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Thiebault
C'est sous cet habit qu'il fut conduit à la forteresse de Custrin, en Poméranie, où le malheureux de Catt fut aussi mené, mais à pied, n'ayant qu'un simple sarrau de soldat, et les mains garrotées derrière le dos. Ce dernier appartenoit à famille nombreuse, puissante et très considérée à la cour. Il étoit fils unique de feld-maréchal de ce nom. Toute cette famille vint à plusiers reprises, et toute fondante en larmes, se jeter aux genoux du roi, demandant grâce pour un jeune homme auquel toute la ville et toute la cour preneient lu plus vif intérêt. La désolation étoit générale, et Guillaume fut inéxorable. Le jeune de Catt fut déclaré déchu de tous titres militaires et autres; il fut dégradé et décapité sous les yeux du prince pour lequel il mouroit. On dressa pour lui un échafaud sur la place, devant l'appartement de Frédéric, et au niveau de sa fenêtre. On força le prince de se tenir à cette fenêtre, afin de lui faire en quelque sorte et autant qu'on le povoit, partager le supplice de son ami. Dès que ce dernier parut sur l'échafaud, Frédéric, saisi de douleur et d'effroi, s'écria d'une voix déchirante: mon ami! et tomba sans connoissance sur le fauteuil qu'on avoit avancé pour lui faire voir le supplice. On fut long-temps à pouvoir le rappeler à lui-même; et ce ne fut que pour verser sur son ami les larmes abondantes de la plus amère douleur, qu'il rouvrit enfin les yeux.
It was in this coat that he was led to the fortress of Custrin, in Pomerania, where the unfortunate Catt was also led, but on foot, having only a simple smock of a soldier, and his hands tied behind the back. The latter belonged to a large, powerful and highly regarded family at court. He was the only son of a field marshal of that name. This whole family came several times, all bursting into tears, to throw themselves at the king's feet, asking for mercy for a young man in whom the whole town and the whole court took the liveliest interest. The desolation was general, but (Frederick) William was inexorable. The young Catt was declared stripped of all titles, military and otherwise; he was degraded and beheaded before the eyes of the prince for whom he died. A scaffold was erected for him in the square, in front of Frederick's apartment, and at the level of his window. The prince was forced to stand at this window, in order to make him in some way, and as much as he could, share in the torture of his friend. As soon as the latter appeared on the scaffold, Frédéric, seized with pain and dread, cried out in a heartbreaking voice: my friend! and fell unconscious on the armchair, which had been brought forth to make him see the torture. It was a long time before he came back to himself; and it was only to shed abundant tears of the bitterest pain for his friend, that he finally opened his eyes.
It was in this coat that he was led to the fortress of Custrin, in Pomerania, where the unfortunate Catt was also led, but on foot, having only a simple smock of a soldier, and his hands tied behind the back. The latter belonged to a large, powerful and highly regarded family at court. He was the only son of a field marshal of that name. This whole family came several times, all bursting into tears, to throw themselves at the king's feet, asking for mercy for a young man in whom the whole town and the whole court took the liveliest interest. The desolation was general, but (Frederick) William was inexorable. The young Catt was declared stripped of all titles, military and otherwise; he was degraded and beheaded before the eyes of the prince for whom he died. A scaffold was erected for him in the square, in front of Frederick's apartment, and at the level of his window. The prince was forced to stand at this window, in order to make him in some way, and as much as he could, share in the torture of his friend. As soon as the latter appeared on the scaffold, Frédéric, seized with pain and dread, cried out in a heartbreaking voice: my friend! and fell unconscious on the armchair, which had been brought forth to make him see the torture. It was a long time before he came back to himself; and it was only to shed abundant tears of the bitterest pain for his friend, that he finally opened his eyes.