WhileVitigesstruggledwithhisfortune，whilehehesitatedbetweenshameandruin，hisretreatwashastenedbydomesticalarms。ThekingoftheGothswasinformedbytremblingmessengers，thatJohntheSanguinaryspreadthedevastationsofwarfromtheApenninetotheHadriatic；thattherichspoilsandinnumerablecaptivesofPicenumwerelodgedinthefortificationsofRimini；andthatthisformidablechiefhaddefeatedhisuncle，insultedhiscapital，andseduced，bysecretcorrespondence，thefidelityofhiswife，theimperiousdaughterofAmalasontha。
Yet，beforeheretired，Vitigesmadealasteffort，eithertostormortosurprisethecity。Asecretpassagewasdiscoveredinoneoftheaqueducts；twocitizensoftheVaticanweretemptedbybribestointoxicatetheguardsoftheAureliangate；anattackwasmeditatedonthewallsbeyondtheTyber，inaplacewhichwasnotfortifiedwithtowers；andtheBarbariansadvanced，withtorchesandscaling—ladders，totheassaultofthePinciangate。ButeveryattemptwasdefeatedbytheintrepidvigilanceofBelisariusandhisbandofveterans，who，inthemostperilousmoments，didnotregrettheabsenceoftheircompanions；andtheGoths，alikedestituteofhopeandsubsistence，clamorouslyurgedtheirdeparturebeforethetruceshouldexpire，andtheRomancavalryshouldagainbeunited。Oneyearandninedaysafterthecommencementofthesiege，anarmy，solatelystrongandtriumphant，burnttheirtents，andtumultuouslyrepassedtheMilvianbridge。Theyrepassednotwithimpunity:theirthrongingmultitudes，oppressedinanarrowpassage，weredrivenheadlongintotheTyber，bytheirownfearsandthepursuitoftheenemy；
andtheRomangeneral，sallyingfromthePinciangate，inflictedasevereanddisgracefulwoundontheirretreat。TheslowlengthofasicklyanddespondinghostwasheavilydraggedalongtheFlaminianway；fromwhencetheBarbariansweresometimescompelledtodeviate，lesttheyshouldencounterthehostilegarrisonsthatguardedthehighroadtoRiminiandRavenna。Yetsopowerfulwasthisflyingarmy，thatVitigessparedtenthousandmenforthedefenceofthecitieswhichhewasmostsolicitoustopreserve，anddetachedhisnephewUraias，withanadequateforce，forthechastisementofrebelliousMilan。Attheheadofhisprincipalarmy，hebesiegedRimini，onlythirty—threemilesdistantfromtheGothiccapital。Afeeblerampart，andashallowditch，weremaintainedbytheskillandvalorofJohntheSanguinary，whosharedthedangerandfatigueofthemeanestsoldier，andemulated，onatheatrelessillustrious，themilitaryvirtuesofhisgreatcommander。Thetowersandbattering—enginesoftheBarbarianswererendereduseless；theirattackswererepulsed；andthetediousblockade，whichreducedthegarrisontothelastextremityofhunger，affordedtimefortheunionandmarchoftheRomanforces。Afleet，whichhadsurprisedAncona，sailedalongthecoastoftheHadriatic，tothereliefofthebesiegedcity。TheeunuchNarseslandedinPicenumwithtwothousandHeruliandfivethousandofthebravesttroopsoftheEast。TherockoftheApenninewasforced；tenthousandveteransmovedroundthefootofthemountains，underthecommandofBelisariushimself；andanewarmy，whoseencampmentblazedwithinnumerablelights，appearedtoadvancealongtheFlaminianway。Overwhelmedwithastonishmentanddespair，theGothsabandonedthesiegeofRimini，theirtents，theirstandards，andtheirleaders；andVitiges，whogaveorfollowedtheexampleofflight，neverhaltedtillhefoundashelterwithinthewallsandmorassesofRavenna。
Tothesewalls，andtosomefortressesdestituteofanymutualsupport，theGothicmonarchywasnowreduced。TheprovincesofItalyhadembracedthepartyoftheemperorandhisarmy，graduallyrecruitedtothenumberoftwentythousandmen，musthaveachievedaneasyandrapidconquest，iftheirinvinciblepowershadnotbeenweakenedbythediscordoftheRomanchiefs。Beforetheendofthesiege，anactofblood，ambiguousandindiscreet，sulliedthefairfameofBelisarius。
Presidius，aloyalItalian，ashefledfromRavennatoRome，wasrudelystoppedbyConstantine，themilitarygovernorofSpoleto，anddespoiled，eveninachurch，oftwodaggersrichlyinlaidwithgoldandpreciousstones。Assoonasthepublicdangerhadsubsided，Presidiuscomplainedofthelossandinjury:hiscomplaintwasheard，buttheorderofrestitutionwasdisobeyedbytheprideandavariceoftheoffender。Exasperatedbythedelay，Presidiusboldlyarrestedthegeneral\'shorseashepassedthroughtheforum；and，withthespiritofacitizen，demandedthecommonbenefitoftheRomanlaws。ThehonorofBelisariuswasengaged；hesummonedacouncil；claimedtheobedienceofhissubordinateofficer；andwasprovoked，byaninsolentreply，tocallhastilyforthepresenceofhisguards。Constantine，viewingtheirentranceasthesignalofdeath，drewhissword，andrushedonthegeneral，whonimblyeludedthestroke，andwasprotectedbyhisfriends；whilethedesperateassassinwasdisarmed，draggedintoaneighboringchamber，andexecuted，orrathermurdered，bytheguards，atthearbitrarycommandofBelisarius。^95Inthishastyactofviolence，theguiltofConstantinewasnolongerremembered；thedespairanddeathofthatvaliantofficerweresecretlyimputedtotherevengeofAntonina；andeachofhiscolleagues，consciousofthesamerapine，wasapprehensiveofthesamefate。Thefearofacommonenemysuspendedtheeffectsoftheirenvyanddiscontent；butintheconfidenceofapproachingvictory，theyinstigatedapowerfulrivaltoopposetheconquerorofRomeandAfrica。Fromthedomesticserviceofthepalace，andtheadministrationoftheprivaterevenue，Narsestheeunuchwassuddenlyexaltedtotheheadofanarmy；andthespiritofahero，whoafterwardsequalledthemeritandgloryofBelisarius，servedonlytoperplextheoperationsoftheGothicwar。Tohisprudentcounsels，thereliefofRiminiwasascribedbytheleadersofthediscontentedfaction，whoexhortedNarsestoassumeanindependentandseparatecommand。TheepistleofJustinianhadindeedenjoinedhisobediencetothegeneral；butthedangerousexception，\"asfarasmaybeadvantageoustothepublicservice，\"
reservedsomefreedomofjudgmenttothediscreetfavorite，whohadsolatelydepartedfromthesacredandfamiliarconversationofhissovereign。Intheexerciseofthisdoubtfulright，theeunuchperpetuallydissentedfromtheopinionsofBelisarius；
and，afteryieldingwithreluctancetothesiegeofUrbino，hedesertedhiscolleagueinthenight，andmarchedawaytotheconquestoftheAemilianprovince。ThefierceandformidablebandsoftheHeruliwereattachedtothepersonofNarses；^96
tenthousandRomansandconfederateswerepersuadedtomarchunderhisbanners；everymalecontentembracedthefairopportunityofrevenginghisprivateorimaginarywrongs；andtheremainingtroopsofBelisariusweredividedanddispersedfromthegarrisonsofSicilytotheshoresoftheHadriatic。Hisskillandperseveranceovercameeveryobstacle:Urbinowastaken，thesiegesofFaesulaeOrvieto，andAuximum，wereundertakenandvigorouslyprosecuted；andtheeunuchNarseswasatlengthrecalledtothedomesticcaresofthepalace。Alldissensionswerehealed，andalloppositionwassubdued，bythetemperateauthorityoftheRomangeneral，towhomhisenemiescouldnotrefusetheiresteem；andBelisariusinculcatedthesalutarylessonthattheforcesofthestateshouldcomposeonebody，andbeanimatedbyonesoul。Butintheintervalofdiscord，theGothswerepermittedtobreathe；animportantseasonwaslost，Milanwasdestroyed，andthenorthernprovincesofItalywereafflictedbyaninundationoftheFranks。
[Footnote95:ThistransactionisrelatedinthepublichistoryGoth。l。ii。c。8withcandororcaution；intheAnecdotesc。
7withmalevolenceorfreedom；butMarcellinus，orratherhiscontinuator，inChron。，castsashadeofpremeditatedassassinationoverthedeathofConstantine。HehadperformedgoodserviceatRomeandSpoleto，Procop。Gothl。i。c。7，14；
butAlemannusconfoundshimwithaConstantianuscomesstabuli。]
[Footnote96:Theyrefusedtoserveafterhisdeparture；soldtheircaptivesandcattletotheGoths；andsworenevertofightagainstthem。Procopiusintroducesacuriousdigressiononthemannersandadventuresofthiswanderingnation，apartofwhomfinallyemigratedtoThuleorScandinavia。Goth。l。ii。c。14，15。]
WhenJustinianfirstmeditatedtheconquestofItaly，hesentambassadorstothekingsoftheFranks，andadjuredthem，bythecommontiesofallianceandreligion，tojoinintheholyenterpriseagainsttheArians。TheGoths，astheirwantweremoreurgent，employedamoreeffectualmodeofpersuasion，andvainlystrove，bythegiftoflandsandmoney，topurchasethefriendship，oratleasttheneutrality，ofalightandperfidiousnation。^97ButthearmsofBelisarius，andtherevoltoftheItalians，hadnosoonershakentheGothicmonarchy，thanTheodebertofAustrasia，themostpowerfulandwarlikeoftheMerovingiankings，waspersuadedtosuccortheirdistressbyanindirectandseasonableaid。Withoutexpectingtheconsentoftheirsovereign，thethousandBurgundians，hisrecentsubjects，descendedfromtheAlps，andjoinedthetroopswhichVitigeshadsenttochastisetherevoltofMilan。Afteranobstinatesiege，thecapitalofLiguriawasreducedbyfamine；butnocapitulationcouldbeobtained，exceptforthesaferetreatoftheRomangarrison。Datius，theorthodoxbishop，whohadseducedhiscountrymentorebellion^98andruin，escapedtotheluxuryandhonorsoftheByzantinecourt；^99buttheclergy，perhapstheArianclergy，wereslaughteredatthefootoftheirownaltarsbythedefendersoftheCatholicfaith。Threehundredthousandmaleswerereportedtobeslain；^100thefemalesex，andthemorepreciousspoil，wasresignedtotheBurgundians；andthehouses，oratleastthewalls，ofMilan，werelevelledwiththeground。TheGoths，intheirlastmoments，wererevengedbythedestructionofacity，secondonlytoRomeinsizeandopulence，inthesplendorofitsbuildings，orthenumberofitsinhabitants；andBelisariussympathizedaloneinthefateofhisdesertedanddevotedfriends。Encouragedbythissuccessfulinroad，Theodeberthimself，intheensuingspring，invadedtheplainsofItalywithanarmyofonehundredthousandBarbarians。
^101Theking，andsomechosenfollowers，weremountedonhorseback，andarmedwithlances；theinfantry，withoutbowsorspears，weresatisfiedwithashield，asword，andadouble—edgedbattle—axe，which，intheirhands，becameadeadlyandunerringweapon。ItalytrembledatthemarchoftheFranks；andboththeGothicprinceandtheRomangeneral，alikeignorantoftheirdesigns，solicited，withhopeandterror，thefriendshipofthesedangerousallies。TillhehadsecuredthepassageofthePoonthebridgeofPavia，thegrandsonofClovisdissembledhisintentions，whichheatlengthdeclared，byassaulting，almostatthesameinstant，thehostilecampsoftheRomansandGoths。
Insteadofunitingtheirarms，theyfledwithequalprecipitation；andthefertile，thoughdesolateprovincesofLiguriaandAemilia，wereabandonedtoalicentioushostofBarbarians，whoseragewasnotmitigatedbyanythoughtsofsettlementorconquest。Amongthecitieswhichtheyruined，Genoa，notyetconstructedofmarble，isparticularlyenumerated；
