by Walter Scott
CHAPTER THE THIRD.
Here, youth, thy foot unbrace, Here, youth, thy brow unbraid; Each tribute that may grace The threshold here be paid. Walk with the stealthy pace Which Nature teaches deer, When, echoing in the chase, The hunter's horn they hear. THE COURT.
Before entering, Achilles Tatius made various gesticulations, whichwere imitated roughly and awkwardly by the unpractised Varangian, whoseservice with his corps had been almost entirely in the field, hisroutine of duty not having, till very lately, called him to serve asone of the garrison of Constantinople. He was not, therefore,acquainted with the minute observances which the Greeks, who were themost formal and ceremonious soldiers and courtiers in the world,rendered not merely to the Greek Emperor in person, but throughout thesphere which peculiarly partook of his influence.
Achilles, having gesticulated after his own fashion, at length touchedthe door with a rap, distinct at once and modest. This was thricerepeated, when the captain whispered to his attendant, "Theinterior!--for thy life, do as thou seest me do." At the same moment hestarted back, and, stooping his head on his breast, with his hands overhis eyes, as if to save them from being dazzled by an expected burst oflight, awaited the answer to his summons. The Anglo-Dane, desirous toobey his leader, imitating him as near as he could, stood side by sidein the posture of Oriental humiliation. The little portal openedinwards, when no burst of light was seen, but four of the Varangianswere made visible in the entrance, holding each his battle-axe, as ifabout to strike down the intruders who had disturbed the silence oftheir watch.
"Acoulouthos," said the leader, by way of password.
"Tatius and Acoulouthos," murmured the warders, as a countersign.
Each sentinel sunk his weapon.
Achilles then reared his stately crest, with a conscious dignity atmaking this display of court influence in the eyes of his soldiers.Hereward observed an undisturbed gravity, to the surprise of hisofficer, who marvelled in his own mind how he could be such a barbarianas to regard with apathy a scene, which had in his eyes the mostimpressive and peculiar awe. This indifference he imputed to the stupidinsensibility of his companion.
They passed on between the sentinels, who wheeled backward in file, oneach side of the portal, and gave the strangers entrance to a longnarrow plank, stretched across the city-moat, which was here drawnwithin the enclosure of an external rampart, projecting beyond theprincipal wall of the city.
"This," he whispered to Hereward, "is called the Bridge of Peril, andit is said that it has been occasionally smeared with oil, or strewedwith dried peas, and that the bodies of men, known to have been incompany with the Emperor's most sacred person, have been taken out ofthe Golden Horn, [Footnote: The harbour of Constantinople.] into whichthe moat empties itself."
"I would not have thought," said the islander, raising his voice to itsusual rough tone, "that Alexius Comnenus"--
"Hush, rash and regardless of your life!" said Achilles Tatius; "toawaken the daughter of the imperial arch, [Footnote: The daughter ofthe arch was a courtly expression for the echo, as we find explained bythe courtly commander himself.] is to incur deep penalty at all times;but when a rash delinquent has disturbed her with reflections on hismost sacred Highness the Emperor, death is a punishment far too lightfor the effrontery which has interrupted her blessed slumber!--Ill hathbeen my fate, to have positive commands laid on me, enjoining me tobring into the sacred precincts a creature who hath no more of the saltof civilization in him than to keep his mortal frame from corruption,since of all mental culture he is totally incapable. Consider thyself,Hereward, and bethink thee what thou art. By nature a poorbarbarian--thy best boast that thou hast slain certain Mussulmans inthy sacred master's quarrel; and here art thou admitted into theinviolable enclosure of the Blaquernal, and in the hearing not only ofthe royal daughter of the imperial arch, which means," said theeloquent leader, "the echo of the sublime vaults; but--Heaven be ourguide,--for what I know, within the natural hearing of the Sacred Earitself!"
"Well, my captain," replied the Varangian, "I cannot presume to speakmy mind after the fashion of this place; but I can easily suppose I ambut ill qualified to converse in the presence of the court, nor do Imean therefore to say a word till I am spoken to, unless when I shallsee no better company than ourselves. To be plain, I find difficulty inmodelling my voice to a smoother tone than nature has given it. So,henceforth, my brave captain, I will be mute, unless when you give me asign to speak."
"You will act wisely," said the captain. "Here be certain persons ofhigh rank, nay, some that have been born in the purple itself, thatwill, Hereward, (alas, for thee!) prepare to sound with the line oftheir courtly understanding the depths of thy barbarous and shallowconceit. Do not, therefore, then, join their graceful smiles with thyinhuman bursts of cachinnation, with which thou art wont to thunderforth when opening in chorus with thy messmates."
"I tell thee I will be silent," said the Varangian, moved somewhatbeyond his mood. "If you trust my word, so; if you think I am a jackdawthat must be speaking, whether in or out of place and purpose, I amcontented to go back again, and therein we can end the matter."
Achilles, conscious perhaps that it was his best policy not to drivehis subaltern to extremity, lowered his tone somewhat in reply to theuncourtly note of the soldier, as if allowing something for the rudemanners of one whom he considered as not easily matched among theVarangians themselves, for strength and valour; qualities which, indespite of Hereward's discourtesy, Achilles suspected in his heart werefully more valuable than all those nameless graces which a more courtlyand accomplished soldier might possess.
The expert navigator of the intricacies of the imperial residence,carried the Varangian through two or three small complicated courts,forming a part of the extensive Palace of the Blaquernal, [Footnote:This palace derived its name from the neighbouring Blachernian Gate andBridge.] and entered the building itself by a side door--watched inlike manner by a sentinel of the Varangian Guard, whom they passed onbeing recognized. In the next apartment was stationed the Court ofGuard, where were certain soldiers of the same corps amusing themselvesat games somewhat resembling the modern draughts and dice, while theyseasoned their pastime with frequent applications to deep flagons ofale, which were furnished to them while passing away their hours ofduty. Some glances passed between Hereward and his comrades, and hewould have joined them, or at least spoke to them; for, since theadventure of the Mitylenian, Hereward had rather thought himselfannoyed than distinguished by his moonlight ramble in the company ofhis commander, excepting always the short and interesting period duringwhich he conceived they were on the way to fight a duel. Still, howevernegligent in the strict observance of the ceremonies of the sacredpalace, the Varangians had, in their own way, rigid notions ofcalculating their military duty; in consequence of which Hereward,without speaking to his companions, followed his leader through theguard-room, and one or two antechambers adjacent, the splendid andluxurious furniture of which convinced him that he could be nowhereelse save in the sacred residence of his master the Emperor.
At length, having traversed passages and apartments with which thecaptain seemed familiar, and which he threaded with a stealthy, silent,and apparently reverential pace, as if, in his own inflated phrase,afraid to awaken the sounding echoes of those lofty and monumentalhalls, another species of inhabitants began to be visible. In differententrances, and in different apartments, the northern soldier beheldthose unfortunate slaves, chiefly of African descent, raisedoccasionally under the Emperors of Greece to great power and honours,who, in that respect, imitated one of the most barbarous points ofOriental despotism. These slaves were differently occupied; somestanding, as if on guard, at gates or in passages, with their drawnsabres in their hands; some were sitting in the Oriental fashion, oncarpets, reposing themselves, or playing at various games, all of acharacter profoundly silent. Not a word passed between the guide ofHereward, and the withered and def
ormed beings whom they thusencountered. The exchange of a glance with the principal soldier seemedall that was necessary to ensure both an uninterrupted passage.
After making their way through several apartments, empty or thusoccupied, they, at length entered one of black marble, or some otherdark-coloured stone, much loftier and longer than the rest. Sidepassages opened into it, so far as the islander could discern,descending from several portals in the wall; but as the oils and gumswith which the lamps in these passages were fed diffused a dim vapouraround, it was difficult to ascertain, from the imperfect light, eitherthe shape of the hall, or the style of its architecture. At the upperand lower ends of the chamber, there was a stronger and clearer light.It was when they were in the middle of this huge and long apartment,that Achilles said to the soldier, in the sort of cautionary whisperwhich he appeared to have substituted in place of his natural voicesince he had crossed the Bridge of Peril--
"Remain here till I return, and stir from this hall on no account."
"To hear is to obey," answered the Varangian, an expression ofobedience, which, like many other phrases and fashions, the empire,which still affected the name of Roman, had borrowed from thebarbarians of the East. Achilles Tatius then hastened up the stepswhich led to one of the side-doors of the hall, which being slightlypressed, its noiseless hinge gave way and admitted him.
