Part 26 (2/2)

'”Fight against ambition, Carus! thou seest how, by aiming at too much, it loses all. It is the bane of humanity. When I am dead, may ambition then die, nor rise again.”

'”May it be so,” replied his general; ”it has greatly cursed the world. It were better perhaps that it died now.”

'”It cannot,” replied Aurelian; ”its life is too strong. I lament too, great Queen, for so I may well call thee, that upon an ancient defender of our Roman honor, upon her who revenged Rome upon the insolent Persian, this heavy fate should fall. I would willingly have met for the first time in a different way the brave conqueror of Sapor, the avenger of the wrongs and insults of the virtuous Valerian. The debt of Rome to Zen.o.bia is great, and shall yet, in some sort at least, be paid. Curses upon those who moved thee to this war. They have brought this calamity upon thee, Queen, not I, nor thou. What ill designing aspirants have urged thee on? This is not a woman's war.”

'”Was not that a woman's war,” replied the Queen, ”that drove the Goths from upper Asia? Was not that a woman's war that hemmed Sapor in his capital, and seized his camp? and that which beat Heraclia.n.u.s, and gained thereby Syria and Mesopotamia? and that which worsted Probus, and so won the crown of Egypt? Does it ask for more, to be beaten by Romans, than to conquer these? Rest a.s.sured, great prince, that the war was mine. My people were indeed with me, but it was I who roused, fired, and led them on. I had indeed great advisers. Their names are known throughout the world. Why should I name the renowned Longinus, the princely Gracchus, the invincible Zabdas, the honest Otho? Their names are honored in Rome as well as here. They have been with me; but without lying or vanity, I may say I have been their head.”

'”Be it so; nevertheless, thy services shall be remembered. But let us now to the affairs before us. The city has not surrendered--though thy captivity is known, the gates still are shut. A word from thee would open them.”

'”It is a word I cannot speak,” replied the Queen; her countenance expressing now, instead of sorrow, indignation. ”Wouldst thou that I too should turn traitor?”

'”It surely would not be that,” replied the Emperor. ”It can avail naught to contend further--it can but end in a wider destruction, both of your people and my soldiers.”

'”Longinus, I may suppose,” said Zen.o.bia, ”is now supreme. Let the Emperor address him, and what is right will be done.”

'Aurelian turned, and held a brief conversation with some of his officers. '”Within the walls,” said the Emperor, again addressing the Queen, ”thou hast sons. Is it not so?”

'”It is not they,” said the Queen quickly, her countenance growing pale, ”it is not they, nor either of them, who have conspired against me!”

'”No--not quite so. Yet he who betrayed thee calls himself of thy family. Thy sons surely were not in league with him. Soldiers,” cried the Emperor, ”lead forth the great Antiochus, and his slave.”

'At his name, the Queen started--the Princess uttered a faint cry, and seemed as if she would have fallen.

'A fold of the tent was drawn aside, and the huge form of Antiochus appeared, followed by the Queen's slave, her head bent down and eyes cast upon the ground. If a look could have killed, the first glance of Zen.o.bia, so full of a withering contempt, would have destroyed her base kinsman. He heeded it but so much as to blush and turn away his face from her. Upon Sindarina the Queen gazed with a look of deepest sorrow. The beautiful slave stood there where she entered, not lifting her head, but her bosom rising and falling with some great emotion--conscious, as it seemed, that the Queen's look was fastened upon her, and fearing to meet it. But it was so only for a moment, when raising her head, and revealing a countenance swollen with grief, she rushed toward the Queen, and threw herself at her feet, embracing them, and covering them with kisses. Her deep sobs took away all power of speech. The Queen only said, ”My poor Sindarina!”

'The stern voice of Aurelian was first heard, ”Bear her away--bear her from the tent.”

'A guard seized her, and forcibly separating her from Zen.o.bia, bore her weeping away.

'”This,” said Aurelian, turning now to Zen.o.bia, ”this is thy kinsman, as he tells me--the Prince Antiochus?”

'The Queen replied not.

'”He has done Rome a great service.” Antiochus raised his head, and straightened his stooping shoulders, ”He has the merit of ending a weary and disastrous war. It is a rare fortune to fall to any one. 'Tis a work to grow great upon. Yet, Prince,” turning to Antiochus, ”the work is not complete. The city yet holds out. If I am to reward thee with the sovereign power, as thou sayest, thou must open the gates. Canst thou do it?”

'”Great Prince,” replied the base spirit eagerly, ”it is provided for. Allow me but a few moments, and a place proper for it, and the gates I warrant shall quickly swing upon their hinges.”

'”Ah! do you say so? That is well. What, I pray, is the process?”

'”At a signal which I shall make, n.o.ble Prince, and which has been agreed upon, every head of every one of the Queen's party rolls in the dust--Longinus, Gracchus, and his daughter, Seleucus, Gabrayas, and a host more--their heads fall. The gates are then to be thrown open.”

'”n.o.ble Palmyrene, you have the thanks of all. Of the city then we are at length secure. For this, thou wouldst have the rule of it under Rome, wielding a sceptre in the name of the Roman Senate, and paying tribute as a subject province? Is it not so?”

'”It is. That is what I would have, and would do, most excellent Aurelian.”

'”Who are thy a.s.sociates in this? Are the Queen's sons, Herennia.n.u.s, Timolaus, Vabalathus, of thy side, and partners in this enterprise?”

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