第1巻 第18章

Greek Τούτου οὖν τότε τοῦ ἀνδρὸς τῇ ὑποθήκῃ ἡσθεὶς Καβάδης ἄνδρας πεντακισχιλίους τε καὶ μυρίους ἀπολεξάμενος Ἀζαρέθην αὐτοῖς ἄνδρα Πέρσην ἐπέστησε διαφερόντως ἀγαθὸν τὰ πολέμια, καὶ σφίσιν Ἀλαμούνδαρον τῆς πορείας ἐξηγεῖσθαι ἐκέλευεν.

Dewing This man's suggestion at that time therefore pleased Cabades, and he chose out fifteen thousand men, putting in command of them Azarethes, a Persian, who was an exceptionally able warrior, and he bade Alamoundaras lead the expedition.

Greek οἱ δὲ τὸν Εὐφράτην ποταμὸν διαβάντες ἐν Ἀσσυρίοις, γῆν τε πορευθέντες τινὰ ἔρημον ἀνθρώπων, ἄφνω ἐς τῶν Κομμαγηνῶν καλουμένων τὴν χώραν παρὰ δόξαν ἐσέβαλλον.

Dewing So they crossed the River Euphrates in Assyria, and, after passing over some uninhabited country, they suddenly and unexpectedly threw their forces into the land of the so‑called Commagenae.

Greek αὕτη τε πρώτη ἐνθένδε Περσῶν ἐσβολὴ ἐς γῆν τὴν Ῥωμαίων ἐγένετο, ὅσα γε ἡμᾶς ἀκοῇ ἢ τρόπῳ τῳ ἄλλῳ ἐπίστασθαι, καὶ πάντας Ῥωμαίους τῷ ἀπροσδοκήτῳ κατέπληξεν.

Dewing This was the first invasion made by the Persians from this point into Roman soil, as far as we know from tradition or by any other means, and it paralyzed all the Romans with fear by its unexpectedness.

Greek ἃ δὴ ἐπεὶ Βελισάριος ἔμαθε, τὰ μὲν πρῶτα διηπορεῖτο, μετὰ δὲ βοηθεῖν κατὰ τάχος ἔγνω. φυλακήν τε αὐτάρκη ἐν πόλει ἑκάστῃ καταστησάμενος, ὅπως μὴ Καβάδης τε καὶ στράτευμα τῶν πολεμίων ἄλλο ἐνταῦθα ἰόντες ἀφύλακτα τὸ παράπαν εὑρήσουσι τὰ ἐπὶ Μεσοποταμίας χωρία, αὐτὸς τῷ ἄλλῳ στρατῷ ὑπηντίαζεν, Εὐφράτην τε ποταμὸν διαβάντες σπουδῇ πολλῇ πρόσω ἐχώρουν.

Dewing And when this news came to the knowledge of Belisarius at first he was at a loss, but afterwards he decided to go to the rescue with all speed. So he established a sufficient garrison in each city in order that Cabades with another hostile army might not come there and find the towns of Mesopotamia utterly unguarded, and himself with the rest of the army went to meet the invasion; and crossing the River Euphrates they moved forward in great haste.

Greek ὁ μὲν οὖν Ῥωμαίων στρατὸς ἐς δισμυρίους μάλιστα πεζούς τε καὶ ἱππέας ξυνῄει, καὶ αὐτῶν Ἴσαυροι οὐχ ἧσσον ἢ δισχίλιοι ἦσαν.

Dewing Now the Roman army amounted to about twenty thousand foot and horse, and among them not less than two thousand were Isaurians.

Greek ἄρχοντες δὲ ἱππέων μὲν ἅπαντες ἦσαν οἳ τὰ πρότερα τὴν ἐν Δάρας μάχην πρός τε Πέρσας καὶ Μιρράνην διήνεγκαν, πεζῶν δὲ τῶν τις δορυφόρων Ἰουστινιανοῦ βασιλέως, Πέτρος ὄνομα.

Dewing The commanders of cavalry were all the same one who had previous fought the battle at Daras with Mirranes and the Persians, while the infantry were commanded by one Oetaea bodyguards of the Emperor Justinian, Peter by name.

Greek τοῖς μέντοι Ἰσαύροις Λογγῖνός τε καὶ Στεφανάκιος ἐφειστήκεσαν. ἐνταῦθα δὲ καὶ Ἀρέθας αὐτοῖς ξὺν τῷ Σαρακηνῶν στρατεύματι ἦλθεν.

Dewing The Isaurians, however, were under command of Longinus and Stephanacius. Arethas also came there to join them with the Saracen army.

Greek ἐπεί τε ἐς Χαλκίδα πόλιν ἀφίκοντο, ἐνστρατοπεδευσάμενοι αὐτοῦ ἔμενον, ἐπεὶ τοὺς πολεμίους ἐν χωρίῳ Γαββουλῶν εἶναι ἐπύθοντο, δέκα καὶ ἑκατὸν σταδίοις Χαλκίδος διέχοντι.

Dewing When they reached the city of Chalcis, they encamped and remained there, since they learned that the enemy were in a place called Gabboulon, one hundred and ten stades away from Chalcis.

