Part 11 (1/2)

”For the Imperator of Ravenna, who, as a good omen, unites the names of the first king and the first emperor; for Romulus Augustulus, the lord of the whole earth.”

Then the German drew a papyrus roll from his girdle, and threw it to Cornelius.

”I thought so,” said he. ”You know less than we barbarians what is happening in your own Italy--in your own imperial chief city. Read what is written to me by one who knows it well. There is no longer an Emperor of the West! Romulus Augustulus--the boy's name is certainly a good omen _for us_!--is deposed. He lives henceforth on an island, and feeds peac.o.c.ks; and on his throne sits my brother-in-law, the husband of my beautiful sister--Odoacer the brave. He has himself written it to us.”

Cornelius had glanced through the composition. He tamed pale and silently gave it to Severus, who read it trembling.

”There is no doubt!” said he, almost voiceless. ”I know the man; he has served under me. Odoacer does not lie.”

”And we do not lie!” cried the gray-bearded companion of Liuthari. He urged on his horse and took the letter from the hand of Severus. ”To split s.h.i.+elds, not to falsify Runes, have I taught King Liutbert's son.”

One could well believe that of the old man. Before he put the roll into his girdle he looked into it with an important air; it did not disturb him that the letters were upside down.

Severus supported himself on his spear. Cornelius looked darkly before him. ”I knew it,” he then said. ”I had almost wished for it when I saw it was unavoidable; and now it is come it crushes me.”

”No longer an Imperator in Rome!” groaned Severus.

”Italy in the hands of the barbarians!” sighed Cornelius.

”You awake my deepest pity, gallant heroes,” said the king's son, in a grave tone. ”But now you see well: the battle must come to an end before it begins. For whom, for what will you yet fight?”

”For the future!” cried Severus.

”For the past--for honour!” cried Cornelius.

”For immortal Rome!” said both.

”Byzantium yet rules--soon will Byzantium send another Emperor,”

threatened Severus.

”Perhaps!” said Liuthari, shrugging his shoulders. ”But in the meantime we want a settling-place, fields, and pasturage, we Germans. And therefore I bring you a message in my father's name: 'So speaks Liutbert, the King of the Alemanni, in his own name and in that of his allies'”----

”Who are these allies?” interrupted Cornelius.

”You will find out quicker than you will like,” answered gruffly Liuthari's companion.

Liuthari continued: ”'Let him stay in the land who will do so peaceably; he who will not stay let him peaceably retire. The fortresses to be vacated; they must be destroyed. Two-thirds of the land remain to you; one-third is for us.' That is a reasonable division.”

But Severus started up angrily, raising his spear. ”Bold barbarian!

Darest thou thus to speak, with eighty barbarians against the host of Juvavum's burghers? Thou hast learnt to speak as a Latin, but not to think as a Roman!”

”I should think,” interposed Cornelius, ”that your country was large enough for you, ye Alemanni, when you can only send eighty hors.e.m.e.n to conquer Juvavum. Do you think I can yield to _you_?”

A peculiar smile played around the young German's handsome mouth, about which the first downy beard charmingly curled. ”Take care, Roman! Are we too few for thee? Soon may we seem too many. Out of a few the wonder-working Wotan wakes many! For the last time--evacuate the fortress; divide peaceably the country!”

”Never! Back, barbarian!” cried the two Romans at once.

Liuthari turned his horse suddenly round. ”It is your wish. You are, then, lost. Wotan has you all!”