第3巻 第15章

Greek Ἐπεὶ δὲ τῆς ἠιόνος ἀγχοῦ ἐγένοντο, τά τε ἱστία κατατίθεσθαι ὁ στρατηγὸς ἐκέλευε καὶ ἀγκύρας ἀπὸ τῶν νεῶν ἀπορριψαμένους ἀνακωχεύειν, τούς τε ἄρχοντας συγκαλέσας ἐς τὴν αὑτοῦ ναῦν ξύμπαντας βουλὴν ὑπὲρ τῆς ἀποβάσεως προὔθηκεν.

Dewing And when they came near the shore, the general bade them furl the sails, throw out anchors from the ships, and make a halt; and calling together all the commanders to his own ship, he opened a discussion with regard to the disembarkation.

Greek ἔνθα δὴ ἄλλοι τε λόγοι πολλοὶ ἐλέχθησαν ἐφ’ ἑκάτερα φέροντες καὶ παρελθὼν Ἀρχέλαος ἔλεξε τοιάδε· “Τοῦ μὲν στρατηγοῦ τὴν ἀρετὴν ἄγαμαι, ὃς καὶ γνώμῃ παρὰ πολὺ νικῶν ξύμπαντας καὶ τῆς ἐμπειρίας ἐπὶ πλεῖστον ἥκων, ἔχων τε τὸ κράτος αὐτός, ἐς μέσον μὲν τὴν βουλὴν προὔθηκε, κελεύει δὲ λέγειν ἡμῶν ἕκαστον, ὥστε ὅπη ἂν ἄριστα ἔχειν δοκῇ ἑλέσθαι ἡμῖν δυνατοῖς εἶναι, παρὸν αὐτῷ γνῶναί τε μόνῳ τὰ δέοντα καὶ κατ’ ἐξουσίαν ἐξηγεῖσθαι ᾗ βούλοιτο.

Dewing Thereupon many speeches were made inclining to either side, and Archelaus came forward and spoke as follows: "I admire, indeed, the virtue of our general, who, while surpassing all by far in judgment and possessing the greatest wealth of experience, and at the same time holding the power alone, has proposed an open discussion and bids each one of us speak, so that we shall be able to choose whichever course seems best, though it is possible for him to decide alone on what is needful and at his leisure to put it into execution as he wishes.

Greek ὑμῶν δέ, ὦ ἄνδρες ἄρχοντες ʽοὐκ οἶδα ὅπως ἂν εἴποιμι εὐπετῶσ̓, θαυμάσειεν ἄν τις ὅτι μὴ πρῶτος αὐτὸς ἕκαστος πρὸς τὴν ἀπόβασιν ἀπειπεῖν ἔσπευσε.

Dewing But as for you, my fellow officers — I do not take how I am to say it easily — one might wonder that each one did not hasten to be the first to oppose the disembarkation.

Greek καίτοι ἐπίσταμαι ὡς τὸ εἰσηγεῖσθαί τι τοῖς ἐς κίνδυνον καθισταμένοις ὄνησιν μὲν τῷ παραινέσαντι οὐδεμίαν ἰδίᾳ φέρει, ἐς αἰτίαν δὲ ὡς τὰ πολλὰ περιίσταται.

Dewing And yet I understand that the making of suggestions to those who are entering upon a perilous course brings no personal advantage to him who offers the advice, but as a general thing results in bringing blame upon him.

Greek οἱ γὰρ ἄνθρωποι καλῶς μὲν φερόμενοι εἰς τὴν ἰδίαν γνώμην ἢ τύχην ἀναφέρουσι τὰ πρασσόμενα, σφαλέντες δὲ τὸν παραινέσαντα αἰτιῶνται μόνον.

Dewing For when things go well for men, they attribute their success to their own judgment or to fortune, but when they fail, they blame only the one who has advised them.

Greek εἰρήσεται δὲ ὅμως. αἰτίαν γὰρ ὑποστείλασθαι τοὺς περὶ σωτηρίας βουλευομένους οὐχ ὅσιον.

