第2巻 第27章

Greek Ἐν τούτῳ δὲ Ῥωμαῖοι ἐποίουν τοιάδε. διώρυχα ἐκ τῆς πόλεως ἔνερθεν τῶν πολεμίων τοῦ χώματος ἐργασάμενοι ἐκέλευον τοὺς ὀρύσσοντας μὴ μεθίεσθαι τοῦ ἔργου τούτου, ἕως ὑπὸ τὸν λόφον γένωνται μέσον. ταύτῃ γὰρ καῦσαι τὸ χῶμα τοῦτο διενοοῦντο.

Dewing In the meantime the Romans were busying themselves as follows: They made a tunnel from the city underneath the enemy's embankment, commanding the diggers not to leave this work until they should get under the middle of the hill. By this means they were planning to burn the embankment.

Greek προϊούσης δὲ τῆς διώρυχος κατὰ τὸν λόφον μάλιστα μέσον πάταγός τις ἐς τῶν Περσῶν τοὺς ὕπερθεν ἑστῶτας ἦλθεν.

Dewing But as the tunnel advanced to about the middle of the hill, a sound of blows, as it were, came to the ears of those Persians who were standing above.

Greek αἰσθόμενοί τε τοῦ ποιουμένου καὶ αὐτοὶ ἄνωθεν ἀρξάμενοι ἐφ’ ἑκάτερα τοῦ μέσου ὤρυσσον, ὅπως λάβοιεν τοὺς ἐκείνῃ κακουργοῦντας Ῥωμαίους.

Dewing And perceiving what was being done, they too began from above and dug on both sides of the middle, so that they might catch the Romans who were doing the damage there.

Greek ὃ δὴ γνόντες Ῥωμαῖοι τούτου μὲν ἀπέσχοντο, χοῦν ἐπὶ τὸν κενωθέντα χῶρον ἐπιβαλόντες, ἐκ δὲ ἄκρου χώματος κάτωθεν, ὃ πρὸς τῷ τείχει ἐτύγχανεν ὄν, ξύλα τε καὶ λίθους καὶ χοῦν ἐκφορήσαντες καθάπερ οἰκίσκου σχῆμα εἰργάσαντο, πρέμνα τε δένδρων τῶν ῥᾷστα καιομένων ξηρὰ ἐνταῦθα ἐσέβαλλον, ἐλαίῳ τε καταβεβρεγμένα τῷ ἐκ κέδρου πεποιημένῳ καὶ θείῳ τε καὶ ἀσφάλτῳ πολλῇ.

Dewing But the Romans found it out and abandoned this attempt, throwing earth into the place which had been hollowed out, and then began to work on the lower part of the embankment at the end which was next to the wall, and by taking out timbers and stones and earth they made an open space just like a chamber; then they threw in there dry trunks of trees of the kind which burn most easily, and saturated them with oil of cedar and added quantities of sulphur and bitumen.

Greek καὶ οἱ μὲν ταῦτα ἐν παρασκευῇ εἶχον, οἱ δὲ Περσῶν ἄρχοντες πολλάκις ἐντυχόντες Μαρτίνῳ τοιαῦτα μὲν οἷά πέρ μοι εἴρηται διελέχθησαν, δόκησιν παρεχόμενοι ὡς τοὺς ἀμφὶ τῇ εἰρήνῃ ἐνδέξονται λόγους.

Dewing So, then, they were keeping these things in readiness; and meanwhile the Persian commanders in frequent meetings with Martinus were carrying on conversations with him in the same strain as the one I have mentioned, making it appear that they would receive proposals in regard to peace.

Greek ἐπεὶ δὲ ὁ λόφος αὐτοῖς ἐτετέλεστο ἤδη, καὶ πλησιάζων μὲν τῷ περιβόλῳ τῆς πόλεως, ὕψει δὲ αὐτὸν πολλῷ ὑπεραίρων ἐπὶ μέγα ἐπῆρτο, Μαρτῖνον μὲν ἀπεπέμψαντο διαρρήδην ἀπειπόντες τὴν ξύμβασιν, ἔργου δὲ ἔχεσθαι τὸ λοιπὸν ἔμελλον.

