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moderate my transports。〃
〃Then you are free！〃 was the reply。
The sub…governor first embraced me； and afterwards his attendants。
He asked me what clothes I would wish。 I answered； the uniform of my regiment。 The tailor took my measure。 Reichmann told him it must be made by the morning。 The man excused himself because it was Christmas Eve。 〃So； then； this gentleman must remain in his dungeon because it is holiday with you。〃 The tailor promised to be ready。
I was taken to the guard…room； congratulations were universal； and the town…major administered the oath customary to all state prisoners。
1st。 That I should avenge myself on no man。
2nd。 That I should neither enter the Prussian nor Saxon states。
3rd。 That I should never relate by speech or in writing what had happened to me。
4th。 And that； so long as the King lived； I should neither serve in a civil nor military capacity。
Count Schlieben delivered me a letter from the imperial minister； General Reidt； to the following purport：… That he rejoiced at having found an opportunity of obtaining my liberty from the King； and that I must obey the requisitions of Count Schlieben； whose orders were to accompany me to Prague。
〃Yes； dear Trenck；〃 said Schlieben； 〃I am to conduct you through Dresden to Prague； with orders not to suffer you to speak to any one on the road。 I have received three hundred ducats； to defray the expenses of travelling。 As all things cannot be prepared today； the； sub…governor has determined we shall depart to…morrow night。〃
I acquiesced； and Count Schlieben remained with me； the others returned to town； and I dined with the major and officers on guard； with General Walrabe in his prison。
Once at liberty； I walked about the fortifications； to collect the money I had concealed in my dungeon。 To every man on guard I gave a ducat； to the sentinels； each three； and ten ducats to be divided among the relief…guard。 I sent the officer on guard a present from Prague； and the remainder of my money I bestowed on the widow of the worthy Gelfhardt。 He was no more； and she had entrusted the thousand florins to a young soldier； who； spending them too freely； was suspected； betrayed her； and she passed two years in prison。 Gelfhardt never received any punishment； he was in the field。 Had he left any children； I should have provided for them。 To the widow of the man who hung himself before my prison door； in the year 1756； I gave thirty ducats； lent me by Schlieben。
The night was riotous； the guard made merry； and I passed most of it in their company。 I was visited by all the generals of the garrison on Christmas morning； for I was not allowed to enter the town。 I dressed； viewed myself in the glass； and found pleasure； but the tumult of my passions； the congratulations I received； and the vivacity round me； prevented my remembering incidents minutely。
Yet how wonderful an alteration in the countenances of those by whom I had been guarded！ I was treated with friendship； attention； and flattery。 And why？ Because these fetters had dropped off which I had never justly borne。
Evening came； and with it Count Schlieben； a waggon； and four post… horses。 After an affecting farewell； we departed。 I shed tears at leaving Magdeburg。 It seems strange that I lived here ten years； yet never saw the town。
The duration of my imprisonment at Magdeburg was nearly ten years； and with the term of my imprisonment at Glatz； the time is eleven years。 Thus was I robbed of time； my body weakened； my health impaired； so that in my decline of life； a second time； I suffer the gloom and chains of the dungeon at Magdeburg。
The reader would now hope that my calamities were at an end； yet； upon my honour； I would prefer the suffering of the Star Fort to those I have since endured in Austria； especially while Krugel and Zetto were my referendaries and curators。
At this moment I am obliged to be guarded in my expressions。 I have put my enemies to shame； but the hope of justice or reward is vain。 No rewards are bestowed on him who； with the consciousness of integrity； demands； and does not deplore。 The facts I shall relate will seem incredible； yet I have； in my own hands； the vouchers of their veracity。
〃If my right hand is guilty of writing untruths in this book； may the executioner sever it from my body； and； in the memory of posterity； may I live a villain！〃
I will proceed with my history。
On the 2nd of January I arrived； with Count Schlieben； at Prague； the same day he delivered me to the governor； the Duke of Deuxponts。 He received me with kindness； we dined with him two days； and all Prague were anxious to see a man who had surmounted ten years of suffering so unheard of as mine。 Here I received three thousand florins； and paid General Reidt his three hundred ducats； which he had advanced Count Schlieben； for my journey； the repayment of which he demanded in his letter； although he had received ten thousand florins。 The expense of returning I also paid to Schlieben； made him a present； and provided myself with some necessaries。 After remaining a few days at Prague； a courier arrived from Vienna； to whom I was obliged to pay forty florins； with an order from government to bring me from Prague to Vienna。 My sword was demanded； Captain Count Wela； and two inferior officers； entered the carriage； which I was obliged to purchase； in company with me； and brought me to Vienna。 I took up a thousand florins more； in Prague； to defray these expenses； and was obliged； in Vienna； to pay the captain fifty ducats for travelling charges back。
I was brought back like a criminal； was sent as a prisoner to the barracks； there kept in the chamber of Lieutenant Blonket； with orders that I should be suffered to write to no one； speak to no one； without a ticket from the counsellors Kempt or Huttner。
Thus I remained six weeks； at length； the colonel of the regiment of Poniatowsky； the present field…marshal； Count Alton； spoke to me。 I related what I supposed were the reasons of my being kept a prisoner in Vienna； and to the exertions of this man am I indebted that the intentions of my enemies were frustrated； which were to have me imprisoned as insane in the fortress of Glatz。 Had they once removed me from Vienna； I should certainly have pined away my life in a madhouse。 Yet I could never obtain justice against these men。 The Empress was persuaded that my brain was affected； and that I uttered threats against the King of Prussia。 The election of a king of the Romans was then in agitation； and the court was apprehensive lest I should offend the Prussian envoy。 General Reidt had been obliged to promise Frederic that I should not appear in Vienna； and that they should hold a wary eye over me。 The Empress…Queen felt compassion for my supposed disease； and asked if no assistance could be afforded me； to which they answered； I had several times let blood； but that I still was a dangerous man。 They added； that I had squandered four thousand florins in six days at Prague； that it would be proper to appoint guardians to impede such extravagancies。
Count Alton spoke of me and my hard destiny to the Countess Parr； mistress of the ce