Felicitas

Felicitas, subtitled A Tale of the German Migrations: A.D. 476, is by Felix Dahn. The introduction says its writer was at work in Salzburg, in the library among the old records, and in the Museum of Roman antiquities. The introduction says the writer's studies were principally concerned with the fifth century, the time when the Germanic tribes invaded these regions. The introduction tells of an inscription in two lines, Hic habitat Felicit... Nihil mali intret, which the writer reads as meaning Here dwells happiness; May nothing evil enter in.

A young barbarian is described with broad golden armlets and a small round shield painted red, and Severus recognises with feelings of anger that the armour had been the panoply of a distinguished Roman officer. A sleeping woman says tenderly Come, O my Fulvius; kiss me, and Liuthari turns, springs across Haduwalt on the threshold and down the steps into the garden, and murmurs that he might have done wickedness.