A Struggle for Rome, v. 2

by Felix Dahn

  CHAPTER VII.

  Meanwhile it had become quite dark. The slave brought the pretty bronzelamp of Corinthian workmanship--an eagle, which carried the ball of thesun in its beak, filled with scented Persian oil.

  "A Gothic warrior waits outside, sir; he wishes to speak with youalone. He looks very insignificant. Shall he lay down his arms?"

  "No," answered Cethegus. "We do not fear the barbarians. Let him in."

  The slave went, and Cethegus laid his right hand upon the dagger in thebosom of his tunic.

  A stately Goth entered, the cowl of his brown mantle drawn over hishead. He now threw it back.

  Cethegus started forward in astonishment.

  "What leads the King of the Goths to me?"

  "Softly!" said Witichis. "No one need know what we two transact. Youknow that yesterday and to-day my army has entered Rome from Regeta.You do not know that we leave Rome to-morrow!"

  Cethegus looked amazed.

  "It surprises you?"

  "The city is secure," said Cethegus quietly.

  "Yes; but not the fidelity of the Romans. Benevento has already goneover to Belisarius. I have no wish to allow myself to be crushedbetween Belisarius and you."

  Cethegus was prudently silent; he did not know to what this would lead.At last he asked:

  "Wherefore are you come. King of the Goths?"

  "Not to ask you how far the Romans may be trusted; and also not tocomplain that we can trust you so little--you, whom Theodoric and hisdaughter overwhelmed with benefits--but honestly and simply to arrangea few things with you, for our mutual well-being."

  Cethegus was surprised. In the proud frankness of this man laysomething which he envied. He would gladly have despised it.

  "We shall leave Rome," continued Witichis, "and shortly afterwards theRomans will admit Belisarius. It is sure to be so; I cannot hinder it.I have been advised to take the heads of the aristocracy as hostages."

  Cethegus started, and with difficulty hid the movement.

  "You before all, the Princeps Senatus."

  "Me?" said Cethegus, smiling.

  "I shall leave you here. I know well that you are the soul of Rome."

  Cethegus cast down his eyes, "I accept the oracle," he thought.

  "But for that very reason I leave you here," Witichis continued."Hundreds who call themselves Romans would like the Byzantines formasters. You--you would not have it."

  Cethegus looked inquiringly at him.

  "Do not deceive me. Do not try to deceive me. I am no man of craft orcunning! but my eye penetrates men's natures. You are too proud toserve Justinian, and I know that you hate us. But neither do you lovethese Greeks, and you will suffer them no longer than is necessary.Therefore I leave you here; I know you love this city."

  There was something about this man which compelled Cethegus toadmiration.

  "King of the Goths," he said, "you speak plainly and nobly, like aking. I thank you. It shall not be said of Cethegus that he does notunderstand magnanimous words. It is as you say. I shall keep my RomeRoman with all my might."

  "Good!" said Witichis. "See, I have been warned against your wiles; Iknow much of your secret plans; I guess still more; and I know that Ihave no weapon against deceit. But you are no liar. I knew that a manlyword would touch you; and trust disarms every enemy who is worthy ofbeing called a man."

  "You honour me. King of the Goths. That I may deserve your trust, letme warn you. Do you know who are the warmest friends of Belisarius?"

  "I know it: Silverius and the priests."

  "Right! And do you know that, as soon as the old Pope, Agapetus, isdead, Silverius will ascend the Bishop's Chair?"

  "So I hear. I was advised to take him as a hostage too. I shall not doso. The Italians hate us enough already. I will not meddle with thewasps' nest of the priests. I fear martyrs."

  But Cethegus would gladly have been rid of the priest, "He will bedangerous in the Chair of Peter," he said warningly.

  "Let him alone! The possession of this country will not be decided bythe schemes of the priesthood."

  "Well," said Cethegus, taking the roll of papyrus, "I have here,accidentally, the names of his warmest friends; there are men ofimportance amongst them."

  He would have pressed the list upon Witichis, hoping that then theGoths would take his most dangerous enemies away with them.

  But Witichis refused the list.

