thuslaughingwasledbackwithanachinghearttobesorrowfullyenchainedinmydungeon。
  Icontinuedmyjourney,andarrived,onthefourthofApril,atKonigsberg,wheremybrotherexpectedmyarrival。Weembracedasbrothersmust,aftertheabsenceoftwo—and—fortyyears。OfallthebrothersandsistersIhadleftinthiscity,heonlyremained。Helivedaretiredandpeaceablelifeonhisownestates。Hehadnochildrenliving。Icontinuedafortnightwithinhimandhiswife。
  Here,forthefirsttime,Ilearnedwhathadhappenedtomyrelations,duringtheirabsence。ThewrathoftheGreatFredericextendeditselftoallmyfamily。MysecondbrotherwasanensignintheregimentofcuirassiersatKiow,in1746,whenIfirstincurreddisgracefromtheKing。Sixyearsheserved,foughtatthreebattles,but,becausehisnamewasTrenck,neverwaspromoted。
  Wearyofexpectationhequittedthearmy,married,andlivedonhisestatesatMeicken,wherehediedaboutthreeyearsago,andlefttwosons,whoareanhonourtothefamilyoftheTrencks。
  Famespokehimapersoncapableofrenderingthestateessentialservice,asamilitaryman;buthewasmybrother,andtheKingwouldneversufferhisnametobementioned。
  Myyoungestbrotherappliedhimselftothesciences;itwasproposedthatheshouldreceivesomecivilemployment,ashewasanintelligentandwell—informedman;buttheKingansweredinthemarginofthepetition,"NoTrenckisgoodforanything。"
  Thushaveallmyfamilysuffered,becauseofmyunjustcondemnation。
  Mylast—mentionedbrotherchosethelifeofaprivateman,andlivedathisease,inindependence,amongthefirstpeopleofthekingdom。
  Thehatredofthemonarchextendeditselftomysister,whohadmarriedthesonofGeneralWaldow,andlivedinwidowhood,fromtheyear1749,tohersecondmarriage。Themisfortunesofthiswoman,inconsequenceofthetreacheryofWeingarten,andtheaidshesenttomeinmyprisonatMagdeburg,Ihavebeforerelated。ShewaspossessedofthefineestateofHammer,nearLandsbergontheWarta。
  TheRussianarmychangedthewholefaceofthecountry,andlaiditdesert。ShefledtoCustrin,whereeverythingwasdestroyedduringthesiege。ThePrussianarmyalsodemolishedthefineforests。
  Afterthewar,theKingassistedalltheruinedfamiliesofBrandenburg;shealoneobtainednothing,becauseshewasmysister。
  ShepetitionedtheKing,whorepinedshemustseekforredressfromherdearbrother。Shedied,intheflowerofherage,ashorttimeaftershehadmarriedhersecondhusband,thepresentColonelPape:
  herson,also,diedlastyear。HewascaptainintheregimentoftheGotzdragoons。Thuswereallmybrothersandsisterspunishedbecausetheyweremine。CoulditbebelievedthatthegreatFredericwouldrevengehimselfonthechildrenandthechildren’schildren?Wasitnotsufficientthatheshouldwreakhiswrathonmyheadalone?WhyhasthenameofTrenckbeenhatefultohim,totheveryhourofhisdeath?
  OneDerschau,captainofhorse,andbrotherofmymother,addressedhimselftotheKing,in1753,alleginghewasmynearestrelationandfeudalheir,andpetitionedthathewouldbestowonhimmyconfiscatedestatesofGreatSharlack。TheKingdemandedthatthenecessaryproofsshouldbesentfromthechamberatKonigsberg。HewasuninformedthatIhadtwobrothersliving,thatGreatSharlackwasanancientfamilyinheritance,andthatitappertainedtomybrothers,andnottoDerschau。Mybrothersthenannouncedthemselvesasthesuccessorstothisfief,andtheKingbestowedonthemtheestateofGreatSharlackconformabletothefeudallaws。
