"I am silent because I differ from you."
The others were amazed. Hildebrand spoke:
"What dost thou mean, my son?"
"Hildebad and Totila do not see any danger; thou and Witichis see it and hope; but I saw it long ago, and have no hope."
"Thou seest too darkly; who dare despair before the battle?" said Witichis.
"Shall we perish with our swords in the sheath, without a struggle and without fame?" cried Totila.
"Not without a struggle, my Totila, and not without fame, I am sure," answered Teja, slightly swinging his battle-axe. "We will fight so that it shall never be forgotten in all future ages; fight with highest fame, but without victory. The star of the Goths is setting."
"Meseems, on the contrary, that it will rise very high," cried Totila impatiently. "Let us go to the King; speak to him, Hildebrand, as thou hast spoken to us. He is wise; he will devise means."
The old man shook his head:
"I have spoken to him twenty times. He listens no more. He is tired and will die, and his soul is darkened, I know not by what shadows. What is thy advice, Hildebad?"