  "'Tis no matter! I shall take no hostages at all. Of what use is it totake off their heads? _You_, shall answer to me for Rome."

  "What do you mean by that? I cannot keep Belisarius away."

  "You shall not. Belisarius is sure to come, but, rely upon it, he willgo away again. We Goths will overcome this enemy; perhaps only after ahard fight, but most certainly. And then there will be a second fightfor Rome!"

  "A second?" asked Cethegus quietly. "With whom?"

  Witichis laid his hand upon the Prefect's shoulder, and looked into hisface with eyes as clear as sunshine.

  "With you, Prefect of Rome!"

  "With me?" and Cethegus tried to smile, but could not.

  "Do not deny what is dearest to you, man. It is not worthy of you. Iknow for whom you have built the gates and ramparts round this city;not for us and not for the Greeks! for yourself! Be quiet! I know youmeditate, or I guess it. Not a word! Be it so. Shall Greek and Gothstruggle for Rome, and no Roman? But listen: let not a second wearingwar carry off our people. When we have overcome the Byzantines anddriven them out of our Italy--then, Cethegus, I will expect you beforethe walls of Rome. Not for a battle between our people, but for singlecombat. Man against man, you and I will lose or win Rome."

  In the King's look and tone lay such dignity, magnanimity, andsublimity, that the Prefect was confused.

  In secret he would have mocked at the simplicity of the barbarian, butit seemed to him as if he could never more respect himself, if he wereincapable of esteeming, honouring, and responding to such greatness.

  So he spoke without sarcasm.

  "You dream, Witichis, like a Gothic boy."

  "No, I think and act like a Gothic man. Cethegus, you are the onlyRoman whom I would honour thus. I have seen you fight in the wars withthe Gepidae. You are worthy of my sword. You are older than I; well, Iwill give you the advantage of the shield!"

  "You Germans are very singular," said Cethegus involuntarily. "Whatfancies!"

  But now Witichis frowned.

  "Fancies! Woe to you, if you are not able to feel what speaks in me.Woe to you, if Teja be right! He laughed at my plan and said, 'TheRoman will not understand that!' And _he_ advised me to take you withme a prisoner. I thought more highly of you and Rome. But know: Tejahas surrounded your house; and are you so mean or so cowardly as not tocomprehend me, we shall take you from your Rome in chains. Shame uponyou, that you must be forced to do what is honourable!"

  But now it was Cethegus's turn to get angry.

  He felt abashed. The chivalry of Witichis was strange to him, and itvexed him that he could not mock at it. It vexed him to be compelled;that his free choice had been mistrusted. A furious hatred in returnfor Teja's contempt, and anger at the King's brutal frankness, flamedup in his soul. He would gladly have thrust his dagger into the Goth'sbroad breast.

  He had been almost on the point of giving his word in good earnest froma soldierly feeling of honour.

  But now a very different, hateful feeling of malignant joy flashedacross his mind. The barbarians had mistrusted him, they had despisedhim; now they should certainly be deceived!

  Coming forward with a keen look, he grasped the King's hand.

  "Be it so!" he said.

  "Be it so!" repeated Witichis, giving his hand a strong pressure. "I amglad that I was right and not Teja. Farewell! Guard our Rome! From youI will demand her again in honourable combat."

  And he left the house.

  "Well!" said Teja, who waited outside with the other Goths. "Shall Istorm the house?"

  "N
o," said Witichis; "he has given his word."

  "If he will only keep it!"

  Witichis started back in indignation.

  "Teja! thy gloomy mind renders thee too unjust! Thou hast no right todoubt a hero's honour. Cethegus is a hero!"

  "He is a Roman! Good-night!" said Teja, sheathing his sword. And heturned another way with his Goths.

  But Cethegus tossed all night upon his couch. He was at variance withhimself.

  He was vexed with Julius.

  He was bitterly vexed with Witichis, more bitterly still with Teja.

  But most with himself.

  The next day Witichis once again assembled people. Senate, and theclergy of the city, at the Thermae of Titus. From the highest step ofthe marble staircase of the handsome building, which was filled withthe leaders of the army, the King made a simple speech to the Romans.

