Buttheywererewardedbythefreedomofpillage，afterthemostpreciousspoilshadbeenreservedfortheroyaltreasury。Thehousesofthesenatorswereplentifullystoredwithgoldandsilver；andtheavariceofBessashadlaboredwithsomuchguiltandshameforthebenefitoftheconqueror。Inthisrevolution，thesonsanddaughtersofRomanconsulslastedthemiserywhichtheyhadspurnedorrelieved，wanderedintatteredgarmentsthroughthestreetsofthecityandbeggedtheirbread，perhapswithoutsuccess，beforethegatesoftheirhereditarymansions。
TherichesofRusticiana，thedaughterofSymmachusandwidowofBoethius，hadbeengenerouslydevotedtoalleviatethecalamitiesoffamine。ButtheBarbarianswereexasperatedbythereport，thatshehadpromptedthepeopletooverthrowthestatuesofthegreatTheodoric；andthelifeofthatvenerablematronwouldhavebeensacrificedtohismemory，ifTotilahadnotrespectedherbirth，hervirtues，andeventhepiousmotiveofherrevenge。Thenextdayhepronouncedtwoorations，tocongratulateandadmonishhisvictoriousGoths，andtoreproachthesenate，asthevilestofslaves，withtheirperjury，folly，andingratitude；sternlydeclaring，thattheirestatesandhonorswerejustlyforfeitedtothecompanionsofhisarms。Yetheconsentedtoforgivetheirrevolt；andthesenatorsrepaidhisclemencybydespatchingcircularletterstotheirtenantsandvassalsintheprovincesofItaly，strictlytoenjointhemtodesertthestandardoftheGreeks，tocultivatetheirlandsinpeace，andtolearnfromtheirmastersthedutyofobediencetoaGothicsovereign。
Againstthecitywhichhadsolongdelayedthecourseofhisvictories，heappearedinexorable:onethirdofthewalls，indifferentparts，weredemolishedbyhiscommand；fireandenginespreparedtoconsumeorsubvertthemoststatelyworksofantiquity；andtheworldwasastonishedbythefataldecree，thatRomeshouldbechangedintoapastureforcattle。ThefirmandtemperateremonstranceofBelisariussuspendedtheexecution；hewarnedtheBarbariannottosullyhisfamebythedestructionofthosemonumentswhichwerethegloryofthedead，andthedelightoftheliving；andTotilawaspersuaded，bytheadviceofanenemy，topreserveRomeastheornamentofhiskingdom，orthefairestpledgeofpeaceandreconciliation。WhenhehadsignifiedtotheambassadorsofBelisariushisintentionofsparingthecity，hestationedanarmyatthedistanceofonehundredandtwentyfurlongs，toobservethemotionsoftheRomangeneral。
WiththeremainderofhisforceshemarchedintoLucaniaandApulia，andoccupiedonthesummitofMountGarganus^14oneofthecampsofHannibal。^15Thesenatorsweredraggedinhistrain，andafterwardsconfinedinthefortressesofCampania:thecitizens，withtheirwivesandchildren，weredispersedinexile；
andduringfortydaysRomewasabandonedtodesolateanddrearysolitude。^16
[Footnote13:Duringthelongexile，andafterthedeathofVigilius，theRomanchurchwasgoverned，atfirstbythearchdeacon，andatlengthA。D655bythepopePelagius，whowasnotthoughtguiltlessofthesufferingsofhispredecessor。
SeetheoriginallivesofthepopesunderthenameofAnastasius，Muratori，Script。Rer。Italicarum，tom。iii。P。i。p。130，131，
whorelatesseveralcuriousincidentsofthesiegesofRomeandthewarsofItaly。]
[Footnote14:MountGarganus，nowMonteSt。Angelo，inthekingdomofNaples，runsthreehundredstadiaintotheAdriaticSea，Strab。—vi。p。436，andinthedarkerageswasillustratedbytheapparition，miracles，andchurch，ofSt。
Michaelthearchangel。Horace，anativeofApuliaorLucania，hadseentheelmsandoaksofGarganuslaboringandbellowingwiththenorthwindthatblewonthatloftycoast，Carm。ii。9，Epist。ii。i。201。]
[Footnote15:IcannotascertainthisparticularcampofHannibal；butthePunicquarterswerelongandoftenintheneighborhoodofArpi，T。Liv。xxii。9，12，xxiv。3，&c。]