Dewing But when at last their hill had been completed, and had been raised to a great elevation, approaching the circuit-wall of the city and rising far above it in height, then they sent Martinus away, definitely refusing to arrange the treaty, and they intended from then on to devote themselves to active warfare.

Greek Διὸ δὴ Ῥωμαῖοι τῶν δένδρων τὰ πρέμνα εὐθὺς ἔκαυσαν ἅπερ ἐς τοῦτο ἡτοίμαστο. τοῦ δὲ πυρὸς μοῖραν μὲν τοῦ χώματός τινα καύσαντος, οὔπω δὲ διὰ παντὸς ἐξικνεῖσθαι ἰσχύσαντος, τὰ ξύλα δεδαπανῆσθαι πάντα ἔτυχεν. ἀεὶ γὰρ ἐσέβαλον ἐς τὴν διώρυχα ξύλα ἕτερα, οὐδένα ἀνιέντες καιρόν.

Dewing Accordingly the Romans straightway set fire to the tree-trunks which had been prepared for this purpose. But when the fire had burned only a certain portion of the embankment, and had not yet been able to penetrate through the whole mass, the wood was already entirely exhausted. But they kept throwing fresh wood into the pit, not slackening their efforts for a moment.

Greek ἤδη δὲ τοῦ πυρὸς ἅπαν ἐνεργοῦντος τὸ χῶμα, καπνός τις ὕπερθεν πανταχῆ τοῦ λόφου ἐφαίνετο νύκτωρ, Ῥωμαῖοί τε οὔπω ἐθέλοντες αἴσθησιν τοῦ ποιουμένου Πέρσαις παρέχειν ἐπενόουν τάδε.

Dewing And when the fire was already active throughout the whole embankment, some smoke appeared at night rising from every part of the hill, and the Romans, who were not yet willing to let the Persians know what was being done, resorted to the following device:

Greek ἀνθράκων τε καὶ πυρὸς ἀγγεῖα μικρὰ ἐμπλησάμενοι, ταῦτά τε καὶ πυρφόρους οἰστοὺς τοῦ χώματος πανταχόσε συχνὰ ἔπεμπον· ἃ δὴ οἱ Πέρσαι, ὅσοι φυλακὴν ἐνταῦθα εἶχον, ξὺν πάσῃ σπουδῇ περιιόντες ἐσβέννυον καὶ ἀπ’ αὐτοῦ φύεσθαι τὸν καπνὸν ᾤοντο.

Dewing They filled small pots with coals and fire and threw these and also ignited arrows in great numbers to all parts of the embankment. And the Persians who were keeping guard there, began to go about in great haste and extinguish these, and they supposed that the smoke arose from them.

Greek προϊόντος δὲ τοῦ κακοῦ πλήθει μὲν πολλῷ ἐβοήθουν οἱ βάρβαροι, βάλλοντες δὲ αὐτοὺς. ἀπὸ τοῦ περιβόλου Ῥωμαῖοι πολλοὺς ἔκτειναν.

Dewing But since the trouble increased, the barbarians rushed up to help in great numbers, and the Romans, shooting them from the wall, killed many.

Greek οὗ δὴ καὶ Χοσρόης ἀμφὶ ἡλίου ἀνατολὰς ἦλθε, καί οἱ τὸ πλεῖστον τοῦ στρατοῦ εἵπετο, ἔς τε τὸν λόφον ἀναβὰς πρῶτος ἔλαβε τοῦ κακοῦ αἴσθησιν.

Dewing And Chosroes too came there about sunrise, followed by the greater part of the army, and, upon mounting the hill, he first perceived what the trouble was.

Greek ἔνερθεν γὰρ ἀπεφήνατο τοῦ καπνοῦ τὸ αἴτιον εἶναι, οὐκ ἀφ’ ὧν ἐσηκόντιζον οἱ πολέμιοι, βοηθεῖν τε κατὰ τάχος ἐκέλευε τὸ στράτευμα ὅλον.

Dewing For he disclosed the fact that the cause of the smoke was underneath, not in the missiles which the enemy were hurling, and he ordered the whole army to come to the rescue with all speed.

Greek καὶ Ῥωμαῖοι θαρσοῦντες ἐς αὐτοὺς ὕβριζον, τῶν δὲ βαρβάρων οἱ μέν τινες χοῦν, οἱ δὲ καὶ ὕδωρ ἐπιβάλλοντες ᾖ ὁ καπνὸς διεφαίνετο, περιέσεσθαι τοῦ δεινοῦ ἤλπιζον, ἀνύειν μέντοι οὐδὲν οὐδαμῆ εἶχον.

Dewing And the Romans, taking courage, began to insult them, while the barbarians were at work, some throwing on earth, and others water, where the smoke appeared, hoping to get the better of the trouble; however, they were absolutely unable to accomplish anything.

Greek ᾗ τε γὰρ ὁ χοῦς ἐπιβληθείη, ταύτῃ μὲν ὁ καπνός, ὡς τὸ εἰκός, ἀνεστέλλετο, ἑτέρωθι δὲ οὐκ εἰς μακρὰν ἀνεδίδοτο, αὐτὸν τοῦ πυρὸς καὶ βιάζεσθαι τὴν ἔξοδον ὅπη δύναιτο ἀναγκάζοντος· τό τε ὕδωρ ᾗ μάλιστα ἐπισκήψειε, πολλῷ ἔτι μᾶλλον τήν τε ἄσφαλτον καὶ τὸ θεῖον καὶ τὸ θεῖον ἐνεργεῖν ἴσχυεν ἐπί τε τὴν ἐν ποσὶν ὕλην ἀκμάζειν ἐποίει, καὶ τὸ πῦρ ἐπὶ τὰ πρόσω ἀεὶ ἐνῆγεν, ἐπεὶ τοῦ χώματος ἐντὸς οὐδαμῆ τοσοῦτον ἐξικνεῖσθαι τοῦ ὕδατος εἶχεν ὅσον τῷ ὑπερβάλλοντι κατασβέσαι τὴν φλόγα οἷόν τε εἶναι.

Dewing For where the earth was thrown on, the smoke, as was natural, was checked at that place, but not long afterwards it rose from another place, since the fire compelled it to force its way out wherever it could. And where the water fell most plentifully it only succeeded in making the bitumen and the sulphur much more active, and caused them to exert their full force upon the wood near by; and it constantly drove the fire forward, since the water could not penetrate inside the embankment in a quantity at all sufficient to extinguish the flame by its abundance.

Greek ὁ δὲ καπνὸς ἀμφὶ δείλην ὀψίαν τοσοῦτος ἐγίνετο ὥστε καὶ τοῖς Καρρηνοῖς καὶ ἄλλοις τισὶ πολλῷ ἐπέκεινα ᾠκημένοις ἔνδηλος εἶναι.

Dewing And in the late afternoon the smoke became so great in volume that it was visible to the inhabitants of Carrhae and to some others who dwelt far beyond them.

Greek Περσῶν δὲ καὶ Ῥωμαίων πολλῶν ὕπερθεν ἀναβεβηκότων τοῦ χώματος, μάχης τε καὶ ὠθισμοῦ ἐνταῦθα ξυστάντος, ἐνίκων Ῥωμαῖοι.

Dewing And since a great number of Persians and of Romans had gone up on top of the embankment, a fight took place and a hand-to‑hand struggle to drive each other off, and the Romans were victorious.

Greek τότε καὶ ἡ φλὸξ λαμπρῶς ἐκδοθεῖσα ὑπὲρ τὸ χῶμα ἐφαίνετο, Πέρσαι δὲ τοῦ μὲν ἔργου τούτου ἀπέσχοντο.

Dewing Then even the flames rose and appeared clearly above the embankment, and the Persians abandoned this undertaking.

Greek Ἕκτῃ δὲ ἀπὸ ταύτης ἡμέρᾳ, ὄρθρου βαθέος, μοίρᾳ τινὶ τοῦ περιβόλου λάθρα ἐπέσκηψαν κλίμακας ἔχοντες, οὗ δὴ τὸ φρούριον ἐπωνόμασται.

Dewing On the sixth day after this, at early dawn, they made an assault secretly upon a certain part of the circuit-wall with ladders, at the point which is called the Fort.

Greek τῶν δὲ φυλακὴν ἐνταῦθα ἐχόντων Ῥωμαίων πρᾷόν τινα καθευδόντων ὕπνον, ἅτε τῆς νυκτὸς πρὸς πέρας ἰούσης, ἡσυχῆ τὰς κλίμακας τῷ τείχει ἐρείσαντες ἀνέβαινον ἤδη.

