第2巻 第20章

Greek Ἅμα δὲ ἦρι ἀρχομένῳ Χοσρόης ὁ Καβάδου τὸ τρίτον στρατῷ μεγάλῳ ἐς γῆν τὴν Ῥωμαίων ἐσέβαλλε, ποταμὸν Εὐφράτην ἐν δεξιᾷ ἔχων.

Dewing At the opening of spring Chosroes, the son of Cabades, for the third time began an invasion into the land of the Romans with a mighty army, keeping the River Euphrates on the right.

Greek Κάνδιδος δέ, ὁ Σεργιουπόλεως ἱερεύς, ἐπειδὴ τὸν Μήδων στρατὸν ἄγχιστά που ἥκειν ἐπύθετο, δείσας περί τέ οἱ αὐτῷ καὶ τῇ πόλει, ἐπεὶ χρόνῳ τῷ ξυγκειμένῳ Χοσρόῃ τὰ ὡμολογημένα ὡς ἥκιστα ἐπετέλεσεν, ἐν τῷ τῶν πολεμίων στρατοπέδῳ γενόμενος παρῃτεῖτο Χοσρόην μή οἱ διὰ ταῦτα χαλεπῶς ἔχειν.

Dewing And Candidus, the priest of Sergiopolis, upon learning that the Median army had come near there, began to be afraid both for himself and for the city, since he had by no means carried out at the appointed time the agreement which he had made;⁠ accordingly he went into the camp of the enemy and entreated Chosroes not to be angry with him because of this.

Greek χρήματα μὲν γὰρ οὐδεπώποτε αὐτῷ γεγονέναι, καὶ διὰ τοῦτο ἀρχὴν οὐδὲ βεβουλῆσθαι Σουρηνοὺς ῥύεσθαι, βασιλέα δὲ Ἰουστινιανὸν ὑπὲρ τούτων πολλὰ ἱκετεύσας ἀνόνητος αὐτοῦ γεγενῆσθαι.

Dewing For as for money, he had never had any, and for this reason, he had not even wished in the first place to deliver the inhabitants of Sura, and though he had supplicated the Emperor Justinian many times on their behalf, he had failed to receive any help from him.

Greek Χοσρόης δὲ αὐτὸν ἐν φυλακῇ ἔσχε, καὶ τὸ σῶμα πικρότατα αἰκιζόμενος διπλάσια τὰ χρήματα, ᾗπερ ξυνέκειτο, πράττειν ἠξίου.

Dewing But Chosroes put him under guard, and, torturing him most cruelly, claimed the right to exact from him double the amount of money, just as had been agreed.

Greek ὁ δὲ αὐτὸν ἐς Σεργιούπολίν τινας ἱκέτευε πέμψαι τὰ κειμήλια ξύμπαντα τοῦ ἐνταῦθα ἱεροῦ ληψομένους.

Dewing And Candidus entreated him to send men to Sergiopolis to take all the treasures of the sanctuary there.

Greek καὶ ἐπεὶ κατὰ ταῦτα ὁ Χοσρόης ἐποίει, τῶν οἱ ἑπομένων τινὰ ὁ Κάνδιδος ξὺν αὐτοῖς ἔπεμψεν.

Dewing And when Chosroes followed this suggestion, Candidus sent some of his followers with them.

Greek οἱ μὲν οὖν Σεργιουπολῖται τοὺς παρὰ Χοσρόου σταλέντας τῇ πόλει δεξάμενοι τῶν κειμηλίων πολλὰ ἔδοσαν, ἄλλο οὐδὲν σφίσιν ἀπολελεῖφθαι ἰσχυριζόμενοι.

Dewing So the inhabitants of Sergiopolis, receiving into the city the men sent by Chosroes, gave them many of the treasures, declaring that nothing else was left there.

Greek Χοσρόης δὲ ταῦτά οἱ ἀποχρῆν οὐδαμῆ ἔφη, ἀλλ’ ἕτερα τούτων πλείω λαβεῖν ἐδικαίου.

Dewing But Chosroes said that these were by no means sufficient for him, and demanded that he should receive others still more than these.

Greek πέμπει τοίνυν τινὰς τῷ μὲν λόγῳ διερευνησομένους ἐς τὸ ἀκριβὲς τὰ τῆς πόλεως χρήματα, ἔργῳ δὲ τὴν πόλιν καθέξοντας.

