Waverley Novels — Volume 12

by Walter Scott

  THE RETREAT OF LAODICEA.

  NOW FIRST PUBLISHED FROM THE GREEK OF THE PRINCESS COMNENA'S HISTORY OFHER FATHER.

  "The sun had betaken himself to his bed in the ocean, ashamed, it wouldseem, to see the immortal army of our most sacred Emperor Alexiussurrounded by those barbarous hordes of unbelieving barbarians, who, asdescribed in our last chapter, had occupied the various passes both infront and rear of the Romans, [Footnote: More properly termed theGreeks; but we follow the phraseology of the fair authoress.] securedduring the preceding night by the wily barbarians. Although, therefore,a triumphant course of advance had brought us to this point, it nowbecame a serious and doubtful question whether our victorious eaglesmight be able to penetrate any farther into the country of the enemy,or even to retreat with safety into their own.

  "The extensive acquaintance of the Emperor with military affairs, inwhich he exceeds most living princes, had induced him, on the precedingevening, to ascertain, with marvellous exactitude and foresight, theprecise position of the enemy. In this most necessary service heemployed certain light-armed barbarians, whose habits and disciplinehad been originally derived from the wilds of Syria; and, if I amrequired to speak according to the dictation of Truth, seeing she oughtalways to sit upon the pen of a historian, I must needs say they wereinfidels like their enemies; faithfully attached, however, to the Romanservice, and, as I believe, true slaves of the Emperor, to whom theycommunicated the information required by him respecting the position ofhis dreaded opponent Jezdegerd. These men did not bring in theirinformation till long after the hour when the Emperor usually betookhimself to rest.

  "Notwithstanding this derangement of his most sacred time, our imperialfather, who had postponed the ceremony of disrobing, so important werethe necessities of the moment, continued, until deep in the night, tohold a council of his wisest chiefs, men whose depth of judgment mighthave saved a sinking world, and who now consulted what was to be doneunder the pressure of the circumstances in which they were now placed.And so great was the urgency, that all ordinary observances of thehousehold were set aside, since I have heard from those who witnessedthe fact, that the royal bed was displayed in the very room where thecouncil assembled, and that the sacred lamp, called the Light of theCouncil, and which always burns when the Emperor presides in personover the deliberations of his servants, was for that night--a thingunknown in our annals--fed with unperfumed oil!!"

  The fair speaker here threw her fine form into an attitude whichexpressed holy horror, and the hearers intimated their sympathy in theexciting cause by corresponding signs of interest; as to which we needonly say, that the sigh of Achilles Tatius was the most pathetic; whilethe groan of Agelastes the Elephant was deepest and most tremendouslybestial in its sound. Hereward seemed little moved, except by a slightmotion of surprise at the wonder expressed by the others. The Princess,having allowed due time for the sympathy of her hearers to exhibititself, proceeded as follows:--

  "In this melancholy situation, when even the best-established and mostsacred rites of the imperial household gave way to the necessity of ahasty provision for the morrow, the opinions of the counsellors weredifferent, according to their tempers and habits; a thing, by the way,which may be remarked as likely to happen among the best and wisest onsuch occasions of doubt and danger.

  "I do not in this place put down the names and opinions of those whosecounsels were proposed and rejected, herein paying respect to thesecrecy and freedom of debate justly attached to the imperial cabinet.Enough it is to say, that some there were who advised a speedy attackupon the enemy, in the direction of our original advance. Othersthought it was safer, and might be easier, to force our way to therear, and retreat by the same course which had brought us hither; normust it be concealed, that there were persons of unsuspected fidelity,who proposed a third course, safer indeed than the others, but totallyalien to the mind of our most magnanimous father. They recommended thata confidential slave, in company with a minister of the interior of ourimperial palace, should be sent to the tent of Jezdegerd, in order toascertain upon what terms the barbarian would permit our triumphantfather to retreat in safety at the head of his victorious army. Onlearning such opinion, our imperial father was heard to exclaim,'Sancta Sophia!' being the nearest approach to an adjuration which hehas been known to permit himself, and was apparently about to saysomething violent both concerning the dishonour of the advice, and thecowardice of those by whom, it was preferred, when, recollecting themutability of human things, and the misfortune of several of hisMajesty's gracious predecessors, some of whom had been compelled tosurrender their sacred persons to the infidels in the same region, hisImperial Majesty repressed his generous feelings, and only suffered hisarmy counsellors to understand his sentiments by a speech, in which hedeclared so desperate and so dishonourable a course would be the lastwhich he would adopt, even in the last extremity of danger. Thus didthe judgment of this mighty Prince at once reject counsel that seemedshameful to his arms, and thereby encourage the zeal of his troops,while privately he kept this postern in reserve, which in utmost needmight serve for a safe, though not altogether, in less urgentcircumstances, an honourable retreat.

