CHAPTER VII
THE RESCUE OF SIVEL
Once more the little society of English boys was assembled at itsold trysting-place under the cypress trees, near the _navicula_, onthe Caelian Hill--all but Sivel. When the first transports of joy atmeeting again were over, they gazed on each other and rejoiced at thechanges they saw, from weak boys to be sold and beaten, to powerfulyoung warriors who were able to defend themselves. Forthere was nearlymad with rage and anxiety when he heard of the abduction of his youngcousin. He had become a strong and muscular youth, a most formidableantagonist, as impulsive as ever, and otherwise unchanged--a vigorousfoe, but a true and faithful friend. Little Godric was still a boy.Hereric had grown into a youth of singular grace and beauty. He was nowsixteen, and he had an air of cultivation and breeding, due partly tohis high rank, but also to the knowledge he had acquired. He could readand write, and had become a sincere Christian. If he had a fault, itwas that he relied too much on the probity of others, and was easilydeceived by designing men. Forthere and Godric were devoted to theAtheling, as indeed were all his companions. No one could know theDeiran Prince without loving him. To the sons of Seomel and to Lilla hewas almost a brother.
Hereric had startling news to tell. He had passed most of his timestudying under Laurentius in the monastery of St. Andrew. But Forthereand Godric, refusing to work at books, were sent to Monte Cassiano,where they were employed in the fields or at the works connected withthe extension of the monastery. They were often in trouble, owing totheir decided aversion for the _Regula Monachorum_ of St. Benedict; andthey had recently been brought back to the Caelian Hill.
Gregory had not forgotten his intention to introduce Christianityinto England, the land of the beautiful children in the market-place.Three had been brought up in the monastery on the Caelian, and oneat least would now make an excellent interpreter. He resolved toentrust the mission to his prior of St. Andrew, whose reward was tobe the bishopric of the new diocese. Augustine was to be accompaniedby Laurentius and Peter, Hereric and his two companions, and severalmonks and attendants. Letters were written to the Queens Fredegonda andBrunehaud for protection while passing through their dominions; andto Vergilius, the Bishop of Arles, to bespeak hospitality. Brunehaudpromised also to provide an interpreter. Hereric had been told of themission, and was, of course, delighted at so good an opportunity ofreturning home, provided that all his companions were equally favoured.But as the day for starting approached, the monks showed greatrepugnance to being employed on such a service. They were terrified,and although Augustine was not so faint-hearted, he looked upon theundertaking as being full of danger. The truth was that Forthere hadbeen telling the monks such stories about England as made their hairstand on end. The time was very near; for the departure of the missionwas to take place on the very next day, the 21st of July 596.
When all the news had been exchanged, the boys were long inconsultation. The plans for the discovery and rescue of Sivel were laidwith care and circumspection. But Forthere was torn different ways. Hecould not endure leaving Rome with his adopted brother still in thehands of the villain Mystacon; yet his devotion for the Atheling madeit equally hard to quit the mission and remain. Hereric settled thequestion. "Forthere, my more than brother, your duty is clear. Sivel isthe adopted son of your valorous father, Brand of Ulfskelf. You mustfollow the quest for him until his rescue is achieved. The loss to meis greater than I can tell you. But our Godric is growing to be a man,and a brave one. He will be my faithful companion and true soldier inyour absence." Young Godric's face flushed with pleasure, while Herericand Forthere clasped each other in a long, silent embrace. "But," addedthe Atheling, as he gazed into Forthere's eyes, "you must follow therede of Porlor, and the guidance of Coelred and Lilla. Strike when theygive the signal, but not before. Your blow is strong and sure. Let itfall at the appointed time, and not too suddenly, my Forthere. Godbless you all, and may our next meeting be in our own land, with Sivelin our midst!"
It was clear that, if the boys accomplished all they intended, Romewould be too hot to hold them. Their course of action must be guidedby events, but their general plan was to have horses always ready atthe Symmachan villa, to overpower the guard at one of the gates whentheir work was done, and to join the army of the Lombard King. Thencethey would make their way, by fair means or foul, to their native land.Coelred prevailed upon Hereric to take a good supply of money, and theAtheling also undertook to convey the small but precious bales fromIndia, as part of his own baggage. It was the only chance of theirreaching England.
