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27 - Black Magic- a Tale of the Rise and Fall of the Antichrist by Marjorie Bowen · Black Magic- a Tale of the Rise and Fall of the Antichrist

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  Speaker 1: Section twenty seven of Black Magic by Marjorie Bowen. This
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  Speaker 1: LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Part two, Chapter
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  Speaker 1: five the Pope. The chamber in the Vatican was so dimly,
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  Speaker 1: richly lit with jeweled and deep colored lamps, that at
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  Speaker 1: first Tyrie thought himself alone. He looked round and saw
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  Speaker 1: silver walls hung with tapestries of violet and gold. Pillars
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  Speaker 1: with columns of sea green marble and capitals of shining mosaic,
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  Speaker 1: supported a roof encrusted with jasper and jade. The floor
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  Speaker 1: of numidian marble was spread with Indian silk carpets. Here
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  Speaker 1: and there stood crystal bowls of roses, white and crimson.
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  Speaker 1: Fainting in the close sweet air. At the far end
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  Speaker 1: of the room was a dais, and Tyrie, as his
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  Speaker 1: eyes became used to the wine colored gloom, saw that
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  Speaker 1: some one sat there, someone so splendidly robed and so
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  Speaker 1: still that it seemed more like one of the images
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  Speaker 1: Tyrie had seen worshiped in Constantinople than a human being.
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  Speaker 1: He shivered. Presently he could discern intense eyes looking at
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  Speaker 1: him out of a dazzle of dark gold and shimmering
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  Speaker 1: shadowed colors. Michael the Second moved in his seat. You
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  Speaker 1: sent for me, said Tyrie to himself. His voice sounded
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  Speaker 1: hoarse and unnatural. At last, at last, I have been waiting.
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  Speaker 1: You have been Pope thirty days, and never have you
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  Speaker 1: given me a sign? Is thirty days so long? You
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  Speaker 1: have done nothing for me? You spoke of favors, favors,
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  Speaker 1: echoed Michael. You are the only man in Christendom who
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  Speaker 1: would stand in my presence the Emperor nils to kiss
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  Speaker 1: my foot. The Emperor does not know, shuddered Tyrie. But
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  Speaker 1: I do, and knowing I cannot kneel to you. Ah God,
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  Speaker 1: how can you dare it? The Pope's soft voice came
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  Speaker 1: from the shadows. Your moods change, first this, then that.
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  Speaker 1: What humor are you in now, Tyrie of Dendermonde. Would
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  Speaker 1: you still be emperor? Tyrie put his hand to his brow. YEA,
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  Speaker 1: you know it. Why do you torture me with suspense,
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  Speaker 1: with waiting? If evil is to be my master, let
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  Speaker 1: me serve him and be rewarded. The Pope held back
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  Speaker 1: the blossom strewn brocade so that he could see the
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  Speaker 1: other's face. I ask of you to let Jacobia of
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  Speaker 1: Martsburg be. Tyrie flushed, how ye have always hated her
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  Speaker 1: since I came to Rome. I have seen her the
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  Speaker 1: one the Pope's smooth, pale face showed a stain of
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  Speaker 1: red from the dim beams of one of the splendid lamps.
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  Speaker 1: Tyrie observed it as he leant forward. She did not
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  Speaker 1: marry her steward, he said. The Pope's eyes narrowed. Ye
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  Speaker 1: have been at the pains to discover that, Tyrie laughed, mournfully.
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  Speaker 1: You have won. You, sitting where you sit now, can
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  Speaker 1: afford to mock at me at my love, at my hope,
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  Speaker 1: both of which I placed once at stake on her,
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  Speaker 1: and lost and lost ten years ago. But having again
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  Speaker 1: seen her, sometimes I must think of her, and that
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  Speaker 1: she was not vile after all, but only trapped by you,
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  Speaker 1: as I have been. Sebastian went to Palestine, and she
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  Speaker 1: has gone unwed. The Pope gave a quick sigh and
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  Speaker 1: bit his lip. I will make you emperor, he said,
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  Speaker 1: But that woman shall not be your empress. Did I
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  Speaker 1: love her? Even which I do not, I would put
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  Speaker 1: her gladly aside to sit on the imperial throne. Come,
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  Speaker 1: I have dollied long enough on the brink of devilry.
