Volume Iii Part 47 (2/2)
Cethegus waited with impatience for the recovery of Na.r.s.es, who he hoped would never acknowledge the agreement concluded by his representative.
CHAPTER XXI.
Meanwhile Teja and Hildebrand had arrived upon the chapel hill, whither, as they had been apprised, the wounded King had been carried.
News of later events had not yet reached them.
Before they entered the walls which enclosed the grove before the chapel, the two leaders had agreed upon the plan which they would propose to the King. There was no other way but to retreat to the south under the protection of the truce. But when they entered the grove, what a sight met their view!
Sobbing loudly, Adalgoth hurried up to Teja, and led him to an ancient and ivy-grown sarcophagus. Within it, upon his s.h.i.+eld, lay King Totila.
The majesty of death gave to his n.o.ble features a solemnity that made them more beautiful than they had ever been when brightened by joy.
On his left hand rested Julius, in the open hollow cover of the sarcophagus, which had long since fallen from its proper place. Under the common shadow of death, the resemblance between the ”Dioscuri” was more striking and touching than ever.
And between the two friends lay a third form, which had been carefully laid by Gotho and Liuta upon the King's blood-stained mantle. Upon a gently-rising mound lay Valeria, the Roman virgin.
Fetched from the neighbouring cloister to receive her lover, she had thrown herself, without a scream, without even a sigh, upon the broad s.h.i.+eld with its solemn burthen, which Adalgoth and Aligern were carrying through the gate with sad and slow steps. Before any one could speak, she had cried:
”I know all--he is dead!”
She had a.s.sisted them to lay the corpse in the sarcophagus, and while so occupied she had repeated to herself, in a low voice, these words:
”'Him too thou seest, how stalwart, tall, and fair!
Yet must he yield to death and stubborn fate, Whene'er, at morn or noon or eve, the spear Or arrow from the bow may rend his life.
Then may I, too, visit th' eternal shades!”
Then, without haste, quietly and slowly, she drew a dagger from her girdle, and with the words, ”Here, stern Christian G.o.d, take my soul!
thus I fulfil the vow!” the Roman maiden thrust the sharp steel into her bosom.
Ca.s.siodorus, a little cross of cedar in his hand, went, deeply moved--the tears trickled down his venerable white beard--from corpse to corpse, repeating the prayers of the Church.
And the pious women of the cloister, who had accompanied Valeria, began the simple and n.o.ble chant:
”Vis ac splendor seculorum, Belli laus et flos amorum Labefacta mox marcesc.u.n.t; Dei laus et gratia sine aevi termino vel fine In eternum perfloresc.u.n.t.”
Gradually the grove had become filled with warriors, who had followed their leaders. Among them were Earls Wisand and Markja.
Teja heard the report of the weeping Adalgoth in silence. Then he went close to the King's corpse. Without a tear, he laid his mailed right hand upon the King's wounded breast, bent over him, and whispered:
”I will complete the work.”
Then he went back and took his place under a mighty tree, which rose above a forgotten grave-mound, and spoke to the little group of soldiers who stood silently and reverently round the dead.
”Gothic men! the battle is lost, and the kingdom likewise. Whoever will now go to Na.r.s.es, whoever will subject himself to the Emperor, I will not keep him back. But I am resolved to fight to the end; not for victory, but to die the free death of a hero. Whoever wishes to share this fate with me, may remain. You all wish it? 'Tis well.”
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