A Struggle for Rome, v. 2

  CHAPTER IX.

  While the King of the Goths communicated this plan to his friends,Cethegus, in the early morning, was summoned to speak with Belisariusand Johannes.

  "Prefect of Rome," cried the general in a severe tone, as Cethegusentered his quarters, "where were you last night?"

  "At my post, as was my duty. At the Gate of St. Paul."

  "Do you know that, last night, one of my best leaders, Perseus thearchon and the brother of Johannes here, left the city and has not beenseen since?"

  "I am sorry for it. But you know that it is forbidden to leave thewalls without permission."

  "But I have reason to believe," interposed Johannes, "that you verywell know what has become of my brother; that his blood is on yourhands."

  "And by the slumber of Justinian," cried Belisarius angrily, "you shallanswer for it! You shall no longer tyrannise over the Emperor's armyand the Emperor's generals. The hour of reckoning has come. Thebarbarians are almost defeated, and we shall see if, when _your_ headfalls, the Capitol will still stand!"

  "Do matters stand thus?" thought Cethegus. "Then take care,Belisarius!" But he remained silent.

  "Speak!" cried Johannes; "where did you kill my brother?"

  But before Cethegus could reply, Artasines, one of Belisarius'sbody-guards, entered the room.

  "Sir," he said, "outside are six Gothic warriors. They have brought thecorpse of Perseus the archon. King Witichis sends you word that Perseusfell last night without the walls, struck by Earl Teja's axe. He sendsthe body, that you may inter it with all honour."

  "Heaven itself," said Cethegus, as he left the room with haughty steps,"gives the lie to your malice!"

  But slowly and reflectively he passed the Quirinal and went across theForum of Trajan to his dwelling.

  "You threaten, Belisarius? Thanks for the hint! Let us see if we cannotdo without you!"

  Arrived at his house, he found Syphax, who had been waiting for himimpatiently.

  Syphax quickly made his report, and concluded:

  "But first of all, sir, let the slaves who tie your sandals be whipped!You see how badly you are served when Syphax is absent. And be so kindas to give me your right shoe."

  "Properly I should refuse to do so, and let you remain in suspense, topunish you for your impudent lies," laughed the Prefect. "This piece ofleather is worth your life, my panther! How will you ransom it?"

  "With important news. I now know all the particulars of the planagainst the life of Belisarius; the place and time, and the names ofthe confederates. They are--Teja, Totila, and Hildebad."

  "Each one of whom is a match for the magister militum," remarkedCethegus, with evident pleasure.

  "I think, sir, that you have prepared another nice trap for thebarbarians! According to your order, I have told them that Belisariushimself will sally out from the Tiburtinian Gate to-morrow, in order toforage for supplies."

  "Yes; he goes himself because the Huns, who have so often been beaten,will not again venture out alone. He will take only four hundred men."

  "And the three confederates will place an ambush of a thousand men inorder to surprise Belisarius."

  "This news is really worth the shoe!" said Cethegus, and threw it toSyphax.

  "Meanwhile King Witichis will make a feigned assault upon the Gate ofSt. Paul, in order to divert attention from Belisarius. So I will nowhasten to the latter, as you ordered, and tell him to take threethousand men with him, and destroy the confederates and their band."

  "Stop," said Cethegus quietly; "do not be in such a hurry. You willtell him nothing."

  "What?" asked Syphax in surprise. "If he be not warned, he will belost!"

  "One must not always interfere with the commander's guardian angel.To-morrow Belisarius may prove his good fortune."

  "Aye, aye," said Syphax, with a cunning smile, "is such your pleasure?Then I would rather be Syphax the slave than Belisarius the magistermilitum. Poor widowed Antonina!"

  Cethegus was just about to stretch himself upon his couch for a shortrest, when Fidus, the ostiarius, announced:

  "Kallistratos, of Corinth!"

  "Always welcome!"

  The young Greek with the gentle countenance entered. A flush of shameor pleasure coloured his cheeks; it was evident that some special causehad led him to the Prefect.

  "What of beauty do you bring besides yourself?" asked Cethegus in theGrecian tongue.

  The Greek looked up with sparkling eyes.

  "A heart full of admiration for you, and the wish to prove it to you. Ibeg for permission to fight for you and Rome, like the two Licinii andPiso."

  "My Kallistratos! What have you, our peaceful guest, the most amiableof Greeks, to do with our bloody business with the Goths? Leave suchhard work alone, and cherish your bright inheritance--beauty!"

  "I know well that the days of Salamis have become a myth, and that youiron Romans have never believed in our strength. That is hard; but yetit is easier to bear, because it is you who defend our world of art andnoble customs against the dull barbarians; you--that is, Rome, and tome Cethegus is Rome. As such, I understand this struggle, and,understanding it thus, you see that it also concerns the Hellenes."

  The Prefect smiled with pleasure.

  "Well, if to you Cethegus is Rome, then Rome gladly accepts the help ofthe Hellenes. Henceforward you are a tribune of the Milites Romani,like Licinius."

  "My deeds shall thank you. But I must confess one thing more; for Iknow that you do not love to be surprised. I have often seen how dearto you is the Mausoleum of Hadrian, with its treasure of statues.Lately I counted these marble gods, and found that there were twohundred and ninety-eight. I have made the third hundred complete byplacing amongst them my two Letoides, Apollo and Artemis, which youpraised so highly. They are a votive offering to you and Rome."

  "Dear, extravagant youth!" said Cethegus. "What have you done?"

  "That which is right and beautiful," answered Kallistratos simply.