  Thatitmightbeproperlydivided,itwasputuptoauction,andboughtbytheyoungestofmybrothers,whopaidsurplustotheother,andtomysister。Helikewisepaiddebtschargeduponit,accordingtotheexpressordersofthecourt。Thepersonswhocalledthemselvesmycreditorswereimpostors,forIhadnocreditors;Iwasbutnineteenwhenmyestateswereconfiscated,consequentlywasnotofage。Bywhatrighttherefore,couldsuchdebtsbedemandedorpaid?Letthemexplainthiswhocan。
  ThesamethinghappenedwhenanaccountwasgivenintotheFiscusoftheguardianship,althoughIacknowledgemyguardiansweremenofprobity。Oneofthemwaseightyearsinpossession,andwhenhegaveituptomybrothershedidnotaccountwiththemforasingleshilling。Atpresent,therefore,theaffairstandsthus:—FredericWilliamhastakenoffthesentenceofconfiscation,andorderedmetobeputinpossessionofmyestates,byagraciousrescript:
  empoweredbythisIcomeanddemandrestitution;mybrotheranswers,"Ihaveboughtandpaidfortheestate,amthelegalpossessor,haveimproveditsomuchthatGreatSharlack,atpresent,isworththreeorfourtimesthesumitwasatthetimeofconfiscation。LettheFiscuspaymeitsactualvalue,andthenletthembestowitonwhomtheyplease。Ifthereigningkinggiveswhathispredecessorsoldtome,Ioughtnottherebytobealoser。"
  ThisisaproblemwhichthepeopleofBerlinmustresolve。Mybrotherhasnochildren,and,withoutgoingtolaw,willbequeathGreatSharlacktomine,whenheshallhappentodie。Ifheisforcedineffecttorestoreitwithoutbeingreimbursed,theKinginsteadofgrantingafavour,hasnotdonejustice。Idonotrequestanyrestitutionlikethis,sincesuchrestitutionwouldbemadewithoutaskingitasafavouroftheKing。IfhisMajestytakesofftheconfiscationbecauseheisconvinceditwasoriginallyviolentandunjust,thenhaveIarighttodemandtherentsoftwo—
  and—fortyyears。ThisIamtorequirefromtheFiscus,notfrommybrother。AndshouldtheFiscusonlyrestoremethepriceforwhichitthensold,itwouldcommitamanifestinjustice,sinceallestatesintheprovinceofPrussiahave,since1746,tripledandquadrupledtheirvalue。Iftheestatesdescendonlytomychildrenaftermydeath,Ireceiveneitherrightnorfavour;for,inthiscase,Iobtainnothingformyself,andshallremaindeprivedoftherents,which,astheestateisatpresentfarmedbymybrotheramounttofourthousandrix—dollarsperannum。Thisestatecannotbetakenfromhimlegally,sinceheenjoysitbyrightofpurchaseSuchisthepresentstateofthebusiness。Howthemonarchshallthinkpropertodecide,willbeseenhereafter。IhavedemandedoftheFiscusthatitshallmakeafairvaluationofGreatSharlack,reimbursemybrother,andrestoreittome。Mybrotherhasotherestates。Thesehewilldisposeofbytestament,accordingtohisgoodpleasure。Bethesethingsastheymay,thepurposeofmyjourneyisaccomplished。
  Thou,greatGod,haspreservedmeamidstmytrouble。Thepurestgratitudepenetratesmyheart。Oh,thatthouwouldstshieldmanfromarbitrarypower,andbanishdespotismfromtheearth!
  Maythismynarrationbealessontotheafflicted,affordhopetothedespairing,fortitudetothewavering,andhumanisetheheartsofkings。JoyfullydoIjourneytotheshoresofdeath。Myconscienceisvoidofreproach,posterityshallblessmymemory,andonlytheunfeeling,thewicked,theconfessorofprincesandthepiousimpostor,shallventtheirrageagainstmywritings。Mymindisdesirousofrepose,andshouldthisbedeniedme,stillIwillnotmurmur。Inowwishtostealgentlytowardsthatlastasylum,whitherifIhadgoneinmyyouth,itmusthavebeenwithcoloursflying。Grant,AlmightyGod,thattheprayerIthisdaymakemaybeheard,andthatsuchmaybetheconclusionofmyeventfullife!