Dewing Nevertheless I shall speak out. For it is not right for those who deliberate about safety to shrink from blame.

Greek βουλεύεσθε ἐς τὴν πολεμίαν ἀποβαίνειν, ἄνδρες ἄρχοντες· τίνι λιμένι παρακαταθέσθαι τὰς ναῦς ἐννοοῦντες; ἢ τίνος πόλεως τείχει τὸ ἐχυρὸν ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν αὐτῶν ἕξοντες;

Dewing You are purposing to disembark on the enemy's land, fellow-officers; but in what harbour are you planning to place the ships in safety? Or in what city's wall will you find security for yourselves?

Greek ἢ οὐκ ἀκηκόατε ὡς ταύτην μὲν τὴν ἀκτὴν ἐννέα ἡμερῶν ὁδόν, λέγω δὲ εἰς Ἰούκην ἐκ Καρχηδόνος, κατατείνειν φασίν, ἀλίμενόν τε παντελῶς οὖσαν καὶ τοῖς ἀνέμοις ὅθεν ἂν ἐπιπνεύσαιεν ἐκκειμένην;

Dewing Have you not then have read that this promontory — I mean from Carthage to Iouce⁠ — extends, they say, for a journey of nine days, altogether without harbours and lying open to the wind from whatever quarter it may blow?

Greek τεῖχος δὲ οὐδὲν ἐς πᾶσαν Λιβύην ὅτι μὴ τὸ Καρχηδόνος ἀπολέλειπται,

Dewing And not a single walled town is left in all Libya except Carthage, thanks to the decision of Gizeric.⁠

Greek τοῦτο Γιζερίχου βουλεύσαντος. προσθείη δὲ ἄν τις ὡς καὶ τούτῳ τῷ χωρίῳ ὕδωρ τὸ παράπαν ἐνδεῖν λέγουσι. φέρε γάρ, εἰ δοκεῖ, καί τι τῶν ἐναντίων ὑποθέμενοι τὴν διάγνωσιν ποιησώμεθα.

Dewing And one might add that in this place, they say, water is entirely lacking. Come now, if you wish, let us suppose that some adversity befall us, and with this in view make the decision.

Greek τοὺς γὰρ ἐς ἀγῶνας καθισταμένους μηδὲν προσδοκᾶν δύσκολον οὔτε ἀνθρώπινον οὔτε τῆς τῶν πραγμάτων φύσεως ἄξιον.

Dewing For that those who enter into contests of arms should expect no difficulty is not in keeping with human experience nor with the nature of things.

Greek ἢν οὖν ἀποβεβηκότων ἡμῶν εἰς τὴν ἤπειρον χειμὼν ἐπιπέσοι, οὐκ ἀνάγκη δυοῖν θάτερον ταῖς ναυσὶ ξυμβῆναι, ἢ ὡς ἀπωτάτω διαφυγεῖν, ἢ ἐπὶ τῆς ἀκτῆς ἀπολωλέναι ταύτης;

Dewing If, then, after we have disembarked upon the mainland, a storm should fall upon us, will it not be necessary that one of two things befall the ships, either that they flee away as far as possible, or perish upon this promontory?

Greek εἶτα τίς ἡμῖν τῶν ἀναγκαίων γενήσεται πόρος; μηδεὶς ἐς ἐμὲ βλεπέτω τὸν τῆς δαπάνης χορηγὸν ἔπαρχον. ἀρχὴν γὰρ πᾶσαν τῆς ὑπουργίας ἐστερημένην ἐπάναγκες ἐς ὄνομά τε καὶ πρόσωπον ἰδιώτου ἀποκεκρίσθαι.

Dewing Secondly, what means will there be of supplying us with necessities? Let no one look to me as the officer charged with the maintenance of the army. For every official, when deprived of the means of administering his office, is of necessity reduced to the name and character of a private person.

Greek ποῦ δὲ ἡμῖν τῶν ὅπλων τὰ περιττὰ καταθεμένοις ἢ ἄλλο τι τῶν ἀναγκαίων δέχεσθαι δεήσει προσιόντα τὸν βάρβαρον; ἀλλὰ ταῦτα μὲν οὐδὲ λέγειν καλὸν ὅπη ἐκβήσεται.

