A Struggle for Rome, v. 1

  CHAPTER VIII.

  We have lost sight of Cethegus ever since his departure for Rome.

  During the events which we have described, he had been extremely activein that city, for he saw that things were coming to a crisis, andlooked forward with confidence to a favourable result.

  All Italy was united in hatred against the barbarians, and who could sowell direct this hatred as the head of the conspiracy of the Catacombs,and the master of Rome?

  For now he was so in fact. The legions were fully formed and equipped,and the fortifications of the city--the works of which had been carriedon for the last few months night and day--were almost completed.

  And, as he thought, he had finally succeeded preventing an immediateincursion of the Byzantine army into Italy, the greatest calamity whichthreatened his ambitious plans. He had learned, through trustworthyspies, that the Byzantine fleet--which, till now had been anchored offSicily--had really left that island, and sailed towards the Africancoast, where seemed occupied in suppressing piracy.

  Cethegus certainly foresaw that it would yet come to a landing of theGreeks in Italy; he could not do without their help. But it wasmaterial to his plans that the Emperor's assistance should be ofsecondary importance, and, to insure this, he must take care that,before a single Byzantine had set foot in Italy, a rebellion of theItalians should have taken place spontaneously, and have been alreadycarried to such a point, that the later co-operation of the Greekswould appear to be a mere incident, and could be easily repaid by theacknowledgment of a light supremacy of the Emperor.

  To this end he had prepared his plans with great nicety.

  As soon as the last tower on the Roman walls was under roof, the Gothswere to be attacked on one and the same day all over Italy, and, at onestroke, all the fortresses, castles, and towns--Rome, Ravenna, andNeapolis foremost--were to be overpowered and taken.

  If the barbarians were once driven into the open country, there was nofear--considering their complete ignorance of the art of siege, and thenumber and strength of the Italian fortresses--that they would be ableto take these last, and thereby again become masters of the peninsula.

  Then an allied army from Byzantium might aid in finally driving theGoths over the Alps; and Cethegus was resolved to prevent these alliesfrom entering the most important fortresses, so that, later, they alsomight be got rid of without difficulty.

  To ensure the success of this plan, it was necessary that the Gothsshould be taken by surprise. If war with Byzantium were in prospect,or, still worse, already broken out, it naturally followed that thebarbarians would not allow their fortified places to be wrested fromthem by a mere stroke of the hand.

  Now as Cethegus--since he had penetrated the motives of the embassy ofPetros--fully expected that Justinian would come forward at the firstopportunity, and as he had barely succeeded in preventing the landingof Belisarius, he was resolved not to lose a moment's time.

  He had arranged that a general meeting of the conspirators should takeplace in the Catacombs on the day of the completion of the Romanfortifications, when their successful termination should be celebrated,the moment of the attack on the Goths decided, and Cethegus himselfdesignated as the leader of this purely Italian movement.

  He hoped to overcome the opposition of the timorous or the bribed--whowere inclined to act only for and with the assistance of Byzantium--bythe enthusiasm of the Roman youth, whom he would promise to lead atonce to battle.

  Before the day of meeting arrived, he had heard the news ofAmalaswintha's murder, and of the confusion and division of the Goths,and he impatiently longed for the crisis.

  At length the last tower of the Aurelian Grate was completed. Cethegushimself gave the finishing stroke, and as he did so it seemed to himthat he heard the sound of the blow which would liberate Rome andItaly.

  At the banquet which he afterwards gave to thousands of labourers inthe theatre of Pompey, most of the conspirators were present, and thePrefect made use of the opportunity to show them how unlimited was hispopularity. Upon the younger members the impression which he wished andexpected to make was produced, but a small party, headed by Silverius,retired from the tables with discontented and gloomy looks.

  The priest had lately seen that Cethegus would not consent to be a meretool, but that he contrived to carry out his own plans, which mightprove extremely dangerous to the Church and to his (the priest's)personal influence. He was decided to overthrow his colleague as soonas he could be spared, and it had not been difficult for him to excitethe jealousy of many Romans against Cethegus.

  The wily archbishop had taken advantage of the presence of the twobishops from the Eastern Empire, Hypatius of Ephesus and Demetrius ofPhilippi--who secretly treated with the Pope in matters of faith, andwith King Theodahad in affairs of policy--to enter into a close andsecret alliance with Theodahad and Byzantium.

  "You are right, Silverius," grumbled Scaevola, as they issued from thedoors of the theatre, "the Prefect unites Marius and Caesar in oneperson."

  "He does not throw away such immense sums for nothing," said theavaricious Albinus warningly; "we must not trust him too far."

