In 549, Totila, without being discouraged by his defeat, once more
laid siege to the capital of Italy. Diogenes, who commanded there, had
had wheat sown within the inclosure of the walls, which might have
supported the garrison some time. But the city was again betrayed by
the Isaurians. The soldiers of that nation, dissatisfied with not
having received their pay for some years, and having learnt that their
companions had been magnificently rewarded by Totila, resolved to
follow their example. They agreed with the king of the Goths to open
the gate confided to their guard, which perfidy they executed at the
time appointed. Totila caused his trumpets to be sounded at the side
opposite to that by which he entered the city. The garrison immediately
hastened where the danger seemed most pressing, and by this artifice
the Goths met with no resistance. The commander of the Roman cavalry,
named Paul of Cilicia, seeing that the city was taken, shut himself
up, with four hundred horse, in the mausoleum of Adrian, and took
possession of the bridge which leads to the church of St. Peter. He was
attacked by the Goths, whose efforts he so warmly repulsed, that Totila
determined to reduce his party by famine. This intrepid little band
remained a day and a night without taking food, and then determined
to die with honour. After taking a last farewell, and embracing each
other, they opened the gates with a determination to fall upon the
enemy like desperate men, when Totila proposed moderate and honourable
conditions to them. They accepted them, and all took arms under his
banner. Totila, become master of Rome a second time, restored it to its
pristine splendour, and re-established as many of the citizens as could
be found.--Narses, the general of the empire, having conquered and
killed Totila, retook Rome, which opposed but a feeble resistance.