Intheyear536byBelisarius，in546byTotila，in547byBelisarius，in549byTotila，andin552byNarses。Maltretushadinadvertentlytranslatedsextum；amistakewhichheafterwardsretracts；outthemischiefwasdone；andCousin，withatrainofFrenchandLatinreaders，havefallenintothesnare。]
　　[Footnote40:ComparetwopassagesofProcopius，l。iii。c。26，l。iv。c。24，which，withsomecollateralhintsfromMarcellinusandJornandes，illustratethestateoftheexpiringsenate。]
　　[Footnote41:See，intheexampleofPrusias，asitisdeliveredinthefragmentsofPolybius，Excerpt。Legat。xcvii。p。927，928，acuriouspictureofaroyalslave。]
　　TheGothicwarwasyetalive。ThebravestofthenationretiredbeyondthePo；andTeiaswasunanimouslychosentosucceedandrevengetheirdepartedhero。Thenewkingimmediatelysentambassadorstoimplore，orrathertopurchase，theaidoftheFranks，andnoblylavished，forthepublicsafety，thericheswhichhadbeendepositedinthepalaceofPavia。TheresidueoftheroyaltreasurewasguardedbyhisbrotherAligern，atCumaea，inCampania；butthestrongcastlewhichTotilahadfortifiedwascloselybesiegedbythearmsofNarses。FromtheAlpstothefootofMountVesuvius，theGothicking，byrapidandsecretmarches，advancedtothereliefofhisbrother，eludedthevigilanceoftheRomanchiefs，andpitchedhiscamponthebanksoftheSarnusorDraco，^42whichflowsfromNuceriaintotheBayofNaples。Theriverseparatedthetwoarmies:sixtydayswereconsumedindistantandfruitlesscombats，andTeiasmaintainedthisimportantposttillhewasdesertedbyhisfleetandthehopeofsubsistence。WithreluctantstepsheascendedtheLactarianmount，wherethephysiciansofRome，sincethetimeofGalen，hadsenttheirpatientsforthebenefitoftheairandthemilk。^43ButtheGothssoonembracedamoregenerousresolution:
　　todescendthehill，todismisstheirhorses，andtodieinarms，andinthepossessionoffreedom。Thekingmarchedattheirhead，bearinginhisrighthandalance，andanamplebucklerinhisleft:withtheonehestruckdeadtheforemostoftheassailants；withtheotherhereceivedtheweaponswhicheveryhandwasambitioustoaimagainsthislife。Afteracombatofmanyhours，hisleftarmwasfatiguedbytheweightoftwelvejavelinswhichhungfromhisshield。Withoutmovingfromhisground，orsuspendinghisblows，theherocalledaloudonhisattendantsforafreshbuckler；butinthemomentwhilehissidewasuncovered，itwaspiercedbyamortaldart。Hefell；andhishead，exaltedonaspear，proclaimedtothenationsthattheGothickingdomwasnomore。Buttheexampleofhisdeathservedonlytoanimatethecompanionswhohadsworntoperishwiththeirleader。Theyfoughttilldarknessdescendedontheearth。Theyreposedontheirarms。Thecombatwasrenewedwiththereturnoflight，andmaintainedwithunabatedvigortilltheeveningofthesecondday。Thereposeofasecondnight，thewantofwater，andthelossoftheirbravestchampions，determinedthesurvivingGothstoacceptthefaircapitulationwhichtheprudenceofNarseswasinclinedtopropose。TheyembracedthealternativeofresidinginItaly，asthesubjectsandsoldiersofJustinian，ordepartingwithaportionoftheirprivatewealth，insearchofsomeindependentcountry。^44YettheoathoffidelityorexilewasalikerejectedbyonethousandGoths，whobrokeawaybeforethetreatywassigned，andboldlyeffectedtheirretreattothewallsofPavia。Thespirit，aswellasthesituation，ofAligernpromptedhimtoimitateratherthantobewailhisbrother:astronganddexterousarcher，hetranspiercedwithasinglearrowthearmorandbreastofhisantagonist；andhismilitaryconductdefendedCumae^45aboveayearagainsttheforcesoftheRomans。
　　TheirindustryhadscoopedtheSibyl'scave^46intoaprodigiousmine；combustiblematerialswereintroducedtoconsumethetemporaryprops:thewallandthegateofCumaesunkintothecavern，buttheruinsformedadeepandinaccessibleprecipice。
