the life and adventures of baron trenck-2-第4章
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ay; and the sun soon after shone through the window; to me; with unaccustomed brightness。
Let the reader judge how far it was chance; or the effect of Divine providence; that in this dreadful hour my heart again received hope。 Who was it sent the honest Gelfhardt; at such a moment; to my prison? For; had it not been for him; I had certainly; when I awoke from my slumbers; cut more effectually through my arteries。
Till noon I had time to consider what might further be done: yet what could be done; what expected; but that I should now be much more cruelly treated; and even more insupportably ironed than beforefinding; as they must; the doors cut through and my fetters shaken off?
After mature consideration; I therefore made the following resolution; which succeeded happily; and even beyond my hopes。 Before I proceed; however; I will speak a few words concerning my situation at this moment。 It is impossible to describe how much I was exhausted。 The prison swam with blood; and certainly but little was left in my body。 With painful wounds; swelled and torn hands; I there stood shirtless; felt an inclination to sleep almost irresistible; and scarcely had strength to keep my legs; yet was I obliged to rouse myself; that I might execute my plan。
With the bar that separated my hands; I loosened the bricks of my seat; which; being newly laid; was easily done; and heaped them up in the middle of my prison。 The inner door was quite open; and with my chains I so barricaded the upper half of the second as to prevent any one climbing over it。 When noon came and the first of the doors was unlocked; all were astonished to find the second open。 There I stood; besmeared with blood; the picture of horror; with a brick in one hand; and in the other my broken knife; crying; as they approached; 〃Keep off; Mr。 Major; keep off! Tell the governor I will live no longer in chains; and that here I stand; if so he pleases; to be shot; for so only will I be conquered。 Here no man shall enterI will destroy all that approach; here are my weapons; lucre will I die in despite of tyranny。〃 The major was terrified; wanted resolution; and made his report to the governor。 I meantime sat down on my bricks; to wait what might happen: my secret intent; however; was not so desperate as it appeared。 I sought only to obtain a favourable capitulation。
The governor; General Borck; presently came; attended by the town… major and some officers; and entered the outward cell; but sprang back the moment he beheld a figure like me; standing with a brick and uplifted arm。 I repeated what I had told the major; and he immediately ordered six grenadiers to force the door。 The front cell was scarcely six feet broad; so that no more than two at a time could attack my intrenchment; and when they saw my threatening bricks ready to descend; they leaped terrified back。 A short pause ensued; and the old town…major; with the chaplain; advanced towards the door to soothe me: the conversation continued some time: whose reasons were most satisfactory; and whose cause was the most just; I leave to the reader。 The governor grew angry; and ordered a fresh attack。 The first grenadier was knocked down; and the rest ran back to avoid my missiles。
The town…major again began a parley。 〃For God's sake; my dear Trenck;〃 said he; 〃in what have I injured you; that you endeavour to effect my ruin? I must answer for your having; through my negligence; concealed a knife。 Be persuaded; I entreat you。 Be appeased。 You are not without hope; nor without friends。〃 My answer was〃But will you not load me with heavier irons than before?〃
He went out; spoke with the governor; and gave me his word of honour that the affair should be no further noticed; and that everything should be exactly reinstated as formerly。
Here ended the capitulation; and my wretched citadel was taken。 The condition I was in was viewed with pity; my wounds were examined; a surgeon sent to dress them; another shirt was given me; and the bricks; clotted with blood; removed。 I; meantime; lay half dead on my mattress; my thirst was excessive。 The surgeon ordered me some wine。 Two sentinels were stationed in the front cell; and I was thus left four days in peace; unironed。 Broth also was given me daily; and how delicious this was to taste; how much it revived and strengthened me; is wholly impossible to describe。 Two days I lay in a slumbering kind of trance; forced by unquenchable thirst to drink whenever I awoke。 My feet and hands were swelled; the pains in my back and limbs were excessive。
On the fifth day the doors were ready; the inner was entirely plated with iron; and I was fettered as before: perhaps they found further cruelty unnecessary。 The principal chain; however; which fastened me to the wall; like that I had before broken; was thicker than the first。 Except this; the capitulation was strictly kept。 They deeply regretted that; without the King's express commands; they could not lighten my afflictions; wished me fortitude and patience; and barred up my doors。
It is necessary I should here describe my dress。 My hands being fixed and kept asunder by an iron bar; and my feet chained to the wall; I could neither put on shirt nor stockings in the usual mode; the shirt was therefore tied; and changed once a fortnight; the coarse ammunition stockings were buttoned on the sides; a blue garment; of soldier's cloth; was likewise tied round me; and I had a pair of slippers for my feet。 The shirt was of the army linen; and when I contemplated myself in this dress of a malefactor; chained thus to the wall in such a dungeon; vainly imploring mercy or justice; my conscience void of reproach; my heart of guiltwhen I reflected on my former splendour in Berlin and Moscow; and compared it with this sad; this dreadful reverse of destiny; I was sunk in grief; or roused to indignation; that might have hurried the greatest hero or philosopher to madness or despair。 I felt what can only be imagined by him who has suffered like me; after having like me flourished; if such can be found。
Pride; the justness of my cause; the unbounded confidence I had in my own resolution; and the labours of an inventive head and iron bodythese only could have preserved my life。 These bodily labours; these continued inventions; and projected plans to obtain my freedom; preserved my health。 Who would suppose that a man fettered as I was could find means of exercising himself? By swinging my arms; acting with the upper part of my body; and leaping upwards; I frequently put myself in a strong perspiration。 After thus wearying myself I slept soundly; and often thought how many generals; obliged to support the inclemencies of weather; and all the dangers of the fieldhow many of those who had plunged me into this den of misery; would have been most glad could they; like me; have slept with a quiet conscience。 Often did I reflect how much happier I was than those tortured on the bed of sickness by gout; stone; and other terrible diseases。 How much happier was I in innocence than the malefactor doomed to suffer the pangs of death; the ignominy of men; and the horrors of internal guilt!
CHAPTER II。
In the following part of my history it will appear I often had much money concealed under the ground and in the walls of my den; yet would I have given a hundred ducats for a morsel of bread; it could not have been procured。 Money was to me useless。 In this I resembled the miser; who hoards; yet hives in wretchedness; having no joy in gentle acts of benevolence。 As proudly might I delight myself with my hidden treasure as such misers; nay; more; for I was secure from robbers。
Had fastidious pomp been my pleasure; I might have imagined myself some old field…marshal bedridden; who hears two grenadier sentinels at his door call; 〃Who goes there?〃 My honour; indeed; was still greater; for; during my last year's imprisonment; my door was guarded by no less than four。 My vanity also might have been flattered: I might hence conclude how high was the value set upon my head; since all this trouble was taken to hold me in security。 Certain it is that in my chains I thought more rationally; more nobly; reasoned mo