Dewing And since the Romans who were keeping guard there were sleeping a quiet, peaceful sleep, as the night was drawing to its close, they silently set the ladders against the wall and were already ascending.

Greek τῶν δέ τις ἀγροίκων μόνος ἐγρηγορὼς ἐν Ῥωμαίοις ἅπασιν ἔτυχεν, ὃς δὴ ξὺν βοῇ τε καὶ θορύβῳ πολλῷ ἅπαντας ἤγειρε.

Dewing But one of the rustics alone among the Romans happened to be awake, and he with a shout and a great noise began to rouse them all.

Greek καὶ μάχης καρτερᾶς γενομένης ἡσσῶνται Πέρσαι, ἔς τε τὸ στρατόπεδον ἀνεχώρησαν, αὐτοῦ λιπόντες τὰς κλίμακας, ἅσπερ κατ’ ἐξουσίαν Ῥωμαῖοι ἀνεῖλκον.

Dewing And a hard struggle ensued in which the Persians were worsted, and they retired to their camp, leaving the ladders where they were; these the Romans drew up at their leisure.

Greek Χοσρόης δὲ ἀμφὶ ἡμέραν μέσην πολλήν τινα τοῦ στρατοῦ μοῖραν ἐπὶ τὴν μεγάλην καλουμένην πύλην ὡς τειχομαχήσοντας ἔπεμψεν.

Dewing But Chosroes about midday sent a large part of the army against the so‑called Great Gate in order to storm the wall.

Greek οἶς δὴ Ῥωμαῖοι ὑπαντιάσαντες οὐ στρατιῶται μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἀγροῖκοι καὶ τοῦ δήμου τινὲς καὶ μάχῃ νικήσαντες παρὰ πολὺ τοὺς βαρβάρους ἐτρέψαντο.

Dewing And the Romans went out and confronted them, not only soldiers, but even rustics and some of the populace, and they conquered the barbarians in battle decisively and turned them to flight.

Greek ἔτι τε Περσῶν διωκομένων Παῦλος ἑρμηνεὺς παρὰ Χοσρόου ἥκων ἐς μέσους Ῥωμαίους ἀπήγγελλε Ῥεκινάριον ἐπὶ τῇ εἰρήνῃ ἐκ Βυζαντίου ἥκειν, οὕτω τε ἀμφότεροι διελύθησαν.

Dewing And while the Persians were still being pursued, Paulus, the interpreter, came from Chosroes, and going into the midst of the Romans, he reported that Rhecinarius had come from Byzantium to arrange the peace; and thus the two armies separated.

Greek ἤδη δέ τισι πρότερον ἡμέραις ὁ Ῥεκινάριος ἐς τὸ τῶν βαρβάρων στρατόπεδον ἀφῖκτο.

Dewing Now it was already some days since Rhecinarius had arrived at the camp of the barbarians.

Greek ἀλλὰ τοῦτο ἐς Ῥωμαίους ὡς ἥκιστα ἐξήνεγκαν Πέρσαι, καραδοκοῦντες δηλονότι τὴν ἐς τὸ τεῖχος ἐπιβουλήν, ὅπως, ἢν μὲν αὐτὸ ἐξελεῖν δύνωνται, μηδαμῆ ἐς τὰς σπονδὰς παρανομεῖν δόξωσιν, ἡσσηθέντες δέ, ὅπερ ἐγένετο, τὰ ἐς τὴν ξύμβασιν, Ῥωμαίων προκαλουμένων πρὸς αὐτάς,

Dewing But the Persians had by no means disclosed this fact to the Romans, plainly awaiting the outcome of the attempts upon the wall which they had planned, in order that, if they should be able to capture it, they might seem in no way to be violating the treaty, while if defeated, as actually happened, they might draw up the treaty at the invitation of the Romans.

Greek θήσονται. ἐπεὶ δὲ Ῥεκινάριος ἐγένετο εἴσω πυλῶν, Πέρσαι μὲν ἠξίουν τοὺς τὴν εἰρήνην διοικησομένους παρὰ · Χοσρόην αὐτίκα δὴ μάλα ἰέναι, Ῥωμαῖοι δὲ σταλήσεσθαι πρέσβεις ἡμέραις τρισὶν ὕστερον ἔφασαν· τανῦν γὰρ σφίσι κακῶς τοῦ σώματος Μαρτῖνον τὸν στρατηγὸν ἔχειν.