Dewing And where shall we deposit our superfluous arms or any other part of our necessaries when we are compelled to receive the attack of the barbarians? Nay, as for this, it is not well even to say how it will turn out.

Greek ἐγὼ δὲ ἡγοῦμαι χρῆναι ἡμᾶς εὐθὺ Καρχηδόνος ἰέναι. λιμένα γὰρ οὐ πλεῖον ἢ τεσσαράκοντα σταδίους αὐτῆς διέχοντα εἶναί φασιν, ὃν δὴ Στάγνον καλοῦσιν, ἀφύλακτόν τε παντάπασιν ὄντα καὶ πρὸς τὸν ἅπαντα στόλον ἱκανῶς πεφυκότα. ὅθεν δὴ ὁρμωμένοις ἡμῖν τὸν πόλεμον διενεγκεῖν οὐ χαλεπὸν ἔσται.

Dewing But I think that we ought to make straight for Carthage. For they say that there is a harbour called Stagnum not more than forty stades distant from that city, which is entirely unguarded and large enough for the whole fleet. And if we make this the base of our operations, we shall carry on the war without difficulty.

Greek οἶμαι δὲ ἔγωγε ὡς Καρχηδόνος τε ἡμᾶς ἐξ ἐπιδρομῆς κρατήσειν εἰκός, ἄλλως τε καὶ μακρὰν αὐτῆς ἀπολελειμμένων τῶν πολεμίων, καὶ κρατήσασιν οὐδὲν τοῦ λοιποῦ μοχθηρὸν ἔσεσθαι.

Dewing And I, for my part, think it likely that we shall win Carthage by a sudden attack, especially since the enemy are far away from it, and that after we have won it we shall have no further trouble.

Greek τὰ γὰρ ἀνθρώπεια πάντα κατειλημμένων τῶν κεφαλαίων καταρρεῖν οὐκ ἐς μακρὰν εἴωθεν. ὧν δὴ πάντων ἡμᾶς ἐνθυμουμένους τὰ βέλτιστα αἱρεῖσθαι προσήκει.” Ἀρχέλαος μὲν τοσαῦτα εἶπε.

Dewing For it is a way with all men's undertakings that when the chief point has been captured, they collapse after no long time. It behoves us, therefore, to bear in mind all these things and to choose the best course." So spoke Archelaus.

Greek Βελισάριος δὲ ἔλεξεν ὧδε· “Μηδεὶς ὑμῶν, ὦ ξυνάρχοντες, ἐπιγνώμονος εἶναι τοὺς λόγους οἰέσθω, μηδὲ διὰ τοῦτο ἐν ὑστάτῳ εἰρῆσθαι, ὥστε αὐτοῖς ἕπεσθαι, ὁποῖοί ποτ’ ἂν ὦσιν, ἀναγκαῖον ἅπασι γίγνεσθαι.

Dewing And Belisarius spoke as follows: "Let no one of you, fellow-officers, think that my words are those of censure, nor that they are spoken in the last place to the end that it may become necessary for all to follow them, of whatever sort they may be.

Greek ὅσα μὲν γὰρ ὑμῶν ἑκάστῳ δοκεῖ ἄριστα εἶναι ἀκήκοα· προσήκει δὲ καὶ ἐμὲ ὅσα γινώσκω ἐς μέσον ἐξενεγκόντα οὕτω σὺν ὑμῖν ἑλέσθαι τὰ κρείσσω.

Dewing For I have heard what seems best to each one of you, and it is becoming that I too should lay before you what I think, and then with you should choose the better course.

Greek ἐκεῖνο δὲ ὑπομνῆσαι ὑμᾶς ἄξιον, ὡς ὀλίγῳ πρότερον οἱ μὲν στρατιῶται δεδιέναι τε τοὺς ἐν τῇ θαλάσσῃ κινδύνους ἄντικρυς ἔλεγον καὶ ὡς ἐς φυγὴν τρέψονται, ἢν ναῦς πολεμία ἐπ’ αὐτοὺς ἴοι, ἡμεῖς δὲ τὸν θεὸν ᾐτοῦμεν γῆν τὴν Λιβύης καὶ τὴν ἐς ταύτην ἀπόβασιν εἰρηναίαν ἡμῖν ἐπιδεῖξαι.

