Bissula. English

by Felix Dahn

  CHAPTER XXXV.

  "A joyful duty now awaits you," the Duke began again: "a boy of noblefamily asks the bestowal of the sword, the first weapon granted. Manyof us know him, and all who do, wish him well. True, the young hero isnot very large; but I take my oath that I saw him yesterday pierce withhis spear, at fifteen paces, a moderately thick linden-wood shield. Andgreat was his courage, bold his daring when, dauntlessly risking hislife and liberty, he scaled the wall of the Roman camp, brought backmost important information and placed it in the Duke's hand."

  "Who is it? Who is it?" asked many voices.

  Adalo stepped forward, leading his brother by the hand: "Sippilo, mybrave little brother."

  Then the Duke spoke:

  "I ask the assembly: Shall he receive the weapons? Is the young falconfledged?" A pleasant smile illumined the face which could look sowrathful and threatening.

  "Hail to him! Hail to the Adeling! Hail to the boy! Give him theweapons."

  Sippilo flushed like a young girl, but the blush was very becoming.

  "Will you grant him the favor of bestowing the weapons yourself, ODuke?" pleaded Adalo. "Then, when he grasps sword or spear, he mustalways remember the hero to whom he first owed them, and prove himselfworthy of the giver."

  "I will," said the judge, rising and beckoning to the boy.

  Sippilo ascended the first of the steps leading to the Duke's chair.Hariowald took the little round shield lying before him and gave it tothe lad, who seized it eagerly, passing his left arm under the upperbar of the shield and clasping the lower one with his hand. "I,Hariowald, son of Hariomar, Count of Linzgau, chosen by all theAlemanni Duke for this summer's Roman war, say to you, Sippilo, son ofAdalger, of age to use weapons and worthy to receive them:

  "With the shield I give, protect, Better than thine own breast, Dearer than thine own body and life, The noble Alemanni Land and nation. Shield runes, and runes of defence, Deep burned thy brother Its solid framework within; They will hold and keep The shield's shelter for thee So long as thou thyself Dost hold and stand Fast by thy people."

  Then he handed him the spear, saying:

  "Runes of victory I, sure of triumph, Carved for thee myself On the sharp spear's handle. To mortal man never Lower it vanquished, Nor let its shaft be shattered. Some day, full lightly, From thy faithful hand When, white-bearded, thou dost win On thy shield the battle death 'Mid blissful victory-- Then, from thy faithful hand, Lightly will take it On swan-wings downward to thee floating, Shining in beauty, Valhalla's fairest Valkyria, And bear thee, loyal one, Upward to Odin."

  Lastly, he put on the belt from which the sword hung in its sheath,saying:

  "As the belt now girdles thee, So, as its own doth hold thee The Alemanni army. As the belt is for thee Ornament and defence, So art thou, as one link, Ornament and defence To us, the Alemanni."

  Then Sippilo drew the short sword from its sheath, held the hilt towardthe shining sun, and said:

  "This bright sword will I wield For my free nation, For its rights, its renown, And for Sippilo's kinsmen! Should I e'er do aught else, May the keen, shining edge, The sharp blade, the wise blade-- For this oath it knoweth-- Deal my faithless heart a death-blow! Sun, thou dost see it; The Lofty One heard it, And Zio is witness, With the Alemanni's High-crested army."

  The boy now leaped joyously down the steps and, proud of his newweapons, took his place beside his brother amid loud shouts of applausefrom the multitude, especially his kinsmen and those who had the stag'santlers inscribed on their shields.

  "Now the next act of justice. One who is absent wishes to free hisbondman in the assembly. Suomar, son of Suobert, who is on guard in theeastern marshes, liberates his slave Zercho. I have bought his freedomfor the sake of good service rendered to the army; his master, to whoma messenger was sent, is willing to set him free; and Adalo, theAdeling, by his wish, will speak and act for him. Bring the bondman."

  Then Zercho, who had been waiting outside the body of freemen, was ledbefore the stone seat by two heralds. His eyes were sparkling with joy.

  Adalo, holding in his hand a bow and arrow, stepped forward, saying:"As the representative of Suomar, your master, I announce in the openassembly that he has received from Hariowald, Count of the Linzgau, afaultless stallion four years old, two cows of Roman breed, twentysheep, a bronze armlet seven times twisted, and a silver solidus; inexchange for which he frees you, Zercho, the Jazyge whom he bought as aprisoner of war from a dealer in Vindonissa. By my hand and word heliberates you: take the last blow which you have to bear as a slave."He gave him a light stroke on the cheek. "And see, look, all yefreemen: as I shoot this arrow, so free and far, unrestrained andunfettered, Suomar, who hitherto has been your master, leaves you. Youmay go forth as free as this arrow flies--free and restrained by noone!"

  As he spoke he sent the arrow, winged with heron feathers, high intothe air. The missile whirred from the long bow, whose string struckechoing against the beautifully polished wood. Zercho watched thearrow. High, high up it flew, till it vanished in the blue sky. But hedid not see clearly; his eyes were swimming in tears; it was hard toforce back a loud sob. From long years of custom, he was about to throwhimself prostrate on the ground and, clasping the Adeling's feet, kisshis hands in token of gratitude. But the latter quickly stopped him,and the Duke said:

  "You are free now, Zercho! Rejoice, freeman! For, though your master'shand was gentle, bondage is pitiable and withers strength and courage.Only the life of the free is life: the slave breathes, but he does notlive."

  Adalo handed him the bow, saying: "Here is this weapon, which provesyour freedom before the whole people. Let it be the first one you carryin the army and for the people of the Alemanni, which has now becomeyour nation too."

  With radiant eyes and head erect the freedman now entered the ranks ofthe free.