Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: June 29, 2025
Throwing off all restraint, he spoke with hot eloquence of all that might be gained by one who could persuade the Greek commander to open the gates of Rome. Totila was renowned for his generosity, and desired above all things to reconcile, rather than subdue, the Roman people; scarce any reward would seem to him too great for service such as helped this end. 'Bessas lies before you.
'I, too, may be in peril, you think, replied his kinsman gloomily. 'True, all the more that I am known to have just inherited. Bessas takes a peculiar interest in such people. Be that as it will. Let us turn for a moment to other things. They spoke of the duties that had to be discharged by Basil as his uncle's heir.
'I ought to inform your Sublimity, he said, with all the indifference he could assume, 'that the lady Aurelia despatched two days ago a courier to Rome apprising the noble commandant Bessas of her father's death, and of her intention to arrive in the city as soon as possible, and to put her means at his disposal for the defence of Rome against King Totila. Chorsoman stared.
Notwithstanding all his efforts, this man failed to discover whether Veranilda had indeed passed into the guardianship of Bessas; good reason in Marcian's view for believing that she was still detained by Leander, and probably in some convent.
Bessas condescended to justify this proceeding: having learnt, he said, that the question of Aurelia's orthodoxy lay in doubt, some declaring that she was a heretic, some that she had returned to orthodoxy before her father's death, he took charge of the property which might be hers until she appeared to claim it, when, having the testament of Maximus in his hand, he would see that justice was done.
I find that hard to believe. Knowing in whose power she is, how comes it that Bessas does not seize the insolent Leander, and force the truth from him? Were I the commander, would I be baffled for an hour by that sleek deacon? 'Were you commander, O best Basil, replied Marcian, smiling, 'you would see things in another light.
But what if; on learning the death of Maximus, the Thracian who rules yonder see fit to command your instant return, and to exact from you an account of what you have inherited? Bessas loses no time suspecting perhaps that his tenure of a fruitful office may not be long. 'And if the suspicion be just? said Basil, gazing hard at his friend. 'Well, if it be? said the other, returning the look.
Here, at last, was the Gothic maiden who had been sought so persistently by Marcian, by Basil, by Bessas, by Heliodora, and doubtless by many others, since her disappearance from Surrentum. Whither was she now being conducted?
Already in a letter, Basil had spoken of the king's promise; he now repeated it, whilst Veranilda flushed with happiness. 'And you remain before Rome? she asked. 'Alas, no! I am sent to Ravenna, to spy out the strength of Belisarius. But Rome was besieged, and so hateful had Bessas made himself to the Roman people that it could not be long ere some plot among them delivered the city.
The houses of the senators were plentifully stored with gold and silver; and the avarice of Bessas had labored with so much guilt and shame for the benefit of the conqueror.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking