Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: June 29, 2025
He could detect no sign of guilty uneasiness in his friend's face, but saw that Marcian grew very thoughtful. 'Is not this a shamelessness in falsehood which passes belief? were his last words. 'If indeed it be falsehood, replied Marcian, meeting the other's eyes. 'I will confess that, this day or two, I have suspected Bessas of knowing more than he pretends. 'What? Basil exclaimed.
On his march he heard of the capture of Petra, and of its complete destruction by Bessas, who feared lest the Persians should again occupy the dangerous post. Mermeroes had no difficulty in establishing Persian rule through almost the whole of Lazica. The Romans did not dare to meet him in the field.
Bessas replied, with unfeeling tranquillity, that it was impossible to feed, unsafe to dismiss, and unlawful to kill, the subjects of the emperor. Yet the example of a private citizen might have shown his countrymen that a tyrant cannot withhold the privilege of death.
Bessas does not lay hands upon the deacon because it is much more to his profit to have the clergy of Rome for his friends than for his enemies. Whether Veranilda be discovered or not, he cares little; I began to suspect that when I saw that you came off so easily from your dealings with him.
'It is through some one whom Muscula holds of more account than Bessas, and with whom she schemes against him. 'By the Holy' Mother! exclaimed Heliodora, 'that is yourself. Marcian shook his head. 'Not so, gracious lady. 'Nay, why should you scruple to confess it? You love Veranilda, and do you think I could not pardon an intrigue which lay on your way to her?
In gossip with certain Romans who were wont to hang about the commander, flattering and fawning upon him for their base advantage, he learnt that no one had yet succeeded to the place left vacant by the hapless Muscula; only in casual amours, generally of the ignoblest, did Bessas bestow his affections. Of Heliodora there was no talk.
After reducing, by force, or treaty, the towns of inferior note in the midland provinces of Italy, Totila proceeded, not to assault, but to encompass and starve, the ancient capital. Rome was afflicted by the avarice, and guarded by the valor, of Bessas, a veteran chief of Gothic extraction, who filled, with a garrison of three thousand soldiers, the spacious circle of her venerable walls.
I, O Marcian, would fain think it a dream yet there are evil doings in this world which make me fear that it may be true. 'You have seen Bessas again? 'Yes. And I have seen Petronilla. His eyes on the listener, Basil recounted his conversation of this morning, all save that part of it which related to Marcian.
True, only a scanty measure of this food reached the populace, and that chiefly by the good offices of the archdeacon Pelagius, now become as dear to the people as Pope Vigilius was hateful; the granaries were held by Bessas, who first of all fed his soldiers, and then sold at a great price. As winter went on, the Romans suffered much.
Bessas, with granaries well stored, and his palace heaped with Roman riches, shrugged when the nobles spoke disrespectfully of Justinian; his only loyalty was to himself. At high summertide, the Gothic camp was pitched before Rome, and the siege anticipated for so many months had at length begun.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking