ers in the death-chamber of her mistress--heaped
them still higher than on the day when she had prepared the same small
room for a bridal chamber--and had kindled unknown combustibles and
African resin, the stupefying odours of which drove away all the other
slaves. But Aspa had spent the night in the room.

The next morning Syphax, attracted by the well-known but dangerous
odour, which reminded him of his country's sacrificial customs, went
softly into the room, which was as silent as the grave. At
Mataswintha's feet, her head buried in flowers, he had found his
Antelope--dead.

"She died," he told Cethegus, "for love of her mistress. And now I have
none left on earth but you."

After the burial of Germanus, Belisarius left Ravenna with the whole
fleet.

But his very next undertaking, an attempt to surprise Pisaurum, was
repulsed with great loss.

And King Totila, now acquainted with the small number of Belisarius's
troops, had sent skirmishers, under the command of Wisand, supported by
a few ships of war, to take Firmum, which was situated on the same
coast, almost under the generals very eyes.

The Byzantines, Herodian and Bonus, surrendered Spoletium to Earl
Grippa, after the lapse of thirty days, during which they had hoped for
reinforcements from Belisarius in vain.

In Assisium the commander of the garrison was a man of the name of
Sisifrid, a Goth who had deserted in the days of the fall of Witichis.

This man well knew what was in store for him, should he fall into
Hildebrand's hands, who besieged the fort in person. Hatred of such
treason had enticed the old man from the siege of Ravenna to complete
this task of retribution.

The Goth obstinately defended the town, but when, during a sally, the
axe of the old master-at-arms sent him to the other world, the citizens
obliged the Thracian garrison to yield. Many aristocratic Italians,
members of the old Catacomb conspiracy, three hundred Illyrian
horsemen, and some chosen body-guards of Belisarius, were taken
prisoners.

Immediately afterwards, Placentia, the last town in the AEmilia which
was held by a Saracen garrison for the Emperor, was forced to
capitulate to Earl Markja, who commanded the small army of investment.

In Bruttia, the fortress of Ruscia, the most important harbour for
Thurii, surrendered to the bold Aligern.

Belisarius now despaired of reaching Rome by land. On hearing of the
terrible distress of that city, he determined at onc