A Struggle for Rome, v. 2

by Felix Dahn

  CHAPTER VI.

  A few days later, on the eve of the entry of the Goths into Rome, wefind the young "knights," Lucius and Marcus Licinius, Piso the poet,Balbus the corpulent, and Julianus the young advocate, assembled inconfidential talk at the Prefect's house.

  "So this is the list of the blind partisans of the future PopeSilverius--of my envious enemies? Is it complete?"

  "It is. I have made a great sacrifice for you, general," cried LuciusLicinius, "If, as my heart impelled me, I had at once joinedBelisarius, I should have already shared in the taking of Neapolis,instead of watching here the stealthy footsteps of the priests, andteaching the plebeians to march and man[oe]uvre."

  "They will never learn it again," observed Marcus.

  "Be patient," said Cethegus quietly, and without looking up from a rollof papyrus which he held in his hand. "You will be able, soon enoughand long enough, to wrestle with these Gothic bears. Do not forget thatfighting is only a means, and not an end."

  "I don't know that," said Lucius doubtfully.

  "Freedom is our aim, and freedom demands power," said Cethegus."We must first again accustom these Romans to shield and sword, orelse----"

  He was interrupted by the entrance of the ostiarius, who announced aGothic warrior.

  The young Romans exchanged indignant looks.

  "Let him in," said Cethegus, putting his writings into a casket.

  There entered hastily a young man, clad in the brown mantle of theGothic soldier, a Gothic helmet on his head, who threw himself on thePrefect's neck.

  "Julius!" exclaimed Cethegus, coldly repulsing him. "Do we meet againthus? Have you, then, become a complete barbarian? How did you come toRome?"

  "My father, I accompanied Valeria, under Gothic protection. I come fromsmouldering Neapolis."

  "Aha!" cried Cethegus. "Have you fought with your blond friend againstItaly? That becomes a Roman well! Does it not, Lucius?"

  "I have neither fought nor will fight in this unhappy war. Woe to thosewho have kindled it!"

  Cethegus measured him with cold looks.

  "It is beneath my dignity, and beyond my patience, to represent to aRoman the infamy of such sentiments. Alas! that my Julius should besuch a renegade! Shame upon you, before these your compatriots! Look,Roman knights, here is a Roman without love of freedom, without angeragainst the barbarians!"

  But Julius quietly shook his head.

  "You have not yet seen the Huns and Massagetae of Belisarius, who are tobring you freedom. Where, then, are the Romans of whom you speak? HasItaly risen to throw off her fetters? Can she still rise? Justinianfights with the Goths, not we. Woe to the people which is liberated bya tyrant!"

  In secret Cethegus confessed that Julius was right; but he would notsuffer such words to be spoken before his friends.

  "I must dispute with this philosopher in private," he said. "Let meknow if anything occur among the priesthood."

  And the tribunes went, casting contemptuous looks at Julius.

  "I should not like to hear what my friends say of you," said Cethegus,looking after them.

  "It is quite indifferent to me. I listen to my own thoughts, and not tothose of others," responded Julius.

  "He has become a man!" said Cethegus to himself.

  "My deepest and best feelings have brought me here," continued Julius."I feel that this war is accursed. I come to save you, and take youfrom this sultry air, from this world of deceit and lies. I beseechyou, my friend, my father, follow me to Gaul!"

  "_I_ leave Italy at the moment of the liberators' approach! You mustknow that it was I who called them; _I_ kindled this war, which youcall accursed!"

  "I feared it," said Julius sadly. "But who will deliver us from ourdeliverers? Who will end the struggle?"

  "I!" said Cethegus, with quiet majesty. "And you, my son, shall helpme. Yes, Julius, your fatherly friend, whom you think so cold andindifferent, can also be enthusiastic, though not for girls' eyes andGothic friendships. Leave these boys' pastimes; you are now a man.Give me the last joy of my desolate life, and be the sharer of mybattles and the inheritor of my victories! It is for Rome, freedom,power! Boy, can my words not move you? Imagine," he continued, morewarmly--"imagine these Goths, these Byzantines--I hate them as heartilyas you do--exhausted by each other and overcome. On the ruins of theirpower Italy--Rome--will rise in all its ancient splendour! Again theruler of the East and West will sit enthroned upon the Capitoline Hill.A new Roman Emperor, prouder than ever your Caesar-forefather dreamedof, will extend order, blessing, and awe over all the earth----"

  "And the ruler of this Empire will be called--Cethegus Caesarius!"

  "Yes; and after him, Julius Montanus! Up, Julius! you are no man ifthis goal does not tempt you!"

  "I am dizzy," said Julius admiringly. "The goal is high as the stars;but your ways--are crooked. Ah! if they were straight, by God! I wouldshare your steps! Yes; call the Roman youth to arms; cry to both thebarbarian forces, 'Out of our holy Latium!' make open war against thebarbarians and against the tyrants, and I will stand or fall at yourside."

  "You know well that this is impossible."

  "And, therefore--it is your aim!"

  "Fool! do you not see that it is common to form a structure from goodmaterial, but that it is divine by one's own strength to create a newworld out of nothing?"

  "Divine? By cunning and lies? No!"

  "Julius!"

  "Let me speak plainly; for that purpose am I come. Oh that I could callyou back from the demoniac path, which will only lead you todestruction! You know that I ever loved and honoured you. But what Ihear whispered of you by Greeks, Goths, and Romans, is not in tune withthis reverence."

  "What do they whisper?" asked Cethegus proudly.

  "I do not like to think of it. But everything terrible that hashappened lately--the death of Athalaric, Camilla, and Amalaswintha, thelanding of the Byzantines--is named as the work of a demon, who is theauthor of all evil; and this demon--is you! Tell me, simply and truly,that you are free from this dark----"

  "Boy," exclaimed Cethegus, "are you my confessor, and would call me toaccount? First learn to understand the aim before you blame the means.Do you think that history is built of roses and lilies? Who wills whatis great must do great things, whether the small call it good or bad."

  "No, no, I repeat. Cursed be the aim which only leads to crime! Hereour paths divide."

  "Julius, do not go. You despise what was never before offered to mortalman. Let me have a son, for whom I can strive, to whom I can bequeaththe inheritance of my life."

  "Curses and blood stick to it! And even if I could enter at onceupon this inheritance, I should reject it. I will go, so that I may notsee your image grow still darker. But I beg one thing: when the daycomes--and it will come--when you are weary of all this bloodshed andcrime, and of the aim itself which necessitated such deeds, then callme. I will come to you, wherever I may be, and I will wrest you fromthe demoniac power which enthralls you, were it at the price of my ownlife."

  At first a smile of mockery passed across the Prefect's lips, but hethought, "He still loves me. 'Tis good; I will call him when the workis finished. Let us see if he can then resist--if he will refuse theEmpire of the world."

  "Well," he said aloud, "I will call you when I need you. Farewell."

  And, with a cold gesture, he dismissed the youth, who was overcome withemotion.

  But as the door closed behind Julius, the Prefect took a small medal ofembossed bronze from a box, and contemplated it for some time.

  He was about to kiss it.

  But suddenly the sarcastic expression again passed across his lips.

  "Shame on thee, Cethegus!" he exclaimed, "before Caesar's face!"

  And he put the medal back into the box.

  It was the head of a woman, and very like Julius.