按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
She would probably at last have even restored me to my estates； had not the possessors of them been so powerful； or had she herself lived one year longer。 To these my engraved cups was I indebted for being once more remembered at Vienna。 On the same cup； also； was another engraving of a bird in a cage； held by a Turk； with the following inscription：… The bird sings even in the storm； open his cage； break his fetters； ye friends of virtue； and his songs shall be the delight of your abodes！
There is another remarkable circumstance attending these cups。 All were forbidden under pain of death to hold conversation with me； or to supply me with pen and ink； yet by this open permission of writing what I pleased on pewter； was I enabled to inform the world of all I wished； and to prove a man of merit was oppressed。 The difficulties of this engraving will be conceived； when it is remembered that I worked by candle…light on shining pewter； attained the art of giving light and shade； and by practice could divide a cup into two…and…thirty compartments as regularly with a stroke of the hand as with a pair of compasses。 The writing was so minute that it could only be read with glasses。 I could use but one hand； both； being separated by the bar； and therefore held the cup between my knees。 My sole instrument was a sharpened nail； yet did I write two lines on the rim only。
My labour became so excessive； that I was in danger of distraction or blindness。 Everybody wished for cups； and I wished to oblige everybody； so that I worked eighteen hours a day。 The reflection of the light from the pewter was injurious to my eyes； and the labour of invention for apposite subjects and verses was most fatiguing。 I had learnt only architectural drawing。
Enough of these cups； which procured me so much honour； so many advantages； and helped to shorten so many mournful hours。 My greatest encumbrance was the huge iron collar； with its enormous appendages； which； when suffered to press the arteries in the back of my neck； occasioned intolerable headaches。 I sat too much； and a third time fell sick。 A Brunswick sausage； secretly given me by a friend； occasioned an indigestion； which endangered my life； a putrid fever followed； and my body was reduced to a skeleton。 Medicines； however； were conveyed to me by the officers； and； now and then； warm food。
After my recovery； I again thought it necessary to endeavour to regain my liberty。 I had but forty louis…d'ors remaining； and these I could not get till I had first broken up the flooring。
Lieutenant Sonntag was consumptive； and obtained his discharge。 I supplied bins with money to defray the expenses of his journey； and with an order that four hundred florins should be annually paid him from my effects till his death or my release。 I commissioned him to seek an audience from the Empress； endeavour to excite her compassion in my behalf； and to remit me four thousand florins； for which I gave a proper acquittance； by the way of Hamburgh。 The money…draft was addressed to my administrators； Counsellors Kempf and Huttner。
But no one； alas！ in Vienna； wished my return； they had already begun to share my property； of which they never rendered me an account。 Poor Sonntag was arrested as a spy； imprisoned； ill treated for some weeks； and； at last； when naked and destitute； received a hundred florins； and was escorted beyond the Austrian confines。 The worthy man fell a shameful sacrifice to his honesty； could never obtain an audience of the Empress； and returned poor and miserable on foot to Berlin； where he was twelve months secretly maintained by his brother； and with whom he died。 He wrote an account of all this to the good Knoblauch； my Hamburgh agent； and I； from my small store； sent him a hundred ducats。
How much must I despair of finding any place of refuge on earth； hearing accounts like these from Vienna。
A friend； whom I will never name； by the aid of one of the lieutenants； secretly visited me； and supplied me with six hundred ducats。 The same friend； in the year 1763； paid four thousand florins to the imperial envoy； Baron Reidt； at Berlin； for the furthering of my freedom； as I shall presently more fully show。 Thus I had once more money。
About this time the French army advanced to within five miles of Magdeburg。 This important fortress was； at that time； the key of the whole Prussian power。 It required a garrison of sixteen thousand men； and contained not more than fifteen hundred。 The French might have marched in unopposed； and at once have put an end to the war。 The officers brought me all the news； and my hopes rose as they approached。 What was my astonishment when the major informed me that three waggons had entered the town in the night； had been sent back loaded with money； and that the French were retreating。 This； I can assure my readers； on my honour； is literally truth； to the eternal disgrace of the French general。 The major； who informed me； was himself an eye…witness of the fact。 It was pretended the money was for the army of the King； but everybody could guess whither it was going； it left the town without a convoy； and the French were then in the neighbourhood。 Such were the allies of Maria Theresa； the receivers of this money are known in Paris。 Not only were my hopes this way frustrated； but in Russia likewise； where the Countess of Bestuchef and the Chancellor had fallen into disgrace。
I now imagined another； and； indeed； a fearful and dangerous project。 The garrison of Magdeburg at this moment consisted but of nine hundred militia； who were discontented men。 Two majors and two lieutenants were in my interest。 The guard of the Star Fort amounted but to a hundred and fifteen men。 Fronting the gate of this fort was the town gate； guarded only by twelve men and an inferior officer； beside these lay the casemates； in which were seven thousand Croat prisoners。 Baron K…y； a captain； and prisoner of war； also was in our interest； and would hold his comrades ready at a certain place and time to support my undertaking。 Another friend was； under some pretence； to hold his company ready； with their muskets loaded； and the plan was such that I should have had four hundred men in arms ready to carry it into execution。
The officer was to have placed the two men we most suspected and feared； as sentinels over me； he was to command them to take away my bed； and when encumbered； I was to spring out； and shut them in the prison。 Clothing and arms were to have been procured； and brought me into my prison； the town…gate was to have been surprised； I was to have run to the casemate； and called to the Croats； 〃Trenck to arms！〃 My friends； at the same instant； were to break forth； and the plan was so well concerted that it could not have failed。 Magdeburg； the magazine of the army； the royal treasury； arsenal； all would have been mine； and sixteen thousand men； who were then prisoners of war； would have enabled me to keep possession。
The most essential secret； by which all this was to have been effected； I dare not reveal； suffice it to say； everything was provided for； everything made secure； I shall only add that the garrison； in the harvest mont