Morituri: Three One-Act Plays Part 4

Watcher.

They remain above, as thou hast commanded, Sire.

Teja.

Good, then what saw ye?

Watcher.

The smoke of Vesuvius, Sire, descended upon the sea, beyond the promontory of Misenum. Thus we saw nothing until to-day about the sixth hour of the evening. Then suddenly the ships appeared five in number quite near the sh.o.r.e, there where it is said a city of the Romans lies buried in ruins.... One of us determined to hasten away, since----

Teja.

Stay! What signal bare the ships?

Watcher.

The foresail bound crosswise and----

Teja.

And?

Watcher.

A palm branch at the stern.

Teja.

Ye saw the palm branch?

Watcher.

As I see thee, Sire.

Teja.

Good, go on.

Watcher.

Then we perceived that the fishing-boats with which the Byzantians take their food, closely surrounded the ships, and then----

Teja.

What then?

Watcher.

Verily, Sire, they steered quite peaceably toward the camp of the enemy. There they unloaded. (_The men cover their heads. Silence_.)

Teja.

(_Who looks, smiling, from one to the other_.) It is good.... That is: thou shalt say nothing there without.... From me they should learn it.

(_Exit Watcher_.)

_FIFTH SCENE_.

TEJA. THEODEMIR. EURIC. ATHANARIC _and the_ OTHERS. LORDS.

Teja.

Your counsel, ye men!

Theodemir.

Sire, we have none to give.

Teja.

And thou, Euric, with all thy wisdom?

Euric.

Sire, I have served the great Theoderic. And yet he would have had none to give.

Teja.

Come then, I know.... It is easy and quick to be understood: Die!...

Why look ye at me with such mistrust?... Do ye not yet understand me?

Think ye I require ye to wrap yourselves in your mantles, like cowardly Greeks, and beg your neighbours for a thrust in the back? Be calm: I will protect you against shame, since I can no more lead you to honour.--Our place here cannot be taken, so long as thirty of us have power to wield our spears. But the hour shall come--and at no distant time--when the last arm, crippled by hunger, can no more be outstretched to beg quarter of the invading murderers.

Theodemir.

No Gothic man doeth that, King!

Teja.

For what thou art, thou canst give surety; for what thou shalt become, thou givest no surety to me. So I counsel and command ye to prepare yourselves for the last conflict. In the first gray of the morning, we shall burst forth from the clefts, and array ourselves against the Byzantian in open field.

All.

Sire, that is impossible.

Theodemir.

King, consider, we are one against a hundred.