Dewing Accordingly he sent men, ostensibly to search out with all diligence the wealth of the city, but in reality to take possession of the city.

Greek καὶ ἐπεὶ οὐκ ἔδει Σεργιούπολιν Πέρσαις ἁλῶναι, τῶν τις Σαρακηνῶν Χριστιανὸς μέν, ταττόμενος δὲ ὑπὸ Ἀλαμουνδάρῳ, Ἄμβρος ὄνομα, νύκτωρ παρὰ τῆς πόλεως τὸ τεῖχος ἥκων καὶ τὸν πάντα λόγον ἀγγείλας, ἐκέλευε Πέρσας τῇ πόλει μηδαμῆ δέξασθαι.

Dewing But since it was fated that Sergiopolis should not be taken by the Persians, one of the Saracens, who, though a Christian, was serving under Alamoundaras, Ambrus by name, came by night along the wall of the city, and reporting to them the whole plan, bade them by no means receive the Persians into the city.

Greek οὕτω τε οἱ παρὰ Χοσρόου σταλέντες ἄπρακτοι ἐς αὐτὸν ἐπανῆλθον, καὶ ὃς τῷ θυμῷ ζέων τὴν πόλιν ἐξελεῖν διενοεῖτο.

Dewing Thus those who were sent by Chosroes returned to him unsuccessful, and he, boiling with anger, began to make plans to capture the city.

Greek στράτευμα οὖν ἐς ἑξακισχιλίους στείλας ἐκέλευεν ἔς τε πολιορκίαν καθίστασθαι καὶ προσβολὰς τῷ περιβόλῳ ποιήσασθαι.

Dewing He accordingly sent an army of six thousand, commanding them to begin a siege and to make assaults upon the fortifications.

Greek καὶ οἱ μὲν ἐνταῦθα γενόμενοι ἔργου εἴχοντο, Σεργιουπολῖται δὲ καρτερῶς μὲν τὰ πρῶτα ἠμύνοντο, ἔπειτα δὲ ἀπειπόντες τε καὶ κατωρρωδηκότες τὸν κίνδυνον ἐβουλεύοντο τοῖς πολεμίοις τὴν πόλιν ἐνδοῦναι.

Dewing And this army came there and commenced active operations, and the citizens of Sergiopolis at first defended themselves vigorously, but later they gave up, and in terror at the danger, they were purposing to give over the city to the enemy.

Greek στρατιώτας γὰρ οὐ πλέον ἢ διακοσίους ἔχοντες ἔτυχον. ἀλλὰ Ἄμβρος, αὖθις παρὰ τὸν περίβολον ἐς νύκτα ἥκων, δυοῖν ἡμέραιν τὴν πολιορκίαν διαλύσειν Πέρσας ἔφασκε, τοῦ ὕδατος αὐτοὺς παντάπασιν ἐπιλιπόντος.

Dewing For, as it happened, they had not more than two hundred soldiers. But Ambrus, again coming along by the fortifications at night, said that within two days the Persians would raise the siege since their water supply had failed them absolutely.

Greek διὸ δὴ αὐτοὶ μὲν ἐς λόγους τοῖς πολεμίοις οὐδαμῆ ἦλθον, οἱ δὲ βάρβαροι δίψει ἐχόμενοι ἐξανέστησάν τε καὶ παρὰ Χοσρόην ἀφίκοντο. Κάνδιδον μέντοι Χοσρόης οὐκέτι ἀφῆκε.

Dewing For this reason they did not by any means open negotiations with the enemy, and the barbarians, suffering with thirst, removed from there and came to Chosroes. However, Chosroes never released Candidus.

Greek χρῆν γάρ, οἶμαι, αὐτὸν τὰ ὀμωμοσμένα ἠλογηκότα ἱερέα μηκέτι εἶναι. ταῦτα μὲν οὖν τῇδε ἐχώρησεν.

Dewing For it was necessary, I suppose, that since he had disregarded his sworn agreement, he should be a priest no longer. Such, then, was the course of these events.

Greek Ἐπεὶ δὲ εἰς τὴν Κομμαγηνῶν χώραν ὁ Χοσρόης ἀφίκετο, ἣν καλοῦσιν Εὐφρατησίαν, ἐς λείαν μὲν ἢ χωρίου του ἅλωσιν τρέπεσθαι οὐδαμῆ ἤθελεν, ἐπεὶ τὰ ἐν ποσὶ μέχρι ἐς Σύρους τὰ μὲν ἐξελών, τὰ δὲ ἀργυρολογήσας πρότερον ἔτυχεν, ὥσπερ ἐν τοῖς ἔμπροσθεν λόγοις δεδήλωται.