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  Speaker 1: Let me sin grandly now and be grandly paid. Michael
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  Speaker 1: the Second gave so quick a breath, the jewels on
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  Speaker 1: his breast scattered colored light. Come nearer to me, he commanded,
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  Speaker 1: and take my hand, as you used to do in Frankfort.
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  Speaker 1: I am always dirk to you, you who never cared
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  Speaker 1: for me, hated me. I think, oh, the traitors our
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  Speaker 1: hearts are neither God nor Devil is so fierce to fight.
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  Speaker 1: Tyrie approached the gold steps. The pope leant down and
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  Speaker 1: gave him his cool white hand, heavy with gemmed rings,
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  Speaker 1: and looked intently into his eyes. When they announced your election,
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  Speaker 1: how the storm smote the city, whispered Tyrie fearfully. Were
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  Speaker 1: you not daunted? The Pope withdrew his hand. I was
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  Speaker 1: not in the conclave, he said, in a strange tone.
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  Speaker 1: I lay sick in my villa. As for the storm,
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  Speaker 1: it has not lifted since breathed Tyrie. Day and night.
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  Speaker 1: Have the clouds hung over Rome? Is not there? After all?
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  Speaker 1: A god? Silence, cried the pope in a troubled voice.
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  Speaker 1: You would be emperor of the West, would you not
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  Speaker 1: let us speak of that? Tyrie leant against the arm
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  Speaker 1: of the throne and stared with an awful fascination into
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  Speaker 1: the other's face. Ay let us speak of that, he
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  Speaker 1: answered wildly. Can all your devilries accomplish it? It is
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  Speaker 1: common talk in Rome that you secured your election by
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  Speaker 1: Frankish influence because you vowed to league with Baltassar. They
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  Speaker 1: say you are his ally. Nevertheless, I will cast him
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  Speaker 1: down and set you in his place. He comes to
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  Speaker 1: day to ask my aid against Lombardy and Bohemia, and
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  Speaker 1: therefore I have sent for you that you may overhear
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  Speaker 1: this audience and see how I mate and checkmate an emperor.
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  Speaker 1: For your sake. As he spoke, he pointed to the
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  Speaker 1: other end of the room, where hung a somber and
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  Speaker 1: rich curtain. Conceal yourself behind that tapestry, and listen carefully
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  Speaker 1: to what I say, and you will understand how I
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  Speaker 1: may humble Baltasar and shake him from his throne. Tiri,
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  Speaker 1: not joyous nor triumphant, but agitated and trembling with a
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  Speaker 1: horrible excitement, crept across the room and passed silently behind
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  Speaker 1: the arras. As the long folds shook into place again,
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  Speaker 1: the pope touched a bell Paolo Orsini entered admit the Emperor.
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  Speaker 1: The secretary withdrew. There was a soft sound in the
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  Speaker 1: ante chamber the voices of priests. A heavy tread sounded without,
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  Speaker 1: and the Emperor advanced into the splendid glooms of the
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  Speaker 1: audience chamber. He was bare headed, and at sight of
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  Speaker 1: the awe inspiring figure, went on his knees at the
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  Speaker 1: foot of the dais. Michael the Second looked at him
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  Speaker 1: in silence. The silver door was closed, and they were
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  Speaker 1: alone save for the unseen listener behind the arras. At last,
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  Speaker 1: the Pope said, slowly, arise, my son. The Emperor stood erect,
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  Speaker 1: showing his magnificent height and bearing Your holiness knows that
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  Speaker 1: it is my humble desire to form a firm alliance
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  Speaker 1: between Rome and Germany. I have ruled both long enough
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  Speaker 1: to prove myself neither weak nor false. I have ever
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  Speaker 1: been a faithful servant of Holy Church. Michael the Second smiled,
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  Speaker 1: on what right does your grace presume when you ask
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  Speaker 1: us to aid you in steadying a trembling throne? I
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  Speaker 1: was assured, Holy Father, of your friendliness before the election
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  Speaker 1: the empress again, the Pope cut him short Cardinal Capriolo
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  Speaker 1: was not the vicenant of Christ, the high priest of Christendom,
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  Speaker 1: as we are now, and those whom Louis of dendr
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  Speaker 1: Monde knew became as nothing before the Pope of Rome,
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  Speaker 1: in whose estimate all men are the same. Your Holiness
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  Speaker 1: can have no object in refusing my alliance, he answered,
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  Speaker 1: Sylvestter crowned me with his own hands, and I always
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  Speaker 1: lived in friendship with him. He aided me with troops.
