The Paladins of Edwin the Great
Page 14
CHAPTER VI
IRAN
Sivel was a very intelligent and quick-witted boy, and he rapidlylearnt all his companions could teach him in the treasury office atAntioch and in the mint. He was able to read and write, and had eventried his hand on the dies for stamping coins. The decadence of arthad been very rapid since the days of Gallienus. All attempts atportraiture on the coins had disappeared, though there was still ahead, and an angel with orb and cross on the reverse. It was not beyondthe powers of a clever boy like Sivel to tool the inscriptions, andeven to copy the rough effigy of the good Emperor. Not a few of therude letters traced on Byzantine money of this period are the work ofour English boy:
TI MAVRICIVS IMP AN IX COS DN MAVRICIVS PP AVG,
or
DN MAVRIC TIBER PF AVG;
and he was thus busily employed when the news spread that troops fromthe Persian war were returning. Sivel lived, with several Greek clerksin the employment of the Count of the Sacred Largesses, in a large roomopening on a court which formed part of the palace. As he worked oneday, two tall forms stood in the doorway, and in another moment thedelighted boy was wrapped in the tight embraces of Lilla and Bassus,who had returned unhurt from the war, and with license to proceed ontheir own affairs to Rome. Many days had not elapsed before Coelred andPorlor, with their small but precious bales, also reached the Syriancapital and found a safe place--an "_uvaru_" they called it--in whichto bestow their goods for the time. The lads were beside themselveswith joy at meeting once more, and they agreed that all, includingSivel, should embark in the first vessel bound for Brundusium.
They longed to hear each other's stories, and when Porlor had relatedthe particulars of the wonderful voyage to India and back, Lillapromised, with the help of his friend Bassus, to describe what theyhad seen during the Persian war. On the next evening they assembledunder the shade of the grove of palm trees, outside the city gate,whence they had beheld the arrival of Khosro Parviz before theiradventures began. Bassus first explained the cause of the war. "On thedethronement and death of Hormazd IV., King of Persia," he said, "therewas great confusion. Bahram, the ablest of the Persian generals, gainedover the army and seized the government, while the King's son, KhosroParviz, took refuge in Roman territory. We all witnessed his arrival atAntioch from this very spot, and we know that the Emperor graciouslyresolved to restore the fugitive prince to the throne of his ancestors.He was influenced in making this decision partly by policy, but mainly,it is believed, by the generous dictates of his imperial nature. Ourmaster in the art of war, the great General Narses, received thecommands of the Emperor Maurice to execute his orders, and he plannedthe campaign with consummate skill. It was known that Bahram, withthe Persian army, was posted in the Mesopotamian plain beyond theriver Tigris, and not far from the foot of the mountains. Narsesresolved that the Roman forces should enter Persia in two divisions.The General himself, accompanied by the King of Persia, led the mainbody from Antioch to the Tigris, while a Roman contingent, under thecommand of John, the Prefect of Armenia, was to create a diversion bybreaking into the northern Persian province of Azerbijan. For Narseshad carefully studied the science of tactics and evolutions under theeye of the Emperor, who was himself the author of twelve books on themilitary art. You saw the army commence its march, and we parted in theearnest hope that this happy day of meeting again would not be longdeferred. Lilla must now tell you of our march."