andthedeathsofthousands，accordingtotheregularpracticeofwar，appeartohaveexcitedlesshorrorthansomeidolatroussacrificesofwomenandchildren，whichwereperformedwithimpunityinthecampofthemostChristianking。Ifitwerenotamelancholytruth，thatthefirstandmostcruelsufferingsmustbethelotoftheinnocentandhelpless，historymightexultinthemiseryoftheconquerors，who，inthemidstofriches，wereleftdestituteofbreadorwine，reducedtodrinkthewatersofthePo，andtofeedonthefleshofdistemperedcattle。Thedysenterysweptawayonethirdoftheirarmy；andtheclamorsofhissubjects，whowereimpatienttopasstheAlps，disposedTheodeberttolistenwithrespecttothemildexhortationsofBelisarius。ThememoryofthisingloriousanddestructivewarfarewasperpetuatedonthemedalsofGaul；andJustinian，withoutunsheathinghissword，assumedthetitleofconqueroroftheFranks。TheMerovingianprincewasoffendedbythevanityoftheemperor；heaffectedtopitythefallenfortunesoftheGoths；andhisinsidiousofferofafoederalunionwasfortifiedbythepromiseormenaceofdescendingfromtheAlpsattheheadoffivehundredthousandmen。Hisplansofconquestwereboundless，andperhapschimerical。ThekingofAustrasiathreatenedtochastiseJustinian，andtomarchtothegatesofConstantinople:^102hewasoverthrownandslain^103byawildbull，^104ashehuntedintheBelgicorGermanforests。
[Footnote97:ThisnationalreproachofperfidyProcop。Goth。l。
ii。c。25offendstheearofLaMotheleVayer，tom。viii。p。
163—165，whocriticizes，asifhehadnotread，theGreekhistorian。]
[Footnote98:Baroniusapplaudshistreason，andjustifiestheCatholicbishops—quinesubhereticoprincipedegantomnemlapidemmovent—ausefulcaution。ThemorerationalMuratoriAnnalid\'Italia，tom。v。p。54hintsattheguiltofperjury，andblamesatleasttheimprudenceofDatius。]
[Footnote99:St。DatiuswasmoresuccessfulagainstdevilsthanagainstBarbarians。Hetravelledwithanumeronsretinue，andoccupiedatCorinthalargehouse。Baronius，A。D。538，No。89，A。D。539，No。20。]
[Footnote100:CompareProcopius，Goth。l。ii。c。7，21。Yetsuchpopulationisincredible；andthesecondorthirdcityofItalyneednotrepineifweonlydecimatethenumbersofthepresenttextBothMilanandGenoarevivedinlessthanthirtyyears，PaulDiacondeGestisLangobard。l。ii。c。38。
Note:ProcopiussaysdistinctlythatMilanwasthesecondcityoftheWest。WhichdidGibbonsupposecouldcompetewithit，RavennaorNaples；thenextpagehecallsitthesecond。—
M。]
[Footnote101:BesidesProcopius，perhapstooRoman，seetheChroniclesofMariusandMarcellinus，Jornandes，inSuccess。
Regn。inMuratori，tom。i。p。241，andGregoryofTours，l。
iii。c。32，intom。ii。oftheHistoriansofFrance。GregorysupposesadefeatofBelisarius，who，inAimoin，deGestisFranc。l。ii。c。23，intom。iii。p。59，isslainbytheFranks。]
[Footnote102:Agathias，l。i。p。14，15。CouldhehaveseducedorsubduedtheGepidaeorLombardsofPannonia，theGreekhistorianisconfidentthathemusthavebeendestroyedinThrace。]
[Footnote103:Thekingpointedhisspear—thebulloverturnedatreeonhishead—heexpiredthesameday。SuchisthestoryofAgathias；buttheoriginalhistoriansofFrancetom。ii。p。202，403，558，667imputehisdeathtoafever。]
[Footnote104:Withoutlosingmyselfinalabyrinthofspeciesandnames—theaurochs，urus，bisons，bubalus，bonasus，buffalo，&c。，Buffon。Hist。Nat。tom。xi。，andSupplement，tom。iii。
vi。，itiscertain，thatinthesixthcenturyalargewildspeciesofhornedcattlewashuntedinthegreatforestsoftheVosgesinLorraine，andtheArdennes，Greg。Turon。tom。ii。l。
x。c。10，p。369。]
ChapterXLI:ConquestsOfJustinian，CharactOfBalisarius。
PartVI。
