andhewasprivatelyassured，thatacrowdofRomandeserterswouldabandon，onhisapproach，thestandardofTotila。HissecondmarriagewithMalasontha，thegranddaughterofTheodoricendearedGermanustotheGothsthemselves；andtheymarchedwithreluctanceagainstthefatherofaroyalinfantthelastoffspringofthelineofAmali。^27Asplendidallowancewasassignedbytheemperor:thegeneralcontributehisprivatefortune:histwosonswerepopularandactiveandhesurpassed，inthepromptitudeandsuccessofhisleviestheexpectationofmankind。HewaspermittedtoselectsomesquadronsofThraciancavalry:theveterans，aswellastheyouthofConstantinopleandEurope，engagedtheirvoluntaryservice；andasfarastheheartofGermany，hisfameandliberalityattractedtheaidoftheBarbarians。TheRomansadvancedtoSardica；anarmyofSclavoniansfledbeforetheirmarch；butwithintwodaysoftheirfinaldeparture，thedesignsofGermanuswereterminatedbyhismaladyanddeath。YettheimpulsewhichhehadgiventotheItalianwarstillcontinuedtoactwithenergyandeffect。ThemaritimetownsAncona，Crotona，Centumcellae，resistedtheassaultsofTotilaSicilywasreducedbythezealofArtaban，andtheGothicnavywasdefeatednearthecoastoftheAdriatic。Thetwofleetswerealmostequal，forty—seventofiftygalleys:thevictorywasdecidedbytheknowledgeanddexterityoftheGreeks；
buttheshipsweresocloselygrappled，thatonlytwelveoftheGothsescapedfromthisunfortunateconflict。Theyaffectedtodepreciateanelementinwhichtheywereunskilled；buttheirownexperienceconfirmedthetruthofamaxim，thatthemasteroftheseawillalwaysacquirethedominionoftheland。^28
[Footnote!:Thisisasingularmistake。Gibbonmusthavehastilycaughtathisinexperience，andconcludedthatitmusthavebeenfromyouth。LordMahonhaspointedoutthiserror，p。
401。Ishouldaddthatinthelast4to。edition，correctedbyGibbon，itstands\"wantofyouthandexperience；\"—butGibboncanscarcelyhaveintendedsuchaphrase。—M。]
[Footnote26:SeetheactsofGermanusinthepublicVandal。l。
ii，c。16，17，18Goth。l。iii。c。31，32andprivatehistory，Anecdot。c。5，andthoseofhissonJustin，inAgathias，l。
iv。p。130，131。NotwithstandinganambiguousexpressionofJornandes，fratrisuo，Alemannushasprovedthathewasthesonoftheemperor\'sbrother。]
[Footnote27:ConjunctaAniciorumgenscumAmalastirpespemadhucutiiusquegenerispromittit，Jornandes，c。60，p。703。
HewroteatRavennabeforethedeathofTotila]
[Footnote*:Seenote31，p。268。—M。]
[Footnote28:ThethirdbookofProcopiusisterminatedbythedeathofGermanus，Add。l。iv。c。23，24，25，26。]
AfterthelossofGermanus，thenationswereprovokedtosmile，bythestrangeintelligence，thatthecommandoftheRomanarmieswasgiventoaeunuch。ButtheeunuchNarses^29isrankedamongthefewwhohaverescuedthatunhappynamefromthecontemptandhatredofmankind。Afeeble，diminutivebodyconcealedthesoulofastatesmanandawarrior。Hisyouthhadbeenemployedinthemanagementoftheloomanddistaff，inthecaresofthehousehold，andtheserviceoffemaleluxury；butwhilehishandswerebusy，hesecretlyexercisedthefacultiesofavigorousanddiscerningmind。Astrangertotheschoolsandthecamp，hestudiedinthepalacetodissemble，toflatter，andtopersuade；andassoonasheapproachedthepersonoftheemperor，Justinianlistenedwithsurpriseandpleasuretothemanlycounselsofhischamberlainandprivatetreasurer。^30ThetalentsofNarsesweretriedandimprovedinfrequentembassies:
