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athizingly to the sorrows of his people； and his whole mind and thoughts were given to obtain their alleviation。 He was always willing to aid with his counsel and his strength。 Untiring in the work； he read every letter； every petition； and examined every answer which was written by his cabinet council。 He and he alone； was the soul of his government。
A new life began to reign in this land； of which he was the soul。 He worked more than all of his ministers or servants； and music and science were his only pleasure and recreation。 He was a hero in peace as well as in war。 He did not require； as others do； the distraction of gay pleasures。 Study was his chief recreation conversation with his friends was his greatest pleasure。 Even the hunt； the so…called 〃knightly pleasure；〃 had no charms for him。
〃Hunting；〃 said the king； 〃is one of the senseless pleasures which excites the body but leaves the mind unemployed。 We are more cruel than the wild beasts themselves。 He who can murder an innocent animal in cold blood； would find it impossible to show mercy to his fellow…man。 Is hunting a proper employment for a thinking creature？ A gentleman who hunts can only be forgiven if he does so rarely； and then to distract his thoughts from sad and earnest business matters。 It would be wrong to deny sovereigns all relaxation； but is there a greater pleasure for a monarch than to rule well； to enrich his state； and to advance all useful sciences and arts？ He who requires other enjoyments is to be pitied。〃
CHAPTER V。
THE ENGRAVED CUP。
Princess Amelia was alone in her boudoirshe was ever alone。 She lay upon the sofa； gazed at the ceiling； and in utter despair reflected upon her miserable fate。 For years she had looked anxiously forward to the conclusion of this unhappy war in which Austria and Prussia were so fiercely opposed。 So long as they were active enemies； Trenck must remain a prisoner。 But she had said to herself； 〃When peace is declared； the prisoners of war will be released； and Maria Theresa will demand that her captain； Frederick von Trenck； be set at liberty。〃
Peace had been declared four months； and Trenck still lay in his subterranean cell at Magdeburg。 All Europe was freed from the fetters of war。 Trenck alone was unpardoned and forgotten。 This thought made Amelia sad unto death； banished sleep from her couch； and made her a restless； despairing wanderer during the day。 Amelia had no longer an objectthe last ray of hope was extinguished。 Peace had been concluded and Trenck was forgotten！ God had denied her the happiness of obtaining Trenck's freedom； He would not even grant her the consolation of seeing him released through others。 For nine years Trenck had languished in prisonfor nine years Amelia's only thought； only desire； was to enable him to escape。 Her life was consecrated to this one object。 She thought not of the gold she had sacrificedshe had offered up not only her entire private fortune； but had made debts which her income was utterly inadequate to meet。 Money had no value except as it was consecrated to her one great aim。 She felt now that her heart had been crushed and broken in her useless efforts…that her hopes were trampled in the dust； and her existence worthless。 Peace had visited all hearts but hers with new assurance of hope。 It brought to her nothing but despair and desolation。 While all others seemed to recommence life with fresh courage and confidence； Amelia withdrew to her apartments； brooding in dark discontenthating all those who laughed and were glad… spurning from her with angry jealousy the contented and happy。 The world was to her a vast tomb； and she despised all those who had the mad and blasphemous courage to dance on its brink。
Amelia avenged herself on those who avoided her； by pursuing them with spiteful jests and bitter sarcasm； hoping in this way to be relieved wholly from their presence。 She wished to be alone and always alone。 Her soul within her was desolate； and the outward world should take the same dark hue。 She lived like a prisoner secluded in her own apartments； and when some great court festival compelled her to appear in public； she revenged herself by wounding all who approached her。 The sufferings of others were a balsam to her heart； and she convinced herself that the pain she inflicted assuaged her own torments。
