第4巻 第13章

Greek Ἐν ᾧ δὲ ταῦτα ἐν Βυζακίῳ ἐγένετο, ἐν τούτῳ Ἰαύδας ὃς τῶν ἐν Αὐρασίῳ Μαυρουσίων ἦρχε, πλέον ἢ τρισμυρίους ἄνδρας μαχίμους ἐπαγόμενος ἐληίζετο τὰ ἐπὶ Νουμιδίας χωρία, ἠνδραπόδιζέ τε τῶν Λιβύων πολλούς.

Dewing But during the time when these things were happening in Byzacium, Iaudas, who ruled the Moors in Aurasium, bringing more than thirty thousand fighting men, was plundering the country of Numidia and enslaving many of the Libyans.

Greek ἐτύγχανε δὲ Ἀλθίας ἐν Κεντουρίαις τῶν ἐκείνῃ φρουρίων φυλακὴν ἔχων· ὃς τῶν αἰχμαλώτων τινὰς ἀφελέσθαι τοὺς πολεμίους ἐν σπουδῇ ἔχων ξὺν Οὔννοις τοῖς αὐτῷ ἑπομένοις, ἑβδομήκοντα μάλιστα οὖσιν, ἔξω τοῦ φρουρίου ἐγένετο.

Dewing Now it so happened that Althias⁠ in Centuriae was keeping guard over the forts there; and he, being eager to take from the enemy some of their captives, went outside the fort with the Huns who were under his command, to the number of about seventy.

Greek λογισάμενός τε ὡς οὐχ οἷός τέ ἐστι πλήθει Μαυρουσίων τοσούτῳ ξὺν ἀνδράσιν ἑβδομήκοντα ἐς χεῖρας ἰέναι, στενοχωρίαν καταλαβεῖν τινα ἤθελεν, ὅπως ἂν δι’ αὐτῆς ὁδῷ ἰόντων τῶν πολεμίων τῶν τινας αἰχμαλώτων ἀναρπάσαι δυνατὸς εἴη.

Dewing And reasoning that he was not able to cope with such a great multitude of Moors with only seventy men, he wished to occupy some narrow pass, so that, while the enemy were marching through it, he might be able to snatch up some of the captives.

Greek καὶ ʽοὐ γάρ ἐστι τοιαύτη τις ἐνταῦθα ὁδός, ἐπεὶ πεδία ὕπτια πανταχῆ τῶν ἐκείνῃ χωρίων ἐστὶν’ ἐπενόει τάδε.

Dewing And since there are no such roads there, because flat plains extend in every direction, he devised the following plan.

Greek Πόλις ἔστι που πλησίον Τίγισις ὄνομα, τότε μὲν ἀτείχιστος οὖσα, κρήνην δὲ μεγάλην τινὰ ἐν στενοχωρίᾳ πολλῇ ἔχουσα.

Dewing There is a city not far distant, named Tigisis, then an unwalled place, but having a great spring at a place which was very closely shut in.

Greek ταύτην Ἀλθίας τὴν κρήνην καταλαβεῖν ἔγνω, λογισάμενος ὡς δίψῃ ἀναγκαζόμενοι ἐνταῦθα πάντως ἀφίξονται οἱ πολέμιοι· ἄλλο γὰρ ὕδωρ ἄγχιστά πη ὡς ἥκιστά ἐστι.

Dewing Althias therefore decided to take possession of this spring, reasoning that the enemy, compelled by thirst, would surely come there; for there is no other water at all close by.

Greek πᾶσι μὲν οὖν τὸ τοῦ πλήθους ἐκλογιζομένοις παράλογον ἔδοξε μανιώδης αὐτοῦ ἡ ἔννοια εἶναι.

Dewing Now it seemed to all upon considering the disparity of the armies that his plan was insane.

Greek οἱ δὲ Μαυρούσιοι κόπῳ τε πολλῷ καὶ πνίγει μεγάλῳ θέρους ὥρᾳ ὡμιληκότες, δίψῃ τε, ὡς τὸ εἰκός, ἀπ’ αὐτοῦ μεγίστῃ ἐχόμενοι, παρὰ τὴν κρήνην δρόμῳ πολλῷ ἦλθον, οὐδὲν ἐναντίωμα ἐν νῷ ἔχοντες.

