On their knees they were imploring protection.
'Nay, I will fight for their safety,' Basil answered. 'But if we can
frighten off this tag-rag without bloodshed so much the better.'
Venantius consented to make the attempt. On the upper villa was an
open gallery looking over the entrance, and fully visible from where
the invaders stood. Hither the armed men ascended and stood in line,
the bowmen with arrows on string. Their lord, advancing to the
parapet, made a signal demanding silence, and spoke in a audible to
every ear in the throng.
'Dogs! You came on this errand thinking that the villa was
defenceless. See your mistake! Each one of these behind me has more
arrows in store than all your number, and never shot bolt from bow
without piercing the mark. Off! Away with your foul odours and your
yelping throats! And if, when you have turned tail, any cur among
you dares to bark back that I, Venantius of Nuceria, am no true
Catholic, he shall pay for the lie with an arrow through chine and
gizzard!' This threat he confirmed with a terrific oath of
indisputable orthodoxy.
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