CHAPTER I.
Athalaric's sudden death fell like lightning from a clear sky upon theGothic party, whose hopes, just at this very time, had been raised tosuch a high pitch. All the measures which the King had taken at theirsuggestion were paralysed, and the national party was left without arepresentative in the State; at the head of which the Queen-regent wasnow placed alone.
Early in the morning of the next day Cassiodorus went to the Prefect ofRome. He found him in a sound and tranquil sleep.
"And you can sleep as quietly as a child after such a blow?"
"I sleep," answered Cethegus, raising himself on his elbow, "in thefeeling of renewed security."
"Security! yes, for you; but the kingdom!"
"The kingdom was in more danger through this boy than I. Where is theQueen?"
"She sits speechless beside the open coffin of her son! She has satthere the whole night."
Cethegus sprang up.
"That must not be! It does no good. She belongs to the State, not tothis corpse. So much the less because I have heard whispers concerningpoison. The young tyrant had many enemies. How about that matter?"
"Very uncertain. The Grecian physician, Elpidios, who examined thecorpse, certainly speaks of some striking appearances. But he thinksthat if poison has been used it must be a very secret one, quiteunknown to him. In the cup from which the unfortunate boy drank therecould not be discovered the least trace of suspicious contents. So itis generally believed that excitement had again brought on his formermalady, and that this was the cause of his death. But still it is wellthat, since the moment of your leaving the assembly, _you_ were alwaysin the presence of witnesses; grief breeds suspicion."
"How is it with Camilla?" the Prefect inquired further.
"She has never yet awakened from her stupor; the physicians fear theworst. But I came to ask you what shall now be done? The Queen speaksof suppressing the examination concerning you."
"That must not be," cried Cethegus. "I demand an investigation. We willgo to her immediately."
"Will you intrude upon her at the coffin of her son?"
"Yes, I will. Do you shrink from it in your tender consideration? Wellthen, come afterwards, when I have broken the ice."
He dismissed his visitor and called his slaves to dress him. Shortlyafterwards, enveloped in a dark mourning garment, he descended to thevault where the corpse lay exposed. With an imperious gesture hemotioned aside the guard and the women of Amalaswintha, who kept watchat the door, and entered noiselessly.
It was the low vaulted hall, where, in former times, the corpses of theemperors had been prepared with salves and combustibles for the funeralpyre.
This quiet hall, flagged with dark-green serpentine, the roof of whichwas supported by short Doric columns of black marble, was neverillumined by a ray of sunshine, and at the present moment no otherlight fell upon the gloomy Byzantine mosaics on the gold ground of thewalls than that from four torches, which flickered with an uncertainlight near the stone sarcophagus of the young King.
There he lay upon a dark purple mantle; helm, sword, and shield at hishead.
Old Hildebrand had wound a wreath of oak-leaves amidst the dark locks.The noble features reposed in pallid and earnest beauty.
At his feet, clad in a long mourning veil, sat the tall form of theQueen, supporting her head upon her left arm, which was laid upon thesarcophagus. Her right hand hung languidly down. She could weep nomore.
The crackling of the burning torches was the only sound in thisstillness of the grave.
Cethegus entered noiselessly, not unmoved by the poetry of the scene.
But, contracting his brows, he smothered the passing feeling ofcompassion. He knew that it was necessary to be clear and composed.
He gently drew near and took Amalaswintha's relaxed hand.
"Rise, noble lady, you belong to the living, not to the dead."
She looked up, startled.
"You here, Cethegus? What seek you here?"
"A Queen!"
"Oh, you only find a weeping mother!" she cried, sobbing.
"That I cannot believe. The kingdom is in danger, and Amalaswintha willshow that even a woman can sacrifice her sorrow to the fatherland."
"She can!" replied the Queen, rising. "But look at him. How young! howbeautiful! How could Heaven be so cruel!"
"Now, or never!" thought Cethegus, and said aloud: "Heaven is just,severe; not cruel."
"Of what do you speak? What wrong has my noble son committed? Do youdare to accuse him?"
"Not I! But a portion of Holy Writ has been fulfilled upon him: 'Honourthy father and mother, that thy days may be long in the land!' Thecommandment is also a threat. Yesterday he sinned against his motherand dishonoured her by bold rebellion--to-day he lies here. Therein Isee the finger of God."
Amalaswintha covered her face. She had heartily forgiven her son whilewatching beside his coffin. But still this view, these words,powerfully affected her, and drew her attention away from her grief tothe well-loved habit of government.
"You wish, O Queen, to suppress my examination, and recall Witichis.Witichis may be recalled. But I demand, as my right, that theprosecution be continued, and I fully expect a solemn acquittal."
"I have never doubted your fidelity. Woe to me, should I be obliged todo so! Tell me that you know of no conspiracy, and all is ended."
She seemed to expect his asseveration,
Cethegus was silent for a short time. Then he quietly said:
"Queen, I know of a conspiracy."
"What say you?" cried the Queen, looking at him threateningly.
"I have chosen this hour and place," continued Cethegus, with a glanceat the corpse, "to put a seal to my devotion, so that it may beindelibly impressed upon your heart. Hear and judge me."
"What shall I hear?" said the Queen, now upon her guard, and firmlyresolved to allow herself to be neither deceived nor softened.