Dewing But the Moors came up feeling very much wearied and greatly oppressed by the heat in the summer weather, and naturally almost overcome by an intense thirst, and they made for the spring with a great rush, having no thought of meeting any obstacle.

Greek ἐπειδὴ δὲ τὸ ὕδωρ πρὸς τῶν πολεμίων ἐχόμενον εὗρον, ἀπορούμενοι ξύμπαντες ἔστησαν, τοῦ πλείστου τῆς ἰσχύος ἤδη δαπανηθέντος σφίσι τῇ τοῦ ὕδατος ἐπιθυμίᾳ.

Dewing But when they found the water held by the enemy, they all halted, at a loss what to do, the greatest part of their strength having been already expended because of their desire for water.

Greek διὸ δὴ Ἰαύδας τῷ Ἀλθίᾳ εἰς λόγους ἥκων τὸ τριτημόριόν οἱ δώσειν ὡμολόγει τῆς λείας, ἐφ’ ᾧ δὴ Μαυρούσιοι πίωσιν ἅπαντες.

Dewing Iaudas therefore had a parley with Althias and agreed to give him the third part of the booty, on concerned that the Moors should all drink.

Greek ὁ δὲ τὸν μὲν λόγον ἐνδέχεσθαι οὐδαμῇ ἤθελε, μονομαχεῖν δὲ πρὸς αὐτὸν ὑπὲρ τούτων ἠξίου.

Dewing But Althias was by no means willing to accept the proposal, but demanded that he fight with him in single combat for the booty.

Greek τοῦ δὲ Ἰαύδα ταύτην δὴ δεξαμένου τὴν πρόκλησιν, ξυνέκειτο ἡσσηθέντος, ἂν οὕτω τύχῃ, τοῦ Ἀλθία Μαυρουσίους πιεῖν.

Dewing And this challenge being accepted by Iaudas, it was agreed that if it so fell out that Althias was , the Moors should drink.

Greek ἔχαιρέ τε ἅπας ὁ τῶν Μαυρουσίων στρατός, εὐέλπιδες ὄντες, ἐπεὶ Ἀλθίας μὲν ἰσχνός τε ἦν καὶ οὐ μέγας τὸ σῶμα, Ἰαύδας δὲ κάλλιστός τε ἦν καὶ μαχιμώτατος Μαυρουσίων ἁπάντων.

Dewing And the whole Moorish army was rejoiced, being in good hope, since Althias was lean not tall of body, while Iaudas was the finest and most warlike of all the Moors.

Greek ἄμφω μὲν οὖν ἱππεῖς ἐτύγχανον ὄντες. ὁ δὲ Ἰαύδας τὸ δοράτιον ἠκόντισε πρῶτος, οὗπερ Ἀλθίας ἐπ’ αὐτὸν ἰόντος χειρὶ λαβέσθαι τῇ δεξιᾷ παρὰ δόξαν ἰσχύσας Ἰαύδαν τε καὶ τοὺς πολεμίους κατέπληξε.

Dewing Now both of them were, as it happened, mounted. And Iaudas hurled his spear first, but as it was coming toward him Althias succeeded with amazing skill in catching it with his right hand, thus filling Iaudas and the enemy with consternation.

Greek τῇ δὲ λαιᾷ χειρὶ τὸ τόξον ἐντείνας αὐτίκα, ἐπεὶ ἀμφιδέξιος ἦν, τὸν Ἰαύδα ἵππον βαλὼν ἔκτεινε.

Dewing And with his left hand he drew his bow instantly, for he was ambidextrous, and hit and killed the horse of Iaudas.

Greek πεσόντος τε αὐτοῦ ἵππον ἕτερον τῷ ἄρχοντι Μαυρούσιοι ἦγον, ἐφ’ ὃν ἀναθορὼν Ἰαύδας εὐθὺς ἔφυγε· καί οἱ κόσμῳ οὐδενὶ ὁ τῶν Μαυρουσίων στρατὸς εἵπετο.

Dewing And as he fell, the Moors brought another horse for their commander, upon which Iaudas leaped and straightway fled; and the Moorish army followed him in complete disorder.