　　OnthefragmentofarockAligernstoodaloneandunshaken，tillhecalmlysurveyedthehopelessconditionofhiscountry，andjudgeditmorehonorabletobethefriendofNarses，thantheslaveoftheFranks。AfterthedeathofTeias，theRomangeneralseparatedhistroopstoreducethecitiesofItaly；Luccasustainedalongandvigoroussiege:andsuchwasthehumanityortheprudenceofNarses，thattherepeatedperfidyoftheinhabitantscouldnotprovokehimtoexacttheforfeitlivesoftheirhostages。Thesehostagesweredismissedinsafety；andtheirgratefulzealatlengthsubduedtheobstinacyoftheircountrymen。^47
　　[Footnote42:TheitemofProcopiusGoth。l。iv。c。35isevidentlytheSarnus。ThetextisaccusedoralteredbytherashviolenceofCluveriusl。iv。c。3。p。1156:butCamilloPellegriniofNaplesDiscorsisopralaCampaniaFelice，p。330，331hasprovedfromoldrecords，thatasearlyastheyear822
　　thatriverwascalledtheDracontio，orDraconcello。]
　　[Footnote43:GalendeMethod。Medendi，l。v。apudCluver。l。
　　iv。c。3，p。1159，1160describestheloftysite，pureair，andrichmilk，ofMountLactarius，whosemedicinalbenefitswereequallyknownandsoughtinthetimeofSymmachusl。vi。epist。
　　18andCassiodorus，Var。xi。10。NothingisnowleftexceptthenameofthetownofLettere。]
　　[Footnote44:Buattom。xi。p。2，&c。conveystohisfavoriteBavariathisremnantofGoths，whobyothersareburiedinthemountainsofUri，orrestoredtotheirnativeisleofGothland，Mascou，Annot。xxi。]
　　[Footnote45:IleaveScaligerAnimadvers。inEuseb。p。59andSalmasiusExercitat。Plinian。p。51，52toquarrelabouttheoriginofCumae，theoldestoftheGreekcoloniesinItaly，Strab。l。v。p。372，VelleiusPaterculus，l。i。c。4，alreadyvacantinJuvenal'stime，Satir。iii。，andnowinruins。]
　　[Footnote46:Agathiasl。i。c。21settlestheSibyl'scaveunderthewallofCumae:heagreeswithServius，ad。l。vi。
　　Aeneid。；norcanIperceivewhytheiropinionshouldberejectedbyHeyne，theexcellenteditorofVirgil，tom。ii。p。650，651。
　　Inurbemediasecretareligio!ButCumaewasnotyetbuilt；andthelinesl。vi。96，97wouldbecomeridiculous，ifAeneaswereactuallyinaGreekcity。]
　　[Footnote47:Thereissomedifficultyinconnectingthe35thchapterofthefourthbookoftheGothicwarofProcopiuswiththefirstbookofthehistoryofAgathias。Wemustnowrelinquishthestatesmanandsoldier，toattendthefootstepsofapoetandrhetorician，l。i。p。11，l。ii。p。51，edit。
　　Lonvre。]
　　BeforeLuccahadsurrendered，ItalywasoverwhelmedbyanewdelugeofBarbarians。Afeebleyouth，thegrandsonofClovis，reignedovertheAustrasiansororientalFranks。TheguardiansofTheodebaldentertainedwithcoldnessandreluctancethemagnificentpromisesoftheGothicambassadors。Butthespiritofamartialpeopleoutstrippedthetimidcounselsofthecourt:twobrothers，LothaireandBuccelin，^48thedukesoftheAlemanni，stoodforthastheleadersoftheItalianwar；andseventy—fivethousandGermansdescendedintheautumnfromtheRhaetianAlpsintotheplainofMilan。ThevanguardoftheRomanarmywasstationednearthePo，undertheconductofFulcaris，aboldHerulian，whorashlyconceivedthatpersonalbraverywasthesoledutyandmeritofacommander。AshemarchedwithoutorderorprecautionalongtheAemilianway，anambuscadeofFrankssuddenlyrosefromtheamphitheatreofParma；histroopsweresurprisedandrouted；buttheirleaderrefusedtofly；declaringtothelastmoment，thatdeathwaslessterriblethantheangrycountenanceofNarses。ThedeathofFulcaris，andtheretreatofthesurvivingchiefs，decidedthefluctuatingandrebellioustemperoftheGoths；theyflewtothestandardoftheirdeliverers，andadmittedthemintothecitieswhichstillresistedthearmsoftheRomangeneral。TheconquerorofItalyopenedafreepassagetotheirresistibletorrentofBarbarians。
