younger and more active man than you."
The company again smiled to each other, as if to hint that the
philosopher, though also parcel wit by profession, had the worst of the
encounter. The Emperor at the same time interfered - "Nor did I send for
thee hither, good fellow, to be baited by idle taunts."
Here Agelastes shrunk back in the circle, as a hound that has been
rebuked by the huntsman for babbling - and the Princess Anna Comnena,
who had indicated by her fair features a certain degree of impatience,
at length spoke - "Will it then please you, my imperial and much-beloved
father, to inform those blessed with admission to the Muses' temple,
for what it is that you have ordered this soldier to be this night
admitted to a place so far above his rank in life? Permit me to say, we
ought not to waste, in frivolous and silly jests, the time which is
sacred to the welfare of the empire, as every moment of your leisure
must be."
"Our daughter speaks wisely," said the Empress Irene, who, like most
mothers who do not possess much talent themselves, and are not very
capable of estimating it in others, was, nevertheless, a great admirer
of her favourite daughter's accomplishments, and ready to draw them out
on all occasions. "Permit me to remark, that in this divine and
selected palace of the Muses, dedicated to the studies of our well-
beloved and highly-gifted daughter, whose pen will preserve your
reputation, our most imperial husband, till the desolation of the
universe, and which enlivens and delights this society, the very flower
of the wits of our sublime court; - permit me to say, that we have,
merely by admitting a single life-guardsman, given our conversation the
character of that which distinguishes a barrack."
Now the Emperor Alexius Comnenus had the same feeling with many an
honest man in ordinary life when his wife begins a long oration,
especially as the Empress Irene did not always retain the observance
consistent with his awful rule and right supremacy, although especially
severe in exacting it from all others, in reference to her lord.
Therefore, though, he had felt some pleasure in gaining a short release
from the monotonous recitation of the Princess's history, he now saw
the necessity of resuming it, or of listening to the matrimonial
eloquence of the Empress. He sighed, therefore, as he said, "I crave
your pardon, good our imperial spouse, and our daughter born in the
purple chamber. I remember me, our most amiable and accomplished
daughter, that last night you wished to know the particulars of the
battle of Laodicea, with the heathenish Arabs, whom Heaven confound.
And for certain considerations which moved ourselves to add other
enquiries to our own recollection, Achilles Tatius, our most trusty
Follower, was commissioned to introduce into this place one of those
soldiers under his command, being such a one whose courage and presence
of mind could best enable him to remark what passed around him on that
remarkable and bloody day. And this I suppose to be the man brought to
us for that purpose."
"If I am permitted to speak, and live," answered the Follower, "your
Imperial Highness, with those divine Princesses, whose name is to us as
those of blessed saints, have in your presence the flower of my Anglo-
Danes, or whatsoever unbaptized name is given to my soldiers. He is, as
I may say, a barbarian of barbarians; for, although in birth and
breeding unfit to soil with his feet the carpet of this precinct of
accomplishment and eloquence, he is so brave - so trusty - so devotedly
attached - and so unhesitatingly zealous, that" -
"Enough, good Follower," said the Emperor; "let us only know that he is
cool and observant, not confused and fluttered during close battle, as
we have sometimes observed in you and other great commanders - and, to
speak truth, have even felt in our imperial self on extraordinary
occasions. Which difference in man's constitution is not owing to any
inferiority of courage, but, in us, to a certain consciousness of the
importance of our own safety to the welfare of the whole, and to a
feeling of the number of duties which at once devolve on us. Speak then,
and speak quickly, Tatius; for I discern that our dearest consort, and
our thrice fortunate daughter born in the imperial chamber of purple,
seem to wax somewhat impatient."
"Hereward," answered Tatius, "is as composed and observant in battle,
as another in a festive dance. The dust of war is the breath of his
nostrils; and he will prove his worth in combat against any four
others, (Varangians excepted,) who shall term themselves your Imperial
Highness's bravest servants."
"Follower," said the Emperor, with a displeased look and tone, "instead
of instructing these poor, ignorant barbarians in the rules and
civilization of our enlightened empire, you foster, by such boastful
words, the idle pride and fury of their temper, which hurries them into
brawls with the legions of other foreign countries, and even breeds
quarrels among themselves."