heledanarmyintoItalyacquiredapracticalknowledgeofthewarandthecountry，andpresumedtostrivewiththegeniusofBelisarius。Twelveyearsafterhisreturn，theeunuchwaschosentoachievetheconquestwhichhadbeenleftimperfectbythefirstoftheRomangenerals。Insteadofbeingdazzledbyvanityoremulation，heseriouslydeclaredthat，unlesshewerearmedwithanadequateforce，hewouldneverconsenttoriskhisowngloryandthatofhissovereign。Justiniangrantedtothefavoritewhathemighthavedeniedtothehero:theGothicwarwasrekindledfromitsashes，andthepreparationswerenotunworthyoftheancientmajestyoftheempire。Thekeyofthepublictreasurewasputintohishand，tocollectmagazines，tolevysoldiers，topurchasearmsandhorses，todischargethearrearsofpay，andtotemptthefidelityofthefugitivesanddeserters。ThetroopsofGermanuswerestillinarms；theyhaltedatSalonaintheexpectationofanewleader；andlegionsofsubjectsandallieswerecreatedbythewell—knownliberalityoftheeunuchNarses。ThekingoftheLombards^31satisfiedorsurpassedtheobligationsofatreaty，bylendingtwothousandtwohundredofhisbravestwarriors，^!!whowerefollowedbythreethousandoftheirmartialattendants。ThreethousandHerulifoughtonhorsebackunderPhilemuth，theirnativechief；
andthenobleAratus，whoadoptedthemannersanddisciplineofRome，conductedabandofveteransofthesamenation。DagistheuswasreleasedfromprisontocommandtheHuns；andKobad，thegrandsonandnephewofthegreatking，wasconspicuousbytheregaltiaraattheheadofhisfaithfulPersians，whohaddevotedthemselvestothefortunesoftheirprince。^32Absoluteintheexerciseofhisauthority，moreabsoluteintheaffectionofhistroops，NarsesledanumerousandgallantarmyfromPhilippopolistoSalona，fromwhencehecoastedtheeasternsideoftheAdriaticasfarastheconfinesofItaly。Hisprogresswaschecked。TheEastcouldnotsupplyvesselscapableoftransportingsuchmultitudesofmenandhorses。TheFranks，who，inthegeneralconfusion，hadusurpedthegreaterpartoftheVenetianprovince，refusedafreepassagetothefriendsoftheLombards。ThestationofVeronawasoccupiedbyTeias，withthefloweroftheGothicforces；andthatskilfulcommanderhadoverspreadtheadjacentcountrywiththefallofwoodsandtheinundationofwaters。^33Inthisperplexity，anofficerofexperienceproposedameasure，securebytheappearanceofrashness；thattheRomanarmyshouldcautiouslyadvancealongtheseashore，whilethefleetprecededtheirmarch，andsuccessivelycastabridgeofboatsoverthemouthsoftherivers，theTimavus，theBrenta，theAdige，andthePo，thatfallintotheAdriatictothenorthofRavenna。Ninedayshereposedinthecity，collectedthefragmentsoftheItalianarmy，andmarchingtowardsRiminitomeetthedefianceofaninsultingenemy。
[Footnote29:ProcopiusrelatesthewholeseriesofthissecondGothicwarandthevictoryofNarses，l。iv。c。21，26—35。A
splendidscene。AmongthesixsubjectsofepicpoetrywhichTassorevolvedinhismind，hehesitatedbetweentheconquestsofItalybyBelisariusandbyNarses，Hayley\'sWorks，vol。iv。p。
70。]
[Footnote30:ThecountryofNarsesisunknown，sincehemustnotbeconfoundedwiththePersarmenian。ProcopiusstyleshimseeGoth。l。ii。c。13；PaulWarnefrid，l。ii。c。3，p。776，
Chartularius:MarcellinusaddsthenameofCubicularius。InaninscriptionontheSalarianbridgeheisentitledEx—consul，Ex—praepositus，CubiculiPatricius，Mascou，Hist。oftheGermans，l。xiii。c。25。ThelawofTheodosiusagainstennuchswasobsoleteorabolished，Annotationxx。，butthefoolishprophecyoftheRomanssubsistedinfullvigor，Procop。l。iv。