  HISTORYOF
  FRANCISBARONTRENCK。
  WRITTENBY
  FREDERICKBARONTRENCK,ASANECESSARYSUPPLEMENTTOHISOWNHISTORY。
  FrancisBaronTrenckwasbornin1714,inCalabria,aprovinceofSicily。Hisfatherwasthenagovernorandlieutenant—colonelthere,anddiedin1743,atLeitschau,inHungary,lordoftherichmanorsofPrestowacz,Pleternitz,andPakratz,inSclavonia,andotherestatesinHungary。HischristiannamewasJohn;hewasmyfather’sbrother,andborninKonigsberginPrussia。
  ThenameofhismotherwasKettler;shewasborninCourland。
  Trenckwasagentlemanofancientfamily;andhisgrandfather,whowasminealso,wasofPrussia。Hisfather,whohadservedAustriatotheageofsixty—eight,acolonel,andborethosewoundstohisgravewhichattestedhisvalour。
  FrancisBaronTrenckwashisonlyson;hehadattainedtherankofcolonelduringhisfather’slife,andservedwithdistinctioninthearmyofMariaTheresa。Thehistoryofhislife,whichhepublishedin1747,whenhewasunderconfinementatVienna,issofullofminutecircumstances,andsopoorlywritten,thatIshallmakebutlittleuseofit。HereIshallrelateonlywhatIhaveheardfromhisenemiesthemselves,andwhatIhavemyselfseen。Hisfather,aboldanddaringsoldier,idolisedhisonlyson,andwhollyneglectedhiseducation,sothatthepassionsofthissonweremostunbridled。
  Endowedwithextraordinarytalents,thisardentyouthwasearlyallowedtoindulgetheimpetuousfireofhisconstitution。
  Moderationwasutterlyunknowntohim,andgoodfortunemostremarkablyfavouredallhisenterprises。Thesewerenumerous,undertakenfromnoprincipleofvirtue,noractuatedbyanymotivesofmorality。Theloveofmoney,andthedesireoffame,werethepassionsofhissoul。Tohiswarlikeinclinationwasaddedtheinsensibilityofaheartnativelywicked:andhefoundhimselfanactor,onthegreatsceneoflife,atatimewhentheearthwasdrenchedwithhumangore,andwhenthesworddecidedthefateofnations:hencethischiefofpandours,thisscourgeoftheunprotected,becameaniron—heartedenemy,aferociousfoeofthehumanrace,aformidableenemyinprivatelife,andaperfidiousfriend。
  Constitutionallysanguinary,addictedtopleasures,sensual,andbrave;hewasunappeasedwhenaffronted,prompttoact,inthemomentofdangercircumspect,and,whenunderthedominionofanger,crueleventofury;irreconcilable,artful,fertileininvention,andeverintentongreatprojects。Whenyouthandbeautyinspiredlove,hethenbecamesupple,insinuating,amiable,gentle,respectful;yet,everexcitedbypride,eachconquestgavebutnewdesiresofaddinganotherslaveoverwhomhemightdomineer;and,wheneverheencounteredresistance,hethenevenceasedtobeavaricious。Aprudentandintelligentwoman,turningthispartofhischaractertoadvantage,mighthaveformedthismantovirtue,probity,andtheloveofthehumanrace:but,fromhisinfancy,hiswillhadneversufferedrestraint,andhethoughtnothingimpossible。Asasoldier,hewasboldeventotemerity;capableofthemosthazardousenterprise,andlaughingatthedangerheprovoked。Hisprojectswerethemoreelevatedbecausetheacquirementofrenownwastheintentofallhisactions。Incouncilhewasdangerous;everythingmustbeconcededtohisviews。Tohimthemeansbywhichhisendwastobeobtainedwereindifferent。
  TheCroatsatthistimewereundisciplined,pronetorapine,thirstingforhumanblood,andonlytaughtobediencebyviolence;
  thesehadbeenthecompanionsofhisinfancy:theseheundertooktosubject,byservitudeandfear,tomilitarysubordination,andfrombandittitomakethemsoldiers。
  Withrespecttohisexterior,Naturehadbeenprodigalofherfavours。Hisheightwassixfeetthreeinches,andthesymmetryofhislimbswasexact;hisformwasupright,hiscountenanceagreeable,yetmasculine,andhisstrengthalmostincredible。Hecouldsevertheheadfromthebodyofthelargestoxwithonestrokeofhissabre,andwassoadroitatthisTurkishpractice,thatheatlengthcouldbeheadmeninthemannerboysdonettles。Inthelatteryearsofhislife,hisaspecthadbecometerrible;for,duringtheBavarianwar,hehadbeenscorchedbytheexplosionofapowder—barrel,andeverafterhisfaceremainedscarredandimpregnatedwithblackspots。Incompanyherenderedhimselfexceedinglyagreeable,spokesevenlanguagesfluently,wasjocular,possessedwit,andinseriousconversation,understanding;hadlearnedmusic,sungwithtaste,andhadagoodvoice,sothathemighthavebeenwellpaidasanactor,hadthatbeenhisfate。Hecouldeven,whensodisposed,becomegentleandcomplaisant。
  Hislooktoldthemanofobservationthathewascunningandcholeric;andhiswrathwasterrible。Hewaseversuspicious,becausehejudgedothersbyhimself。Self—interestandavariceconstitutedhisrulingpassion,and,wheneverhehadanopportunityofincreasinghiswealth,hedisregardedthedutiesofreligion,thetiesofhonour,andhumanpity。Inthethirty—firstyearofhisage,whenhewaspossessedofnearlytwomillions,hedidnotexpendaflorinperday。
  Asheandhispandoursalwaysledthevan,andashethencehadanopportunitytoravagetheenemy’scountry,attheheadoftroopsaddictedtorapine,wemustnotwonderthatBavaria,Silesia,andAlsatiaweresoplundered。Healonepurchasedthebootyfromhistroopsatalowprice,andthishesentbywatertohisownestates。