"If my mouth may be opened in the way of most humble excuse," said the
Follower, "I would presume to reply, that I but an hour hence talked
with this poor ignorant Anglo-Dane, on the paternal care with which the
Imperial Majesty of Greece regards the preservation of that concord
which unites the followers of his standard, and how desirous he is to
promote that harmony, more especially amongst the various nations who
have the happiness to serve you, in spite of the bloodthirsty quarrels
of the Franks, and other northern men, who are never free from civil
broil. I think the poor youth's understanding can bear witness to this
much in my behalf." He then looked towards Hereward, who gravely
inclined his head in token of assent to what his captain said. His
excuse thus ratified, Achilles proceeded in his apology more firmly.
"What I have said even now was spoken without consideration; for,
instead of pretending that this Hereward would face four of your
Imperial Highness's servants, I ought to have said, that he was willing
to defy six of your Imperial Majesty's most deadly _enemies_, and
permit them to choose every circumstance of time, arms, and place of
combat."
"That hath a better sound," said the Emperor; "and in truth, for the
information of my dearest daughter, who piously has undertaken to
record the things which I have been the blessed means of doing for the
Empire, I earnestly wish that she should remember, that though the
sword of Alexius hath not slept in its sheath, yet he hath never sought
his own aggrandizement of fame at the price of bloodshed among his
subjects."
"I trust," said Anna Comnena, "that in my humble sketch of the life of
the princely sire from whom I derive my existence, I have not forgot to
notice his love of peace, and care for the lives of his soldiery, and
abhorrence of the bloody manners of the heretic Franks, as one of his
most distinguishing characteristics."
Assuming then an attitude more commanding, as one who was about to
claim the attention of the company, the Princess inclined her head
gently around to the audience, and taking a roll of parchment from the
fair amanuensis, which she had, in a most beautiful handwriting,
engrossed to her mistress's dictation, Anna Comnena prepared to read
its contents.
At this moment, the eyes of the Princess rested for an instant on the
barbarian Hereward, to whom she deigned this greeting - "Valiant
barbarian, of whom my fancy recalls some memory, as if in a dream, thou
art now to hear a work, which, if the author be put into comparison
with the subject, might be likened to a portrait of Alexander, in
executing which, some inferior dauber has usurped the pencil of
Apelles; but which essay, however it may appear unworthy of the subject
in the eyes of many, must yet command some envy in those who candidly
consider its contents, and the difficulty of portraying the great
personage concerning whom it is written. Still, I pray thee, give thine
attention to what I have now to read, since this account of the battle
of Laodicea, the details thereof being principally derived from his
Imperial Highness, my excellent father, from the altogether valiant
Protospathaire, his invincible general, together with Achilles Tatius,
the faithful Follower of our victorious Emperor, may nevertheless be in
some circumstances inaccurate. For it is to be thought, that the high
offices of those great commanders retained them at a distance from some
particularly active parts of the fray, in order that they might have
more cool and accurate opportunity to form a judgment upon the whole,
and transmit their orders, without being disturbed by any thoughts of
personal safety. Even so, brave barbarian, in the art of embroidery,
(marvel not that we are a proficient in that mechanical process, since
it is patronized by Minerva, whose studies we affect to follow,) we
reserve to ourselves the superintendence of the entire web, and commit
to our maidens and others the execution of particular parts. Thus, in
the same manner, thou, valiant Varangian, being engaged in the very
thickest of the affray before Laodicea, mayst point out to us, the
unworthy historian of so renowned a war, those chances which befell
where men fought hand to hand, and where the fate of war was decided by
the edge of the sword. Therefore, dread not, thou bravest of the axe-
men to whom we owe that victory, and so many others, to correct any
mistake or misapprehension which we may have been led into concerning
the details of that glorious event."
