wretched, they had conquered more than 20,000 of the enemy. And why?
Because of old they had looked to everything rather than to justice;
they had sinned against each other and the Romans. Therefore they
must choose, and be just men henceforth, and have God with them, or
unjust, and have God against them.

Then he sends for the wretched remnant of the senators and tells them
the plain truth:- How the great Dietrich and his successors had
heaped them with honour and wealth; and how they had returned his
benefits by bringing in the Greeks. And what had they gained by
changing Dietrich for Justinian? Logothetes, who forced them by
blows to pay up the money which they had already paid to their Gothic
rulers; and revenue exacted alike in war and in peace. Slaves they
deserve to be; and slaves they shall be henceforth.

Then he sends to Justinian. He shall withdraw his army from Italy,
and make peace with him. He will be his ally and his son in arms, as
Dietrich had been to the Emperors before him, or if not, he will kill
the senate, destroy Rome, and march into Illyricum.

Justinian leaves it to Belisarius.

Then Totila begins to destroy Rome. He batters down the walls, he is
ready to burn the town. He will turn the evil place into a sheep-
pasture. Belisarius flatters and cajoles him from his purpose, and
he marches away with all his captives, leaving not a living soul in
Rome.

But Totila shews himself a general unable to cope with that great
tactician. He divides his forces, and allows Belisarius to start out