  "When the discussion had reached this melancholy crisis, the renownedAchilles Tatius arrived with the hopeful intelligence, that he himselfand some soldiers of his corps had discovered an opening on the leftflank of our present encampment, by which, making indeed a considerablecircuit, but reaching, if we marched with vigour, the town of Laodicea,we might, by falling back on our resources, be in some measure insurety from the enemy.

  "So soon as this ray of hope darted on the troubled mind of ourgracious father, he proceeded to make such arrangements as might securethe full benefit of the advantage. His Imperial Highness would notpermit the brave Varangians, whose battle-axes he accounted the flowerof his imperial army, to take the advanced posts of assailants on thepresent occasion. He repressed the love of battle by which thesegenerous foreigners have been at all times distinguished, and directedthat the Syrian forces in the army, who have been before mentioned,should be assembled with as little noise as possible in the vicinity ofthe deserted pass, with instructions to occupy it. The good genius ofthe empire suggested that, as their speech, arms, and appearance,resembled those of the enemy, they might be permitted unopposed to takepost in the defile with their light-armed forces, and thus secure itfor the passage of the rest of the army, of which he proposed that theVarangians, as immediately attached to his own sacred person, shouldform the vanguard. The well-known battalions, termed the Immortals,came next, comprising the gross of the army, and forming the centre andrear. Achilles Tatius, the faithful Follower of his Royal Master,although mortified that he was not permitted to assume the charge ofthe rear, which he had proposed for himself and his valiant troops, asthe post of danger at the time, cheerfully acquiesced, nevertheless, inthe arrangement proposed by the Emperor, as most fit to effect theimperial safety, and that of the army.

  "The imperial orders, as they were sent instantly abroad, were in likemanner executed with the readiest punctuality, the rather that theyindicated a course of safety which had been almost despaired of even bythe oldest soldiers. During the dead period of time, when, as thedivine Homer tells us, gods and men are alike asleep, it was found thatthe vigilance and prudence of a single individual had provided safetyfor the whole Roman army. The pinnacles of the mountain passes werescarcely touched by the earliest beams of the dawn, when these beamswere also reflected from the steel caps and spears of the Syrians,under the command of a captain named Monastras, who, with his tribe,had attached himself to the empire. The Emperor, at the head of hisfaithful Varangians, defiled through the passes in order to gain thatdegree of advance on the road to the city of Laodicea which wasdesired, so as to avoid coming into collision with the barbarians.

  "It was a goodly sight to see the dark mass of northern warriors, whonow led the van of the army, moving slowly and steadily through thedefiles of the mountains, around the insulated roc
ks and precipices,and surmounting the gentler acclivities, like the course of a strongand mighty river; while the loose bands of archers and javelin-men,armed after the Eastern manner, were dispersed on the steep sides ofthe defiles, and might be compared to light foam upon the edge of thetorrent. In the midst of the squadrons of the life-guard might be seenthe proud war-horse of his Imperial Majesty, which pawed the earthindignantly, as if impatient at the delay which separated, him from hisaugust burden. The Emperor Alexius himself travelled in a litter, borneby eight strong African slaves, that he might rise perfectly refreshedif the army should be overtaken by the enemy. The valiant AchillesTatius rode near the couch of his master, that none of those luminousideas, by which our august sire so often decided the fate of battle,might be lost for want of instant communication to those whose duty itwas to execute them. I may also say, that there were close to thelitter of the Emperor, three or four carriages of the same kind; oneprepared for the Moon, as she may be termed, of the universe, thegracious Empress Irene. Among the others which might be mentioned, wasthat which contained the authoress of this history, unworthy as she maybe of distinction, save as the daughter of the eminent and sacredpersons whom the narration chiefly concerns. In this manner theimperial army pressed on through the dangerous defiles, where theirmarch was exposed to insults from the barbarians. They were happilycleared without any opposition. When we came to the descent of the passwhich looks down on the city of Laodicea, the sagacity of the Emperorcommanded the van--which, though the soldiers composing the same wereheavily armed, had hitherto marched extremely fast--to halt, as wellthat they themselves might take some repose and refreshment, as to givethe rearward forces time to come up, and close various gaps which therapid movement of those in front had occasioned in, the line of march.

