andsuchwashisstrengthanddexterity，thathetransfixedtheforemostoftheBarbarianleaders。
Asshoutofapplauseandvictorywasreechoedalongthewall。Hedrewasecondarrow，andthestrokewasfollowedwiththesamesuccessandthesameacclamation。TheRomangeneralthengavetheword，thatthearchersshouldaimattheteamsofoxen；theywereinstantlycoveredwithmortalwounds；thetowerswhichtheydrewremaineduselessandimmovable，andasinglemomentdisconcertedthelaboriousprojectsofthekingoftheGoths。Afterthisdisappointment，Vitigesstillcontinued，orfeignedtocontinue，theassaultoftheSalariangate，thathemightdiverttheattentionofhisadversary，whilehisprincipalforcesmorestrenuouslyattackedthePraenestinegateandthesepulchreofHadrian，atthedistanceofthreemilesfromeachother。Neartheformer，thedoublewallsoftheVivarium^85wereloworbroken；thefortificationsofthelatterwerefeeblyguarded:thevigoroftheGothswasexcitedbythehopeofvictoryandspoil；andifasingleposthadgivenway，theRomans，andRomeitself，wereirrecoverablylost。ThisperilousdaywasthemostgloriousinthelifeofBelisarius。Amidsttumultanddismay，thewholeplanoftheattackanddefencewasdistinctlypresenttohismind；heobservedthechangesofeachinstant，weighedeverypossibleadvantage，transportedhispersontothescenesofdanger，andcommunicatedhisspiritincalmanddecisiveorders。Thecontestwasfiercelymaintainedfromthemorningtotheevening；theGothswererepulsedonallsides；andeachRomanmightboastthathehadvanquishedthirtyBarbarians，ifthestrangedisproportionofnumberswerenotcounterbalancedbythemeritofoneman。ThirtythousandGoths，accordingtotheconfessionoftheirownchiefs，perishedinthisbloodyaction；
andthemultitudeofthewoundedwasequaltothatoftheslain。
Whentheyadvancedtotheassault，theirclosedisordersufferednotajavelintofallwithouteffect；andastheyretired，thepopulaceofthecityjoinedthepursuit，andslaughtered，withimpunity，thebacksoftheirflyingenemies。Belisariusinstantlysalliedfromthegates；andwhilethesoldierschantedhisnameandvictory，thehostileenginesofwarwerereducedtoashes。SuchwasthelossandconsternationoftheGoths，that，fromthisday，thesiegeofRomedegeneratedintoatediousandindolentblockade；andtheywereincessantlyharassedbytheRomangeneral，who，infrequentskirmishes，destroyedabovefivethousandoftheirbravesttroops。Theircavalrywasunpractisedintheuseofthebow；theirarchersservedonfoot；andthisdividedforcewasincapableofcontendingwiththeiradversaries，whoselancesandarrows，atadistance，orathand，werealikeformidable。TheconsummateskillofBelisariusembracedthefavorableopportunities；andashechosethegroundandthemoment，ashepressedthechargeorsoundedtheretreat，^86thesquadronswhichhedetachedwereseldomunsuccessful。Thesepartialadvantagesdiffusedanimpatientardoramongthesoldiersandpeople，whobegantofeelthehardshipsofasiege，andtodisregardthedangersofageneralengagement。Eachplebeianconceivedhimselftobeahero，andtheinfantry，who，sincethedecayofdiscipline，wererejectedfromthelineofbattle，aspiredtotheancienthonorsoftheRomanlegion。Belisariuspraisedthespiritofhistroops，condemnedtheirpresumption，yieldedtotheirclamors，andpreparedtheremediesofadefeat，thepossibilityofwhichhealonehadcouragetosuspect。InthequarteroftheVatican，theRomansprevailed；andiftheirreparablemomentshadnotbeenwastedinthepillageofthecamp，theymighthaveoccupiedtheMilvianbridge，andchargedintherearoftheGothichost。OntheothersideoftheTyber，BelisariusadvancedfromthePincianandSalariangates。Buthisarmy，fourthousandsoldiersperhaps，waslostinaspaciousplain；theywereencompassedandoppressedbyfreshmultitudes，whocontinuallyrelievedthebrokenranksoftheBarbarians。Thevaliantleadersoftheinfantrywereunskilledtoconquer；theydied:theretreatahastyretreatwascoveredbytheprudenceofthegeneral，andthevictorsstartedbackwithaffrightfromtheformidableaspectofanarmedrampart。ThereputationofBelisariuswasunsulliedbyadefeat；andthevainconfidenceoftheGothswasnotlessserviceabletohisdesignsthantherepentanceandmodestyoftheRomantroops。
[Footnote85:Vivariumwasanangleinthenewwallenclosedforwildbeasts，Procopius，Goth。l。i。c。23。ThespotisstillvisibleinNardiniliv。c。2，p。159，160，andNolli\'sgreatplanofRome。]
[Footnote86:FortheRomantrumpet，anditsvariousnotes，consultLipsiusdeMilitiaRomana，Opp。tom。iii。l。iv。
Dialog。x。p。125—129。Amodeofdistinguishingthechargebythehorse—trumpetofsolidbrass，andtheretreatbythefoot—trumpetofleatherandlightwood，wasrecommendedbyProcopius，andadoptedbyBelisarius。]
ChapterXLI:ConquestsOfJustinian，CharactOfBalisarius。
PartV。
FromthemomentthatBelisariushaddeterminedtosustainasiege，hisassiduouscareprovidedRomeagainstthedangeroffamine，moredreadfulthantheGothicarms。AnextraordinarysupplyofcornwasimportedfromSicily:theharvestsofCampaniaandTuscanywereforciblysweptfortheuseofthecity；andtherightsofprivatepropertywereinfringedbythestrongpleaofthepublicsafety。Itmighteasilybeforeseenthattheenemywouldintercepttheaqueducts；andthecessationofthewater—millswasthefirstinconvenience，whichwasspeedilyremovedbymooringlargevessels，andfixingmill—stonesinthecurrentoftheriver。Thestreamwassoonembarrassedbythetrunksoftrees，andpollutedwithdeadbodies；yetsoeffectualweretheprecautionsoftheRomangeneral，thatthewatersoftheTyberstillcontinuedtogivemotiontothemillsanddrinktotheinhabitants:themoredistantquartersweresuppliedfromdomesticwells；andabesiegedcitymightsupport，withoutimpatience，theprivationofherpublicbaths。AlargeportionofRome，fromthePraenestinegatetothechurchofSt。Paul，wasneverinvestedbytheGoths；theirexcursionswererestrainedbytheactivityoftheMoorishtroops:thenavigationoftheTyber，andtheLatin，Appian，andOstianways，wereleftfreeandunmolestedfortheintroductionofcornandcattle，ortheretreatoftheinhabitants，whosoughtrefugeinCampaniaorSicily。Anxioustorelievehimselffromauselessanddevouringmultitude，Belisariusissuedhisperemptoryordersfortheinstantdepartureofthewomen，thechildren，andslaves；
requiredhissoldierstodismisstheirmaleandfemaleattendants，andregulatedtheirallowancethatonemoietyshouldbegiveninprovisions，andtheotherinmoney。Hisforesightwasjustifiedbytheincreaseofthepublicdistress，assoonastheGothshadoccupiedtwoimportantpostsintheneighborhoodofRome。Bythelossoftheport，or，asitisnowcalled，thecityofPorto，hewasdeprivedofthecountryontherightoftheTyber，andthebestcommunicationwiththesea；andhereflected，withgriefandanger，thatthreehundredmen，couldhehavesparedsuchafeebleband，mighthavedefendeditsimpregnableworks。Sevenmilesfromthecapital，betweentheAppianandtheLatinways，twoprincipalaqueductscrossing，andagaincrossingeachother:enclosedwithintheirsolidandloftyarchesafortifiedspace，^87whereVitigesestablishedacampofseventhousandGothstointercepttheconvoyofSicilyandCampania。
