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Updated: June 6, 2025
Its note broke strangely upon the monastic stillness, and, in a moment, echoed clear from the mountains. 'The king goes forth, said Venantius. 'I must leave you. Join us speedily yonder. He pointed towards Rome. On Basil's lips quivered a word, a question, but before it could be uttered the soldier had stridden away, his casque gleaming in the sun, and his sword clanking beside him.
How comes this Syrian to say that his master is at Rome? Does he lie? Or did the horsemen lie? Or are there, perchance, two Marcians? 'I must speak with him, said Basil. 'Leave me to find out the truth for you. Send Sagaris here, Venantius, I entreat you. The captain appeared to hesitate, but, on Basil's beseeching him not to delay, he agreed and left the room.
Venantius visited the sick man, and found him risen, but plainly in poor case for travel. 'Why, you will never mount your horse, he opined, after touching Basil's hand, and finding it on fire. 'This is what comes of a queasy conscience. Take heart, man! Are you the first that stuck a false friend between the ribs, or the first to have your love kissed against her will?
When he spoke of the Imperial conquerors 'Greeklings' he called them Venantius gave vent to his wrath and scorn. The Goths were right when they asked what had ever come out of Greece save mimes and pirates; land-thieves they might have added, for what else were the generals of Justinian with their pillaging hordes?
'You speak of one Venantius and his followers he who just now, I am told, threatened to massacre the harmless citizens of Surrentum. 'I would rather say the most noble Venantius, a senator, but for whose presence this villa would have been sacked by a thievish rabble from below. 'Let me see him, said the Hun, his eyes like those of a boar at bay.
He was in the saddle yesterday from sunrise to sunset; drank from sunset to the third hour of the night; rose before light this morning, gay and brisk, and made me ride with him, so that I was all but tired out before I started on the road hither. Venantius declares that he can only talk of serious things on horseback. 'My uncle regarded him as a Roman turned barbarian, said Basil.
Marcian took up an earthenware jug full of spring water, and drank deeply. His host then urged the wine, but it was refused; and as Basil knew that one of his friend's peculiarities was a rigorous abstinence at times from all liquor save the pure element, he said no more. 'I have been at Nuceria, Marcian continued, throwing himself on a seat, 'with Venantius. What a man!
Venantius, the younger, coming into possession of an estate between Neapolis and Salernum, here took up his abode after the siege of Rome, and lived as seemed good to him, lord over the little town of Nuceria, and of a considerable tract of country, with a villa converted into a stronghold up on the mountain side.
'It were scarce maidenly 'Never, never before the east had broken for the dayspring! Never, I swear to you, O my heart's friend! 'Then there is small fear of his interrupting us this morning; all the more that he must have sat late with his friends, talking of many things. I am glad of the coming of this brave Venantius; it puts an end to every peril.
'Like enough that she had sent to Cumae to learn all she could; and in that case, she found, you may be sure, ready instruments of her malice. Were it not better, Marcian added in an aside, 'to tell Venantius what danger threatened Veranilda?
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