Left alone to amuse himself as he best could, within the limitspermitted to him, the Varangian visited in succession both ends of thehall, where the objects were more visible than elsewhere. The lower endhad in its centre a small low-browed door of iron. Over it wasdisplayed the Greek crucifix in bronze, and around and on every side,the representation of shackles, fetter bolts, and the like, were alsoexecuted in bronze, and disposed as appropriate ornaments over theentrance. The door of the dark archway was half open, and Herewardnaturally looked in, the orders of his chief not prohibiting hissatisfying his curiosity thus far. A dense red light, more like adistant spark than a lamp, affixed to the wall of what seemed a verynarrow and winding stair, resembling in shape and size a draw-well, theverge of which opened on the threshold of the iron door, showed adescent which seemed to conduct to the infernal regions. The Varangian,however obtuse he might be considered by the quick-witted Greeks, hadno difficulty in comprehending that a staircase having such a gloomyappearance, and the access to which was by a portal decorated in such amelancholy style of architecture, could only lead to the dungeons ofthe imperial palace, the size and complicated number of which wereneither the least remarkable, nor the least awe-imposing portion of thesacred edifice. Listening profoundly, he even thought he caught suchaccents as befit those graves of living men, the faint echoing ofgroans and sighs, sounding as it were from the deep abyss beneath. Butin this respect his fancy probably filled up the sketch which hisconjectures bodied out.
"I have done nothing," he thought, "to merit being immured in one ofthese subterranean dens. Surely though my captain, Achilles Tatius, is,under favour, little better than an ass, he cannot be so false of wordas to train me to prison under false pretexts? I trow he shall firstsee for the last time how the English axe plays, if such is to be thesport of the evening. But let us see the upper end of this enormousvault; it may bear a better omen."
Thus thinking, and not quite ruling the tramp of his armed footstepaccording to the ceremonies of the place, the large-limbed Saxon strodeto the upper end of the black marble hall. The ornament of the portalhere was a small altar, like those in the temples of the heathendeities, which projected above the centre of the arch. On this altarsmoked incense of some sort, the fumes of which rose curling in a thincloud to the roof, and thence extending through the hall, enveloped inits column of smoke a singular emblem, of which the Varangian couldmake nothing. It was the representation of two human arms and hands,seeming to issue from the wall, having the palms extended and open, asabout to confer some boon on those who approached the altar. These armswere formed of bronze, and being placed farther back than the altarwith its incense, were seen through the curling smoke by lamps sodisposed as to illuminate the whole archway. "The meaning of this,"thought the simple barbarian, "I should well know how to explain, werethese fists clenched, and were the hall dedicated to the _pancration_,which we call boxing; but as even these helpless Greeks use not theirhands without their fingers being closed, by St. George I can make outnothing of their meaning."
At this instant Achilles entered the black marble hall at the same doorby which he had left it, and came up to his neophyte, as the Varangianmight be termed.
"Come with me now, Hereward, for here approaches the thick of theonset. Now, display the utmost courage that thou canst summon up, forbelieve me thy credit and name also depend on it."
"Fear nothing for either," said Hereward, "if the heart or hand of oneman can bear him through the adventure by the help of a toy like this."
"Keep thy voice low and submissive, I have told thee a score of times,"said the leader, "and lower thine axe, which, as I bethink me, thouhadst better leave in the outer apartment."
"With your leave, noble captain," replied Hereward, "I am unwilling tolay aside my bread-winner. I am one of those awkward clowns who cannotbehave seemly unless I have something to occupy my hands, and myfaithful battle-axe comes most natural to me."
"Keep it then; but remember thou dash it not about according to thycustom, nor bellow, nor shout, nor cry as in a battle-field; think ofthe sacred character of the place, which exaggerates riot intoblasphemy, and remember the persons whom thou mayst chance to see, anoffence to some of whom, it may be, ranks in the same sense withblasphemy against Heaven itself."
This lecture carried the tutor and the pupil so far as to theside-door, and thence inducted them into a species of anteroom, fromwhich Achilles led his Varangian forward, until a pair offolding-doors, opening into what proved to be a principal apartment ofthe palace, exhibited to the rough-hewn native of the north a sightequally new and surprising.
