Beacons on the walls, between the Flaminian and Pincian Grates, announced his entrance to Cethegus, who then, under cover of night, accomplished his retreat in good order, scarcely followed by the wearied victors.
Teja alone, with a few of his horsemen, pressed forward to the hilly country, where the Villa Borghese is now situated, and as far as the Aqua Acetosa.
CHAPTER VII.
The following day the immense army of the Goths appeared before the walls of the Eternal City, which it surrounded in seven camps.
And now began that memorable siege, which was to develop the military talent and inventive genius of Belisarius no less than the courage of the besiegers.
The citizens of Rome had with consternation beheld from the walls the interminable march of the Goths.
"Look, Prefect, they outflank all your walls."
"Yes, in breadth! but in height? They cannot get over them without wings."
Witichis had left only two thousand men behind in Ravenna; eight thousand he had sent, under Earl Uligis of Urbssalvia, and Earl Ansa of Asculum, to Dalmatia, to wrest that province and Liburnia from the Byzantines, and to reconquer the strong fortress of Salona. These troops were to be reinforced by mercenaries recruited in Savia.
The Gothic fleet--against Teja's advice--was also to repair thither, and not to Portus, the harbour of Rome.