Volume Ii Part 26 (2/2)

Thus I always scold and laugh at Belisarius for his heroic acts, but in reality my heart is warmed and gladdened: he is the last hero.”

”Well,” observed Cethegus, ”amongst the Goths you will find many such st.u.r.dy fellows.”

Procopius nodded reflectively:

”Can't deny that I have great pleasure in these Goths. But they are too stupid.”

”How? Why?”

”They are stupid because, instead of pressing upon us slowly, step by step, in union with their yellow-haired brethren (they would be irresistible!) they have planted themselves singly in the midst of Italy, without right or reason, like a piece of wood in the centre of a glimmering hearth. They will be ruined by this; they will be burnt, you will see!”

”I hope to see it. And what then?” asked Cethegus quietly.

”Yes,” answered Procopius peevishly, ”what then? That is the vexation.

Then Belisarius will be Governor of Italy--for it will not last a year with the purple Prince--and he will wear away his fine strength here in idleness, when there is work enough to do in Persia. And then, as his court-historian, I shall only have to write down how many skins of wine we empty yearly.”

”So you would like, when the Goths are done with, to have Belisarius out of Italy?”

”Certainly. In the Persian land bloom his and my laurels. I have thought already of many a plan to get him away from here.”

Cethegus was silent. He was glad to have found such an important ally for his plans. At last he said:

”And so his 'reason' Procopius, rules the lion Belisarius?”

”No,” sighed Procopius; ”rather his _un_reason, his wife!”

”Antonina! Tell me, why did you call her unhappy?”

”Because she is half-hearted and a contradiction. Nature intended her for a good and faithful wife; and Belisarius loves her with all his heroic heart. But she came to the court of the Empress. Theodora, the beautiful she-devil, is intended by nature as much for vice as is Antonina for virtue. The circus-girl has certainly never felt the sting of conscience. But I believe she cannot endure to have an honest woman near her, because an honest woman would despise her. She did not rest until she had succeeded in arousing Antonina's coquetry by her h.e.l.lish example. Now Antonina suffers tortures of remorse on account of her dalliance with her adorers; for she loves, she wors.h.i.+ps her husband.”

”And yet? How is it possible that a hero like Belisarius cannot content her?”

”Just because he is a hero. He does not flatter her, with all his love.

She could not bear to see the Empress's lovers exhaust themselves in verses, flowers, and gifts, and to live herself without such homage.

Vanity was her snare. But she does not feel at all at ease amidst her trifling.”

”And has Belisarius any suspicion?”

”Not a shadow. He is the only one in all the Roman Empire who does not know what most concerns him. I believe it would be his death. For this reason alone he must not remain here in peace, as Governor of Italy. In the camp, in the tumult of battle, flatterers are wanting to the coquettish woman and also the leisure to listen to them. For, as if in voluntary atonement for the sweet crimes of secret verses and flowers--she is certainly incapable of greater guilt--Antonina outdoes all other women in the severe performance of her duty. She is Belisarius's friend, his co-commander; she shares with him the difficulties and dangers of sea, desert, and battle. She works with him day and night, if she does not happen to be reading the verses of others on her lovely eyes! She has often saved him from the snares of his enemies at the court of Byzantium. In short, she is only good during war-time and in the camp, there, where also his greatness can alone flourish.”

”Well,” said Cethegus, ”now I know well enough how things stand here. Let me speak plainly with you. You would like to have Belisarius out of Italy immediately after his victory: so would I. You for Belisarius's sake, I for that of Italy's. You know that I was always a Republican----”

At this Procopius pushed his cup to one side and looked significantly at Cethegus.

”All young people are so between the ages of fourteen and twenty-one,”

said he. ”But that you are still so--I find--very--very--unhistorical.

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