Thus it continued until he reached Neapolis; the very same road he had once passed as a wounded fugitive.
The commander of the Armenian mercenaries in Neapolis, who had a very brave but small troop, did not dare to trust the fidelity of the population in case of a siege.
He therefore led his lance-bearers and the armed citizens to meet the King outside the gates.
But before the battle commenced, a man on a white horse rode out of the lines of Goths, took his helmet from his head, and cried:
"Have you forgotten me, men of the Parthenopæian city? I am Totila. You loved me when I was commander of your harbour. You shall bless me as your King. Do you not recollect how I saved in my ships your wives and children from the Huns of Belisarius? Listen. These very wives and children are again in my power; not as fugitives, but as prisoners. To protect them from the Byzantines (perhaps from me also), you sent them into the strong fortress of Cumæ. But know that Cumæ has surrendered, and all the fugitives are in my power. I have been advised to keep them as hostages in order to compel you to capitulate. But that is repugnant to my feelings. I have set them at liberty; the wives of the Roman senators I have sent to Rome. But your wives and children, men of Neapolis, I have brought with me; not as my hostages, not as my prisoners, but as my guests. Look how they stream out of my tents! Open your arms to receive them--they are free! Will you now fight against me? I cannot believe it! Who will be the first to aim at this breast?" and he opened wide his arms.
"Hail to King Totila the Good!" was the universal acclamation.
And the warm-hearted men threw down their weapons, rushed forward, and greeted with tears of joy their liberated wives and children, kissing the hem of Totila's mantle.
The commander of the mercenaries rode up to him.
"My lancers are surrounded and too weak to fight alone. Here, O King, is my sword. I am your prisoner."
"Not so, brave Arsakide! Thou art unconquered--therefore no prisoner. Go with thy troop whither thou wilt."