A Struggle for Rome, v. 3

by Felix Dahn

  CHAPTER II.

  Soon after this conversation, the King, Earl Teja, Adalgoth, and anumerous suite, arrived at the small town of Taginae, above which, on aprecipitous and thickly-wooded height, stood the cloister founded byValerius, in which Valeria still continued to reside.

  For her the place had lost all its terrors. She had become used to it,not only physically but morally. Slowly but surely, her reluctant soulwas influenced by the grave authority of the sacred precincts.

  The King met her in the cloister garden, and it seemed to him that hercomplexion was much paler, her step slower, than usual.

  "What ails you, Valeria?" he asked tenderly. "When our vow seemed pastfulfilment, you were still full of hope and courage. Now, when yourlover wears the crown of this realm, and the foot of the enemy treadsthe sacred soil of Italia in scarcely more than one city, will you sinkand despair?"

  "Not despair, friend," said Valeria gravely, "but renounce. No, no!be patient and hear me. Why do you hide from me what all Italiaknows--what your people wish? The King of the Ostrogoths at Toletum hasoffered you his alliance against Byzantium, and the hand of hisdaughter. Your people expect and wish you to accept both these offers.I will not be more selfish than was that high-minded daughter of yournation, Rauthgundis, of whom your minstrels already sing. And I knowthat you are as capable of sacrifice as the simple-minded man who wasyour unfortunate King."

  "I hope that I should be so, if necessary. But happily there is no needof sacrifice. I do not want the help of the Ostrogoth. Look around, orrather, look beyond these convent walls. Never has the kingdomflourished as it does now. Once again I will offer to make peace withthe Emperor. If he still refuse, a war will break out such as he hasnever seen. Ravenna will soon fell. Truly, my power and my courage arenot reduced to the point of renunciation! The air of this cloister hasat length enervated your steadfast mind. You must leave this place.Choose the most lovely of all Italian cities for your residence. Let usrebuild your father's house in Neapolis."

  "No. Leave me here. I have learned to love this quiet place."

  "It is the quiet of the grave! And you know well that to renounce youwould be to renounce the ideal of my life. You are the living symbolof all my plans; you are to me Italia herself! You must becomemine--wholly, irrevocably mine. Goths and Italians shall take theirKing and Queen for a pattern; they shall become as united and happy aswe. No--no objections--no more doubts! Thus I smother them!" and hepassionately embraced her.

  A few days later Julius Montanus arrived, coming from Genoa andUrbinum.

  The King and his retinue went to meet him outside the cloister gates.

  The two friends embraced each other tenderly; for some time they wereincapable of speaking.

  Teja stood near and gravely observed them.

  "Sir," whispered Adalgoth, "who is the man with the deep-set eyes? amonk?"

  "In his heart he is; but not outwardly."

  "Such a young man with such an old look! Dost thou know whom heresembles? That picture in the cloisters on the golden background."

  "It is true; he is like that gentle and sorrowful head of the ApostleJohn."

  "Your letter," Julius said to Totila, "found me already resolved tocome here."

  "You were about to seek me--or Valeria?"

  "No, Totila. I came to be examined and accepted by Cassiodorus.Benedict of Nursia, who fills our century with the fame of hismiracles, has founded an order which powerfully attracts me."

  "Julius, you must not do that! What spirit of flying from the world hasseized upon my companions? Valeria, you, and Teja!"

  "I fly from nothing," said Julius, "not even from the world."

  "How," continued the King, taking his friend by the arm, and leadinghim towards the cloister, "how come you, in the bloom of your manhood,to think of this moral suicide? Look, there comes Valeria. She musthelp me to convince you. Ah, if you had ever loved, you would not turnyour back upon the world."

  Julius smiled, but made no reply. He quietly clasped Valeria's offeredhand, and followed her into the cloister, where Cassiodorus came tomeet them.

  Thanks to the King's eloquence, he was able to induce his friend topromise that he would accompany the aged Cassiodorus to Byzantium in afew days. Julius at first shunned the glitter, the noise, and thewickedness of the Emperor's court, until at last Cassiodorus' exampleand Totila's persuasions overcame his scruples.

  "I think," the King said, "that more pious works can be accomplished inthe world than in the cloister. _This_ embassy is such a pious work; awork which is to save two nations from the horrors of renewed warfare."

  "Certainly," said Julius, "a king and a hero can serve God as well as amonk. I do not blame your manner of service--leave mine to me. It seemsto me that in the time in which we live, when an ancient world issinking amid much terror, and a new one arises amid wild storms; whenall the vices of a degenerated heathenism are mixed with the wildnessof a barbarous race; when luxury, brute force, and the lusts of theflesh fill East and West, I think it is well done to found a sanctuaryapart from the world, where poverty, purity, and humble-mindedness candwell in peace."

  "But to me," said Totila, "it seems that splendour, the happiness ofhonest love, and cheerful pride, are no sin before the God of Heaven!What thinkest thou of our dispute, friend Teja?"

  "It has no meaning for me," answered Teja quietly, "for your God is notmy God. But let us not speak of that, for here comes Valeria."