Next day the mission left Rome. Pope Gregory offered up prayers, saidmass at St. Peter's, and gave the monks his blessing. No attempt wasmade to oblige Forthere to go when he refused. A more woebegone set ofwretches than the monks of this mission could not be conceived. Theylooked miserable and terror-stricken. Augustine was supported by theimportance and responsibility of his position, Laurentius and Peterwere good men and true, but the rest were very poor creatures. Herericand Godric, alert and armed, brought up the rear, and long did theywave their caps to their beloved comrades, who stood on Aurelian's Wallto see the last of them. Two days afterwards Augustine came back alone.The cowardly terror of his monks had so increased that they sent theirprior to entreat the holy Gregory that they should not be compelled toundertake so dangerous, toilsome, and uncertain a journey. But the holyGregory was inexorable. He sent back Augustine, telling them that "itwas better not to begin a good work than to think of desisting fromthat which had been begun. It behoves you, my beloved sons," he wenton, "to fulfil the good work which, by the help of our Lord, you haveundertaken, being assured that much labour is followed by an eternalreward. When Augustine returns, humbly obey him in all things." So thecowardly missionaries had to go on; but very few intended to trusttheir precious skins beyond Arles, or some other safe place for monksin the south of France. Forthere was much amused at the return ofAugustine, believing that his stories had played a part in frighteningthe monks, whom he thoroughly despised.
Meanwhile the plans for the rescue were put in train without delay.On the first day Bassus and Porlor watched the approaches to thePamphronian villa. Coelred searched the warehouses under the AventineHill, where they had all been confined when they first came to Rome.But the place was deserted. Lilla and Forthere went through everystreet and lane in the Suburra, scanning each face that passed them,but without result. Next day the rescuers were more fortunate. Fortherewas again prowling in the vilest purlieus of the Suburra, when hecaught sight of a face he recognised. Its owner was muffled in acloak, which he drew quickly over his head, and ran at speed down anarrow lane. In another moment the hand of Forthere was upon him. Hisstruggles were unavailing, and he was dragged out into the open spaceat the foot of the Palatine, gagged, and bound. Forthere was almostcertain that the face was that of one of the servants of Mystacon. Thesun had set, and as soon as it was dusk the vigorous young Englishmanhalf carried and half dragged his captive across the Forum, and downthe Appian Way to the garden of the villa of Symmachus. Forthere shareda _cubiculum_ in the villa with his cousins. In this little room hedeposited the living bundle, and left him still more securely bound andgagged. He required the rede of Porlor and his other comrades beforeproceeding further. He found Coelred and Bassus watching the villa ofPamphronius, while Porlor and Lilla returned from fruitless searchessoon afterwards. They all began to examine their prisoner.
The man swore that he had never seen his captors before, and hadnever heard of Mystacon; but they all recognised him, so he was turnedon his back, a sword was put on his throat, and he was told that itwould be drawn across it if he told a single lie. They then foundthat Sivel had been several days at Rome, confined in a house in theSuburra; not ill treated, the man declared, but only kept secure. Allthis time Mystacon had been bargaining for the full price of Sivel tobe paid again to him if he was restored, pretending that he was notactually in Rome. Pamphronius offered half the price. He was furiousat the way his slaves had been taken from
him, and would pay high forthe mere spiteful pleasure of getting them into his power. A bargainhad at length been struck, and Sivel was to be delivered over to hismaster the next day, after noon. The man was tied up again, gagged, andsecured in the stable.
After a consultation, it was decided that the intended preliminaryinterview between Lilla and Pamphronius would be unnecessary. Theynow knew all they wanted to know. They would watch for the arrival ofMystacon and his victim, and effect the rescue by force. All the oldfury that they had felt when they first heard that they were to besold as slaves came back to them--the mortification and the burningshame. Forthere was beside himself with rage at the thoughts of theold insults and of the danger to which his beloved little brother wasstill exposed. It would be a bad time for Mystacon when he next met theoutraged lads. In the morning they looked carefully to their arms; andsaw that the horses were ready for a start at any moment, with a smallsupply of food for each rider.
In the afternoon all five comrades concealed themselves behind aruined wall, and kept careful watch over the villa of Pamphronius. Itwas thought better to allow the slave-dealer with his party to enterthan to attack him in the road, where they might be interrupted.Forthere had a heavy club, the rest were armed with swords. Allhad long knives. After an anxious interval, they at length heardmany footsteps. First came Mystacon himself, looking proud andself-satisfied, and it was with the greatest difficulty that Fortherecould restrain himself from flying at the villain's throat. Thenfollowed a closed litter, carried by slaves, and half a dozen armedmen. The doors of the villa were closed, but when Mystacon knocked anduttered the words "Servus Captus" in a loud voice, they were thrownopen. The little procession passed in, and they were quickly closed andbarred again. The boys rushed towards the doors, furious and baffled;but Porlor made a sign for silence. He then knocked in his turn andsaid "Servus Captus" in a loud voice. Again the doors were thrownopen, and a tall slave appeared. Porlor flew at his throat, and theunexpected assault threw him off his balance. He fell without utteringa sound, and in another instant Forthere had cut his throat. They werenow in the large deserted _atrium_. At the other end there were heavycurtains concealing the great hall, and behind them they heard voices.