c。21。
Note:LordMahonsupposesthembothtohavebeenPersarmenians。Note，p。256。—M。]
[Footnote31:PaulWarnefrid，theLombard，recordswithcomplacencythesuccor，service，andhonorabledismissionofhiscountrymen—reipublicaeRomanaeadversusaemulosadjutoresfuerant，l。ii。c。i。p。774，edit。Grot。IamsurprisedthatAlboin，theirmartialking，didnotleadhissubjectsinperson。
Note:TheLombardswerestillatwarwiththeGepidae。SeeProcop。Goth。lib。iv。p。25。—M。]
[Footnote!!:GibbonhasblindlyfollowedthetranslationofMaltretus:Bismilleducentos—whiletheoriginalGreeksaysexpresslysomethingelse，Goth。lib。iv。c。26。Inlikemanner，p。266，hedrawsvolunteersfromGermany，ontheauthorityofCousin，who，inoneplace，hasmistakenGermanusforGermania。
YetonlyafewpagesfurtherwefindGibbonloudlycondemningtheFrenchandLatinreadersofProcopius。LordMahon，p。403。ThefirstoftheseerrorsremainsuncorrectedintheneweditionoftheByzantines。—M。]
[Footnote32:Hewas，ifnotanimpostor，thesonoftheblindZames，savedbycompassion，andeducatedintheByzantinecourtbythevariousmotivesofpolicy，pride，andgenerosity，Procop。
Persic。l。i。c。23。]
[Footnote33:InthetimeofAugustus，andinthemiddleages，thewholewastefromAquileiatoRavennawascoveredwithwoods，lakes，andmorasses。Manhassubduednature，andthelandhasbeencultivatedsincethewatersareconfinedandembanked。SeethelearnedresearchesofMuratori，Antiquitat。ItaliaeMediiAevi。tom。i。dissertxxi。p。253，254，fromVitruvius，Strabo，Herodian，oldcharters，andlocalknowledge。]
ChapterXLIII:LastVictoryAndDeathOfBelisarius，DeathOfJustinian。
PartIII。
TheprudenceofNarsesimpelledhimtospeedyanddecisiveaction。Hispowerswerethelasteffortofthestate；thecostofeachdayaccumulatedtheenormousaccount；andthenations，untrainedtodisciplineorfatigue，mightberashlyprovokedtoturntheirarmsagainsteachother，oragainsttheirbenefactor。
ThesameconsiderationsmighthavetemperedtheardorofTotila。
ButhewasconsciousthattheclergyandpeopleofItalyaspiredtoasecondrevolution:hefeltorsuspectedtherapidprogressoftreason；andheresolvedtorisktheGothickingdomonthechanceofaday，inwhichthevaliantwouldbeanimatedbyinstantdangerandthedisaffectedmightbeawedbymutualignorance。InhismarchfromRavenna，theRomangeneralchastisedthegarrisonofRimini，traversedinadirectlinethehillsofUrbino，andreenteredtheFlaminianway，ninemilesbeyondtheperforatedrock，anobstacleofartandnaturewhichmighthavestoppedorretardedhisprogress。^34TheGothswereassembledintheneighborhoodofRome，theyadvancedwithoutdelaytoseekasuperiorenemy，andthetwoarmiesapproachedeachotheratthedistanceofonehundredfurlongs，betweenTagina^35andthesepulchresoftheGauls。^36ThehaughtymessageofNarseswasanoffer，notofpeace，butofpardon。TheansweroftheGothickingdeclaredhisresolutiontodieorconquer。\"Whatday，\"saidthemessenger，\"willyoufixforthecombat?\"\"Theeighthday，\"repliedTotila；butearlythenextmorningheattemptedtosurpriseafoe，suspiciousofdeceit，andpreparedforbattle。TenthousandHeruliandLombards，ofapprovedvaloranddoubtfulfaith，wereplacedinthecentre。
