"Thou speakest truth!" cried Adalgoth. "Even today shall be our wedding!" and he lifted Gotho upon his left arm, and showed her to all the people. "Look here, ye good Goths! This is my little wife and duchess!" "With your favour!" said a modest voice. "When so much sunshine falls upon the summits and heights of the nation, the lower vegetation would also gladly share some of its warmth." A homely-looking man approached the King, leading a pretty girl by the hand. "Is it thou, brave Wachis?" cried Earl Teja, going up to him. "And no longer a bond-servant, but with the long hair of a freedman?" "Yes, sir. My poor master. King Witichis, gave me my liberty when he sent me away with Mistress Rauthgundis and Wallada. Since then I have let my hair grow. And my mistress--I know it for a fact--was about to free Liuta, so that we might be married according to the law of the nation; but, alas, my mistress never returned to her home at Fæsulæ. But I returned just at the right moment to save Liuta, for the very next day the Saracens burnt the house and murdered all whom they found. After Mistress Rauthgundis's death--leaving no one to claim the inheritance, for a storm had buried her father Athalwin under an avalanche--Liuta became the King's property; and therefore I would beg the King to take me again as a bond-servant, so that we may not be punished if we marry, and----" "Wachis, thou art indeed faithful!" cried Totila, interrupting him. "No! thou shalt contract a free marriage! Give me a gold-piece." "Here, King Totila," said Gotho, eagerly taking one from her shepherd's bag; "it is the last of six." The King took the gold, laid it upon Liuta's open palm, and then struck her hand from below, so that the gold-piece flew up into the air, and fell ringing upon the mosaic pavement. Then the King said: "Liuta, thou art free! No bonds hold thee. Go in peace and rejoice with thy bridegroom." Earl Teja now came forward and said: "Wachis, once before thou hast borne the shield of a luckless master. Wilt thou now become my shield-bearer?" With tears in his eyes, Wachis clasped the hand of the Earl in both his own. And now Teja lifted his golden goblet and solemnly said: "Fortune befall you! Already shines on you The shimmering sunshine: Yet thankfully think Of the Dear and the Dead With reverent remembrance! He who strove unsuccessful, The world-renowned warrior: Witichis, Waltharis' worthiest son! Though you celebrate cheerily The feast of the fairest, The Deity's darlings, Yet honour for ever The memory mournful Of the Great and the Good! I remind you, O revellers, To drink to the dear ones; To the manliest man, And the worthiest woman; To Rauthgundis and Witichis, Deploring, I drink!"