Greek ὃ δὴ γνόντες Ἀλαμούνδαρός τε καὶ Ἀζαρέθης τόν τε κίνδυνον κατορρωδήσαντες, ἐπίπροσθεν οὐκέτι ἐχώρουν, ἀλλ᾽ ἐπ᾽ οἴκου αὐτίκα δὴ ἀποχωρεῖν ἔγνωσαν. αὐτοί τε γοῦν Εὐφράτην ποταμὸν ἐν ἀριστερᾷ ἔχοντες ὀπίσω ἀπήλαυνον καὶ ὁ Ῥωμαίων στρατὸς ὄπισθεν εἵπετο.

Dewing When this became known to Alamoundaras and Azarethes, they were terrified at the danger, and no longer continued their advance, but decided to retire homeward instantly.

Greek ἔν τε τῷ χώρῳ οὗ δὴ οἱ βάρβαροι ἐς νύκτα ἑκάστην ηὐλίζοντο, ἀεὶ Ῥωμαῖοι τῇ ἐπιγινομένῃ νυκτὶ ἔμενον.

Dewing Accordingly they began to march back, with the River Euphrates on the left, while the Roman army was following in the rear, and in the spot where the Persians bivouacked each night the Romans always tarried on the following night.

Greek Βελισάριος γὰρ ἐξεπίτηδες ὁδόν τινα πλείω πορεύεσθαι τὸ στράτευμα οὐδαμῆ εἴα, ἐπεί οἱ οὐκ ἦν βουλομένῳ τοῖς πολεμίοις ἐς χεῖρας ἰέναι, ἀλλ᾽ ἀποχρῆν ᾤετο σφίσι Πέρσας τε καὶ Ἀλαμούνδαρον ἐς γῆν τὴν Ῥωμαίων ἐσβεβληκότας, εἶτα ἐνθένδε οὕτω δὴ ἀποκεχωρηκότας,

Dewing For Belisarius purposely refused to allow the army to make any longer march because he did not wish to come to an engagement with the enemy, but he considered that it was sufficient for them that the Persians and Alamoundaras, after invading the land of the Romans, should retire from it in such a fashion, betaking themselves to their own land without accomplishing anything.

Greek ἀπράκτους εἰς τὰ οἰκεῖα κομίζεσθαι. διὸ δὴ ἅπαντες αὐτῷ λάθρα ἐλοιδοροῦντο, ἄρχοντές τε καὶ στρατιῶται, ἐκάκιζε μέντοι αὐτὸν ἐς ὄψιν οὐδείς.

Dewing And because of this all secretly mocked him, both officers and soldiers, but not a man reproached him to his face.

Greek Τελευτῶντες δὲ Πέρσαι μὲν ἐν τῇ τοῦ Εὐφράτου ἠϊόνι ηὐλίσαντο ἣ δὴ πόλεως Καλλινίκου ἀντιπέρας ἐστίν. ἐνθένδε γὰρ διὰ χώρας πρὸς οὐδενὸς ἀνθρώπων οἰκουμένης πορεύεσθαι ἔμελλον, οὕτω τε τῆς Ῥωμαίων γῆς ἀπαλλάσσεσθαι.

Dewing Finally the Persians made their bivouac on the bank of the Euphrates just opposite the city of Callinicus. From there they were about to march through a country absolutely uninhabited by man, and thus to quit the land of the Romans;

Greek οὐ γὰρ ἔτι διενοοῦντο ἰέναι ὥσπερ τὰ πρότερα, τῆς τοῦ ποταμοῦ ὄχθης ἐχόμενοι. Ῥωμαῖοι δὲ διανυκτερεύσαντες ἐν πόλει Σούρων ἐνθένδε τε ἐξαναστάντες, καταλαμβάνουσι συσκευαζομένους ἤδη ἐς τὴν ἄφοδον τοὺς πολεμίους.

Dewing for they purposed no longer to proceed as before, keeping to the bank of the river. The Romans had passed the night in the city of Sura, and, removing from there, they came upon the enemy just in the act of preparing for the departure.

Greek ἑορτὴ δὲ ἡ Πασχαλία ἐπέκειτο ἡμέρᾳ ἐπιγενησομένη τῇ ὑστεραίᾳ, ἣν δὴ σέβονται Χριστιανοὶ πασῶν μάλιστα, ἡμέρᾳ τε τῇ ταύτης προτέρᾳ σιτίων τε καὶ ποτοῦ ἀπεχόμενοι οὐ διημερεύειν νενομίκασι μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ πόρρω που νήστεις τῶν νυκτῶν ἰέναι.

Dewing Now the feast of Easter was near and would take place on the following day; this feast is reverenced by Christians above all others and on the day before it they are accustomed to refrain from food and drink not only throughout the day, but for a large part of the night also they continue the fast.