"Madam," said the Varangian, "I shall attend with diligence to what
your Highness may be pleased to read to me; although, as to presuming
to blame the history of a Princess born in the purple, far be such a
presumption from me; still less would it become a barbaric Varangian to
pass a judgment on the military conduct of the Emperor, by whom he is
liberally paid, or of the commander, by whom he is well treated. Before
an action, if our advice is required, it is ever faithfully tendered;
but according to my rough wit, our censure after the field is fought
would be more invidious than useful. Touching the Protospathaire, if it
be the duty of a general to absent himself from close action, I can
safely say, or swear, were it necessary, that the invincible commander
was never seen by me within a javelin's cast of aught that looked like
danger."
This speech, boldly and bluntly delivered, had a general effect on the
company present. The Emperor himself, and Achilles Tatius, looked like
men who had got off from a danger better than they expected. The
Protospathaire laboured to conceal a movement of resentment. Agelastes
whispered to the Patriarch, near whom he was placed, "The northern
battle-axe lacks neither point nor edge."
"Hush!" said Zosimus, "let us hear how this is to end; the Princess is
about to speak."
CHAPTER THE FOURTH.
We heard the Tecbir, so these Arabs call
Their shout of onset, when with loud acclaim
They challenged Heaven, as if demanding conquest.
The battle join'd, and through the barb'rous herd,
Fight, fight! and Paradise was all their cry.
THE SIEGE OF DAMASCUS.
The voice of the northern soldier, although modified by feelings of
respect to the Emperor, and even attachment to his captain, had more of
a tone of blunt sincerity, nevertheless, than was usually heard by the
sacred echoes of the imperial palace; and though the Princess Anna
Comnena began to think that she had invoked the opinion of a severe
judge, she was sensible, at the same time, by the deference of his
manner, that his respect was of a character more real, and his applause,
should she gain it, would prove more truly flattering, than the gilded
assent of the whole court of her father. She gazed with some surprise
and attention on Hereward, already described as a very handsome young
man, and felt the natural desire to please, which is easily created in
the mind towards a fine person of the other sex. His attitude was easy
and bold, but neither clownish nor uncourtly. His title of a barbarian,
placed him at once free from the forms of civilized life, and the rules
of artificial politeness. But his character for valour, and the noble
self-confidence of his bearing, gave him a deeper interest than would
have been acquired by a more studied and anxious address, or an excess
of reverential awe.
In short, the Princess Anna Comnena, high in rank as she was, and born
in the imperial purple, which she herself deemed the first of all
attributes, felt herself, nevertheless, in preparing to resume the
recitation of her history, more anxious to obtain the approbation of
this rude soldier, than that of all the rest of the courteous audience.
She knew them well, it is true, and felt nowise solicitous about the
applause which the daughter of the Emperor was sure to receive with
full hands from those of the Grecian court to whom she might choose to
communicate the productions of her father's daughter. But she had now a
judge of a new character, whose applause, if bestowed, must have
something in it intrinsically real, since it could only be obtained by
affecting his head or his heart.
It was perhaps under the influence of these feelings, that the Princess
was somewhat longer than usual in finding out the passage in the roll
of history at which she purposed to commence. It was also noticed, that
she began her recitation with a diffidence and embarrassment surprising
to the noble hearers, who had often seen her in full possession of her
presence of mind before what they conceived a more distinguished, and
even more critical audience.
Neither were the circumstances of the Varangian such as rendered the
scene indifferent to him. Anna Comnena had indeed attained her fifth
lustre, and that is a period after which Grecian beauty is understood
to commence its decline. How long she had passed that critical period,
was a secret to all but the trusted ward-women of the purple chamber.
Enough, that it was affirmed by the popular tongue, and seemed to be
attested by that bent towards philosophy and literature, which is not
supposed to be congenial to beauty in its earlier buds, to amount to
one or two years more. She might be seven-and-twenty.