Dewing And when Rhecinarius had gone inside the gates, the Persians demanded that those who were to arrange the peace should come to Chosroes without any delay, but the Romans said that envoys would be sent three days later; for that just at the moment their general, Martinus, was unwell.

Greek Εἶναί τε ὑποτοπάζων οὐχ ὑγιᾶ τὸν λόγον Χοσρόης τὰ ἐς τὴν παράταξιν ἐξηρτύετο. καὶ τότε μὲν πλίνθων πάμπολύ τι χρῆμα ἐπὶ τὸ χῶμα ἐπέβαλε, δυοῖν δὲ ὕστερον ἡμέραιν παντὶ τῷ στρατῷ ὡς τειχομαχήσων ἐπὶ τὸν τῆς πόλεως περίβολον ἦλθεν.

Dewing And Chosroes, suspecting that the reason was not a sound one, prepared for battle. And at that time he only threw a great mass of bricks upon the embankment; but two days later he came against the fortifications of the city with the whole army to storm the wall.

Greek ἔν τε πύλῃ ἑκάστῃ τῶν τινας ἀρχόντων καὶ μέρος τι τοῦ στρατεύματος καταστησάμενος ἅπαν τε τὸ τεῖχος ταύτῃ περιβαλὼν κλίμακάς τε αὐτῷ καὶ μηχανὰς προσῆγεν.

Dewing And at every gate he stationed some of the commanders and a part of the army, encircling the whole wall in this way, and he brought up ladders and war‑engines against it.

Greek ὄπισθεν δὲ τοὺς Σαρακηνοὺς ἅπαντας ξὺν τῶν Περσῶν τισιν ἔταξεν, οὐκ ἐφ’ ᾧ τῷ περιβόλῳ προσβάλωσιν, ἀλλ’ ὅπως ἁλισκομένης τῆς πόλεως αὐτοὶ τοὺς φεύγοντας σαγηνεύσαντες λάβωσι.

Dewing And in the rear he placed all the Saracens with some of the Persians, not in order to assault the wall, but in order that, when the city was captured, they might gather in the fugitives and catch them as in a drag‑net.

Greek τοιαύτῃ μὲν γνώμῃ τὸ στράτευμα ὁ Χοσρόης οὕτω διέταξε. τῆς δὲ μάχης πρωὶ ἀρξαμένης κατ’ ἀρχὰς μὲν τὰ Περσῶν καθυπέρτερα ἦν.

Dewing Such, then, was the purpose of Chosroes in arranging the army in this way. And the fighting began early in the morning, and at first the Persians had the advantage.

Greek πολλοὶ γὰρ πρὸς λίαν ὀλίγους ἐμάχοντο, ἐπεὶ τῶν Ῥωμαίων οἱ πλεῖστοι ἀνήκοοί τε τῶν ποιουμένων καὶ ἀπαράσκευοι παντάπασιν ἦσαν.

Dewing For they were in great numbers and fighting against a very small force, since the most of the Romans had not heard what was going on and were utterly unprepared.

Greek προϊούσης δὲ τῆς ξυμβολῆς θορύβων τε καὶ ταραχῆς ἔμπλεως ἡ πόλις ἐγίνετο, καὶ ξύμπαντες ἤδη αὐταῖς γυναιξὶ καὶ παιδαρίοις ἐπὶ τὸ τεῖχος ἀνέβαινον.

Dewing But as the conflict advanced the city became full of confusion and tumult, and the whole population, even women and little children, were going up on to the wall.

Greek οἱ μὲν οὖν ἐν ἡλικίᾳ ξὺν τοῖς στρατιώταις καρτερώτατα τοὺς πολεμίους ἠμύνοντο, καὶ τῶν ἀγροίκων πολλοὶ ἐς τοὺς βαρβάρους ἔργα θαυμαστὰ ἐπεδείκνυντο.

Dewing Now those who were of military age together with the soldiers were repelling the enemy most vigorously, and many of the rustics made a remarkable show of valorous deeds against the barbarians.