Greek ὅ τε Ἀλθίας τούς τε αἰχμαλώτους καὶ τὴν λείαν ἀφελόμενος ξύμπασαν ὄνομα μέγα ἐκ τοῦ ἔργου τούτου ἀνὰ πᾶσαν Λιβύην ἔσχε. ταῦτα μὲν οὖν τῇδε ἐχώρησε.

Dewing And Althias, by thus taking from them the captives and the whole of the booty, won a great name in consequence of this deed throughout all Libya. Such, then, was the course of these events.

Greek Σολόμων δὲ ἐν Καρχηδόνι ὀλίγον τινὰ διατρίψας χρόνον, ἐπί τε ὄρος τὸ Αὐράσιον καὶ Ἰαύδαν ἐπῆγε τὸ στράτευμα, ἐπενεγκὼν αὐτῷ ὅτι, ἡνίκα ὁ Ῥωμαίων στρατὸς τὴν ἐν Βυζακίῳ ἀσχολίαν εἶχε, πολλὰ ἐληίσατο τῶν ἐν Νουμιδίᾳ χωρίων. καὶ ἦν δὲ οὕτως.

Dewing And Solomon, after delaying a short time in Carthage, led his army toward Mt. Aurasium and Iaudas, alleging against him that, while the Roman army was occupied in Byzacium, he had plundered many of the places in Numidia. And this was true.

Greek ὥρμων δὲ Σολόμωνα ἐπὶ τὸν Ἰαύδαν Μαυρουσίων ἄρχοντες ἕτεροι, Μασσωνᾶς τε καὶ Ὀρταΐας, τῆς σφετέρας ἔχθρας ἕνεκα· Μασσωνᾶς μέν, ὅτι οἱ τὸν πατέρα Μεφανίαν κηδεστὴς ὢν Ἰαύδας δόλῳ ἔκτεινεν, ὁ δὲ ἕτερος, ὅτι ξὺν τῷ Μαστίνᾳ, ὃς τῶν ἐν Μαυριτανίᾳ Βαρβάρων ἡγεῖτο, ἐξελάσαι αὐτόν τε καὶ Μαυρουσίους ὧν ἦρχεν ἐκ τῆς χώρας ἐβούλευσεν, ἔνθα δὴ ἐκ παλαιοῦ ᾤκηντο.

Dewing Solomon was also urged on against Iaudas by the other commanders of the Moors, Massonas and Ortaïas, because of their personal enmity; Massonas, because his father Mephanias, who was the father-in‑law of Iaudas, had been treacherously slain by him, and Ortaïas, because Iaudas, together with Mastinas, who ruled over the barbarians in Mauretania, had purposed to drive him and all the Moors whom he ruled from the land where they had dwelt from of old.

Greek ὁ μὲν οὖν Ῥωμαίων στρατός, ἡγουμένου αὐτοῖς Σολόμωνος, καὶ Μαυρουσίων ὅσοι σφίσιν ἐς ξυμμαχίαν ἦλθον, ἐστρατοπεδεύσαντο ἐς ποταμὸν Ἀβίγαν, ὃς τὸ Αὐράσιον παραρρέων ἀρδεύει τὰ ἐκείνῃ χωρία.

Dewing So the Roman army, under the leader­ship of Solomon, and those of the Moors who came into alliance with them, made their camp on the river Abigas, which flows along by Aurasium and waters the land there.

Greek τῷ δὲ Ἰαύδᾳ ἐς μὲν τὸ πεδίον τοῖς πολεμίοις ἀντιτάξασθαι ἀξύμφορον εἶναι ἐφαίνετο, τὰ δὲ ἐν Αὐρασίῳ ἐξηρτύετο ὅπη οἱ ἐδόκει τοῖς ἐπιοῦσιν ὡς δυσκολώτατα ἔσεσθαι.

Dewing But to Iaudas it seemed inexpedient to array himself against the enemy in the plain, but he made his preparations on Aurasium in such a way as seemed to him would offer most difficulty to his assailants.

Greek τοῦτο δὲ τὸ ὄρος ἡμερῶν μὲν ὁδῷ δέκα καὶ τριῶν μάλιστα Καρχηδόνος διέχει, μέγιστον δὲ ἁπάντων ἐστὶν ὧν ἡμεῖς ἴσμεν.

Dewing This mountain is about thirteen days' journey distant from Carthage, and the largest of all known to us.

