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Though I should perish under those accursed walls; though you in your soulless patience should refuse me protection and aid; I, widowed, weakened, forsaken as I am, will hold to the fulfilment of my oath! As she ceased she folded the crest in her mantle, and turned abruptly from Hermanric in bitter and undissembled scorn.
For one instant, she fixed her glaring eyes steadily on the girl's shrinking form the next, she rushed up and struck furiously with the knife at her bare neck. As the weapon descended, Hermanric caught her wrist. She struggled violently to disengage herself from his grasp, but in vain. The countenance of the young warrior grew deadly pale, as he held her.
Revive the child, and you shall be rewarded from the spoils of Rome. 'Ha! ha! ha! chuckled the crone; 'Hermanric is an illustrious warrior, and shall be obeyed. Hermanric is great, for his arm can slay; but Brunechild is greater than he, for her cunning can cure!
The watch had been set, the tents had been pitched, the defences had been raised on the portion of ground selected to occupy every possible approach to the Pincian Gate, as Hermanric retired to await by Goisvintha's side, whatever further commands he might yet be entrusted with, by his superiors in the Gothic camp.
No longer master of his agitation; filled with awe, grief, and despair, as he looked on the victim of his heartless impatience; Hermanric bowed himself at the girl's feet, and, in the passionate utterance of real remorse, offered up his supplications for pardon and his assurances of protection and love.
Splendour of the Gothic kingdom under Hermanric, north of the Danube. The Huns attack the Goths, who implore the protection of the Roman emperor of the East. The Goths are allowed to pass the Danube, and to settle in the Roman provinces. A war soon breaks out between them and the Romans, and the emperor Valens and his army are destroyed by them. They ravage the Roman territories.
'I remember that I am a warrior and a Goth, replied Hermanric, disdainfully. 'I have promised to avenge you, but it must be on a man that my promise must be fulfilled an armed man, who can come forth with weapons in his hand a strong man of courage whom I will slay in single combat before your eyes! The girl is too young to die, too weak to be assailed!
It was this intimation which caused the inquietude mentioned as characteristic of the manner of Hermanric at the commencement of the preceding chapter.
Once more Hermanric rose from his seat, and approaching the fire, placed a fresh log of wood upon the dying embers. His dejection seemed now to communicate itself to Antonina, and as he reseated himself by her side, she did not address him again. Thoughts, dreary and appalling beyond any that had occupied it before, were rising in the mind of the Goth.
The next instant Hermanric felt the momentary contact of the man's body, as with noiseless steps he passed him on the stones. It was no time to deliberate or to doubt.
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