　　TheypassedunderthewallsofCesena，andansweredbythreatsandreproachestheadviceofAligern，^!thattheGothictreasurescouldnolongerrepaythelaborofaninvasion。TwothousandFranksweredestroyedbytheskillandvalorofNarseshimself，whosailedfromRiminiattheheadofthreehundredhorse，tochastisethelicentiousrapineoftheirmarch。OntheconfinesofSamniumthetwobrothersdividedtheirforces。Withtherightwing，BuccelinassumedthespoilofCampania，Lucania，andBruttium；withtheleft，LothaireacceptedtheplunderofApuliaandCalabria。TheyfollowedthecoastoftheMediterraneanandtheAdriatic，asfarasRhegiumandOtranto，andtheextremelandsofItalywerethetermoftheirdestructiveprogress。TheFranks，whowereChristiansandCatholics，contentedthemselveswithsimplepillageandoccasionalmurder。Butthechurcheswhichtheirpietyhadspared，werestrippedbythesacrilegioushandsoftheAlamanni，whosacrificedhorses'headstotheirnativedeitiesofthewoodsandrivers；^49theymeltedorprofanedtheconsecratedvessels，andtheruinsofshrinesandaltarswerestainedwiththebloodofthefaithful。Buccelinwasactuatedbyambition，andLothairebyavarice。TheformeraspiredtorestoretheGothickingdom；thelatter，afterapromisetohisbrotherofspeedysuccors，returnedbythesameroadtodeposithistreasurebeyondtheAlps。Thestrengthoftheirarmieswasalreadywastedbythechangeofclimateandcontagionofdisease:theGermansrevelledinthevintageofItaly；andtheirownintemperanceavenged，insomedegree，themiseriesofadefencelesspeople。
　　[Footnote48:AmongthefabulousexploitsofBuccelin，hediscomfitedandslewBelisarius，subduedItalyandSicily，&c。
　　SeeintheHistoriansofFrance，GregoryofTours，tom。ii。l。
　　iii。c。32，p。203，andAimoin，tom。iii。l。ii。deGestisFrancorum，c。23，p。59。]
　　[Footnote*:……Agathius。]
　　[Footnote!:Aligern，afterthesurrenderofCumae，hadbeensenttoCesentbyNarses。Agathias。—M。]
　　[Footnote49:Agathiasnoticestheirsuperstitioninaphilosophictone，l。i。p。18。AtZug，inSwitzerland，idolatrystillprevailedintheyear613:St。ColumbanandSt。Gaulweretheapostlesofthatrudecountry；andthelatterfoundedahermitage，whichhasswelledintoanecclesiasticalprincipalityandapopulouscity，theseatoffreedomandcommerce。]
　　[Footnote*:AbodyofLothaire'stroopswasdefeatednearFano，someweredrivendownprecipicesintothesea，othersfledtothecamp；manyprisonersseizedtheopportunityofmakingtheirescape；andtheBarbarianslostmostoftheirbootyintheirprecipitateretreat。Agathias。—M。]
　　Attheentranceofthespring，theImperialtroops，whohadguardedthecities，assembled，tothenumberofeighteenthousandmen，intheneighborhoodofRome。Theirwinterhourshadnotbeenconsumedinidleness。Bythecommand，andaftertheexample，ofNarses，theyrepeatedeachdaytheirmilitaryexerciseonfootandonhorseback，accustomedtheireartoobeythesoundofthetrumpet，andpractisedthestepsandevolutionsofthePyrrhicdance。FromtheStraitsofSicily，Buccelin，withthirtythousandFranksandAlamanni，slowlymovedtowardsCapua，occupiedwithawoodentowerthebridgeofCasilinum，coveredhisrightbythestreamoftheVulturnus，andsecuredtherestofhisencampmentbyarampartofsharpstakes，andacircleofwagons，whosewheelswereburiedintheearth。HeimpatientlyexpectedthereturnofLothaire；ignorant，alas!thathisbrothercouldneverreturn，andthatthechiefandhisarmyhadbeensweptawaybyastrangedisease^50onthebanksoftheLakeBenacus，betweenTrentandVerona。ThebannersofNarsessoonapproachedtheVulturnus，andtheeyesofItalywereanxiouslyfixedontheeventofthisfinalcontest。PerhapsthetalentsoftheRomangeneralweremostconspicuousinthecalmoperationswhichprecedethetumultofabattle。HisskilfulmovementsinterceptedthesubsistenceoftheBarbariandeprivedhimoftheadvantageofthebridgeandriver，andinthechoiceofthegroundandmomentofactionreducedhimtocomplywiththeinclinationofhisenemy。Onthemorningoftheimportantday，whentherankswerealreadyformed，aservant，forsometrivialfault，waskilledbyhismaster，oneoftheleadersoftheHeruli。