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CHAPTER V。
THE PRISONER。
Two years had passed since Frederick von Trenck entered the fortress of Magdeburg。 Two years！ What is that to those who live； work； strive； and fight the battle of life？ A short space of time； dashing on with flying feet； and leaving nothing for remembrance but a few important moments。
Two years！ What is that to the prisoner？ A gray； impenetrable eternity； in which the bitter waters of the past fall drop by drop upon all the functions of life； and hollow out a grave for the being without existence； who no longer has the courage to call himself a man。 Two years of anxious waiting； of vain hopes； of ever…renewing self…deception； of labor without result。
This was Trenck's existence； since the day the doors of the citadel of Magdeburg closed upon him as a prisoner。 He had had many bitter disappointments； much secret suffering； he had learned to know human nature in all its wickedness and insignificance； its love of money and corruption； but also in its greatness and exaltation； and its constancy and kindness。
Amongst the commandants and officers of the fortress whose duty it was to guard Trenck； there were many hard and cruel hearts； which exulted in his tortures； and who； knowing the king's personal enmity to him； thought to recommend themselves by practising the most refined cruelties upon the defenceless prisoner。 But he had also found warm human souls； who pitied his misfortunes； and who sought； by every possible means； to ameliorate his sad fate。 And； after all； never had the night of his imprisonment been utterly dark and impenetrable。 The star of hope； of love； of constancy； had glimmered from afar。 This star； which had thrown its silver veil over his most beautiful and sacred remembrances； over his young life of liberty and love； this star was Amelia。 She had never ceased to think of him； to care for him； to labor for his release； she had always found means to supply him with help； with gold； with active friends。 But； alas！ all this had only served to add to his misfortunes； to narrow the boundaries of his prison； and increase the weight of his chains。
Treachery and seeming accident had； up to this time； made vain every attempt at escape； and destroyed in one moment the sad and exhausting labors of many long months。 The first and seemingly most promising attempt at flight had miscarried； through the treason of the faithless Baron Weingarten； who had offered to communicate between Trenck and the princess。
For six long months Trenck had worked with ceaseless and incomparable energy at a subterranean path which would lead him to freedom； all was prepared； all complete。 The faithful grenadier； Gefhart； who had been won over by the princess； had given him the necessary instruments； and through the bars of his prison had conveyed to him such food as would strengthen him for his giant task。
Nothing was now wanting but gold； to enable Trenck； when he had escaped； to hire a little boat； which would place him on the other side of the Elbegold； to enable him to make a rapid flight。
Gefhart had undertaken to deliver Trenck's letter to the princess； asking for this money。 This letter； written with his own blood upon a piece of linen； had been forwarded through Gefhart's mistress； the Jewess Rebecca； to Weingarten。 He delivered it to the princess； and received； through Pollnitz； two thousand thalers； which he did not hand over to Rebecca； but retained for himself； and betrayed to the king Trenck's intended flight。
This was but a short time before Weingarten's own flight； and while he was enjoying the fruit of this base fraud in security and freedom； poor Trenck was forced to descend still lower in the citadel； and take possession of that frightful prison which； by special command of the king； had been built and prepared for him； in the lowest casemates of the fortress。
The king was greatly exasperated at these never…ending attempts of Trenck to escape； his courage and endurance made him an interesting and admired martyr to the whole garrison at Magdeburg。
Frederick wished to give to this garrison； and to all his soldiers； a terrible example of the relentless severity with which insubordination should be punished； to prove to them that mortal daring and mortal energy were vain to escape the avenging hand of royal justice。
Trenck； who； in the beginning； had only been condemned to arrest in Glatz for six months； had； by his constant attempts at escape； and the mad and eloquent expression of his rage； brought upon himself the sentence of eternal imprisonment； in a subterranean cell； which； by express command of the king； was so prepared； that neither guards nor soldiers were necessary to his detention。 A jailer only was needed； to lock the four doors of the corridor which led to Trenck's cell。 It was as little dangerous to guard this poor prisoner as to approach the lion bound by chains and hemmed in by iron bars。
Trenck was indeed manacled like a wild beast。 A chain clanked upon his feet； an iron girdle was around his waist； to which hung a heavy chain； fastened to a thick iron bar built in the wall； manacles were made fast to each end of an iron bar； to which his hands were bound。 The most cruel wild beast would not have been so tortured； some one would have had pity on him； and mercifully ended his life。 But this creature； thus tortured； groaning and clanking his heavy chains this creature was a man； therefore there was no pity。 It would have been considered a crime to put an end to his life； but slowly； day by day； to murder him； was only justice。
The king had made it the personal duty of the commandant； Bruckhausen； to guard Trenck。 He declared that if he allowed Trenck to escape； he should not only lose his place and rank； but take Trenck's place in his fearful cell。 This was a frightful menace to the ambitious and harsh commandant； Bruckhausen； and； of course； led him to take the severest precautions。 It was he； therefore； who had bound Trenck； and； whenever he visited the poor prisoner in his cell； he rejoiced in the artistic construction of his chains； and looked proudly upon his work。 He saw with delight that Trenck was scarcely able to drag his heavy chains two feet to the right or left； or to raise the tin cup to his parched lips； with his hands thus fastened to an iron bar； and as often as he left the cell； he exclaimed； with an expression of malicious joy：
〃I have tamed him forever！ he will not escape me！〃
But Trenck was not tamed； his courage was not broken。 In this crushed and wasted form dwelt a strong soul； a bounding heart； he had been bound in chains thought to be indissoluble。 Trenck alone did not believe this； he trusted still in the magic power of his will； in his good star； which had not yet been quenched in darkness。
In the wall to which the chain was fastened； his name was built； in red tiles； a gravestone marked the spot upon which his feet moved； upon which a death's head and the name of Trenck was engraved。 Under this stone there was a vault； and when one looked at the moist walls； from which the water constantly trickled； and at the dark cell； which for six months had not been cheered by one ray of light； they might well suppose that the gravestone would soon be lifted； and the vault opened to receive the poor prisoner； upon whose grave no other tears would flow。 These dark walls were； as it appeared； softer and more pitiful than the hearts of men。
Trenck was not subdued； the death's head and his name upon the gravestone did not terrify him！ It was nothing more to him than a constant reminder to collect his courage and his strength； and to oppose to his daily menace of death a strong conviction of life and liberty。
If his prison were dark； and warmed by no ray of sunshine； he leaned his head against the wall； closed his eyes； and his vivid imagination and glowing fancy was the slave of his will； and painted his past life in magic pictures。
The prisoner； clad as a convict； with his hands and feet chained； became at once the child of fortune and love； the exalted favorite of princes； the admired cavalier； the envied courtier； and the darling of lovely women。
When hunger drove him to eat the coarse bread which was his only nourishment； and to satisfy his thirst with the muddy water in the tin pitcher at his side； he thought of the meals； worthy of Lucullus； of which he had partaken； at the Russian court； by the side of the all…powerful Russian minister Bestuchef； he remembered the fabulous pomp which surrounded him； and the profound reverence which was shown him； as the acknowledged favorite of the prime minister of the empress。
When no one whispered one word of consolation or of sympathy； for all trembled at the ceaseless watchfulness of the commandantwhen the rude silent jailer came daily and placed his bread and water before him and left him without word or greetingthen Trenck recalled the sacred； consecrated hours in which love had whispered sweet names and tender words。 This love still livedit watched over and shone down upon himit was a star of hope。 Why should Trenck despair； when love lived and lived only for him？ No； he would not diehe would never be buried under this gravestone。 Beyond these thick； damp walls lay