ThegranariesofRomewereinsensiblyexhausted，theadjacentcountryhadbeenwastedwithfireandsword；suchscantysuppliesasmightyetbeobtainedbyhastyexcursionsweretherewardofvalor，andthepurchaseofwealth:theforageofthehorses，andthebreadofthesoldiers，neverfailed:butinthelastmonthsofthesiege，thepeoplewereexposedtothemiseriesofscarcity，unwholesomefood，^88andcontagiousdisorders。
Belisariussawandpitiedtheirsufferings；buthehadforeseen，andhewatchedthedecayoftheirloyalty，andtheprogressoftheirdiscontent。AdversityhadawakenedtheRomansfromthedreamsofgrandeurandfreedom，andtaughtthemthehumiliatinglesson，thatitwasofsmallmomenttotheirrealhappiness，whetherthenameoftheirmasterwasderivedfromtheGothicortheLatinlanguage。ThelieutenantofJustinianlistenedtotheirjustcomplaints，butherejectedwithdisdaintheideaofflightorcapitulation；repressedtheirclamorousimpatienceforbattle；amusedthemwiththeprospectofasureandspeedyrelief；andsecuredhimselfandthecityfromtheeffectsoftheirdespairortreachery。Twiceineachmonthhechangedthestationoftheofficerstowhomthecustodyofthegateswascommitted:thevariousprecautionsofpatroles，watchwords，lights，andmusic，wererepeatedlyemployedtodiscoverwhateverpassedontheramparts；out—guardswerepostedbeyondtheditch，andthetrustyvigilanceofdogssuppliedthemoredoubtfulfidelityofmankind。Aletterwasintercepted，whichassuredthekingoftheGothsthattheAsinariangate，adjoiningtotheLateranchurch，shouldbesecretlyopenedtohistroops。Ontheprooforsuspicionoftreason，severalsenatorswerebanished，andthepopeSylveriuswassummonedtoattendtherepresentativeofhissovereign，athishead—quartersinthePincianpalace。^89
Theecclesiastics，whofollowedtheirbishop，weredetainedinthefirstorsecondapartment，^90andhealonewasadmittedtothepresenceofBelisarius。TheconquerorofRomeandCarthagewasmodestlyseatedatthefeetofAntonina，whoreclinedonastatelycouch:thegeneralwassilent，butthevoiceofreproachandmenaceissuedfromthemouthofhisimperiouswife。Accusedbycrediblewitnesses，andtheevidenceofhisownsubscription，thesuccessorofSt。Peterwasdespoiledofhispontificalornaments，cladinthemeanhabitofamonk，andembarked，withoutdelay，foradistantexileintheEast。Attheemperor\'scommand，theclergyofRomeproceededtothechoiceofanewbishop；andafterasolemninvocationoftheHolyGhost，electedthedeaconVigilius，whohadpurchasedthepapalthronebyabribeoftwohundredpoundsofgold。Theprofit，andconsequentlytheguilt，ofthissimony，wasimputedtoBelisarius:buttheheroobeyedtheordersofhiswife；Antoninaservedthepassionsoftheempress；andTheodoralavishedhertreasures，inthevainhopeofobtainingapontiffhostileorindifferenttothecouncilofChalcedon。^91
[Footnote87:ProcopiusGoth。l。ii。c。3hasforgottonametheseaqueductsnorcansuchadoubleintersection，atsuchadistancefromRome，beclearlyascertainedfromthewritingsofFrontinus，Fabretti，andEschinard，deAquisanddeAgroRomano，orfromthelocalmapsofLametiandCingolani。Sevenoreightmilesfromthecity，50stadia，ontheroadtoAlbano，betweentheLatinandAppianways，Idiscerntheremainsofanaqueduct，probablytheSeptimian，aseries630pacesofarchestwenty—fivefeethigh。]
[Footnote88:Theymadesausagesofmule\'sflesh；unwholesome，iftheanimalshaddiedoftheplague。Otherwise，thefamousBolognasausagesaresaidtobemadeofassflesh，VoyagesdeLabat，tom。ii。p。218。]
[Footnote89:Thenameofthepalace，thehill，andtheadjoininggate，wereallderivedfromthesenatorPincius。SomerecentvestigesoftemplesandchurchesarenowsmoothedinthegardenoftheMinimsoftheTrinitadelMonte，Nardini，l。iv。c。7，p。
