BELISARIUS ENTERS ROME—RESTORES THE WALLS—SECOND DEFENCE OF THE CITY, 547—TOTILA WITHDRAWS TO TIBUR — JOHN REMOVES THE ROMAN SENATORS IN CAPUA—RAPID MARCH OF TOTILA TO SOUTHERN ITALY — BELISARIUS LEAVES ROME—MEMORIALS OF BELISARIUS IN THE CITY

Belisarius enters Rome, 547

Scarcely had Totila retired towards Apulia than Belisarius made an attempt to enter the unoccupied city. Marching from Portus with only 1000 men, the cavalry, which, on the news of his approach, had hastened from Alsium, forced him to an encounter and a speedy retreat. He resolved to await a more favourable opportunity, left only an insignificant force in the harbour fortress, skilfully deluded the Goths and advanced with all his remaining troops through the Ostian Gate. It was now the spring of 547. No sooner did the great general stand again on the scene of his glory than genius and fortune alike seemed to return to him with redoubled strength.

His first care was to restore the walls, and, having neither a sufficient number of workmen, nor time, nor material entirely to rebuild the parts destroyed, he was forced to do the best that circumstances allowed. The walls were built at random from the ruins that lay around, and many noble fragments of marble or travertine belonging to neighbouring monuments were used without hesitation. No mortar nor other cement united the stones; stakes, however, supported them on the outside, and the trenches, which had been previously dug, having been cleared and deepened, served as their best defence.