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。]