He impatiently expected the return of Lothaire; ignorant, alas! that his brother could never return, and that the chief and his army had been swept away by a strange disease [50] on the banks of the Lake Benacus, between Trent and Verona.

The banners of Narses soon approached the Vulturnus, and the eyes of Italy were anxiously fixed on the event of this final contest.

Perhaps the talents of the Roman general were most conspicuous in the calm operations which precede the tumult of a battle.

His skilful movements intercepted the subsistence of the Barbarian deprived him of the advantage of the bridge and river, and in the choice of the ground and moment of action reduced him to comply with the inclination of his enemy.

On the morning of the important day, when the ranks were already formed, a servant, for some trivial fault, was killed by his master, one of the leaders of the Heruli.