, 1863-12-05
Baron Trenck and Princess Amelia

Baron Trenck and Princess Amelia
The loves Of Amelia, the sister Of Fred
erick the Great, and Baron Trenck, were Of
so romantic nature, it was almost impossi-
Bile not to have them recalled, in all their
vividness, standing there in that very place,
which had been the scene Of their daily in
tercourse and most unfortunate loves. The
unfortunate Baron appears to have been
another example Of the vanity of human
wishes. whfAc1 hauasOmo- Seane officer
he attracted the regards and won the affec-
tons Of Ffederick's youngest and most fa-
vored sister, the Princess Amelia, who was
not so much distinguished for her beauty as
for her exalted rank. Amelia! she was
also philosopher, like her royal brother.
Her affections, therefore, had full play in
the absence Of all religious restraint. But
Shakespeare says that loves true course
never did run smooth, and this appears to
have been no exception to the rule. The
great Frederick decidedly objected to the
attentions Of the handsome young officer.
He at the same time desired to avoid all
scandal, and to effect this no time was to be
lost. He gave the young lover strong hints
to mind and mend his conduct. His hints
were thrown away; who that has been
young himself can wonder at the young
lieutenant's blindness and obstinacy? 1t is
not every day that beautiful, witty and
accomplished Princess sacrifices everything
for the love of simple gentleman. And
was the favored object to risk nothing in re-
turn? The supposed secret interviews con-
tinued, but were in fact no secret to the
penetrating eye of the all-powerful king.
Arrests for pretended military crimes were
the next measures adopted to warn the lover
and protect the lady in spite of herself.
But Trenck was no sooner freed from those
restraints than he again few for consolation
to the arms of his illustriOus mistress. A
longer incarnation was next decreed. From
this, however, he made his escape, and fed
to town beyond the Prussian dominions.
There, in his indignation at what he styled
Frederick's tyranny, he soon forgot what
he owed to one who had sacrificed every
thing that the world holds dear. In his
blind anger he irreparably injured his royal
mistress-he
Robbed her Of that which enriched him not,
And left her poor indeed"
He had the audacity to display at large
dinner party the portrait Of the Princess
Amelia. Frederick could, therefore, no
longer pretend Ignorance Of her conduct,
nor cease to desire that she should be pro-
tpeFly 1naied. Nothing but vsnge1uce~ ~re-
mained, and the continued imprudence Of
Trenck soon furnished the monarch with an
opportunity which he did not neglect. He
was suddenly seized and led off to dun
geon Of one Of the fortresses, where he suf-
fered that long incarceration, whose dread
full story he has told so pathetically, and
which Is so familiar to the world. Freder-
ick, after long incarceration, released him,
giving him suit Of mean clothes and some
money, strictly enjoining him to leave the
Prussian domains forever, and to be silent
respecting what had passed. Trenck prom
ised everything that was required of him,
and left Prussia. After Frederick's death
he obtained permission Of the new monarch
to make his appearance once more in the
Prussian States for the purpose Of collect
ing the wrecks Of his paternal fortune. On
arriving at Berlin, it may easily be imagined,
his first and most eager object was to visit
the lady who had been the object Of his
misfortunes. Alas what language could
describe that interview. II lasted for some
hours, and was consecrated to mutual tears.
The past, the present, the future, they
reviewed without alleviation to their mu-
tual sorrows! What perplexities, what
griefs, were theirs what perspective was
within sight! Trenck, with his hair turned
gray with age; his body :curved with the
weight Of sixty pounds Of iron, which for
ten years had hung suspended from Il; his
features changed BY grief This then was
the man who, in his youth, was 50 remarka-
bic for the manly beauty of his person, and
whose image she had so faithfully preserved!
He, on the other hand, beheld her, for
whom he had suffered 50 much, female,
who, like himself, was prematurely advanc-
ed In years; head entirely bald, and shak-
| ing 50 as scarcely to support itself; face
disfgured and ghastly in expression, and
miserably wrinkled; eyes distorted, dim
and haggard; form that tottered with its
feebleness, and joined to limbs, that through
contortion and disease, were no longer able
to perform their Office. Eow, in so altered
being, was he to trace the once loved OBJ
iect Of affection an object possessed Of the
bloom Of youth, features the most dazzling,
the most bewitching graees, all the charms
and attractions Of the most captivating ply.
siognomy, and most cousumnate beauty /!
How, in the accents Of the austere affection,
the cold unfeeling train Of reasoning, Of
desperation and distrust, that now escaped
her, was he TO recognize the tones that once
delighted his euamOred ear! How, in the
illiberal spirit in which she now judged Of
men and things, could be reminded of the
rich sallies Of imagination which so often
had gratiied his understanding! Where
we're now the impetuosity Of youthful gaiety,
the sweetness Of her manners, the enjoy
ment Of the Heeting moment and the illusive
dreams Of future bliss? All, these joys
were fed Each now finds in the other
shrunk, emaciated form! What effort must
| have been necessary on both sides to sustain
the unnatural shock s...... !.
In this moment Of trial, the resolution Of
the lady proved superior 70 that Of Trenek..
| ghS eoudtcted the scene IN such manner