It was an apartment of the palace of the Blaquernal, dedicated to thespecial service of the beloved daughter of the Emperor Alexius, thePrincess Anna Comnena, known to our times by her literary talents,which record the history of her father's reign. She was seated, thequeen and sovereign of a literary circle, such as an imperial Princess,porphyrogenita, or born in the sacred purple chamber itself, couldassemble in those days, and a glance around will enable us to form anidea of her guests or companions.
The literary Princess herself had the bright eyes, straight features,and comely and pleasing manners, which all would have allowed to theEmperor's daughter, even if she could not have been, with severe truth,said to have possessed them. She was placed upon a small bench, orsofa, the fair sex here not being permitted to recline, as was thefashion of the Roman ladies. A table before her was loaded with books,plants, herbs, and drawings. She sat on a slight elevation, and thosewho enjoyed the intimacy of the Princess, or to whom she wished tospeak in particular, were allowed, during such sublime colloquy, torest their knees on the little dais, or elevated place where her chairfound its station, in a posture half standing, half kneeling. Threeother seats, of different heights, were placed on the dais, and underthe same canopy of state which overshadowed that of the Princess Anna.
The first, which strictly resembled her own chair in size andconvenience, was one designed for her husband, Nicephorus Briennius. Hewas said to entertain or affect the greatest respect for his wife'serudition, though the courtiers were of opinion he would have liked toabsent himself from her evening parties more frequently than wasparticularly agreeable to the Princess Anna and her imperial parents.This was partly explained by the private tattle of the court, whichaverred, that the Princess Anna Comnena had been more beautiful whenshe was less learned; and that, though still a fine woman, she hadsomewhat lost the charms of her person as she became enriched in hermind.
To atone for the lowly fashion of the seat of Nicephorus Briennius, itwas placed as near to his princess as it could possibly be edged by theushers, so t
hat she might not lose one look of her handsome spouse, norhe the least particle of wisdom which might drop from the lips of hiserudite consort.
Two other seats of honour, or rather thrones,--for they had footstoolsplaced for the support of the feet, rests for the arms, and embroideredpillows for the comfort of the back, not to mention the glories of theoutspreading canopy, were destined for the imperial couple, whofrequently attended their daughter's studies, which she prosecuted inpublic in the way we have intimated. On such occasions, the EmpressIrene enjoyed the triumph peculiar to the mother of an accomplisheddaughter, while Alexius, as it might happen, sometimes listened withcomplacence to the rehearsal of his own exploits in the inflatedlanguage of the Princess, and sometimes mildly nodded over herdialogues upon the mysteries of philosophy, with the Patriarch Zosimus,and other sages.
All these four distinguished seats for the persons of the Imperialfamily, were occupied at the moment which we have described, exceptingthat which ought to have been filled by Nicephorus Briennius, thehusband of the fair Anna Comnena. To his negligence and absence wasperhaps owing the angry spot on the brow of his fair bride. Beside heron the platform were two white-robed nymphs of her household; femaleslaves, in a word, who reposed themselves on their knees on cushions,when their assistance was not wanted as a species of living book-desks,to support and extend the parchment rolls, in which the Princessrecorded her own wisdom, or from which she quoted that of others. Oneof these young maidens, called Astarte, was so distinguished as acalligrapher, or beautiful writer of various alphabets and languages,that she narrowly escaped being sent as a present to the Caliph, (whocould neither read nor write,) at a time when it was necessary to bribehim into peace. Violante, usually called the Muse, the other attendantof the Princess, a mistress of the vocal and instrumental art of music,was actually sent in a compliment to soothe the temper of RobertGuiscard, the Archduke of Apulia, who being aged and stone-deaf, andthe girl under ten years old at the time, returned the valued presentto the imperial donor, and, with the selfishness which was one of thatwily Norman's characteristics, desired to have some one sent him whocould contribute to his pleasure, instead of a twangling squallinginfant.