EachofthewingswascomposedofeightthousandRomans；therightwasguardedbythecavalryoftheHuns，theleftwascoveredbyfifteenhundredchosenhorse，destined，accordingtotheemergenciesofaction，tosustaintheretreatoftheirfriends，ortoencompasstheflankoftheenemy。Fromhisproperstationattheheadoftherightwing，theeunuchrodealongtheline，expressingbyhisvoiceandcountenancetheassuranceofvictory；excitingthesoldiersoftheemperortopunishtheguiltandmadnessofabandofrobbers；andexposingtotheirviewgoldchains，collars，andbracelets，therewardsofmilitaryvirtue。
Fromtheeventofasinglecombattheydrewanomenofsuccess；
andtheybeheldwithpleasurethecourageoffiftyarchers，whomaintainedasmalleminenceagainstthreesuccessiveattacksoftheGothiccavalry。Atthedistanceonlyoftwobow—shots，thearmiesspentthemorningindreadfulsuspense，andtheRomanstastedsomenecessaryfood，withoutunloosingthecuirassfromtheirbreast，orthebridlefromtheirhorses。Narsesawaitedthecharge；anditwasdelayedbyTotilatillhehadreceivedhislastsuccorsoftwothousandGoths。Whileheconsumedthehoursinfruitlesstreaty，thekingexhibitedinanarrowspacethestrengthandagilityofawarrior。Hisarmorwasenchasedwithgold；hispurplebannerfloatedwiththewind:hecasthislanceintotheair；caughtitwiththerighthand；shiftedittotheleft；threwhimselfbackwards；recoveredhisseat；andmanagedafierysteedinallthepacesandevolutionsoftheequestrianschool。Assoonasthesuccorshadarrived，heretiredtohistent，assumedthedressandarmsofaprivatesoldier，andgavethesignalofabattle。Thefirstlineofcavalryadvancedwithmorecouragethandiscretion，andleftbehindthemtheinfantryofthesecondline。Theyweresoonengagedbetweenthehornsofacrescent，intowhichtheadversewingshadbeeninsensiblycurved，andweresalutedfromeithersidebythevolleysoffourthousandarchers。Theirardor，andeventheirdistress，drovethemforwardstoacloseandunequalconflict，inwhichtheycouldonlyusetheirlancesagainstanenemyequallyskilledinalltheinstrumentsofwar。AgenerousemulationinspiredtheRomansandtheirBarbarianallies；andNarses，whocalmlyviewedanddirectedtheirefforts，doubtedtowhomheshouldadjudgetheprizeofsuperiorbravery。TheGothiccavalrywasastonishedanddisordered，pressedandbroken；andthelineofinfantry，insteadofpresentingtheirspears，oropeningtheirintervals，weretrampledunderthefeetoftheflyinghorse。SixthousandoftheGothswereslaughteredwithoutmercyinthefieldofTagina。
Theirprince，withfiveattendants，wasovertakenbyAsbad，oftheraceoftheGepidae。\"SparethekingofItaly，\"criedaloyalvoice，andAsbadstruckhislancethroughthebodyofTotila。TheblowwasinstantlyrevengedbythefaithfulGoths:
theytransportedtheirdyingmonarchsevenmilesbeyondthesceneofhisdisgrace；andhislastmomentswerenotimbitteredbythepresenceofanenemy。Compassionaffordedhimtheshelterofanobscuretomb；buttheRomanswerenotsatisfiedoftheirvictory，tilltheybeheldthecorpseoftheGothicking。Hishat，enrichedwithgems，andhisbloodyrobe，werepresentedtoJustinianbythemessengersoftriumph。^37
[Footnote34:TheFlaminianway，asitiscorrectedfromtheItineraries，andthebestmodernmaps，byD\'Anville，Analysedel\'Italie，p。147—162，maybethusstated:RometoNarni，51
Romanmiles；Terni，57；Spoleto，75；Foligno，88；Nocera，103；
Cagli，142；Intercisa，157；Fossombrone，160；Fano，176；Pesaro，184；Rimini，208—about189Englishmiles。HetakesnonoticeofthedeathofTotila；butWestsellingItinerar。p。614
exchanges，forthefieldofTaginas，theunknownappellationofPtanias，eightmilesfromNocera。]
[Footnote35:Taginae，orratherTadinae，ismentionedbyPliny；
