Felicitas: A Tale of the German Migrations: A.D. 476

by Felix Dahn

  CHAPTER VII.

  With the help of the messenger and the bath attendants, Severus wasquickly armed. Accompanied by Cornelius he hastened to the Vindeliciangate, there to mount the high wall, which afforded a prospect far andwide. The exertion made him very hot, for it was now mid-day; theburning rays of the sun fell vertically on his heavy helmet.

  At the gate he was met by a centurion of the Tribune; Leo had alreadyseen from the Capitol the horsemen swarming out of the western forest.He sent word there were only about a hundred Germans: he would himselfimmediately lead his cavalry to the gates, for he was able again tomount his horse.

  Severus ordered the soldier to follow him for the moment on to thewalls. With Cornelius he looked intently over the plain, whichstretched from the left farther bank of the river as far as the westernforest.

  After long observation he turned. He was about to speak to Cornelius;but his eyes fell on two country people who were anxiously looking inthe same direction.

  "Now," said he, "Geta, how could you be so foolish? You swore by allthe saints that you had seen no trace of the enemy. Your cottages lieon the other side of the western forest. And now the barbarians liehidden between you and the town! Were you blind and deaf?"

  "Or did you _wish_ to be so?" interposed Cornelius mistrustfully."Consider," warned he, "they have every reason to support thebarbarians; rough and passionate these may be, but they do not pressthe last marrow out of the bones of their bondmen, like the imperialfiscal."

  But the elder of the two peasants answered: "No, sir, I am no traitor.I do not support the barbarians. Have I not served under the greatAetius and received an honourable discharge and this little property?Believe an old legionary; and if you do not believe me, keep me here asa hostage till it is decided. Only yesterday I and my nephew wereboiling pitch in the west forest--the traders from Ravenna give a highprice for it. The whole forest is not five miles in breadth; if therehad been many barbarians hiding themselves there, we must have seenthem; it cannot be a migrating horde, an army of people; it can only beadventurers, a few horsemen who are reconnoitring to see how thecountry is protected."

  "We will show them how it is protected," cried Severus, and he raisedhis right hand menacingly. "The veteran is right, Cornelius. I believehim. It is only that handful of riders over by the river that iscapering towards us. We will drench them for their insolence. Himilco,back to the Tribune. I decline the help of his Moors--hearest thou? Idecline it altogether; it is a case of honour, to show these robbersthat the burghers of Juvavum alone are men enough to chastise them."

  "I fully agree with you," said Cornelius. "It can only be a party ofscouts."

  "I shall, notwithstanding, be cautious, and make the attack with anoverpowering force; this time I _must_ conquer--on account of thy vow,my Cornelius."

  He struck him on the shoulder with fatherly kindness, and descended thenarrow flight of steps from the walls. Having reached the gate, hecommanded the tuba-blower to hasten through all the quarters of thetown, and summon the burghers to the Vindelician gate: in a quarter ofan hour would the attack be made. Loud sounded the imperative tones inall parts of the town, and from every street the armed volunteersstreamed forth to the north-western gate. One of the first was the fatCrispus, who came panting from his workshop hard by. He toiled alongunder an immense spear and shield. It was hot, and Crispus was old andcorpulent. On his head, instead of a helmet, he carried a cookingutensil, in which, in peaceful times, the old Ancilla was accustomed tobake the--only too greasy--festival cakes! It was certainly now scouredquite bright, but it was somewhat too large, and at each step rattledabout his ears. He did not present a very warlike appearance.

  Severus observed him with a shake of the head. "Now the will isgood"----

  "And the flesh is not weak!" mocked Cornelius.

  "But," continued Severus, "I would rather see thy slim nephew, thestone-mason. Why does he deny his arm to the Fatherland? Always withhis young wife? Where is he?"

  "Here he is!" cried an entreating voice high above their heads.

  Crispus had not had time to answer--had only pointed towards the towerat the gate; and behind the barred window of the second story, Fulviuswas to be seen eagerly stretching forth both hands.

  "Let me out, O general! Help me down, and with the spear I will thankthee!"

  "Severus," said Crispus eagerly to the astonished general, "order thegaoler--there he stands, in the doorway--to release him; Zeno theusurer has caused him to be imprisoned."

  "Bring the man out, Carcerarius!" commanded Severus. "I need such astrong youthful arm. Let him pay first his debt to the Fatherland.Should he fall, he will be free from every debt; should he survive, hewill return to the tower."

  The gaoler hesitated; but a blow in the ribs which Corneliusimpatiently dealt him altered his opinion.

  "I yield to force!" cried he, rubbing the assaulted spot.

  "What an iron, strictly obedient Roman soul!" exclaimed Cornelius.

  Immediately afterwards Fulvius sprang over the threshold, seized theshield and spear which were brought to him from the store of arms onthe ramparts, and cried:

  "Out! out before the gate!"

  Well pleased, the eye of the general rested on him.

  "I praise such zeal! Thou longest for the battle?"

  "Ah, no, sir," answered the young man ingenuously, "only forFelicitas."

  While Severus turned away vexed, Crispus comforted his nephew.

  "I have been watching thy house from the wall. Compose thyself, nobarbarian has yet crossed the river."

  "And the Tribune?" whispered the young husband.

  "Has not yet left the Capitol"

  "And Zeno?"

  "Is fully occupied in bringing his treasures into the town and hidingthem."

  Then the tuba-blowers returned from their rounds the last citizens fromthe most distant houses arrived.

  Severus and Cornelius drew them up in two companies, each of aboutthree hundred men. Then the old hero stood before them and said:

  "Romans! Men of Juvavum! Follow me! Out before the gate, and woe to thebarbarians!"

  He expected loud applause, but all were silent.

  One man alone stepped from the ranks, and said anxiously:

  "May I ask a question?"

  "Ask!" answered Severus, displeased.

  "How many barbarians may there be out there?"

  "Hardly one hundred."

  "And we are six hundred!" said this bold one, smiling comfortably andturning to his fellow-citizens. "To the gate!" cried he suddenly,striking his sword on the shield. "To the gate! And woe to thebarbarians!"

  "Woe to the barbarians!" cried now the whole troop.

  The gate was drawn up, and over the drawbridge, which at the same timefell across the moat, the men hastened out of the town.

  Very few guards were left on the walls. Women and children now hurriedfrom their houses, mounted the ramparts, and looked after their dearones, who at a quick march were advancing towards the bridge below thetown, the west end of which, as we have seen, had been in the morningbarricaded and occupied by a small troop.