Beneath these elevated seats there sat, or reposed on the floor of thehall, such favourites as were admitted. The Patriarch Zosimus, and oneor two old men, were permitted the use of certain lowly stools, whichwere the only seats prepared for the learned members of the Princess'sevening parties, as they would have been called in our days. As for theyounger magnates, the honour of being permitted to join the imperialconversation was expected to render them far superior to the paltryaccommodation of a joint-stool. Five or six courtiers, of differentdress and ages, might compose the party, who either stood, or relievedtheir posture by kneeling, along the verge of an adorned fountain,which shed a mist of such very small rain as to dispel almostinsensibly, cooling the fragrant breeze which breathed from the flowersand shrubs, that were so disposed as to send a waste of sweets around.One goodly old man, named Michael Agelastes, big, burly, and dressedlike an ancient Cynic philosopher, was distinguished by assuming, in agreat measure, the ragged garb and mad bearing of that sect, and by hisinflexible practice of the strictest ceremonies exigible by theImperial family. He was known by an affectation of cynical principleand language, and of republican philosophy, strangely contradicted byhis practical deference to the great. It was wonderful how long thisman, now sixty years old and upwards, disdained to avail himself of theaccustomed privilege of leaning, or supporting his limbs, and with whatregularity he maintained either the standing posture or that ofabsolute kneeling; but the first was so much his usual attitude, thathe acquired among his court friends the name of Elephas, or theElephant, because the ancients had an idea that the half-reasoninganimal, as it is called, has joints incapable of kneeling down.
"Yet I have seen them kneel when I was in the country of theGymnosophists," said a person present on the evening of Hereward'sintroduction.
"To take up their master on their shoulders? so will ours," said thePatriarch Zosimus, with the slight sneer which was the nearest advanceto a sarcasm that the etiquette of the Greek court permitted; for onall ordinary occasions, it would not have offended the Presence moresurely, literally, to have drawn a poniard, than to exchange a reparteein the imperial circle. Even the sarcasm, such as it was, would havebeen thought censurable by that ceremonious court in any but thePatriarch, to whose high rank some license was allowed.
Just as he had thus far offended decorum, Achilles Tatius, and hissoldier Hereward, entered the apartment. The former bore him with evenmore than his usual degree of courtliness, as if to set his owngood-breeding off by a comparison with the inexpert bearing of hisfollower; while, nevertheless, he had a secret pride in exhibiting, asone under his own immediate and distinct command, a man whom he wasaccustomed to consider as one of the finest soldiers of the army ofAlexius, whether appearance or reality were to be considered.
Some astonishment followed the abrupt entrance of the new comers.Achilles indeed glided into the presence with the easy and quietextremity of respect which intimated his habitude in these regions. ButHereward started on his entrance, and perceiving himself in company ofthe court, hastily strove to remedy his disorder. His commander,throwing round a scarce visible shrug of apology, made then aconfidential and monitory sign to Hereward to mind his conduct. What hemeant was, that he should doff his helmet and fall prostrate on theground. But the Anglo-Saxon, unaccustomed to interpret obscureinferences, naturally thought of his military duties, and advanced infront of the Emperor, as when he rendered his military homage. He madereverence with his knee, half touched his cap, and then recovering andshouldering his axe, stood in advance of the imperial chair, as if onduty as a sentinel.
A gentle smile of surprise went round the circle as they gazed on themanly appearance, and somewhat unceremonious but martial deportment ofthe northern soldier. The various spectators around consulted theEmperor's face, not knowing whether they were to take the intrusivemanner of the Varangian's entrance as matter of ill-breeding, andmanifest their horror, or whether they ought rather to consider thebearing of the life-guardsman as indicating blunt and manly zeal, andtherefore to be received with applause.
It was some little time ere the Emperor recovered himself sufficientlyto strike a key-note, as was usual upon such occasions. AlexiusComnenus had been wrapt for a moment into some species of slumber, orat least absence of mind. Out of this he had been startled by thesudden appearance of the Varangian; for though he was accustomed tocommit the outer guards of the palace to this trusty corps, yet thedeformed blacks whom we have mentioned, and who sometimes rose to beministers of state and commanders of armies, were, on all ordinaryoccasions, intrusted with the guard of the interior of the palace.Alexius, therefore, awakened from his slumber, and the military phraseof his daughter still ringing in his ears as she was reading adescription of the great historical work, in which she had detailed theconflicts of his reign, felt somewhat unprepared for the entrance andmilitary deportment of one of the Saxon guard, with whom he wasaccustomed to associate, in general, scenes of blows, danger, and death.
