, one of which was Pluto,
the Prefect's restless and fiery charger.

From Totila's shoulders flowed his long white mantle, held together at
the neck by a broad and heavy clasp set with precious stones. His
cuirass was of shining silver, richly inlaid with gold, the figure of a
flying swan upon the breast. The edges of the cuirass at the neck,
arms, and belt, were bound with red silk. Beneath it showed the coat of
white silk, reaching over the thighs.

Broad gold bracelets and silvered gauntlets protected his arms and
hands; greaves his knees and the top of his feet.

His narrow and gracefully-shaped shield was divided into three fields
of silver, gold, and crimson. On the golden field the figure of the
flying swan was wrought in white enamel.

The caparison and reins of his horse were set with silver and
embroidered with red silk.

In his right hand the King held a spear, to the point of which Valeria
had fastened four streamers of red and white riband; merrily they
fluttered in the morning breeze.

Thus brilliantly arrayed, the King rode through the streets of Taginae
at the head of his horsemen. Earl Thorismuth, Phaza, and Duke Adalgoth,
and also Julius, rode in his train. Julius carried no weapons, but he
bore a shield forged by Teja.

Never had Totila shone in such beauty! The people greeted him upon his
way with shouts of joy. At the northern gate of Taginae, Aligern came
riding towards him.

"I thought that thy place was with the right wing," said the King.
"What brings thee here?"

"My cousin Teja has ordered me to remain at thy side and guard thy
life."

"My Teja is untiring in his care of me!" cried the King.

Aligern joined the escort.

Earl Thorismuth now undertook the command of the footmen who were
hidden in the houses of Taginae.

Outside the gate, the King rode to the front of his not very numerous
troop of horsemen, and disclosed his plan to the captains.

"I entrust to you, comrades, the most difficult of all tasks--flight!
But the flight will be only seeming. What is true, is your courage and
the destruction of the foe."

And now the small troop rode forward past the place of ambush on the
Flaminian Way, the King convincing himself that the Persian horsemen
were in readiness upon both the wooded heights. The ambush on the right
was commanded by Furius himself, that on the left by his chief,
Isdigerd.

Totila now rode into Caprae through the southern gate, and admonished
the bowme