se
of his nature--he contrived to transmute the bitterness of the Italians
against Byzantine oppression into sympathy with the benevolence of the
Goths.

We have seen how this feeling of bitterness had taken root amongst the
peasants, the farmers, the rich merchants, the artisans, and the middle
and lower ranks of the citizens; in fact, among the greater part of the
population.

And later, when the Goths marched to the field of battle with the
jubilating cry of "Totila!" the personality of the young King
completely estranged the Italians from their Byzantine oppressors, who
seemed to be totally forsaken by the fortune of war.

It is true that a minority remained uninfluenced: the Orthodox Church,
which knew of no peace with heretics; hard-headed Republicans; and the
kernel of the Catacomb conspiracy--the proud Roman aristocrats and the
friends of the Prefect. But this small minority compared to the mass of
the population, was of little moment.

The King's first act was to publish a manifesto to the Goths and
Italians.

It was proved to the first that the fall of King Witichis and Ravenna
had been the work of superior falsehood, and not of superior strength;
and the duty of revenge, begun already by three victories, was
impressed upon them.

And the Italians, having now experienced what kind of exchange they had
made in revolting to Byzantium, were invited to return to their old
friends.

In order to favour this return, the King promised not only a general
amnesty, but equal rights with the Goths; the abolition of all former
Gothic privileges; the right of forming a native army; and--what was
especially effective by contrast--the abolition of all taxes upon
Italian soil or property until the end of the war.

Further, as the aristocracy favoured the Byzantines--the farmers, on
the contrary, the Goths--it was a measure of the highest prudence which
provided that every Roman noble who did not, within three months,
subject himself to the Goths, should lose his landed property in favour
of his former tenants.

And, lastly, the King placed a high premium, to be paid out of the
royal purse, on all intermarriages between Goths and Italians,
promising the settlement of the pair upon the confiscated property of
Roman senators.

"Italia," concluded the manifesto, "bleeding from the wounds inflicted
by the tyranny of Byzantium, shall recover and bloom again under my
protection. Help us, sons of Italia, to drive from t