[Footnote16:Totila……Romamingreditur……acevertitmuros，domosaliquantasignicomburens，acomnesRomanorumresinpraedamaccepit，hosipsosRomanosinCampaniamcaptivosabduxit。Postquamdevastationem，xl。autampliusdies，Romafuititadesolata，utnemoibihominum，nisinulloe?bestiaemorarentur，Marcellin。inChron。p。54。]
ThelossofRomewasspeedilyretrievedbyanaction，towhich，accordingtotheevent，thepublicopinionwouldapplythenamesofrashnessorheroism。AfterthedepartureofTotila，theRomangeneralsalliedfromtheportattheheadofathousandhorse，cutinpiecestheenemywhoopposedhisprogress，andvisitedwithpityandreverencethevacantspaceoftheeternalcity。Resolvedtomaintainastationsoconspicuousintheeyesofmankind，hesummonedthegreatestpartofhistroopstothestandardwhichheerectedontheCapitol:theoldinhabitantswererecalledbytheloveoftheircountryandthehopesoffood；
andthekeysofRomeweresentasecondtimetotheemperorJustinian。Thewalls，asfarastheyhadbeendemolishedbytheGoths，wererepairedwithrudeanddissimilarmaterials；theditchwasrestored；ironspikes^17wereprofuselyscatteredinthehighwaystoannoythefeetofthehorses；andasnewgatescouldnotsuddenlybeprocured，theentrancewasguardedbyaSpartanrampartofhisbravestsoldiers。Attheexpirationoftwenty—fivedays，TotilareturnedbyhastymarchesfromApuliatoavengetheinjuryanddisgrace。Belisariusexpectedhisapproach。TheGothswerethricerepulsedinthreegeneralassaults；theylostthefloweroftheirtroops；theroyalstandardhadalmostfallenintothehandsoftheenemy，andthefameofTotilasunk，asithadrisen，withthefortuneofhisarms。Whateverskillandcouragecouldachieve，hadbeenperformedbytheRomangeneral:itremainedonlythatJustinianshouldterminate，byastrongandseasonableeffort，thewarwhichhehadambitiouslyundertaken。Theindolence，perhapstheimpotence，ofaprincewhodespisedhisenemies，andenviedhisservants，protractedthecalamitiesofItaly。Afteralongsilence，BelisariuswascommandedtoleaveasufficientgarrisonatRome，andtotransporthimselfintotheprovinceofLucania，whoseinhabitants，inflamedbyCatholiczeal，hadcastawaytheyokeoftheirArianconquerors。Inthisignoblewarfare，thehero，invincibleagainstthepoweroftheBarbarians，wasbaselyvanquishedbythedelay，thedisobedience，andthecowardiceofhisownofficers。HereposedinhiswinterquartersofCrotona，inthefullassurance，thatthetwopassesoftheLucanianhillswereguardedbyhiscavalry。Theywerebetrayedbytreacheryorweakness；andtherapidmarchoftheGothsscarcelyallowedtimefortheescapeofBelisariustothecoastofSicily。AtlengthafleetandarmywereassembledforthereliefofRuscianum，orRossano，^18afortresssixtyfurlongsfromtheruinsofSybaris，wherethenoblesofLucaniahadtakenrefuge。Inthefirstattempt，theRomanforcesweredissipatedbyastorm。Inthesecond，theyapproachedtheshore；buttheysawthehillscoveredwitharchers，thelanding—placedefendedbyalineofspears，andthekingoftheGothsimpatientforbattle。TheconquerorofItalyretiredwithasigh，andcontinuedtolanguish，ingloriousandinactive，tillAntonina，whohadbeensenttoConstantinopletosolicitsuccors，obtained，afterthedeathoftheempress，thepermissionofhisreturn。
[Footnote17:Thetribuliaresmallengineswithfourspikes，onefixedintheground，thethreeotherserectoradverse，Procopius，Gothic。l。iii。c。24。Just。Lipsius，Poliorcetwv，l。
v。c。3。Themetaphorwasborrowedfromthetribuli，land—caltrops，anherbwithapricklyfruit，commexinItaly。
Martin，adVirgil。Georgic。i。153vol。ii。p。33。]
