Rother’s ambassadors, who were still languishing in his dampest dungeons.  This boastful talk gradually roused the anger of the giant Asprian, who was but little accustomed to hide his feelings; and when the emperor’s pet lioness came into the hall and playfully snatched a choice morsel out of his hand, he impetuously sprang to his feet, caught her in his powerful grasp, and hurled her against the wall, thus slaying her with a single blow.

[Illustration:  ASPRIAN SLAYING THE LION.—­Keller.]

Constantine was somewhat dismayed when he saw the strength, and especially the violence, of the new servants he had secured; but he wisely took no notice of the affair, and, when the banquet was ended, dismissed Rother and his followers to the apartments assigned them.  The Lombard king now freely distributed the immense treasures he had brought with him, and thus secured many adherents at court.  They sang his praises so loudly that at last the princess Oda became very anxious to see this noted outlaw.

[Sidenote:  Rother and Oda.] Bribing Herlind, one of her handmaidens, to serve her secretly, Oda sent her to Rother to invite him to visit her.  The maiden acquitted herself adroitly of this commission; but the Langobardian monarch, pretending exaggerated respect, declared that he would never dare present himself before her beautiful mistress, to whom, however, he sent many rich gifts, among which were a gold and a silver shoe.  Herlind returned to her mistress with the gifts; but when Oda would fain have put on the shoes, she discovered that they were both for the same foot.  She then feigned a resentment she was far from feeling, and bade the handmaiden order her father’s new servant to appear before her without delay, bringing a shoe for her other foot, unless he wished to incur her lasting displeasure.  Overjoyed at this result of his ruse, which he had foreseen, Rother entered the princess’s apartments unnoticed, proffered his most humble apologies, fitted a pair of golden shoes on her tiny feet, and, taking advantage of his position as he bent on one knee before her, declared his love and rank, and won from Oda a solemn promise that she would be his wife.

The lovers spent some very happy hours together in intimate conversation, and ere Rother left the apartment he prevailed upon the princess to use her influence in behalf of his imprisoned subjects.  She therefore told her father that her peaceful rest had been disturbed by dreams, in which heavenly voices announced that she should suffer all manner of evil unless Rother’s ambassadors were taken from prison and hospitably entertained.  Oda then wrung from Constantine a promise that the men should be temporarily released, and feasted at his own board that selfsame evening.  This promise was duly redeemed, and the twelve ambassadors, freed from their chains, and refreshed by warm baths and clean garments, were sumptuously entertained at the emperor’s table.  While they sat there feasting, Rother entered the hall, and, hiding behind the tapestry hangings near the door, played the tune they had heard on the day of their departure.  The hearts of the captives bounded for joy when they heard these strains, for they knew that their king was near and would soon effect their release.