Historical Tales, Vol 5 | Page 8

the bath he received a wine-cup from the hands of his
treacherous wife, and lifted it to his lips. But no sooner had he tasted
the liquor, and felt the shock that it gave his system, than he knew that
he was poisoned. Death, a speedy death, was in his veins, but he had
life enough left for revenge. Seizing his dagger, he pressed it to the
breast of Rosamond, and by threats of instant death compelled her to
drain the remainder of the cup. In a few minutes both the guilty
partners in the death of Alboin had breathed their last.
When Longinus was, at a later moment, summoned into the room, it
was to find his late guests both dead upon the floor. The poison had
faithfully done its work. Thus ended a historic tragedy than which the
stage possesses few of more striking dramatic interest and opportunities
for histrionic effect.

_THE CAREER OF GRIMOALD._
The Avars, led by Cacan, their king, crossed, in the year 611, the
mountains of Illyria and Lombardy, killed Gisulph, the grand duke,
with all his adherents, in battle, and laid siege to the city of Friuli,
behind whose strong walls Romilda, the widow of Gisulph, had taken
refuge. These events formed the basis of the romantic, and perhaps
largely legendary, story we have to tell.
One day, so we are told, Romilda, gazing from the ramparts of the city,
beheld Cacan, the young khan of the Avars, engaged in directing the
siege. So handsome to her eyes appeared the youthful soldier that she
fell deeply in love with him at sight, her passion growing until, in
disregard of honor and patriotism, she sent him a secret message,
offering to deliver up to him the city on condition of becoming his wife.
The khan, though doubtless despising her treachery to her people, was
quick to close with the offer, and in a short time Friuli was in his hands.

This accomplished, he returned to Hungary, taking with him Romilda
and her children, of whom there were four sons and four daughters.
Cacan kept his compact with the traitress, marrying her with the
primitive rites of the Hungarians. But her married life was of the
shortest. He had kept his word, and such honor as he possessed was
satisfied. The morning after his marriage, moved perhaps by detestation
of her treachery, he caused the hapless Romilda to be impaled alive. It
was a dark end to a dark deed, and the perfidy of the woman had been
matched by an equal perfidy on the part of the man.
The children of Romilda were left in the hands of the Avars. Of her
daughters, one subsequently married a duke of Bavaria and another a
duke of Allemania. The four sons, one of whom was Grimoald, the
hero of our story, managed to escape from their savage captors, though
they were hotly pursued. In their flight, Grimoald, the youngest, was
taken up behind Tafo, the oldest; but in the rapid course he lost his hold
and fell from his brother's horse.
Tafo, knowing what would be the fate of the boy should he be captured,
turned and galloped upon him lance in hand, determined that he should
not fall alive into the hands of his cruel foes. But Grimoald's entreaties
and Tafo's brotherly affection induced him to change his resolution,
and, snatching up the boy, he continued his flight, the pursuing Avars
being now close at hand.
Not far had they ridden before the same accident occurred. Grimoald
again fell, and Tafo was now obliged to leave him to his fate, the fierce
pursuers being too near to permit him either to kill or save the unlucky
boy. On swept Tafo, up swept the Avars, and one of them, halting,
seized the young captive, threw him behind him on his horse, and rode
on after his fellows.
Grimoald's peril was imminent, but he was a child with the soul of a
warrior. As his captor pushed on in the track of his companions, the
brave little fellow suddenly snatched a knife from his belt, and in an
instant had stabbed him to the heart with his own weapon Tossing the
dead body from the saddle, Grimoald seized the bridle and rode swiftly
on, avoiding the Avars, and in the end rejoining his flying brothers. It

was a deed worthy the childhood of one who was in time to become a
famous warrior.
The fugitives reached Lombardy, where Tafo was hospitably received
by the king, and succeeded his father as Grand Duke of Friuli.
Grimoald was adopted by Arigil, Duke of Benevento, in whose court
he grew to manhood, and in whose service his courage and military
ability were quickly shown. There were wars between Benevento and
the