the life and adventures of baron trenck-2-第8节
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The regiments had scarcely taken the field ere the new governor； General Borck； entered my prison； like what he was； an imperious； cruel tyrant。 The King； in giving him the command； had informed him he must answer for my person with his head： he therefore had full power to treat me with whatever severity he pleased。
Borck was a stupid man； of an unfeeling heart； the slave of despotic orders； and as often as he thought it possible I might rid myself of my fetters and escape； his heart palpitated with fear。 In addition to this； he considered me as the vilest of men and traitors； seeing his King had condemned me to imprisonment so cruel； and his barbarity towards me was thus the effect of character and meanness of soul。 He entered my dungeon not as an officer； to visit a brother officer in misery； but as an executioner to a felon。 Smiths then made their appearance； and a monstrous iron collar； of a hand's breadth； was put round my neck； and connected with the chains of the feet by additional heavy links。 My window was walled up； except a small air…hole。 He even at length took away my bed； gave me no straw； and quitted me with a thousand revilings on the Empress… Queen； her whole army； and myself。 In words； however； I was little in his debt； and he was enraged even to madness。
What my situation was under this additional load of tyranny； and the command of a man so void of human pity； the reader may imagine。 My greatest good fortune consisted in the ability I still had to disencumber myself of all the irons that were connected with the ankle…rims； and the provision I had of light； paper； and implements； and though it was apparently impossible I should break out undiscovered by both sentinels； yet had I the remaining hope of gaining some officer； by money； who； as in Glatz； should assist my escape。
Had the commands of the King been literally obeyed escape would have been wholly impossible； for； by this； all communication would have been totally cut off with the sentinels。 To this effect the four keys of the four doors were each to be kept by different persons； one with the governor； another with the town…major； the third with the major of the day； and the fourth with the lieutenant of the guard。 I never could have found opportunity to have spoken with any one of them singly。 These commands at first were rigidly observed； with this exception； that the governor made his appearance only every week。 Magdeburg became so full of prisoners that the town… major was obliged to deliver up his key to the major of the day； and the governor's visitations wholly subsided； the citadel being an English mile and a half distant from the Star Fort。
General Walrabe； who had been a prisoner ever since the year 1746； was also at the Star Fort； but he had apartments； and three thousand rix…dollars a year。 The major of the day and officer of the guard dined with him daily； and generally stayed till evening。 Either from compassion； or a concurrence of fortunate circumstances； these gentlemen entrusted the keys to the lieutenant on guard； by which means I could speak with each of them alone when they made their visits； and they themselves at length sought these opportunities。 My consequent undertakings I shall relate； with all the arts and inventions of a wretched prisoner endeavouring to escape。
Borck had selected three majors and four lieutenants for this service as those he could best trust。 My situation was truly deplorable。 The enormous iron round my neck pained me； and prevented motion； and I durst not attempt to disengage myself from the pendant chains till I had； for some months； carefully observed the mode of their examination； and which parts they supposed were perfectly secure。 The cruelty of depriving me of my bed was still greater： I was obliged to sit upon the bare ground； and lean with my head against the damp wall。 The chains that descended from the neck collar were obliged to be supported first with one band； and then with the other； for； if thrown behind； they would have strangled me； and if hanging forward occasioned most excessive headaches。 The bar between my hands held one down； while leaning on my elbow； I supported with the other my chains； and this so benumbed the muscles and prevented circulation； that I could perceive my arms sensibly waste away。 The little sleep I could have in such a situation may easily be supposed； and； at length； body and mind sank under this accumulation of miserable suffering； and I fell ill of a burning fever。
The tyrant Borck was inexorable； he wished to expedite my death； and rid himself of his troubles and his terrors。 Here did I experience what was the lamentable condition of a sick prisoner； without bed； refreshment； or aid from human being。 Reason； fortitude； heroism； all the noble qualities of the mind； decay when the corporal faculties are diseased； and the remembrance of my sufferings； at this dreadful moment； still agitates； still inflames my blood； so as almost to prevent an attempt to describe what they were。
Yet hope had not totally forsaken me。 Deliverance seemed possible； especially should peace ensue； and I sustained； perhaps； what mortal man never bore； except myself； being； as I was； provided with pistols； or any such immediate mode of despatch。
I continued ill about two months； and was so reduced at last that I had scarcely strength to lift the water…jug to my mouth。 What must the sufferings of that man be who sits two months on the bare ground in a dungeon so damp； so dark； so horrible； without bed or straw； his limbs loaded as mine were； with no refreshment but dry ammunition bread； without so much as a drop of broth； without physic； without consoling friend； and who； under all these afflictions； must trust； for his recovery； to the efforts of nature alone
Sickness itself is sufficient to humble the mightiest mind； what； then； is sickness； with such an addition of torment？ The burning fever； the violent headaches； my neck swelled and inflamed with the irons； enraged me almost to madness。 The fever and the fetters together flayed my body so that it appeared like one continued woundEnough！ Enough！ The malefactor extended living on the wheel； to whom the cruel executioner refuses the last strokethe blow of deathmust yet； in some short period； expire： he suffers nothing I did not then suffer； and these； my excruciating pangs； continued two dreadful monthsYet； can it be supposed？ There came a day！ A day of horror； when these mortal pangs were beyond imagination increased。 I sat scorched with this intolerable fever； in which nature and death were contending； and when attempting to quench my burning entrails with cold water； the jug dropped from my feeble hands； and broke！ I had four…and…twenty hours to remain without water。 So intolerable； so devouring was my thirst； I could have drank human blood！ Ay； in my madness； had it been the blood of my father！
* * * * * *
Willingly would I have seized my pistols； but strength had forsaken me； I could not open the place I was obliged to render so secure。
My visitors next day supposed me gone at last。 I lay motionless； with my tongue out of my mouth。 They poured water down my throat； and I revived。
Oh； God！ Oh； God！ How pure； how delicious； how exquisite was this water！ My insatiable thirst soon emptied the jug； they filled it anew； bade me farewell； hoped death would soon relieve my mortal sufferings； and departed。
The lamentable state in which I lay at length became the subject of general conversation； that all the ladies of the town united with the officers； and prevailed on the tyrant； Borck； to restore me my bed。
Oh； Nature； what are thy operations？ From the day I drank water in such excess I gathered strength； and to the astonishment of every one； soon recovered。 I had moved the heart of the officer who inspected my prison； and after six months； six cruel months of intense misery； the day of hope again began to dawn。
One of the majors of the day entrusted his key to Lieutenant Sonntag； who came alone； spoke in confidence； and related his own situation； complained of his debts； his poverty； his necessities； and I made him a present of twenty…five louis…d'ors； for which he was so grateful that our friendship became unshaken。
The three lieutenants all commiserated me； and would sit hours with me； when a certain major had the inspection； and he himself； after a time； would even pass half the day with me。 He； too； was poor： and I gave him a draft for three thousand florins； hence new projects took birth。
Money became necessary； I had disbursed all I possessed； a hundred florins excepted； among the officers。 The eldest son of Captain K… ； who officiated as major； had been cashiered： his father complained to me of his distress； and I sent him to my sister； not far from Berlin； from whom he received a hundred ducats。 He returned and related her joy at hearing from me。 He found her exceedingly ill； and she informed me； in a few lines； that my misfortunes； and the treachery of Weingarten； had entailed poverty upon her； and an illness which had endured more than two years。 She wished me a happy deliverance from my chains； and； in expectation of death； committed he