Greek ἡμερῶν γὰρ τριῶν ἐνταῦθα εὐζώνῳ ἀνδρὶ περίοδός ἐστι. καὶ τῷ μὲν ἐς αὐτὸ ἰέναι βουλομένῳ δύσοδόν τέ ἐστι καὶ δεινῶς ἄγριον, ἄνω δὲ ἥκοντι καὶ ἐν τῷ ὁμαλεῖ γενομένῳ πεδία τε φαίνεται καὶ κρῆναι πολλαὶ ποταμούς τε ποιοῦσαι καὶ παραδείσων πολύ τι χρῆμα θαυμάσιον οἷον.

Dewing For its circuit is a three days' journey for an unencumbered traveller. And for one wishing to go upon it the mountain is difficult of access and extremely wild, but as one ascends and reaches the level ground plains are seen and many springs which form rivers and a great number of altogether wonderful parks.

Greek καὶ ὅ τε σῖτος ὃς ἐνταῦθα φύεται ἥ τε ὀπώρα ἑκάστη διπλασία τὸ μέγεθός ἐστιν ἢ ἐν τῇ ἄλλῃ ἁπάσῃ Λιβύῃ γίνεσθαι πέφυκεν.

Dewing And the grain which grows here, and every kind of fruit, is double the size of that produced in all the rest of Libya.

Greek ἔστι δὲ καὶ φρούρια ἐνταῦθά πη ἀπημελημένα, τῷ μὴ δοκεῖν ἀναγκαῖα τοῖς ταύτῃ ᾠκημένοις εἶναι.

Dewing And there are fortresses also on this mountain, which are neglected, by reason of the fact that they do not seem necessary to the inhabitants.

Greek ἐξ ὅτου γὰρ τὸ Αὐράσιον Μαυρούσιοι Βανδίλους ἀφείλοντο, οὐδείς πω ἐς αὐτὸ πολέμιος ἦλθεν οὐδὲ ἐς δέος τοὺς βαρβάρους κατέστησεν, ἀλλὰ καὶ πόλιν Ταμούγαδιν, ἣ πρὸς τῷ ὄρει ἐν ἀρχῇ τοῦ πεδίου πρὸς ἀνίσχοντα ἥλιον πολυάνθρωπος οὖσα ᾤκητο, ἔρημον ἀνθρώπων οἱ Μαυρούσιοι ποιησάμενοι ἐς ἔδαφος καθεῖλον, ὅπως μὴ ἐνταῦθα ᾖ δυνατὰ ἐνστρατοπεδεύσασθαι τοῖς πολεμίοις, ἀλλὰ μηδὲ κατὰ πρόφασιν τῆς πόλεως ἄγχι ἐς τὸ ὄρος ἰέναι.

Dewing For since the time when the Moors wrested Aurasium from the Vandals,⁠ not a single enemy had until now ever come there or so much as caused the barbarians to be afraid that they would come, but even the populous city of Tamougadis, situated against the mountain on the east at the beginning of the plain, was emptied of its population by the Moors and razed to the ground, in order that the enemy should not only not be able to encamp there, to be sundown even have the city as an excuse for coming near the mountain.

Greek εἶχον δὲ οἱ ταύτῃ Μαυρούσιοι καὶ τὴν πρὸς ἑσπέραν τοῦ Αὐρασίου χώραν,

Dewing And the Moors of that place held also the land to the west of Aurasium, a tract both extensive and fertile.

Greek πολλήν τε καὶ ἀγαθὴν οὖσαν. καὶ τούτων ἐπέκεινα Μαυρουσίων ἔθνη ἕτερα ᾤκηντο, ὧν ἦρχεν Ὀρταΐας, ὃς Σολόμωνί τε καὶ Ῥωμαίοις,

Dewing And beyond these dwelt other nations of the Moors, who were ruled by Ortaïas, who had come, as was stated above, as an ally to Solomon and the Romans.

