in vain; my good genius, this time, preserved me--would to God it
ever had! How many miseries had I then avoided, and how easily
might I have escaped the snares spread for me by the powerful, who
have seized on my property, and in order to secure it, have hitherto
rendered me useless to the state by depriving me of all post or
preferment.

I returned, therefore, a second time to Beilitz, travelling these
four miles once more. Schwarzer lent us his own horse and four
ducats, which I have since repaid, but which I shall never forget,
as they were of signal service to me, and procured me a pair of new
boots.

Irritated against Captain Capi, we passed through Beilitz without
stopping, went immediately to Biala, the first town in Poland, and
from thence sent Capi a challenge to fight me, with sword or pistol,
but received no answer; and his non-appearance has ever confirmed
him in my opinion a rascal.

And here suffer me to take a retrospective view of what was my then
situation. By the orders of Capi I was sent prisoner as a
contemptible common deserter, and was unable to call him to account.
In Poland, indeed, I had that power, but was despised as a vagabond
because of my poverty. What, alas! are the advantages which the
love of honour, science, courage, or desire of fame can bestow,
wanting the means that should introduce us to, and bid us walk erect
in the presence of our equals? Youth depressed by poverty, is
robbed of the society of those who best can afford example and
instruction. I had lived familiar with the great, men of genius had
formed and enlightened me; I had been enumerated among the