Thesebadmendidnot，itistrue，dieinthemannertheyought，buttheyarealldead，andIamstillliving，anhonest，thoughpoorman：theydidnotdieso。Bethisreadandrememberedbytheirluxuriousheirs，whorefusetorestoremychildrentotheirrights。
　　CHAPTERV。
　　MyconsternationontheappearanceoftheLandgrave，withmyletterinhishand，maywellbesupposed；Ihadthepresenceofmind，however，todenymyhandwriting，andaffectastonishmentatsocraftyatrick。TheLandgraveendeavouredtoconvictme，toldmewhatLieutenantKemnitzhadrepeatedatViennaconcerningmypossessingmyselfofMagdeburg，andtherebyshowedmehowfullyI
　　hadbeenbetrayed。ButasnosuchpersonexistedasLieutenantKemnitz，andasmyfriendhadfortunatelyconcealedhisname，themysteryremainedimpenetrable，especiallyasnoonecouldconceivehowaprisoner，inmysituation，couldseduceorsubduethewholegarrison。Theworthyprinceleftmyprison，apparentlysatisfiedwithmydefence；hisheartfeltnosatisfactioninthemisfortunesofothers。
　　Thenextdayaformalexaminationwastaken，atwhichthesub—
　　governorReichmannpresided。Iwasaccusedasatraitortomycountry；butIobstinatelydeniedmyhandwriting。Proofsorwitnessestherewerenone，andinanswertotheprincipalcharge，I
　　said，"Iwasnocriminal，butamancalumniated，illegallyimprisoned，andloadedwithirons；thattheKing，intheyear1746，hadcashieredme，andconfiscatedmyparentalinheritance；thatthereforethelawsofnatureenforcedmetoseekhonourandbreadinaforeignservice；andthat，findingtheseinAustria，IbecameanofficerandafaithfulsubjectoftheEmpress—Queen；thatIhadbeenasecondtimeunoffendinglyimprisoned；thathereIwastreatedastheworstofmalefactors，andmyonlyresourcewastoseekmylibertybysuchmeansasIcould；wereIthereforeinthisattempttodestroyMagdeburg，andoccasionthelossofathousandlives，I
　　shouldstillbeguiltless。HadIbeenheardandlegallysentenced，previoustomyimprisonmentatGlatz，Ishouldhavebeen，andstillcontinued，acriminal；butnothavingbeenguiltyofanysmall，muchlessofanygreatcrime，equaltomypunishment，ifsuchcrimecouldbe，Iwasthereforenotaccountableforconsequences；IowedneitherfidelitynordutytotheKingofPrussia；forbythewordofhispowerhehaddeprivedmeofbread，honour，country，andfreedom。"
　　Heretheexaminationended，withoutfurtherdiscovery；theofficers，however，fallingundersuspicion，wereallremoved，andthusIlostmybestfriends；yetitwasnotlongbeforeIhadgainedtwoothers，whichwasnodifficultmatter，asIknewthenationalcharacter，andthatnonebutpoormenweremademilitiaofficers。Thuswasthegovernor’sprecautionfruitless，andalmosteverybodysecretlywishedImightobtainmyfreedom。
　　IshallneverforgetthenoblemannerinwhichIwastreatedonthisoccasionbytheLandgrave。ThisIpersonallyacknowledged，someyearsafterwards，inthecityofCassel，whenIheardmanythingswhichconfirmedallmysurmisesconcerningVienna。TheLandgravereceivedmewithallgrace，favour，anddistinction。Ireverehismemory，andseektohonourhisname。Hewasthefriendofmisfortune。WhenInotlongafterwardsfellill，hesentmehisownphysician，andmeatfromhistable，norwouldhesufferme，duringtwomonths，tobewakenedbythesentinels。Helikewiseremovedthedreadfulcollarfrommyneck；forwhichhewasseverelyreprimandedbytheKing，ashehimselfhassinceassuredme。
　　Imightfillavolumewithincidentsattendingtwoothereffortstoescape，butIwillnotwearythereader’spatiencewithtoomuchrepetition。Ishallmerelygiveanabstractofboth。