AssoonasBelisariuswasdeliveredfromhisforeignanddomesticenemies，heseriouslyappliedhisforcestothefinalreductionofItaly。InthesiegeofOsimo，thegeneralwasnearlytranspiercedwithanarrow，ifthemortalstrokehadnotbeeninterceptedbyoneofhisguards，wholost，inthatpiousoffice，theuseofhishand。TheGothsofOsimo，fourthousandwarriors，withthoseofFaesulaeandtheCottianAlps，wereamongthelastwhomaintainedtheirindependence；andtheirgallantresistance，whichalmosttiredthepatience，deservedtheesteem，oftheconqueror。Hisprudencerefusedtosubscribethesafeconductwhichtheyasked，tojointheirbrethrenofRavenna；
buttheysaved，byanhonorablecapitulation，onemoietyatleastoftheirwealth，withthefreealternativeofretiringpeaceablytotheirestates，orenlistingtoservetheemperorinhisPersianwars。ThemultitudeswhichyetadheredtothestandardofVitigesfarsurpassedthenumberoftheRomantroops；butneitherprayersnordefiance，northeextremedangerofhismostfaithfulsubjects，couldtempttheGothickingbeyondthefortificationsofRavenna。Thesefortificationswere，indeed，impregnabletotheassaultsofartorviolence；andwhenBelisariusinvestedthecapital，hewassoonconvincedthatfamineonlycouldtamethestubbornspiritoftheBarbarians。
Thesea，theland，andthechannelsofthePo，wereguardedbythevigilanceoftheRomangeneral；andhismoralityextendedtherightsofwartothepracticeofpoisoningthewaters，^105andsecretlyfiringthegranaries^106ofabesiegedcity。^107WhilehepressedtheblockadeofRavenna，hewassurprisedbythearrivaloftwoambassadorsfromConstantinople，withatreatyofpeace，whichJustinianhadimprudentlysigned，withoutdeigningtoconsulttheauthorofhisvictory。Bythisdisgracefulandprecariousagreement，ItalyandtheGothictreasureweredivided，andtheprovincesbeyondthePowereleftwiththeregaltitletothesuccessorofTheodoric。Theambassadorswereeagertoaccomplishtheirsalutarycommission；thecaptiveVitigesaccepted，withtransport，theunexpectedofferofacrown；honorwaslessprevalentamongtheGoths，thanthewantandappetiteoffood；andtheRomanchiefs，whomurmuredatthecontinuanceofthewar，professedimplicitsubmissiontothecommandsoftheemperor。IfBelisariushadpossessedonlythecourageofasoldier，thelaurelwouldhavebeensnatchedfromhishandbytimidandenviouscounsels；butinthisdecisivemoment，heresolved，withthemagnanimityofastatesman，tosustainalonethedangerandmeritofgenerousdisobedience。EachofhisofficersgaveawrittenopinionthatthesiegeofRavennawasimpracticableandhopeless:thegeneralthenrejectedthetreatyofpartition，anddeclaredhisownresolutionofleadingVitigesinchainstothefeetofJustinian。TheGothsretiredwithdoubtanddismay:thisperemptoryrefusaldeprivedthemoftheonlysignaturewhichtheycouldtrust，andfilledtheirmindswithajustapprehension，thatasagaciousenemyhaddiscoveredthefullextentoftheirdeplorablestate。TheycomparedthefameandfortuneofBelisariuswiththeweaknessoftheirill—fatedking；
andthecomparisonsuggestedanextraordinaryproject，towhichVitiges，withapparentresignation，wascompelledtoacquiesce。
Partitionwouldruinthestrength，exilewoulddisgracethehonor，ofthenation；buttheyofferedtheirarms，theirtreasures，andthefortificationsofRavenna，ifBelisariuswoulddisclaimtheauthorityofamaster，acceptthechoiceoftheGoths，andassume，ashehaddeserved，thekingdomofItaly。Ifthefalselustreofadiademcouldhavetemptedtheloyaltyofafaithfulsubject，hisprudencemusthaveforeseentheinconstancyoftheBarbarians，andhisrationalambitionwouldpreferthesafeandhonorablestationofaRomangeneral。Eventhepatienceandseemingsatisfactionwithwhichheentertainedaproposaloftreason，mightbesusceptibleofamalignantinterpretation。ButthelieutenantofJustinianwasconsciousofhisownrectitude；