CHAPTER III
THE GLORIES OF THE EAST
At Rome everything reminded a visitor of past greatness.Constantinople, on the other hand, was the new Rome, the grandestand most magnificent city in the world. For nearly three centuriesthe revenues of the empire had been lavished upon her edifices, allthe treasures of art had been brought from far and near to adorn herpalaces and theatres, and her churches were decorated with marble andgold and every precious material the earth could yield. Her unrivalledposition on the shores of the Propontis, her harbour of Chrysoceras (orthe "Golden Horn"), and the beautiful wooded shores of the Bosphorussurrounded her with every charm and every luxury, and combined to makethe city of Constantinople the most splendid capital ever raised bygenius commanding unlimited resources.
After their arrival the Roman patricians had to wait some days foran audience with the Emperor. They had visited the capital before,but no one could ever tire of gazing on that unequalled architecturaldisplay. Boethius and Pamphronius walked through the city followed bytheir attendants; and the English boys, confused at the magnificencearound them, were half dazed with wonder and admiration. They stood inthe elliptically-shaped forum of Constantine, with triumphal arches atthe two opposite entrances, and colonnades all round, filled with thestatues of the gods, with shrines dedicated to Cybele and to Fortune,and a lofty pillar in the centre. This specially attracted theirattention. It was 120 feet high, of marble and porphyry, surmounted bya statue of the Emperor Theodosius. Next they were taken to anotherforum, which was square and also surrounded by porticoes, with anelevated arcade adorned with statues, and the golden miliarium inthe centre. The Hippodrome also filled them with astonishment, 300paces long, and the space between the two goals filled with statuesand obelisks. They saw the wreathed column of bronze which bore thegolden tripod of Delphi, and the Emperor's throne, with the windingstaircase called _Cochlea_ descending to the palace. They encounteredpalaces, churches, and baths at every turn; and were taken to see theunderground cistern, or rather lake, with an arched roof supported on336 marble pillars. Even more surprising to them were the baths ofZeuxippus, the most beautiful in the world, adorned with the greatesttriumphs of Grecian art, the Muses of Helicon, the Athene of Lyndus,and the Amphitrite of Rhodes. It all seemed like a gorgeous dream whichmight suddenly melt away. When their eyes met, their looks told eachother of their amazement, but they were too much astonished to expressthemselves in words. It was, however, the life and movement whichmade these scenes so striking and so vivid. Horsemen, foot passengershurrying to and fro, troops marching, bright colours everywhere inmotion, gave animation and interest to the marvellous buildings, sodifferent from poor deserted Rome. They strolled on to the GoldenGate, and back to the Augusteum, where a colossal equestrian statue ofJustinian in an attitude of defiance absorbed their attention for a fewmoments, and then their eyes glanced beyond it to the crowning glory ofhis architectural work.
They had scarcely room for more wonder when they came before thegreat church dedicated to Divine Wisdom. Yet the interior, as theyentered, almost took their breath away. St. Sophia had been restoredand rededicated by Justinian about a quarter of a century before, in563. The beautiful columns of green marble from Ephesus, of porphyryfrom Aurelian's Sun Temple at Rome, the ornaments and figures incarved stone, the decorations in gold and marbles of the most preciouskinds, the walls encrusted with mosaics, the richly-carved capitals,and the exquisite proportions of the aerial dome, all combined to formthe most perfect and beautiful church that had ever been erected. Thegorgeous services, with long processions of richly-dressed priests andtheir attendants, solemn music and singing, and the delicious scent ofincense, completed their wonder and awe. The boys remained in a sort ofdream of astonishment for several days, until the time arrived for theaudience. The patricians were richly dressed, and their attendants, insuitably handsome attire, were to accompany them to the palace.
The Emperor Maurice Tiberius had ascended the throne in the year582. Descended from an ancient Roman family settled in Asia Minor,he was born at Arabissus in Cappadocia, spent his youth at the courtof Justin II., and afterwards served with distinction in the Persianwar. His accession was due to the best of all reasons, his loyalty tohis predecessor Tiberius Augustus, whose daughter he married. Mauricewas forty-three years of age when he became emperor, and he was anexcellent ruler, promoting the happiness of his people with sense andcourage. He was a rigid economist, and his demeanour was cold andreserved. Soon after his accession another war with Persia broke out,and when the embassy came from Rome, the general Heraclius had justreturned from Mesopotamia after gaining a great victory.