Still Anna Comnena was, or had very lately been, a beauty of the very
first rank, and must be supposed to have still retained charms to
captivate a barbarian of the north; if, indeed, he himself was not
careful to maintain an heedful recollection of the immeasurable
distance between them. Indeed, even this recollection might hardly have
saved Hereward from the charms of this enchantress, bold, free-born,
and fearless as he was; for, during that time of strange revolutions,
there were many instances of successful generals sharing the couch of
imperial princesses, whom perhaps they had themselves rendered widows,
in order to make way for their own pretensions. But, besides the
influence of other recollections, which the reader may learn hereafter,
Hereward, though flattered by the unusual degree of attention which the
Princess bestowed upon him, saw in her only the daughter of his Emperor
and adopted liege lord, and the wife of a noble prince, whom reason and
duty alike forbade him to think of in any other light.
It was after one or two preliminary efforts that the Princess Anna
began her reading, with an uncertain voice, which gained strength and
fortitude as she proceeded with the following passage from a well-known
part of her history of Alexius Comnenus, but which unfortunately has
not been republished in the Byzantine historians. The narrative cannot,
therefore, be otherwise than acceptable to the antiquarian reader; and
the author hopes to receive the thanks of the learned world for the
recovery of a curious fragment, which, without his exertions, must
probably have passed to the gulf of total oblivion.
THE RETREAT OF LAODICEA.
NOW FIRST PUBLISHED FROM THE GREEK OF THE PRINCESS COMNENA'S HISTORY OF
HER FATHER.
"The sun had betaken himself to his bed in the ocean, ashamed, it would
seem, to see the immortal army of our most sacred Emperor Alexius
surrounded by those barbarous hordes of unbelieving barbarians, who, as
described in our last chapter, had occupied the various passes both in
front and rear of the Romans, [Footnote: More properly termed the
Greeks; but we follow the phraseology of the fair authoress.] secured
during the preceding night by the wily barbarians. Although, therefore,
a triumphant course of advance had brought us to this point, it now
became a serious and doubtful question whether our victorious eagles
might be able to penetrate any farther into the country of the enemy,
or even to retreat with safety into their own.
"The extensive acquaintance of the Emperor with military affairs, in
which he exceeds most living princes, had induced him, on the preceding
evening, to ascertain, with marvellous exactitude and foresight, the
precise position of the enemy. In this most necessary service he
employed certain light-armed barbarians, whose habits and discipline
had been originally derived from the wilds of Syria; and, if I am
required to speak according to the dictation of Truth, seeing she ought
always to sit upon the pen of a historian, I must needs say they were
infidels like their enemies; faithfully attached, however, to the Roman
service, and, as I believe, true slaves of the Emperor, to whom they
communicated the information required by him respecting the position of
his dreaded opponent Jezdegerd. These men did not bring in their
information till long after the hour when the Emperor usually betook
himself to rest.
"Notwithstanding this derangement of his most sacred time, our imperial
father, who had postponed the ceremony of disrobing, so important were
the necessities of the moment, continued, until deep in the night, to
hold a council of his wisest chiefs, men whose depth of judgment might
have saved a sinking world, and who now consulted what was to be done
under the pressure of the circumstances in which they were now placed.
And so great was the urgency, that all ordinary observances of the
household were set aside, since I have heard from those who witnessed
the fact, that the royal bed was displayed in the very room where the
council assembled, and that the sacred lamp, called the Light of the
Council, and which always burns when the Emperor presides in person
over the deliberations of his servants, was for that night - a thing
unknown in our annals - fed with unperfumed oil!!"
The fair speaker here threw her fine form into an attitude which
expressed holy horror, and the hearers intimated their sympathy in the
exciting cause by corresponding signs of interest; as to which we need
only say, that the sigh of Achilles Tatius was the most pathetic; while
the groan of Agelastes the Elephant was deepest and most tremendously
bestial in its sound. Hereward seemed little moved, except by a slight
motion of surprise at the wonder expressed by the others. The Princess,
having allowed due time for the sympathy of her hearers to exhibit
itself, proceeded as follows: -
"In this melancholy situation, when even the best-established and most
sacred rites of the imperial household gave way to the necessity of a
hasty provision for the morrow, the opinions of the counsellors were
different, according to their tempers and habits; a thing, by the way,
which may be remarked as likely to happen among the best and wisest on
such occasions of doubt and danger.
"I do not in this place put down the names and opinions of those whose
counsels were proposed and rejected, herein paying respect to the
secrecy and freedom of debate justly attached to the imperial cabinet.
