Volume Ii Part 38 (2/2)
”I know all, my Witichis. Yesterday, as I was walking through the camp, unrecognised, in the twilight, I heard the soldiers by the watch-fires blaming thee, and praising this old man to the skies. I listened and heard all. What he demands and what thou refusest!”
”And thou didst not tell me?”
”There was no danger. Do I not know that thou wouldst never put away thy wife? Not for a crown, and not for that wonderfully beautiful maiden. Who can part us? Let this old man threaten; I know that no star hangs more safely in heaven than I in thy heart.”
This security made an impression on the old man. He frowned.
”I have not to argue with thee! Witichis, I ask thee before Teja--thou knowest how things stand: without Ravenna we are lost: Mataswintha's hand alone can open its gates--wilt thou take this hand or not?”
Witichis sprang from his seat.
”Yes, our enemies are right! We are barbarians! Before this heartless old man stands a splendid woman, unparalleled for her griefs as for her fidelity; here stand the ashes of her murdered child; and he would drag her husband away from this wife and these ashes to form another union!
Never--nevermore!”
”An hour ago representatives of all the thousands of the army were on their way to this tent,” said the old man. ”They would have forced thee to do that which I only ask. I kept them back with difficulty.”
”Let them come!” cried Witichis. ”They can only deprive me of my crown--not of my wife!”
”Who wears the crown belongs to his people--not to himself!”
”Here”--Witichis took the coroneted helmet and laid it upon the table before Hildebrand--”once more and for the last time I give thee back the crown. I did not desire it, G.o.d knows! It has brought me nothing but this urn of ashes. Take it back; let who will be King, and woo Mataswintha.”
But Hildebrand shook his head.
”Thou knowest that that would lead to certain destruction. We are already split into three parties. Many thousands would never acknowledge Arahad. Thou alone canst still uphold the kingdom. Wert thou gone, we should be dissolved. We shall become a bundle of separate sticks, which Belisarius will break as if in sport. Wouldst thou have that?”
”Mistress Rauthgundis, canst thou make no sacrifice for thy people?”
asked Teja, drawing nearer.
”Thou too, haughty Teja, against me? Is this thy friends.h.i.+p!” cried Rauthgundis.
”Mistress Rauthgundis,” replied Teja quietly, ”I honour thee more than any other woman on earth, and therefore I ask of thee the greatest of sacrifices----”
But Hildebrand interrupted him.
”Thou art the Queen of this nation. I know of a Gothic Queen who lived in the heathen times of our forefathers. Hunger and plague lay heavy on her people. Their swords were useless. The G.o.ds were angry with the Goths. Then Swanhilde asked counsel of the oaks of the woods, and the waves of the sea, and they answered: 'If Swanhilde dies, the Goths will live. If Swanhilde lives, her people die.' And Swanhilde never returned home. She thanked the G.o.ds, and sprang into the flood. But truly, that was in the hero-time.”
Rauthgundis was not unmoved.
”I love my people,” she said; ”and since these golden locks are all that remain of my Athalwin”--she pointed to the locket--”I believe I could gladly give my life for my people. I will die--yes!” she cried; ”but to live and know the man of my heart loving another--no!”
”Loving another!” cried Witichis; ”how canst speak thus? Knowest thou not, that my tortured heart beats ever and only at the sound of thy name? Hast thou then never felt, never yet, not even at the sight of this urn, that we are eternally one? What am I without thy love? Tear my heart out of my bosom, place another in its place; then perhaps I could forget thee! Yes, truly,” he cried, turning to the two men, ”you know not what you do; you little know your own interest. You know not that my love for this woman and this woman's love for me is the best that poor Witichis possesses. She is my good genius. You know not that you have to thank her, and her alone, if in anything I please you. I think of her in the tumult of battle, and the thought strengthens my arm. Of her I think when n.o.ble decisions must be made in the council; of her clear and serene soul, of her unblemished fidelity! Oh, this wife is the soul of my life! Deprive me of her, and your King is a shadow, without fortune and without strength!”
And he pa.s.sionately folded Rauthgundis in his arms.
She was surprised and startled; overcome with a world of bliss. Never yet had the calm and reserved man, who habitually controlled his feelings, spoken so of her or of his love.
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