　　WhenIhadoncemoregainedtheofficers，Imadeanewattemptatminingmywayout。Notwantingforimplements，mychainsandtheflooringweresooncutthrough，andallwassocarefullyreplacedthatIwasundernofearofexamination。Iherefoundmyconcealedmoney，pistols，andothernecessaries，buttillIhadridmyselfofsomehundredweightofsand，itwasimpossibletoproceed。ForthispurposeImadetwodifferentopeningsinthefloor：outoftherealholeIthrewagreatquantityofsandintomyprison；afterwhichI
　　closeditwithallpossiblecare。Ithenworkedatthesecondwithsomuchnoise，thatIwascertaintheymusthearmewithout。Aboutmidnightthedoorsbegantothunder，andintheycame，detectingme，asIintendedtheyshould。NoneofthemcouldconceivewhyIshouldwishtobreakoutunderthedoor，wheretherewasatripleguardtopass。Thesentinelsremained，andinthemorningprisonersweresenttowheelawaythesand。Theholewaswalledupandboarded，andmyfetterswererenewed。Theylaughedattheridiculousnessofmyundertaking，butpunishedmebydeprivingmeofmylightandbed，which，however，inafortnightwerebothrestored。Oftheotherhole，outofwhichmostoftheearthhadbeenthrown，noonewasaware。Themajorandlieutenantweretoomuchmyfriendstoremarkthattheyhadremovedthricethequantityofsandthefalseopeningcouldcontain。Theysupposedthisstrangeattempthavingfailed，itwouldbemylast，andBruckhausengrewnegligent。
　　Thegovernorandsub—governorbothvisitedmeaftersomeweeks，butfarfromimitatingthebrutalityofBorck，theLandgravespoketomewithmildness，promisedmehisinteresttoregainmyfreedom，whenpeaceshouldbeconcluded；toldmeIhadmorefriendsthanI
　　supposed，andassuredmeIhadnotbeenforgottenbytheCourtatVienna。
　　Hepromisedmeeveryalleviation，andIgavehimmywordIwouldnomoreattempttoescapewhileheremainedgovernor。Mymannerenforcedconvictionandheorderedmyneck—collartobetakenoff，mywindowtobeunclosed，mydoorstobeleftopentwohourseveryday，astovetobeputinmydungeon，finerlinenformyshirts，andpapertoamusemyselfbywritingmythoughts。Thesheetsweretobenumberedwhengiven，andthenreturned，bythetown—major，thatI
　　mightnotabusethisliberty。
　　Inkwasnotallowedme，Ithereforeprickedmyfingers，sufferedthebloodtotrickleintoapot；bythesemeansIprocuredasubstituteforink，bothtowriteanddraw。
　　Inowengravedmycups，andversified。Ihadopportunitytodisplaymyabilitiestoawakencompassion。MyemulationwasincreasedbyknowingthatmyworkswereseenatCourts，thatthePrincessAmeliaandtheQueenherselftestifiedtheirsatisfaction。Ihadsubjectstoengravefromsentme；andthewretchwhomtheKingintendedtoburyalive，whosenamenomanwastomention，neverwasmorefamousthanwhileheventedhisgroansinhisdungeon。Mywritingsproducedtheireffect，andreallyregainedmyfreedom。TomycultivationofthesciencesandpresenceofmindIamindebtedforall；theseallthepowerofFredericcouldnotdeprivemeof。Yes！
　　ThislibertyIprocured，thoughheansweredallpetitionsinmybehalf——"Heisadangerousman：andsolongasIliveheshallneverseethelight！"YethaveIseenitduringhislife：afterhisdeathIhaveseenitwithoutrevengingmyself，otherwisethanbyprovingmyvirtuetoamonarchwhooppressedbecauseheknewmenot，becausebewouldnotrecallthehastysentenceofanger，orownhemightbemistaken。Hediedconvincedofmyintegrity，yetwithoutaffordingmeretribution！Manisformedbymisfortune；virtueisactiveinadversity。Itisindifferenttomethatthecompanionsofmyyouthhavetheirearsgratified，delightedwiththetitlesofGeneral！Field—MarshalIhavelearnedtolivewithoutsuchadditions；Iamknowninmyworks。