Greek τότε οὖν ἅπαντας Βελισάριος ὀργῶντας ἐπὶ τοὺς πολεμίους ὁρῶν, ταύτης τε ἀποστῆσαι τῆς γνώμης ἐθέλων (ταῦτα γάρ οἱ καὶ Ἑρμογένης ἐγίνωσκεν ἄρτι ἐπὶ πρεσβείᾳ ἐκ βασιλέως ἥκων) τοὺς παραγενομένους ἅπαντας ξυγκαλέσας ἔλεξε τοιάδε Ποῖ φέρεσθε,

Dewing Then, therefore, Belisarius, seeing that all his men were passionately eager to go against the enemy, wished to persuade them to give up this idea (for this course had been counselled by Hermogenes also, who had come recently on an embassy from the emperor); he accordingly called together all who were present and spoke as follows:

Greek ἄνδρες Ῥωμαῖοι, ἢ τί πεπονθότες κίνδυνον αἱρεῖσθαι ὑμῖν αὐτοῖς οὐκ ἀναγκαῖον βουλεύεσθε; μίαν εἶναι νίκην ἀκίβδηλον οἴονται ἄνθρωποι τὸ μηδὲν δεινὸν πρὸς τῶν πολεμίων παθεῖν, ὅπερ ἡμῖν ἔν γε τῷ παρόντι δέδωκεν ἥ τε τύχη καὶ ἡμῶν τὸ κατὰ τῶν ἐναντίων δέος.

Dewing "O Romans, whither are you rushing? and what has happened to you that you are purposing to choose for yourselves a danger which is not necessary? Men believe that there is only one victory which is unalloyed, namely to suffer no harm at the hands of the enemy, and this very thing has been given us in the present instance by fortune and by the fear of us that over­powers our foes.

Greek οὐκοῦν ἤ ἀπόνασθαι τῶν παρόντων ἀγαθῶν ἄμεινον ἢ παρελθόντα ταῦτα ζητεῖν. Πέρσαι γὰρ πολλαῖς μὲν ἐλπίσιν ἠγμένοι ἐπὶ Ῥωμαίους ἐστράτευσαν, πάντων δὲ τανῦν ἐκπεπτωκότες ἐς φυγὴν ὥρμηνται.

Dewing Therefore it is better to enjoy the benefit of our present blessings than to seek them when they have passed. For the Persians, led on by many hopes, undertook an expedition against the Romans, and now, with everything lost, they have beaten a hasty retreat.

Greek ὥστε ἢν οὐχ ἑκόντας αὐτοὺς μεταβάλλεσθαι μὲν τῆς ἐς τὴν ὑπαγωγὴν γνώμης, ἐς χεῖρας δὲ ἰέναι ἡμῖν αὐτοῖς ἀναγκάσωμεν, νενικηκότες μὲν πλέον τὸ παράπαν οὐδὲν ἕξομεν.

Dewing So that if we compel them against their will to abandon their purpose of withdrawing and to come to battle with us, we shall win no advantage whatsoever if we are victorious, —

Greek τί γὰρ ἄν τις τόν γε φεύγοντα τρέποι; σφαλέντες δὲ ἴσως τῆς τε ὑπαρχούσης στερησόμεθα νίκης, οὐ πρὸς τῶν πολεμίων ἀφαιρεθέντες, ἀλλ᾽ αὐτοὶ ταύτην προέμενοι, καὶ τῇ βασιλέως γῇ τὸ τοῖς πολεμίοις ἐκκεῖσθαι τῶν ἀμυνομένων χωρὶς τὸ λοιπὸν δώσομεν.

Dewing for why should one rout a fugitive? — while if we are unfortunate, as may happen, we shall both be deprived of the victory which we now have, not robbed of it by the enemy, but flinging it away ourselves, and also we shall abandon the land of the emperor to lie open hereafter to the attacks of the enemy without defenders.

Greek καίτοι καὶ τοῦτο ἐνθυμεῖσθαι ὑμᾶς ἄξιον, ὡς τῶν ἀναγκαίων, οὐ τῶν αὐθαιρέτων κινδύνων ξυναίρεσθαι ὁ θεὸς ἀεὶ τοῖς ἀνθρώποις φιλεῖ.

Dewing Moreover this also is worth your consideration, that God is always accustomed to succour men in dangers which are necessary, not in those which they choose for themselves.

Greek χωρὶς δὲ τούτων τοῖς μὲν οὐκ ἔχουσιν ἂν ὅπη τραπεῖεν ἀνδραγαθίζεσθαι οὐχ ἑκουσίοις ξυμβήσεται, ἡμῖν δὲ πολλὰ τὰ ἐναντιώματα ἐς τὴν ξυμβολὴν τετύχηκεν εἶναι:

Dewing And apart from this it will come about that those who have nowhere to turn will play the part of brave men even against their Weil, while the obstacles which are to be met by us in entering the engagement are many;

Greek πεζῇ τε γὰρ βαδίζοντες πολλοὶ ἥκουσι καὶ νήστεις ἅπαντες τυγχάνομεν ὄντες. ἀφίημι γὰρ λέγειν ὥς τινες οὔπω καὶ νῦν πάρεισι. Βελισάριος μὲν τοσαῦτα εἶπεν.

Dewing for a large number of you have come on foot and all of us are fasting. I refrain from mentioning that so even now have not arrived." So spoke Belisarius.

Greek Ὁ δὲ στρατὸς ἐς αὐτὸν ὕβριζον οὐ σιγῇ τινι οὐδὲ ἐν παραβύστῳ, ἀλλ᾽ αὐτῷ ἐς ὄψιν ξὺν κραυγῇ ἥκοντες μαλθακόν τε καὶ τῆς προθυμίας διαλυτὴν ἐκάλουν, ὃ δὴ καὶ τῶν ἀρχόντων τινὲς ξὺν τοῖς στρατιώταις ἡμάρτανον, ταύτῃ τὸ εὔτολμον ἐνδεικνύμενοι.

