And the boy led his horse.
But Guntharis thought: "I have seen that face before! But no, it is only a resemblance; yet such a resemblance I have never seen in my life. And how noble is the young shepherd's carriage!"
"Hail to King Totila! Peace and salvation!" cried the people, as the Goths entered the city.
But the young guide looked up into the King's shining countenance, and sang in a soft sweet voice:
"Cunning Cethegus:
Tricks will not serve thee!
Teja the terrible
Daunts thy defiance.
And brightly arises,
Like morning and May-time,
Like night from the darkness,
The favourite of heaven,
The bright, and the beautiful
King of the Goths!
To him are wide opened
All halls and all hearts;
To him, overpowered,
Yield Winter and Woe!"
When the King entered the Forum, there fell a dead silence upon the people.
But Cethegus, who had expected this, immediately took advantage of it. He urged his horse into the crowd and cried:
"What would you, Goth, in this my city?"
Totila cast one flaming look at him, and then turned away.
"With him I speak, for evermore, only with my sword! With him, the threefold liar and murderer! To you I speak, unhappy and befooled inhabitants of Rome! Your sufferings wring my heart. I come to end your misery. I come without arms, for I am safer, trusting to the honour of Romans, than protected by sword and shield."