第2巻 第19章

Greek Βελισάριός τε Νίσιβιν ὁρῶν ἐχυρὰν ὑπερφυῶς οὖσαν, ἐλπίδα αὐτῆς οὐδεμίαν ἔχων ἁλώσεως πέρι, πρόσω ἰέναι ἠπείγετο ὅπως τι ἐξ ἐπιδρομῆς τοῖς πολεμίοις λυμήνηται.

Dewing And Belisarius, seeing that Nisibis was exceedingly strong, and having no hope regarding its capture, was eager to go forward, in order that he might do the enemy some damage by a sudden inroad.

Greek ἄρας τοίνυν παντὶ τῷ στρατῷ ἐπίπροσθεν ᾔει. ἀνύσαντές τε ἡμέρας ὁδὸν φρουρίῳ ἐνέτυχον ὃ Σισαυράνων καλοῦσι Πέρσαι.

Dewing Accordingly he broke camp and moved forward with the whole army. And after accomplishing a day's journey, they came upon a fortress which the Persians call Sisauranon.

Greek ἐνταῦθα πλῆθός τε οἰκητόρων ἦν καὶ ἱππεῖς ὀκτακόσιοι Περσῶν ἄριστοι φυλακὴν εἶχον, οἷς ἀνὴρ δόκιμος, Βλησχάμης ὄνομα, ἐφειστήκει.

Dewing There were in that place besides the numerous population eight hundred horsemen, the best of the Persians, who were keeping guard under command of a man of note, Bleschames by name.

Greek Ῥωμαῖοι δὲ ἄγχιστά πη τοῦ φρουρίου στρατοπεδευσάμενοι ἐς πολιορκίαν καθίσταντο, προσβολήν τε τῷ περιβόλῳ ποιησάμενοι ἀπεκρούσθησαν,

Dewing And the Romans made camp close by the fortress and began a siege, but, upon making an assault upon the fortifications, they were beaten back, losing many men in the fight.

Greek πολλοὺς τῇ μάχῃ ἀποβαλόντες. τό τε γὰρ τεῖχος ἐς ἄγαν ἐχυρὸν ἐτύγχανεν ὂν καὶ οἱ βάρβαροι καρτερώτατα ἐνθένδε τοὺς ἐπιόντας ἠμύνοντο. διὸ δὴ τοὺς ἄρχοντας ἅπαντας ξυγκαλέσας

Dewing For the wall happened to be extremely strong, and the barbarians defended it against their assailants with the greatest vigorous. Belisarius therefore called together all the officers and spoke as follows:

Greek Βελισάριος ἔλεξε τοιάδε “Ἐμπειρία πολέμων πολλῶν, ἄνδρες ἄρχοντες, δέδωκεν ἡμῖν ἐν τοῖς τῶν πραγμάτων ἀπόροις προορᾶν τε τὰ ξυμβησόμενα καὶ δυνατοῖς εἶναι πρὸ τῶν δεινῶν ἑλέσθαι τὰ κρείσσω.

Dewing "Experience in many wars, fellow officers, has made it possible for us in difficult situations to foresee what will come to pass, and has made us capable of avoiding disaster by choosing the better course.

Greek ἐπίστασθε τοίνυν πηλίκον ἐστὶ κακὸν στράτευμα ἐς γῆν πολεμίαν, πολλῶν μὲν ὀχυρωμάτων, πολλῶν δὲ μαχίμων ἐν τούτοις ἀνδρῶν ὄπισθεν ἀπολελειμμένων,

Dewing You understand, therefore, how great a mistake it is for an army to proceed into a hostile land, when many strongholds and many fighting men in them have been left in the rear.

Greek πορεύεσθαι. ὅπερ καὶ ἡμῖν ἔν γε τῷ παρόντι τετύχηκεν. ἐπίπροσθεν γὰρ ἰοῦσιν ἡμῖν ἐνθένδε τε καὶ ἐκ Νισίβιδος πόλεως ἑπόμενοι λάθρα τῶν πολεμίων τινὲς ἐν χωρίοις, ὡς τὸ εἰκός, κακουργήσουσιν ἐπιτηδείως αὐτοῖς πρὸς ἐνέδραν ἢ καὶ ἄλλην τινὰ ἐπιβουλὴν ἔχουσιν.