  "The place chosen for this purpose was eminently beautiful, from thesmall and comparatively insignificant ridge of hills which meltirregularly down into the plains stretching between the pass which weoccupied and Laodicea. The town was about one hundred stadia distant,and some of our more sanguine warriors pretended that they couldalready discern its towers and pinnacles, glittering in the early beamsof the sun, which had not as yet risen high into the horizon. Amountain torrent, which found its source at the foot of a huge rock,that yawned to give it birth, as if struck by the rod of the prophetMoses, poured its liquid treasure down to the more level country,nourishing herbage and even large trees, in its descent, until, at thedistance of some four or five miles, the stream, at least in dryseasons, was lost amid heaps of sand and stones, which in the rainyseason marked the strength and fury of its current.

  "It was pleasant to see the attention of the Emperor to the comforts ofthe companions and guardians of his march. The trumpets from time totime gave license to various parties of the Varangians to lay downtheir arms, to eat the food which was distributed to them, and quenchtheir thirst at the pure stream, which poured its bounties down thehill, or they might be seen to extend their bulky forms upon the turfaround them. The Emperor, his most serene spouse, arid the princessesand ladies, were also served with breakfast, at the fountain formed bythe small brook in its very birth, and which the reverent feelings ofthe soldiers had left unpolluted by vulgar touch, for the use of thatfamily, emphatically said to be born in the purple. Our beloved husbandwas also present on this occasion, and was among the first to detectone of the disasters of the day. For, although all the rest of therepast had been, by the dexterity of the officers of the imperialmouth, so arranged, even on so awful an occasion, as to exhibit littledifference from the ordinary provisions of the household, yet, when hisImperial Highness called for wine, behold, not only was the sacredliquor, dedicated to his own peculiar imperial use, wholly exhausted orleft behind, but, to use the language of Horace, not the vilest Sabinevintage could be procured; so that his Imperial Highness was glad toaccept the offer of a rude Varangian, who proffered his modicum ofdecocted barley, which these barbarians prefer to the juice of thegrape. The Emperor, nevertheless, accepted of this coarse tribute."

  "Insert," said the Emperor, who had been hitherto either plunged indeep contemplation or in an incipient slumber, "insert, I say, thesevery words: 'And with the heat of the morning, and anxiety of so rapida march, with a numerous enemy in his rear, the Emperor was so thirsty,as never in his life to think beverage more delicious.'"

  In obedience to her imperial father's orders, the Princess resigned themanuscript to the beautiful slave by whom it was written, repeating tothe fair scribe the commanded addition, requiring her to note it, asmade by the express sacred command of the Emperor, and then proceededthus:--"More had I said here respecting the favourite liquor of yourImperial Highnesses faithful Varangians; but your Highness having oncegraced it with a word of commendation, this _ail_, as they call it,doubtless because removing all disorders, which they term 'ailments,'becomes a theme too lofty for the discussion of any inferior person.Suffice it to say, that thus were we all pleasantly engaged, the ladiesand slaves trying to find some amusement for the imperial ears; thesoldiers, in a long line down the ravine, seen in different postures,some straggling to the watercourse, some keeping guard over the arms oftheir comrades, in which duty they relieved each other, while bodyafter body of the remaining troops, under command of theProtospathaire, and particularly those called Immortals, [Footnote: The[Greek: Athanatoi], or Immortals, of the army of Constantinople, were aselect body, so named, in imitation of the ancient Persians. They werefirst embodied, according to Ducange, by Michael Ducas] joined the mainarmy as they came up. Those soldiers who were already exhausted, wereallowed to take a short repose, after which they were sent forward,with directions to advance steadily on the road to Laodicea; whiletheir leader was instructed, so soon as he should open a freecommunication with that city, to send thither a command forreinforcements and refreshments, not forgetting fitting provision ofthe sacred wine for the imperial mouth. Accordingly, the Roman bands ofImmortals and others had resumed their march, and held some way ontheir journey, it being the imperial pleasure that the Varangians,lately the vanguard, should now form the rear of the whole army, so asto bring off in safety the Syrian light troops, by whom the hilly passwas still occupied, when we heard upon the other side of this defile,which he had traversed with so much safety, the awful sound of the_Lelies_, as the Arabs name their shout of onset, though in whatlanguage it is expressed, it would be hard to say. Perchance some inthis audience may enlighten my ignorance."