butthebishopricofthatobscuretown，amilefromGualdo，intheplain，wasunited，intheyear1007，withthatofNocera。
Thesignsofantiquityarepreservedinthelocalappellations，Fossato，thecamp；Capraia，Caprea；Bastia，BustaGallorum。SeeCluverius，ItaliaAntiqua，l。ii。c。6，p。615，616，617，LucasHolstenius，Annotat。adCluver。p。85，86，Guazzesi，Dissertat。p。177—217，aprofessedinquiry，andthemapsoftheecclesiasticalstateandthemarchofAncona，byLeMaireandMagini。]
[Footnote36:ThebattlewasfoughtintheyearofRome458；andtheconsulDecius，bydevotinghisownlife，assuredthetriumphofhiscountryandhiscolleagueFabius，T。Liv。x。28，29。
ProcopiusascribestoCamillusthevictoryoftheBustaGallorum；
andhiserrorisbrandedbyCluveriuswiththenationalreproachofGraecorumnugamenta。]
[Footnote*:\"Dog，wiltthoustrikethyLord?\"wasthemorecharacteristicexclamationoftheGothicyouth。Procop。lib。iv。
p。32。—M。]
[Footnote37:Theophanes，Chron。p。193。Hist。Miscell。l。xvi。
p。108。]
AssoonasNarseshadpaidhisdevotionstotheAuthorofvictory，andtheblessedVirgin，hispeculiarpatroness，^38hepraised，rewarded，anddismissedtheLombards。Thevillageshadbeenreducedtoashesbythesevaliantsavages；theyravishedmatronsandvirginsonthealtar；theirretreatwasdiligentlywatchedbyastrongdetachmentofregularforces，whopreventedarepetitionofthelikedisorders。ThevictoriouseunuchpursuedhismarchthroughTuscany，acceptedthesubmissionoftheGoths，heardtheacclamations，andoftenthecomplaints，oftheItalians，andencompassedthewallsofRomewiththeremainderofhisformidablehost。Roundthewidecircumference，Narsesassignedtohimself，andtoeachofhislieutenants，arealorafeignedattack，whilehesilentlymarkedtheplaceofeasyandunguardedentrance。NeitherthefortificationsofHadrian\'smole，noroftheport，couldlongdelaytheprogressoftheconqueror；andJustinianoncemorereceivedthekeysofRome，which，underhisreign，hadbeenfivetimestakenandrecovered。
^39ButthedeliveranceofRomewasthelastcalamityoftheRomanpeople。TheBarbarianalliesofNarsestoofrequentlyconfoundedtheprivilegesofpeaceandwar。ThedespairoftheflyingGothsfoundsomeconsolationinsanguinaryrevenge；andthreehundredyouthsofthenoblestfamilies，whohadbeensentashostagesbeyondthePo，wereinhumanlyslainbythesuccessorofTotila。Thefateofthesenatesuggestsanawfullessonofthevicissitudeofhumanaffairs。OfthesenatorswhomTotilahadbanishedfromtheircountry，somewererescuedbyanofficerofBelisarius，andtransportedfromCampaniatoSicily；whileothersweretooguiltytoconfideintheclemencyofJustinian，ortoopoortoprovidehorsesfortheirescapetothesea—shore。
Theirbrethrenlanguishedfiveyearsinastateofindigenceandexile:thevictoryofNarsesrevivedtheirhopes；buttheirprematurereturntothemetropoliswaspreventedbythefuriousGoths；andallthefortressesofCampaniawerestainedwithpatrician^40blood。Afteraperiodofthirteencenturies，theinstitutionofRomulusexpired；andifthenoblesofRomestillassumedthetitleofsenators，fewsubsequenttracescanbediscoveredofapubliccouncil，orconstitutionalorder。Ascendsixhundredyears，andcontemplatethekingsoftheearthsolicitinganaudience，astheslavesorfreedmenoftheRomansenate!^41
[Footnote38:Evagrius，l。iv。c。24。TheinspirationoftheVirginrevealedtoNarsestheday，andtheword，ofbattle，PaulDiacon。l。ii。c。3，p。776]
[Footnote39:Procop。Goth。lib。iv。p。33。]