The Project Gutenberg EBook of Veranilda, by George Gissing

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Title: Veranilda

Author: George Gissing

Posting Date: July 12, 2009 [EBook #4306]
Release Date: August, 2003
First Posted: January 3, 2002

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK VERANILDA ***

Produced by Charles Aldarondo. HTML version by Al Haines.

Veranilda

By

George Gissing

CONTENTS

I THE VANQUISHED ROMAN
II BASIL'S VISION
III THE DEACON LEANDER
IV TO CUMAE
V BASIL AND VERANILDA
VI THE EMPEROR'S COMMAND
VII HERESY
VIII THE SNARE
IX CHORSOMAN
X THE ANICIANS
XI SEEKING
XII HELIODORA
XIII THE SOUL OF ROME
XIV SILVIA'S DREAM
XV YOUNG ROME
XVI WHISPERS
XVII LEANDER THE POLITIC
XVIII PELAGIUS
XIX THE PRISONER OF PRAENESTE
XX THE ISLAND IN THE LIRIS
XXI THE BETRAYER BETRAYED
XXII DOOM
XXIII THE RED HAND
XXIV THE MOUNT OF THE MONK
XXV THE ABBOT'S TOWER
XXVI VIVAS IN DEO
XXVII THE KING OF THE GOTHS
XXVIII AT HADRIAN'S VILLA
XXIX ROME BELEAGUERED
XXX * * * *

CHAPTER I

THE VANQUISHED ROMAN

Seven years long had the armies of Justinian warred against the Goths
in Italy. Victor from Rhegium to Ravenna, the great commander
Belisarius had returned to the East, Carrying captive a Gothic king.
The cities of the conquered land were garrisoned by barbarians of many
tongues, who bore the name of Roman soldiers; the Italian people,
brought low by slaughter, dearth, and plague, crouched under the
rapacious tyranny of governors from Byzantium.

Though children born when King Theodoric still reigned had yet scarce
grown to manhood, that golden age seemed already a legend of the past.
Athalaric, Amalasuntha, Theodahad, last of the Amal blood, had held the
throne in brief succession and were gone; warriors chosen at will by
the Gothic host, mere kings of the battlefield, had risen and perished;
reduced to a wandering tribe, the nation which alone of her invaders
had given peace and hope to Italy, which alone had reverenc