　　Ireturnedtomydungeon。Here，aftermylastconferencewiththeLandgrave，Iwaitedmyfatewithamindmoreateasethanthatofaprinceinapalace。Thenewspaperstheybroughtmebespokeapproachingpeace，onwhichmydependencewasplaced，andIpassedeighteenmonthscalmly，andwithoutfurtherattempttoescape。
　　ThefatheroftheLandgravedied；andMagdeburgnowlostitsgovernor。TheworthyReichmann，however，testifiedformeallcompassionandesteem；Ihadbooks，andmytimewasemployed。
　　Imprisonmentandchainstomewerebecomehabitual，andfreedominhopeapproached。
　　AboutthistimeIwrotethepoems，"TheMacedonianHero，""TheDreamRealised，"andsomefables。Thebestofmypoemsarenowlosttome。Themind’ssensibilitywhenthebodyisimprisonedisstronglyroused，norcanalltheaidsofthelibraryequalthisadvantage。
　　PerhapsImayrecoversomeinBerlin；ifso，theworldmaylearnwhatmythoughtsthenwere。WhenIwasatliberty，IhadnonebutsuchasIremembered，andtheseIcommittedtowriting。OnmyfirstvisittotheLandgraveofHesse—CasselIreceivedavolumeofthemwritteninmyownblood；buttherewereeightofthesewhichIshallneverregain。
　　ThedeathofElizabeth，thedeposingofPeterIII。，andtheaccessionofCatherineII。producedpeace。OnthereceiptofthisintelligenceItriedtoprovideforallcontingencies。TheworthyCaptainK—hadopenedmeacorrespondencewithVienna：Iwasassuredofsupport；butwasassuredtheadministratorsandthosewhopossessedmyestateswouldthroweveryimpedimentinthewayoffreedom。Itriedtopersuadeanotherofficertoaidmyescape，butinvain。
　　Ithereforeopenedmyoldhole，andmyfriendsassistedmetodisembarrassmyselfofsand。Mymoneymeltedaway，buttheyprovidedmewithtools，gunpowder，andagoodsword。Ihadremainedsolongquietthatmyflooringwasnotexamined。
　　Myintentwastowaitthepeace；andshouldIcontinueinchains，thenwouldIhavemysubterraneanpassagetotherampartreadyforescape。Formyfurthersecurity，anoldlieutenanthadpurchasedahouseinthesuburbs，whereImightlieconcealed。Gummern，inSaxony，istwomilesfromMagdeburg；hereafriend，withtwogoodhorses，wastowaitayear，torideontheglacisofKlosterbergenonthefirstandfifteenthofeachmonth，andatagivensignaltohastentomyassistance。
　　Mypassagehadtobereadyincaseofemergency；Iremovedtheupperplanking，brokeupthetwobeds，cuttheboardsintochips，andburnttheminmystove。BythisIobtainedsomuchadditionalroomastoproceedhalfwaywithmymine。Linenagainwasbroughtme，sand—bagsmade，andthusIsuccessfullyproceededtoallbutthelastoperation。EverythingwassowellconcealedthatIhadnothingtofearfrominspection，especiallyasthenewcomegarrisoncouldnotknowwhatwastheoriginallengthoftheplanks。
　　Imusthererelateadreadfulaccident，whichIcannotrememberwithoutshuddering，andtheterrorofwhichhasoftenhauntedmyverydreams。
　　Whileminingundertherampart，asIwascarryingoutthesand—bag，Istruckmyfootagainstastonewhichfelldownandclosedupthepassage。
　　Whatwasmyhorrortofindmyselfburiedalive！Afterashortreflection，Ibegantoworkthesandawayfromtheside，thatI
　　mightturnround。Thereweresomefeetofemptyspace，intowhichI
　　threwthesandasIworkeditaway；butthesmallquantityofairsoonmadeitsofoulthatIathousandtimeswishedmyselfdead，andmadeseveralattemptstostranglemyself。Thirstalmostdeprivedmeofmysenses，butasoftenasIputmymouthtothesandIinhaledfreshair。Mysufferingswereincredible，andIimagineIpassedeighthoursinthissituation。Myspiritsfainted；againI
　　recoveredandbegantolabour，buttheearthwasashighasmychin，andIhadnomorespacewhereImightthrowthesand。Imadeamoredesperateeffort，drewmybodyintoaball，andturnedround；Inowfacedthestone；therebeinganopeningatthetop，Irespiredfresherair。Irootedawaythesandunderthestone，andletitsinksothatImightcreepover；atlengthIoncemorearrivedinmydungeon！
