Her Own Inclinations, As Well As The Count Her Father's
Commands, Disposed Of Her To Emmermusky, A Polish Nobleman; And She Had
Been Scarce One Month A Bride, Before They Unhappily Took This Journey To
Visit My Lord's Mother Who Lives At Travenstadt.
- In our way we met a
party of straggling Muscovites, who, notwithstanding the strict league
between our elector and
The czar, and the knowledge they had by our
passports that we were Saxons, stripped us of every thing, killed all
our men-servants and having given my lord several wounds, left him for
dead upon the place, then dragged us miserable women to the camp. - My
lady, in the midst of faintings, and when she was incapable even of
flying to death for refuse, was brutally ravished, and we her wretched
attendants suffered the same abuse. - Shame will not let me, continued
she, blushing and weeping, acquaint your majesty with the shocking and
repeated violations we were compelled to bear! - the wretches casting
lots who first should gratify his monstrous desires! - We were all bound
to trees, and without any means of opposition but our shrieks and cries
to unrelenting heaven! - My lord having a little recovered himself, had
crawled, as well as his wounds would give him leave, after us, and
arrived even while the horrid scene was acting: rage giving him new
strength and spirits; he snatched a sword that lay upon the earth, and
sent to perdition the villain who was about to add to the dishonour
which had been, alas! but too much completed by others. The death of
their companion incensing the accursed Muscovites, they turned upon him,
and in a moment laid him dead just at the feet of his ruined and almost
expiring wife! After having satiated their wicked will, they left us,
bound as we were, where we continued the remainder of the day and whole
night, and had doubtless perished thro' hunger and extreme cold, if a
second party had not passed that way, who having been out on a maroding,
were then returning to the camp. - Being actuated by somewhat more
compassion than the former, one of the officers made us be untied, and
having heard our story, blamed the cruelty with which we had been
treated, and brought us to his tent, the same we now are in, and ordered
something should be given for our refreshment; but my lady has continued
obstinate to dye, and to that end has refused all subsistence. This, oh
invincible monarch! is the sad history of our misfortunes: - misfortunes,
which, alas! can never be retrieved, nor admit any consolation but in
the hope of vengeance!
Here a torrent of tears closed the sad narration; and the king cried
out, turning as he spoke to us that followed him, - It is the cause of
heaven and earth, my friends, said he, to punish these barbarians, and
shew them that there is a God; for sure at present they are ignorant
of it!
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