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as they could the disdainful neglect of his wife。 More than one
had been concerned in the injuries to my father and mother； more
than one were interested in obtaining revenge。 Things could be
done in German towns； and by favor of old German laws or usages；
which even in France could not have been tolerated。 This my
father's enemies well knew； but this my father also knew； and he
endeavored to lay down his office of commissary。 That； however；
was a favor which he could not obtain。 He was compelled to serve
on the German campaign then commencing； and on the subsequent one
of Friedland and Eylau。 Here he was caught in some one of the
snares laid for him； first trepanned into an act which violated
some rule of the service； and then provoked into a breach of
discipline against the general officer who had thus trepanned him。
Now was the long…sought opportunity gained； and in that very
quarter of Germany best fitted for improving it。 My father was
thrown into prison in your city； subjected to the atrocious
oppression of your jailer； and the more detestable oppression of
your local laws。 The charges against him were thought even to
affect his life； and he was humbled into suing for permission to
send for his wife and children。 Already； to his proud spirit； it
was punishment enough that he should be reduced to sue for favor to
one of his bitterest foes。 But it was no part of their plan to
refuse THAT。 By way of expediting my mother's arrival； a military
courier； with every facility for the journey； was forwarded to her
without delay。 My mother； her two daughters； and myself； were then
residing in Venice。 I had； through the aid of my father's
connections in Austria； been appointed in the imperial service； and
held a high commission for my age。 But； on my father's marching
northward with the French army； I had been recalled as an
indispensable support to my mother。 Not that my years could have
made me such； for I had barely accomplished my twelfth year； but my
premature growth； and my military station； had given me
considerable knowledge of the world and presence of mind。
〃Our journey I pass over； but as I approach your city； that
sepulcher of honor and happiness to my poor family； my heart beats
with frantic emotions。 Never do I see that venerable dome of your
minster from the forest； but I curse its form； which reminds me of
what we then surveyed for many a mile as we traversed the forest。
For leagues before we approached the city； this object lay before
us in relief upon the frosty blue sky； and still it seemed never to
increase。 Such was the complaint of my little sister Mariamne。
Most innocent child！ would that it never had increased for thy
eyes； but remained forever at a distance！ That same hour began the
series of monstrous indignities which terminated the career of my
ill…fated family。 As we drew up to the city gates； the officer who
inspected the passports； finding my mother and sisters described as
Jewesses； which in my mother's ears （reared in a region where Jews
are not dishonored） always sounded a title of distinction； summoned
a subordinate agent； who in coarse terms demanded his toll。 We
presumed this to be a road tax for the carriage and horses； but we
were quickly undeceived； a small sum was demanded for each of my
sisters and my mother； as for so many head of cattle。 I； fancying
some mistake； spoke to the man temperately； and； to do him justice；
he did not seem desirous of insulting us； but he produced a printed
board； on which； along with the vilest animals； Jews and Jewesses
were rated at so much a head。 While we were debating the point；
the officers of the gate wore a sneering smile upon their faces
the postilions were laughing together； and this； too； in the
presence of three creatures whose exquisite beauty； in different
styles； agreeably to their different ages； would have caused
noblemen to have fallen down and worshiped。 My mother； who had
never yet met with any flagrant insult on account of her national
distinctions； was too much shocked to be capable of speaking。 I
whispered to her a few words； recalling her to her native dignity
of mind； paid the money； and we drove to the prison。 But the hour
was past at which we could be admitted； and； as Jewesses； my mother
and sisters could not be allowed to stay in the city； they were to
go into the Jewish quarter； a part of the suburb set apart for
Jews； in which it was scarcely possible to obtain a lodging
tolerably clean。 My father； on the next day； we found； to our
horror； at the point of death。 To my mother he did not tell the
worst of what he had endured。 To me he told that； driven to
madness by the insults offered to him； he had upbraided the court…
martial with their corrupt propensities； and had even mentioned
that overtures had been made to him for quashing the proceedings in
return for a sum of two millions of francs； and that his sole
reason for not entertaining the proposal was his distrust of those
who made it。 'They would have taken my money；' said he； 'and then
found a pretext for putting me to death； that I might tell no
secrets。' This was too near the truth to be tolerated； in concert
with the local authorities； the military enemies of my father
conspired against himwitnesses were suborned； and； finally； under
some antiquated law of the place； he was subjected； in secret； to a
mode of torture which still lingers in the east of Europe。
〃He sank under the torture and the degradation。 I； too；
thoughtlessly； but by a natural movement of filial indignation；
suffered the truth to escape me in conversing with my mother。 And
she；but I will preserve the regular succession of things。 My
father died； but he had taken such measures； in concert with me；
that his enemies should never benefit by his property。 Meantime my
mother and sisters had closed my father's eyes； had attended his
remains to the grave； and in every act connected with this last sad
rite had met with insults and degradations too mighty for human
patience。 My mother； now become incapable of self…command； in the
fury of her righteous grief； publicly and in court denounced the
conduct of the magistracytaxed some of them with the vilest
proposals to herselftaxed them as a body with having used
instruments of torture upon my father； and； finally； accused them
of collusion with the French military oppressors of the district。
This last was a charge under which they quailed； for by that time
the French had made themselves odious to all who retained a spark
of patriotic feeling。 My heart sank within me when I looked up at
the bench； this tribunal of tyrants； all purple or livid with rage；
when I looked at them alternately and at my noble mother with her
weeping daughtersthese so powerless； those so basely vindictive；
and locally so omnipotent。 Willingly I would have sacrificed all
my wealth for a simple permission to quit this infernal city with
my poor female relations safe and undishonored。 But far other were
the intentions of that incensed magistracy。 My mother was
arrested； charged with some offense equal to petty treason； or
scandalum magnatum； or the sowing of sedition； and； though what she
said was true； where； alas！ was she to look for evidence？ Here was
seen the want of gentlemen。 Gentlemen； had they been even equally
tyrannical； would have recoiled with shame from taking vengeance on
a woman。 And what a vengeance！ O heavenly powers！ that I should
live to mention such a thing！ Man that is born of woman； to
inflict upon woman personal scourging on the bare back； and through
the streets at noonday！ Even for Christian women the punishment
was severe which the laws assigned to the offense in question。 But
for Jewesses； by one of the ancient laws against that persecuted
people； far heavier and more degrading punishments were annexed to
almost every offense。 What else could be looked for in a city
which welcomed its Jewish guests by valuing them at its gates as
brute beasts？ Sentence was passed； and the punishment was to be
inflicted on two separate days； with an interval between each
doubtless to prolong the tortures of mind； but under a vile
pretense of alleviating the physical torture。 Three days after
would come the first day of punishment。 My mother spent the time
in reading her native Scriptures； she spent it in prayer and in
musing； while her daughters clung and wept around her day and
nightgroveling on the ground at the feet of any people in
authority that entered their mother's cell。 That same interval
how was it passed by me？ Now mark； my friend。 Every man in
office； or that could be presumed to bear the slightest influence；
every wife； mother； sister； daughter of such men； I besieged
morning； noon； and night。 I wearied them with my supplications。 I
humbled myself to the dust； I； the haughtiest of God's creatures；
knelt and prayed to them