  "May I speak and live," said the Acoulouthos Achilles, proud of hisliterary knowledge, "the words are, _Alla illa alla, Mohamed resoulalla_.[Footnote: i. e. "God is god--Mahomet is the prophet of God."]These, or something like them, contain the Arabs' profession of faith,which they always call out when they join battle; I have heard themmany times."

  "And so have I," said the Emperor; "and as thou didst, I warrant me, Ihave sometimes wished myself anywhere else than within hearing."

  All the circle were alive to hear the answer of Achilles Tatius. He wastoo good a courtier, however, to make any imprudent reply. "It was myduty," he replied, "to desire to be as near your Imperial Highness asyour faithful Follower ought, wherever you might wish yourself for thetime."

  Agelastes and Zosimus exchanged looks, and the Princess Anna Comnenaproceeded in her recitation.

  "The cause of these ominous sounds, which came in wild confusion up therocky pass, was soon explained to us by a dozen cavaliers, to whom thetask of bringing intelligence had been assigned.

  "These informed us, that the barbarians, whose host had been dispersedaround the position in which they had encamped the preceding day, hadnot been enabled to get their forces together until our light troopswere evacuating the post they had occupied for securing the retreat ofour army. They were then drawing off from the tops of the hills intothe pass itself, when, in despite of the rocky ground, they werecharged furiously by Jezdegerd, at the head of a large body of hisfollowers, which, after repeated exertions, he had at length brought tooperate on the rear of the Syri
ans. Notwithstanding that the pass wasunfavourable for cavalry, the personal exertions of the infidel chiefmade his followers advance with a degree of resolution unknown to theSyrians of the Roman army, who, finding themselves at a distance fromtheir companions, formed the injurious idea that they were left theretobe sacrificed, and thought of flight in various directions, rather thanof a combined and resolute resistance. The state of affairs, therefore,at the further end of the pass, was less favourable than we could wish,and those whose curiosity desired to see something which might betermed the rout of the rear of an army, beheld the Syrians pursued fromthe hill tops, overwhelmed, and individually cut down and madeprisoners by the bands of caitiff Mussulmans.

  "His Imperial Highness looked upon the scene of battle for a fewminutes, and, much commoved at what he saw, was somewhat hasty in hisdirections to the Varangians to resume their arms, and precipitatetheir march towards Laodicea; whereupon one of those northern soldierssaid boldly, though in opposition to the imperial command, 'If weattempt to go hastily down this hill, our rear-guard will be confused,not only by our own hurry, but by these runaway scoundrels of Syrians,who in their headlong flight will not fail to mix themselves among ourranks. Let two hundred Varangians, who will live and die for the honourof England, abide in the very throat of this pass with me, while therest escort the Emperor to this Laodicea, or whatever it is called. Wemay perish in our defence, but we shall die in our duty; and I havelittle doubt but we shall furnish such a meal as will stay the stomachof these yelping hounds from seeking any farther banquet this day.'

  "My imperial father at once discovered the importance of this advice,though it made him wellnigh weep to see with what unshrinking fidelitythese poor barbarians pressed to fill up the number of those who wereto undertake this desperate duty--with what kindness they took leave oftheir comrades, and with what jovial shouts they followed theirsovereign with their eyes as he proceeded on his march down the hill,leaving them behind to resist and perish. The Imperial eyes were filledwith tears; and I am not ashamed to confess, that amid the terror ofthe moment, the Empress, and I myself, forgot our rank in paying asimilar tribute to these bold and self-devoted men.

  "We left their leader carefully arraying his handful of comrades indefence of the pass, where the middle path was occupied by theircentre, while their wings on either side were so disposed as to actupon the flanks of the enemy, should he rashly press upon such asappeared opposed to him in the road. We had not proceeded half waytowards the plain, when a dreadful shout arose, in which the yells ofthe Arabs were mingled with the deep and more regular shouts whichthese strangers usually repeat thrice, as well when bidding hail totheir commanders and princes, as when in the act of engaging in battle.Many a look was turned back by their comrades, and many a form was seenin the ranks which might have claimed the chisel of a sculptor, whilethe soldier hesitated whether to follow the line of his duty, whichcalled him to march forward with his Emperor, or the impulse ofcourage, which prompted him to rush back to join his companions.Discipline, however, prevailed, and the main body marched on.