Dewing But the army began to insult him, not in silence nor with any concealment, but they came shouting into his presence, and called him weak and a destroyer of their zeal; and even some of the officers joined with the soldiers in this offence, thus displaying the extent of their daring.

Greek καὶ αὐτῶν τῷ ἀναισχύντῳ καταπλαγεὶς Βελισάριος ἀντιστρέψας τὴν παραίνεσιν ἐγκελευομένῳ τε ἤδη ἐπὶ τοὺς πολεμίους ἐῴκει καὶ διατάσσοντι ἐς παράταξιν, ἔφασκέ τε ὡς οὐκ εἰδείη μὲν αὐτῶν τὴν ἐς τὸ μάχεσθαι προθυμίαν τὰ πρότερα, νῦν δὲ θαρσεῖν τε καὶ ξὺν ἐλπίδι τῇ ἀμείνονι ἐπὶ τοὺς πολεμίους ἰέναι.

Dewing And Belisarius, in astonishment at their shamelessness, changed his exhortation and now seemed to be urging them on against the enemy and drawing them up for battle, saying that he had not known before their eagerness to fight, but that now he was of good courage and would go against the enemy with a better hope.

Greek καὶ τὴν φάλαγγα μετωπηδὸν ποιησάμενος διέταξεν ὧδε. ἐς κέρας μὲν τὸ ἀριστερὸν πρὸς τῷ ποταμῷ τοὺς πεζοὺς ἅπαντας ἔστησεν, ἐς δὲ τὸ δεξιόν, ᾗ δὴ ὁ χῶρος ἀνάντης ἦν, Ἀρέθαν τε καὶ τοὺς ξὺν αὐτῷ Σαρακηνοὺς ἅπαντας, αὐτὸς δὲ ξὺν τοῖς ἱππεῦσι κατὰ μέσον εἱστήκει. οὕτω μὲν Ῥωμαῖοι ἐτάξαντο.

Dewing He then formed the phalanx with a single front, disposing his men as follows: on the left wing by the river he stationed all the infantry, while on the right where the ground rose sharply he placed Arethas and all his Saracens; he himself with the cavalry took his position in the centre. Thus the Romans arrayed themselves.

Greek Ἀζαρέθης δὲ ἐπεὶ ξυνιόντας ἐς παράταξιν τοὺς πολεμίους εἶδε, τοιάδε παρεκελεύσατο Πέρσας μὲν ὄντας ὑμᾶς μὴ οὐχὶ τοῦ βίου τὴν ἀρετὴν ἀνταλλάξασθαι, ἤν τις αἵρεσιν ἀμφοῖν διδοίη, οὐδεὶς ἂν ἀντείποι.

Dewing And when Azarethes saw the enemy gathering in battle line, he exhorted his men with the following words: "Persians as you are, no one would deny that you would not give up your valour in exchange for your life, if a choice of the two should be offered.

Greek ἐγὼ δέ φημι οὐδ᾽ ἂν βουλομένοις ἐφ᾽ ὑμῖν εἶναι τούτοιν ποιεῖσθαι τὴν αἵρεσιν. οἷς μὲν γὰρ ἐξὸν διαφυγοῦσι τὸν κίνδυνον ξὺν τῇ ἀτιμίᾳ βιοῦν, οὐδέν, ἤν γε βούλοιντο, ἀπεικὸς ἀντὶ τῶν βελτίστων ἑλέσθαι τὰ ἥδιστα, οἷς δὲ τὸ θνήσκειν ἐπάναγκες, ἢ ξὺν τῇ εὐκλείᾳ πρὸς τῶν πολεμίων, ἢ πρὸς τοῦ κρατοῦντος ἐς τὴν κόλασιν αἰσχρῶς ἀγομένοις, πολλὴ ἄνοια μὴ πρὸ τῶν αἰσχίστων ἑλέσθαι τὰ κρείσσω.

Dewing But I say that not even if you should wish, is it within your power to make the choice between the two. For as for men who have the opportunity to escape from danger and live in dishonour it is not at all unnatural that they should, if they wish, choose what is most pleasant instead of what is best; but for men who are bound to die, either gloriously at the hands of the enemy or shamefully led to punishment by your Master, it is extreme folly not to choose what is better instead of what is most shameful.

Greek ὅτε τοίνυν ταῦτα οὕτως ἔχει, προσήκειν ὑμᾶς ἅπαντας οἶμαι μὴ τοὺς πολεμίους μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ δεσπότην τὸν ὑμέτερον ἐν νῷ ἔχοντας, οὕτως ἐς μάχην τήνδε καθίστασθαι.

Dewing Now, therefore, when things stand thus, I consider that it befits you all to bear in mind not only the enemy but also your own Lord and so enter this battle."

Greek Τοσαῦτα καὶ Ἀζαρέθης παρακελευσάμενος ἀντίξουν τοῖς ἐναντίοις τὴν φάλαγγα ἔστησε, Πέρσας μὲν τὰ ἐν δεξιᾷ ἔχοντας, Σαρακηνοὺς δὲ τὰ εὐώνυμα. καὶ αὐτίκα μὲν ἐς χεῖρας ἀμφότεροι ἦλθον.