"I should be a bad Roman, Queen, and you would despise me, if I did notlove my nation above all things. That proud nation, which even you, astranger, love! I know--as you know--that hatred against you asheretics and barbarians still smoulders in the hearts of most Italians.The last harsh deeds of your father have fanned this feeling into aflame. I suspected a conspiracy. I sought and discovered it."
"And concealed it?" said the Queen, rising in anger.
"And concealed it. Until to-day. The blind fools would have soughtassistance from the Greeks, and, after destroying the Goths, subjectedthemselves to the Emperor."
"The vile traitors!" cried Amalaswintha.
"The fools! They had already gone so far, that only _one_ means wasleft by which to keep them back: I placed myself at their head."
"Cethegus!"
"In this manner I gained time, and was able to prevent noble, thoughblind men, from rushing to destruction. I opened their eyes by degrees,and showed them that their plan, if it succeeded, would have onlyexchanged a mild government for a despotic one. They acknowledged it;they obeyed me; and no Byzantine will ever touch Italian soil, until Icall him, I--or you."
"I! Do you rave?"
"Sophocles, your favourite, says, 'Forswear nothing.' Be warned, Queen,for you do not see the pressing danger. Another conspiracy, much moredangerous than that of these Roman enthusiasts, and close to you,threatens you, your kingdom, and the Amelungs' right of sovereignty--aconspiracy of the Goths!"
Amalaswintha turned pale.
"You have seen yesterday, to your sorrow, that your hand can no moreguide the rudder of this realm. Just as little as could that of yournoble son, who was but the tool of your enemies. You know, Queen, thatmany of your nation are bloodthirsty, barbarous, rapacious, and brutal;they would like to levy contributions upon this land, where Virgil andTullius wandered. Yon know that your insolent nobles hate thesuperiority of your royal house, and would make themselves its equal.You know that the rude Goths think unworthily of woman's vocation forgovernment."
"I know it," she said, proudly and angrily.
"But you do not know that both these parties are united. They areunited against you and your Roman predilections. They will overthrowyou, or force you to do their will. Cassiodorus and I are to bedismissed from your side, our Senate and our rights to be dissolved,and the kingship to become a shadow. War is to be proclaimed againstthe Emperor; and force, extortion, and rapine, let loose upon usRomans."
"You paint mere idle phantoms!"
"Was that which happened yesterday an idle phantom? If Heaven had notintervened, would not you--like me--be robbed of all your power? Wouldyou still be mistress in your kingdom, in your house? Are they notalready so strong, that the heathen Hildebrand, the countrifiedWitichis, the gloomy Teja, openly defy your will in the name of yourbefooled son? Have they not recalled the three rebel dukes? And yourperverse daughter, and----"
"True, too true," sighed the Queen.
"If these men should rule--then farewell science, art, and all nobleculture! Farewell, Italia, mother of humanity! Then, burst into flame,you white parchments! crumble into fragments, you beautiful statues!Brutality and murder will run rife in these plains, and posterity willbear witness: 'Such things happened in the reign of Amalaswintha, thedaughter of Theodoric.'"
"Never, never shall that happen! But----"
"You want proofs? I fear you will have them only too soon. However, yousee, even now, that you cannot rely upon the Goths, if you wish toprevent such horrors. We alone can protect you against them; we, towhom you already belong by intellect and culture; we Romans. Then, whenthe barbarians surround your throne with uproar, let me rally the menaround you who once conspired against you: the patriots of Rome! Theywill protect you and themselves at the same time."
"Cethegus," said the distressed woman, "you influence men easily! Who,tell me, who will answer for the patriots? Who will answer for _your_truth?"
"This paper, Queen, and this! The first contains a correct list of theRoman conspirators. You see, there are many hundred names. This is alist of the members of the Gothic league, whom I certainly could onlyguess at. But I guess well. With these two papers I give both theseparties--I give myself--completely into your hands. You can at anymoment reveal me to my own party as a traitor, who, before all things,sought _your_ favour. You can expose me to the hatred of the Goths--assoon as you will. I shall be left without adherents. I stand alone;your favour is my only support."
The Queen had glanced over the papers with sparkling eyes. "Cethegus,"she exclaimed, "I will always remember your fidelity and this hour!"
And she gave him her hand with emotion.
Cethegus slightly bent his head. "Still one thing more, O Queen. Thepatriots, henceforward your friends as they are mine, know that thehate of the barbarians, the sword of destruction, hangs over theirheads. Their anxious hearts require encouragement. Let me assure themof your high protection. Place your name at the head of this list, andlet me thereby give them a visible sign of your favour."
She took the golden stylus and the waxen tablets which he handed toher. For one moment she hesitated; then she quickly signed her name,and gave tablets and stylus back again. "Here! They must be faithful tome; as faithful as yourself!"
At this moment Cassiodorus entered. "O Queen, the Gothic nobles awaityou. They wish to speak with you."
"I come! They shall learn my will!" she said vehemently; "but you,Cassiodorus, shall be the first to know the decision to which I havecome during this trying hour, and which will soon be known to my wholekingdom. Henceforward the Prefect of Rome is the first of my servants,as he is the most faithful. He has the place of honour in my trust andnear my throne."
Much astonished, Cassiodorus led the Queen up the dark steps.
Cethegus followed slowly. He held up the tablets in his hand, and saidto himself: "Now you are mine, daughter of Theodoric! Your name uponthis list severs you for ever from your people!"