Dewing But it is right to remind you of this fact, that the soldiers said openly a little earlier that they feared the dangers by sea and would turn to flight if a hostile ship should attack them, and we prayed God to shew us the land of Libya and allow us a peaceful disembarkation upon it.

Greek τούτων δὲ τοιούτων ὄντων, ἀξυνέτων ἀνδρῶν ἡγοῦμαι εἶναι εὔχεσθαι μὲν παρὰ τοῦ θεοῦ λαβεῖν τὰ βελτίονα, δεδομένων δὲ αὐτῶν ἀποσείεσθαί τε καὶ ἀπ’ ἐναντίας ἰέναι.

Dewing And since this is so, I think it the part of foolish men first to pray to receive from God the more favourable fortune, then when this is given them, to reject it and go in the contrary direction.

Greek ἢν δὲ καὶ πλέουσιν ἡμῖν εὐθὺ Καρχηδόνος στόλος ἀπαντήσῃ πολέμιος, τοῖς μὲν στρατιώταις κατὰ κράτος φεύγουσι τὸ μὴ μεμπτοῖς εἶναι λελείψεται· ἁμάρτημα γὰρ προρρηθὲν τὴν ἀπολογίαν ἐφ’ ἑαυτοῦ φέρει· ἡμῖν δὲ καὶ διασωθεῖσιν οὐδεμία συγγνώμη.

Dewing And if we do sail straight for Carthage and a hostile fleet encounters us, the soldiers will remain without blame, if they flee with all their might — for a delinquency announced beforehand carries with it its own defence — but for us, even if we come through safely, there will be no forgiveness.

Greek πολλῶν δὲ ὄντων, ἢν ἐν ταῖς ναυσὶ μένωμεν, δυσχερῶν, ἐκεῖνο μόνον ἱκανῶς, οἶμαι, λελέξεται, ᾧ μάλιστα δεδίττεσθαι ἡμᾶς ἀξιοῦσι, τὸν χειμῶνα ἐπανασείοντες.

Dewing Now while there are many difficulties if we remain in the ships, it will be sufficient, I think, to mention only one thing, — that by which especially they wish to frighten us when they hold over our heads the danger of a storm.

Greek ἢν γάρ τις ἐπιπέσοι χειμών, ἀνάγκη ταῖς ναυσίν, ὥσπερ φασί, δυοῖν ξυμβῆναι τὸ ἕτερον, ἢ πόρρω που τῆς Λιβύης διαφυγεῖν, ἢ ἐπὶ τῆς ἀκτῆς διαφθαρῆναι ταύτης.

Dewing For if any storm should fall upon us, one of two things, they say, must necessarily befall the ships, either that they flee far from Libya or be destroyed upon this headland.

Greek τί τοίνυν ὡς ἐκ τῶν παρόντων ἑλομένοις ἡμῖν μᾶλλον ξυνοίσει; μόνας διεφθάρθαι τὰς ναῦς, ἢ αὐτοῖς ἀνδράσιν ἅπαντα ἀπολωλέναι τὰ πράγματα; χωρὶς δὲ τούτων νῦν μὲν ἀπαρασκεύοις ἐπιπεσόντες τοῖς πολεμίοις κατὰ νοῦν, ὡς τὸ εἰκός, ἀπαλλάξομεν· τὰ γὰρ πολέμια τῷ ἀπροσδοκήτῳ δουλοῦσθαι πέφυκε·

Dewing What then under the present circumstances will be more to our advantage to choose? to have the ships alone destroyed, or to have lost everything, men and all? But apart from this, at the present time we shall fall upon the enemy unprepared, and in all probability shall fare as we desire; for in warfare it is the unexpected which is accustomed to govern the course of events.

