Volume I Part 47 (2/2)
After the removal of the three dukes, Amalaswintha had maintained an expectant att.i.tude. Although by the fall of the heads of the aristocratic opposition she had obtained some freedom of action, yet the National a.s.sembly at Regeta, near Rome, was soon to be held, when she must either completely exculpate herself from all suspicion of murder, or lose her crown, and perhaps her life. Only until the a.s.sembly had taken place did Witichis and his adherents promise her their protection. She therefore made every effort to strengthen her position before the decisive moment arrived. She hoped nothing more from Cethegus; she had seen through his selfish motives.
But she hoped that the Italians and the conspirators of the Catacombs, at the head of whose members her own name figured, would prefer her rule, so friendly to the Romans, to that of a king who belonged to the Gothic national party. She ardently longed for the arrival of the body-guard from the Emperor, which would protect her in the first moment of danger; and she was zealously employed in increasing the number of her friends amongst the Goths themselves. She invited many of her father's old followers--zealous adherents of the Amelungs, grey old warriors of great influence with the people, brothers-at-arms and almost play-fellows of old Hildebrand--to return to Ravenna; particularly the white-bearded Grippa, Theodoric's cupbearer, whose fame was scarcely less influential than that of the old master-at-arms.
She overwhelmed him and his comrades with honours, confided the castle of Ravenna to their care, and made them swear to keep faith with the Amelung family. As this connection with popular names was to form a sort of counterbalance to the influence of Witichis, Hildebrand and their friends--and Witichis could not justly prevent her from distinguis.h.i.+ng the old friends of Theodoric with honours--so the Queen also looked about for aid against the family of the Balthes and their revenge. With sharp discernment she perceived that this could best be procured from the Wolfungs, whose family possessed great influence and riches in central Italy. At that time the heads of this family were two brothers, Duke Guntharis and Earl Arahad.
To win their alliance she had thought of a peculiarly effective means.
For the friends.h.i.+p of the Wolfungs she would offer no less a price than the hand of her beautiful daughter.
In a richly decorated room at Ravenna the mother and daughter were engaged in an earnest but not amicable conversation on this subject.
The Queen was measuring the narrow apartment with hasty steps; all her usual repose of manner gone. She frequently threw an angry look at the beautiful girl, who, leaning against a marble table, stood quietly before her with downcast eyelids.
”Reflect well,” cried Amalaswintha angrily, and suddenly standing still, ”reflect once more! I give you three days' time.”
”It is in vain. I shall always speak as I have done to-day,” said Mataswintha without raising her eyes.
”Then tell me, what have you to say against Earl Arahad?”
”Nothing, except that I cannot love him.”
The Queen did not seem to hear her.
”This is quite a different case from the other, when we would have had you marry Cypria.n.u.s,” she said. ”He was old and--which perhaps in your eyes was a greater disadvantage,” she added bitterly--”a Roman.”
”And yet I was banished to Tarentum because I refused him.”
”I hoped that severity would have induced you to change your mind. For months I kept you away from my court, from my motherly heart.” A bitter smile curled Mataswintha's lovely mouth. ”In vain,” continued the Queen. ”I now call you back----”
”You err. My brother Athalaric called me back!”
”I now offer you another husband. Young, handsome, a Goth of the purest n.o.bility, his rank is at this moment the second in the kingdom. You know, at least you suspect, how sorely my throne, surrounded by enemies, needs protection. He and his powerful brother promise us the help of their whole army. Earl Arahad loves you, and you, you refuse him! Tell me why?”
”Because I do not love him.”
”A girl's stupid speech! You are a King's daughter; you ought to sacrifice yourself to your rank, to your kingdom.”
”I am a woman,” answered Mataswintha, raising her sparkling eyes, ”and will sacrifice my heart to no power in heaven or on earth!”
”And thus speaks my daughter? Look at me, foolish child. I have striven after great things, and have attained much. As long as men admire what is great, they will name my name. I have won all that life can offer, and yet I never----”
”Loved! I know it,” sighed her daughter.
”You know it?”
”Yes; it was the curse of my childhood! I was indeed still a child when my father died. I knew not how to express it, but even then I could feel that his heart missed something, when, sighing deeply, he embraced Athalaric and me, and sighed again. And I loved him all the more tenderly because I felt that he sought love most where it was wanting.
Now indeed I know what then I could not explain to myself. You became our father's wife, because, after Theodoric, he stood next to the throne. Ambition, and not love, led you to his arms, and you could only give cold pride in return for his warm affection.”
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