In glory rose the Goths' bright star--
In glory shall it fall!
Our swords raised high, we fight for fame;
Heroes with heroes vie;
Farewell, thou noble hero-race--
Up, Goths, and let us die!"

And he shattered the still vibrating harp upon the rocks at his feet.

"And now, Adalgoth, farewell! Would that I could have saved the rest of
my people! Not here; but by an unobstructed retreat to the north. It
was not to be. Narses would never grant it, and the last of the Goths
cannot _beg_. Now let us go--to death!"

And raising his dreaded weapon, the mighty battleaxe with its
lance-like shaft, he stepped to the head of the "wedge," Behind
him Aligern, his cousin, and old Hildebrand. Behind them Duke Guntharis
of Tuscany, the Woelfung, Earl Grippa of Ravenna, and Earl Wisand
of Volsinii, the standard-bearer. Behind them again, Wisand's
brother, Ragnaris of Tarentum, and four earls, his kinsmen. Then, in
ever-broadening front, first six, then ten Goths. The rear was formed
of close ranks, arranged by tens.

Wachis, halting in the pass near Adalgoth, blew, at a sign from the
King, a signal on the Gothic war-horn, and the assaulting force marched
out of the ravine.

The heroes in league with Johannes stood upon the first level place
close before the pass; only Alboin, Gisulf, and Cethegus were still
missing. Next behind the ten leaders stood Longobardians and Herulians,
who at once greeted the advancing Goths with a hail of spears.

The first to rush upon the King, who was easily recognisable by the
crown upon his helmet, was Althias the Armenian. He fell dead at once,
his skull split to the ears.

The second was the Herulian, Rodulf. Holding his spear at his left side
with both hands, he rushed at Teja. Teja stood firm, and, receiving the
stroke upon his narrow shield, pierced his adversary through the body
with the lance-like point of his battle-axe. Rodulf staggered back at
the shock, then fell dead.

Before Teja could disengage his weapon from the scales of his enemy's
mail-coat, Suartua, the nephew of the fallen Herulian, the Persian
Kabades, and the Bajuvar Garizo, all attacked him at once.

Teja thrust back the last--the nearest and boldest--with such vigour,
that he fell in the narrow and slippery lava path, and over a declivity
on the right.

"Now help, O holy virgin of Neapolis!" cried the tall man as he flew
downwards. "Help me, as y