The Paladins of Edwin the Great

  CHAPTER II

  IN BONDAGE AT ROME

  The Forum of Trajan was as yet uninjured. The noble rows ofbuildings with colonnades, including the once well-stored library,still surrounded the large paved court, and in the centre stood thebeautiful column with its elaborate representation in bronze of theevents of the Dacian war. Here important markets were held, and onone autumn morning of the year 588 several merchants, who had latelyarrived, exposed many things for sale. Abundance of people resortedthither to buy. Mystacon had his wares arranged under a colonnade. Heinvited attention in a cringing attitude, seeking for purchasers. TheEnglish boys stood in a group quite naked, their eyes full of tears ofshame and rage. Among the first people who stopped in front of themwas a thin and emaciated ecclesiastic, accompanied by another, whowas younger and of stouter build. The older man had an aquiline noseand hollow cheeks, bright piercing eyes, which had assumed a gentleexpression, and a somewhat commanding air. It was Gregory himself,then aged forty-four, and his secretary Peter. Mystacon bowed lowbefore them. Gregory looked at the boys with admiration, and turningto the merchant, he remarked that their bodies were white, theircountenances beautiful, and their hair very fine. Mystacon bowed stilllower. "From what country or nation were they brought?" he asked. Thereply was that they came from the island of Britain, whose inhabitantsare of that personal appearance. "Are these islanders Christians,or are they still involved in the errors of Paganism?" was the nextinquiry. He was told that they were Pagans. Fetching a deep sigh, heexclaimed--"Alas! what pity that the author of darkness is possessedof men of such fair countenances, and that, being remarkable for suchgraceful aspects, their minds should be void of inward grace. What,"he demanded, "is the name of that nation?" The kidnapper replied thatthey were called Angles. "Right," said Gregory, "for they have angelicfaces, and it becomes such to be co-heirs with the angels in heaven.What is the name," he proceeded, "of the province from which theyare brought?" The reply was that the name of the province was Deira."Truly are they _De ira_," said he, "withdrawn from wrath and calledto the mercy of Christ. How is the king of that province called?"Mystacon said that his name was Ella; and Gregory, alluding to it ashe walked on, observed to Peter that Hallelujah, the praise of God theCreator, must be sung in those parts. Gregory was on his way to have aninterview with the Pope, and on coming into his presence, he proposedthat ministers should be sent to the English, by whom they might beconverted to Christ; and, in his impulsive way, he declared that hewas ready to undertake that work himself, by the assistance of God.Pelagius replied that he was willing to grant his request, but that thepeople would never consent to his departure. Gregory then entrusted toPeter the business of purchasing some of these "Angles," and sent himback to the market.

  The boys did not understand a word of the remarks made by Gregory andby other passers-by who stopped to question Mystacon. Presently twopatricians, advanced in years, followed by clients and attendants,walked into the Forum and stopped at the colonnade where the lads werestill exposed. After gazing upon them, Symmachus Boethius observed tohis companion Pamphronius that he had never seen such perfect symmetryand beauty except in ancient sculpture. "The works of Praxiteles arelooked upon with disapproval by our good friends the priests, so Iwould fain ornament my villa with living forms that would be worthyof the chisel of the most gifted sculptor of antiquity." Pamphroniusexpressed his concurrence, and his desire to possess at least two ofthe young slaves. Calling Mystacon aside, they made various inquiries,and concluded bargains by which Symmachus Boethius became the ownerof Coelred and Porlor, while Oswith and Sivel fell to Pamphronius.Their clients were instructed to complete the arrangement and pay thepurchase-money, and the great men passed on. No sooner were they outof sight, than Peter arrived breathless to carry out the instructionsof his master. Mystacon was delighted, for his troubles and anxietieswere fully repaid. Peter agreed to his terms, and the Atheling Hereric,Forthere, and Godric became the property of the Deacon Gregory.

