the life and adventures of baron trenck-2-第28节
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g nothing better was to be done； I laughed in company with them； and； thus laughing was led back with an aching heart to be sorrowfully enchained in my dungeon。
I continued my journey； and arrived； on the fourth of April； at Konigsberg； where my brother expected my arrival。 We embraced as brothers must； after the absence of two…and…forty years。 Of all the brothers and sisters I had left in this city； he only remained。 He lived a retired and peaceable life on his own estates。 He had no children living。 I continued a fortnight within him and his wife。
Here； for the first time； I learned what had happened to my relations； during their absence。 The wrath of the Great Frederic extended itself to all my family。 My second brother was an ensign in the regiment of cuirassiers at Kiow； in 1746； when I first incurred disgrace from the King。 Six years he served； fought at three battles； but； because his name was Trenck； never was promoted。 Weary of expectation he quitted the army； married； and lived on his estates at Meicken； where he died about three years ago； and left two sons； who are an honour to the family of the Trencks。
Fame spoke him a person capable of rendering the state essential service； as a military man； but he was my brother； and the King would never suffer his name to be mentioned。
My youngest brother applied himself to the sciences； it was proposed that he should receive some civil employment； as he was an intelligent and well…informed man； but the King answered in the margin of the petition；
〃No Trenck is good for anything。〃
Thus have all my family suffered； because of my unjust condemnation。 My last…mentioned brother chose the life of a private man； and lived at his ease； in independence； among the first people of the kingdom。 The hatred of the monarch extended itself to my sister； who had married the son of General Waldow； and lived in widowhood； from the year 1749； to her second marriage。 The misfortunes of this woman； in consequence of the treachery of Weingarten； and the aid she sent to me in my prison at Magdeburg； I have before related。 She was possessed of the fine estate of Hammer； near Landsberg on the Warta。 The Russian army changed the whole face of the country； and laid it desert。 She fled to Custrin； where everything was destroyed during the siege。 The Prussian army also demolished the fine forests。
After the war； the King assisted all the ruined families of Brandenburg； she alone obtained nothing； because she was my sister。 She petitioned the King； who repined she must seek for redress from her dear brother。 She died； in the flower of her age； a short time after she had married her second husband； the present Colonel Pape： her son； also； died last year。 He was captain in the regiment of the Gotz dragoons。 Thus were all my brothers and sisters punished because they were mine。 Could it be believed that the great Frederic would revenge himself on the children and the children's children？ Was it not sufficient that he should wreak his wrath on my head alone？ Why has the name of Trenck been hateful to him； to the very hour of his death？
One Derschau； captain of horse； and brother of my mother； addressed himself to the King； in 1753； alleging he was my nearest relation and feudal heir； and petitioned that he would bestow on him my confiscated estates of Great Sharlack。 The King demanded that the necessary proofs should be sent from the chamber at Konigsberg。 He was uninformed that I had two brothers living； that Great Sharlack was an ancient family inheritance； and that it appertained to my brothers； and not to Derschau。 My brothers then announced themselves as the successors to this fief； and the King bestowed on them the estate of Great Sharlack conformable to the feudal laws。 That it might be properly divided； it was put up to auction； and bought by the youngest of my brothers； who paid surplus to the other； and to my sister。 He likewise paid debts charged upon it； according to the express orders of the court。 The persons who called themselves my creditors were impostors； for I had no creditors； I was but nineteen when my estates were confiscated； consequently was not of age。 By what right therefore； could such debts be demanded or paid？ Let them explain this who can。
The same thing happened when an account was given in to the Fiscus of the guardianship； although I acknowledge my guardians were men of probity。 One of them was eight years in possession； and when he gave it up to my brothers he did not account with them for a single shilling。 At present； therefore； the affair stands thus：… Frederic William has taken off the sentence of confiscation； and ordered me to be put in possession of my estates； by a gracious rescript： empowered by this I come and demand restitution； my brother answers； 〃I have bought and paid for the estate； am the legal possessor； have improved it so much that Great Sharlack； at present； is worth three or four times the sum it was at the time of confiscation。 Let the Fiscus pay me its actual value； and then let them bestow it on whom they please。 If the reigning king gives what his predecessor sold to me； I ought not thereby to be a loser。〃
This is a problem which the people of Berlin must resolve。 My brother has no children； and； without going to law； will bequeath Great Sharlack to mine； when he shall happen to die。 If he is forced in effect to restore it without being reimbursed； the King instead of granting a favour； has not done justice。 I do not request any restitution like this； since such restitution would be made without asking it as a favour of the King。 If his Majesty takes off the confiscation because he is convinced it was originally violent and unjust； then have I a right to demand the rents of two… and…forty years。 This I am to require from the Fiscus； not from my brother。 And should the Fiscus only restore me the price for which it then sold； it would commit a manifest injustice； since all estates in the province of Prussia have； since 1746； tripled and quadrupled their value。 If the estates descend only to my children after my death； I receive neither right nor favour； for； in this case； I obtain nothing for myself； and shall remain deprived of the rents； which； as the estate is at present farmed by my brother amount to four thousand rix…dollars per annum。 This estate cannot be taken from him legally； since he enjoys it by right of purchase
Such is the present state of the business。 How the monarch shall think proper to decide； will be seen hereafter。 I have demanded of the Fiscus that it shall make a fair valuation of Great Sharlack； reimburse my brother； and restore it to me。 My brother has other estates。 These he will dispose of by testament； according to his good pleasure。 Be these things as they may； the purpose of my journey is accomplished。
Thou； great God； has preserved me amidst my trouble。 The purest gratitude penetrates my heart。 Oh； that thou wouldst shield man from arbitrary power； and banish despotism from the earth！
May this my narration be a lesson to the afflicted； afford hope to the despairing； fortitude to the wavering； and humanise the hearts of kings。 Joyfully do I journey to the shores of death。 My conscience is void of reproach； posterity shall bless my memory； and only the unfeeling； the wicked； the confessor of princes and the pious impostor； shall vent their rage against my writings。 My mind is desirous of repose； and should this be denied me； still I will not murmur。 I now wish to steal gently towards that last asylum； whither if I had gone in my youth； it must have been with colours flying。 Grant； Almighty God； that the prayer I this day make may be heard； and that such may be the conclusion of my eventful life！
HISTORY OF FRANCIS BARON TRENCK。 WRITTEN BY FREDERICK BARON TRENCK； AS A NECESSARY SUPPLEMENT TO HIS OWN HISTORY。
Francis Baron Trenck was born in 1714； in Calabria； a province of Sicily。 His father was then a governor and lieutenant…colonel there； and died in 1743； at Leitschau； in Hungary； lord of the rich manors of Prestowacz； Pleternitz； and Pakratz； in Sclavonia； and other estates in Hungary。 His christian name was John； he was my father's brother； and born in Konigsberg in Prussia。
The name of his mother was Kettler； she was born in Courland。 Trenck was a gentleman of ancient family； and his grandfather； who was mine also； was of Prussia。 His father； who had served Austria to the age of sixty…eight； a colonel； and bore those wounds to his grave which attested his valour。
Francis Baron Trenck was his only son； he had attained the rank of colonel during his father's life； and served with distinction in the army of Maria Theresa。 The history of his life； which he published in 1747； when he was under confinement at Vienna； is so full of minute circumstances； and so poorly written； that I shall make but little use of it。 Here I shall relate only what I have heard from his enemies themselves； and what I have myself seen。 His father； a bold and daring soldier； idolised his only son； and wholly neglected his education； so that the passions of this son were most unbridled。 Endowed with extraordinary talents； this ardent youth was e