Dewing After Azarethes also had uttered these words exhortation, he stationed the phalanx opposite his opponents, assigning the Persians the right and the Saracens the left. Straightway both sides began to fight, and the battle was exceedingly fierce.

Greek ἦν δὲ ἡ μάχη καρτερὰ μάλιστα. τά τε γὰρ τοξεύματα ἑκατέρωθεν συχνὰ ἐπὶ πλεῖστον βαλλόμενα φόνον ἀμφοτέρων πολὺν ἐποίει, καί τινες ἐν μεταιχμίῳ γινόμενοι ἔργα ἐς ἀλλήλους ἐπεδείκνυντο ἀρετῆς ἄξια, μᾶλλον δὲ Πέρσαι ἐκ τῶν τοξευμάτων πολλοὶ ἔθνησκον.

Dewing For the arrows, shot from either side in very great numbers, caused great loss of life in both armies, while some placed themselves in the interval between the armies and made a display of valorous deeds against each other, and especially among the Persians they were falling by the arrows in great numbers.

Greek τὰ μὲν γὰρ αὐτῶν βέλη συχνότερα μὲν ἀτεχνῶς ἦν, ἐπεὶ Πέρσαι τοξόται τε σχεδόν τί εἰσιν ἅπαντες καὶ πολὺ θᾶσσον ἢ οἱ ἄλλοι ξύμπαντες ἄνθρωποι ποιεῖσθαι τὰς βολὰς ἐκδιδάσκονται,

Dewing For while their missiles were incomparably more frequent, since the Persians are almost all bowmen and they learn to make their shots much more rapidly than any other men,

Greek ἐκ δὲ τόξων μαλθακῶν τε καὶ οὐ λίαν ἐντεταμένων βαλλόμενα θώρακι ἴσως ἢ κράνει ἢ καὶ ἀσπίδι ἐντυχόντα Ῥωμαίου ἀνδρὸς ἀπεκαυλίζετό τε καὶ λυπεῖν τὸν προσπίπτοντα οὐδαμῆ εἶχε.

Dewing still the bows which sent the arrows were weak and not very tightly strung, so that their missiles, hitting a corselet, perhaps, or helmet or shield of a Roman warrior, were broken off and had no power to hurt the man who was hit.

Greek Ῥωμαίων δὲ τὰ τε τοξεύματα βραδύτερα μὲν ἐς ἀεί ἐστιν, ἅτε δὲ ἐκ τόξων σκληρῶν τε ὑπεράγαν καὶ δεινῶς ἐντεταμένων βαλλόμενα, προσθείη δὲ ἄν τις καὶ πρὸς ἀνδρῶν ἰσχυροτέρων, πολλῷ ἔτι μᾶλλον ἢ οἱ Πέρσαι οἷς ἂν ἐντύχοιεν εὐπετῶς σίνονται, ὅπλου οὐδενὸς ἐμποδὼν αὐτῶν γινομένου τῇ ῥύμῃ.

Dewing The Roman bowmen are always slower indeed, but inasmuch as their bows are extremely stiff and very tightly strung, and one might add that they are handled by stronger men, they easily slay much greater numbers of those they hit than do the Persians, for no armour proves an obstacle to the force of their arrows.

Greek ἤδη μὲν οὖν τῆς ἡμέρας αἱ δύο παρῳχήκεσαν μοῖραι, καὶ ἡ μάχη ἔτι ἀγχώμαλος ἦν. τότε δὲ ξυμφρονήσαντες ὅσοι δὴ ἄριστοι ἐν τῷ Περσῶν στρατεύματι ἦσαν, ἐσήλαυνον ἐς τῶν πολεμίων τὸ δεξιὸν κέρας, οὗ δὴ Ἀρέθας τε καὶ οἱ Σαρακηνοὶ ἐτετάχατο.

Dewing Now already two‑thirds of the day had passed, and the battle was still even. Then by mutual agreement all the best of the Persian army advanced to attack the Roman right wing, where Arethas and the Saracens had been stationed.

Greek οἱ δὲ οὕτω τὴν φάλαγγα διαλύσαντες δίχα ἐγένοντο, ὥστε καὶ δόξαν ἀπήνεγκαν ὅτι δὴ Πέρσαις τὰ Ῥωμαίων πράγματα προὔδοσαν. τοὺς γὰρ ἐπιόντας οὐχ ὑποστάντες αὐτίκα ἐς φυγὴν ἅπαντες ὥρμηντο.

Dewing But they broke their formation and moved apart, so that they got the reputation of having betrayed the Romans to the Persians. For without awaiting the oncoming enemy they all straightway beat a hasty retreat.

Greek οἱ γοῦν Πέρσαι διαρρήξαντες οὕτω τὴν τῶν ἐναντίων παράταξιν, κατὰ νώτου εὐθὺς τῆς Ῥωμαίων ἵππου ἐγένοντο. Ῥωμαῖοι δὲ κεκμηκότες ἤδη τῇ τε ὁδῷ καὶ τῷ πόνῳ τῆς μάχης νήστεις τε ἅπαντες ἐς τόδε τῆς ἡμέρας ὄντες, καὶ πρὸς τῶν πολεμίων ἑκατέρωθεν ἐνοχλούμενοι, οὐκέτι ἀντεῖχον, ἀλλ᾽ οἱ μὲν πολλοὶ φεύγοντες ἀνὰ κράτος ἐς τοῦ ποταμοῦ τὰς νήσους ἄγχιστά που οὔσας ἐχώρησαν, τινὲς δὲ καὶ αὐτοῦ μένοντες ἔργα θαυμαστά τε καὶ λόγου πολλοῦ ἄξια τοὺς πολεμίους εἰργάσαντο.