Greek ὡς ἔμπροσθεν ἐρρήθη, ξύμμαχος ἦλθε. τούτου τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἐγὼ λέγοντος ἤκουσα ὡς ὑπὲρ τὴν χώραν ἧς αὐτὸς ἄρχοι, οὐδένες ἀνθρώπων οἰκοῦσιν, ἀλλὰ γῆ ἔρημος ἐπὶ πλεῖστον διήκει, ταύτης τε ἐπέκεινα ἄνθρωποί εἰσιν οὐχ ὥσπερ οἱ Μαυρούσιοι μελανόχροοι, ἀλλὰ λευκοί τε λίαν τὰ σώματα καὶ τὰς κόμας ξανθοί. ταῦτα μὲν δὴ ὧδέ πη ἔχει.

Dewing And I have heard this man say that beyond the country which he ruled there was no habitation of men, but desert land extending to a great distance, and that beyond that there are men, not black-skinned like the Moors, but very white in body and fair-haired. So much, they, for these things.

Greek Σολόμων δὲ Μαυρουσίων τε τοὺς ξυμμάχους δωρησάμενος χρήμασι μεγάλοις καὶ πολλὰ παρακελευσάμενος παντὶ τῷ στρατῷ ἐς ὄρος τὸ Αὐράσιον ὡς ἐς μάχην διατεταγμένος ἀνέβαινεν, οἰόμενος ἐκείνῃ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τοῖς τε πολεμίοις διὰ μάχης ἰέναι καὶ ἀπ’ αὐτῶν διακρίνεσθαι, ὅπη ἂν ᾖ βουλομένῃ τῇ τύχῃ.

Dewing And Solomon, after bribing the Moors allies with great sums of money and earnestly exhorting them, began the ascent of Mt. Aurasium with the whole army arrayed as for battle, thinking that on that day he would do battle with the enemy and just as he was have the matter out with them according as fortune would study.

Greek οὐ γὰρ οὖν οὐδὲ τροφάς, ὅτι μὴ ὀλίγας, σφίσι τε καὶ τοῖς ἵπποις τοῖς σφετέροις οἱ στρατιῶται ἐπήγοντο.

Dewing Accordingly the soldiers did not even take with them any food, except a little, for themselves and their horses.

Greek πορευθέντες δὲ ἐν δυσχωρίᾳ πολλῇ πεντήκοντα μάλιστα σταδίους ηὐλίσαντο.

Dewing And after proceeding over very rough ground for about fifty stades, they made a bivouac.

Greek τοσαύτην τε ὁδὸν ἐς ἡμέραν ἑκάστην ἀνύοντες ἑβδομαῖοι ἀφικνοῦνται ἐς χῶρον ἔνθα φρούριόν τε παλαιὸν ἦν καὶ ποταμός τις ἀένναος. Ὄρος Ἀσπίδος τῇ σφετέρᾳ γλώσσῃ καλοῦσι Λατῖνοι τὸν χῶρον.

Dewing And covering a similar distance each day they came on the seventh day to a place where there was an ancient fortress and an ever-flowing stream. The place is called "Shield Mountain" by the Romans in their own tongue.⁠

Greek ἐνταῦθα σφίσι στρατοπεδεύεσθαι ἠγγέλλοντο οἱ πολέμιοι, καὶ ἐπειδὴ ἐν τῷ χωρίῳ τούτῳ ἐγένοντο πολέμιόν τε οὐδὲν ἀπήντα, στρατοπεδευσάμενοι καὶ ὡς ἐς μάχην παρασκευασάμενοι αὐτοῦ ἔμενον, ἡμερῶν τε αὐτοῖς ἐνταῦθα τριῶν χρόνος ἐτρίβη.

Dewing Now it was reported to them that the enemy were encamped there, and when they reached this place and encountered no enemy, they made camp and, preparing themselves battle, remained there; and three days' time was spent by them in that place.

Greek ὡς δὲ οἵ τε πολέμιοι τὸ παράπαν σφίσιν ἐκποδὼν ἵσταντο καὶ τὰ ἐπιτήδεια ἐπελελοίπει, ἐνθύμιον Σολόμωνἰ τε καὶ τῇ στρατιᾷ πάσῃ ἐγένετο, ὡς ἄρα τις πρὸς Μαυρουσίων τῶν ξυμμάχων ἐπιβουλὴ ἐς αὐτοὺς γίνοιτο·

Dewing And since the enemy kept altogether out of their way, and their provisions had failed, the thought came to Solomon and to the whole army that there had been some plot against them on the part of the Moors who were their allies;

