Volume Iii Part 32 (1/2)
”To Justinia.n.u.s, the unconquerable Emperor of the Romani, Dorotheos, Bishop of Nicopolis, and Nazares, Governor of Illyric.u.m. The place whence we write these words will be the best proof of their gravity. We write on board the royal barge of the Gothic King, the _Italia_. When you read these words, you will have already learned the defeat of the fleet, the loss of the islands, the storming of the 'New Wall,' and the destruction of the army of Illyric.u.m. Quicker than the messengers and the fugitives from these battles, have the Gothic pursuers reached us.
The Gothic King has conquered and spared Nicopolis. Earl Teja has conquered and burnt Anchisus. I, Nazares, have served in the army for thirty years--and never have I seen such an attack as that in which Earl Teja overthrew me at the gates of Anchisus. They are irresistible, these Goths! Their hors.e.m.e.n sweep the country from Thessalonica to Philippi. The Goths in the heart of Illyric.u.m! That has not been heard of for sixty years. And the King has sworn to return every year until he has peace--or Byzantium! Since he won Corcyra and the Sybotes, he stands upon the bridge of your Empire. Therefore, as G.o.d has touched the heart of this King, as he offers peace at a moderate price--the price of what he has actually gained--we beseech you, in the name of your trembling subjects, and of your smoking towns, to conclude a peace! Save us and save Byzantium! For your generals Belisarius and Na.r.s.es will rather be able to stop the course of the sun and the blowing of the wind, than to stay King Totila and the terrible Teja.”
”They are prisoners,” said the Emperor, interrupting the reader; ”and perhaps they speak in fear of death. Now it is your turn to speak, venerable Bishop of Thessalonica; you, Anatolius, commander of Dodona; and you, Parmenio, brave captain of the Macedonian lancers. You are safe here under our imperial protection, but you have seen the barbarian generals. What do you advise?”
At this the aged Bishop of Thessalonica again threw himself upon his knees, and cried:
”O Emperor of the Romani, the barbarian King, Totila, is a heretic, and accursed for ever, yet never have I seen a man more richly endowed with all Christian virtues! Do not strive with him! In the other world he will be d.a.m.ned for ever, but--I cannot comprehend it--on earth G.o.d blesses all his ways. He is irresistible!”
”I understand it well,” interposed Anatolius. ”It is his craft which wins for him all hearts--the deepest hypocrisy, a power of dissimulation which outdoes all our much-renowned and defamed Grecian cunning. The barbarian plays the part of a philanthropist so excellently, that he almost deceived me, until I reflected that there was no such thing in the world as the love which this man pretends, with all the art of a comedian. He acts as if he really felt compa.s.sion for his conquered enemies! He feeds the hungry, he divides the booty--your tax-money, O Emperor!--amongst the country people, whose fields have been devastated by the war. Women who had fled into the woods, and were found by his hors.e.m.e.n, he returns uninjured to their husbands. He enters the villages to the sound of a harp, played by a beautiful youth, who leads his horse. Do you know what is the consequence? Your own subjects, O Emperor of the Romani, rebel to him, and deliver your officers, who have obeyed your severe laws, into his hands. The peasants and farmers of Dodona did so by me. This barbarian is the greatest comedian of the century, and the clever hypocrite understands many other things besides fighting. He has entered into an alliance against you with the distant Persians, with your inveterate enemy Chosroes. We ourselves saw the Persian amba.s.sador ride out of his camp towards the East.”
When Anatolius had ceased speaking, the Macedonian captain gave his report, which ran:
”Ruler of the Romani--since Earl Teja gained the high-road of Thessalonica, nothing stands between your throne and his battle-axe but the walls of this city. He who stormed the 'New Wall' eight times in succession, and carried it at the ninth attempt, will carry the walls of Byzantium at the tenth. You can only repel the Goths if you have sevenfold their number. If you have it not, then conclude a peace.”
”Peace! peace! we beseech you, in the name of your trembling provinces of Epirus, Thessaly, and Macedonia!”
”Deliver us from the Goths!”
”Let us not again see the days of Alaric and Theodoric!”
”Peace with the Goths! Peace! peace!”
And all the envoys, bishops, officials, and warriors sank upon their knees with the cry of ”Peace!”
The effect upon the a.s.sembly was fearful.
It had often happened that Persians and Saracens in the east. Moors in the south, and Bulgarians and Slavonians in the north-west, had made incursions into the country, slaying and plundering, and had sometimes beaten the troops sent against them, and escaped unhindered with their booty. But that Grecian islands should be permanently conquered by the enemy, that Grecian harbours should be won and governed by barbarians, and that the high-road to Byzantium should be dominated by Goths, was unheard of.
With dismay the senators thought of the days when Gothic s.h.i.+ps and Gothic armies should overrun all the Grecian islands, and repeatedly storm the walls of Byzantium, only to be stopped by the fulfilment of all their demands. They already seemed to hear the battle-axe of the ”Black Earl” knocking at their gates.
Quietly and searchingly did Justinian look into the rows of anxious faces on his right and on his left.
”You have heard,” he then began, ”what Church, State, and Army desire.
I now ask your opinion. We have already accomplished an armistice.
Shall war or shall peace ensue? One word will buy peace--our a.s.sent to the cession of Italy, which is already lost. Whoever among you is in favour of war, let him hold up his hand.”
No one moved; for the senators were afraid for Byzantium, and they had no doubt of the Emperor's inclination for peace.
”My senate unanimously declares for peace. I knew it beforehand,” said Justinian, with a singular smile. ”I am accustomed always to follow the advice of my wise councillors--and of my Empress.”
At this word Theodora started from her seat, and threw her ivory sceptre from her with such violence, that it flew far across the hall.
The senators were startled.
”Then farewell,” cried the Empress, ”farewell to what has ever been my pride--my belief in Justinian and his imperial dignity! Farewell all share in the cares and honours of the state! Alas, Justinian! alas for you and me that I must hear such words from your lips!”
And she hid her face in her purple mantle, in order to conceal the agony which her excitement caused her.
The Emperor turned towards her.