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  Speaker 1: When the Lombards rebeled against their suzerain and Suabia he
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  Speaker 1: placed under an interdict. We are not Silvester, said the Pope,
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  Speaker 1: haughtily nor accountable for his doings. As you may show
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  Speaker 1: yourself the obedient son of the Church, so may we
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  Speaker 1: support you. Otherwise we can denounce as we can uphold,
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  Speaker 1: pull down as we can raise up. And it wants
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  Speaker 1: but little Baltasar of courtraeg to shake your throne from
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  Speaker 1: under you. The Emperor bit his lip, and the scales
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  Speaker 1: of his mail gleamed as they rose with his heavy breathing.
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  Speaker 1: He knew that if the power of the Vatican was
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  Speaker 1: placed on the side of his enemies, he was ruined
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  Speaker 1: in what way have I offended your holiness? He asked,
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  Speaker 1: with what humility he could? Ye have offended Heaven for
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  Speaker 1: whom we stand, he answered, And until by penitence ye
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  Speaker 1: as soil your soul, we must hold you outcast from
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  Speaker 1: the mercies of the church. Tell me my sins, said
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  Speaker 1: Baltasar hoarsely, And what I can do to blot them out? Masses, money, lands,
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  Speaker 1: none of these can make your peace with God and us.
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  Speaker 1: Only one thing can avail there. Tell it me, cried
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  Speaker 1: the emperor eagerly. If it be a crusade, surely I
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  Speaker 1: will go. After Lombardy is subdued, the Pope flashed a
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  Speaker 1: quick glance over him. We want no knight erranty in
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  Speaker 1: the east. We demand this, that you put away the
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  Speaker 1: woman whom you call your wife. Baltasar stared with dilating eyes. Saint,
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  Speaker 1: you're as guard us, he muttered. The woman whom I
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  Speaker 1: call my wife Isabel, first wedded to the man whom
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  Speaker 1: you succeeded. I do not understand, your holiness. The Pope
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  Speaker 1: turned in his chair so that the lamplight made his
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  Speaker 1: robe one bright purple sheen. Come here, my lord, the
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  Speaker 1: Emperor advanced to the gold steps, a slim, fair hand
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  Speaker 1: was held out to him, holding between finger and thumb
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  Speaker 1: a ring set with a deep red stone. Baltasar of
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  Speaker 1: Courtraig looked at the ring. Round the bezel, two coats
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  Speaker 1: of arms were delicately engraved in the soft red gold. Why,
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  Speaker 1: he said, in a troubled way, I know the ring. YEA,
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  Speaker 1: it was made many years ago. The woman to whom
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  Speaker 1: in your name it was given, still lives. Ursula of Russlarie,
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  Speaker 1: cried Baltassar. Yea, Ursula of Russelarie, your wife, my first wife,
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  Speaker 1: who died before I had seen her, Holiness, stammered the
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  Speaker 1: emperor who told you she was dead, continued the Pope,
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  Speaker 1: A certain youth who for his ends I think, lied,
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  Speaker 1: A wicked youth he was, and he died in Frankfort
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  Speaker 1: for compassing the death of the late Emperor, or escaped
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  Speaker 1: that end by firing his house. The tale grows faint
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  Speaker 1: with years. Twas he who told you Ursula of Russelerie
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  Speaker 1: was dead even showed you her grave, and you were
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  Speaker 1: content to take his word, and she was content to
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  Speaker 1: be silent. O Christus, cried the Emperor. O Saint Yoras,
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  Speaker 1: But Holy Father, this thing is impossible, he wrung his
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  Speaker 1: hands together and beat his mailed breast. From whom had
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  Speaker 1: you this tale from Ursula of Rousse laie? It cannot be?