Greek μικρὸν δὲ ὕστερον ἤδη τῶν πολεμίων ἐν παρασκευῇ γεγονότων ἐξ ἀντιπάλου ἡμῖν τῆς δυνάμεως ὁ ἀγὼν ἔσται.

Dewing But a little later, when the enemy have already made their preparation, the struggle we shall have will be one of strength evenly matched.

Greek προσθείη δὲ ἄν τις ὡς καὶ ὑπὲρ αὐτῆς ἴσως ἀγωνιεῖσθαι δεήσει τῆς ἀποβάσεως, ἐκεῖνά τε ζητεῖν ἃ νῦν παρόντα ἡμῖν ὡς οὐκ ἀναγκαῖα ἐς βουλὴν ἔρχεται.

Dewing And one might add that it will be necessary perhaps to fight even for the disembarkation, and to seek for that which now we have within our grasp but over which we are deliberating as a thing not necessary.

Greek ἢν δὲ καὶ χειμὼν τηνικαῦτα ἀγωνιζομένοις ἡμῖν ἐπιγένηται, ὡς τὰ πολλὰ ἐν θαλάσσῃ φιλεῖ γίνεσθαι, πρός τε τὰ κύματα καὶ τοὺς Βανδίλους διαμαχόμενοι μεταμαθεῖν τὴν εὐβουλίαν εἰσόμεθα.

Dewing And if at the very time, when we are engaged in a conflict, a storm also comes upon us, as often happens on the sea, then while struggling both against the waves and against the Vandals, we shall come to regret our prudence.

Greek φημὶ δὴ ἔγωγε χρῆναι ἀποβῆναι μὲν ἡμᾶς ἐς τὴν ἤπειρον αὐτίκα δὴ μάλα, ἵππους τε ἀποβιβάζοντας καὶ ὅπλα καὶ εἴ τι ἄλλο ἐς τὴν χρείαν ἡμῖν ἀναγκαῖον εἶναι οἰόμεθα, τάφρον δὲ κατὰ τάχος ὀρύξαι καὶ χαράκωμα περιβαλεῖν οὐδέν τι ἧσσον ὅτου τις ἂν εἴποι τείχους εἰς ἀσφάλειαν ἡμῖν συντελέσαι δυνάμενον, ἐκεῖθεν δὲ ὁρμωμένους τὸν πόλεμον,

Dewing As for me, then, I say that we must disembark upon the land with all possible speed, landing horses and arms and whatever else we consider necessary for our use, and that we must dig a trench quickly and throw a stockade around us of a kind which can contribute to our safety no less than any walled town one might mention, and with that as our base must carry on the war from there if anyone should attack us.

Greek ἤν τις ἐπίοι, διενεγκεῖν. ἐπιλείψει δὲ ἡμᾶς ἄνδρας ἀγαθοὺς γινομένους τῶν ἐπιτηδείων οὐδέν. τοῖς γὰρ κρατοῦσι τῶν πολεμίων τὸ κυρίοις εἶναι τῶν ἐκείνοις προσηκόντων ξυμβαίνει, καὶ ἡ νίκη πάντα περιβαλομένη τὰ χρήματα, ἔνθα ἂν κλίνῃ, κατατίθεσθαι πέφυκεν. ὥστε ὑμῖν ἥ τε σωτηρία καὶ ἡ τῶν ἀγαθῶν περιουσία ἐν ταῖς χερσὶ κεῖται.”

Dewing And if we shew ourselves brave men, we shall lack nothing in the way of provisions. For those who hold the mastery over their enemy are lords also of the enemy's possessions; and it is the way of victory, first to invest herself with all the wealth, and then to set it down again on that side to which she inclines. Therefore, for you both the chance of safety and of having an abundance of good things lies in your own hands."

Greek Ταῦτα Βελισαρίου εἰπόντος ξυνέφασάν τε καὶ ἀπεδέξαντο ἅπας ὁ ξύλλογος, καὶ διαλυθέντες ὡς τάχιστα τὴν ἀπόβασιν ἐποιήσαντο τρισὶ μάλιστα μησὶν ὕστερον ἢ αὐτοῖς ἐκ Βυζαντίου ὁ ἀπόπλους ἐγένετο.