  The boys were thus relieved from their shameful and degrading position,which they had looked forward to with such horror and dismay. Theirclothes were restored to them, and they were told by signs to accompanythe servants of the patricians and Peter, the road of all being thesame, namely, that leading to the Caelian Hill. Casting looks ofvindictive hatred at Mystacon, they gladly accompanied their newacquaintances.

  Of all the seven hills of Rome, the Caelian was the most favoured bythe wealthier classes during the latter days of the empire, and theirvillas were scattered over it, half-hidden by groves of cypress trees.But the troublous times had wrought destruction, and most of them werenow in ruins. Facing the Palatine, where the imperial palace stooddesolate and abandoned, was the monastery of St. Andrew, the villas ofSymmachus and Pamphronius, and the deserted temple of Divus Claudius,while just below ran the Appian Way. In rear stood the Sacellum Dianae,the arch of Dolabella, and the chapel containing little votive shipsof marble, reminding the boys of the votive boats in the tumulus ofVidfinn at Bilbrough. The aqueduct of Nero entered Rome at the backof the Caelian Hill, and was one of the few which still brought waterto the city; and to the south were the Lateran Palace and the famousAsinarian Gate, by which Totila and his army entered in 546, throughthe treachery of some Isaurian sentries.

  The villa of Symmachus was the best and most perfect that remainedin the Rome of Gregory. The atrium and adjacent halls were of nobleproportions; there was a large garden in the rear, full of myrtlesand other shrubs; and beyond were the stables, near which Coelred andPorlor were provided with a _cubiculum_ to themselves. Symmachus onlyrequired the lads to attend him on certain occasions, and to performoutdoor work, to which they felt no objection. He was a man of a kindlyand somewhat timid disposition, fond of a certain amount of display,and with cultivated tastes. His amiable wife Otacilia was very kind tothe lads. They had liberty to wander over the city, and Porlor was fullof eager curiosity.

  Pamphronius was less wealthy; his villa was of smaller proportionsand in a more ruinous condition, and he himself was a man of a moreexacting disposition, and with less natural kindliness than hisneighbour. Yet Oswith and little Sivel were well treated, and they werevery fortunate in the companionship of a son of one of the freedmenof Pamphronius named Bassus, who was some years older than Oswith.This youth was of mixed Roman and Gothic descent, tall for his age andhandsome, and well educated, being able to speak the Greek language,as well as the debased Latin then talked at Rome, and having pickedup much of the ancient lore, in addition to what he had been taughtof Christianity. Bassus from the first conceived an ardent boyishattachment for Oswith and a warm friendship for all the English lads,and he continued to be a valued and faithful companion to the end oftheir lives. He was destined to survive them all but one.

  With their life in the monastery of St. Andrew the three others,or at least two of them, were not so well pleased. The prior, namedAugustine, was a disciplinarian, inclined to be harsh and imperiousto those under him, and his humility was of that kind which is nearlyrelated to pride. Times had to be observed, rules must be respected;yet the lads enjoyed a certain share of liberty. The gentle andself-respecting Hereric fell more easily into the regular ways ofthe monks. He considered it to be more dignified to obey, and he wasdeeply interested in the new ideas and conceptions conveyed in thelittle he could understand of the teaching of Peter, who was appointedto instruct them before baptism. But Forthere hated the confinementand the whole life, longing for the sports and adventures of theforests to which he had been accustomed. Little Godric followed thelead of Forthere, who was rebellious from the first. The monks foundit necessary to correct him before he had been an inmate more than afew days, and they would have proceeded to more severe measures if hehad persisted in his disobedience. The loyal devotion of Forthere tohis companion as an atheling, and his sincere affection for Hererichimself, were the motives which probably saved him. For Hereric's sakehe would submit when he would have been cut to pieces before he wouldhave obeyed a monk; and, in fact,
the authorities ruled him throughthe influence of the Atheling. The fierce young Englishman was a trueson of Brand of Ulfskelf, the mighty warrior and most loyal of all thefollowers of King Ella. Like his father, young Forthere could brook notyranny, but, like his father, he would die for any atheling of thehouse of Deira.