196。Eschinard，p。209，210，theoldplanofBuffalino，andthegreatplanofNolli。BelisariushadfixedhisstationbetweenthePincianandSalariangates，Procop。Goth。l。i。c。15。]
[Footnote90:Fromthementionoftheprimumetsecundumvelum，itshouldseemthatBelisarius，eveninasiege，representedtheemperor，andmaintainedtheproudceremonialoftheByzantinepalace。]
[Footnote*:DeBeau，asagoodCatholic，makesthePopethevictimofadarkintrigue。LordMahon，p。225。withwhomI
concur，summedupagainsthim。—M。]
[Footnote91:Ofthisactofsacrilege，ProcopiusGoth。l。i。c。
25isadryandreluctantwitness。ThenarrativesofLiberatusBreviarium，c。22andAnastasiusdeVit。Pont。p。39arecharacteristic，butpassionate。HeartheexecrationsofCardinalBaronius，A。D。536，No。123A。D。538，No。4—20:portentum，facinusomniexecrationedignum。]
TheepistleofBelisariustotheemperorannouncedhisvictory，hisdanger，andhisresolution。\"Accordingtoyourcommands，wehaveenteredthedominionsoftheGoths，andreducedtoyourobedienceSicily，Campania，andthecityofRome；butthelossoftheseconquestswillbemoredisgracefulthantheiracquisitionwasglorious。HithertowehavesuccessfullyfoughtagainstthemultitudesoftheBarbarians，buttheirmultitudesmayfinallyprevail。VictoryisthegiftofProvidence，butthereputationofkingsandgeneralsdependsonthesuccessorthefailureoftheirdesigns。Permitmetospeakwithfreedom:ifyouwishthatweshouldlive，sendussubsistence；ifyoudesirethatweshouldconquer，sendusarms，horses，andmen。TheRomanshavereceivedusasfriendsanddeliverers:butinourpresentdistress，theywillbeeitherbetrayedbytheirconfidence，orweshallbeoppressedbytheirtreacheryandhatred。Formyself，mylifeisconsecratedtoyourservice:itisyourstoreflect，whethermydeathinthissituationwillcontributetothegloryandprosperityofyourreign。\"PerhapsthatreignwouldhavebeenequallyprosperousifthepeacefulmasteroftheEasthadabstainedfromtheconquestofAfricaandItaly:butasJustinianwasambitiousoffame，hemadesomeeffortstheywerefeebleandlanguidtosupportandrescuehisvictoriousgeneral。AreenforcementofsixteenhundredSclavoniansandHunswasledbyMartinandValerian；andastheyreposedduringthewinterseasonintheharborsofGreece，thestrengthofthemenandhorseswasnotimpairedbythefatiguesofasea—voyage；andtheydistinguishedtheirvalorinthefirstsallyagainstthebesiegers。Aboutthetimeofthesummersolstice，EuthaliuslandedatTerracinawithlargesumsofmoneyforthepaymentofthetroops:hecautiouslyproceededalongtheAppianway，andthisconvoyenteredRomethroughthegateCapena，^92whileBelisarius，ontheotherside，divertedtheattentionoftheGothsbyavigorousandsuccessfulskirmish。Theseseasonableaids，theuseandreputationofwhichweredexterouslymanagedbytheRomangeneral，revivedthecourage，oratleastthehopes，ofthesoldiersandpeople。ThehistorianProcopiuswasdespatchedwithanimportantcommissiontocollectthetroopsandprovisionswhichCampaniacouldfurnish，orConstantinoplehadsent；andthesecretaryofBelisariuswassoonfollowedbyAntoninaherself，^93whoboldlytraversedthepostsoftheenemy，andreturnedwiththeOrientalsuccorstothereliefofherhusbandandthebesiegedcity。AfleetofthreethousandIsaurianscastanchorintheBayofNaplesandafterwardsatOstia。Abovetwothousandhorse，ofwhomapartwereThracians，landedatTarentum；and，afterthejunctionoffivehundredsoldiersofCampania，andatrainofwagonsladenwithwineandflour，theydirectedtheirmarchontheAppianway，fromCapuatotheneighborhoodofRome。