his sacred ground
our common enemies, the Huns and Scythians of Justinianus. Then, in
the new-born kingdom of the Italians and Goths, a new people shall
arise--begotten of Italian beauty and cultivation, of Gothic strength
and truth--whose nobility and splendour shall be such as the world has.
never yet beheld!"

When Cethegus the Prefect, awaking at morn on the field-bed to which
his wound had confined him, heard the news of Totila's accession, he
sprang from his couch with a curse.

"Sir," said the Grecian physician, "you must take care of yourself
and----"

"Did you not hear? Totila wears the Gothic crown! It is no time now to
be prudent.--My helm, Syphax."

And he snatched the manifesto from the hand of Lucius Licinius, who had
brought the news, and read eagerly.

"Is it not ridiculous--madness?" asked Lucius.

"Madness it is if the Romans be yet Romans! But are they so? If they
are not--then we--and not the barbarian prince--work madness. The thing
must never be put to a trial, but be at once nipped in the bud. The
blow directed against the aristocracy is a masterpiece. It must not
have time to take effect. Where is Demetrius?"

"He marched against Totila last evening. You were asleep. The physician
forbade us to awaken you, and Demetrius also."

"Totila king, and you let me sleep! Do you not know that this
flaxen-head is the very genius of the Goths? Demetrius wishes to win
his laurels alone. How strong is he?"

"More than twice as strong as the Goths; twelve thousand to five
thousand."

"Demetrius is lost. Up--to horse! Arm all who can carry a lance.
Leave only the wounded to guard the walls. This firebrand Totila must
be trampled out, or an ocean of blood cannot extinguish him. My
weapons--to horse!"

"I have never seen the Prefect look so," said Lucius Licinius to the
physician. "It must be fever? He grew pale."

"He is without fever."

"Then I do not comprehend it, for it cannot be _fear_. Syphax, let us
follow him."

Cethegus urged on his troop indefatigably. So indefatigably, that only
a small suite of horsemen could keep up with his impatience and the
swift hoofs of his war-horse.

At long intervals followed Marcus Licinius, Massurius with Cethegus's
mercenaries, and Balbus with the hurriedly-armed citizens of Ravenna.
For Cethegus had indeed left in the fortress only old men, women and
children, and the wounded soldiers.

At last the Prefect succeeded in communicating with the rear