"Come, priest, thou must go up to the King!"
Silverius thought it would have been more becoming if the King had come down to him, and Hildebad seemed to read something of this feeling on his features, for he cried:
"It cannot be helped! Stoop, priest!"
And herewith he pressed his hand upon the shoulder of one of the priests who carried the litter. The bearers now set the litter down; Silverius left it with a sigh, and followed Hildebad up the steps.
When the priest reached Witichis, the latter took his hand, advanced with him to the edge of the steps, and said:
"Roman citizens, your priest has been chosen for your Bishop; I ratify the choice; he shall become Pope, as soon as he has sworn the oath of allegiance, and has taken for me your oaths of fealty. Swear, priest!"
For one moment Silverius was confounded.
But immediately recovering himself, he turned with an unctuous smile to Witichis.
"You command?" he asked.
"Swear," said Witichis, "that in our absence you will do all that you can to keep this city of Rome faithful to the Goths, to whom you owe so much, to further us in all things, and to hinder the progress of our enemies. Swear fidelity to the Goths!"