Dewing When Belisarius had said this, the whole assembly agreed and adopted his proposal, and separating from one another, they made the disembarkation as quickly as possible, about three months later than their departure from Byzantium.

Greek καὶ δείξας τι χωρίον ἐπὶ τῆς ἠιόνος ὁ στρατηγὸς τοῖς τε στρατιώταις καὶ ναύταις ἐκέλευε τήν τε τάφρον ὀρύσσειν καὶ τὸ χαράκωμα περιβάλλεσθαι.

Dewing And indicating a certain spot on the shore the general bade both soldiers and sailors dig the trench and place the stockade about it.

Greek οἱ δὲ κατὰ ταῦτα ἐποίουν. ἅτε δὲ ὄχλου πολλοῦ ἐργαζομένου καὶ τοῦ φόβου τὴν προθυμίαν ἐγείροντος καὶ τοῦ στρατηγοῦ ἐγκελευομένου, αὐτῇ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἥ τε τάφρος ὀρώρυκτο καὶ τὸ χαράκωμα ξυντετέλεστο καὶ οἱ σκόλοπες κύκλῳ πανταχόθεν ξυνεπεπήχατο.

Dewing And they did as directed. And since a great throng was working and fear was stimulating their enthusiasm and the general was urging them on, not only was the trench dug on the same day, but the stockade was also completed and the pointed stakes were fixed in place all around.

Greek ἔνθα δὴ καί τι τοῖς τὴν τάφρον ὀρύσσουσι τετύχηκε θαυμάσιον ἡλίκον. ὕδατος πολύ τι χρῆμα ἡ γῆ ἀνῆκεν, οὐ γεγονὸς τοῦτο ἐν Βυζακίῳ πρότερον, ἄλλως τε καὶ τοῦ χωρίου ἀνύδρου ὄντος.

Dewing Then, indeed, while they were digging the trench, something happened which was altogether amazing. A great abundance of water sprang forth from the earth, a thing which had not happened before in Byzacium, and besides this the place where they were was altogether waterless.

Greek τοῦτο δὴ τὸ ὕδωρ ἐς πᾶσαν χρείαν τοῖς ἀνθρώποις καὶ τοῖς ἄλλοις ζῴοις ἐπήρκεσε. καὶ συνηδόμενος τῷ στρατηγῷ Προκόπιος ἔλεγεν ὡς οὐ διὰ τὴν χρείαν τῇ τοῦ ὕδατος περιουσίᾳ χαίροι, ἀλλ’ ὅτι οἱ ξύμβολον εἶναι δοκεῖ νίκης ἀπόνου καὶ τοῦτο σφίσι προλέγειν τὸ θεῖον.

Dewing Now this water sufficed for all uses of both men and animals. And in congratulating the general, Procopius said that he rejoiced at the abundance of water, not so much because of its usefulness, as because it seemed to him a symbol of an easy victory, and that Heaven was foretelling a victory to them. This, at any rate, actually came to pass.

Greek ὅπερ οὖν καὶ ἐγένετο. τὴν μὲν οὖν νύκτα ἐκείνην οἱ στρατιῶται ξύμπαντες ἐν τῷ στρατοπέδῳ ηὐλίσαντο, φύλακάς τε καὶ τὰ ἄλλα ᾗπερ εἰώθει ποιούμενοι, πλήν γε δὴ ὅτι τοξότας πέντε ἐν νηὶ ἑκάστῃ Βελισάριος ἐκέλευσε μεῖναι φυλακῆς ἕνεκα, καὶ τοὺς δρόμωνας ἐν κύκλῳ αὐτῶν ὁρμίζεσθαι, φυλασσομένους μή τις ἐπ’ αὐτὰς κακουργήσων ἴοι.

Dewing So for that night all the soldiers bivouacked in the camp, setting guards and doing everything else as was customary, except, indeed, that Belisarius commanded five bowmen to remain in each ship for the purpose of a guard, and that the ships-of‑war should anchor in a circle about them, taking care that no one should come against them to do them harm.