n under Earl Wisand not to issue from the houses in which they
were concealed, until the Persian horsemen had fallen upon the
Longobardians from their ambush, but then immediately to sally out of
the southern gate, while at the same time the spear-bearers would
advance against the enemy from the northern gate of Taginae.

"Thus the Longobardians and such of Narses' foot who have pressed
forward between Caprae and Taginae will be surrounded on all sides and
crushed. I and Thorismuth attack in front, Furius and Isdigerd on both
flanks, and Wisand in the rear. They will be lost!"

"Does he not look like the sun-god?" Adalgoth delightedly asked Julius.

"Peace! Make no idol of sun or man! Besides, to-day is the solstice!"
answered Julius.

At length the King reached the northern gate of Caprae, left it open
behind him, and galloped out with his little troop upon the level land
between Caprae and Helvillum.

Here Narses had placed his centre; foremost Alboin with his
Longobardians. Behind these, at a considerable distance, stood Narses
in his litter, surrounded by Cethegus, Liberius, Auzalas, and other
leaders.

Narses had had a bad night, disturbed by slight fits. He was very weak,
and could not stand up for any length of time in his low and open
litter.

He had strictly admonished Alboin not to advance to the attack without
special orders.

King Totila gave a sign to his horsemen, and at a trot the thin line
advanced towards the far superior ranks of the Longobardians.

"They surely will not shame us by attacking us with only a few lances?"
cried Alboin.

But an attack did not seem to be the present object of the King.

He had ridden far in advance of his men, who had suddenly halted, and
now attracted all eyes by his feats of horsemanship.

The spectacle which he afforded was so wonderful in the eyes of the
Byzantines, that the witnesses related it in astonishment to Procopius,
who, himself amazed, has remitted it to us.

"On this day," he writes, "King Totila evidently wished to show his
enemies what manner of man he was. His weapons and his horse shone with
gold. So many shining red streamers fluttered from the point of his
spear that this ornament alone announced the King from a distance.
Thus, mounted on a splendid charger, in the space between the two
armies, did he indulge in a skilful exercise of arms. Now he rode in a
circle; now he caracoled in semicircles to the right and left; now he
hurled his