Enough it is to say, that some there were who advised a speedy attack
upon the enemy, in the direction of our original advance. Others
thought it was safer, and might be easier, to force our way to the rear,
and retreat by the same course which had brought us hither; nor must it
be concealed, that there were persons of unsuspected fidelity, who
proposed a third course, safer indeed than the others, but totally
alien to the mind of our most magnanimous father. They recommended that
a confidential slave, in company with a minister of the interior of our
imperial palace, should be sent to the tent of Jezdegerd, in order to
ascertain upon what terms the barbarian would permit our triumphant
father to retreat in safety at the head of his victorious army. On
learning such opinion, our imperial father was heard to exclaim,
'Sancta Sophia!' being the nearest approach to an adjuration which he
has been known to permit himself, and was apparently about to say
something violent both concerning the dishonour of the advice, and the
cowardice of those by whom, it was preferred, when, recollecting the
mutability of human things, and the misfortune of several of his
Majesty's gracious predecessors, some of whom had been compelled to
surrender their sacred persons to the infidels in the same region, his
Imperial Majesty repressed his generous feelings, and only suffered his
army counsellors to understand his sentiments by a speech, in which he
declared so desperate and so dishonourable a course would be the last
which he would adopt, even in the last extremity of danger. Thus did
the judgment of this mighty Prince at once reject counsel that seemed
shameful to his arms, and thereby encourage the zeal of his troops,
while privately he kept this postern in reserve, which in utmost need
might serve for a safe, though not altogether, in less urgent
circumstances, an honourable retreat.
"When the discussion had reached this melancholy crisis, the renowned
Achilles Tatius arrived with the hopeful intelligence, that he himself
and some soldiers of his corps had discovered an opening on the left
flank of our present encampment, by which, making indeed a considerable
circuit, but reaching, if we marched with vigour, the town of Laodicea,
we might, by falling back on our resources, be in some measure in
surety from the enemy.
"So soon as this ray of hope darted on the troubled mind of our
gracious father, he proceeded to make such arrangements as might secure
the full benefit of the advantage. His Imperial Highness would not
permit the brave Varangians, whose battle-axes he accounted the flower
of his imperial army, to take the advanced posts of assailants on the
present occasion. He repressed the love of battle by which these
generous foreigners have been at all times distinguished, and directed
that the Syrian forces in the army, who have been before mentioned,
should be assembled with as little noise as possible in the vicinity of
the deserted pass, with instructions to occupy it. The good genius of
the empire suggested that, as their speech, arms, and appearance,
resembled those of the enemy, they might be permitted unopposed to take
post in the defile with their light-armed forces, and thus secure it
for the passage of the rest of the army, of which he proposed that the
Varangians, as immediately attached to his own sacred person, should
form the vanguard. The well-known battalions, termed the Immortals,
came next, comprising the gross of the army, and forming the centre and
rear. Achilles Tatius, the faithful Follower of his Royal Master,
although mortified that he was not permitted to assume the charge of
the rear, which he had proposed for himself and his valiant troops, as
the post of danger at the time, cheerfully acquiesced, nevertheless, in
the arrangement proposed by the Emperor, as most fit to effect the
imperial safety, and that of the army.
"The imperial orders, as they were sent instantly abroad, were in like
manner executed with the readiest punctuality, the rather that they
indicated a course of safety which had been almost despaired of even by
the oldest soldiers. During the dead period of time, when, as the
divine Homer tells us, gods and men are alike asleep, it was found that
the vigilance and prudence of a single individual had provided safety
for the whole Roman army. The pinnacles of the mountain passes were
scarcely touched by the earliest beams of the dawn, when these beams
were also reflected from the steel caps and spears of the Syrians,
under the command of a captain named Monastras, who, with his tribe,
had attached himself to the empire. The Emperor, at the head of his
faithful Varangians, defiled through the passes in order to gain that
degree of advance on the road to the city of Laodicea which was desired,
so as to avoid coming into collision with the barbarians.