The five lads pulled themselves together. They were well armed, butthey were about to face heavy odds if the attendants showed fight.They drew their swords. "Ready?" cried Coelred, and the curtains weretorn aside. Coelred and Forthere occupied the entrance, while Lillaand Bassus rushed across the hall to the opposite door, to prevent allescape. Porlor then advanced a little and looked round. On the right,at a table, were Pamphronius and Mystacon. On the left was Sivel tiedhands and feet, and held by two slaves, with half a dozen armed menbehind them. To send the slaves flying and cut the bonds was the workof an instant. Porlor put his arm round Sivel, who flew to his side.The other four lads made a furious onslaught on the armed men. Lillaran the foremost through the body, Bassus cut down another, and therest threw down their swords and surrendered. "The first that movesis a dead man," cried Coelred, and Forthere proceeded to secure andgag them. Pamphronius and Mystacon remained to be dealt with. Theslave-dealer's face was blanched with fear. Too well he recognised hisassailants. But the patrician tried to put a bold face on the matter."The Holy Father will make you all answer for this outrage," he cried."Osvitus and Sivellus are my property. I have a right to recover them.They belong to me." This was more than Forthere could stand. To hisastonishment Pamphronius found himself seized by the throat and draggedinto the middle of the room. "Miserable wretch!" shouted the enragedEnglishman. "Lilla is the descendant of God, Sivel is the brother ofa goddess. Their fathers were brave warriors who could make a hundredsuch creatures as you run before them. You are not good enough to betheir slave. Kneel down and ask their pardon, or I will smash yourskull," and he raised the heavy club he had brought with him. Thepatrician had never been spoken to in this way in all his life. Buthe was in mortal terror, and did what he was told. "Shall I kill theniddring?" asked Forthere. "It is not necessary," said Porlor. So hewas well tied up, gagged, and rolled into a corner. Then Mystaconwas brought forward howling for mercy, and reminding the boys of allhis kindness. "For you, vile wretch," said Coelred, "there can be noforgiveness. You had fair warning. We prayed to you to spare us fromshame and humiliation, and you had no mercy. We told you then that wewould kill you, and Englishmen always keep faith. You must die, and atour hands." He made a sign to Forthere, who ran Mystacon through andthrough, and he fell dead. "We could not have left Rome with honour,"said Coelred, "until this was done."
Death of Mystacon]
They all went quickly to the villa of Symmachus, and prepared to mounttheir horses. Coelred and Porlor had already explained what was aboutto happen to their kind old friend Otacilia, and taken their leave."Will you be able to ride, my Sivel?" asked Forthere, as he tenderlyembraced his recovered brother. "Anywhere with you," replied theboy. He looked very pale and ill. But there was no time to be lost.They hastily mounted, and, led by Coelred, they galloped down to theAsinarian Gate. The guard turned out, and was attacked furiously bythe Englishmen. Two men were cut down, and the rest ran away for help.Bassus and Lilla dismounted to unbar and throw open the gates, and theyall galloped out into the starry night. For several hours they rode onat a steady pace, but they did not appear to have been followed. Sothey stopped for a few hours of rest before sunrise, tethered theirhorses, and were soon fast asleep. Next day they continued to ridenorthwards, stopping at noon for a short siesta. All this time they hadbeen too eager while riding, and too tired when resting, to consultmuch with each other; and they were awakened from their noonday sleepby a great band of armed and mounted warriors who surrounded them.Roughly seized, they were almost in despair when they were draggedbefore the commander of this force.
But all turned out well. In the handsome warrior with huge droopingmoustache Coelred was reminded of the Gothic Prince Athanagild. "Hemust be of our kindred," he thought, and spoke to him in English,saying that he and his companions were Englishmen, escaping frombondage at Rome, who threw themselves on his protection. The commanderwas well pleased, received the lads as his countrymen, and enlistedthem in his force. It was quite providential that they should havefallen in with these Saxons, for they would be taken by them in safetywithin easy reach of England. A large Saxon army of nearly 20,000 menhad entered the service of Agilulphus, who ascended the throne of theLombards in 590. But they were not satisfied, and were about to returnin a body to their own country on the lower Rhine. There was nothingto stop them, and a few months after our English lads entered theirranks they commenced their march over the Alps, and down the course ofthe Rhine, a journey presenting physical difficulties, and of greatinterest, but involving no danger when in such powerful company. Thisprotection continued until our young heroes found themselves on theshores of the German Ocean, facing their own native land. They hadresolved to return from the first. They were always confident that thehappy day would come. Alca had told them that they were not to die in adistant land. Now they were full of joyful anticipations. Her words, asthey always knew, were true. The years of banishment were past and gonefor ever.
PART III
WORK
So much to do that is not e'en begun. So much to hope for that we cannot see, So much to win, so many things to be.
L. MORRIS.
The Paladins of Edwin the Great Page 15
