"Remain," he said; "we dare not hide it from him any longer. King! the Goths murmur. To-day they would not obey thee; the attack is impossible."
"Stand things so?" said Witichis bitterly. "The attack is impossible? Then only one thing remains: the course which I should have taken yesterday--then those three thousand would have been still living. Go, Hildebad, take that crown and sceptre! Go to the rebels' camp; lay them at the feet of young Arahad; tell him that he may woo Mataswintha; I and my army will greet him as our King."
And, so speaking, he threw himself exhausted upon his couch.
"Thou speakest feverishly again," cried Hildebrand.
"That is impossible!" cried Teja.
"Impossible!" repeated Witichis. "Everything is impossible? The fight impossible? and the renunciation? I tell thee, old man, there is nothing else to be done, after that message from Ravenna."
He ceased.
His three companions looked at each other significantly.
At last the old man said:
"What was that message? Perhaps an expedient may be found? Eight eyes see more than two."