A Struggle for Rome v. 1 Page 7

  CHAPTER VII.

  The King remained quietly standing, while Hildebrand threw back thecurtains of the door on both sides, so that bed-chamber and ante-roomnow formed one undivided apartment. All those assembled outside--formany Goths and Romans had entered meanwhile--drew near to the King inastonished and reverent silence.

  "My daughter," said the King, "are the letters written which are toannounce my death and the succession of my grandchild to Byzantium?"

  "Here they are," answered Amalaswintha.

  The King rapidly ran through the rolls of papyrus.

  "To Emperor Justinus.--A second: to his nephew, Justinianus. 'Tis true,he will soon wear the crown, and is already the master of his masters.I see by the fine similes that Cassiodorus has written these letters.But hold!" A cloud passed across his face. "'Recommending my youth toyour imperial protection!' Protection! That is too much. Alas! if everyou should be obliged to depend on the protection of Byzantium!'Recommending myself to your _friendship_, is enough from the grandsonof Theodoric." And he gave the letters back. "Still a third letter toByzantium? To whom? 'To Theodora, the noble spouse of Justinianus?'What! to the dancer of the circus? To the shameless daughter of thelionkeeper?"

  His eye flashed.

  "She has great influence upon her husband," interposed Cassiodorus.

  "No, no. My daughter shall write to no female who has dishonoured thename of her sex."

  And he tore the roll of papyrus into pieces and threw them on thefloor. Then, walking over the fragments, he advanced towards the Gothswho stood in the middle of the hall.

  "My brave Witichis, what will be thy office after my death?"

  "I shall review our foot at Tridentum."

  "None could do it better! Never yet hast thou claimed the favour whichwas granted to thee beforehand, when thou wert victorious over theGepidae. Hast thou no wish even now?"

  "I _have_ a wish, my King."

  "At last!--that pleases me. Speak."

  "A poor jailer, for refusing to apply the torture and for striking at alictor, is himself condemned to be put to the torture to-day. Sire, setthe man free! To torture is shameful, and----

  "The jailer is free; and from this moment torture is abolished in thekingdom of the Goths. Look to it, Cassiodorus! Brave Witichis, give methy hand. To show to all how much I honour thee, I bequeath theeWallada, my chestnut charger, in remembrance of this parting hour. Andif ever thou art in danger, or--" here he lowered his voice, "wouldavoid it, whisper my name into the horse's ear. Who will watch overNeapolis? Duke Thulun was too rough. Those gay people must be won bygentle looks."

  "Yes. Young Totila will be Count of the Harbour there," answeredCassiodorus.

  "Totila! a sunny youth! a Siegfrid; a favourite of the gods! No heartcan withstand him. But truly, the hearts of these Italians--" Hesighed, and then continued, "Who will assure us of Rome and theSenate?"

  "Cethegus Caesarius," said Cassiodorus, with a motion of his hand, "thisnoble Roman."

  "Cethegus? I know him well. Look at me, Cethegus."

  Cethegus, thus addressed, reluctantly raised his eyes, which he hadquickly cast down before the steady look of the King. But now,collecting himself, he quietly bore the eagle glance which seemed topenetrate his soul.

  "It was a sickly whim, Cethegus, which made a man of your kind withholdhimself so long from affairs of state; and from us. Or it wasdangerous. Perhaps it is still more dangerous that you--_now_--againtake an interest in politics."

  "It was not my wish, O King."

  "I will answer for him!" cried Cassiodorus.

  "Peace, friend! On earth no one can answer for another!--scarcely forhimself! But," he continued with a searching look, "this proudintellect--this Caesar-like intellect--will not betray Italia to theGreeks."

  Cethegus had to endure one more sharp look from the golden eagle-eyes.Then the King suddenly grasped his arm, and whispered in his ear:"Listen to my warning. No Roman will ever again flourish on the throneof the Western Empire. Peace! no contradiction. I have warned you. Whatnoise is that outside?" he asked, quickly turning to his daughter; who,in a low voice, was speaking with a Roman messenger.

  "Nothing, my King; nothing of importance, my father."

  "What! secrets from me? By my crown! Wilt thou govern while I stillbreathe? I hear the sound of strange tongues outside. Open the doors!"

  The doors which divided the outer hall from the ante-room were thrownopen. There, in the midst of a number of Goths and Romans, were to beseen several strange and dwarfish forms, clothed in a curious costume,with doublets of wolfskin, pointed caps, and shaggy sheep-skins hangingdown their backs. Surprised and impressed by the sudden apparition ofthe King, they sank upon their knees.

  "Ah, messengers from the Avarians! Those robber border-ruffians on oureastern boundaries! Have you brought the owing yearly tribute?"

  "Sire, once again we bring it: skins, woollen carpets, swords, shields.There they hang--there they lie. But we hope that next year--we willsee----"