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