frederick the great and his family-第147节
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s hardened us both。 We entered upon the stage of life with great but fleeting illusions。 How gloriously grand and beautiful did the world appear to us； now we look around us soberly； almost hopelessly！ What remains of our ideals？ What has become of the dreams of our youth？〃
〃The storm…winds have shattered and scattered them；〃 cried Amelia； laughing。 〃The evil fiend has ploughed over the fair soil of your youth and turned it to stone and ashes。 I am content that this is so I would rather wander amongst ruins and dust and ashes than to walk gayly over a smooth surface with whose dark caves and pitfalls I was unacquainted； and which might any day ingulf me。 When both foundation and superstructure lie in ruins at your feet； you have nothing more to fear。 But I say this for myself； sire； not for you； the fame…crowned king； who has astonished the world by his victories； and now fills it with admiration by the wisdom with which he governs his subjects and advances the glory of his kingdom！〃
〃My child；〃 said the king； mildly； 〃fame has no longer any attraction for me。 Nero was also renowned； he burned cities and temples； and tortured Seneca to death。 Erostratus succeeded in making his name imperishable I am utterly indifferent as to the world's admiration of my wisdom and power to govern。 I try to do my duty as a king。 But I tell you； child； in one little corner of the king's heart there remains ever something human； and the poor creature man sometimes cries out for a little personal comfort and happiness。 One may be very rich as a king； but pooroh； how poor as a man！ Let us； however； dismiss these sad thoughts。 I was speaking to you of money； Amelia。 We will return to this theme。 I cannot prevent your heart from suffering； but I can secure to you every outward good。 Your income； until now； has been small； tell me what debts you have contracted； and I will pay them！〃
〃Your majesty falls into my room like a shower of gold；〃 cried Amelia； 〃you will find no Danae here； only an ugly old maid； who is； however； ready to receive the glittering treasure； but you give me credit for too good a memory when you think I know the amount of my debts。 I only know the sum now in my casket。〃
〃And what is the amount； Amelia？〃
〃A cipher； sire； your majesty knows this is the end of the month。〃
〃I know it； my sister； and I therefore beg you to accept from me to… day a small sum in advance。 I dreamt last night that you had recently been called upon to pay out four thousand louis d'or。 This dream was significant； it seemed to me a suggestion to give you this sum。 I therefore sent； in your name； an order on my treasurer for four thousand louis d'or。〃
Amelia looked at him and trembled with terror。 〃Do you know the use to which I have applied this sum？〃 said she； breathlessly。
〃My dream was silent on this point；〃 said Frederick； rising； 〃it only told me that you needed this amount； nothing more。 If I had been curious； I might have asked your page； who has an acute ear； and for whom no key…hole is too small。〃
〃Ah； he has betrayed me； then；〃 murmured Amelia。
Frederick did not appear to hear her； he took his hat； and offered his sister his hand。 Amelia did not see it； she stood as if turned to stone in the middle of the room； and as the king advanced toward the door； she stepped slowly and mechanically after him。
Suddenly the king turned and looked at his sister。
〃I had almost forgotten to tell you a piece of news；〃 said he； carelessly； 〃something which will perhaps interest you； Amelia。 Even at this moment a prisoner is being released from his cell and restored to life and liberty。 The Empress Maria Theresa； influenced by her fireman； it is said； has appealed to me〃
Princess Amelia uttered a heart…rending shriek； and rushing forward she seized the arm of the king with both her trembling hands。
〃Brother！ oh； brother； be merciful！ do not make cruel sport of me。 I acknowledge I appealed to the fireman of the empress。 I offered him four thousand louis d'or if he would intercede for Trenck。 I see that you know all； I deny nothing。 If I have committed a crime worthy of death； condemn me； but do not inflict such fearful tortures before my execution。 Do not mock at my great grief； but be pitiful。 Look upon me brother； look at my withered limbs； my deformed visage； is not my punishment sufficient？ torture me no longer。 You return me the sum of money I sent to Vienna； does that mean that you have discovered and destroyed my plot？ Is this so； brother？ Have you the heart to play this cruel jest with me？ Having thus made my last attempt fruitless； do you tell me in mockery that Trenck is free？〃 She held the arm of the king firmly； and half sinking to her knees； she looked up at him breathlessly。