Rigid etiquette and a display of pomp and magnificence at courtceremonials had been introduced by Diocletian and had been increasedby successive emperors. The palace was a vast building on the shoresof the Propontis between the Hippodrome and the church of St. Sophia.When the embassy from Rome arrived at the appointed time it was metby the Master of the Offices and his attendants, and the patricians,being of consular rank, were accosted with the title of "illustrious."After an interval they were ushered into the presence. The Emperor wasin the great audience-hall called _Chalce_ (from its brazen doors),which consisted of a dome supported by massy pillars, walls encrustedwith mosaics representing African and Italian triumphs, and a pavementof many-coloured marbles. The imperial throne was surrounded by thegreat officers of state, and by favoured courtiers, all gorgeouslydressed. There stood the Praepositus or Prefect of the Bedchamber withattendant Counts, the Quaestor or Chancellor, the Count of the SacredLargesses, the Count of the Privy Purse, the Commanders of the Guards,the victorious generals Heraclius, Comentiolus, Narses, and Priscus,and several bishops. There also were Athanagild, a tall and handsomeyoung Gothic Prince, the philosopher Metrodorus, the famous physicianAlexander, the lawyer-poet Agathias, and many others.
There were numerous presentations, and when the turn of Boethius andPamphronius came, those illustrious patricians made low obeisance, andstated the case set forth in their instructions from the Holy FatherGregory, touching the sore need of prompt assistance in which the cityof the seven hills then stood. They were told that they would receivetheir answer on a future day. Many eyes were turned on the handsomeyouths, whose good looks were enhanced by their rich and well-fittingclothes, and the patricians soon had reason to regret that they hadtaken those means of increasing their own importance by the brillianceof their suite. In leaving the palace the boys made way for Priscusthe general, and they were struck by the revolting appearance of thesoldier who held his horse. He was a short man with red hair and shaggyeyebrows, and his face was disfigured by a great scar. He looked asavage and malicious barbarian; yet this man was Phocas, the successorof Maurice as Emperor of the East! whose monument, a tall column withan inscription, is still standing in the Forum at Rome.
During the following days the patricians received many visits. Narses,then one of the most trusted of the Emperor's generals, paid hisrespects, and took special notice of Lilla and Bassus. Stephanos, theCount of the Sacred Largesses, also came, and was very much attractedby the intelligent appearance of little Sivel. The Gothic PrinceAthanagild was another visitor. He was a young scion of the royalhouse of Spain, who had taken refuge at the court of Maurice from thepersecution of King Recared. Athanagild was also a grandson, throughhis mother, of Queen Brunehaud of Austrasia. During his exile he hadformed a friendship with the physician Alexander, through whom he hadheard of the Indian voyages of Cosmas. Fond of adventure, he was nowkeen to follow in the course of the old navigator, and was looking outfor trusty followers. His eyes fell upon Coelred and Porlor, and he atonce conceived a strong desire to secure their services.
It was too late for the patricians to regret their imprudence indisplaying their precious human property so openly; and just at thistime Symmachus Boethius fell dangerously ill. The physician Alexanderattended him, but his charms and amulets were of no avail. A few daysafter the death of his colleague, Pamphronius was summon
ed to receivehis answer, and he was served with an order, through the Count of theDomestics, to bring the five youths with him who had been in the suiteof the embassy at the former reception. The Emperor gave him audienceat the lovely summer residence of Heroeum, a villa with gardensextending down to the sea, on the Asiatic side of the Propontis, nearChalcedon. Maurice was not encouraging. He said that he had orderedsome ships laden with grain to be sent to the Tiber; but that he couldgive no military aid, owing to the disturbed state of affairs inPersia. The Emperor, indeed, told Pamphronius that he was himself onhis way to Antioch with all the forces he could collect. His advice wasthat King Childebert of Austrasia should be bribed to invade NorthernItaly and give employment to the Lombards. He also promised to instructthe Exarch of Ravenna to co-operate with Childebert.
Pamphronius then had to take his leave; but before he embarked toreturn to the city he was informed by the Praepositus that the fiveyouths were required for the public service, and would be detained atHeroeum. He protested strongly, but was merely told that he could, ifhe chose, recover them by process of law when their services were nolonger under requisition by the State. Pamphronius returned to Romewith little but good advice as the result of his embassy, having losthis colleague by death, and his two slaves, for whom he had paid highprices to Mystacon, by an arbitrary act which, from his point of view,amounted to plunder. He felt very indignant.
Great preparations were, in fact, being made for a Mesopotamiancampaign, rendered probable by the disturbances in Persia. The army wasalready on the march to Antioch by way of the Cilician Gates. Shipswere assembled at Chalcedon and other ports, and the Emperor Mauricehimself, with some of his principal officers and generals, was about toembark for the coast of Syria.