Dewing Now exactly this has happened to us in the present case. For if we continue our advance, some of the enemy from this place as well as from the city of Nisibis will follow us secretly and will, in all probability, handle us roughly in places which are for them conveniently adapted for an ambuscade or some other sort of attack.

Greek ἢν δέ πη καὶ ἄλλος ἀπαντήσῃ στρατὸς εἴς τε μάχην καθιστῶνται, πρὸς ἑκατέρους μὲν ἡμῖν ἀνάγκη τετάξεσθαι, πάθοιμεν δ’ ἂν οὕτω πρὸς αὐτῶν τὰ ἀνήκεστα· ἐῶ γὰρ λέγειν ὡς καὶ πταίσαντες ἐν τῇ ξυμβολῇ, ἂν οὕτω τύχοι, ἐπάνοδον ἐς Ῥωμαίων τὴν γῆν οὐδεμιᾷ μηχανῇ τὸ λοιπὸν ἕξομεν.

Dewing And if, by any chance, a second army confronts us and opens battle, it will be necessary for us to array ourselves against both, and we should thus suffer irreparable harm at their hands. And in saying this I do not mention the fact that if we fail in the engagement, should it so happen, we shall after that have absolutely no way of return left to the land of the Romans.

Greek μὴ τοίνυν ἀλογίστῳ σπουδῇ χρώμενοι ἐφ̓ ἡμᾶς αὐτοὺς ἐσκυλευκότες φαινώμεθα, μηδὲ τῷ φιλονείκῳ τὰ Ῥωμαίων πράγματα βλάψωμεν. τόλμα μὲν γὰρ ἀμαθὴς ἐς ὄλεθρον φέρει, μέλλησις δὲ σώφρων ἐς τὸ σώζειν ἀεὶ τοὺς αὐτῇ χρωμένους ἱκανῶς πέφυκεν.

Dewing Let us not therefore by reason of most ill‑considered haste seem to have been our own despoilers, nor by our eagerness for strife do harm to the cause of the Romans. For stupid daring leads to destruction, but discreet hesitation is well adapted always to save those who adopt such a course.

Greek ἡμεῖς μὲν οὖν ἐνταῦθα ἐγκαθεζόμενοι ἐξελεῖν πειρώμεθα τὸ φρούριον τόδε, Ἀρέθας δὲ ξὺν τοῖς ἑπομένοις ἐς τὰ ἐπὶ Ἀσσυρίας χωρία στελλέσθω.

Dewing Let us therefore establish ourselves here and endeavour to capture this fortress, and let Arethas with his forces be sent into the country of Assyria.

Greek Σαρακηνοὶ γὰρ τειχομαχεῖν μέν εἰσιν ἀδύνατοι φύσει, ἐς δὲ τὸ ληίζεσθαι πάντων μάλιστα δεξιοί.

Dewing For the Saracens are by nature unable to storm a wall, but the cleverest of all men at plundering.

Greek συνεισβαλοῦσι δὲ αὐτοῖς καὶ στρατιῶται τῶν μαχίμων τινές, ὅπως αὐτοί τε, μηδενὸς μὲν ἐναντιώματος σφίσι φανέντος, τὰ ἀνήκεστα τοὺς προσπεσόντας ἐργάσωνται, ἢν δέ τι ἀπαντήσῃ πολέμιον, εὐπετῶς ἀναχωροῦντες εἰς ἡμᾶς σώζοιντο.

Dewing And some of the soldiers who are good fighters will join them in the invasion, so that, if no opposition presents itself to them, they may overwhelm those who fall in their way, and if any hostile force encounters them, they may be saved easily by retiring to us.

Greek καὶ ἡμεῖς ἐξελόντες, ἢν θεὸς θέλῃ, τὸ φρούριον, οὕτω δὴ παντὶ τῷ στρατῷ Τίγρην ποταμὸν διαβαίνωμεν, οὐ δεδιότες μὲν τοὺς ὄπισθεν κακουργήσοντας, εὖ δὲ εἰδότες ὅπη ποτὲ τοῖς Ἀσσυρίοις τὰ πράγματα ἔχει.”