"It was a goodly sight to see the dark mass of northern warriors, who
now led the van of the army, moving slowly and steadily through the
defiles of the mountains, around the insulated rocks and precipices,
and surmounting the gentler acclivities, like the course of a strong
and mighty river; while the loose bands of archers and javelin-men,
armed after the Eastern manner, were dispersed on the steep sides of
the defiles, and might be compared to light foam upon the edge of the
torrent. In the midst of the squadrons of the life-guard might be seen
the proud war-horse of his Imperial Majesty, which pawed the earth
indignantly, as if impatient at the delay which separated, him from his
august burden. The Emperor Alexius himself travelled in a litter, borne
by eight strong African slaves, that he might rise perfectly refreshed
if the army should be overtaken by the enemy. The valiant Achilles
Tatius rode near the couch of his master, that none of those luminous
ideas, by which our august sire so often decided the fate of battle,
might be lost for want of instant communication to those whose duty it
was to execute them. I may also say, that there were close to the
litter of the Emperor, three or four carriages of the same kind; one
prepared for the Moon, as she may be termed, of the universe, the
gracious Empress Irene. Among the others which might be mentioned, was
that which contained the authoress of this history, unworthy as she may
be of distinction, save as the daughter of the eminent and sacred
persons whom the narration chiefly concerns. In this manner the
imperial army pressed on through the dangerous defiles, where their
march was exposed to insults from the barbarians. They were happily
cleared without any opposition. When we came to the descent of the pass
which looks down on the city of Laodicea, the sagacity of the Emperor
commanded the van - which, though the soldiers composing the same were
heavily armed, had hitherto marched extremely fast - to halt, as well
that they themselves might take some repose and refreshment, as to give
the rearward forces time to come up, and close various gaps which the
rapid movement of those in front had occasioned in, the line of march.
"The place chosen for this purpose was eminently beautiful, from the
small and comparatively insignificant ridge of hills which melt
irregularly down into the plains stretching between the pass which we
occupied and Laodicea. The town was about one hundred stadia distant,
and some of our more sanguine warriors pretended that they could
already discern its towers and pinnacles, glittering in the early beams
of the sun, which had not as yet risen high into the horizon. A
mountain torrent, which found its source at the foot of a huge rock,
that yawned to give it birth, as if struck by the rod of the prophet
Moses, poured its liquid treasure down to the more level country,
nourishing herbage and even large trees, in its descent, until, at the
distance of some four or five miles, the stream, at least in dry
seasons, was lost amid heaps of sand and stones, which in the rainy
season marked the strength and fury of its current.
"It was pleasant to see the attention of the Emperor to the comforts of
the companions and guardians of his march. The trumpets from time to
time gave license to various parties of the Varangians to lay down
their arms, to eat the food which was distributed to them, and quench
their thirst at the pure stream, which poured its bounties down the
hill, or they might be seen to extend their bulky forms upon the turf
around them. The Emperor, his most serene spouse, arid the princesses
and ladies, were also served with breakfast, at the fountain formed by
the small brook in its very birth, and which the reverent feelings of
the soldiers had left unpolluted by vulgar touch, for the use of that
family, emphatically said to be born in the purple. Our beloved husband
was also present on this occasion, and was among the first to detect
one of the disasters of the day. For, although all the rest of the
repast had been, by the dexterity of the officers of the imperial mouth,
so arranged, even on so awful an occasion, as to exhibit little
difference from the ordinary provisions of the household, yet, when his
Imperial Highness called for wine, behold, not only was the sacred
liquor, dedicated to his own peculiar imperial use, wholly exhausted or
left behind, but, to use the language of Horace, not the vilest Sabine
vintage could be procured; so that his Imperial Highness was glad to
accept the offer of a rude Varangian, who proffered his modicum of
decocted barley, which these barbarians prefer to the juice of the
grape. The Emperor, nevertheless, accepted of this coarse tribute."
"Insert," said the Emperor, who had been hitherto either plunged in
deep contemplation or in an incipient slumber, "insert, I say, these
very words: 'And with the heat of the morning, and anxiety of so rapid
a march, with a numerous enemy in his rear, the Emperor was so thirsty,
as never in his life to think beverage more delicious.'"