Dewing But when Chosroes arrived at the land of the Commagenae which they call Euphratesia, he had no desire to turn to plundering or to the capture of any stronghold, since he had previously taken everything before him as far as Syria, partly by capture and partly by exacting money, as has been set forth in the preceding narrative.

Greek γνώμην δὲ εἶχεν εὐθὺ Παλαιστίνης ἄγειν τὸ στράτευμα, ὅπως τά τε ἄλλα καὶ τὰ ἐν Ἱεροσολύμοις κειμήλια πάντα ληίσηται. χώραν γὰρ ταύτην ἀγαθήν τε διαφερόντως καὶ πολυχρύσων οἰκητόρων εἶναι ἀκοῇ εἶχε.

Dewing And his purpose was to lead the army straight for Palestine, in order that he might plunder all their treasures and especially those in Jerusalem. For he had it from hearsay that this was an especially goodly land and peopled by wealthy inhabitants.

Greek Ῥωμαῖοι δὲ ἅπαντες, ἄρχοντές τε καὶ στρατιῶται, τοῖς μὲν πολεμίοις ὑπαντιάζειν ἢ τῇ παρόδῳ ἐμποδὼν ἵστασθαι τρόπῳ οὐδενὶ διενοοῦντο, τὰ δὲ ὀχυρώματα καταλαβόντες ὡς ἕκαστος ἠδύνατο, ἀποχρῆν ᾤοντο ταῦτά τε διαφυλάσσειν καὶ αὐτοὶ σώζεσθαι.

Dewing And all the Romans, both officers and soldiers, were far from entertaining any thought of confronting the enemy or of standing in the way of their passage, but manning their strongholds as each one could, they thought it sufficient to preserve them and save themselves.

Greek Γνοὺς δὲ τὴν Περσῶν ἔφοδον Ἰουστινιανὸς βασιλεὺς Βελισάριον αὖθις ἐπ’ αὐτοὺς ἔπεμψεν. ὁ δὲ ἵπποις τοῖς δημοσίοις ὀχούμενος, οὓς δὴ βερέδους καλεῖν νενομίκασιν, ἅτε οὐ στράτευμα ξὺν αὑτῷ ἔχων, τάχει πολλῷ ἐς Εὐφρατησίαν ἀφίκετο, Ἰοῦστος δέ, ὁ βασιλέως ἀνεψιός, ἐν Ἱεραπόλει ξύν τε τῷ Βούξῃ καὶ ἑτέροις τισὶ καταφυγὼν ἔτυχεν.

Dewing The Emperor Justinian, upon learning of the inroad of the Persians, again sent Belisarius against them. And he came with great speed to Euphratesia since he had no army with him, riding on the government post-horses, which they are accustomed to call "veredi," while Justus, the nephew of the emperor, together with Bouzes and certain others, was in Hierapolis where he had fled for refuge.

Greek οἳ δὴ Βελισάριον οὐ μακρὰν ἄποθεν ἥκειν ἀκούσαντες γράμματα πρὸς αὐτὸν ἔγραφον·

Dewing And when these men heard that Belisarius was coming and was not far away, they wrote a letter to him which ran as follows:

Greek ἐδήλου δὲ ἡ γραφὴ τάδε “Καὶ νῦν ὁ Χοσρόης, ὥσπερ οἶσθά που καὶ αὐτός, ἐπὶ Ῥωμαίους ἐστράτευσε, στρατὸν μὲν πολλῷ πλείονα ἢ πρότερον ἄγων, ὅπη ποτὲ δὲ ἰέναι διανοούμενος οὔπω ἔνδηλος ὤν, πλήν γε δὴ ὅτι αὐτὸν ἄγχιστά πη ἀκούομεν εἶναι, χωρίῳ μὲν οὐδενὶ λυμηνάμενον, ὁδῷ δὲ ἀεὶ ἐπίπροσθεν ἰόντα.

Dewing "Once more Chosroes, as you yourself doubtless know, has taken the field against the Romans, bringing a much greater army than formerly, and where he is purposing to go is not yet evident, except indeed that we hear he is very near, and that he has injured no place, but is always moving ahead.