  "Beloved brethren," said the priest, "see that you do not lightlycondemn a member of our community. Who should do this would be worthyof hell-fire! Certainly Cethegus commands the fists of the workmen aswell as the hearts of his young 'knights;' and it is well, for he cantherewith break the tyranny----"

  "But at the same time he could replace it by new despotism," interruptedCalpurnius.

  "That he shall not, if daggers can still kill, as in the time ofBrutus!" cried Scaevola.

  "Bloodshed is not necessary. Consider; the nearer the tyrant, the moreoppressive the tyranny; the farther the ruler, the more bearable hisgovernment. The power of the Prefect must be balanced by the power ofthe Emperor."

  "Yes," affirmed Albinus, who had received large sums from Byzantium,"the Emperor must become master of Italy."

  "That is," said Silverius, restraining Scaevola, who would haveinterrupted indignantly, "we must keep down the Prefect by means of theEmperor, and the Emperor by means of the Prefect. See, we have arrivedat the door of my house. Let us enter. I must tell you in confidencewhat will be made known to the assembly to-night. It will surprise you;but other people still more."

  Meanwhile the Prefect had also hurried home from the banquet, toprepare for his important work by lonely meditation.

  He did not think over his speech; he knew long ago what he had to say;and, a splendid orator, to whom words came as readily as thoughts, hewillingly left the mode of expression to the impulse of the moment,knowing well that words which issue spontaneously from the heart, havethe liveliest effect.

  But he sought for inward composure; for his passions were vividlyexcited.

  He thought over the steps which he had taken in order to reach hisgoal, since first he had been drawn towards it with demoniac force. Hemeasured the short space which he had still to tread; he counted thedifficulties and hindrances which lay upon his path, and measured thestrength of mind with which he could overcome them; and the result ofall this examination awakened in him a certainty of victory whichfilled him with youthful enthusiasm.

  He measured his room with rapid strides; the muscles of his armsswelled as if in the hour of battle; he girded himself with the broadand victorious sword of his former campaigns, and convulsively graspedthe hilt as if he were about to fight for his Rome against two worlds:against Byzantium and the barbarians.

  He paused before the statue of Caesar, and looked long at the silentmarble face.

  "Farewell!" he cried, "give me thy good fortune upon my way. More I donot need."

  He turned quickly, and hurried out of the room and through the atriuminto the street, where the first stars were already shining. Theconspirators had assembled in the Catacombs on this evening in greaternumbers than ever, for urgent invitations had been sent through allItaly.

  According to the wish of the Prefect, al
l strategically importantplaces were represented at this meeting. Deputies had been sent fromthe strong warders of the frontiers, Tridentum, Tarvisium, and Verona,which behold the ice of the Alps; from Otorantum and Consentia, whichare laved by the tepid waves of the Ausonian Sea; from all thecelebrated towns of Sicily and Italy, with the proud, beautiful, andhistoric names: Syracuse and Catana, Panormus and Messana, Regium,Neapolis and Cumae, Capua and Beneventum, Antium and Ostia, Reate andNarnia, Volsinii, Urbsvetus and Spoletum, Clusium and Perusia, Auximumand Ancona, Florentia and Faesulas, Pisa, Luca, Luna and Genua;Ariminum, Casena, Faventia, and Ravenna; Parma, Dertona and Placentia;Mantua, Cremona, and Ticinum (Pavia); Mediolanum, Comum, and Bergamum;Asta and Pollentia; and from the northern and eastern coasts of theIonian Gulf: Concordia, Aquileja, Iadera, Scardona, and Salona.

  There were grave senators and judges, who had grown grey in thecouncils of their towns, where their ancestors had been leaders forcenturies; wise merchants, broad-shouldered proprietors, disputingjurists, mocking rhetoricians, and in particular a great number ofclergy of all ranks and all ages: the only firmly organised party, andwhich was implicitly obedient to Silverius.

  As Cethegus, still concealed behind the corner of the narrow entrance,overlooked the groups assembled in the rotunda of the grotto, he couldnot restrain a contemptuous smile, which, however, ended in a sigh.

  Excepting the general dislike to the barbarians--which, however, was byno means strong enough to support the sacrifices and self-denialnecessary to the accomplishment of difficult political plans--whatdifferent and often what small motives had led these men together!

  Cethegus knew exactly the motives of each individual: had he not beenable to influence them by taking advantage of their foibles? And, afterall, he could not but rejoice at this, for he could never have broughttrue Romans so completely under his influence as he had done theseconspirators.

  But as he now looked at the assembled patriots, and reflected how onehad been induced to join the discontented, in the hope of a title fromByzantium; another by bribery; another from revenge or on account ofsome personal offence, or even from tedium, or debts, or some foolishdilemma; and when he told himself that with _such_ colleagues he mustmeet the warriors of the Gothic army--he almost shrank from thetemerity of his plan.

