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But the young Amal longed for adventures. He offered to take his Ostrogoths into Italy, drive out Odoacer, and seat on the throne of the West, Nepos, one of the many puppets who had been hurled off it a few years before. Zeno had need of the young hero nearer home, and persuaded him to stay in Constantinople, eat, drink, and be merry.
Whereupon the Amal rose. 'See you here, Wulf the son of Ovida, and warriors all! If we want wealth, we shan't find it among the sand-hills. If we want women, we shall find nothing prettier than these among dragons and devils. Don't look angry, Wulf. You have no mind to marry one of those dog-headed girls the monk talked of, have you?
Do you also believe it, my good Basil? For answer Basil embraced his friend, and kissed him on either cheek. 'I know how this has come about, he said; and thereupon related the story of the visit of Olybrius to Aurelia six months ago. It seemed probable that a report of Veranilda's beauty had reached Matasuntha, who wished to adorn her retinue with so fair a remnant of the Amal race.
'Oh, said the Amal, 'that we were on the Alps again for only two hours, sliding down those snow-slopes on our shields, with the sleet whistling about our ears! That was sport! 'To those who could keep their seat, said Goderic. 'Who went head over heels into a glacier-crack, and was dug out of fifty feet of snow, and had to be put inside a fresh-killed horse before he could be brought to life?
'If he begins howling when we are in bed, your men won't find much of him left in the morning, said the Amal. 'But here come the slaves, announcing dinner. 'Stay, said Orestes; 'there is one more with whom I have an account to settle that young philosopher there. 'Oh, he is coming in, too.
'The princes won't let me knock any of these donkey-riders on the head, and seeing other people do it only makes me envious. Give me the wine-jug curse the girl! she has run upstairs! The shouting and trampling came nearer; and in another minute Wulf came rapidly downstairs, through the hall into the harem-court, and into the presence of the Amal. 'Prince here is a chance for us.
It was snatched; handed from man to man.... One after another recognised the beloved golden locks. And then, to the utter astonishment of the girls who stood round, the great simple hearts, too brave to be ashamed of tears, broke out and wailed like children .... Their Amal! Their heavenly man! Odin's own son, their joy and pride, and glory!
They must strike upon that and then! ....It seemed an eternity ere they touched the masonry.... The Amal was undermost.... She saw his fair floating locks dash against the cruel stone. His grasp suddenly loosened, his limbs collapsed; two distinct plunges broke the dark sullen water; and then all was still but the awakened ripple, lapping angrily against the wall.
I would gladly undergo a second wound to enjoy a second time the services of such hands, and to see such feet busying themselves on my behalf. 'You wouldn't have said that five minutes ago, quoth the Amal, looking at him very much as a bear might at a monkey.
Dietrich the One-eyed helped Basiliscus and then Zeno seems to have sent for Dietrich the Amal to help him. He came, but too late.
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