Dewing And after we have captured the fortress, if God wills, then with the whole army let us cross the River Tigris, without having to fear mischief from anyone in our rear, and knowing well how matters stand with the Assyrians."

Greek Ταῦτα εἰπὼν Βελισάριος εὖ τε λέγειν ἅπασιν ἔδοξε καὶ τὸ βούλευμα εὐθὺς ἐπετέλει. Ἀρέθαν τε ξὺν τοῖς ἑπομένοις ἐπὶ Ἀσσυρίας ἐκέλευεν ἰέναι καὶ αὐτοῖς στρατιώτας διακοσίους τε καὶ χιλίους ξυνέπεμψεν, ὧν δὴ οἱ πλεῖστοι τῶν ὑπασπιστῶν τῶν αὐτοῦ ἦσαν, δορυφόρους αὐτοῖς ἐπιστήσας δύο, Τραϊανόν τε καὶ Ἰωάννην τὸν Φαγᾶν καλούμενον, ἄμφω ἀγαθοὺς τὰ πολέμια.

Dewing These words of Belisarius seemed to all well spoken, and he straightway put the plan into execution. Accordingly he commanded Arethas with his troops to advance into Assyria, and with them he sent twelve hundred soldiers, the most of whom were from among his own guard, putting two guardsmen in command of them, Trajan and John who was called the Glutton, both capable warriors.

Greek καὶ αὐτοῖς μὲν Ἀρέθᾳ πειθομένοις ἅπαντα πράσσειν ἐπέστελλεν, Ἀρέθαν δὲ ἅπαντα ἐκέλευε τὰ ἐν ποσὶ ληισάμενον οὕτω τε ἐς τὸ στρατόπεδον ἐπανήκοντα ἀπαγγέλλειν σφίσιν ὁποῖά ποτε δυνάμεως πέρι τοῖς Ἀσσυρίοις τὰ πράγματα εἴη.

Dewing These men he directed to obey Arethas in everything they did, and he commanded Arethas to pillage all that lay before him and then return to the camp and report how matters stood with the Assyrians with regard to military strength.

Greek οἱ μὲν οὖν ἀμφὶ τὸν Ἀρέθαν Τίγρην ποταμὸν διαβάντες ἐν Ἀσσυρίοις ἐγένοντο.

Dewing So Arethas and his men crossed the River Tigris and entered Assyria.

Greek οὗ δὴ χώραν τε ἀγαθὴν εὑρόντες καὶ μακροῦ χρόνου ἀδῄωτον, ταύτην τε ἀφύλακτον οὖσαν, ἐξ ἐπιδρομῆς πολλὰ ληισάμενοι τῶν ἐκείνῃ χωρίων χρήματα μεγάλα περιεβάλλοντο.

Dewing There they found a goodly land and one which had been free from plunder for a long time, and undefended besides; and moving rapidly they pillaged many of the places there and secured a great amount of rich plunder.

Greek τότε δὲ Βελισάριος τῶν τινας Περσῶν ξυλλαβών, ἐνδεῖν τοῖς ἐν τῷ φρουρίῳ τὰ ἐπιτήδεια παντελῶς ἔμαθεν.

Dewing And at that time Belisarius captured some of the Persians and learned from them that those who were inside the fortress were altogether out of provisions.

Greek οὐ γάρ, ὥσπερ ἐν Δάρας τε καὶ Νισίβιδι πόλει, ἐν δημοσίῳ τὰς ἐπετείους τροφὰς ἀποτίθεσθαι νενομίκασιν, ἀλλὰ πολεμίων στρατοῦ ἀπροσδοκήτου σφίσιν ἐπιπεσόντος ἐσκομισάμενοί τι τῶν ἀναγκαίων οὐκ ἔφθησαν.

Dewing For they do not observe the custom which is followed in the cities of Daras and Nisibis, where they put away the annual food-supply in public store-houses, and now that a hostile army had fallen upon them unexpectedly they had not anticipated the event by carrying in any of the necessities of life.

Greek ἄφνω δὲ πολλῶν ἐς τὸ φρούριον καταφυγόντων, τῶν ἐπιτηδείων τῇ ἀπορίᾳ, ὡς τὸ εἰκός, ἐπιέζοντο.