ThejusticeorpassionofNarseswasawakened:hesummonedtheoffendertohispresence，andwithoutlisteningtohisexcuses，gavethesignaltotheministerofdeath。Ifthecruelmasterhadnotinfringedthelawsofhisnation，thisarbitraryexecutionwasnotlessunjustthanitappearstohavebeenimprudent。TheHerulifelttheindignity；theyhalted:buttheRomangeneral，withoutsoothingtheirrage，orexpectingtheirresolution，calledaloud，asthetrumpetssounded，thatunlesstheyhastenedtooccupytheirplace，theywouldlosethehonorofthevictory。Histroopsweredisposed^51inalongfront，thecavalryonthewings；inthecentre，theheavy—armedfoot；thearchersandslingersintherear。TheGermansadvancedinasharp—pointedcolumn，oftheformofatriangleorsolidwedge。TheypiercedthefeeblecentreofNarses，whoreceivedthemwithasmileintothefatalsnare，anddirectedhiswingsofcavalryinsensiblytowheelontheirflanksandencompasstheirrear。ThehostoftheFranksandAlamanniconsistedofinfantry:
　　aswordandbucklerhungbytheirside；andtheyused，astheirweaponsofoffence，aweightyhatchetandahookedjavelin，whichwereonlyformidableinclosecombat，oratashortdistance。ThefloweroftheRomanarchers，onhorseback，andincompletearmor，skirmishedwithoutperilroundthisimmovablephalanx；suppliedbyactivespeedthedeficiencyofnumber；andaimedtheirarrowsagainstacrowdofBarbarians，who，insteadofacuirassandhelmet，werecoveredbyaloosegarmentoffurorlinen。Theypaused，theytrembled，theirrankswereconfounded，andinthedecisivemomenttheHeruli，preferringglorytorevenge，chargedwithrapidviolencetheheadofthecolumn。Theirleader，Sinbal，andAligern，theGothicprince，deservedtheprizeofsuperiorvalor；andtheirexampleexcitedthevictorioustroopstoachievewithswordsandspearsthedestructionoftheenemy。
　　Buccelin，andthegreatestpartofhisarmy，perishedonthefieldofbattle，inthewatersoftheVulturnus，orbythehandsoftheenragedpeasants:butitmayseemincredible，thatavictory，^52whichnomorethanfiveoftheAlamannisurvived，couldbepurchasedwiththelossoffourscoreRomans。SeventhousandGoths，therelicsofthewar，defendedthefortressofCampsatilltheensuingspring；andeverymessengerofNarsesannouncedthereductionoftheItaliancities，whosenameswerecorruptedbytheignoranceorvanityoftheGreeks。^53AfterthebattleofCasilinum，Narsesenteredthecapital；thearmsandtreasuresoftheGoths，theFranks，andtheAlamanni，weredisplayed；hissoldiers，withgarlandsintheirhands，chantedthepraisesoftheconqueror；andRome，forthelasttime，beheldthesemblanceofatriumph。
　　[Footnote50:SeethedeathofLothaireinAgathiasl。ii。p。
　　38andPaulWarnefrid，surnamedDiaconus，l。ii。c。3，775。
　　TheGreekmakeshimraveandtearhisflesh。Hehadplunderedchurches。]
　　[Footnote51:PereDanielHist。delaMiliceFrancoise，tom。i。
　　p。17—21hasexhibitedafancifulrepresentationofthisbattle，somewhatinthemanneroftheChevalierFolard，theoncefamouseditorofPolybius，whofashionedtohisownhabitsandopinionsallthemilitaryoperationsofantiquity。]
　　[Footnote52:Agathiasl。ii。p。47hasproducedaGreekepigramofsixlinesonthisvictoryofNarses，whichafavorablycomparedtothebattlesofMarathonandPlataea。Thechiefdifferenceisindeedintheirconsequences—sotrivialintheformerinstance—sopermanentandgloriousinthelatter。
　　Note:Notintheepigram，butinthepreviousobservations—
　　M。]
　　[Footnote53:TheBeroiaandBrincasofTheophanesorhistranscriberp。201mustbereadorunderstoodVeronaandBrixia。]