  He declared that he must leave the city for a short time, but that hewould soon return. He reminded them of the mildness of the Gothicgovernment, of the benefits of Theodoric and Amalaswintha, and calledupon them courageously to oppose Belisarius, in case of his advance,until the Goths returned to reinforce them. The newly-drilledlegionaries and the strong fortifications made a long resistancepossible.

  Finally he demanded the oath of allegiance, and asked them once more todefend their city to the death against Belisarius. The Romanshesitated; for their thoughts were already in Belisarius's camp, andthey disliked to perjure themselves.

  Just at this crisis a solemn hymn was heard in the direction of the ViaSacra; and past the Flavian Amphitheatre came a long procession ofpriests, swinging censers, and singing psalms.

  In the night Pope Agapetus had died, and, in all haste, Silverius, thearchdeacon, had been appointed as his successor.

  Solemnly and slowly the crowd of priests advanced; the insignia of theBishop of Rome were carried in front; choristers with silvery voicessang sweet and sacred airs. At last the Pope's litter appeared open,richly gilt, and shaped like a boat.

  The bearers walked slowly, step by step, in time to the music; pressedupon by crowds of people, who were eager to receive the blessing oftheir new Bishop.

  Silverius bent his head to the right and left, and blessed the peoplerepeatedly.

  A number of priests and a troop of mercenaries, armed with spears,closed the procession.

  It halted in the middle of the square. The Arian and Gothic warriors,who stood sentry at all the entrances of the place, silently watchedthe solemn and splendid procession, the symbol of a church which wastheir enemy; while the Romans greeted the appearance of their ApostolicFather all the more joyfully, because his voice could calm theirscruples of conscience as to the oath to be given.

  Silverius was just about to begin his address to the people, when thearm of a gigantic Goth, stretched over the side of his litter, pulledhim by his gold-brocaded mantle.

  Indignant at this very irreverent interruption, Silverius turned hisface with a severe frown; but the Goth, unabashed, repeated the pull,and said:

  "Come, priest, thou must go up to the King!"

  Silverius thought it would have been more becoming if the King had comedown to him, and Hildebad seemed to read something of this feeling onhis features, for he cried:

  "It cannot be helped! Stoop, priest!"

  And herewith he pressed his hand upon the shoulder of one of thepriests who carried the litter. The bearers now set the litter down;Silverius left it with a sigh, and followed Hildebad up the steps.

  When the priest reached Witichis, the latter took his hand, advancedwith him to the edge of the steps, and said:

  "Roman citizens, your priest has been chosen for your Bishop; I ratifythe choice; he shall become Pope, as soon as he has sworn the oath ofallegiance, and has taken for me your oaths of fealty. Swear, priest!"

  For one moment Silverius was confounded.

  But immediately recovering himself, he turned with an unctuous smile toWitichis.

  "You command?" he asked.

  "Swear," said Witichis, "that in our absence you will do all that youcan to keep this city of Rome faithful to the Goths, to whom you owe somuch, to further us in all things, and to hinder the progress of ourenemies. Swear fidelity to the Goths!"

  "I swear," said Silverius, turning to the people. "And thus I, who havepower to bind and to loose, call upon you, Romans, surrounded as youare by Gothic weapons, to swear in the same spirit in which I myselfhave taken the oath."

  The priests and some of the nobility appeared to have understood, andlifted their hands to swear without delay.

  Then the mass hesitated no longer, and the place echoed with the loudshout: "We swear fidelity to the Goths!"

  "It is well, Bishop of Rome," said the King, "we count upon your oath.Farewell, Romans! We shall soon meet again."

  And he descended the broad flight of steps. Teja and Hildebad followedhim.

  "Now I am only curious--" said Earl Teja.

  "Whether they will keep their oath?" interposed Hildebad.

  "No; not at all. But how they will break it. Well, the priest will findout the way."

  With flying standards the Goths marched out of the Porta Flaminia,leaving the city to its Pope and the Prefect. Meanwhile Belisariusapproached by forced marches upon the Via Latina.