[Footnote18:Ruscia，thenavaleThuriorum，wastransferredtothedistanceofsixtystadiatoRuscianum，Rossano，anarchbishopricwithoutsuffragans。TherepublicofSybarisisnowtheestateofthedukeofCorigliano。Riedesel，TravelsintoMagnaGraeciaandSicily，p。166—171。]
ThefivelastcampaignsofBelisariusmightabatetheenvyofhiscompetitors，whoseeyeshadbeendazzledandwoundedbytheblazeofhisformerglory。InsteadofdeliveringItalyfromtheGoths，hehadwanderedlikeafugitivealongthecoast，withoutdaringtomarchintothecountry，ortoaccepttheboldandrepeatedchallengeofTotila。Yet，inthejudgmentofthefewwhocoulddiscriminatecounselsfromevents，andcomparetheinstrumentswiththeexecution，heappearedamoreconsummatemasteroftheartofwar，thanintheseasonofhisprosperity，whenhepresentedtwocaptivekingsbeforethethroneofJustinian。ThevalorofBelisariuswasnotchilledbyage:hisprudencewasmaturedbyexperience；butthemoralvirtuesofhumanityandjusticeseemtohaveyieldedtothehardnecessityofthetimes。TheparsimonyorpovertyoftheemperorcompelledhimtodeviatefromtheruleofconductwhichhaddeservedtheloveandconfidenceoftheItalians。ThewarwasmaintainedbytheoppressionofRavenna，Sicily，andallthefaithfulsubjectsoftheempire；andtherigorousprosecutionofHerodianprovokedthatinjuredorguiltyofficertodeliverSpoletointothehandsoftheenemy。TheavariceofAntonina，whichhadbeensometimesdivertedbylove，nowreignedwithoutarivalinherbreast。
Belisariushimselfhadalwaysunderstood，thatriches，inacorruptage，arethesupportandornamentofpersonalmerit。Anditcannotbepresumedthatheshouldstainhishonorforthepublicservice，withoutapplyingapartofthespoiltohisprivateemolument。TheherohadescapedtheswordoftheBarbarians。Butthedaggerofconspiracy^19awaitedhisreturn。
Inthemidstofwealthandhonors，Artaban，whohadchastisedtheAfricantyrant，complainedoftheingratitudeofcourts。HeaspiredtoPraejecta，theemperor'sniece，whowishedtorewardherdeliverer；buttheimpedimentofhispreviousmarriagewasassertedbythepietyofTheodora。Theprideofroyaldescentwasirritatedbyflattery；andtheserviceinwhichhegloriedhadprovedhimcapableofboldandsanguinarydeeds。ThedeathofJustinianwasresolved，buttheconspiratorsdelayedtheexecutiontilltheycouldsurpriseBelisariusdisarmed，andnaked，inthepalaceofConstantinople。Notahopecouldbeentertainedofshakinghislong—triedfidelity；andtheyjustlydreadedtherevenge，orratherthejustice，oftheveterangeneral，whomightspeedilyassembleanarmyinThracetopunishtheassassins，andperhapstoenjoythefruitsoftheircrime。
Delayaffordedtimeforrashcommunicationsandhonestconfessions:Artabanandhisaccompliceswerecondemnedbythesenate，buttheextremeclemencyofJustiniandetainedtheminthegentleconfinementofthepalace，tillhepardonedtheirflagitiousattemptagainsthisthroneandlife。Iftheemperorforgavehisenemies，hemustcordiallyembraceafriendwhosevictorieswerealoneremembered，andwhowasendearedtohisprincebytherecentcircumstancesoftheircommondanger。
Belisariusreposedfromhistoils，inthehighstationofgeneraloftheEastandcountofthedomestics；andtheolderconsulsandpatriciansrespectfullyyieldedtheprecedencyofranktothepeerlessmeritofthefirstoftheRomans。^20ThefirstoftheRomansstillsubmittedtobetheslaveofhiswife；buttheservitudeofhabitandaffectionbecamelessdisgracefulwhenthedeathofTheodorahadremovedthebaserinfluenceoffear。
Joannina，theirdaughter，andthesoleheiressoftheirfortunes，wasbetrothedtoAnastasius，thegrandson，orratherthenephew，oftheempress，^21whosekindinterpositionforwardedtheconsummationoftheiryouthfulloves。ButthepowerofTheodoraexpired，theparentsofJoanninareturned，andherhonor，perhapsherhappiness，weresacrificedtotherevengeofanunfeelingmother，whodissolvedtheimperfectnuptialsbeforetheyhadbeenratifiedbytheceremoniesofthechurch。^22
