Louis de Wohl - Citadel of God: A Novel about Saint Benedict

Citadel of God

A Novel about
Saint Benedict

by
Louis de Wohl

IGNATIUS PRESS SAN FRANCISCO

First edition published by
J. B. Lippincott Company
Philadelphia and New York

Cover by Christopher J. Pelicano

1959, Louis de Wohl
Renewed 1987 by Ruth Magdelene de Wohl
All rights reserved
ISBN 0-89870-404-9
Library of Congress catalogue number 91-77212
Printed in the United States of America

R OME IS FINISHED, said Senator Albinus. He sipped his wine, then held up the goblet carved from amethyst. Very pretty, he approved. I wonder where they find stones large enough to be cut like this. Very pretty.

Senator Boethius frowned. They come from India, I believe, he said, with a warning glance towards his wife.

But Rusticiana was beyond taking notice. Her face was drained of blood, and her hands twitched. Rome is indeed finished, she said breathlessly, if there are no Romans left. And I see there arent.

The boy Peter gazed at her with rapt admiration. She was as beautiful as a goddess when she was angry. She was a white flame burning.

Romans, Senator Albinus drawled. I wouldnt say there arent any, Domina Rusticiana, but they are few, you know. The city prefect tells me he had great difficulty in getting the men together for the escort of honor.

The escort of honor for a barbarian tyrant, Rusticiana said icily. Indeed, I hope it was difficult. It is bad enough that anyone at all would comply.

Oh, it wasnt for that reason, Im afraid, Albinus said dryly. They didnt want to wear armor all day. So heavy, dont you see, and standing on the walls and in the streets in it for hours on end. The city prefect had to grant them three sesterces for special duty. They asked for five, at first. He smiled at Rusticianas disgust. The trouble with you, Domina, is that you were born five centuries too late. On second thought, make it a thousand years. You ought to have been a contemporary of Cloelia, Virginia, and Lucretia.

I wish I could return the compliment, Rusticiana snapped.

Dont you see that he talks like that only because he, too, is suffering? Boethius asked with gentle reproach.

Talking seems to be all that is done, she said. If there were one true Roman left, he would act.

What would you have him do, Domina? Albinus asked, mockery in his tone, but not in his eyes. Have a nice, hot bath and open his veins? Old Scaurus did that, last week, when he heard that the King was coming to Rome.

He was eighty, Rusticiana said, her eyes blazing. And at that age the only veins a man can open are his own. But at least he did do that.

Albinus looked at Boethius. Do you know, I begin to believe your wife wants me to go and kill the King. He laughed. As her husband, I trust she has given you first chance.

A thousand years ago, Rusticiana said, at the time of Lucretia, we threw out our own King, and not even the maddest of the Caesars dared to assume that title again. Now we are to give it to an Ostrogoth.

Just as I thought. Albinus gave a nod. No denial. No contradiction. I wonder what you told her when she suggested it. But whatever it was, it doesnt seem to have been very convincing. Very well, Ill have a try. He turned to Rusticiana, the mask of amused banter gone. The clever little face with its small, almost womanish mouth was tense. What do you think would happen in such a case? he asked softly. Not that I could succeedthere are clusters of his brawny giants around him all the time, and theyd cut me down as soon as they saw a sword or dagger in my hand. But lets assume I succeed before they cut me down. What would happen? First, theyd massacre everybody in sight. I am a senator, so is your husband and so, of course, is your noble father. Theyd kill every member of the Senate, Domina, and they would not choose an easy death. Nothing would convince them that this wasnt a conspiracy, and theyd torture all of us to get the names of other conspirators. King Theodoric isnt coming here alone, you know. Hell have a small army with him, and his men dont mind wearing armor. They would have to elect a new king, naturally. Theodoric has no son, only a daughter, and she is little more than a child. Theyd choose a soldier-king. Young Tuluin, perhaps, or his cousin Ibba or someone of that kind. Theodoric is a barbarian, but at least he has some respect for our culture and civilization; and hes practically the only one who has. His successors first great action would be to avenge Theodorics death. There is no Roman army on whom he could avenge it, so hed have to find a scapegoat. There is only one: Rome itself. Hed burn it down, destroy it. No one could stop him. Do you want this to happen, Domina? You would lose your husband, your father, your friends, your wealth, and your home, and Rome would be in ashes. And Italy would still be ruled by the Ostrogoths, under a king worse than Theodoric. Youd gain nothing.

I? Rusticiana asked. You dont think I would survive my husbands death, do you? But we would all die as free Romans. And history would record it.

History would do no such thing, Albinus returned to his easy, almost playful tone. And that for the simple reason that thered be no one left to write it down, except perhaps Cassiodor. The King has made him his private secretary, Im told.

Magnus Aurelius Cassiodorus, Rusticiana said bitterly. A man of his family and upbringing, the secretary of Theodoric. Freedom has no meaning any longer, it seems.

Nothing has any meaning when youre dead, Albinus said, with a shrug. Forgive me, Rusticianayou and your husband are known to be good Christians and therefore you believe in a good many things. They baptized me too, but... well, never mind. As for Cassiodor, he wouldnt survive the Kings death either, Im afraid. But no historian worthy of the name could possibly record that Rome was burned because the Romans rose against the tyrant and fought for their freedom. It wouldnt be true. It may be extremely regrettable, but on the whole they are not opposed to Theodorics regime at all.

Albinus!

Im afraid hes right, Rusticiana, Boethius said sadly.

Youre living in a dream world, Domina, Albinus went on. You seem to forget that the man has been the ruler of Italy for seven years. True, this is the first time hes come to Rome. But what of it? Hes been ruling Rome from Ravenna, just as some of our own emperors did in the past. This is no more than a visit, a ceremonial visit, of course, with everyone present in his best clothes to greet the great royal illiterate.

He cant write? Hes as crude as that!

He does quite well, nevertheless. Hes not a stupid ox as so many of them are. He likes erudite people, Im told. Hes an organizer, too; and for a German hes remarkably mild.

True, Boethius agreed quietly.

His laws are not without a kind of down-to-earth wisdom, Albinus continued. Hes shrewd. Twice within the last five years he has lowered the taxes. And those of my colleagues in the Senate who visited him in Ravenna, say that he has great dignity and even that he is a great ruler in his own barbarous way.

He bought them, no doubt, Rusticiana said contemptuously. Not all senators are as wealthy as you are, Albinus. And if it werent for that and for the fact that you are an old friend of my husbands, I would be tempted to ask what he has done for you that you defend him so eagerly.

Rusticiana, Boethius said severely, you forget yourself. Do not pay any attention to this, Albinus, I beg of you. My wife is very young and very much upset by this... royal visit.

Im not offended. Albinus smiled. In fact, I admire your wifes spirit. And there is no harm in saying what one feels... here, in the great house of the Anicians. Elsewhere, of course, it might be a little dangerous. The Anician family knows how to choose its slaves, too. Besides, were among ourselves, in this room, the three of usthe four of us, I mean, he corrected himself, still smiling. I almost forgot our young friend here. But you wont give us away, Peter, I know that.