Dewing And since a great number of persons had taken refuge suddenly in the fortress, they were naturally hard pressed by the want of provisions.

Greek ἃ δὴ Βελισάριος γνοὺς Γεώργιον ἔπεμψεν, ἄνδρα ξυνετώτατόν τε καὶ τῶν ἀπορρήτων αὐτῷ κοινωνοῦντα, ἀποπειρασόμενον τῶν ἐν ταύτῃ ἀνθρώπων, εἴ πως ὁμολογίᾳ τινὶ δύναιτο τὸ χωρίον ἑλεῖν.

Dewing When Belisarius learned this, he sent George, a man of the greatest discretion with whom he shared his secrets, to test the men of the place, in the hope that he might be able to arrange some terms of surrender and thus take the place.

Greek Γεώργιος δὲ παραίνεσίν τε ποιησάμενος καὶ πολλὰ ἐς αὐτοὺς ἐπαγωγὰ εἰπών, ἔπεισε τὰ πιστὰ λαβόντας ἀμφὶ τῇ σωτηρίᾳ σφᾶς τε αὐτοὺς καὶ τὸ φρούριον ἐνδοῦναι Ῥωμαίοις.

Dewing And George succeeded, after addressing to them many words of exhortation and of kindly invitation, in persuading them to take pledges for their safety and to deliver themselves and the fortress to the Romans.

Greek οὕτω Βελισάριος τὸ Σισαυράνων ἑλὼν τοὺς μὲν οἰκήτορας ἅπαντας, Χριστιανούς τε καὶ Ῥωμαίους τὸ ἀνέκαθεν ὄντας, ἀθῴους ἀφῆκε, τοὺς δὲ Πέρσας ξὺν τῷ Βλησχάμῃ ἐς Βυζάντιον ἔπεμψε, καὶ τὸν τοῦ φρουρίου περίβολον ἐς ἔδαφος καθεῖλε.

Dewing Thus Belisarius captured Sisauranon, and the inhabitants, all of whom were Christians and of Roman origin, he released unscathed, but the Persians he sent with Bleschames to Byzantium, and razed the fortification wall of the fortress to the ground.

Greek βασιλεύς τε οὐ πολλῷ ὕστερον τούτους τε τοὺς Πέρσας καὶ τὸν Βλησχάμην ἐς Ἰταλίαν Γότθοις πολεμήσοντας ἔπεμψε. τὰ μὲν οὖν ἀμφὶ τῷ Σισαυράνων φρουρίῳ ταύτῃ ἐχώρησεν.

Dewing And the emperor not long afterwards sent these Persians and Bleschames to Italy to fight against the Goths. Such, then, was the course of events which had to do with the fortress of Sisauranon.

Greek Ἀρέθας δέ, δείσας μὴ τὴν λείαν πρὸς Ῥωμαίων ἀφαιρεθείη, οὐκέτι ἀναστρέφειν ἐς τὸ στρατόπεδον ἤθελε.

Dewing But Arethas, fearing lest he should be despoiled of his booty by the Romans, was now unwilling to return to the camp.

Greek πέμψας οὖν τῶν οἱ ἑπομένων τινὰς ἐπὶ κατασκοπῇ δῆθεν τῷ λόγῳ, ἐκέλευε λάθρα ὡς τάχιστα ἐπανήκοντας σημῆναι σφίσιν ὅτι δὴ πολύς τις πολεμίων στρατὸς ἀμφὶ τοῦ ποταμοῦ τὴν διάβασιν εἴη.

Dewing So he sent some of his followers ostensibly for the purpose of reconnoitring, but secretly commanding them to return as quickly as possible and announce to the army that a large hostile force was at the crossing of the river.

Greek διὸ δὴ Τραϊανῷ τε καὶ Ἰωάννῃ παρῄνει ἑτέρᾳ ἰοῦσιν ὁδῷ ἐπανήκειν ἐς Ῥωμαίων τὴν γῆν.

Dewing For this reason, then, he advised Trajan and John to return by another route to the land of the Romans.

