The Scarlet Banner
Page 9
CHAPTER VIII
Since I wrote this--a few days ago--new and important tidings have comefrom Africa. Great changes have taken place there, which perhaps mayforce the vacillating Emperor to go to war. What our statecraft hadstriven in the most eager and crafty manner to prevent has alreadyhappened in spite of this effort, perhaps in consequence of it. Gelimeris King of the Vandals!
The archdeacon Verus--all names can be mentioned now--had really spunwebs against, not for us. He betrayed everything to Gelimer! Pudentiusof Tripolis, who was secretly living in Carthage, was to have beenseized; Verus had betrayed his hiding-place. It is remarkable, by theway, that Pudentius hastily fled from the city a short time before, onthe priest's swiftest horse.
That same day a mysterious event occurred in the palace, of whichnothing is known definitely except the result--for Gelimer is King ofthe Vandals; but the connection, the causes, are very differently told.Some say that Gelimer wanted to murder the King, others that the Kingtried to kill Gelimer. Others again whisper--so Pudentius writes--of asecret warning which reached the King: a stranger informed him byletter that Gelimer meant to murder him at their next privateinterview. The sovereign, to convince himself, must instantly summonhim to one; the assassin would either refuse to come, from fearawakened by an evil conscience, or he would appear--contrary to thestrict prohibition of court laws--secretly armed. Hilderic must providehimself with a coat of mail and a dagger, and have help close at hand.The King obeyed this counsel.
It is certain that he summoned Gelimer on the evening of that very dayto an interview in his bedroom on the ground-floor of the palace.Gelimer came. The King embraced him, and in doing so, discovered thearmor under his robe and called for help. The ruler's two nephews,Hoamer and Euages, rushed with drawn swords from the next room to killthe assassin. But at the same moment Gelimer's two brothers, whom Verushad concealed amid the shrubbery in the garden, sprang through the lowwindows of the ground-floor. The King and Euages were disarmed andtaken prisoners; Hoamer escaped. Hastening into the courtyard of theCapitol, he called the Vandals to arms to rescue their King, who hadbeen murderously attacked by Gelimer. The Barbarians hesitated:Hilderic was unpopular, Gelimer a great favorite, and the people didnot believe him capable of such a crime. The latter now appeared, gavethe lie to his accuser, and charged Hilderic and his nephews with theattempt at assassination. To decide the question he challenged Hoamerto single combat in the presence of the whole populace, and killed himat the first blow.
The Vandals tumultuously applauded him, at once declared Hildericdeposed, and proclaimed Gelimer, who was the legal heir, their King. Itwas with the utmost difficulty that his intercession saved the lives ofthe two captives. Verus is said to have been made prothonotary andchancellor, Gelimer's chief councillor, since he saved his life! Weknow better, we who were betrayed, how this priest earned his reward atour expense.
But I believe that this change of ruler will compel the war. It is nowa point of honor with Justinian to save or avenge his dethroned andimprisoned friend. I have already composed a wonderful letter to the"Tyrant" Gelimer which closes thus: "So, contrary to justice and duty,you are keeping your cousin, the rightful King of the Vandals, inchains, and robbing him of the crown. Replace him on the throne, orknow that we will march against you, and in so doing (this sentence theEmperor of the Pandects dictated word for word)--in so doing we shallnot break the compact of perpetual peace formerly concluded withGenseric, for we shall not be fighting against Genseric's lawfulsuccessor, but to avenge him." Note the legal subtlety. The Emperor ismore proud of that sentence than Belisarius of his great Persianvictory at Dara. If this Gelimer should actually do what we ask, theavengers of justice would be most horribly embarrassed. For we _desire_this war; that is, we wanted Africa long before the occurrence of thecrime which we shall march to avenge--unless we prefer, with wiseeconomy and caution, to remain at home.
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We have received the Vandal's answer. A right royal reply for aBarbarian and tyrant. "The sovereign Gelimer to the sovereign Justinian"--he uses the same word, "Basileus," for Emperor and for King, thebold soldier.
"I did not seize the sceptre by violence, nor have I committed anycrime against my kindred. But the Vandal people deposed Hildericbecause he himself was planning evil against the Asding race, againstthe rightful heir to the throne, against our kingdom. The law ofsuccession summoned me, as the oldest of the Asding family afterHilderic, to the empty throne.
"He is a praiseworthy ruler, O Justinianus, who wisely governs his ownkingdom and does not interfere with foreign states. If you break thepeace guarded by sacred oaths, and attack us, we shall manfully defendourselves, and appeal to God, who punishes perjury and wrong."
Good! I like you. King Gelimer! I am glad to have our Emperor oflawyers told that he must not blow what is not burning him: a proverbwhich to me seems a tolerably fair embodiment of all legal wisdom.True, I have my own thoughts concerning the divine punishment of allearthly injustice.
The Barbarian's letter has highly incensed Justinian, another proofthat the Barbarian is right. But I believe we shall put this answer inour pockets just as quietly as we returned to its sheath the sword wehad already drawn. The Emperor inveighs loudly against the Tyrant, butthe army shouts still more loudly that it will not fight. And theEmpress--is silent.