Greek ἀλλ’ ἧκε παρ’ ἡμᾶς ὅτι τάχιστα, εἴπερ οἷός τε εἶ λαθεῖν τὸ τῶν πολεμίων στρατόπεδον, ὅπως δὴ σῶς τε αὐτὸς βασιλεῖ ἔσῃ καὶ Ἱεράπολιν

Dewing But come to us as quickly as possible, if indeed you are able to escape detection by the army of the enemy, in order that you yourself may be safe for the emperor, and that you may join us in guarding Hierapolis."

Greek ἡμῖν ξυμφυλάξῃς.” τοσαῦτα μὲν ἡ γραφὴ ἐδήλου. Βελισάριος δὲ οὐκ ἐπαινέσας τὰ γεγραμμένα ἐς Εὐρωπὸν τὸ χωρίον ἀφίκετο, ὃ πρὸς Εὐφράτῃ ποταμῷ ἐστιν.

Dewing Such was the message of the letter. But Belisarius, not approving the advice given, came to the place called Europum, which is on the River Euphrates.

Greek ἐνθένδε τε περιπέμπων πανταχόσε τὸν στρατὸν ἤγειρε καὶ αὐτοῦ τὸ στρατόπεδον κατεστήσατο, ἄρχοντάς τε τοὺς ἐν Ἱεραπόλει ἠμείβετο τοῖσδε, “Εἰ μὲν ἐφ’ ἑτέρους ἀνθρώπων τινάς, ἀλλ’ οὐ Ῥωμαίων κατηκόους ὁ Χοσρόης χωρεῖ, εὖ τε καὶ ὡς ἀσφαλέστατα ὑμῖν βεβούλευται ταῦτα·

Dewing From there he sent about in all directions and began to gather his army, and there he established his camp; and the officers in Hierapolis he answered with the following words: "If, however, Chosroes is proceeding against any other peoples, and not against subjects of the Romans, this plan of yours is well considered and insures the greatest possible degree of safety;

Greek οἷς γὰρ πάρεστιν ἡσυχῆ μένουσιν ἀπηλλάχθαι κακῶν, πολλὴ ἄνοια ἐς κίνδυνον οὐκ ἀναγκαῖόν τινα ἰέναι· εἰ δὲ νῦν ἐνθένδε ἀπαλλαγεὶς ὁ βάρβαρος οὗτος ἑτέρᾳ τινὶ ἐπισκήψει βασιλέως Ἰουστινιανοῦ χώρᾳ, καὶ ταύτῃ διαφερόντως μὲν ἀγαθῇ, φρουρὰν δὲ οὐδαμῆ στρατιωτῶν ἐχούσῃ, εὖ ἴστε ὅτι τὸ ξὺν τῇ ἀρετῇ ἀπολωλέναι τοῦ σεσῶσθαι ἀμαχητὶ τῷ παντὶ ἄμεινον.

Dewing for it is great folly for those who have the opportunity of remaining quiet and being rid of trouble to enter into any unnecessary danger; but if, immediately after departing from here, this barbarian is going to fall upon some other territory of the Emperor Justinian, and that an exceptionally good one, but without any guard of soldiers, be assured that to perish valorously is better in every way than to be saved without a fight.

Greek οὐ γὰρ ἂν σωτηρία τοῦτό γε, ἀλλὰ προδοσία δικαίως καλοῖτο. ἀλλ’ ἥκετε ὅτι τάχιστα ἐς τὸν Εὐρωπόν, οὗ δὴ συλλέξας τὸ στράτευμα ὅλον ὅσα ἂν ὁ θεὸς διδῷ

Dewing For this would justly be called not salvation but treason. But come as quickly as possible to Europum, where, after collecting the whole army, I hope to deal with the enemy as God permits."

Greek ἐλπίδα ἔχω τοὺς πολεμίους ἐργάσασθαι.” ταῦτα ἐπεὶ ἀπενεχθέντα οἱ ἄρχοντες εἶδον, ἐθάρρησάν τε καὶ Ἰοῦστον μὲν ξὺν ὀλίγοις τισὶν αὐτοῦ ἔλιπον ἐφ’ ᾧ τὴν Ἱεράπολιν φυλάξουσιν, οἱ δὲ λοιποὶ τῷ ἄλλῳ στρατῷ ἐς Εὐρωπὸν ἦλθον.

Dewing And when the officers saw this message, they took courage, and leaving there Justus with some few men in order to guard Hierapolis, all the others with the rest of the army came to Europum.