Dewing So the Persians in this way broke through the enemy's line and immediately got in the rear of the Roman cavalry. Thus the Romans, who were already exhausted both by the march and the labour of the battle, — and besides this they were all fasting so far on in the day, — now that they were assailed by the enemy on both sides, held out no longer, but the most of them in full flight made their way to the islands in the river which were close by, while some also remained there and performed deeds both amazing and remarkable against the enemy.

Greek ἐν τοῖς καὶ Ἀσκὰν ἦν, ὃς δὴ πολλοὺς μὲν κτείνας τῶν ἐν Πέρσαις δοκίμων, κρεουργηθεὶς δὲ κατὰ βραχὺ μόλις ἔπεσε, λόγον αὑτοῦ πολὺν τοῖς πολεμίοις ἀπολιπών. καὶ ξὺν αὐτῷ ἄλλοι ὀκτακόσιοι ἄνδρες ἀγαθοὶ γενόμενοι ἐν τῷ πόνῳ τούτῳ ἀπέθανον, οἵ τε Ἴσαυροι ξὺν τοῖς ἄρχουσι σχεδὸν ἅπαντες, οὐδὲ ὅπλα ἀνταίρειν τοῖς πολεμίοις τολμήσαντες.

Dewing Among these was Ascan who, after killing many of the notables among the Persians, was gradually hacked to pieces and finally fell, leaving to the enemy abundant reason to remember him. And with him eight hundred others perished after showing themselves brave men in this struggle, and almost all the Isaurians fell with their leaders, without even daring to lift their weapons against the enemy.

Greek ἀπειρίᾳ γὰρ τοῦ ἔργου τούτου πολλῇ εἴχοντο, ἐπεὶ ἄρτι τῆς γεωργίας ἀφέμενοι ἐς κίνδυνον πολέμου κατέστησαν,

Dewing For they were thoroughly inexperienced in this business, since they had recently left off farming and entered into the perils of warfare, which before that time were unknown to them.

Greek ἀγνῶτα σφίσι τὰ πρότερα ὄντα. καίτοι μάλιστα πάντων αὐτοὶ ἔναγχος ἐς τὴν μάχην ἀγνοίᾳ πολέμου ὀργῶντες Βελισαρίῳ τότε τὴν δειλίαν ὠνείδιζον. οὐ μὴν οὐδὲ Ἴσαυροι ἅπαντες, ἀλλὰ Λυκάονες οἱ πλεῖστοι ἦσαν.

Dewing And yet just before these very men had been most furious of all for battle because of their ignorance of warfare, and were then reproaching Belisarius with cowardice. They were not in fact all Isaurians but the majority of them were Lycaones.

Greek Βελισάριος δὲ ξὺν ὀλίγοις τισὶν ἐνταῦθα μείνας, τέως μὲν τοὺς ἀμφὶ τὸν Ἀσκὰν ἀντέχοντας ἑώρα, καὶ αὐτὸς ξὺν τοῖς παροῦσι τοὺς πολεμίους ἠμύνατο:

Dewing Belisarius with some few men remained there, and as long as he saw Ascan and his men holding out, he also in company with those who were with him held back the enemy;

Greek ἐπεὶ δὲ αὐτῶν οἱ μὲν ἔπεσον, οἱ δὲ ὅπη ἐδύναντο ἐς φυγὴν ὥρμηντο, τότε δὴ καὶ αὐτὸς ξὺν τοῖς ἑπομένοις φυγὼν ἐς τῶν πεζῶν τὴν φάλαγγα ἦλθεν, οἳ ξὺν τῷ Πέτρῳ ἔτι ἐμάχοντο, οὐ πολλοὶ ὄντες, ἐπεὶ καὶ αὐτῶν ἔτυχον φυγόντες οἱ πλεῖστοι.

Dewing but when some of Ascan's troops had fallen, and the others had turned to flee wherever they could, then at length he too fled with his men and came to the phalanx of infantry, who with Peter were still fighting, although not many in number now, since the most of them too had fled.

Greek ἔνθα δὴ αὐτός τε τὸν ἵππον ἀφῆκε καὶ πάντας αὐτὸ δρᾶν τοὺς ἑπομένους ἐκέλευε, πεζούς τε ξὺν τοῖς ἄλλοις τοὺς ἐπιόντας ἀμύνασθαι.

Dewing There he himself gave up his horse and commanded all his men to do the same thing and on foot with the others to fight off the oncoming enemy.

Greek Περσῶν δὲ ὅσοι τοῖς φεύγουσιν εἵποντο, δἰ ὀλίγου τὴν δίωξιν ποιησάμενοι, εὐθὺς ἐπανῆκον, ἔς τε τοὺς πεζοὺς καὶ Βελισάριον ξὺν τοῖς ἄλλοις ἅπασιν ὥρμηντο. οἱ δὲ τὰ νῶτα ἐς τὸν ποταμὸν τρέψαντες, ὅπως μή τις αὐτοῖς πρὸς τῶν πολεμίων κύκλωσις γένοιτο, ἐκ τῶν παρόντων τοὺς ἐπιόντας ἠμύνοντο.

