_October 17, 1796._
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Interesting History Of
_THE BARON DE LOVZINSKI._
With a relation of the most remarkable occurrences in the life
of the celebrated COUNT PULASKI, well known as the champion of
American Liberty, and who bravely fell in its defence before
Savannah, 1779.
_Interspersed with Anecdotes of the late unfortunate KING of POLAND,
so recently dethroned._
(Continued from page 123.)
“Gentlemen,” said he, to the astonished Bacchanals, “my brother’s head
is not very strong to-day: it is perhaps in consequence of his wound;
let us not therefore either speak to or drink any more with him; for I
am afraid of his health, and indeed you would oblige me exceedingly if
you would assist me to carry him to his bed.”--“To his own bed?” says
one of them: “that is impossible! But I will most willingly lend him my
chamber.” They accordingly laid hold of me, and conveyed me into a
garret, of which a bed, a table, and a chair, formed the sole movables.
Having shut me up in this paltry apartment, they instantly left me. This
was all that I wanted, for the moment that I was alone, I immediately
sat down to write a long letter to Lodoiska.
I began by fully justifying myself from the crimes of which I had been
accused by Pulaski: I then recounted every thing that had occurred since
the first moment of our separation, until that when I had entered the
castle of Dourlinski: I detailed the particulars of my conversation with
the Baron: I concluded by assuring her of the most tender and the most
respectful passion, and swore to her, that the moment she gave me the
necessary information concerning her situation, I would expose myself to
every danger, in order to finish her horrid captivity.
As soon as my letter was sealed, I delivered myself up to a variety of
reflections, which threw me into a strange perplexity. Was it actually
Lodoiska who had thrown those tiles into the garden? Would Pulaski have
had the injustice to punish his daughter for an attachment which he
himself had approved? Would he have had the inhumanity to plunge her
into a frightful prison? And even if the hatred he had sworn to me had
blinded him so much, how was it possible that Dourlinski would thus have
condescended to have become the minister of his vengeance?
But, on the other hand, for these three last long months, on purpose to
disguise myself, I had only worn tattered clothes: the fatigues of a
tedious journey, and my chagrin, had altered me greatly; and who but a
mistress could have been able to discover Lovzinski in the gardens of
Dourlinski? Besides, had I not seen the name of Lodoiska traced upon the
tile? Had not Dourlinski himself acknowledged that Lodoiska had been a
prisoner with him? It is true, he had added that she had made her
escape; but was not this incredible? And wherefore that hatred which
Dourlinski had vowed against me, without knowing my person? What
occasioned that look of inquietude, when it was told him, that the
emissaries of Pulaski occupied a chamber that looked into his garden?
And why above all that appearance of terror, when I announced to him the
arrival of my pretended master?
All these circumstances were well calculated to throw me into the
greatest agitation. I ruminated over this frightful and mysterious
adventure, which it was impossible for me to explain. For two hours,
I unceasingly put new questions to myself, to which I was exceedingly
embarrassed to make any reply; when at length Boleslas came to see if I
had recovered from my debauch. I had but little difficulty in convincing
him that my inebriety was mere affectation; after which we went down
together to the kitchen, where we spent the rest of the day. What a
night! none in my whole life ever appeared so long, not even that which
followed.
At length the attendants conducted us to our chamber, where they shut us
up, as on the former occasion, without any light: it was yet two tedious
hours until midnight. At the first stroke of the clock, we gently opened
the shutters and the casement. I then prepared to jump into the garden;
but my embarrassment was equal to my despair, when I found myself
obstructed by means of iron bars. “Behold,” said I to Boleslas, “what
the cursed confident of Dourlinski whispered in his ear! behold what his
odious master approved, when he said, _let it be done instantly!_ behold
what they have been working at during the day! it was on this account
that they prevented us from entering the chamber.”
“My lord, they have stood on the outside,” replies Boleslas; “for they
have not perceived that the shutter has been forced.”
“Alas! whether they have perceived it or not,” exclaim I with violence,
“what does it signify? This fatal grating destroys all my hopes: it
insures the slavery of Lodoiska--it insures my death.”
“Yes, without doubt, it insures thy death!” repeats a person, at the
same time opening the door; and immediately after, Dourlinski, preceded
by several armed men, and followed by others carrying flambeaux, enter
our prison _sabre in hand_. “Traitor!” exclaims he, while addressing
himself to me with a look in which fury was visibly depicted, “I have
heard all--I know who you are,--your servant has discovered your name.
Tremble! Of all the enemies of Lovzinski, I am the most implacable!”
“Search them,” continues he, turning to his attendants: they accordingly
rushed in upon me; and as I was without arms, I made an useless
resistance. They accordingly robbed me of my papers, and of the letter I
had just written to Lodoiska. Dourlinski exhibited a thousand signs of
impatience while reading it, and was scarce able to contain himself.
“Lovzinski,” says he to me, endeavouring to smother his rage, “I already
deserve all your hatred; I shall soon merit it still more: in the mean
time, you must remain with your worthy confident in this chamber, to
which you are so partial.”
After uttering these words, he left me; and having double-locked the
door, he placed a centinel on the outside, and another in the garden,
opposite to the window.
