Marching and counter-marching, around and around,
and in and out, until it seemed wellnigh endless, the martial
procession passed before the eyes of the northern barbarians,
watchful of every movement, eager as children to witness this
royal review.
"These are but as a handful of dust amid the sands of the sea to
the troops of the empire," said the prefect Anthemius, when the
glittering rear-guard had passed from the Hippodrome. And the
Princess Pulcheria added, "And these, O men from the north, are
to help and succor the friends of the great emperor, even as they
are for the terror and destruction of his foes. Bid the
messengers from Ruas the king consider, good Anthemius, whether
it were not wiser for their master to be the friend rather than
the foe of the emperor. Ask him whether it would not be in
keeping with his valor and his might to be made one of the great
captains of the empire, with a yearly stipend of many pounds of
gold, as the recompense of the emperor for his services and his
love."
Again the prefect looked with pleasure and surprise upon this
wise young girl of fifteen, who had seen so shrewdly and so well
the way to the hearts of these northern barbarians, to whom gold
and warlike display were as meat and drink.
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