In obedience to her imperial father's orders, the Princess resigned the
manuscript to the beautiful slave by whom it was written, repeating to
the fair scribe the commanded addition, requiring her to note it, as
made by the express sacred command of the Emperor, and then proceeded
thus: - "More had I said here respecting the favourite liquor of your
Imperial Highnesses faithful Varangians; but your Highness having once
graced it with a word of commendation, this _ail_, as they call it,
doubtless because removing all disorders, which they term 'ailments,'
becomes a theme too lofty for the discussion of any inferior person.
Suffice it to say, that thus were we all pleasantly engaged, the ladies
and slaves trying to find some amusement for the imperial ears; the
soldiers, in a long line down the ravine, seen in different postures,
some straggling to the watercourse, some keeping guard over the arms of
their comrades, in which duty they relieved each other, while body
after body of the remaining troops, under command of the Protospathaire,
and particularly those called Immortals, [Footnote: The [Greek:
Athanatoi], or Immortals, of the army of Constantinople, were a select
body, so named, in imitation of the ancient Persians. They were first
embodied, according to Ducange, by Michael Ducas] joined the main army
as they came up. Those soldiers who were already exhausted, were
allowed to take a short repose, after which they were sent forward,
with directions to advance steadily on the road to Laodicea; while
their leader was instructed, so soon as he should open a free
communication with that city, to send thither a command for
reinforcements and refreshments, not forgetting fitting provision of
the sacred wine for the imperial mouth. Accordingly, the Roman bands of
Immortals and others had resumed their march, and held some way on
their journey, it being the imperial pleasure that the Varangians,
lately the vanguard, should now form the rear of the whole army, so as
to bring off in safety the Syrian light troops, by whom the hilly pass
was still occupied, when we heard upon the other side of this defile,
which he had traversed with so much safety, the awful sound of the
_Lelies_, as the Arabs name their shout of onset, though in what
language it is expressed, it would be hard to say. Perchance some in
this audience may enlighten my ignorance."
"May I speak and live," said the Acoulouthos Achilles, proud of his
literary knowledge, "the words are, _Alla illa alla, Mohamed resoul
alla_.[Footnote: i. e. "God is god - Mahomet is the prophet of God."]
These, or something like them, contain the Arabs' profession of faith,
which they always call out when they join battle; I have heard them
many times."
"And so have I," said the Emperor; "and as thou didst, I warrant me, I
have sometimes wished myself anywhere else than within hearing."
All the circle were alive to hear the answer of Achilles Tatius. He was
too good a courtier, however, to make any imprudent reply. "It was my
duty," he replied, "to desire to be as near your Imperial Highness as
your faithful Follower ought, wherever you might wish yourself for the
time."
Agelastes and Zosimus exchanged looks, and the Princess Anna Comnena
proceeded in her recitation.
"The cause of these ominous sounds, which came in wild confusion up the
rocky pass, was soon explained to us by a dozen cavaliers, to whom the
task of bringing intelligence had been assigned.
"These informed us, that the barbarians, whose host had been dispersed
around the position in which they had encamped the preceding day, had
not been enabled to get their forces together until our light troops
were evacuating the post they had occupied for securing the retreat of
our army. They were then drawing off from the tops of the hills into
the pass itself, when, in despite of the rocky ground, they were
charged furiously by Jezdegerd, at the head of a large body of his
followers, which, after repeated exertions, he had at length brought to
operate on the rear of the Syrians. Notwithstanding that the pass was
unfavourable for cavalry, the personal exertions of the infidel chief
made his followers advance with a degree of resolution unknown to the
Syrians of the Roman army, who, finding themselves at a distance from
their companions, formed the injurious idea that they were left thereto
be sacrificed, and thought of flight in various directions, rather than
of a combined and resolute resistance. The state of affairs, therefore,
at the further end of the pass, was less favourable than we could wish,
and those whose curiosity desired to see something which might be
termed the rout of the rear of an army, beheld the Syrians pursued from
the hill tops, overwhelmed, and individually cut down and made
prisoners by the bands of caitiff Mussulmans.