The thread of the story was then taken up by the fearless son ofGuthlaf. "As pages of the General," said Lilla, "we rode behind him,and encamped near his tent. For several days we had to traverse avast desert, and we were often parched with thirst; but at length wereached the river Tigris, passing over it near a great mound which,we were told, covers the ruins of the most ancient city in the world,called Nineveh. Crossing the river, our General made three rapidmarches to overtake the Persians, who were encamped at the foot of themountains. Then the wisdom of the strategy of Narses was made clear.Hearing of the march of the Armenian contingent, the Persian Generalfeared lest it should fall on his rear, and he began a rapid march tothe northward to attack it. But the Prefect John had strict orders toavoid an encounter; and eventually Bahram made a countermarch to coverthe city of Canzaca, towards which Narses was steadily advancing.Leaving the plain, our way led us through the mountains of Media, toSirgan, on the plain of Ushnei, where a junction was formed with John'scontingent. Three days afterwards a great battle was fought in a hillycountry. For a time the Roman infantry fell back before the vigorouscharges of Persian horse, and Narses himself dashed into the thick ofthe battle. We fought by his side, and when the victory was won theGeneral was so pleased with us that he gave us separate commands ofinfantry companies. Next morning Bahram continued his retreat overthe mountains, closely pursued by us, and at night we pitched ourcamp close to the Persian position. Still retreating, the Persiansdescended into the plain in which their great city of Canzaca is builton a high rock. Here the final and decisive battle was fought. Bassusand I led on our men, and were long engaged in desperate encountersside by side. At last we saw the enemy flying in all directions. Butwe were too exhausted to follow them, and rested for three days on thebattle-field. Our General then occupied the Persian city of Canzaca.
"Khosro Parviz was overjoyed. Our army had made him once more King ofKings, or _Malkan Malka_. He declared that the Emperor Maurice was hisfather, requested a contingent of the Romans to remain in his service,and promised great rewards to the rest. For a short time we were postedin the wonderful city where the people worship fire which has been keptburning for 700 years." Porlor and Coelred had both been too absorbedin the story of the campaign to interrupt with questions, but nowPorlor asked whether fire was really the god of those people. "Yes,"said Bassus, "we saw them worshipping before it. Canzaca is on a hillwhich rises high above the plain, with a steep acclivity to the northand west, and a sloping approach from the east. The brow of this hillis crowned by a circlet of strong stone walls 12 feet wide, extendingfor a great distance, with an arched gateway also of massive hewnstone, leading into the town. In the highest part of the town there isa lake, 300 paces round, with exquisitely clear water of a deep bluecolour, which has no bottom. And now I come to your question about thefire. Near the lake there stands a fire-temple--_pyraeum_ the Greekscall it. Built of bricks and cement, its walls are of great thickness,and a narrow vaulted passage surrounds the central chamber. Thischamber has a great arch on each of its sides, and is surmounted by acircular dome on which the stars of heaven are painted. A silver moonis on the highest point. In the centre of this chamber is the altarwith the sacred fire. We have seen the King, Khosro Parviz, enthronedthere, surrounded by emblems of the sun and moon, with the golden globeon his head, while all his people prayed to the flame on the altar."
"We used to sit on the walls," said Lilla, "and look over a vastextent of country bounded by distant mountains. At our feet there wasa winding rocky ridge, the height of two men and 80 paces long, called'the Dragon.' We were told that the monster was coming open-mouthedto devour the city when it was suddenly transformed into stone by thepotent spell of the signet ring of an ancient king they call Solomon.Certainly it was lying on the plain before us, like a winding serpentof stone. We were offered commands by the King of Persia, which wedeclined, and the General then said that we deserved some reward andmight name it. So we asked for license to go to Rome, where friendsurgently needed our presence, which was granted. Narses said that hewas sorry to part with us when we took leave, and we set out witha small escort. We had to cross the Median mountains to reach theplains of Mesopotamia, and in the pass my Bassus was so badly hurt bya fall with his horse that we had to remain at a place called Sidehfor several days." "Did they also worship fire in that place?" askedPorlor. "No," said Lilla, "they had a stranger worship. They believe inan ancient bird called the Simurg, which has been alive since the worldbegan. Passing to and fro over the earth from the beginning, the Simurghas seen everything. It
therefore knows everything, and is a bird ofgreat wisdom. Its counsel is sought for, but it is seldom seen, and itsabode is believed to be on the mountain peak of Demavend. They worshipa figure of the Simurg made of silver, which we saw. It was on a raisedplatform, and has a swelling breast, small head, and wide-spreadingtail. Two lamps are always burning before it, and close by there is ajug filled with water, to be used as a spell for the sick and afflictedwhen the Simurg cannot be consulted in person. As soon as Bassus waswell enough we left Sideh, descended into the plain, and, after a longand tedious journey, arrived at Antioch without further accident."