Greek οἵ γε, καίπερ οὐκ ἀμελετήτως τῆς ἐν Αὐρασίῳ πορείας ἔχοντες, ἐπιστάμενοί τε, ὡς τὸ εἰκός, ὅσα τοῖς πολεμίοις βεβουλευμένα ἐτύγχανεν, ἐς ἑκάστην μὲν αὐτοῖς ἡμέραν λάθρα ἐπειγόμενοι, ὥσπερ ἐλέγετο, πολλάκις δὲ καὶ κατασκοπῆς ἕνεκα ἐς αὐτοὺς πρὸς Ῥωμαίων σταλέντες, οὐδὲν ἀγγεῖλαι ὑγιὲς ἔγνωσαν, ὅπως δὴ μὴ προμαθόντες τροφάς τε σφίσιν ἐς χρόνον πλείω ἔχοντες ἐς ὄρος τὸ Αὐράσιον ἀναβαίνοιεν καὶ τὰ ἄλλα παρασκευάσαιντο ὅπη ἄριστα ἔσεσθαι ἔμελλεν.

Dewing for these Moors were not unacquainted with the conditions of travel on Aurasium, and understood, probably, what had been decided upon by the enemy; they were stealthily going out to meet them each day, it was said, and had also frequently been Shawnee to their country by the Romans to reconnoitre, and had decided to make nothing but false reports, in order, no doubt, that the Romans, with no prior knowledge of conditions, might make the ascent of Mt. Aurasium without supplies for a longer time or without preparing themselves otherwise in the way which would be best.

Greek ὅλως δὲ ἐνέδραν σφίσι πρὸς ἀνδρῶν ξυμμάχων γεγενῆσθαι ὑποτοπήσαντες ἐς δέος ἦλθον, λογιζόμενοι ὡς ἄπιστοι λέγονται εἶναι Μαυρούσιοι φύσει, ἄλλως τε ἡνίκα Ῥωμαίοις ἢ ἄλλοις τισὶ ξυμμαχοῦντες ἐπὶ Μαυρουσίους στρατεύονται.

Dewing And, all things considered, the Romans were suspicious that an ambush had been set for them by men who were their allies and began to be afraid, reasoning that the Moors are said to be by nature untrustworthy at all times and especially whenever they march as allies with the Romans or any others against Moors.

Greek ὧν δὴ ἐνθυμηθέντες, ἅμα δὲ καὶ λιμῷ πιεζόμενοι, ἐνθένδε τε κατὰ τάχος ἀναχωροῦσιν ἄπρακτοι καὶ ἐς τὸ πεδίον ἀφικόμενοι χαράκωμα ἐποιήσαντο.

Dewing So, remembering these things, and at the same time being pinched by hunger, they withdrew from there with all speed without accomplishing anything, and, upon reaching the plain, constructed a stockade.

Greek Μετὰ δὲ Σολόμων τοῦ στρατοῦ μοῖράν τινα φυλακῆς ἕνεκα ἐν Νουμιδίᾳ καταστησάμενος ʽχειμὼν γὰρ ἤδη ἦν’ ξὺν τοῖς ἐπιλοίποις ἐς Καρχηδόνα ᾔει.

Dewing After this Solomon established a part of the army in Numidia to serve as a guard and with the remainder went to Carthage, since it was already winter.

Greek ἔνθα δὴ ἕκαστα διεῖπέ τε καὶ διεκόσμει, ὅπως ἅμα ἦρι ἀρχομένῳ πλείονι παρασκευῇ καί, ἢν δύνηται, ξυμμάχων Μαυρουσίων ἐκτὸς ἐπὶ τὸ Αὐράσιον αὖθις στρατεύοι.

Dewing There he arranged and set everything in order, so that at the beginning of spring he might again march against Aurasium with a larger equipment and, if possible, without Moors as allies.