  "But reflect; the Mausoleum is now a fortress. If the Goths storm----"

  "The Letoides stand upon the second and inner wall; and how can I fearthat the barbarians will ever again conquer the favourite place ofCethegus? Where can the beauteous gods be more secure than in yourcitadel? Your fortress is their best, because safest, temple. Myoffering shall be at the same time a happy omen."

  "It shall!" cried Cethegus with animation. "And I myself believe thatyour gift is well protected. But allow me, in return----"

  "In return you have allowed me to fight for you. Chaire!" laughed theGreek, and was gone.

  "The boy loves me dearly," said Cethegus. "And I am like other humanfools--it does me good; and that not merely because I can thereby rulehim."

  Heavy footsteps were now heard upon the marble of the vestibule, and atribune of the army entered.

  It was a young Roman with noble features, but of a graver expressionthan his years warranted. His cheek-bones made a right angle with hisstraight and severe brow, in true Roman outline; in the deep-sunk eyeslay Roman strength and--at this moment--resolute earnestness, and aself-will regardless of all but itself.

  "Aha! Severinus, son of Boethius! Welcome, my young hero andphilosopher! I have not seen you for many months. Whence come you?"

  "From the grave of my mother!" answered Severinus, with a fixed look atthe questioner.

  Cethegus sprang from his seat.

  "What! Rusticiana? The friend of my youth? The wife of my Boethius?"

  "She is dead," said the son shortly.

  The Prefect would have taken his hand, but Severinus withdrew it.

  "My son! my poor Severinus! And did she die--without a word for me?"

  "I bring you her last words--they concern you!"

  "How did she die? Of what illness?"

  "Of grief and remorse."

  "Grief!" sighed Cethegus; "that I understand. But why should she feelremorse? And her last word was for me? Tell me, what did she say?"

  Seve
rinus approached the Prefect so closely that he touched his knee,and looking piercingly into his eyes, he answered:

  "She said, 'A curse, a curse upon Cethegus, who poisoned my child!"

  Cethegus looked at him quietly.

  "Did she die delirious?" he coldly asked.

  "No, murderer! Her delirium was to trust in you! In the hour of herdeath she confessed to Cassiodorus and to me that it was her hand whichadministered the poison--with which you had furnished her--to the youngtyrant. She told us all the circumstances. She was supported as shespoke by old Corbulo and his daughter, Daphnidion. 'Too late Ilearned,' she concluded, 'that my child had drunk of the deadly cup.And there was no one to hold Camilla's hand as she took it; for I wasstill in the boat upon the sea, and Cethegus was in the plantain-alley.'Then old Corbulo called out, turning pale, 'What! did the Prefect knowthat the cup contained poison?' 'Certainly,' answered my mother; 'for,as I left the garden, I had told him that the deed was done.' Corbulowas dumb with horror; but Daphnidion cried out in violent grief, 'Alas!my poor mistress! Then Cethegus murdered your child; for he stood near,close to me, and watched her drink.' 'He watched her drink?' asked mymother, in a voice which will ring in my ears for ever. 'He watched heras she drank,' repeated the freedman and his daughter. 'Oh! then mayhis cursed soul be delivered to the devils in hell!' cried my mother.'Revenge, O God! revenge hereafter! Revenge upon earth, my sons, forCamilla! A curse upon Cethegus!' And she fell back and expired."

  The Prefect preserved his composure. But he secretly grasped the daggerwhich was hidden in the breast-folds of his tunic.

  "But you," he asked after a pause, "what did you do?"

  "I knelt down by the corpse of my mother and kissed her cold hand. AndI swore to fulfil her dying behest. Woe to you, Prefect of Rome,poisoner and murderer of my sister! You shall not live!"

  "Son of Boethius, will you become a murderer for the mad words of astupid slave and his daughter? It would be worthy of a hero and aphilosopher."

  "I do not think of murder. If I were a German, I should, according totheir barbaric custom--and just now I think it excellent--challenge youto mortal combat. But I am a Roman, and will lawfully seek my revenge.Take care. Prefect, there are still just judges in Italy. For manymonths the enemy has prevented me from reaching the city. I onlyarrived here to-day by sea, and to-morrow I shall accuse you before theSenate, who will be your judges. Then we shall meet again."

  Cethegus suddenly placed himself between the youth and the door.

  But Severinus cried:

  "Softly! I am prudent where a murderer is concerned. Three of myfriends accompanied me to your house. If I do not return immediately,they will come with the lictors to search for me."

  "I only wish," said Cethegus, again fully composed, "to warn you againsta shameful course. If you like to prosecute the oldest friend of yourfamily, in consequence of the feverish words of a dying woman, then doso; I cannot prevent you. But first a commission. You will become myaccuser, but you still remain a soldier and my tribune. You will obeywhen your general commands."

  "I shall obey."

  "To-morrow Belisarius will make a sally, and the barbarians intend toattack one of the gates. I must protect the city. But I fear danger forthe lion-hearted Belisarius. I must be sure that he is faithfullyguarded. Therefore I order you to accompany the general to-morrow, andto defend his life with your own."

  "With mine own."

  "'Tis good, tribune, I depend upon your word."

  "Depend upon my first word too! Farewell, till we meet again, after thefight, before the Senate. With what ardour do I long for both contests!Farewell--until we meet in the Senate!"

  "We shall never meet again!" said Cethegus, as the steps of his visitordied away. "Syphax!" he called aloud, "bring wine and dinner. We muststrengthen ourselves for to-morrow's work!"