The boys had been lodged, with the attendants of the Emperor'shousehold, in buildings near the gardens of Heroeum. They were able,thanks to their friend Bassus, to converse in Greek, and to understandwhat had taken place. They welcomed the chances that were now openingto them of taking part in some warlike adventure, and of emulating thedeeds of their Viking ancestors, before again returning to Rome. Nextday Lilla and Bassus were appointed to posts in the army, as pagesin attendance on Narses. Little Sivel was taken into the householdof the Treasurer Stephanos, who intended to employ the quick-wittedand intelligent boy in one of the State departments under his charge,probably in the mint at Antioch.
Athanagild was of an enterprising and roving disposition, and on thedeath of his father Hermenegild at Toledo in 586, his uncle Recaredsucceeded, and he fled to the court of his grandmother at Metz. But aviolent quarrel with his uncle Childebert led to his banishment, andhe found safety with the Emperor Maurice. Having been nursed throughan illness by the physician Alexander, a close friendship was formedbetween them, and he thus heard of the voyages to India by the agedmonk Cosmas, who was intimate with the physician. He had also beentold of the great military exploits of Gollas, King of the White Huns,in those parts, and he resolved to find his way to that distant andunknown land, and to offer his sword to the conqueror. He had vaguedreams of sovereignty and dominion for himself. His great object nowwas to find a pilot and a trusty crew to take him to India by the routeof Cosmas. Alexander gave him friendly help and advice, and obtainedfor him a pilot in the shape of Monas, an old companion of Cosmas, whowould find a vessel if supplied with funds. The Gothic Prince was nowlooking for two or three followers who would work under Monas, and whomhe could thoroughly trust. He had taken a fancy for Coelred and Porlorat first sight. He admired their stalwart young limbs, and their faceswith an expression open as the day, where no lie could find a place. Hefelt sure that, if once gained over, they would be loyal and true.
Athanagild was a tall, handsome young man, with a winning manner, andwhen he told the boys that he was a Geata, whose deeds they had heardof in the song of Beowulf, he won their hearts. They remembered howoften Coifi had sung of the Geatas and their exploits; and as theythought of the old hall at home, where the gleeman was wont to recitehis tales, their eyes filled with tears. They were walking with thePrince in the beautiful gardens of Heroeum near the sea-shore, as heexplained his plans to them. There was much that was wonderful, muchthat they could not understand. But they saw that it was an exploitworthy of the Vikings, and they joyfully consented to take part in it,on the understanding that they were to return with Monas. The two boyswere handed over to the Gothic Prince with the sanction of the Prefectof the Imperial Bedchamber.
In less than a month the Emperor and his court were at Antioch, witha powerful and efficient army encamped outside the town. Coelred andLilla agreed together that, if they returned from their expeditions,they would wait for each other at Antioch before starting for Rome.Sivel was already employed in the mint, receiving practical instructionin the art of coining the debased money which bore the name and effigyof Maurice, and they thought that they could safely calculate on hisbeing still there when they returned.
One evening the boys were sitting together under the shade of somedate-palms outside the city gate, discussing all the wondrous sightsthey had beheld, and their new experiences, when a great cloud ofdust was seen on the road. Soon afterwards a brilliant cavalcadecame in sight. It literally glittered under the rays of the settingsun, seeming to be one sparkling mass of bright weapons and gorgeousdresses. At its head rode a man in a long robe of cloth-of-gold, withflowing locks, and a huge globe of some light wicker-work gilded,surmounting his silver-gilt helmet. After a short parley he wasadmitted with his followers, and conducted to quarters near the palace.It was Khosro Parviz, the King of Persia, who had been driven from hisdominions, and came to seek aid from the Emperor.
The reception of this King of Kings by Maurice was magnificent; and heconsented to employ his army for the restoration of Khosro. For severaldays active preparations were being made, and then there was a secondseparation of the English boys. As the army began its march under thecommand of Narses, Coelred, Porlor, and Sivel bade an affectionatefarewell to Lilla and Bassus, who were well mounted and followed in thegeneral's train.
Next day Athanagild took leave of the Emperor Maurice, and made sailfor Alexandria with his young English followers, and half a dozenGothic soldiers who had been the loyal and attached followers of hisfather. They were to travel from Alexandria to Myos Hormos on the RedSea, where Monas had promised to meet them with a vessel prepared forthe long voyage. When the Prince fled from Toledo, he had taken withhim a large amount of gold and jewels sewn up in belts, which he hadcarefully kept by causing his servants to wear them, and which wouldnow enable him to equip his expedition. He and his young friends werein high spirits when the long line of white buildings, the tall Pharosrising above them, and the rows of palm trees announced that Alexandriawas in sight.