XX: Treats of a Trifling Promenade from the Black Forest to Moscow in Russia explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Deception and Appearance

  The colonel repeatedly deceives Simplicissimus with forged letters and false promises of military commands, leading him on a futile journey to Livonia and then to Moscow.

• Folly and Wisdom

  Simplicissimus shows folly by trusting the colonel's promises despite being deceived twice, but ultimately shows wisdom by refusing to convert his religion for material gain.

• Fortune and Fate

  Simplicissimus's fortunes shift from a settled farm life to a precarious journey, and he ends up abandoned in Moscow, reflecting the capricious nature of fate in wartime.

Characters to notice

• Simplicissimus

  Narrator and protagonist; leaves his farm to serve again as a soldier, is deceived by the colonel, and ends up stranded in Moscow after refusing to convert.

• Torstensohn

  Mentioned as the Swedish commander who allegedly promised the colonel a regiment, though the promise proves false.

Key passages

• “The same found still remaining in my cabinet certain books, for in my haste I could not bring all away; and among others certain mathematical and geometrical essays, and also some on fortification, wherewith our engineers be principally busied, and therefore at once concluded that his quarters could belong to no common peasant, and so began to inquire of my character and to court my acquaintance, till by courteous offers and threats intermingled he wrought me to it that I should visit him at mine own farm, where he treated me very civilly and restrained his people, that they should do my goods no unnecessary damage or hurt.”

  The colonel found mathematical and fortification books in Simplicissimus's cabinet, realized he was no ordinary peasant, and through a mix of politeness and threats persuaded Simplicissimus to meet him at the farm, where he treated him well and kept his soldiers from damaging property.

  The colonel's discovery of the books leads to his interest in Simplicissimus.

• “And so the die was cast; and I sent for my dad or foster-father, which was still with my cattle at Bairischbrunn; and to him and his wife I devised my farm as their own property; yet on condition that after his death my bastard Simplicissimus that had been laid at my door should inherit it with all appurtenances, since there were no heirs born in wedlock.”

  Simplicissimus decided to rejoin the army, gave his farm to his foster-father and his wife, with the condition that after the foster-father's death, the farm would pass to Simplicissimus's illegitimate son.

  Simplicissimus makes arrangements for his property and his son before leaving.

• “But when we came in safety to the city of Moscow, I saw at once the game was up. ’Tis true my colonel conferred daily with great men, but far more with bishops than boyars, which seemed to me not so much grand as far too monkish, and aroused in me all manner of fancies and reflections, though I could not conceive what he aimed at: but in the end he revealed to me that war was over and that his conscience urged him on to embrace the Greek religion; and that his sincere advice to me was, inasmuch as otherwise he could help me no more as he had promised, to follow his example.”

  Upon arriving in Moscow, Simplicissimus realized he had been tricked; the colonel met mostly with bishops, not nobles, and eventually confessed that the war was over and he intended to convert to the Greek Orthodox faith, urging Simplicissimus to do the same.

  The colonel's true intentions are revealed in Moscow.