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！
of that fearful flock of old maids who took refuge in a nunnery because no man desired them？ No； your majesty； do not send me to Quedlinberg； it is not my calling to build up the worthy nuns into saints of the Most High。 I am too unsanctifled myself to be an example to them； and； in fact； I feel no inclination to purify them from their sins。〃
〃Well； that might be found a difficult task；〃 said the king； laughing； 〃and it would not make you beloved。 Men love nothing so much as their vices； and they hate those who would free them from their cherished yoke。 You can； however； remain in Berlin and still accept this office； once so worthily rilled by the lovely Aurora of Konigsmark。 King Augustus gave her； at least； with this refuge； provided by his love； a rich widow's income； and you can now； Amelia； enjoy the fruit of that love which at one time filled all Europe with admiration。 The salary of the abbess amounts to seventeen thousand thalers； and I think this addition to your fortune will be welcome。 Your income will now be forty thousand thalers。〃
〃Lodging and fuel included；〃 said Amelia； with a sarcastic laugh。 〃Look you； sire； I see that I have nothing to complain of。 My hospital is splendidly endowed； and if I should ever become miserly； I may be able to lay aside a few thalers yearly。〃
〃I will gladly put it in your power to lay aside a larger sum； if you become covetous；〃 said the king； 〃and I beg you； therefore； to allow me the pleasure of raising your salary as princess； six thousand thalers。〃 ＇Footnote： History of Berlin and Court。＇
Amelia looked at him distrustfully。 〃You are very gracious to me to… day； my brother。 You grant favors before I ask them。 I confess to you this alarms and agitates me。 You have perhaps some bad news to disclose； and fearing I will be crushed by it； you desire； beforehand； to apply a balsam。〃
The king's glance was tender and sympathetic。 〃Poor Amelia！ you will； then； never believe in my affection；〃 said he； mildly。 〃You distrust even your brother！ Oh； Amelia！ life has 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