  It was some relief to him, when the clear voice of Lucius Liciniusattracted his looks to the troop of young "knights," whose trulymartial courage and national enthusiasm were expressed on theirfeatures; there at least he had a few trustworthy weapons.

  "Welcome! Lucius Licinius," he said, as he stepped out of the darknessof the passage, "Ha, ha! you are mailed and armed as if we were goingstraight from hence to meet the barbarians!"

  "I can scarcely contain myself for joy and hate!" cried the handsomeyouth. "Look here, all these I have won for you, for the cause of thefatherland."

  Cethegus looked round and greeted the others.

  "You here also, Kallistratos? you merry son of peace!"

  "Hellas will not desert her sister Italia in the hour of danger," saidthe Greek, and laid his white hand upon his elegant, ivory-hiltedsword.

  Cethegus nodded to him and turned to the rest; Marcus Licinius, Piso,Massurius, Balbus, who, completely won for the Prefect since the feastof the Floralia, had brought with them their brothers, cousins, andfriends.

  Cethegus looked searchingly through the groups; he seemed to miss someone.

  Lucius Licinius guessed his thoughts.

  "You seek the dark Corsican, Furius Ahalla? You must not reckon uponhim. I sounded him thoroughly, but he said: 'I am a Corsican--no Roman.My trade flourishes under Gothic protection. Leave me out your game.'And when I pressed him further--for I would gladly win his brave swordand the many thousands of hands which he commands--he said abruptly: 'Iwill not fight against Totila.'"

  "The Gods alone know what binds the wild tiger to that milksop," saidPiso.

  Cethegus smiled, but frowned as well.

  "I think we Romans will suffice," he said in a loud voice; and theyouths looked at him with beating hearts.

  "Open the assembly," said Scaevola impatiently to Silverius. "You seehow he talks over the young people; he will win them all. Interrupthim; speak!"

  "Immediately. Are you sure that Albinus will come?"

  "He will; he waits for the messengers at the Appian gate."

  "Well," said the priest, "God be with us!"

  And he stepped into the middle of the rotunda, raised the black crosswhich he held, and began:

  "In the name of the Triune God! We have again assembled in the gloom ofnight for the works of light. Perhaps for the last time; for the Son ofGod, to whom the heretics refuse all honour, has wonderfully blessedour endeavours. Next to God, our warmest thanks are due to the nobleEmperor Justinian and his pious spouse, who listen to the sighs of thesuffering Church with active sympathy; and, lastly, to our friend andleader here, the Prefect, who zealously works for the cause of ourmaster the Emperor----"

  "Stop, priest!" cried Lucius Licinius. "Who calls the Emperor ofByzantium our _master_? We will not have the Greeks instead of theGoths! We will be free!"

  "We will be free!" echoed the chorus of his friends.

  "We shall _become_ free!" continued Silverius. "Certainly! But that isnot possible unaided. The Emperor must help us. And do not think,beloved youths, that the man whom you honour as your leader, Cethegus,is of a different opinion. Justinian has sent him a costly ring--hisportrait in carneol--as a sign that he is contented with the Prefect'sservices, and the Prefect has accepted the ring. Behold, he wears it onhis finger."

  Startled and indignant, the youths looked at Cethegus, who silentlyadvanced into the middle of the room.

  A painful pause ensued.

  "Speak, General!" cried Lucius; "contradict him! It is not as he sayswith the ring!"

  But Cethegus nodded and drew off the ring.

  "It is as he says. The ring is from the Emperor, and I have acceptedit."

  Lucius Licinius fell back a step.

  "As a sign?" asked Silverius.

  "As a sign," cried Cethegus, in a threatening voice, "that I am not theambitious egoist for which many take me. As a sign that I love Italymore than my ambition. Yes, I built upon Byzantium, and would havegiven up the leadership to the mighty Emperor; therefore I took thisring. I build no more upon Byzantium, for she hesitates everlastingly:therefore I have brought the ring with me to-day, in order to return itto the Emperor. You, Silverius, have proved yourself the representativeof Byzantium; here, return his pledge to your master; he delays toolong. Tell him Italy will help herself!"

  "Italy will help herself!" shouted the young Romans.