TheforcesthatarrivedbylandandseawereunitedatthemouthoftheTyber。Antoninaconvenedacouncilofwar:itwasresolvedtosurmount，withsailsandoars，theadversestreamoftheriver；andtheGothswereapprehensiveofdisturbing，byanyrashhostilities，thenegotiationtowhichBelisariushadcraftilylistened。Theycredulouslybelievedthattheysawnomorethanthevanguardofafleetandarmy，whichalreadycoveredtheIonianSeaandtheplainsofCampania；andtheillusionwassupportedbythehaughtylanguageoftheRomangeneral，whenhegaveaudiencetotheambassadorsofVitiges。
Afteraspeciousdiscoursetovindicatethejusticeofhiscause，theydeclared，that，forthesakeofpeace，theyweredisposedtorenouncethepossessionofSicily。\"Theemperorisnotlessgenerous，\"repliedhislieutenant，withadisdainfulsmile，\"inreturnforagiftwhichyounolongerpossess:hepresentsyouwithanancientprovinceoftheempire；heresignstotheGothsthesovereigntyoftheBritishisland。\"Belisariusrejectedwithequalfirmnessandcontempttheofferofatribute；butheallowedtheGothicambassadorstoseektheirfatefromthemouthofJustinianhimself；andconsented，withseemingreluctance，toatruceofthreemonths，fromthewintersolsticetotheequinoxofspring。PrudencemightnotsafelytrusteithertheoathsorhostagesoftheBarbarians，andtheconscioussuperiorityoftheRomanchiefwasexpressedinthedistributionofhistroops。AssoonasfearorhungercompelledtheGothstoevacuateAlba，Porto，andCentumcellae，theirplacewasinstantlysupplied；thegarrisonsofNarni，Spoleto，andPerusia，werereenforced，andthesevencampsofthebesiegersweregraduallyencompassedwiththecalamitiesofasiege。TheprayersandpilgrimageofDatius，bishopofMilan，werenotwithouteffect；andheobtainedonethousandThraciansandIsaurians，toassisttherevoltofLiguriaagainstherAriantyrant。Atthesametime，JohntheSanguinary，^94thenephewofVitalian，wasdetachedwithtwothousandchosenhorse，firsttoAlba，ontheFucineLake，andafterwardstothefrontiersofPicenum，ontheHadriaticSea。\"Intheprovince，\"
saidBelisarius，\"theGothshavedepositedtheirfamiliesandtreasures，withoutaguardorthesuspicionofdanger。Doubtlesstheywillviolatethetruce:letthemfeelyourpresence，beforetheyhearofyourmotions。SparetheItalians；suffernotanyfortifiedplacestoremainhostileinyourrear；andfaithfullyreservethespoilforanequalandcommonpartition。Itwouldnotbereasonable，\"headdedwithalaugh，\"thatwhilstwearetoilingtothedestructionofthedrones，ourmorefortunatebrethrenshouldrifleandenjoythehoney。\"
[Footnote92:TheoldCapenawasremovedbyAurelianto，ornear，themoderngateofSt。Sebastian，seeNolli\'splan。ThatmemorablespothasbeenconsecratedbytheEgeriangrove，thememoryofNumatwoumphalarches，thesepulchresoftheScipios，Metelli，&c。]
[Footnote93:TheexpressionofProcopiushasaninvidiouscast，Goth。l。ii。c。4。Yetheisspeakingofawoman。]
[Footnote94:Anastasiusp。40haspreservedthisepithetofSanguinariuswhichmightdohonortoatiger。]
ThewholenationoftheOstrogothshadbeenassembledfortheattack，andwasalmostentirelyconsumedinthesiegeofRome。Ifanycreditbeduetoanintelligentspectator，onethirdatleastoftheirenormoushostwasdestroyed，infrequentandbloodycombatsunderthewallsofthecity。Thebadfameandperniciousqualitiesofthesummerairmightalreadybeimputedtothedecayofagricultureandpopulation；andtheevilsoffamineandpestilencewereaggravatedbytheirownlicentiousness，andtheunfriendlydispositionofthecountry。