Page:1909historyofdec04gibbuoft.djvu/490

428 THE DECLINE AND FALL [Chap, xliii was afflicted by the avarice, and guarded by the valour, of Bessas, a veteran chief of Gothic extraction, who filled, with a garrison of three thousand soldiers, the spacious circle of her venerable walls. From the distress of the people he extracted a profitable trade, and secretly rejoiced in the continuance of the siege. It was for his use that the granaries had been replenished ; the charity of Pope Vigilius had purchased and embarked an ample supply of Sicilian corn ; 26 but the vessels which escaped the bar- barians 27 were seized by a rapacious governor, who imparted a scanty sustenance to the soldiers and sold the remainder to the [About £22 wealthy Eomans. The medimnus, or fifth part of the quarter of quarter] wheat, was exchanged for seven pieces of gold ; fifty pieces were given for an ox, a rare and accidental prize ; the progress of famine enhanced this exorbitant value, and the mercenaries were tempted to deprive themselves of the allowance which was scarcely sufficient for the support of life. A tasteless and unwholesome mixture, in which the bran thrice exceeded the quantity of flour, appeased the hunger of the poor ; they were gradually reduced to feed on dead horses, dogs, cats, and mice, and eagerly to snatch the grass and even the nettles which grew among the ruins of the city. A crowd of spectres, pale and emaciated, their bodies oppressed with disease and their minds with despair, surrounded the palace of the governor, urged, with unavailing truth, that it was the duty of a master to maintain his slaves, and humbly requested that he would provide for their subsistence, permit their flight, or command their immediate execution. Bessas replied, with unfeeling tranquillity, that it was impossible to feed, unsafe to dismiss, and unlawful to kill, the subjects of the emperor. Yet the example of a private citizen might have shewn his countrymen that a tyrant cannot withhold the privilege of death. Pierced by the cries of five children, who vainly called on their father for bread, he ordered them to follow his steps, advanced with calm and silent despair to one of the bridges of the Tiber, and, covering his face, threw himself headlong into the stream, in the presence of his family 26 [Vigilius was then in Sicily.] 27 [None of the ships sent by Vigilius escaped the Goths. See Proc. B. G. 3, 15, ad fin. The corn from Sicily which Bessas " seized " must be distinguished both from that sent by Vigilius and that mentioned in c. 13.]