  "An hour had elapsed, during which we heard, from time to time, thenoise of battle, when a mounted Varangian presented himself at the sideof the Emperor's litter. The horse was covered with foam, and hadobviously, from his trappings, the fineness of his limbs, and thesmallness of his joints, been the charger of some chief of the desert,which had fallen by the chance of battle into the possession of thenorthern warrior. The broad axe which the Varangian bore was alsostained with blood, and the paleness of death itself was upon hiscountenance. These marks of recent battle were held sufficient toexcuse the irregularity of his salutation, while he exclaimed,--'NoblePrince, the Arabs are defeated, and you may pursue your march at moreleisure.'

  "'Where is Jezdegerd?' said the Emperor, who had many reasons fordreading this celebrated chief.

  "'Jezdegerd,' continued the Varangian, 'is where brave men are who fallin their duty.'

  "'And that is'--said the Emperor, impatient to know distinctly the fateof so formidable an adversary--

  "'Where I am now going,' answered the faithful soldier, who droppedfrom his horse as he spoke, and expired at the feet of thelitter-bearers. The Emperor called to his attendants to see that thebody of this faithful retainer, to whom he destined an honourablesepulchre, was not left to the jackal or vulture; and some of hisbrethren, the Anglo-Saxons, among whom he was a man of no mean repute,raised the body on their shoulders, and resumed their march with thisadditional encumbrance, prepared to fight for their precious burden,like the valiant Menelaus for the body of Patroclus."

  The Princess Anna Comnena here naturally paused; for, having attainedwhat she probably considered as the rounding of a period, she waswilling to gather an idea of the feelings of her audience. Indeed, butthat she had been intent upon her own manuscript, the emotions of theforeign soldier must have more early attracted her attention. In thebeginning of her recitation, he had retained the same attitude which hehad at first assumed, stiff and rigid as a sentinel upon duty, andapparently remembering nothing save that he was performing that duty inpresence of the imperial court. As the narrative advanced, however, heappeared to take more interest in what was read. The anxious fearsexpressed by the various leaders in the midnight council, he listenedto with a smile of suppressed contempt, and he almost laughed at thepraises bestowed upon the leader of his own corps, Achilles Tatius. Nordid, even the name of the Emperor, though listened to respectfully,gain that applause for which his daughter fought so hard, and used somuch exaggeration.

  Hitherto the Varangian's countenance indicated very slightly anyinternal emotions; but they appeared to take a deeper hold on his mindas she came to the description of the halt after the main army hadcleared the pass; the unexpected advance of the Arabs; the retreat ofthe column which escorted the Emperor; and the account of the distantengagement. He lost, on hearing the narration of these events, therigid and constrained look of a soldier, who listened to the history ofhis Emperor with the same feelings with which he would have mountedguard at his palace. His colour began to come and go; his eyes to filland to sparkle; his limbs to become more agitated than their ownerseemed to assent to; and his whole appearance was changed into that ofa listener, highly interested by the recitation which he hears, andinsensible, or forgetful, of whatever else is passing before him, aswell as of the quality of those who are present.

  As the historian proceeded, Hereward became less able to conceal hisagitation; and at the moment the Princess looked round, his feelingsbecame so acute, that, forgetting where he was, he dropped hisponderous axe upon the floor, and, clasping his hands together,exclaimed,--"My unfortunate brother!"

  All were startled by the clang of the falling weapon, and severalpersons at once attempted to interfere, as called upon to explain acircumstance so unusual. Achilles Tatius made some small progress in aspeech designed to apologize for the rough mode of venting his sorrowsto which Hereward had given way, by assuring the eminent personspresent, that the poor uncultivated barbarian was actually youngerbrother to him who had commanded and fallen at the memorable defile.The Princess said nothing, but was evidently struck, and affected, andnot ill-pleased, perhaps, at having given rise to feelings of interestso flattering to her as an authoress. The others, each in theircharacter, uttered incoherent words of what was meant to beconsolation; for distress which flows from a natural cause, generallyattracts sympathy even from the most artificial characters. The voiceof Alexius silenced all these imperfect speakers: "Hah, my bravesoldier, Edward!" said the Emperor, "I must have been blind that I didnot sooner recognise thee, as I think there is a memorandum entered,respecting five hundred pieces of gold due from us to Edward theVarangian; we have it in our secret scroll of such liberalities forwhich we stand indebted to our servitors, nor shall the payment belonger deferred." "Not to me, if it may please you, my liege," said theAnglo-Dane, hastily composing his countenance into its rough gravity oflineament, "lest it should be to one who can claim no interest in
yourimperial munificence. My name is Hereward; that of Edward is borne bythree of my companions, all of them as likely as I to have deservedyour Highness's reward for the faithful performance of their duty."