Figure to yourself the horrible situation into which Boleslas and myself
were now plunged. My misfortunes were at their height; but those of
Lodoiska affected me more than my own! How great must be her uneasiness!
She expects Lovsinski, and Lovsinski abandons her! But no--Lodoiska
knows me too well; she can never suspect me of such base perfidy.
Lodoiska! she will judge of her lover by herself; she will think
Lovsinski partakes her lot, since he does not succour her---Alas! the
very certainty of my misfortunes will augment her own!
On the next day, they gave us provisions through the grating of our
window; and by the quality of the viands which they furnished us with,
Boleslas augured the most sinister events. Being, however less unhappy
than myself, he supported his fate much more courageously. He offered me
my share of the mean repast which he was about to make; I would not eat:
he pressed me; but it was in vain! for existence was become an
insupportable burden to me.
“Ah! live!” said he at length, shedding a torrent of tears: “live; and
if not for Boleslas, let it be for Lodoiska!” These words made the most
lively impression on my mind; they even re-animated my courage; and hope
having once more re-entered my heart, I embraced my faithful servant.
“O my friend!” exclaimed I at the same time with transport, “my true
friend! I have been the occasion of thy ruin, and yet my misfortunes
affect thee more than thine own! Yes, Boleslas! yes! I will live for
Lodoiska; I will live for thee: if just Heaven shall restore me to my
fortune and rank, you shall see that your master is not ungrateful!” We
now embraced once more.
Ah! how much do misfortunes connect men together! how sweet it is, when
one suffers, to hear another unfortunate address a word of consolation
to him!
We had groaned in this prison for no less than twelve days, when several
ruffians came to drag me forth on purpose to conduct me to Dourlinski.
Boleslas wished to follow, but they repulsed him with violence: however
they permitted me to speak to him for a single moment. I then drew from
a private pocket a ring which I had worn for ten years, and said to
Boleslas:---“This ring was given me by M. de P. when we were at college
together at Warsaw: take it, my friend; and preserve it for my sake. If
Dourlinski this day consummates his treason by my assassination, and if
he should at length permit you to leave this castle, go, find your king,
recall to his memory our ancient attachment, recount my misfortunes to
him; he will recompense you, and succour Lodoiska. Adieu my friend!”
After this, I was conducted to the apartment of Dourlinski. As soon as
the door opened, I perceived a lady in a chair, who had just fainted
away. I approached her---it was Lodoiska! Heavens! how much did I find
her altered!---but she was still handsome! “Barbarian!” exclaimed I,
addressing myself to Dourlinski; and at the voice of her lover, Lodoiska
recovered her senses.
“Ah, my dear Lovsinski,” says she, looking wistfully at me, “do you know
what this infamous wretch has proposed? do you know at what price he has
offered me your liberty?”
“Yes,” cries the furious chieftain, “yes, I am determined upon it: you
see that he is in my power; and if in three days I do not obtain my
wishes, he shall be no more!” I endeavoured to throw myself on my knees
at the feet of Lodoiska; but my guards prevented me: “I behold you
again, and all my ills are forgotten, Lodoiska---death has now no longer
any thing terrifying in its aspect.”
“Wretch,” added I, looking sternly at Dourlinski, “know that Pulaski
will avenge his daughter! know that the king will avenge his friend!”
“Let him be carried away!” was the only reply made by the ferocious
palatine.
“Ah!” exclaims Lodoiska, “my love has been your ruin!” I was about to
answer, but the attendants dragged me out, and re-conducted me to
prison.
Boleslas received me with inexpressible transports of joy; he avowed to
me that he thought me lost for ever, and I recounted to him how that my
death was but deferred. The scene of which I had been a witness,
confirmed all my suspicions; it was evident that Pulaski was ignorant of
the unworthy treatment which his daughter experienced; it was also
evident that Dourlinski, old, amorous, and jealous, was determined, at
any rate, to satisfy his passions.
In the mean time, two of the days allowed by Dourlinski for the
determination of Lodoiska, had already expired; we were now in the midst
of the night which preceded the fatal third; I could not sleep, and I
was walking hastily about my prison. All at once I heard the cry of “To
arms! to arms!” The most frightful howlings prevailed on the outside,
and a great commotion took place within the castle. The centinel placed
at our window, left his post. Boleslas and I were able to distinguish
the voice of Dourlinski, calling and encouraging his followers; and we
soon distinctly heard the clashing of swords, the cries of the wounded,
and the groans of the dying. The noise which at first was very great
seemed at length to die away. It recommenced soon after; it redoubled;
and at length we heard a shout of “Victory!”
To this frightful tumult, a still more frightful silence ensues. In a
short time, a low crackling sound is heard to approach us; the air seems
to hiss with violence; the night becomes less dark; the trees in the
garden assume a red and warm tint; we fly to the window: the flames are
devouring the castle of Dourlinski! they approach the chamber in which
we were confined, from all sides; and, to overwhelm me with new horror,
the most piercing shrieks are uttered from that tower in which I knew
that Lodoiska was imprisoned!
The fire becoming every moment more violent, was about to communicate to
the chamber in which we were shut up, and the flames already began to
curl around the base of the tower in which Lodoiska was immured!
(_To be continued._)
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