　　Afterareignofsixtyyears，thethroneoftheGothickingswasfilledbytheexarchsofRavenna，therepresentativesinpeaceandwaroftheemperoroftheRomans。Theirjurisdictionwassoonreducedtothelimitsofanarrowprovince:butNarseshimself，thefirstandmostpowerfuloftheexarchs，administeredabovefifteenyearstheentirekingdomofItaly。LikeBelisarius，hehaddeservedthehonorsofenvy，calumny，anddisgrace:butthefavoriteeunuchstillenjoyedtheconfidenceofJustinian；ortheleaderofavictoriousarmyawedandrepressedtheingratitudeofatimidcourt。YetitwasnotbyweakandmischievousindulgencethatNarsessecuredtheattachmentofhistroops。Forgetfulofthepast，andregardlessofthefuture，theyabusedthepresenthourofprosperityandpeace。ThecitiesofItalyresoundedwiththenoiseofdrinkinganddancing；thespoilsofvictorywerewastedinsensualpleasures；andnothingsaysAgathiasremainedunlesstoexchangetheirshieldsandhelmetsforthesoftluteandthecapacioushogshead。^54Inamanlyoration，notunworthyofaRomancensor，theeunuchreprovedthesedisorderlyvices，whichsulliedtheirfame，andendangeredtheirsafety。Thesoldiersblushedandobeyed；
　　disciplinewasconfirmed；thefortificationswererestored；adukewasstationedforthedefenceandmilitarycommandofeachoftheprincipalcities；^55andtheeyeofNarsespervadedtheampleprospectfromCalabriatotheAlps。TheremainsoftheGothicnationevacuatedthecountry，ormingledwiththepeople；
　　theFranks，insteadofrevengingthedeathofBuccelin，abandoned，withoutastruggle，theirItalianconquests；andtherebelliousSinbal，chiefoftheHeruli，wassubdued，takenandhungonaloftygallowsbytheinflexiblejusticeoftheexarch。
　　^56ThecivilstateofItaly，aftertheagitationofalongtempest，wasfixedbyapragmaticsanction，whichtheemperorpromulgatedattherequestofthepope。JustinianintroducedhisownjurisprudenceintotheschoolsandtribunalsoftheWest；heratifiedtheactsofTheodoricandhisimmediatesuccessors，buteverydeedwasrescindedandabolishedwhichforcehadextorted，orfearhadsubscribed，undertheusurpationofTotila。A
　　moderatetheorywasframedtoreconciletherightsofpropertywiththesafetyofprescription，theclaimsofthestatewiththepovertyofthepeople，andthepardonofoffenceswiththeinterestofvirtueandorderofsociety。UndertheexarchsofRavenna，Romewasdegradedtothesecondrank。YetthesenatorsweregratifiedbythepermissionofvisitingtheirestatesinItaly，andofapproaching，withoutobstacle，thethroneofConstantinople:theregulationofweightsandmeasureswasdelegatedtothepopeandsenate；andthesalariesoflawyersandphysicians，oforatorsandgrammarians，weredestinedtopreserve，orrekindle，thelightofscienceintheancientcapital。Justinianmightdictatebenevolentedicts，^57andNarsesmightsecondhiswishesbytherestorationofcities，andmoreespeciallyofchurches。Butthepowerofkingsismosteffectualtodestroy；andthetwentyyearsoftheGothicwarhadconsummatedthedistressanddepopulationofItaly。Asearlyasthefourthcampaign，underthedisciplineofBelisariushimself，fiftythousandlaborersdiedofhunger^58inthenarrowregionofPicenum；^59andastrictinterpretationoftheevidenceofProcopiuswouldswellthelossofItalyabovethetotalsumofherpresentinhabitants。^60
　　[Footnote54:Agathias，l。ii。p。48。InthefirstsceneofRichardIII。ourEnglishpoethasbeautifullyenlargedonthisidea，forwhich，however，hewasnotindebtedtotheByzantinehistorian。]
　　[Footnote55:Maffeihasproved，VeronaIllustrata。P。i。l。x。
　　p。257，289，againstthecommonopinion，thatthedukesofItalywereinstitutedbeforetheconquestoftheLombards，byNarseshimself。InthePragmaticSanction，No。23，Justinianrestrainsthejudicesmilitares。]
　　[Footnote56:SeePaulusDiaconus，liii。c。2，p。776。MenanderinExcerpLegat。p。133mentionssomerisingsinItalybytheFranks，andTheophanesp。201hintsatsomeGothicrebellions。]
　　[Footnote57:ThePragmaticSanctionofJustinian，whichrestoresandregulatesthecivilstateofItaly，consistsofxxvii。
　　articles:itisdatedAugust15，A。D。554；isaddressedtoNarses，V。J。PraepositusSacriCubiculi，andtoAntiochus，PraefectusPraetorioItaliae；andhasbeenpreservedbyJulianAntecessor，andintheCorpusJurisCivilis，afterthenovelsandedictsofJustinian，Justin，andTiberius。]