Volume Ii Part 11 (1/2)
”Shall I wear gold to please my maids? I only put on ornaments when Witichis sees me.”
”Indeed! May he deserve it! But thou _hast_ golden brooches and rings, like other Gothic wives down here?”
”More than others--chests full. Witichis brought a great booty from the wars.”
”So thou art quite happy?”
”Quite, father, but not because of the gold bracelets.”
”Hast thou nothing to complain of? Only tell me, child! Whatever it may be, tell it to thy old father, and he will see thee righted.”
Rauthgundis stopped short in her walk.
”Father, speak not thus! Thou art wrong to speak so, nor is it right for me to listen. Cast it off, this unhappy delusion, as if I must necessarily be unhappy because I came into the valley. I verily believe this fear alone has brought thee down.”
”That alone!” cried the old man, striking his staff upon the ground.
”And thou callest thy father's deepest conviction a delusion! Last night I saw thee and Witichis in a dream. He banqueted in a gilded hall, among proud men and lovely women, richly clothed; but thou wert standing outside the door in a beggar's dress, and wept bitter tears and called to him. But he said, 'Who is this woman? I know her not!'
And I could no longer rest upon the mountains. Something drew me down; I felt obliged to come and see if my child was well cared for in the valley; and I wished to surprise him, therefore I would not enter thy house by the gate.”
”Father,” said Rauthgundis angrily, ”one should not think such things, even in a dream. Thy mistrust----”
”Mistrust? I trust no one but myself, and the dream told me distinctly that a misfortune threatens thee! Avoid it! Take thy boy and go back with me; only for a short time. Believe me, thon wilt quickly love again the free air up there, where one can overlook all the land.”
”I leave my husband? Never!”
”Has he not left thee? The court, and the service of kings, is more to him than wife and child! Then let him have his will.”
”Father,” said Rauthgundis, grasping his hand, ”not a word more. Didst thou, then, not love my mother, that thou canst speak so to a wedded wife? My Witichis is all in all to me; the air and light of life. And he loves me with all his faithful heart; we are one. And if he thinks it right to work and act apart from me, then it _is_ right. He serves the cause of his people, and between me and him there shall not be a word, not a shadow, not even a father!”
The old man was silent, but his doubts were not removed.
”Why,” he re-commenced after a pause, ”why does he not take thee with him, if he has such important affairs at court? Is he ashamed of the peasant's daughter?” and he struck his staff angrily on the ground.
”Anger blinds thee! Thou art vexed because he has taken me away from the mountain into the Italian valley, and art equally vexed because he does not take me to Rome, amongst the Italians!”
”And thou shalt not go there! But he ought to wish it; he ought not to be able to live without thee. But the King's general is no doubt ashamed of the peasant's child.”
Just then, before Rauthgundis could answer, a horseman galloped up to the closed gate, before which they happened to be standing.
”Up! open!” he cried, striking the gate-post with his war-club.
”Who is there!” asked the old man cautiously.
”Open! A king's messenger should not be kept waiting so!”
”It is Wachis!” exclaimed Rauthgundis, pus.h.i.+ng back the heavy bolt.
”What brings thee back so unexpectedly!”
”It is you who open to me!” cried the faithful man. ”Oh, hail! all hail, Queen of the Goths! Your lord is chosen King. With my own eyes I saw him lifted upon the s.h.i.+eld! He greets you, and calls you and Athalwin to Rome. In three days you must depart.”