born a serf,
a serf must he remain, even though he become a wealthy man: and such was
the condition of my father. My father had been married for about five
years; and by his marriage had three children--my eldest brother Caesar,
myself (Hermann), and a sister named Marcella. You know, Philip, that
Latin is still the language spoken in that country; and that will
account for our high-sounding names. My mother was a very beautiful
woman, unfortunately more beautiful than virtuous: she was seen and
admired by the lord of the soil; my father was sent away upon some
mission; and, during his absence, my mother, flattered by the
attentions, and won by the assiduities, of this nobleman yielded to his
wishes. It so happened that my father returned very unexpectedly, and
discovered the intrigue. The evidence of my mother's shame was
positive; he surprised her in the company of her seducer! Carried away
by the impetuosity of his feelings, he watched the opportunity of a
meeting taking place between them, and murdered both his wife and her
seducer. Conscious that, as a serf, not even the provocation which he
had received would be allowed as a justification of his conduct he
hastily collected together what money he could lay his hands upon, and,
as we were then in the depth of winter, he put his horses to the sleigh,
and taking his children with him, he set off in the middle of the night,
and was far away before the tragical circumstance had transpired. Aware
that he would be pursued, and that he had no chance of escape if he
remained in any portion of his native country (in which the authorities
could lay hold of him), he continued his flight without intermission
until he had buried himself in the intricacies and seclusion of the
Hartz Mountains. Of course, all that I have now told you I learned
afterwards. My oldest recollections are knit to a rude, yet comfortable
cottage, in which I lived with my father, brother, and sister. It was
on the confines of one of those vast forests which cover the northern
part of Germany; around it were a few acres of ground, which, during the
summer months, my father cultivated, and which, though they yielded a
doubtful harvest, were sufficient for our support. In the winter we
remained much in doors, for, as my father followed the chase, we were
left alone, and the wolves, during that season, incessantly prowled
about. My father had purchased the cottage, and land about it of one of
th