Greek παρὰ μὲν οὖν Βελισάριον οὐκέτι ἦλθον, ἔχοντες δὲ ποταμὸν Εὐφράτην ἐν δεξιᾷ οὕτω δὴ ἐς Θεοδοσιούπολιν τὴν πρὸς τῷ Ἀβόρρᾳ ποταμῷ ἵκοντο.

Dewing So they did not come again to Belisarius, but keeping the River Euphrates to on the right they finally arrived at the Theodosiopolis which is near the River Aborras.

Greek Βελισάριος δὲ καὶ ὁ Ῥωμαίων στρατὸς οὐδὲν περὶ τοῦ στρατεύματος τούτου πυθόμενοι ἤσχαλλον, ἔς τε δέος καὶ ὑποψίαν οὔτε φορητήν τινα οὔτε μετρίαν ἐμπίπτοντες.

Dewing But Belisarius and the Roman army, hearing nothing concerning this force, were disturbed, and they were filled with fear and an intolerable and exaggerated suspicion.

Greek χρόνου τε σφίσιν ἐν ταύτῃ δὴ τῇ προσεδρείᾳ τριβέντος συχνοῦ ξυνέβη πολλοῖς τῶν στρατιωτῶν πυρετῷ δυσκόλῳ ἐνταῦθα ἁλῶναι· αὐχμηρὰ γὰρ Μεσοποταμία ἡ Περσῶν κατήκοος ὑπερφυῶς ἐστιν.

Dewing And since much time had been consumed by them in this siege, it came about that many of the soldiers were taken there with a troublesome fever; for the portion of Mesopotamia which is subject to the Persians is extremely dry and hot.

Greek οὗπερ ἀήθεις ὄντες Ῥωμαῖοι καὶ διαφερόντως οἱ ἐκ Θρᾴκης ὁρμώμενοι, ἐν χωρίῳ ἐκτόπως αὐχμώδει καὶ καλύβαις τισὶ πνιγηραῖς ὥρᾳ θέρους δίαιταν ἔχοντες, ἐνόσησαν οὕτως ὥστε ἡμιθνῆτες τὸ τριτημόριον τοῦ στρατοῦ ἔκειντο.

Dewing And the Romans were not accustomed to this and especially those who came from Thrace; and since they living their daily life in a place where the heat was excessive and in stuffy huts in the summer season, they became so ill that third part of the army were lying half-dead.

Greek ἅπας μὲν οὖν ὁ στρατὸς ἐνθένδε τε ἀπαλλάσσεσθαι καὶ ὅτι τάχιστα ἐς τὴν οἰκείαν γῆν ἐπανήκειν ἐν σπουδῇ εἶχον, μάλιστα δὲ ἁπάντων οἱ τῶν ἐν Λιβάνῳ καταλόγων ἄρχοντες, Ῥεκίθαγγός τε καὶ Θεόκτιστος, ὁρῶντες ὅτι δὴ καὶ ὁ χρόνος τὸ Σαρακηνῶν ἀνάθημα παρῴχηκεν ἤδη.

Dewing The whole army, therefore, was eager to depart from there and return as quickly as possible to their own land, and most all the commanders of the troops in Lebanon, Rhecithancus and Theoctistus, who saw that the time which was the sacred season of the Saracens had in fact already passed.

Greek Βελισαρίῳ γοῦν συχνὰ προσιόντες ἐδέοντο σφᾶς αὐτίκα ἀφεῖναι, μαρτυρόμενοι ὡς Ἀλαμουνδάρῳ τά τε ἐπὶ Λιβάνου καὶ Συρίας χωρία ἐνδόντες κάθηνται αὐτοῦ οὐδενὶ λόγῳ.

Dewing They came, indeed, frequently to Belisarius and entreated him to release them immediately, protesting that they had given over to Alamoundaras the country of Lebanon and Syria, and were sitting there for no good reason.

Greek Διὸ δὴ Βελισάριος ἅπαντας ξυγκαλέσας τοὺς ἄρχοντας βουλὴν προὔθηκεν.

Dewing Belisarius therefore called together all the officers and opened a discussion.