After a troubled glance around, his look rested on Achilles Tatius."Why here," he said, "trusty Follower? why this soldier here at thistime of night?" Here, of course, was the moment for modelling thevisages _regis ad exemplum;_ but, ere the Patriarch could frame hiscountenance into devout apprehension of danger, Achilles Tatius hadspoken a word or two, which reminded Alexius' memory that the soldierhad been brought there by his own special orders. "Oh, ay! true, goodfellow," said he, smoothing his troubled brow; "we had forgot thatpassage among the cares of state." He then spoke to the Varangian witha countenance more frank, and a heartier accent than he used to hiscourtiers; for, to a despotic monarch, a faithful life-guardsman is aperson of confidence, while an officer of high rank is always in somedegree a subject of distrust. "Ha!" said he, "our worthy Anglo-Dane,how fares he?"--This unceremonious salutation surprised all but hi
m towhom it was addressed. Hereward answered, accompanying his words with amilitary obeisance which partook of heartiness rather than reverence,with a loud unsubdued voice, which startled the presence still morethat the language was Saxon, which these foreigners occasionally used,"_Waes hael Kaisar mirrig und machtigh!_"--that is, Be of good health,stout and mighty Emperor. The Emperor, with a smile of intelligence, toshow he could speak to his guards in their own foreign language,replied, by the well-known counter-signal--"_Drink hael!_'"
Immediately a page brought a silver goblet of wine. The Emperor put hislips to it, though he scarce tasted the liquor, then commanded it to behanded to Hereward, and bade the soldier drink. The Saxon did not waittill he was desired a second time, but took off the contents withouthesitation. A gentle smile, decorous as the presence required, passedover the assembly, at a feat which, though by no means wonderful in ahyperborean, seemed prodigious in the estimation of the moderateGreeks. Alexius himself laughed more loudly than his courtiers thoughtmight be becoming on their part, and mustering what few words ofVarangian he possessed, which he eked out with Greek, demanded of hislife-guardsman--"Well, my bold Briton, or Edward, as men call thee,dost thou know the flavour of that wine?"
"Yes," answered the Varangian, without change of countenance, "I tastedit once before at Laodicea"--
Here his officer, Achilles Tatius, became sensible that his soldierapproached delicate ground, and in vain endeavoured to gain hisattention, in order that he might furtively convey to him a hint to besilent, or at least take heed what he said in such a presence. But thesoldier, who, with proper military observance, continued to have hiseye and attention fixed on the Emperor, as the prince whom he was boundto answer or to serve, saw none of the hints, which Achilles at lengthsuffered to become so broad, that Zosimus and the Protospathaireexchanged expressive glances, as calling on each other to notice theby-play of the leader of the Varangians. In the meanwhile, the dialoguebetween the Emperor and his soldier continued:--"How," said Alexius,"did this draught relish compared with the former?"
"There is fairer company here, my liege, than that of the Arabianarchers," answered Hereward, with a look and bow of instinctivegood-breeding; "Nevertheless, there lacks the flavour which the heat ofthe sun, the dust of the combat, with the fatigue of wielding such aweapon as this" (advancing his axe) "for eight hours together, give toa cup of rare wine."
"Another deficiency there might be," said Agelastes the Elephant,"provided I am pardoned hinting at it," he added, with a look to thethrone,--"it might be the smaller size of the cup compared with that atLaodicea." "By Taranis, you say true," answered the life-guardsman; "atLaodicea I used my helmet."
"Let us see the cups compared together, good friend," said Agelastes,continuing his raillery, "that we may be sure thou hast not swallowedthe present goblet; for I thought, from the manner of the draught,there was a chance of its going down with its contents."
"There are some things which I do not easily swallow," answered theVarangian, in a calm and indifferent tone; "but they must come from ayounger and more active man than you."
The company again smiled to each other, as if to hint that thephilosopher, though also parcel wit by profession, had the worst of theencounter. The Emperor at the same time interfered--"Nor did I send forthee hither, good fellow, to be baited by idle taunts."
Here Agelastes shrunk back in the circle, as a hound that has beenrebuked by the huntsman for babbling--and the Princess Anna Comnena,who had indicated by her fair features a certain degree of impatience,at length spoke--"Will it then please you, my imperial and much-belovedfather, to inform those blessed with admission to the Muses' temple,for what it is that you have ordered this soldier to be this nightadmitted to a place so far above his rank in life? Permit me to say, weought not to waste, in frivolous and silly jests, the time which issacred to the welfare of the empire, as every moment of your leisuremust be."