Dewing And those of the Persians who were following the fugitives, after pursuing for only a short distance, straightway returned and rushed upon the infantry and Belisarius with all the others. Then the Romans turned their backs to the river so that no movement to surround them might be executed by the enemy, and as best they could under the circumstances were defending themselves against their assailants.

Greek αὖθίς τε ἡ μάχη καρτερὰ γέγονε, καίπερ οὐκ ἐξ ἀντιπάλου τῆς δυνάμεως οὖσα. πεζοί τε γὰρ καὶ λίαν ὀλίγοι πρὸς ξύμπασαν ἐμάχοντο τὴν Περσῶν ἵππον. οὐ μέντοι αὐτοὺς οἱ πολέμιοι οὔτε τρέπεσθαι οὔτε ἄλλως βιάζεσθαι εἶχον.

Dewing And again the battle became fierce, although the two sides were not evenly matched in strength; for foot-soldiers, and a very few of them, were fighting against the whole Persian cavalry. Nevertheless the enemy were not able either to rout them or in any other way to overpower them.

Greek ἐν χρῷ τε γὰρ ἀλλήλοις ἐς ὀλίγον ἀεὶ ξυναγόμενοι καὶ ὡς ἰσχυρότατα ταῖς ἀσπίσι φραξάμενοι, ἔβαλλον μᾶλλον ἐς τοὺς Πέρσας ἐπιτηδείως ἢ αὐτοὶ πρὸς ἐκείνων ἐβάλλοντο.

Dewing For standing shoulder to shoulder they kept themselves constantly massed in a small space, and they formed with their shields a rigid, unyielding barricade, so that they shot at the Persians more conveniently than they were shot at by them.

Greek πολλάκις τε ἀπειπόντες οἱ βάρβαροι ἐπ᾽ αὐτοὺς ἤλαυνον, ὡς ξυνταράξοντές τε καὶ διαλύσοντες τὴν παράταξιν, ἀλλ᾽ ἄπρακτοι ἐνθένδε ὀπίσω αὖθις ἀπήλαυνον.

Dewing Many a time after giving up, the Persians would advance against them determined to break up and destroy their line, but they always retired again from the assault unsuccessful.

Greek οἱ γὰρ ἵπποι αὐτοῖς τῷ τῶν ἀσπίδων πατάγῳ ἀχθόμενοι ἀνεχαιτίζοντό τε καὶ ἐς ταραχὴν ξὺν τοῖς ἐπιβάταις καθίσταντο. διαγεγόνασί τε οὕτως ἑκάτεροι ἕως ἐγεγόνει τῆς ἡμέρας ὀψέ.

Dewing For their horses, annoyed by the clashing of the shields, reared up and made confusion for themselves and their riders. Thus both sides continued the struggle until it had become late in the day.

Greek νυκτὸς δὲ ἤδη ἐπιλαβούσης Πέρσαι μὲν ἐς τὸ στρατόπεδον ἀνεχώρησαν, Βελισάριος δὲ ὁλκάδος ἐπιτυχὼν ξὺν ὀλίγοις τισὶν ἐς τοῦ ποταμοῦ τὴν νῆσον κατῆρεν, οὗ δὴ καὶ οἱ ἄλλοι Ῥωμαῖοι νηχόμενοι ἦλθον.

Dewing And when night had already come on, the Persians withdrew to their camp, and Belisarius accompanied by some few men found a freight-boat and crossed over to the island in the river, while the other Romans reached the same place by swimming.

Greek τῇ δὲ ὑστεραίᾳ Ῥωμαῖοι μὲν ὁλκάδων σφίσιν ἐκ Καλλινίκου πόλεως παραγενομένων πολλῶν ἐς αὐτὴν ἐκομίσθησαν, Πέρσαι δὲ τοὺς νεκροὺς ἐσκυλευκότες ἐπ᾽ οἴκου ἅπαντες ἀνεχώρησαν. οὐ μὴν τοὺς σφετέρους νεκροὺς τῶν πολεμίων ἐλάσσους εὗρον.

Dewing On the following day many freight-boats were brought to the Romans from the city of Callinicum and they were conveyed thither in them, and the Persians, after despoiling the dead, all departed homeward. However they did not find their own dead less numerous than the enemy's.

Greek Ἀζαρέθης δέ, ἐπεὶ ξὺν τῷ στρατῷ ἐς Πέρσας ἀφίκετο, καίπερ ἐν τῇ μάχῃ εὐημερήσας, ἀχαρίστου Καβάδου μάλιστα ἔτυχεν ἐξ αἰτίας τοιᾶσδε.

Dewing When Azarethes reached Persia with his army, although he had prospered in the battle, he found Cabades exceedingly ungrateful, for the following reason.