Greek οὗ δὴ ἀναστὰς πρῶτος. Ἰωάννης ὁ Νικήτου υἱὸς ἔλεξε τοιάδε “Ἄριστε Βελισάριε, στρατηγὸν μὲν οὔτε τὴν τύχην οὔτε τὴν ἀρετὴν ἐκ τοῦ παντὸς χρόνου γεγενῆσθαι τοιοῦτον οἶμαι οἶος αὐτὸς εἶ.

Dewing Then John, the son of Nicetas, rose first and spoke as follows: "Most excellent Belisarius, I consider that in all time there has never been a general such as you are either in fortune or in valour.

Greek δόξα τε αὕτη οὐ Ῥωμαίων κεκράτηκε μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ βαρβάρων ἁπάντων.

Dewing And this reputation has come to prevail not alone among the Romans, but also among all barbarians.

Greek ταύτην μέντοι βεβαιότατα διαφυλάξεις τὴν εὔκλειαν, ἤν γε ζῶντας ἡμᾶς ἐς Ῥωμαίων τὴν γῆν διασώσασθαι δυνατὸς εἴης· ὡς νῦν γε ἡμῖν τὰ τῆς ἐλπίδος οὐκ ἐν καλῷ κεῖται. οὑτωσὶ γάρ μοι περὶ τοῦδε τοῦ στρατοῦ σκόπει.

Dewing This fair name, however, you will preserve most securely, if you should be able to take us back alive to the land of the Romans; for now indeed the hopes which we may have are not bright. For I would have you look thus at the situation of this army.

Greek Σαρακηνοὶ μὲν καὶ οἱ τῶν στρατιωτῶν μαχιμώτατοι Τίγρην ποταμὸν διαβάντες, ἡμέραν οὐκ οἶδα ὁπόστην ἄνω ἐς τοῦτο τύχης ἀφίκοντο ὥστε οὐδὲ ἄγγελον πέμψαι τινὰ παρ’ ἡμᾶς ἴσχυσαν· Ῥεκίθαγγός τε καὶ Θεόκτιστος ἀποπορεύσονται, ὡς ὁρᾷς δήπουθεν, αὐτίκα δὴ μάλα τὸν Ἀλαμουνδάρου στρατὸν ἐν Φοίνιξι μέσοις εἶναι οἰόμενοι, ἄγοντά τε καὶ φέροντα ξύμπαντα τὰ ἐκείνῃ χωρία.

Dewing The Saracens and the most efficient soldiers of the army crossed the River Tigris, and one day, I know not how long since, they found themselves in such a plight that they have not even succeeded in sending a messenger to us, and Rhecithancus and Theoctistus will depart, as you see surely, believing that the army of Alamoundaras is almost at this very moment in the midst of Phoenicia, pillaging the whole country there.

Greek τῶν δὲ λειπομένων οἱ νοσοῦντές εἰσι τοσοῦτοι τὸ πλῆθος ὥστε τοὺς θεραπεύσοντάς τε καὶ κομιοῦντας ἐς Ῥωμαίων τὴν γῆν ἐλάσσους αὐτῶν παρὰ πολὺ τὸν ἀριθμὸν εἶναι.

Dewing And among those who are left the sick are so numerous that those who will care for them and convey them to the land of the Romans are fewer in number than they are by a great deal.

Greek τούτων δὲ τοιούτων ὄντων, ἤν τι ξυμβαίη πολέμιον ἢ αὐτοῦ μένουσιν ἢ ὀπίσω ἰοῦσιν ἡμῖν ἀπαντῆσαι, οὐδ’ ἄν τις ἀπαγγεῖλαι τοῖς ἐν Δάρας Ῥωμαίοις δύναιτο τὸ ξυμπεσὸν πάθος.

Dewing Under these circumstances, if it should fall out that any hostile force should come upon us, either while remaining here or while going back, not a man would be able to carry back word to the Romans in Daras of the calamity which had befallen us.

Greek τὸ γὰρ ἐπίπροσθέ πη ἰέναι οὐδὲ λόγῳ οἶμαι δυνατὸν εἶναι. ἕως οὖν ἔτι λείπεταί τις ἐλπίς, τὰ ἐς τὴν ἐπάνοδον βουλεύεσθαί τε καὶ πράσσειν ξυνοίσει.