"Our daughter speaks wisely," said the Empress Irene, who, like mostmothers who do not possess much talent themselves, and are not verycapable of estimating it in others, was, nevertheless, a great admirerof her favourite daughter's accomplishments, and ready to draw them outon all occasions. "Permit me to remark, that in this divine andselected palace of the Muses, dedicated to the studies of ourwell-beloved and highly-gifted daughter, whose pen will preserve yourreputation, our most imperial husband, till the desolation of theuniverse, and which enlivens and delights this society, the very flowerof the wits of our sublime court;--permit me to say, that we have,merely by admitting a single life-guardsman, given our conversation thecharacter of that which distinguishes a barrack."
Now the Emperor Alexius Comnenus had the same feeling with many anhonest man in ordinary life when his wife begins a long oration,especially as the Empress Irene did not always retain the observanceconsistent with his awful rule and right supremacy, although especiallysevere in exacting it from all others, in reference to her lord.Therefore, though, he had felt some pleasure in gaining a short releasefrom the monotonous recitation of the Princess's history, he now sawthe necessity of resuming it, or of listening to the matrimonialeloquence of the Empress. He sighed, therefore, as he said, "I craveyour pardon, good our imperial spouse, and our daughter born in thepurple chamber. I remember me, our most amiable and accomplisheddaughter, that last night you wished to know the particulars of thebattle of Laodicea, with the heathenish Arabs, whom Heaven confound.And for certain considerations which moved ourselves to add otherenquiries to our own recollection, Achilles Tatius, our most trustyFollower, was commissioned to introduce into this place one of thosesoldiers under his command, being such a one whose courage and presenceof mind could best enable him to remark what passed around him on thatremarkable and bloody day. And this I suppose to be the man brought tous for that purpose."
"If I am permitted to speak, and live," answered the Follower, "yourImperial Highness, with those divine Princesses, whose name is to us asthose of blessed saints, have in your presence the flower of myAnglo-Danes, or whatsoever unbaptized name is given to my soldiers. Heis, as I may say, a barbarian of barbarians; for, although in birth andbreeding unfit to soil with his feet the carpet of this precinct ofaccomplishment and eloquence, he is so brave--so trusty--so devotedlyattached--and so unhesitatingly zealous, that"--
"Enough, good Follower," said the Emperor; "let us only know that he iscool and observant, not confused and fluttered during close battle, aswe have sometimes observed in you and other great commanders--and, tospeak truth, have even felt in our imperial self on extraordinaryoccasions. Which difference in man's constitution is not owing to anyinferiority of courage, but, in us, to a certain consciousness of theimportance of our own safety to the welfare of the whole, and to afeeling of the number of duties which at once devolve on us. Speakthen, and speak quickly, Tatius; for I discern that our dearestconsort, and our thrice fortunate daughter born in the imperial chamberof purple, seem to wax somewhat impatient."
"Hereward," answered Tatius, "is as composed and observant in battle,as another in a festive dance. The dust of war is the breath of hisnostrils; and he will prove his worth in combat against any fourothers, (Varangians excepted,) who shall term themselves your ImperialHighness's bravest servants."
"Follower," said the Emperor, with a displeased look and tone, "insteadof instructing these poor, ignorant barbarians in the rules andcivilization of our enlightened empire, you foster, by such boastfulwords, the idle pride and fury of their temper, which hurries them intobrawls with the legions of other foreign countries, and even breedsquarrels among themselves."
"If my mouth may be opened in the way of most humble excuse," said theFollower, "I would presume to reply, that I but an hour hence talkedwith this poor ignorant Anglo-Dane, on the paternal care with which theImperial Majesty of Greece regards the preservation of that concordwhich unites the followers of his standard, and how desirous he is topromote that harmony, more especially amongst the various nations whohave the happiness to serve you, in spite o
f the bloodthirsty quarrelsof the Franks, and other northern men, who are never free from civilbroil. I think the poor youth's understanding can bear witness to thismuch in my behalf." He then looked towards Hereward, who gravelyinclined his head in token of assent to what his captain said. Hisexcuse thus ratified, Achilles proceeded in his apology more firmly."What I have said even now was spoken without consideration; for,instead of pretending that this Hereward would face four of yourImperial Highness's servants, I ought to have said, that he was willingto defy six of your Imperial Majesty's most deadly _enemies_, andpermit them to choose every circumstance of time, arms, and place ofcombat."