  Many a sign was made by Tatius in order to guard his soldier againstthe folly of declining the liberality of the Emperor. Agelastes spokemore plainly: "Young man," he said, "rejoice in an honour sounexpected, and answer henceforth to no other name save that of Edward,by which it hath pleased the light of the world, as it poured a rayupon thee, to distinguish thee from other barbarians. What is to theethe font-stone, or the priest officiating thereat, shouldst thou havederived from either any epithet different from that by which it hathnow pleased the Emperor to distinguish thee from the common mass ofhumanity, and by which proud distinction thou hast now a right to beknown ever afterwards?"

  "Hereward was the name of my father," said the soldier, who had nowaltogether recovered his composure. "I cannot abandon it while I honourhis memory in death. Edward is the title of my comrade--I must not runthe risk of usurping his interest."

  "Peace all!" interrupted the Emperor. "If we have made a mistake, weare rich enough to right it; nor shall Hereward be the poorer, if anEdward shall be found to merit this gratuity."

  "Your Highness may trust that to your affectionate consort," answeredthe Empress Irene.

  "His most sacred Highness," said the Princess Anna Comnena, "is soavariciously desirous to do whatever is good and gracious, that heleaves no room even for his nearest connexions to display generosity ormunificence. Nevertheless, I, in my degree, will testify my gratitudeto this brave man; for where his exploits are mentioned in thishistory, I will cause to be recorded,--'This feat was done by Herewardthe Anglo-Dane, whom it hath pleased his Imperial Majesty to callEdward.' Keep this, good youth," she continued, bestowing at the sametime a ring of price, "in token that we will not forget our engagement."

  Hereward accepted the token with a profound obeisance, and adiscomposure which his station rendered not unbecoming. It was obviousto most persons present, that the gratitude of the beautiful Princesswas expressed in a manner more acceptable to the youthfullife-guardsman, than that of Alexius Comnenus. He took the ring withgreat demonstration of thankfulness:--"Precious relic!" he said, as hesaluted this pledge of esteem by pressing it to his lips; "we may notremain long together, but be assured," bending reverently to thePrincess, "that death alone shall part us."

  "Proceed, our princely daughter," said the Empress Irene; "you havedone enough to show that valour is precious to her who can confer fame,whether it be found in a Roman or a barbarian."

  The Princess resumed her narrative with some slight appearance ofembarrassment.

  "Our movement upon Laodicea was now resumed, and continued with goodhopes on the part of those engaged in the march. Yet instinctively wecould not help casting our eyes to the rear, which had been so long thedirection in which we feared attack. At length, to our surprise, athick cloud of dust was visible on the descent of the hill, half waybetwixt us and the place at which we had halted. Some of the troops whocomposed our retreating body, particularly those in the rear, began toexclaim 'The Arabs! the Arabs!' and their march assumed a moreprecipitate character when they believed themselves pursed by theenemy. But the Varangian guards affirmed with one voice, that the dustwas raised by the remains of their own comrades, who, left in thedefence of the pass, had marched off after having so valiantlymaintained the station intrusted to them. They fortified their opinionby professional remarks that the cloud of dust was more concentratedthan if raised by the Arab horse, and they even pretended to assert,from their knowledge of such cases, that the number of their comradeshad been much diminished in the action. Some Syrian horsemen,despatched to reconnoitre the approaching body, brought intelligencecorresponding with the opinion of the Varangians in every particular.The portion of the body-guard had beaten back the Arabs, and theirgallant leader had slain their chief Jezdegerd, in which service he wasmortally wounded, as this history hath already mentioned. The survivorsof the detachment, diminished by one half, were now on their march tojoin the Emperor, as fast as the encumbrance of bearing their woundedto a place of safety would permit.