Dewing For as for going forward, I consider it impossible even to be spoken of. While, therefore, some hope is still left, it will be of advantage both to make plans for the return and to put the plans into action.

Greek τοῖς γὰρ ἐς κίνδυνον ἄλλως τε καὶ τοιοῦτον καθεστηκόσι μὴ τὴν σωτηρίαν διασκοπεῖσθαι, ἀλλὰ τὴν ἐς

Dewing For when men have come into danger and especially such danger as this, it is downright folly for them to devote their thoughts not to safety, but to opposition to the enemy."

Greek τοὺς πολεμίους ἐπιβουλὴν πολλὴ ἄνοια.” τοσαῦτα Ἰωάννης τε εἶπε καὶ οἱ λοιποὶ πάντες ἐπῄνεσαν, ἔς τε θόρυβον καθιστάμενοι τὴν ἀναχώρησιν κατὰ τάχος ποιεῖσθαι ἠξίουν.

Dewing So spoke John, and all the others expressed approval, and becoming disorderly, they demanded that retreat be made with all speed.

Greek διὸ δὴ Βελισάριος πρότερον τοὺς νοσοῦντας ἐν τοῖς ὑποζυγίοις ἐνθέμενος,

Dewing Accordingly Belisarius laid the sick in the carts and let them lead the way, while he led the army behind them.

Greek ὑπῆγεν ὀπίσω τὸ στράτευμα. ἐπειδή τε τάχιστα ἐν γῇ τῇ Ῥωμαίων ἐγένοντο, ἅπαντα μὲν τὰ τῷ Ἀρέθᾳ εἰργασμένα ἔγνω, δίκην μέντοι λαβεῖν οὐδεμίαν παρ’ αὐτοῦ ἴσχυσεν, ἐπεί οἱ ἐς ὄψιν οὐκέτι ἦλθεν. ἡ μὲν οὖν Ῥωμαίων ἐσβολὴ ἐς τοῦτο ἐτελεύτα.

Dewing And as soon as they got into the land of the Romans, he learned everything which had been done by Arethas, but he did not succeed in inflicting any punishment upon him, for he never came into his sight again. So ended the invasion of the Romans.

Greek Χοσρόῃ δὲ Πέτραν ἑλόντι Βελισάριος ἐσβαλὼν ἐς γῆν τὴν Περσίδα ἠγγέλλετο καὶ ἡ ἀμφὶ πόλιν Νίσιβιν ξυμβολή, φρουρίου τε τοῦ Σισαυράνων ἡ ἅλωσις, καὶ ὅσα Τίγρην ποταμὸν διαβὰν τὸ ξὺν τῷ Ἀρέθᾳ στράτευμα ἔπρασσεν.

Dewing And after Chosroes had taken Petra, it was announced to him that Belisarius had invaded the Persian territory, and the engagement near the city of Nisibis was reported, as also the capture of the fortress of Sisauranon, and all that the army of Arethas had done after crossing the River Tigris.

Greek αὐτίκα τε φυλακὴν ἐν τῇ Πέτρᾳ καταστησάμενος, ξὺν τῷ ἄλλῳ στρατῷ καὶ Ῥωμαίων τοῖς ἁλοῦσιν ἐς τὰ Περσῶν ἤθη ἀπήλαυνε.

Dewing Straightway, then, he established a garrison in Petra, and with the rest of the army and those of the Romans who had been captured he marched away into the land of Persia.

Greek ταῦτα μὲν ἐν τῇ δευτέρᾳ Χοσρόου ἐσβολῇ ξυνηνέχθη γενέσθαι. Βελισάριος δὲ βασιλεῖ ἐς Βυζάντιον μετάπεμπτος ἐλθὼν διεχείμαζεν.

Dewing Such, then, were the events which took place in the second invasion of Chosroes. And Belisarius went to Byzantium at the summons of the emperor, and passed the winter there. The Loeb Editor's Notes: 1 Cf. Book I.xii.4 ff. ❦ 2 Cf. Book I.viii.21‑22. Thayer's Notes: a II.2.2. ❦ b Buildings, III.7.7. ❦ c The same principle as was used to bring down the World Trade Towers in September 2001. ◂ 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