〃No； Amelia；〃 said Frederick； and his voice trembled with emotion。 〃No； I have not that cruel courage。 The hand of your clock points now to twelve； at this moment Trenck leaves Magdeburg in a closed carriage； accompanied by two soldiers。 To…morrow he will reach Prague； and then he is free to go where he will； only not in Prussia。 Trenck is free。〃
〃Trenck is free！〃 repeated Amelia； with a shout of joy； she sprang from her knees； clasped the king in a close embrace； and wept upon his bosom such tears as she had not shed for many long yearstears of holy happiness； of rapture inexpressible； then suddenly releasing him； she ran rapidly about the room； in the midst of bitter weeping breaking out into loud ringing laughter； a laugh which rung so fresh； so joyous； it seemed an echo from her far…off happy childhood。 〃Trenck is free！ free！〃 repeated she again； 〃and； oh； unspeakable happiness！ I obtained him his liberty！ ah； no； not I； but a poor Savoyard who wished a dower for his daughter。 Oh； ye great ones of the earth； speak no more of your glory and power； a poor Savoyard was mightier than you all！ But no； no； what have I said？ you； my brother； you have released him。 To you Trenck owes his life and liberty。 I thank you that these fearful chains； which held my soul in bondage； have fallen apart。 Once more I breathe freely； without the appalling consciousness that every breath I draw finds this echo in a cavern of the earth。 You have released me from bondage； oh； my brother； and henceforth I will love you with all the strength of my being。 Yes； I will love you；〃 cried she； eagerly； 〃I will cling to you with unchanging constancy； you will ever find in me a faithful ally。 I can be useful。 I cannot act； but I can listen and watch。 I will be your spy。 I will tell you all I see。 I will read all hearts and make known to you their thoughts。 Even now I have something to disclose； do not trust your brothers。 Above all others put no faith in Prince Henry； he hates you with a perfect hatred for the sake of Augustus William； who； he says； died of your contempt and cruelty。 Trust him in nothing； he is ambitious； he envies you your throne； he hates me also； and calls me always 'La fee malfaisant。' He shall be justified in this！ I will be for him La fee malfaisant。 I will revenge myself for this hatred。 Without my help； however； he will soon be sufficiently punished。 His beautiful Wilhelmina will revenge me。〃
She broke out in wild and convulsive laughter； and repeated again and again in joyous tones； 〃Yes； yes； his beautiful Wilhelmina will punish him for calling me an old witch。〃
The king shuddered at her mad laughter； and was oppressed by her presence； her mirth was sadder than her tears。 He bade her a silent adieu； and hastened away as if flying from a pestilence。 The princess did not detain him； she had fallen upon a chair； and staring immovably before her； she cried out： 〃Trenck is free！ Trenck is free！ Life is his once more！ I must； I will live till I have seen him once more。 Then； when my poor eyes have looked upon him yet once again； then I will diedie！〃 ＇Footnote： This wish of the princess was fulfilled after the death of Frederick the Great。 Trenck received permission from his successor； Frederick William II。； to return to Berlin。 He was graciously received at court； his first visit； even before he was announced to the king； was paid to the Princess Amelia。 She received him in the same room in which； forty… seven years before； they had passed so many happy hours。 Upon the same spot； where； beautiful in youth and grace； they had once sworn eternal love and faith； they now looked upon each other and sought in vain； in these fallen and withered features； for any trace of those charms； which had once enraptured them。 Trenck remained many hours with her； they had much to relate。 He confessed freely all the events of his fantastic and adventurous life。 She listened with a gentle smile； and forgave him for all his wanderings and all his sins。 On taking leave he promised the princess to bring his oldest daughter and present her； and Amelia promised to be a mother to her。 Death； however； prevented the fulfilment of these promises。 It appeared as if this interview had exhausted her remaining strength。 In 1786； a few days after the meeting with Trenck； Amelia died。 Trenck lived but a few years； he went to France and died under the guillotine in 1793。 As he sat with his companions upon the car on their way to execution； he said to the gaping crowd： 〃Eh bien； eh bien；