[Footnote19:ThisconspiracyisrelatedbyProcopiusGothic。l。
iii。c。31，32，withsuchfreedomandcandor，thatthelibertyoftheAnecdotesgiveshimnothingtoadd。]
[Footnote20:ThehonorsofBelisariusaregladlycommemoratedbyhissecretary，Procop。Goth。l。iii。c。35，l。iv。c。21。Thistitleisilltranslated，atleastinthisinstance，bypraefectuspraetorio；andtoamilitarycharacter，magistermilitumismoreproperandapplicable，Ducange，Gloss。Graec。p。1458，1459。]
[Footnote21:Alemannus，adHist。Arcanum，p。68，Ducange，FamiliaeByzant。p。98，andHeineccius，Hist。JurisCivilis，p。434，allthreerepresentAnastasiusasthesonofthedaughterofTheodora；andtheiropinionfirmlyreposesontheunambiguoustestimonyofProcopius，Anecdot。c。4，5，—twicerepeated。AndyetIwillremark，1。Thatintheyear547，Theodoracouldsarcelyhaveagrandsonoftheageofpuberty；2。
Thatwearetotallyignorantofthisdaughterandherhusband；
and，3。ThatTheodoraconcealedherbastards，andthathergrandsonbyJustinianwouldhavebeenheirapparentoftheempire。]
[Footnote22:ThesinsoftheheroinItalyandafterhisreturn，aremanifested，andmostprobablyswelled，bytheauthoroftheAnecdotes，c。4，5。ThedesignsofAntoninawerefavoredbythefluctuatingjurisprudenceofJustinian。Onthelawofmarriageanddivorce，thatemperorwastrochoversatilior，Heineccius，ElementJurisCivil。adOrdinemPandect。P。iv。No。233。]
BeforethedepartureofBelisarius，Perusiawasbesieged，andfewcitieswereimpregnabletotheGothicarms。Ravenna，Ancona，andCrotona，stillresistedtheBarbarians；andwhenTotilaaskedinmarriageoneofthedaughtersofFrance，hewasstungbythejustreproachthatthekingofItalywasunworthyofhistitletillitwasacknowledgedbytheRomanpeople。Threethousandofthebravestsoldiershadbeenlefttodefendthecapital。Onthesuspicionofamonopoly，theymassacredthegovernor，andannouncedtoJustinian，byadeputationoftheclergy，thatunlesstheiroffencewaspardoned，andtheirarrearsweresatisfied，theyshouldinstantlyacceptthetemptingoffersofTotila。ButtheofficerwhosucceededtothecommandhisnamewasDiogenesdeservedtheiresteemandconfidence；andtheGoths，insteadoffindinganeasyconquest，encounteredavigorousresistancefromthesoldiersandpeople，whopatientlyenduredthelossoftheportandofallmaritimesupplies。ThesiegeofRomewouldperhapshavebeenraised，iftheliberalityofTotilatotheIsaurianshadnotencouragedsomeoftheirvenalcountrymentocopytheexampleoftreason。Inadarknight，whiletheGothictrumpetssoundedonanotherside，theysilentlyopenedthegateofSt。Paul:theBarbariansrushedintothecity；
andtheflyinggarrisonwasinterceptedbeforetheycouldreachtheharborofCentumcellae。AsoldiertrainedintheschoolofBelisarius，PaulofCilicia，retiredwithfourhundredmentothemoleofHadrian。TheyrepelledtheGoths；buttheyfelttheapproachoffamine；andtheiraversiontothetasteofhorse—fleshconfirmedtheirresolutiontorisktheeventofadesperateanddecisivesally。Buttheirspiritinsensiblystoopedtotheoffersofcapitulation；theyretrievedtheirarrearsofpay，andpreservedtheirarmsandhorses，byenlistingintheserviceofTotila；theirchiefs，whopleadedalaudableattachmenttotheirwivesandchildrenintheEast，weredismissedwithhonor；andabovefourhundredenemies，whohadtakenrefugeinthesanctuaries，weresavedbytheclemencyofthevictor。HenolongerentertainedawishofdestroyingtheedificesofRome，^23whichhenowrespectedastheseatoftheGothickingdom:thesenateandpeoplewererestoredtotheircountry；themeansofsubsistencewereliberallyprovided；andTotila，intherobeofpeace，exhibitedtheequestriangamesofthecircus。Whilstheamusedtheeyesofthemultitude，fourhundredvesselswerepreparedfortheembarkationofhistroops。
