Volume Iii Part 31 (1/2)
”I have also succeeded in winning the Empress to my cause, and by her means the propositions of peace made by Ca.s.siodorus were refused at the last moment. For Rome must be freed from the barbarians! But when shall I find means to move this lazy colossus, Justinian? When will fate call me to my battle-field--Italia?”
At this moment Syphax entered the room. He brought Cethegus a message from the Empress. It ran:
”To the Jupiter of the Capitol. Do not leave your house to-morrow until I call you.--Theodora.”
On the next day the Emperor Justinian was standing buried in deep reflection before the tall golden crucifix in his room. The expression of his face was very grave, but without a trace of alarm or doubt.
Quiet decision lay upon his features, which, else not handsome or n.o.ble, at this moment betrayed mental power and superiority. He lifted his eyes almost threateningly to the crucifix.
”G.o.d of the Cross,” he said, ”Thou puttest Thy faithful servant to a hard proof! It seems to me that I have deserved better. Thou knowest all that I have done to the honour of Thy name! Why do not Thy strokes fall upon Thine enemies, the heathens and barbarians? Why not?”
He was interrupted in his soliloquy by the entrance of the chamberlains and wardrobe-keepers.
Justinian exchanged his morning garment for the robes of state. His slaves served him upon their knees.
He apparelled himself in a tunic of white silk, reaching to the knees, embroidered with gold on both sides, and confined by a purple girdle.
The tightly-fitting hose were also of silk of the same colour. His slaves threw over his shoulders a splendid mantle of a lighter shade of purple, with a broad hem of gold thread, upon which red circles and symbolic animal-forms, embroidered in green silk, alternated with each other. But the pearls and precious stones which were lavishly strewed over it, rendered the design almost invisible, and made the mantle so heavy, that the a.s.sistance of the train-bearer must have been indeed a welcome relief.
On each of his arms the Emperor wore three broad golden bracelets. The wide crown was made of ma.s.sive gold, arched over with two rows of pearls. His mantle was fastened on the shoulder with a costly brooch of large precious stones.
The sceptre-keeper put into the Emperor's hand a golden staff the length of a man, at the top of which was a globe made out of a single large emerald, and surmounted with a golden cross.
The Emperor grasped it firmly and rose from his seat.
A slave offered him the thick-soled buskins which he usually wore, in order to increase his height.
”No; to-day I need no buskins,” said Justinian, and left the room.
Down the Stairs of the Lions, so called from the twenty-four immense marble lions which guarded the twelve steps, and which had been brought from Carthage by Belisarius, the Emperor descended to a lower story, and entered the Hall of Jerusalem.
This hall derived its name from the porphyry columns, the onyx vases, the golden tables and the numerous golden vessels which, arranged on pedestals and along the walls, were said to have formerly decorated the Temple of Jerusalem. These treasures had been taken to Rome by t.i.tus, after the destruction of Jerusalem. From Rome the Sea-king Geiseric had taken them on his dragon-s.h.i.+ps, together with the Empress Eudoxia, to his capital, Carthage. And now Belisarius had brought them from Carthage to the Emperor of the East.
The cupola of the hall, representing the firmament, was wrought in mosaic. Costly blue stones formed the ground-work, in which was inlaid, besides the sun, the moon, the eye of G.o.d, the lamb, the fish, the birds, the palm, the vine, the unicorn, and many other symbols of Christianity, the whole zodiac and innumerable stars of ma.s.sive gold.
The cost of the cupola alone was estimated as high as the whole income of the taxes on property in all the Empire for forty-five years.
Opposite the three great arches of the entrance, which were closed by curtains--it was the only entrance to the hall--and were guarded outside by a threefold line of imperial body-guards--the ”Golden s.h.i.+elds”--stood, at the bottom of the semicircular hall, the elevated throne of the Emperor, and below it on the left the seat of the Empress.
When Justinian entered the hall with a numerous retinue of palace officials, all the a.s.sembly, consisting of the highest dignitaries of the realm, threw themselves upon their faces in humble prostration.
The Empress also rose, bowed deeply, and crossed her arms upon her bosom. Her dress was exactly similar to that of her husband. Her white stola was also covered by a purple mantle, but without hem. She carried a very short sceptre of ivory.
The Emperor cast a slight but contemptuous glance at the patriarchs, archbishops, bishops, patricians and senators, who, above thirty in number, occupied a row of gilded chairs set in a semicircle and provided with cus.h.i.+ons. He then pa.s.sed through the middle of the hall and ascended his throne with a quick firm step. Twelve of the chief officers of the palace stood upon the steps of the two thrones, holding white wands in their hands. A blast of trumpets gave the signal to the kneeling a.s.sembly to rise.
”Reverend bishops and worthy senators,” began the Emperor, ”we have called you together, to ask your advice in an affair of great moment.
But why is our Magister Militum per Orientum, Na.r.s.es, absent?”
”He returned only yesterday from Persia--he is sick and confined to bed,” answered the usher.