　　Themorningwasadvanced；IsatdownsoexhaustedthatIsupposeditwasimpossibleIhadstrengthtoconcealmyhole。Afterhalfanhour’srest，myfortitudereturned：againIwenttowork，andscarcelyhadIendedbeforemyvisitorsapproached。
　　Theyfoundmepale：Icomplainedofheadache，andcontinuedsomedaysaffectedbythefatigueIhadsustained。Afteratimestrengthreturned；butperhapsofallmynightsofhorrorthiswasthemosthorrible。IrepeatedlydreamtIwasburiedinthecentreoftheearth；andnow，thoughthreeandtwentyyearsareelapsed，mysleepisstillhauntedbythisvision。
　　Afterthisaccident，whenIworkedinmycavity，Ihungakniferoundmyneck，thatifIshouldbeenclosedImightshortenmymiseries。Overthestonethathadfallenseveralothershungtottering，underwhichIwasobligedtocreep。Nothing，however，coulddetermefromtryingtoobtainmyliberty。
　　Whenmypassagewasready，IwroteletterstomyfriendsatVienna，andalsoamemorialtomySovereign。WhenthemilitialeftMagdeburgandtheregularsreturned，Itookleaveofmyfriendswhohadbehavedsobenevolently。SeveralweekselapsedbeforetheydepartedandIlearntthatGeneralReidtwasappointedambassadorfromViennatoBerlin。
　　Ihadseentheworld；IknewthisGeneralwasnotaversetoabribe：
　　Iwrotehimaletter，conjuringhimtoactwithardourinmybehalf。
　　IenclosedadraftforsixthousandflorinsonmyeffectsatVienna，andhereceivedfourthousandfromoneofmyrelations。Ihavetothankthesetenthousandflorinsformyfreedom，whichIobtainedninemonthsafter。MyvouchersshowthesixthousandflorinswerepaidinApril，1763，totheorderofGeneralReidt。TheotherfourthousandIrepaid，whenatliberty，tomyfriend。
　　IreceivedintelligencebeforethegarrisondepartedthatnostipulationhadbeenmadeonmybehalfatthepeaceofHubertsberg。
　　TheViennaplenipotentiaries，afterthearticlesweresigned，mentionedmynametoHertzberg，withbutfewassurancesofeveryeffortbeingmadetomoveFrederic，apromiseonwhichIcouldmuchbetterrelythanonmyprotectorsatVienna，whohadleftmeinmisfortune。Ideterminedtowaitthreemonthslonger，andshouldI
　　stillfindmyselfneglected，toowemyescapetomyself。
　　Onthechangeofthegarrison，theofficersweremoredifficulttogainthantheformer。Themajorsobeyedtheirorders；theirhelpwasunnecessary；butstillIsighedformyoldfriends。Ihadonlyammunition—breadagainforfood。
　　Mytimehungveryheavy；everythingwasexaminedonthechangeofthegarrison。Astricterscrutinymightoccur，andmyprojectsbediscovered。Thishadnearlybeeneffected，asIshallhererelate。
　　Ihadsotamedamousethatitwouldeatfrommymouth；inthissmallanimalIdiscoveredproofsofintelligence。
　　Thismousehadnearlybeenmyruin。Ihaddivertedmyselfwithitonenight；ithadbeennibblingatmydoorandcaperingonatrencher。Thesentinelshearingouramusement，calledtheofficers：
　　theyheardalso，andthoughtallwasnotright。Atdaybreakthetown—major，asmith，andmasonentered；strictsearchwasbegun；
　　flooring，walls，chains，andmyownpersonwereallscrutinised，butinvain。Theyaskedwhatwasthenoisetheyhadheard；Imentionedthemouse，whistled，anditcameandjumpeduponmyshoulder。
　　OrdersweregivenIshouldbedeprivedofitssociety；Ientreatedtheywouldspareitslife。Theofficeronguardgavemehiswordhewouldpresentittoalady，whowouldtreatitwithtenderness。
　　Hetookitawayandturneditlooseintheguardroom，butitwastametomealone，andsoughtahidingplace。Ithadfledtomyprisondoor，and，atthehourofvisitation，ranintomydungeon，testifyingitsjoybyleapingbetweenmylegs。Itisworthyofremarkthatithadbeentakenawayblindfold，thatistosay，wrappedinahandkerchief。Theguard—roomwasahundredpacesfromthedungeon。