"That hath a better sound," said the Emperor; "and in truth, for theinformation of my dearest daughter, who piously has undertaken torecord the things which I have been the blessed means of doing for theEmpire, I earnestly wish that she should remember, that though thesword of Alexius hath not slept in its sheath, yet he hath never soughthis own aggrandizement of fame at the price of bloodshed among hissubjects."
"I trust," said Anna Comnena, "that in my humble sketch of the life ofthe princely sire from whom I derive my existence, I have not forgot tonotice his love of peace, and care for the lives of his soldiery, andabhorrence of the bloody manners of the heretic Franks, as one of hismost distinguishing characteristics."
Assuming then an attitude more commanding, as one who was about toclaim the attention of the company, the Princess inclined her headgently around to the audience, and taking a roll of parchment from thefair amanuensis, which she had, in a most beautiful handwriting,engrossed to her mistress's dictation, Anna Comnena prepared to readits contents.
At this moment, the eyes of the Princess rested for an instant on thebarbarian Hereward, to whom she deigned this greeting--"Valiantbarbarian, of whom my fancy recalls some memory, as if in a dream, thouart now to hear a work, which, if the author be put into comparisonwith the subject, might be likened to a portrait of Alexander, inexecuting which, some inferior dauber has usurped the pencil ofApelles; but which essay, however it may appear unworthy of the subjectin the eyes of many, must yet command some envy in those who candidlyconsider its contents, and the difficulty of portraying the greatpersonage concerning whom it is written. Still, I pray thee, give thineattention to what I have now to read, since this account of the battleof Laodicea, the details thereof being principally derived from hisImperial Highness, my excellent father, from the altogether valiantProtospathaire, his invincible general, together with Achilles Tatius,the faithful Follower of our victorious Emperor, may nevertheless be insome circumstances inaccurate. For it is to be thought, that the highoffices of those great commanders retained them at a distance from someparticularly active parts of the fray, in order that they might havemore cool and accurate opportunity to form a judgment upon the whole,and transmit their orders, without being disturbed by any thoughts ofpersonal safety. Even so, brave barbarian, in the art of embroidery,(marvel not that we are a proficient in that mechanical process, sinceit is patronized by Minerva, whose studies we affect to follow,) wereserve to ourselves the superintendence of the entire web, and committo our maidens and others the execution of particular parts. Thus, inthe same manner, thou, valiant Varangian, being engaged in the verythickest of the affray before Laodicea, mayst point out to us, theunworthy historian of so renowned a war, those chances which befellwhere men fought hand to hand, and where the fate of war was decided bythe edge of the sword. Therefore, dread not, thou bravest of theaxe-men to whom we owe that victory, and so many others, to correct anymistake or misapprehension which we may have been led into concerningthe details of that glorious event."
"Madam," said the Varangian, "I shall attend with diligence to whatyour Highness may be pleased to read to me; although, as to presumingto blame the history of a Princess born in the purple, far be such apresumption from me; still less would it become a barbaric Varangian topass a judgment on the military conduct of the Emperor, by whom he isliberally paid, or of the commander, by whom he is well treated. Beforean action, if our advice is required, it is ever faithfully tendered;but according to my rough wit, our censure after the field is foughtwould be more invidious than useful. Touching the Protospathaire, if itbe the duty of a general to absent himself from close action, I cansafely say, or swear, were it necessary, that the invincible commanderwas never seen by me within a javelin's cast of aught that looked likedanger."
This speech, boldly and bluntly delivered, had a general effect on thecompany present. The Emperor himself, and Achilles Tatius, looked likemen who had got off from a danger better than they expected. TheProtospathaire laboured to conceal a movement of resentment. Agelasteswhispered to the Patriarch, near whom he was placed, "The northernbattle-axe lacks neither point nor edge."
"Hush!" said Zosimus, "let us hear how this is to end; the Princess isabout to speak."
