But at that moment he was recognised by Piso on the wall, who hurled a splendid sleeping Faun which lay near him down upon the King. It struck the King's shoulder, and he fell.
Earl Markja, Iffamer and Aligern bore him out of the fight.
Cethegus saw him fall, and then himself sank down upon the threshold of the door; the protecting arms of a friend received him--but he could recognise nothing; his senses failed him.
He was presently recalled to consciousness by a well-known sound, which rejoiced his soul; it was the tones of the tubas of his legionaries and the battle-cry of his Isaurians, who had at last arrived, and, led by the Licinii, fell upon the Goths, who were disheartened by the fall of their King.
The Isaurians, after a bloody fight, had issued through a breach in the outer wall (which had been broken outwards by the Goths who were inside).
The Prefect saw the last of the barbarians fly; then his eyes closed once more.
"Cethegus!" cried the friend who held him in his arms, "Belisarius is dying; and you, you too are lost!"
Cethegus recognised the voice of Procopius.
"I do not know," he said with a last effort, "but Rome--Rome is saved!"
And his senses completely forsook him.