"His Imperial Highness looked upon the scene of battle for a few
minutes, and, much commoved at what he saw, was somewhat hasty in his
directions to the Varangians to resume their arms, and precipitate
their march towards Laodicea; whereupon one of those northern soldiers
said boldly, though in opposition to the imperial command, 'If we
attempt to go hastily down this hill, our rear-guard will be confused,
not only by our own hurry, but by these runaway scoundrels of Syrians,
who in their headlong flight will not fail to mix themselves among our
ranks. Let two hundred Varangians, who will live and die for the honour
of England, abide in the very throat of this pass with me, while the
rest escort the Emperor to this Laodicea, or whatever it is called. We
may perish in our defence, but we shall die in our duty; and I have
little doubt but we shall furnish such a meal as will stay the stomach
of these yelping hounds from seeking any farther banquet this day.'
"My imperial father at once discovered the importance of this advice,
though it made him wellnigh weep to see with what unshrinking fidelity
these poor barbarians pressed to fill up the number of those who were
to undertake this desperate duty - with what kindness they took leave of
their comrades, and with what jovial shouts they followed their
sovereign with their eyes as he proceeded on his march down the hill,
leaving them behind to resist and perish. The Imperial eyes were filled
with tears; and I am not ashamed to confess, that amid the terror of
the moment, the Empress, and I myself, forgot our rank in paying a
similar tribute to these bold and self-devoted men.
"We left their leader carefully arraying his handful of comrades in
defence of the pass, where the middle path was occupied by their centre,
while their wings on either side were so disposed as to act upon the
flanks of the enemy, should he rashly press upon such as appeared
opposed to him in the road. We had not proceeded half way towards the
plain, when a dreadful shout arose, in which the yells of the Arabs
were mingled with the deep and more regular shouts which these
strangers usually repeat thrice, as well when bidding hail to their
commanders and princes, as when in the act of engaging in battle. Many
a look was turned back by their comrades, and many a form was seen in
the ranks which might have claimed the chisel of a sculptor, while the
soldier hesitated whether to follow the line of his duty, which called
him to march forward with his Emperor, or the impulse of courage, which
prompted him to rush back to join his companions. Discipline, however,
prevailed, and the main body marched on.
"An hour had elapsed, during which we heard, from time to time, the
noise of battle, when a mounted Varangian presented himself at the side
of the Emperor's litter. The horse was covered with foam, and had
obviously, from his trappings, the fineness of his limbs, and the
smallness of his joints, been the charger of some chief of the desert,
which had fallen by the chance of battle into the possession of the
northern warrior. The broad axe which the Varangian bore was also
stained with blood, and the paleness of death itself was upon his
countenance. These marks of recent battle were held sufficient to
excuse the irregularity of his salutation, while he exclaimed, - 'Noble
Prince, the Arabs are defeated, and you may pursue your march at more
leisure.'
"'Where is Jezdegerd?' said the Emperor, who had many reasons for
dreading this celebrated chief.
"'Jezdegerd,' continued the Varangian, 'is where brave men are who fall
in their duty.'
"'And that is' - said the Emperor, impatient to know distinctly the fate
of so formidable an adversary -
"'Where I am now going,' answered the faithful soldier, who dropped
from his horse as he spoke, and expired at the feet of the litter-
bearers. The Emperor called to his attendants to see that the body of
this faithful retainer, to whom he destined an honourable sepulchre,
was not left to the jackal or vulture; and some of his brethren, the
Anglo-Saxons, among whom he was a man of no mean repute, raised the
body on their shoulders, and resumed their march with this additional
encumbrance, prepared to fight for their precious burden, like the
valiant Menelaus for the body of Patroclus."
The Princess Anna Comnena here naturally paused; for, having attained
what she probably considered as the rounding of a period, she was
willing to gather an idea of the feelings of her audience. Indeed, but
that she had been intent upon her own manuscript, the emotions of the
foreign soldier must have more early attracted her attention. In the
beginning of her recitation, he had retained the same attitude which he
had at first assumed, stiff and rigid as a sentinel upon duty, and