Greek νόμος ἐστὶ Πέρσαις, ἡνίκα ἐπὶ τῶν πολεμίων τινὰς στρατεύεσθαι μέλλωσι, τὸν μὲν βασιλέα ἐπὶ θρόνου τοῦ βασιλείου καθῆσθαι, κοφίνους δέ οἱ πολλοὺς ἐνταῦθά πη εἶναι, καὶ παρεῖναι μὲν τὸν στρατηγὸν ὃς δὴ τῷ στρατῷ ἐπὶ τοὺς ἐναντίους ἐξηγήσεσθαι ἐπίδοξός ἐστι, παριέναι δὲ τὸ στράτευμα τοῦτο ἐς τοῦ βασιλέως τὴν ὄψιν κατ᾽ ἄνδρα ἕνα, καὶ αὐτῶν ἕκαστον βέλος ἓν ἐς τὰς ταρπὰς ῥιπτεῖν, μετὰ δὲ αὐτὰς μὲν τῇ βασιλέως σφραγῖδι κατασεσημασμένας φυλάττεσθαι, ἐπειδὰν δὲ ἐς Πέρσας ἐπανίοι τὸ στράτευμα τοῦτο, τῶν στρατιωτῶν ἕκαστον ἐκ τῶν ἀρρίχων ἓν ἀναιρεῖσθαι βέλος.

Dewing It is a custom among the Persians that, when they are about to march against any of their foes, the king sits on the royal throne, and many baskets are set there before him; and the general also is present who is expected to lead the army against the enemy; then the army passes along before the king, one man at a time, and each of them throws one weapon into the baskets; after this they are sealed with the king's seal and preserved; and when this army returns to Persia, each one of the soldiers takes one weapon out of the baskets.

Greek ἀριθμοῦντες οὖν τῶν βελῶν ὅσα πρὸς τῶν ἀνδρῶν οὐκ ἀνῄρηται, οἷς ἐπίκειται ἡ τιμὴ αὕτη, ἀγγέλλουσι τῷ βασιλεῖ τὸ πλῆθος τῶν οὐκ ἐπανηκόντων στρατιωτῶν, ταύτῃ τε ὅσοι ἐν τῷ πολέμῳ τετελευτήκασιν ἔνδηλοι γίνονται.

Dewing A count is then made by those whose office it is to do so of all the weapons which have not been taken by the men, and they report to the king the number of the soldiers who have not returned, and in this way it becomes evident how many have perished in the war.

Greek οὕτω μὲν οὖν Πέρσαις ὁ νόμος ἐκ παλαιοῦ ἔχει. ἐπεὶ δὲ Ἀζαρέθης ἐς ὄψιν τῷ βασιλεῖ ἦλθεν, ἀνεπυνθάνετο αὐτοῦ ὁ Καβάδης εἴ τι χωρίον παραστησάμενος Ῥωμαϊκὸν ἥκοι, ἐπεὶ ξὺν τῷ Ἀλαμουνδάρῳ ὡς Ἀντιόχειαν καταστρεψόμενος ἐπὶ Ῥωμαίους στρατεύσειεν. ὁ δὲ Ἀζαρέθης χωρίον μὲν ἑλεῖν οὐδὲν ἔφασκε, Ῥωμαίους δὲ καὶ Βελισάριον μάχῃ νενικηκέναι.

Dewing Thus the law has stood from of old among the Persians. Now when Azarethes came into the presence of the king, Cabades enquired of him whether he came back with any Roman fortress won over to their side, for he had marched forth with Alamoundaras against the Romans, with the purpose of subduing Antioch. And Azarethes said that he had captured no fortress, but that he had conquered the Romans and Belisarius in battle.

Greek Καβάδης μὲν οὖν παριέναι τὸ ξὺν τῷ Ἀζαρέθῃ ἐκέλευε στράτευμα, ἔκ τε τῶν ταρπῶν βέλος ἕκαστος ἀνῃρεῖτο ᾗπερ εἰώθει.

Dewing So Cabades bade the army of Azarethes pass by, and from the baskets each man took out a weapon just as was customary.

Greek πολλῶν δὲ ἀπολελειμμένων βελῶν ὠνείδιζέ τε τῷ Ἀζαρέθῃ ὁ βασιλεὺς τὴν νίκην καὶ ἐν τοῖς ἀτιμοτάτοις τὸ λοιπὸν εἶχε. τὰ μὲν οὖν τῆς νίκης ἐς τοῦτο ἐτελεύτα τῷ Ἀζαρέθῃ.

Dewing But since many weapons were left, Cabades rebuked Azarethes for the victory and thereafter ranked him among the most unworthy. So the victory had this conclusion for Azarethes. The Loeb Editor's Notes: 1 Cf. Book I.x.2. ❦ 2 Cf. Book I.xii.21. ❦ 3 Cf. Book I.xiii.2. ❦ 4 "Euphratesia"; cf. section 2. ❦ 5 Ch. xiv.28‑54. Thayer's Note: a I.e., from κώμη, "hair". ◂ previous next ▸ Images with borders lead to more information. The thicker the border, the more information. (Details here.) UP TO: Persian Wars Ancient Military History Military History Home Procopius Greek & Latin Texts LacusCurtius A page or image on this site is in the public domain ONLY if its URL has a total of one *asterisk. If the URL has two **asterisks, the item is copyright someone else, and used by permission or fair use. If the URL has none the item is © Bill Thayer. See my copyright page for details and contact information. Page updated: 14 Sep 20 Accessibility