  "The Emperor Alexius, with one of those brilliant and benevolent ideaswhich mark his paternal character towards his soldiers, ordered all thelitters, even that for his own most sacred use, to be instantly sentback to relieve the bold Varangians of the task of bearing the wounded.The shouts of the Varangians' gratitude may be more easily conceivedthan described, when they beheld the Emperor himself descend from hislitter, like an ordinary cavalier, and assume his war-horse, at thesame time that the most sacred Empress, as well as the authoress ofthis history, with other princesses born in the purple, mounted uponmules in order to proceed upon the march, while their litters wereunhesitatingly assigned for the accommodation of the wounded men. Thiswas indeed a mark, as well of military sagacity as of humanity; for therelief afforded to the bearers of the wounded, enabled the survivors ofthose who had defended the defile at the fountain, to join us soonerthan would otherwise have been possible.

  "It was an awful thing to see those men who had left us in the fullsplendour which military equipment gives to youth and strength, againappearing in diminished numbers--their armour shattered--their shieldsfull of arrows--their offensive weapons marked with blood, and theythemselves exhibiting all the signs of desperate and recent battle. Norwas it less interesting to remark the meeting of the soldiers who hadbeen engaged, with the comrades whom they had rejoined. The Emperor, atthe suggestion of the trusty Acoulouthos, permitted them a few momentsto leave their ranks, and learn from each other the fate of the battle.

  "As the two bands mingled, it seemed a meeting where grief and joy hada contest together. The most rugged of these barbarians,--and I who sawit can bear witness to the fact,--as he welcomed with a grasp of hisstrong hand some comrade whom he had given up for lost, had his largeblue eyes filled with tears at hearing of the loss of some one whom hehad hoped might have survived. Other veterans reviewed the standardswhich had been in the conflict, satisfied themselves that they had allbeen brought back in honour and safety, and counted the fresharrow-shots with which they had been pierced, in addition to similarmarks of former battles. All were loud in the praises of the braveyoung leader they had lost, nor were the acclamations less general inlaud of him who had succeeded to the command, who brought up the partyof his deceased brother--and whom," said the Princess, in a few wordswhich seemed apparently interpolated for the occasion, "I now assure ofthe high honour and estimation in which he is held by the author ofthis history--that is, I would say, by every member of the imperialfamily--for his gallant services in such an important crisis."

  Having hurried over her tribute to her friend the Varangian, in whichemotions mingled that are not willingly expressed before so manyhearers, Anna Comnena proceeded with composure in the part of herhistory which was less personal.

  "We had not much time to make more observations on what passed amongthose brave soldiers; for a few minutes having been allowed to theirfeelings, the trumpet sounded the advance towards Laodicea, and we soonbeheld the town, now about four miles from us, in fields which werechiefly covered with trees. Apparently the garrison had already somenotice of our approach, for carts and wains were seen advancing fromthe gates with refreshments, which the heat of the day, the length ofthe march, and columns of dust, as well as the want of water, hadrendered of the last necessity to us. The soldiers joyfully mendedtheir pace in order to meet the sooner with the supplies of which theystood so much in need. But as the cup doth not carry in all cases theliquid treasure to the lips for which it was intended, however much itmay be longed for, what was our mortification to behold a cloud ofArabs issue at full gallop from the wooded plain betwixt the Roman armyand the city, and throw themselves upon the waggons, slaying thedrivers, and making havoc and spoil of the contents! This, weafterwards learned, was a body of the enemy, headed by Varanes, equalin military fame, among those
infidels, to Jezdegerd, his slainbrother. When this chieftain saw that it was probable that theVarangians would succeed in their desperate defence of the pass, he puthimself at the head of a large body of the cavalry; and as theseinfidels are mounted on horses unmatched either in speed or wind,performed a long circuit, traversed the stony ridge of hills at a morenortherly defile, and placed himself in ambuscade in the wooded plain Ihave mentioned, with the hope of making an unexpected assault upon theEmperor and his army, at the very time when they might be supposed toreckon upon an undisputed retreat. This surprise would certainly havetaken place, and it is not easy to say what might have been theconsequence, had not the unexpected appearance of the train of waggonsawakened the unbridled rapacity of the Arabs, in spite of theircommander's prudence, and attempts to restrain them. In this manner theproposed ambuscade was discovered.

