the life and adventures of baron trenck-2-第25章
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o were the people whom Trenck had indeed made poor； nothing of the property of his acquiring having been left to pay this legacy； but； on the contrary； the money having been exacted from mine。
In a few days it was determined I should be answered in the same tone in which； for six…and…thirty years past； all my petitions had been answered：…
〃THE REQUEST OF THE PETITIONER CANNOT BE GRANTED。〃
Fortune persecuted me in my retreat。 Within six years two hailstorms swept away my crops； one year was a misgrowth； there were seven floods； a rot among my sheep： all possible calamities befell me and my manor。
The estate had been ruined； the ponds were to drain； three farms were to be put into proper condition； and the whole newly stocked。 This rendered me poor； especially as my wife's fortune had been sunk in lawsuits at Aix…la…Chapelle and Cologne。
The miserable peasants had nothing； therefore could not pay： I was obliged to advance them money。 My sons assisted me； and we laboured with our own hands： my wife took care of eight children； without so much as the help of a maid。 We lived in poverty； obliged to earn our daily bread。
The greatest of my misfortunes was my treatment in the military court； when Zetto and Krugel were my referendaries。 Zetto had clogged me with a curator and when the cow had no more milk to give； they began to torture me with deputations； sequestrations； administrations； and executions。 Nineteen times was I obliged to attend in Vienna within two years； at my own expense。 Every six years must I pay an attorney to dispute and quarrel with the curator。 I； in conclusion； was obliged to pay。 If any affair was to be expedited； I； by a third hand； was obliged to send the referendary some ducats。 Did he give judgment； still that judgment lay fourteen months inefficient； and； when it then appeared； the copy was false； and so was sent to the upper courts； the high referendary of which said I 〃must be dislodged from Zwerbach。〃
They obliged me at last to purchase my naturalisation。 I sent to Prussia for my pedigree； the attestation of this was sent me by Count Hertzberg。 Although the family of Trenck had a hundred years been landholders in Hungary； yet was my attorney obliged to solicit the instrument called ritter…diploma； for which； under pain of execution； I must pay two thousand florins。
By decree a Prussian nobleman is not noble in Austria； where every lackey can purchase a diploma； making him a knight of the Empire； for twelve hundred wretched florins！where such men as P… and Grassalkowitz have purchased the dignity of a prince！
Tortured by the courts； terrified by hailstorms； I determined to publish my works； in eight volumes； and this history of my life。
Fourteen months accomplished this purpose。 My labours found a favourable reception through all Germany； procured me money； esteem； and honour。 By my writings only will I seek the means of existence； and by trying to obtain the approbation and the love of men。
CHAPTER IX。
On the 22nd of August； 1786； the news arrived that Frederic the Great had left this world
* * *
The present monarch； the witness of my sufferings in my native country； sent me a royal passport to Berlin。 The confiscation of my estates was annulled； and my deceased brother； in Prussia； had left my children his heirs。
* * *
I journey； within the Imperial permission； back to my country； from which I have been two…and…forty years expelled！ I journeynot as a pardoned malefactor； but as a man whose innocence has been established by his actions； has been proved in his writings； and who is journeying to receive his reward。
Here I shall once more encounter my old friends my relations； and those who have known me in the days of my affliction。 Here shall I appear； not as my country's Traitor； but as my country's Martyr！
Possible； though little probable； are still future storms。 For these also I am prepared。 Long had I reason daily to curse the rising sun； and； setting； to behold it with horror。 Death to me appears a great benefit： a certain passage from agitation to peace； from motion to rest。 As for my children； they； jocund in youth； delight in present existence。 When I have fulfilled the duties of a father； to live or die will then be as I shall please。
Thou； O God！ my righteous Judge； didst ordain that I should be an example of suffering to the world； Thou madest me what I am； gavest me these strong passions； these quick nerves； this thrilling of the blood； when I behold injustice。 Strong was my mind； that deeply it might meditate on deep subjects； strong my memory； that these meditations I might retain； strong my body； that proudly it might support all it has pleased Thee to inflict。
Should I continue to exist； should identity go with me； and should I know what I was then； when I was called Trenck； when that combination of particles which Nature commanded should compose this body shall be decomposed； scattered； or in other bodies united； when I have no muscles to act； no brain to think； no retina on which pictures can mechanically be painted； my eyes wasted； and no tongue remaining to pronounce the Creator's name； should I still behold a Creatorthen； oh then； will my spirit mount； and indubitably associate with spirits of the just who expectant wait for their golden harps and glorious crowns from the Most High God。 For human weaknesses； human failings； arising from our nature； springing from our temperament； which the Creator has ordained； shall be even thus； and not otherwise； for these have I suffered enough on earth。
Such is my confession of faith； in this have I lived； in this will I die。 The duties of a man and of a Christian I have fulfilled； nay； often have exceeded； often have been too benevolent； too generous； perhaps also too proud； too vain。 I could not bend； although liable to be broken。
That I have not served the world； in acts and employments where best I might； is perhaps my own fault： the fault of my manner； which is now too radical to be corrected in this； my sixtieth year。 Yes； I acknowledge my failing； acknowledge it unblushingly； nay； glory in the pride of a noble nature。
For myself； I ask nothing of those who have read my history； to them do I commit my wife and children。 My eldest son is a lieutenant in the Tuscan regiment of cavalry； under General Lasey； and does honour to his father's principles。 The second serves his present Prussian Majesty； as ensign in the Posadowsky dragoons； with equal promise。 The third is still a child。 My daughters will make worthy men happy； for they have imbibed virtue and gentleness with their mother's milk。 Monarchs may hereafter remember what I have suffered； what I have lost； and what is due to my ashes。
Here do I declareI will seek no other revenge against my enemies than that of despising their evil deeds。 It is my wish； and shall be my endeavour； to forget the past； and having committed no offence； neither will I solicit monarchs for posts of honour； as I have ever lived a free man； a free man will I die。
I conclude this part of my history on the evening preceding my journey to Berlin。 God grant I may encounter no new afflictions； to be inserted in the remainder of this history。
This journey I prepared to undertake； but my ever…envious fate threw me on the bed of sickness； insomuch that small hope remained that I ever should again behold the country of my forefathers。 I seemed following the Great Frederic to the mansions of the dead； then should I never have concluded the history of my life； or obtained the victory by which I am now crowned。
A variety of obstacles being overcome； I found it necessary to make a journey into Hungary； which was one of the most pleasant of my whole life。
I have no words to express my ardent wishes for the welfare of a nation where I met with so many proofs of friendship。 Wherever I appeared I was welcomed with that love and enthusiasm which only await the fathers of their country。 The valour of my cousin Trenck； who died ingloriously in the Spielberg； the loss of my great Hungarian estates； the fame of my writings； and the cruelty of my sufferings； had gone before me。 The officers of the army； the no
