the life and adventures of baron trenck-2-第13章
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Having light； I began to carve； with a nail； on the pewter cup in which I drank； satirical verses and various figures； and attained so much perfection that my cups； at last； were considered as master… pieces； both of engraving and invention； and were sold dear； as rare curiosities。 My first attempts were rude； as may well be imagined。 My cup was carried to town； and shown to visitors by the governor； who sent me another。 I improved； and each of the inspecting officers wished to possess one。 I grew more expert； and spent a whole year in this employment； which thus passed swiftly away。 The perfection I had now acquired obtained me the permission of candle… light； and this continued till I was restored to freedom。
The King gave orders these cups should all be inspected by government； because I wished； by my verses and devices； to inform the world of my fate。 But this command was not obeyed； the officers made merchandise of my cups； and sold them at last for twelve ducats each。 Their value increased so much； when I was released from prison； that they are now to be found in various museums throughout Europe。 Twelve years ago the late Landgrave of Hesse…Cassel presented one of them to my wife； and another came； in a very unaccountable manner； from the Queen…Dowager of Prussia to Paris。 I have given prints of both these； with the verses they contained； in my works； whence it may be seen how artificially they were engraved。
A third fell into the hands of Prince Augustus Lobkowitz； then a prisoner of war at Magdeburg； who； on his return to Vienna； presented it to the Emperor； who placed it in his museum。 Among other devices on this cup； was a landscape； representing a vineyard and husbandmen； and under it the following words：… By my labours my vineyard flourished； and I hoped to have gathered the fruit； but Ahab came。 Alas！ for Naboth。
The allusion was so pointed； both to the wrongs done me in Vienna； and my sufferings in Prussia； that it made a very strong impression on the Empress…Queen； who immediately commanded her minister to make every exertion for my deliverance。 She would probably at last have even restored me to my estates； had not the possessors of them been so powerful； or had she herself lived one year longer。 To these my engraved cups was I indebted for being once more remembered at Vienna。 On the same cup； also； was another engraving of a bird in a cage； held by a Turk； with the following inscription：… The bird sings even in the storm； open his cage； break his fetters； ye friends of virtue； and his songs shall be the delight of your abodes！
There is another remarkable circumstance attending these cups。 All were forbidden under pain of death to hold conversation with me； or to supply me with pen and ink； yet by this open permission of writing what I pleased on pewter； was I enabled to inform the world of all I wished； and to prove a man of merit was oppressed。 The difficulties of this engraving will be conceived； when it is remembered that I worked by candle…light on shining pewter； attained the art of giving light and shade； and by practice could divide a cup into two…and…thirty compartments as regularly with a stroke of the hand as with a pair of compasses。 The writing was so minute that it could only be read with glasses。 I could use but one hand； both； being separated by the bar； and therefore held the cup between my knees。 My sole instrument was a sharpened nail； yet did I write two lines on the rim only。
My labour became so excessive； that I was in danger of distraction or blindness。 Everybody wished for cups； and I wished to oblige everybody； so that I worked eighteen hours a day。 The reflection of the light from the pewter was injurious to my eyes； and the labour of invention for apposite subjects and verses was most fatiguing。 I had learnt only architectural drawing。
Enough of these cups； which procured me so much honour； so many advantages； and helped to shorten so many mournful hours。 My greatest encumbrance was the huge iron collar； with its enormous appendages； which； when suffered to press the arteries in the back of my neck； occasioned intolerable headaches。 I sat too much； and a third time fell sick。 A Brunswick sausage； secretly given me by a friend； occasioned an indigestion； which endangered my life； a putrid fever followed； and my body was reduced to a skeleton。 Medicines； however； were conveyed to me by the officers； and； now and then； warm food。
After my recovery； I again thought it necessary to endeavour to regain my liberty。 I had but forty louis…d'ors remaining； and these I could not get till I had first broken up the flooring。
Lieutenant Sonntag was consumptive； and obtained his discharge。 I supplied bins with money to defray the expenses of his journey； and with an order that four hundred florins should be annually paid him from my effects till his death or my release。 I commissioned him to seek an audience from the Empress； endeavour to excite her compassion in my behalf； and to remit me four thousand florins； for which I gave a proper acquittance； by the way of Hamburgh。 The money…draft was addressed to my administrators； Counsellors Kempf and Huttner。
But no one； alas！ in Vienna； wished my return； they had already begun to share my property； of which they never rendered me an account。 Poor Sonntag was arrested as a spy； imprisoned； ill treated for some weeks； and； at last； when naked and destitute； received a hundred florins； and was escorted beyond the Austrian confines。 The worthy man fell a shameful sacrifice to his honesty； could never obtain an audience of the Empress； and returned poor and miserable on foot to Berlin； where he was twelve months secretly maintained by his brother； and with whom he died。 He wrote an account of all this to the good Knoblauch； my Hamburgh agent； and I； from my small store； sent him a hundred ducats。
How much must I despair of finding any place of refuge on earth； hearing accounts like these from Vienna。
A friend； whom I will never name； by the aid of one of the lieutenants； secretly visited me； and supplied me with six hundred ducats。 The same friend； in the year 1763； paid four thousand florins to the imperial envoy； Baron Reidt； at Berlin； for the furthering of my freedom； as I shall presently more fully show。 Thus I had once more money。
About this time the French army advanced to within five miles of Magdeburg。 This important fortress was； at that time； the key of the whole Prussian power。 It required a garrison of sixteen thousand men； and contained not more than fifteen hundred。 The French might have marched in unopposed； and at once have put an end to the war。 The officers brought me all the news； and my hopes rose as they approached。 What was my astonishment when the major informed me that three waggons had entered the town in the night； had been sent back loaded with money； and that the French were retreating。 This； I can assure my readers； on my honour； is literally truth； to the eternal disgrace of the French general。 The major； who informed me； was himself an eye…witness of the fact。 It was pretended the money was for the army of the King； but everybody could guess whither it was going； it left the town without a convoy； and the French were then in the neighbourhood。 Such were the allies of Maria Theresa； the receivers of this money are known in Paris。 Not only were my hopes this way frustrated； but in Russia likewise； where the Countess of Bestuchef and the Chancellor had fallen into disgrace。
I now imagined another； and； indeed； a fearful and dangerous project。 The garrison of Magdeburg at this moment consisted but of nine hundred militia； who were discontented men。 Two majors and two lieutenants were in my interest。 The guard of the Star Fort amounted but to a hundred and fifteen men。 Fronting the gate of this fort was the town gate； guarded only by twelve men and an inferior officer； beside these lay the casemates； in which were seven thousand Croat prisoners。 Baron K…y； a captain； and prisoner of war； also was in our interest； and would hold his comrades ready at a certain place and time to support my undertaking。 Another friend was； under some pretence； to hold h
