Moreover, as it chances she is in our power, and as we cannot make our crime against her blacker than it is, we propose to rid you and ourselves of this Empress, who is our enemy, and who for her great wickedness well deserves to die.

Such is our offer, to take or to leave, as time is short.

Should you refuse it, we abandon you to your fate, and go to make our terms with Constantine, who also hates this Empress and even now is plotting her downfall." As he spoke I saw certain men draw near to Irene for a purpose which I could guess, and stepped between her and them.
"The Augusta is my mistress," I said, "and although I attacked some of her troops but now, and she has wronged me much, still I defend her to the last." "Little use in that, Olaf, seeing that you are but one and we are many," answered Jodd.

"Come, will you be Caesar, or will you not ?" Now Irene crept up behind me and whispered in my ear.
"Accept," she said.

"It pleases me well.