The justice or passion of Narses was awakened: he summoned the offender to his presence, and without listening to his excuses, gave the signal to the minister of death.

If the cruel master had not infringed the laws of his nation, this arbitrary execution was not less unjust than it appears to have been imprudent.

The Heruli felt the indignity; they halted: but the Roman general, without soothing their rage, or expecting their resolution, called aloud, as the trumpets sounded, that unless they hastened to occupy their place, they would lose the honor of the victory.

His troops were disposed [51] in a long front, the cavalry on the wings; in the centre, the heavy-armed foot; the archers and slingers in the rear.

The Germans advanced in a sharp-pointed column, of the form of a triangle or solid wedge.