ir camp, thus enabling Totila to draw supplies and soldiers from the
neighbouring country.

With a more cheerful spirit than usual he one evening made his round of
the walls of Tarvisium.

Rosy clouds floated across the sky, and the sun, as it sank behind the
Venetian hills, gilded all the plain before him.

With emotion he watched the peasants from the neighbourhood streaming
through the open gates of the city, bringing bread, meat, and wine to
his half-starved Goths; who, on their part, hurried out into the open
country, and Germans and Italians, embracing, celebrated the victory
which they had together gained over their hated enemies.

"Is it then impossible," said Totila to himself, "to preserve and
propagate this amity through the whole country? Is it a necessity that
these two nations should be eternally divided? How their friendship
embellishes each! Have we not also failed, in that we ever treated the
Italians as the vanquished? We meet them with suspicion, instead of
with generous confidence. We demand their obedience, and neglect to win
their affection. And it would have been well worth the winning! Had it
been won--never would Byzantium have gained a footing here! The release
from my vow--Valeria--would not have been so unattainable. Would that
it were permitted me to strive for this goal in _my_ way!"

His reflections and dreams were interrupted by a messenger from the
outposts, announcing that the enemy had suddenly forsaken their camp,
and were in fall retreat to the south, towards Ravenna. On the road to
the west clouds of dust were seen: a large body of horsemen was
approaching--probably Goths.

Totila received the news with joy, but also with doubt. He took all
necessary measures against a stratagem.

But during the night his doubts were resolved. He was awakened by the
news of a Gothic victory, and the arrival of the victor.

He hurried out and found Hildebrand, Teja, Thorismuth, and Wachis.

With the cry of "Victory! victory!" his friends greeted him, and
Teja and Hildebrand announced that at Ticina, and Verona also, the
country-people had rebelled against the Byzantines, and had aided the
Goths in falling upon the besiegers, whom, after destroying their
defences, they had forced to retreat.

But in spite of this joyful news, there lay in Teja's eyes and voice a
deeper melancholy than usual.

"What of sorrow hast thou to communicate, beside this joy?" asked
Totila.

"The shameful ruin o