Amelia was alone； her maid of honor had just read aloud one of Moliere's biting； satirical comedies； and received leave of absence for a few hours。 The princess had also dismissed her chamberlain till dinner； and he had left the castle； only two pages waited in the anteroom； which was separated by two chambers from the boudoir。 Amelia had the happy consciousness of being alone in her grief； and； fearing no disturbance； she could sigh and lament aloud。 She dared give words to her rage and her despair； there were no other listeners than these dead； voiceless wallsthey had been long her only confidants。 The stillness was suddenly broken by a gentle knock at the door； and one of the pages entered。
With a frightened look； and begging earnestly to be pardoned for having dared to disturb the princess； he informed her that a stranger was without； who pleaded eagerly to be admitted。
〃What does he wish？〃 said Amelia； roughly。 〃I have neither office nor dignity to bestow； and； at present； I have no money！ Tell him this； and he will go away cheerfully。〃
〃The stranger says he is a jeweller； your highness；〃 said the page。 〃It is of great importance to him that you should look at his collection of gems； and if you will have the goodness to purchase a few trifles； you will make them the fashion in Berlin； and thus make his fortune。〃
〃Tell him he is a fool！〃 said Amelia； with a coarse laugh； 〃I have no desire to see his jewels！ Dismiss him； and do not dare disturb me again。 Well； why do you hesitate？ Why are you still here？〃
〃Ah； princess； the poor man begs so earnestly for admittance； he says your highness knew him at Magdeburg； and that the governor； the Landgrave of Hesse； expressly charged him to show the jewels to your highness。〃
These magical words aroused Amelia from her apathy。 With a quick movement she arose from the sofa； she was endowed with new energy and vitality； she advanced toward the door； then paused； and looked silent and thoughtful。
〃Admit the stranger！〃 said she； 〃I will see his treasures。〃
The page left the room； and Amelia gazed after him breathlessly； and with a loudly…beating heart。 It seemed to her an eternity before the stranger entered。
A tall； slender man； in simple but elegant costume； approached。 He stood at the door； and bowed profoundly to the princess。 Amelia looked at him steadily； and sighed deeply； she did not know this man。 Again her hopes had deceived her。
〃You said the Landgrave of Hesse sent you to me？〃 said she； roughly。
〃Yes； princess；〃 said the man； 〃he commanded me to seek your highness as soon as I arrived in Berlin； and show you my collection； in order that you might have the privilege of selecting before all others。〃
Amelia looked once more questioningly and fiercely upon the stranger； but he remained cold and indifferent。
〃Well； sir； show me your gems！〃
He placed a large casket upon a table in the middle of the room； he then unlocked it； and threw back the lid。 In the different compartments； splendid jewels of wondrous beauty were to be seen rings； pins； bracelets； and necklaces of rare workmanship and design。
〃Diamonds；〃 cried Amelia； contemptuously； 〃nothing but diamonds！〃
〃But diamonds of a strange fire and wondrous design；〃 said the strange jeweller。 〃Will not your highness graciously draw nearer； and observe them？〃
〃I have no use for them： I wear no diamonds！〃 said Amelia： 〃if you have nothing else to show me； close the casket； I shall make no purchase。〃
〃I have； indeed； other and rarer treasures； some beautiful carved work； by Cellini； some ivory carving of the middle ages； and a few rare and costly cameos。 Perhaps these may please the taste of your highness？〃
The jeweller raised the first compartment； and taking out a number of beautiful and costly articles； he laid them upon the table； explained the workmanship and design of each piece； and called the attention of the princess to their wondrous beauty。
Amelia listened carelessly to his words。 These things had no interest for her； she looked only at one objecta round packet； rolled in paper； which the stranger had taken with the other articles from the casket； this must be something particularly costly。 It was carefully wrapped in silk paper； while every thing else lay confusedly together； and yet this seemed the only treasure which the jeweller did not seem disposed to exhibit。 Amelia； however； remarked that he raised this mysterious packet several times； as if it was in his way； changed its place； but every time brought it nearer to her。 It now lay immediately in front of her。
〃What does that paper contain？〃 said she。
〃Oh； that has no interest for your royal highness； that is a worthless object！ Will you have the goodness to examine this seal？ It represents the holy Saint Michael； treading the dragon under his feet； and it is one of the most successful and beautiful works of Benvenuto Cellini。〃