Greek παῖδες δὲ καὶ γυναῖκες ξὺν τοῖς γεγηρακόσι λίθους τε τοῖς μαχομένοις ξυνέλεγον καὶ τἄλλα ὑπούργουν.

Dewing Meanwhile the women and children, and the aged also, were gathering stones for the fighters and assisting them in other ways.

Greek τινὲς δὲ καὶ λέβητας ἐλαίου πολλοὺς ἐμπλησάμενοι πυρί τε αὐτοὺς πανταχῆ τοῦ τείχους ἐς διαρκῆ θερμήναντες χρόνον καὶ ζέον ὑπεράγαν τὸ ἔλαιον περιρραντηρίοις τισὶν ἐπιχέοντες ἔτι μᾶλλον τοὺς πολεμίους τοὺς τῷ περιβόλῳ προσιόντας ἐλύπουν.

Dewing Some also filled numerous basins with olive‑oil, and after heating them over fire a sufficient time everywhere the wall, they sprinkled the oil, while boiling fiercely, upon the enemy who were assailing the wall, using a sort of whisk for the purpose, and in this way harassed them still more.

Greek ἤδη μὲν οὖν ἀπειπόντες οἱ Πέρσαι τὰ ὅπλα ἐρρίπτουν, τῷ τε βασιλεῖ ἐς ὄψιν ἐλθόντες πρὸς τὸν πόνον ἀντέχειν οὐκέτι ἔφασκον οἷοί τε εἶναι.

Dewing The Persians, therefore, soon gave up and began to throw down their arms, and coming before the king, said that they were no longer able to hold out in the struggle.

Greek θυμῷ δὲ πολλῷ ὁ Χοσρόης ἐχόμενος καὶ ξὺν ἀπειλῇ ἐγκελευόμενος ἅπασιν ἐπὶ τοὺς πολεμίους ἐνῆγεν.

Dewing But Chosroes, in a passion of anger, drove them all on with threats and urged them forward against the enemy.

Greek οἱ δὲ κραυγῇ καὶ θορύβῳ πολλῷ τούς τε πύργους καὶ τὰς ἄλλας μηχανὰς τῷ τείχει προσῆγον καὶ τὰς κλίμακας ἐπετίθεντο, ὡς τὴν πόλιν αὐτοβοεὶ ἐξαιρήσοντες.

Dewing And the soldiers with much shouting and tumult brought up the towers and the other engines of war to the wall and set the ladders against it, in order to capture the city with one grand rush.

Greek τῶν δὲ Ῥωμαίων συχνά τε βαλλόντων καὶ παντὶ σθένει ἀμυνομένων, τρέπονται μὲν κατὰ κράτος οἱ βάρβαροι, ἀναχωροῦντα δὲ τὸν Χοσρόην ἐτώθαζον Ῥωμαῖοι, ἐς τειχομαχίαν παρακαλοῦντες.

Dewing But since the Romans were hurling great numbers of missiles and exerting all their strength to drive them off, the barbarians were turned back by force; and as Chosroes withdrew, the Romans taunted him, inviting him to come and storm the wall.

Greek μόνος δὲ Ἀζαρέθης ἀμφὶ πύλας τὰς Σοΐνας καλουμένας ξὺν τοῖς ἑπομένοις ἐμάχετο, οὗ δὴ Τριπυργίαν καλοῦσι τὸν χῶρον.

Dewing Only Azarethes at the so‑called Soinian Gate was still fighting with his men, at the place which they call Tripurgia.

Greek Τῶν δὲ ταύτῃ Ῥωμαίων οὐκ ὄντων σφίσιν ἀξιομάχων, ἀλλὰ καὶ πρὸς τὰς προσβολὰς ἀπειπόντων, ἤδη τὸ ἐκτὸς τεῖχος, ὃ δὴ καλοῦσι προτείχισμα, πολλαχῆ διελόντες οἱ βάρβαροι ἰσχυρότατα τοῖς ἐκ τοῦ μεγάλου περιβόλου ἀμυνομένοις ἐνέκειντο, ἕως αὐτοῖς Περάνιος ξύν τε στρατιώταις πολλοῖς καὶ τῶν Ἐδεσσηνῶν τισιν ἐπεξῆλθε μάχῃ τε νικήσας ἐξήλασε.