  "Reflect what you do!" cried the priest with restrained anger."I understand the hot courage of youth--but that my friend, theripe and experienced man, stretches forth his hand for what isunattainable--_that_ surprises me! Remember the strength and ferocityof the barbarians! Reflect that the Italians are unused to arms, thatall the fortresses of the country are in the hands----"

  "Be silent, priest," thundered Cethegus. "You do not understand suchmatters! Speak where the psalms have to be explained or souls led toheaven, for that is your office; but where war and fighting areconcerned, let those speak who understand! We will leave you allheaven--leave the earth to us. Roman youths, you have the choice. Willyou wait until this cautious Byzantium vouchsafes to take pity uponItaly?--you may become weary old men before then!--or will you in oldRoman fashion, win freedom with your own swords? You will; I see it byyour sparkling eyes. How? They tell us we are too weak to liberateItaly! Ha! were not your fathers Romans, who conquered the world?If I call upon you, man by man, there is not a name which does not ringwith the fame of a hero. Decius, Corvinus, Cornelius, Valerius,Licinius--will you free the fatherland with me?"

  "We will! Lead us, Cethegus!" cried the youth with enthusiasm.

  After a pause Scaevola began:

  "My name is Scaevola. When the names of Roman heroes are cited, the racewhich inh
erits the heroism of the Celts might have been remembered. Iask you, Cethegus, have you more than dreams and wishes, like theseyoung fools? have you a plan?"

  "More than that, Scaevola, I have, and will keep, the victory! Here is alist of all the fortresses in Italy. At the next Ides, that is inthirty days, they will fall, at one blow, into my hands."

  "What? must we still wait thirty days?" asked Lucius.

  "Only till the deputies assembled here have again reached their towns.Only till my expresses have flown through Italy. You have _had_ to waitforty years!"

  But the impatience of the youths, which he himself had excited, was notto be subdued; they looked gloomy at the postponement--they murmured.

  The priest was quick to take advantage of this change of humour.

  "No, Cethegus," he cried; "we cannot delay so long! Tyranny isunbearable to the noble-minded; shame upon him who endures it longerthan he must! I know of better comfort, youths! In a few days thespears of Belisarius may flash in Italian sunshine."

  "Or shall we, perhaps," asked Scaevola, "refuse to follow Belisariusbecause he is not Cethegus?"

  "You speak of wishes," cried Cethegus, "not of realities. If Belisariusland, I shall be the first to join him. But he will not land. It isthis which has disgusted me; the Emperor does not keep his word."

  Cethegus played a very bold game. But he could not do otherwise.

  "You may err," said Silverius, "and the Emperor may fulfil his promisesooner than you think. Belisarius lies off Sicily."

  "Not now. He has gone towards Africa, towards home. Hope nothing fromBelisarius."

  Just then hasty steps were heard in the passage, and Albinus rushed in.

  "Triumph!" he cried. "Freedom! freedom!"

  "What news?" asked the priest.

  "War! deliverance! Byzantium has declared war against the Goths!"

  "Freedom! war!" shouted the Romans.

  "It is impossible!" said Cethegus.

  "It is certain!" cried another voice from the entrance--it wasCalpurnius, who had followed close upon Albinus. "And, more than this,the war has commenced. Belisarius has landed in Sicily, at Catana;Syracusae and Messana have surrendered; Panormus he has taken with thefleet. He has crossed to Italy, from Messana to Regium; he is uponItalian soil!"

  "Freedom!" cried Marcus Licinius.

  "Everywhere the population joins him. The Goths, taken by surprise, flyfrom Apulia and Calabria. Belisarius presses on without pause, throughBruttia and Lucania, to Neapolis."

  "It is all lies--lies!" cried Cethegus, more to himself than to theothers.

  "You do not seem pleased at the success of the good cause! But themessenger rode three horses to death. Belisarius has landed with thirtythousand men."

  "Who still doubts is a traitor!" cried Scaevola.

  "Now let us see," said Silverius to Cethegus sarcastically, "if youwill keep your word. Will you be the first to join Belisarius?"

  At this bitter moment a whole world--_his_ world--sank before the eyesof Cethegus. So, then, all had been in vain; worse than that--what hehad done, had been done for a hated enemy. Belisarius in Italy with astrong army, and he deceived, powerless, conquered! Any other man wouldhave given up all further effort.

  But not a shadow of discouragement crossed the mind of the Prefect. Hisgigantic edifice was shattered; the noise of its fall still deafenedhim, and yet at the same moment he had already resolved to begin again.

  His world was destroyed, and he had no time even to sigh, for the eyesof all were fixed upon him.

  "Well, what will you do?" repeated Scaevola.

  Cethegus disdained to look at him.

  He turned to the assembly, and spoke in a quiet voice:

  "Belisarius has landed," he said; "he is now our leader. I shall atonce go to his camp."

  With this he walked, with measured steps and a composed countenance,past Silverius and his friends towards the exit.

  Silverius would have whispered a word of sarcasm, but he was startledat the glance which the Prefect cast upon him.

  "Do not rejoice too soon, priest," it seemed to say; "you will repentthis hour!" And Silverius, the victor, was dumb.