They lived together on terms as friendly as might be between persons
so different. The other ladies, their curiosity once satisfied,
scarce paid any heed to her at all; and Veranilda was never more
content than when left quite alone, to ply her needle and commune
with her thoughts.
Against all expectation, the gates of Tibur remained obstinately
closed; three weeks went by, and those who came on to the walls to
parley had only words of scorn for the Gothic king, whom they bade
beware of the Greek force which would shortly march to their
succour. Only a small guard of Isaurians held the town, but it was
abundantly provisioned, and strong enough to defy attack for an
indefinite time. The Goths had no skill in taking fortresses by
assault; when walls held firm against them, they seldom overcame
except by blockade; and this it was which, despite his conquest of
the greater part of Italy, made Totila thus slow and cautious in his
approach to Rome. He remembered that Vitiges, who laid siege to the
city with a hundred thousand men, had retreated at last with his
troops diminished by more than half, so worn and dispirited that
they scarce struck another blow against Belisarius.
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