  "But Varanes, willing still to gain some advantage from the rapidity ofhis movements, assembled as many of his horsemen as could be collectedfrom the spoil, and pushed forward towards the Romans, who had stoppedshort on their march at so unlooked for an apparition. There was anuncertainty and wavering in our first ranks which made their hesitationknown even to so poor a judge of military demeanour as myself. On thecontrary, the Varangians joined in a unanimous cry of 'Bills'[Footnote: Villehardouin says, "Les Anglois et Danois mult bienrombattoint avec leurs _haches_."] (that is, in their language,battle-axes,) 'to the front!' and the Emperor's most gracious willacceding to their valorous desire, they pressed forward from the rearto the head of the column. I can hardly say how this manoeuvre wasexecuted, but it was doubtless by the wise directions of my most serenefather, distinguished for his presence of mind upon such difficultoccasions. It was, no doubt, much facilitated by the good will of thetroops themselves; the Roman bands, called the Immortals, showing, asit seemed to me, no less desire to fall into the rear, than did theVarangians to occupy the places which the Immortals left vacant infront. The manoeuvre was so happily executed, that before Varanes andhis Arabs had arrived at the van of our troops, they found it occupiedby the inflexible guard of northern soldiers. I might have seen with myown eyes, and called upon them as sure evidences of that which chancedupon the occasion. But, to confess the truth, my eyes were little usedto look upon such sights; for of Varanes's charge I only beheld, as itwere, a thick cloud of dust rapidly driven forward, through which wereseen the glittering points of lances, and the waving plumes of turban'dcavaliers imperfectly visible. The tecbir was so loudly uttered, that Iwas scarcely aware that kettle-drums and brazen cymbals were soundingin concert with it. But this wild and outrageous storm was met aseffectually as if encountered by a rock.

  "The Varangians, unshaken by the furious charge of the Arabs, receivedhorse and rider with a shower of blows from their massive battle-axes,which the bravest of the enemy could not face, nor the strongestendure. The guards strengthened their ranks also, by the hindmostpressing so close upon those that went before, after the manner of theancient Macedonians, that the fine-limbed, though slight steeds ofthose Idumeans could not make the least inroad upon the northernphalanx. The bravest men, the most gallant horses, fell in the firstrank. The weighty, though short, horse javelins, flung from the rearranks of the brave Varangians, with good aim and sturdy arm, completedthe confusion of the assailants, who turned their back in affright, andfled from the field in total confusion.

  "The enemy thus repulsed, we proceeded on our march, and only haltedwhen we recovered our half-plundered waggons. Here, also, someinvidious remarks were made by certain officers of the interior of thehousehold, who had been on duty over the stores, and having fled fromtheir posts on the assault of the infidels, had only returned upontheir being repulsed. These men, quick in malice, though slow inperilous service, reported that, on this occasion, the Varangians sofar forgot their duty as to consume a part of the sacred wine reservedfor the imperial lips alone. It would be criminal to deny that this wasa great and culpable oversight; nevertheless, our imperial hero passedit over as a pardonable offence; remarking, in a jesting manner, thatsince he had drunk the _ail_, as they termed it, of his trusty guard,the Varangians had acquired a right to quench the thirst, and torelieve the fatigue, which they had undergone that day in his defence,though they used for these purposes the sacred contents of the imperialcellar.

  "In the meantime, the cavalry of the army were despatched in pursuit ofthe fugitive Arabs; and having succeeded in driving them behind thechain of hills which had so recently divided them from the Romans, theimperial arms might justly be considered as having obtained a completeand glorious victory.

  "We are now to mention the rejoicings of the citizens of Laodicea, who,having witnessed from their ramparts, with alternate fear and hope, thefluctuations of the battle, now descended to congratulate the imperialconqueror."

  Here the fair narrator was interrupted. The principal entrance of theapartment flew open, noiselessly indeed, but with both folding leavesat once, not as if to accommodate the entrance of an ordinary courtier,studying to create as little disturbance as possible, but as if therewas entering a person, who ranked so high as to make it indifferent howmuch attention was drawn to his motions. It could only be one born inthe purple, or nearly allied to it, to whom such freedom was lawful;and most of the guests, knowing who were likely to appear in thatTemple of the Muses, anticipated, from the degree of bustle, thearrival of Nicephorus Briennius, the son-in-law of Alexius Comnenus,the husband to the fair historian, and in the rank of Caesar, which,however, did not at that period imply, as in early ages, the dignity ofsecond person in the empire. The policy of Alexius had interposed morethan one person of condition between the Caesar and his original rightsand rank, which had once been second to those only of the Emperorhimself.