Dewing And since the Romans at this point were not a match for them, but were giving way before their assaults, already the outer wall, which they call an outwork, had been torn down by the barbarians in many places, and they were pressing most vigorously upon those who were defending themselves from the great circuit-wall; but at last the Persians with a large number of soldiers and some of the citizens went out against them and defeated them in battle and drove them off.

Greek καὶ ἡ τειχομαχία πρωὶ ἀρξαμένη ἐτελεύτα εἰς δείλην ὀψίαν, ἀμφότεροί τε τὴν νύκτα ἐκείνην ἡσυχῆ ἔμενον, Πέρσαι μὲν περί τε τοῖς χαρακώμασι δεδιότες καὶ σφίσιν αὐτοῖς, Ῥωμαῖοι δὲ λίθους τε ξυλλέγοντες ἐς τὰς ἐπάλξεις καὶ τἄλλα ἐν παρασκευῇ τῇ πάσῃ ποιούμενοι, ὡς τῇ ὑστεραίᾳ μαχούμενοι τοῖς πολεμίοις ἐπὶ τὸ τεῖχος προσβαλοῦσιν.

Dewing And the assault which had begun early in the morning ended in the late afternoon, and both sides remained quiet that night, the Persians fearing for their defences and for themselves, and the Romans gathering stones and taking them to the parapets and putting everything else in complete readiness, so as to fight against the enemy on the morrow when they should attack the wall.

Greek ἡμέρᾳ μὲν οὖν τῇ ἐπιγινομένῃ τῶν βαρβάρων οὐδεὶς ἐπὶ τὸν περίβολον ἦλθε, τῇ δὲ μετ’ ἐκείνην μοῖρα μὲν τοῦ στρατοῦ Χοσρόου ἐγκελευομένου ταῖς Βαρλαοῦ καλουμέναις πύλαις ἐπέσκηψεν, ὑπαντιασάντων δὲ Ῥωμαίων αὐτοῖς ἡσσήθησάν τε παρὰ πολὺ τῇ μάχῃ καὶ δι’ ὀλίγου ἐς τὸ στρατόπεδον ἀνεχώρησαν.

Dewing Now on the succeeding day not one of the barbarians came against the fortifications; but on the day after that a portion of the army, urged on by Chosroes, made an assault upon the so‑called Gate of Barlaus; but the Romans sallied forth and confronted them, and the Persians were decidedly beaten in the engagement, and after a short time retired to the camp.

Greek καὶ τότε Παῦλος ὁ Περσῶν ἑρμηνεὺς παρὰ τὸ τεῖχος ἥκων Μαρτῖνον ἐκάλει, ἐφ’ ᾧ τὰ ἐς τὴν ξύμβασιν διοικήσηται.

Dewing And then Paulus, the interpreter of the Persians, came along the wall and called for Martinus, in order that he might make the arrangements for the truce.

Greek οὕτω τε Μαρτίνου τοῖς Περσῶν ἄρχουσιν ἐς λόγους ἐλθόντος ξυνέβησαν, καὶ πέντε κεντηνάρια πρὸς τῶν Ἐδεσσηνῶν ὁ Χοσρόης λαβὼν ἐν γράμμασιν αὐτοῖς τὴν ὁμολογίαν ἀπέλιπε τοῦ μηδὲν Ῥωμαίοις περαιτέρω λυμήνασθαι, τά τε χαρακώματα πάντα ἐμπρήσας ἐπ’ οἴκου ἀνεχώρησε παντὶ τῷ στρατῷ.

Dewing Thus Martinus came to conference with the commanders of the Persians, and they concluded an agreement, by which Chosroes received five centenaria from the inhabitants of Edessa, and left them, in writing, the promise not to inflict any further injury upon the Romans; then, after setting fire to all his defences, he returned homeward with his whole army. The Loeb Editor's Notes: 1 Cf. Book II.xii.31‑34. ❦ 2 Latin agger, "mound." ❦ 3 "Three Towers." Thayer's Note: a Is it just me, or will you too find it strange that having vowed to turn Edessa into a sheep pasture, the first thing Chosroes does is to remove the sheep? The town was already a sheep pasture. What gives? ◂ 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