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。