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  Speaker 1: Why was she silent all these years? Why did she
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  Speaker 1: allow me to take Isabel to wife? A wild expression
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  Speaker 1: crossed the Pope's face. He looked beyond the Emperor with deep,
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  Speaker 1: soft eyes, because she loved another man. A pause fell
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  Speaker 1: for a second. Then Michael the Second spoke again. I
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  Speaker 1: think too she something hated you, who had failed her
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  Speaker 1: and scorned her. There was her father also, who died
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  Speaker 1: shamefully by Isabel's command. She meant, I take it to
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  Speaker 1: revenge that upon the Empress. And now perhaps her chance
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  Speaker 1: has come. Where is this woman who has so influenced
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  Speaker 1: your holiness against me? An impostor to not listen to her?
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  Speaker 1: She speaks the truth, as God and devils know, flashed
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  Speaker 1: the Pope, and we, with all the weight of Holy
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  Speaker 1: Church will support her in the maintenance of her just rights.
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  Speaker 1: We also have no love for this eastern woman who
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  Speaker 1: slew her Lord. Nay, that is false, Baltasar ground his teeth.
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  Speaker 1: I know some said it of her, but it is
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  Speaker 1: a lie. This to me, cried the Pope, beware, how
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  Speaker 1: ye anger God's viceerant, I bend my neck for your
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  Speaker 1: holiness to step on, so you do not ask me
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  Speaker 1: to listen to evil of the Empress. Isabel is not empress,
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  Speaker 1: nor your wife. Her son is not your heir, and
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  Speaker 1: you must presently part with both of them or suffer
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  Speaker 1: the extremity of our wrath. Yea, the woman shall ye
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  Speaker 1: give into the hands of the executioner to suffer for
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  Speaker 1: the death of Malkar, and the child shall ye turn
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  Speaker 1: away from you? And with pains and trouble shall ye
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  Speaker 1: search for Ursula of Rousselhi, and finding her, cause her
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  Speaker 1: to be acknowledged your wife and Empress of the West,
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  Speaker 1: that she lives. I know the rest is for you.
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  Speaker 1: I have but one answer, said Baltassar, And it would
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  Speaker 1: be the same did I deliver it in the face
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  Speaker 1: of God, that while I live and have breath to speak,
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  Speaker 1: I shall proclaim Isabe and none other as my wife,
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  Speaker 1: and our son, as an Empress's son and my heir
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  Speaker 1: and successor kingdom and even life. May your Holiness despoil
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  Speaker 1: me of but neither the armies of the earth nor
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  Speaker 1: the angels of heaven shall take from me these two.
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  Speaker 1: This my answer to your holiness. The Pope resumed his seat.
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  Speaker 1: Ye dare to defy me, he said, Well, ye are
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  Speaker 1: a foolish man to set yourself against Heaven. Go back
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  Speaker 1: and live in sin and wait the judgment. Baltasar's flesh
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  Speaker 1: crept and quivered, but he held his head high, even
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  Speaker 1: though the Pope's words opened the prospect of a sure hell.
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  Speaker 1: Michael the Second gazed at him in silence as he
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  Speaker 1: bent his head and backed towards the silver door. Presently
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  Speaker 1: he rose and descended from the dais. The dark heiress
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  Speaker 1: was lifted cautiously, and Tyrie crept into the room. What
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  Speaker 1: you said was false, whispered Tyrie questioningly. The jeweled light
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  Speaker 1: flickered over the Pope's face. Nay, it was true. Ursula
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  Speaker 1: of rousselherie lives. I would like to see her. Who
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  Speaker 1: is it that she loves? The Pope showed pale. He
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  Speaker 1: moved slowly across the room with his head bent. A
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  Speaker 1: man for whose sake she puts her very life in jeopardy,
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  Speaker 1: he said, in a low, passionate voice. A man I
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  Speaker 1: think who is unworthy of her. The Pope lifted an
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  Speaker 1: arress that concealed an inner door. The first move is made,
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  Speaker 1: he said, farewell. Now I will acquaint you of the
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  Speaker 1: progress of your fortunes. He gave a slight, queer smile.
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  Speaker 1: As for Ursula of Rousse l'arie, ye have seen her,
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  Speaker 1: seen her, yea, she wears the disguise of a masked
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  Speaker 1: dancer in orange. With that, he pointed Tyrie to the
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  Speaker 1: concealed doorway, and turning left him. End of section twenty seven.
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  Speaker 1: Recording by Mollie Craig,