She had placed a high golden diadem upon her shining hair, which fell over her shoulders in two thick tresses. Her under-dress of heavy white silk, embroidered with golden flowers, was only visible below the knee, for the upper part of her body was covered by the royal purple. Her face was white and cold as marble: her eyes blazed with a strange and supernatural light. "Prince Germanus," she said, as he entered, "you once spoke to me of love; but do you know of what you spoke? To love is to die." Germanus looked inquiringly at the Prefect, who now came forward. He was about to speak, but Mataswintha, in a clear loud voice, recommenced: "Prince Germanus, you are famed as the most highly-cultivated man of a learned court, where it is a favourite pastime to practise the solving of finely-pointed riddles. I also will put to you a riddle; see to it that you solve it. Let the clever Prefect, who so well understands human nature, help you. What is this?--A wife, and yet a maid; a widow, and yet no wife? You cannot guess? You are right; death alone resolves all riddles!" With a sudden movement, she cast off her purple robe. There was a flash of steel! She had stabbed herself to the heart. With a shriek, Germanus and Aspa (who had stood behind) sprang forward. Cethegus silently caught the falling figure. She died as soon as he drew the sword from her breast. He knew the sword. He himself had sent it to her. It was the sword of King Witichis. BOOK V. TOTILA. "Well for us that this sunny youth still lives!"--_Margrave Ruediger of Bechelaren_, Act i., Scene i. PART I. CHAPTER I. A few days after the death of Mataswintha and the departure of Prince Germanus, who was deeply shocked by the sad event, a message came from Castra Nova, which rendered necessary the march of Byzantine troops from Ravenna. Hildebad had been informed, by fugitive Goths, who had made their way in disguise through the lines of the besiegers, of the treacherous imprisonment of the King. On hearing the news, he sent word to Cethegus and Belisarius, through some prisoners whom he released, that he challenged them, either together or singly, to mortal combat, "if they had a drop of courage in their veins, or a trace of honour in their souls." "He thinks that Belisarius is still in the country, and does not seem to fear him greatly," said Bessas. "This might be a means," said Cethegus cunningly, of ruining the turbulent fellow. "But, certainly, it needs great courage--such courage as Belisarius possesses." "You know that I do not yield to him a jot in that," answered Bessas.