"Your heir, to whom the crown belongs--Theodahad, the last of the Amelungs."
"What! that feeble creature?"
"He is no hero, it is true; but heroes will obey the nephew of Theodoric if you place him on the throne. And, consider, his Roman education has won the Italians for him; they will stand by him. They would both fear and hate a king after Hildebrand's heart."
"And rightly," answered the Queen reflectively. "But Gothelindis, Queen!"
Cethegus came nearer, and looked keenly into her eyes.
"Amalaswintha is not so mean as to nourish a pitiful feminine enmity when there is need of a noble resolve. You have ever appeared to me nobler than your sex. Now prove it, and decide."
"Not now," said Amalaswintha. "My head burns and my brain is confused. Let me alone to-night. You believe me capable of self-sacrifice. I thank you for that at least. To-morrow I will decide."
BOOK III.
THEODAHAD.
"It seemed to Theodahad that to have neighbours was a kind
of misfortune."--Procopius: Wars of the Goths, i. 3.