  A monk named Laurentius was appointed to instruct the four boysoutside the monastery. They understood very little that he told them,and that through the help of Bassus, for as yet they could onlyexchange thoughts by means of a few signs and words established betweenthemselves and their new friend. Nevertheless, Gregory caused all theseven English lads to be baptized without further delay, deciding thatthe instruction of Peter and Laurentius had been sufficient. In avery few months Bassus taught them the language then in use at Rome,a dialect of Latin in process of conversion into Italian, and theywere able to understand all that was said to them, as well as to holdconversations. He then began to teach them Greek, the language of theimperial court and of commerce, and the boys in the villas of the twopatricians worked hard to acquire it, Bassus having impressed upon themthat it alone would enable them to comprehend fully the many strangethings they would see and hear, and would give them the knowledge whichwas power.

  Coelred, Oswith, and Porlor, with Bassus as their guide, hadwandered through the almost deserted streets of Rome, and gazedwith wonder and admiration on the magnificent edifices, which werethen neglected and dilapidated, but not actually in ruins. They hadespecially examined the fine temple to the Sun erected by the EmperorAurelian on the Quirinal, and while they rested under its ornateportico, Bassus had explained the true import of Mithras stabbingthe bull. This opened a whole world of imaginative speculation inthe mind of Porlor, who had never forgotten his wonder at the sightof the bas-relief in the cave at York. On another day they crossedthe Tiber and visited Constantine's basilica dedicated to St. Peter,which presented a sorry appearance when compared with the monumentsof antiquity. The sides were of plain unplastered brick, with archedopenings for windows, and in front there were figures and emblemspainted in fresco, in a very debased style of art. Even a child musthave been impressed with the superiority of the ancient edifices. TheEnglish boys called to mind the impression they had received frombeholding the ruins of Roman temples at York; and how it had been bornein upon their minds that a mighty empire had passed away, and that itwas for their countrymen to build something greater on its ruins. Theseideas now recurred to them with immeasurably greater force as they sattogether under the portico of the desecrated temple of Jupiter on theCapitol, and commanded a view of the graceful temples round the Forum,of the palace rising above them on the Palatine, and of the long vistaof edifices terminating with the Colosseum. The warm sun and deep bluesky gave a brilliance to the scene, which contrasted with the signs ofdecay that could be detected by the eye, in places where broken statuesand pavements and heaps of fallen tiles denoted the desolation of thepresent time. Bassus told them how the Forum used to be crowded withcitizens, he showed them the place whence great senators and oratorsused to make speeches to the people, and he described the processionsof the lupercalia and of the milites. All had passed away. Their youngthoughts were not depressed. They reflected on what was to follow, onanother great people arising to replace the dead Roman Empire. Butthey did not think that it was to be found here among the monks andthe debased rabble of Gregory's Rome. Their aspirations turned to theNorth, to the homes of Deira, and to the stalwart English, irresistiblein war and open to new ideas and fresh knowledge. It was becomingsomething more than a dream amongst them, that it was ordained thatthey should bring back to their kindred these new ideas and this freshknowledge. They would diligently learn all that could be useful totheir people in the lands of the ancient civilisation, until they wereold enough to wear swords and take their places as men in the battlearray; and then they would return, if need be fighting their way home.This was the result of many discussions and conversations, held amongthe cypress groves of the Caelian Hill, after exploring excursionsthrough the desolate city.

  The boys from the two villas usually took their morning bath in atank near the _navicula_, which was shaded by trees and supplied withwater from Nero's aqueduct. Here, too, the Atheling, with their cousinForthere and little Godric, often joined them, and they talked overtheir prospects, and discussed all the wondrous things they had seenand heard. The Christian religion had been more clearly explained tothem when they acquired the use of the language then talked at Rome.They understood that the Son of God had died for all mankind, andthat He had risen from the dead. They knew that they must pray to Himfor guidance and to keep them from sin, and they all did so. But theythought that the teaching of Laurentius and Peter was the same as thefar more impressive and beautiful teaching of the Princess Alca. Intheir conception Christ was another name for Balder. But they keptthese opinions to themselves, and gave the name of Christ to the Son ofGod they worshipped.

