"Speak, herald!" they cried; "what bring you?"
"Peace and deliverance!" cried Thorismuth, and waved his white wand. "Totila, King of the Italians and the Goths, sends you greetings and demands a safe-conduct into the city, in order to tell you important news and to announce peace."
"Hail to King Totila!"
"We will hear him. He shall come!"
Cethegus had hastily mounted his horse, and now ordered his trumpeters to blow a flourish.
At this well-known sound, all became quiet.
"Hear me, herald! I, the governor of this city, refuse a safe-conduct. I shall treat every Goth who enters this city as an enemy."
But at these words a cry of rage burst from the multitude.
"Cornelius Cethegus, are you our officer or our tyrant? We are free. You have often vaunted the majesty of the Roman people. And the Roman people command that the King shall be heard. Do we not, people of Rome?"
"We do!"