"How wonderful are the numbers of gods!" observed Porlor. "We havefound people not only worshipping the Son of God under many names, butalso bowing down to snakes, cows, and monkeys. Now you tell us thatthere are people who worship a flame of fire, and others whose beliefis in an ancient bird. Many of their creeds are incomprehensible, butthe Princess Alca will explain it all to us when we go home." Coelredwarmly thanked Lilla and Bassus for the story of their campaign, whichhad been of absorbing interest to him, and for telling him and Porlorof all the wonders they had seen. A very happy evening had been passedunder the palm trees.
The subsequent days were occupied in preparations for the voyage toBrundusium. A vessel had been hired at Seleucia and was ready to sail,when a great calamity overtook the friends. Little Sivel was missing.He had not been seen since the evening when Lilla and Bassus relatedtheir adventures. The other lads had taken leave of him in the street,but his companions in the treasury said that he never came home.Several days were wasted in a vain search. At last Lilla rememberedthat, while passing through a crowd in the _agora_ the day after hisarrival, he for a moment caught sight of a face which reminded him ofMystacon. The incident had passed from his memory, being full of otherexciting thoughts at the time. "I see it all!" exclaimed Porlor. Therest turned to him for an explanation, but he declared there was notime to explain, and that they must hurry down to the port of Seleucia.Porlor instituted inquiries at once, through the agent for theirvessel, and sure enough Mystacon the merchant had been there. He hadsailed, on his way to Rome, three days before. Further inquiry elicitedthe fact that some one, muffled up in cloths and gagged, had beencarried on board.
"We are too late!" exclaimed Porlor. "We must follow quickly to Romeand effect the rescue there. For the villainy is unmasked. Mystaconhas seen Pamphronius, who has offered large sums for the recovery ofhis slaves. He has found out that our Sivel was at Antioch, with hisvalue greatly increased owing to his acquired knowledge and well-knownability, of which every one talks. He has kidnapped our boy and takenhim to Rome, with the object of extorting a heavy sum from Pamphronius,and he will probably keep Sivel concealed until it is paid." They wereall wild with rage. "To the rescue! to the rescue!" they shouted."Death to Mystacon and Pamphronius!" Their preparations were soon made.Next day the captain and crew were on board, the anchor was up, and thevessel was bowling along before a fresh easterly breeze. But it was along stern chase.
The lads held many consultations during the voyage. Great cautionwould be necessary, for they were resolved not only to rescue Sivel,but also to kill Mystacon, and perhaps Pamphronius. Otacilia, the widowof Symmachus Boethius, who had always been very kind to Coelred andPorlor, and disliked Pamphronius, had manumitted all her husband'sslaves. This news had reached Antioch. Coelred and Porlor, in order tobe close to the scene of action, would therefore seek, and felt sureof obtaining, hospitality in the great rambling villa of the departedSymmachus. Lilla and Bassus would take up their quarters, as imperialofficers, in lodgings within the old Praetorian camp. Their friendsat the monastery would be eager to help as soon as the news was toldthem. Then a watch must be kept on the Pamphronian villa, while Lillawas to visit his old master, and ascertain whether Sivel was alreadythere. All the haunts of Mystacon were also to be searched, and furtherdetails were to be settled hereafter, as they must depend on the courseof events.
Thus did these lads rack their brains to devise the surest way ofrescuing their beloved companion. Coelred and Porlor were rich, andeasily defrayed the expenses of the vessel, and of posting rapidlyfrom Brundusium to Rome. It was early in the year 595 that the fourlads returned. Six years had passed since the mortifying scene in theslave-market. Lilla and Coelred had now reached the age of eighteen,Porlor was sixteen years old. Both Coelred and Porlor were hospitablyreceived by Otacilia, as they anticipated, and the heroes from Persiawere lodged in the old camp. Next day they all hurried to greet and toconsult with their comrades in the monastery of St. Andrew.