　　Allweredesirousofobtainingthismouse，butthemajorcarrieditoffforhislady；sheputitintoacage，whereitpined，andinafewdaysdied。
　　Thelossofthiscompanionmademequitemelancholy，yet，onthelastexamination，IperceivedithadsoeatenthebreadbywhichI
　　hadconcealedthecrevicesIhadmadeincuttingthefloor，thattheexaminersmustbeblindnottodiscoverthem。Iwasconvincedmyfaithfullittlefriendhadfallenanecessaryvictimtoitsmaster’ssafety。Thisaccidentdeterminedmenottowaitthethreemonths。
　　Ihaverelatedthathorsesweretobekeptready，onthefirstandfifteenth，andIonlysufferedthefirstofAugusttopass，becauseIwouldnotinjureMajorPfuhl，whohadtreatedmewithmorecompassionthanhiscomrades，andwhosedayofvisitationitwas。
　　OnthefifteenthIdeterminedtofly。Thisresolutionformed，I
　　waitedinexpectationoftheday，whenanewandremarkablesuccessionofaccidentshappened。
　　Analarmoffirehadobligedthemajortorepairtothetown；hecommittedthekeystothelieutenant。Thelatter，comingtovisitme，asked——"DearTrenck，haveyounever，duringsevenyearsthatyouhavebeenundertheguardofthemilitia，foundamanlikeSchell？"
　　"Alas！sir，"answeredI，"suchfriendsarerare；thewillofmanyhasbeengood；eachknewIcouldmakehisfortune，butnonehadcourageenoughforsodesperateanattempt！MoneyIhavedistributedfreely，buthavereceivedlittlehelp。"
　　"Howdoyouobtainmoneyinthisdungeon？""FromacorrespondentatVienna，bywhomIamstillsupplied。""IfIcanserveyou，commandme：Iwilldoitwithoutaskinganyreturn。"Sosaying，Itookfiftyducatsfrombetweenthepanels，andgavethemtothelieutenant。Atfirstherefused，butatlengthacceptedthemwithfear。Heleftme，promisedtoreturn，pretendedtoshutthedoor，andkepthisword。Henowsaiddebtobligedhimtodesert；thatthishadlongbeenhisdetermination，andthat，desiroustoassistmeatthesametimeifhecouldfindthemeans，Ihadonlytoshowhowthismightbeeffected。
　　Wecontinuedtwohoursinconference：aplanwasformed，approved，andacertaintyofsuccessdemonstrated；especiallywhenItoldhimIhadtwohorseswaiting。Wevowedeternalfriendship；Igavehimfiftyducats，andhisdebts，notamountingtomorethantwohundredrix—dollars，whichhenevercouldhavedischargedoutofhispay。
　　Hewastopreparefourkeystoresemblethoseofmydungeon；thelatterweretobeexchangedonthedayofflight，beingkeptintheguard—roomwhilethemajorwaswithGeneralWalrabe。Hewastogivethegrenadiersonguardleaveofabsence，orsendthemintothetownonvariouspretences。Thesentinelshewastocallfromtheirduty，andthoseplacedovermeweretobesentintomydungeontotakeawaymybed；whileencumberedwiththis，Iwastospringoutandlockthemin，afterwhichweweretomountourhorses，whichwerekeptready，andridetoGummern。Everythingwastobepreparedwithinaweek，whenhewastomountguard。Wehadscarcelyformedourprojectbeforethesentinelscalledthemajorwascoming；heaccordinglybarredthedoor，andthemajorpassedtoGeneralWalrabe。
　　Nomanwashappierthanmyself；myhopesofescapeweretriple；themediationatBerlin，themineIhadmade，andmyfriendthelieutenant。
　　Whenmostmymindoughttohavebeenclear，Iseemedtohavelostmyunderstanding。Icametoaresolutionwhichwillappearextravagantandpitiable。Iwasstupidenough，madenough，toformthedesignofcastingmyselfonthemagnanimityoftheGreatFrederic！Shouldthisfail，Istillthoughtmylieutenantasaviour。
　　Havingheatedmyimaginationwiththisscheme，Iwaitedthevisitationwithanxiety。Themajorentered，Ibespokehimthus：