  Often taking counsel together, they formed a small _Gemot_, as theycalled it, of seven little boys, with the world of Rome against them,all except Bassus, whom they had made one of themselves. Herericinvented a watchword to warn them of the approach of strangers whomight disturb their meetings in the cool cypress groves. It consistedof the two words _Bylr_, a tempest, and _Grima_, a thing helmeted orveiled. The meaning was that the unknown or veiled one might betoken astorm for them. For they conversed respecting all the affairs of Rome,speculated on the hidden meanings of all they heard, and talked overthe time for rising against their oppressors and fighting their wayhome. There were two or three people whom Forthere intended to killfirst, including Mystacon.

  So time passed on, and after two years Gregory succeeded to thePontificate. He had not forgotten his project of sending a missionto the Angles, and was mindful of the advantage of having youthfulinterpreters ready on the Caelian. But for a long time the miserablecondition of Rome absorbed his attention. The state of affairs hadbecome perilous. The corn ships failed to arrive time after time,and these failures caused misery among the people. It was a commonoccurrence to see crowds clamouring for food at the doors of St.Peter's and at the Lateran. A total cessation of the Egyptian corntrade was threatened, while the supply from Sicily was becoming moreand more precarious. Even greater danger threatened Rome from thenorth. The Lombards made constant incursions, riding over the Campagna,devastating the suburbs, and insulting the sentries guarding the gatesof the city.

  Pope Gregory appealed to the exarch at Ravenna for help, but thatofficial was unable to do more than maintain his own position, whichwas also threatened. There were frequent consultations between the Popeand his clerical advisers and the leading patricians. The outlook wasmost serious. At last it was determined that an embassy should be sentto Constantinople to represent to the Emperor Maurice the absolutenecessity for making efficient arrangements to supply Rome withcorn, and to entreat him to send an army to drive back the Lombardsand put a stop to their incessant inroads, which were desolatingSouthern Italy. Symmachus Boethius and Pamphronius were requested tobe the ambassadors, and after some pressure from the Pope they ratherunwillingly consented, for it would be an expensive and probably athankless service. They resolved to take several attendants, includingthe four English boys and young Bassus.

  This startling and important news came as a great surprise to thelittle society. As yet they had never been separated. Oswith consultedBassus, and told him that they must bind each other always to besteadfast friends, in the most solemn manner possible. Their compactmust include a firm resolution that when they returned home none shouldbe left behind. He asked Bassus how this could be done with the mostbinding solemnity. "It must be an oath to God," advised his friend,"which in the Hebrew tongue is Lilla. The most solemn thing that youcan do," added Bassus, "is to change your name from Oswith to Lilla, asa memorial and a testimony. This will make the deepest impression onthe rest."

  For the last time before the separation all the boys assembledunder the shady trees by the tank of the _navicula_.
Much sorrowwas expressed at parting, but all anticipated wonderful things, andprobably much good, from the visit to Constantinople. They all tookthe oath of constant friendship, and that no one should be left behindwhen they fought their way home. "It is the oath of God," said Oswith,"and to impress it on our hearts, from henceforth my name shall beLilla." "We declare," they all answered, "that we will call you Lillafor evermore as a testimony of our compact." They embraced each other.Little Sivel parted from his adopted brother Forthere with bittertears. All took tender farewells of Hereric the Atheling, whom theyfondly loved, of Forthere, and of Godric. It was a sad parting, butthey looked forward to meeting again at the same place.

  A few days afterwards the two patricians embarked at Brundusium forConstantinople, accompanied by Lilla, Coelred, Porlor, Sivel, Bassus,and other attendants.