Page:1909historyofdec04gibbuoft.djvu/491

 Chap, xliii] OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE 429 and the Roman people. To the rich and pusillanimous, Bessas 28 sold the permission of departure ; but the greatest part of the fugitives expired on the public highways, or were intercepted by the flying parties of barbarians. In the meanwhile, the art- ful governor soothed the discontent, and revived the hopes, of the Romans, by the vague reports of the fleets and armies which were hastening to their relief from the extremities of the East. They derived more rational comfort from the assurance that Belisarius had landed at the port ; and, without numbering his forces, they firmly relied on the humanity, the courage, and the skill of their great deliverer. The foresight of Totila had raised obstacles worthy of such Attempt of °. . Behsanus an antagonist.' 29 Ninety furlongs below the city, m the narrow- est part of the river, he joined the two banks by strong and solid timbers in the form of a bridge; on which he erected two lofty towers, manned by the bravest of his Goths, and profusely stored with missile weapons and engines of offence. The approach of the bridge and towers was covered by a strong and massy chain of iron ; and the chain, at either end, on the opposite sides of the Tiber, was defended by a numerous and chosen detachment of archers. But the enterprise of forcing these barriers and reliev- ing the capital displays a shining example of the boldness and conduct of Belisarius. His cavalry advanced from the port along the public road, to awe the motions, and distract the attention, of the enemy. His infantry and provisions were distributed in two hundred large boats; and each boat was shielded by an high rampart of thick planks, pierced with many small holes for the discharge of missile weapons. In the front, two large vessels were linked together to sustain a floating castle, which com- manded the towers of the bridge, and contained a magazine of fire, sulphur, and bitumen. 30 The whole fleet, which the general 28 The avarice of Bessas is not dissembled by Procopius (1. iii. c. 17, 20). He expiated the lo6s of Borne by the glorious conquest of Petrsea (Goth. 1. iv. c. 12) ; but the same vices followed him from the Tiber to the Phasis (c. 13) ; and the historian is equally true to the merits and defects of his character. The chastise- ment which the author of the romance of Bilisaire has inflicted on the oppressor of Eome is more agreeable to justice than to history. 29 [In the following episode it is to be remembered that the Bomans now held Portus, on the right bank, while the Goths held Ostia, on the left. In the siege of 537, the Goths had held Portus, the Bomans Ostia.] 30 [A boat (nlSos) containing these substances was suspended at the top of the tower ; and probably worked by a crane ; for it was cast into the bridge-tower of Totila which stood on the northern bank.]