　　"Iknow，sir，thegreatPrinceFerdinandisagaininMagdeburg。
　　Informhimthathemayexaminemyprison，doublethesentinels，andgivemehiscommands，statingwhathourwillpleasehimIshouldmakemyappearanceontheglacisofKlosterbergen。IfIprovemyselfcapableofthis，IthenhopefortheprotectionofPrinceFerdinand：andthathewillrelatemyproceedingtotheKing，whomayheconvincedofmyinnocence。"
　　Themajorwasastonished；theproposalheheldtoberidiculous，andtheperformanceimpossible。Ipersisted；hereturnedwiththesub—
　　governor，Reichmann，thetown—major，Riding，andthemajorofinspection。Theanswertheydeliveredwas，thatthePrincepromisedmehisprotection，theKing’sfavour，andareleasefrommychains，shouldIprovemyassertion。Irequiredtheywouldappointatime；
　　theyridiculedthethingasimpossible，andsaidthatitwouldbesufficientcouldIprovethepracticabilityofsuchascheme；butshouldIrefuse，theywouldbreakuptheflooring，andplacesentinelsinmydungeon，adding，thegovernorwouldnotadmitofanybreakingout。
　　Afterpromisesofgoodfaith，Idisencumberedmyselfofmychains，raisedmyflooring，gavethemmyimplements，andtwokeys，myfriendshadprocuredme，tothedoorsofthesubterraneangallery。
　　ThisgalleryIdesiredthemtosoundwiththeirswordhilts，attheplacethroughwhichIwastobreak，whichmightbedoneinafewminutes。IdescribedtheroadIwastotakethroughthegallery，informedthemthattwoofthedoorshadnotbeenshutforsixmonths，andtotheotherstheyhadthekeys；adding，Ihadhorseswaitingattheglacis，thatwouldbenowready；thestablesforwhichwereunknowntothem。Theywent，examined，returned，putquestions，whichIansweredwithprecision。Theyleftmewithseemingfriendship，cameback，toldmethePrincewasastonishedatwhathehadheard，thathewishedmeallhappiness，andthentookmeunfettered，totheguard—house。Themajorcameintheevening，treateduswithasupper，assuredmeeverythingwouldhappentomywishes，andthatPrinceFerdinandhadwrittentoBerlin。
　　Theguardwasreinforcednextday。Thewholeguardloadedwithballbeforemyeyes，thedrawbridgeswereraisedinopenday，andprecautionsweretakenasifIintendedtomakeattemptsasdesperateasthoseIhadmadeatGlatz。
　　Inowsawworkmenemployedonmydungeon，andcartsbringingquarry—
　　stones。Theofficersonguardbehavedwithkindness，keptagoodtable，atwhichIate；buttwosentinels，andanunder—officer，neverquittedtheguard—room。Conversationwascautious，andthiscontinuedfiveorsixdays；atlength，itwasthelieutenant’sturntomountguard；heappearedtobeasfriendlyasformerly，butconferencewasdifficult；hefoundanopportunitytoexpresshisastonishmentatmyill—timeddiscovery，toldmethePrinceknewnothingoftheaffair，andthatthereportthroughthegarrisonwas，Ihadbeensurprisedinmakinganewattempt。
　　Mydungeonwascompletedinaweek。Thetown—majorre—conductedmetoit。Myfootwaschainedtothewallwithlinkstwiceasstrongasformerly；theremainderofmyironswereneverafteradded。
　　Thedungeonwaspavedwithflag—stones。ThatpartofmymoneyonlywassavedwhichIhadconcealedinthepanelsofthedoor，andthechimneyofmystove；somethirtylouis—d’ors，hiddenaboutmyclothes，weretakenfromme。
　　Whilethesmithwasrivetingmychains，Iaddressedthesub—
　　governor。"IsthisthefulfilmentofthepledgeofthePrince？
　　Thinknotyoudeceiveme，Iamacquaintedwiththefalsereportsthathavebeenspread；thetruthwillsooncometolight，andtheunworthybeputtoshame。Nay，IforewarnyouthatTrenckshallnotbemuchlongerinyourpower；forwereyoutobuildyourdungeonofsteel，itwouldbeinsufficienttocontainme。"