Greek ἅμα δὲ καὶ στρατηγούς τε καὶ στρατιὰν ἄλλην καὶ νηῶν στόλον ἐπὶ Μαυρουσίους ἐξηρτύετο οἳ ἐν Σαρδοῖ τῇ νήσῳ ἵδρυνται·

Dewing At the same time he prepared generals and another army and a fleet of ships for an expedition against the Moors who dwell in the island of Sardinia;

Greek αὕτη γὰρ ἡ νῆσος μεγάλη μέν ἐστι καὶ ἄλλως εὐδαίμων, ἐς τὰς δύο μάλιστα τῆς Σικελίας κατατείνουσα μοίρας ʽἡμερῶν γὰρ ὁδὸν εἴκοσιν εὐζώνῳ ἀνδρὶ τὸ τῆς γῆς περίμετρον ἔχεἰ, Ῥωμης τε καὶ Καρχηδόνος ἐν μέσῳ κειμένη πρὸς Μαυρουσίων τῶν ταύτῃ ᾠκημένων πιέζεται.

Dewing for this island is a large one and flourishing besides, being about two thirds as large as Sicily (for the perimeter of the island makes a journey of twenty days for an unencumbered traveller); and lying, as it does, between Rome and Carthage, it was oppressed by the Moors who dwelt there.

Greek Βανδίλοι γὰρ τὸ παλαιὸν ἐς τούτους τοὺς βαρβάρους ὀργῇ χρώμενοι ὀλίγους δή τινας σὺν ταῖς γυναιξὶν ἐς Σαρδὼ πέμψαντες ἐνταῦθα εἷρξαν.

Dewing For the Vandals in ancient times, being enrolled against these barbarians, sent so few of them with their wives to Sardinia and confined them there.

Greek χρόνου δὲ προϊόντος τὰ ὄρη καταλαμβάνουσιν ἃ Καρανάλεως ἐγγύς πού ἐστι, τὰ μὲν πρῶτα λῃστείας ἐκ τοῦ ἀφανοῦς ἐς τοὺς περιοίκους ποιούμενοι, ἐπεὶ δὲ οὐχ ἧσσον ἐγένοντο ἢ τρισχίλιοι, καὶ ἐς τοὐμφανὲς καταθέοντες, λανθάνειν τε ἥκιστα ἀξιοῦντες ἅπαντα ἐληίζοντο τὰ ἐκείνῃ χωρία, Βαρβαρικῖνοι πρὸς τῶν ἐπιχωρίων καλούμενοι.

Dewing But as time went on they seized the mountains which are near Caranalis, at first making plundering expeditions secretly upon those who dwelt round about, but when they became no less than three thousand, they even made their raids openly, and with no desire for concealment plundered all the country there, being called Barbaricini⁠ by the natives.

Greek ἐπὶ τούτους δὴ τοὺς Μαυρουσίους ὁ Σολόμων ἐν τούτῳ τῷ χειμῶνι τὸν στόλον ἡτοίμαζε. ταῦτα μὲν οὖν ἐν Λιβύῃ ἐφέρετο τῇδε.

Dewing It was against these barbarians, therefore, that Solomon was preparing the fleet during that winter. Such, then, was the course of events in Libya. The Loeb Editor's Notes: 1 Cf. Book IV.ii.1. ❦ 2 The Canaanites of the Old Testament. ❦ 3 i.e., Clypea, now Kalibia, on the Carthaginian coast. ❦ 4 i.e., from Tangier, opposite Cadiz, to Algiers. On Caesarea see IV.v.5 and note. ❦ 5 "On the borders of Mauretania" according to Procopius, De aedificiis, VI.6.18. ❦ 6 Chap. x.6. ❦ 7 Book III.viii.25, 26. ❦ 8 The side toward the mountains; cf. § 20. ❦ 9 In the late Empire the excubitores, 300 in number, constituted the select guard of the palace. Their commander, comes excubitorum, held high rank at court; cf. VIII.xxi.1, where we are told that Belisarius held this position, and Arcana, 6.10, where Justin, afterwards emperor, is mentioned. ❦ 10 Cf. chap. viii.14. Procopius has explained in III.xi.6 that Solomon was a eunuch. ❦ 11 See III.viii.5. ❦ 12 A comes foederatorum, mentioned in III.xi.6. ❦ 13 Book III.viii.5. ❦ 14 i.e. Clypea. Not the place mentioned in IV.x.24. ❦ 15 The region in the interior of Sardinia called Barbargia or Barbagia still preserves this name. But Procopius' explanation of the origin of the barbarian settlers there has not been generally accepted. ◂ previous next ▸ Images with borders lead to more information. The thicker the border, the more information. (Details here.) UP TO: Vandal 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