ThecitiesofRhegiumandTarentumwerereduced:hepassedintoSicily，theobjectofhisimplacableresentment；andtheislandwasstrippedofitsgoldandsilver，ofthefruitsoftheearth，andofaninfinitenumberofhorses，sheep，andoxen。SardiniaandCorsicaobeyedthefortuneofItaly；andthesea—coastofGreecewasvisitedbyafleetofthreehundredgalleys。^24TheGothswerelandedinCorcyraandtheancientcontinentofEpirus；
theyadvancedasfarasNicopolis，thetrophyofAugustus，andDodona，^25oncefamousbytheoracleofJove。Ineverystepofhisvictories，thewiseBarbarianrepeatedtoJustinianthedesireofpeace，applaudedtheconcordoftheirpredecessors，andofferedtoemploytheGothicarmsintheserviceoftheempire。
[Footnote23:TheRomanswerestillattachedtothemonumentsoftheirancestors；andaccordingtoProcopius，Goth。l。iv。c。
22，thegalleryofAeneas，ofasinglerankofoars，25feetinbreadth，120inlength，waspreservedentireinthenavalia，nearMonteTestaceo，atthefootoftheAventine，Nardini，RomaAntica，l。vii。c。9，p。466。Donatus，RomAntiqua，l。iv。c。
13，p。334Butallantiquityisignorantofrelic。]
[Footnote24:IntheseseasProcopiussearchedwithoutsuccessfortheIsleofCalypso。Hewasshown，atPhaeacia，orCocyra，thepetrifiedshipofUlysses，Odyss。xiii。163；buthefounditarecentfabricofmanystones，dedicatedbyamerchanttoJupiterCassius，l。iv。c。22。Eustathiushadsupposedittobethefancifullikenessofarock。]
[Footnote25:M。D'AnvilleMemoiresdel'Acad。tom。xxxii。p。
513—528illustratestheGulfofAmbracia；buthecannotascertainthesituationofDodona。AcountryinsightofItalyislessknownthanthewildsofAmerica。
Note:OnthesiteofDodonacompareWalpole'sTravelsintheEast，vol。ii。p。473；Col。Leake'sNorthernGreece，vol。iv。p。
163；andadissertationbythepresentbishopofLichfieldDr。
ButlerintheappendixtoHughes'sTravels，vol。i。p。511。—
M。]
Justinianwasdeaftothevoiceofpeace:butheneglectedtheprosecutionofwar；andtheindolenceofhistemperdisappointed，insomedegree，theobstinacyofhispassions。
FromthissalutaryslumbertheemperorwasawakenedbythepopeVigiliusandthepatricianCethegus，whoappearedbeforehisthrone，andadjuredhim，inthenameofGodandthepeople，toresumetheconquestanddeliveranceofItaly。Inthechoiceofthegenerals，caprice，aswellasjudgment，wasshown。AfleetandarmysailedforthereliefofSicily，undertheconductofLiberius；buthisyouth^!andwantofexperiencewereafterwardsdiscovered，andbeforehetouchedtheshoresoftheislandhewasovertakenbyhissuccessor。IntheplaceofLiberius，theconspiratorArtabanwasraisedfromaprisontomilitaryhonors；
inthepiouspresumption，thatgratitudewouldanimatehisvalorandfortifyhisallegiance。Belisariusreposedintheshadeofhislaurels，butthecommandoftheprincipalarmywasreservedforGermanus，^26theemperor'snephew，whoserankandmerithadbeenlongdepressedbythejealousyofthecourt。Theodorahadinjuredhimintherightsofaprivatecitizen，themarriageofhischildren，andthetestamentofhisbrother；andalthoughhisconductwaspureandblameless，Justinianwasdispleasedthatheshouldbethoughtworthyoftheconfidenceofthemalecontents。
ThelifeofGermanuswasalessonofimplicitobedience:henoblyrefusedtoprostitutehisnameandcharacterinthefactionsofthecircus:thegravityofhismannerswastemperedbyinnocentcheerfulness；andhisricheswerelentwithoutinteresttoindigentordeservingfriends。HisvalorhadformerlytriumphedovertheSclavoniansoftheDanubeandtherebelsofAfrica:thefirstreportofhispromotionrevivedthehopesoftheItalians；