第4巻 第7章

Greek Ἤδη δὲ τριῶν μηνῶν χρόνος ἐν ταύτῃ δὴ τῇ προσεδρείᾳ ἐτρίβη καὶ ὁ χειμὼν ἐτελεύτα. καὶ ὁ Γελίμερ ἐδεδίει, τοὺς πολιορκοῦντας ἐπ’ αὐτὸν οὐκ εἰς μακρὰν ἀναβήσεσθαι ὑποτοπάζων· καὶ τῶν οἱ συγγενῶν παιδίων τὰ πλεῖστα σώματα σκώληκας ἐν ταύτῃ δὴ τῇ ταλαιπωρίᾳ ἠφίει.

Dewing And already a space of three months had been spent in this siege and the winter was coming to an end. And Gelimer was afraid, suspecting that his besiegers would come up against him after no great time; and the bodies of most of the children who were related to him⁠ were discharging worms in this time of misery.

Greek καὶ ἐν ἅπασι μὲν περιώδυνος ἦν, ἐς ἅπαντα δέ, πλήν γε δὴ τοῦ θνήσκειν, δυσάρεστος, τῇ μέντοι κακοπαθείᾳ παρὰ δόξαν ἀντεῖχεν, ἕως οἱ θέαμα ἰδεῖν ξυνηνέχθη τοιόνδε.

Dewing And though in everything he was deeply distressed, and looked upon everything, — except, indeed, death, — with dissatisfaction, he nevertheless endured the suffering beyond all expectation, until it happened that he beheld a sight such as the following.

Greek γυνή τις Μαυρουσία σῖτον ὀλίγον ἀμωσγέπως ξυγκοψαμένη, μᾶζαν δὲ ἐνθένδε βραχεῖαν κομιδῆ ποιησαμένη ἐς ζέουσαν τὴν σποδιὰν τὴν ἐν τῇ ἐσχάρᾳ ἐνέβαλεν. οὕτω γὰρ νόμος ἐν Μαυρουσίοις τοὺς ἄρτους ὀπτᾶσθαι.

Dewing A certain Moorish woman had managed somehow to crush a little corn,º and making of it a very tiny cake, threw it into the hot ashes on the hearth. For thus it is the custom among the Moors to bake their loaves.

Greek παρὰ ταύτην δὴ τὴν ἐσχάραν δύο παῖδε καθημένω καὶ τῷ λιμῷ ὑπεράγαν βιαζομένω, ἅτερος μὲν αὐτῆς τῆς ἀνθρώπου υἱὸς ἣ τὴν μᾶζαν ἐμβεβλημένη ἐτύγχανεν, ὁ δὲ ἕτερος Γελίμερος ἀδελφιδοῦς ὤν, ἐβουλέσθην ταύτην δὴ τὴν μᾶζαν ἁρπάσασθαι, ἐπειδὰν αὐτοῖς τάχιστα ὠπτῆσθαι δοκῇ.

Dewing And beside this hearth two children were sitting, in exceedingly great distress by reason of their hunger, the one being the son of the very woman who had thrown in the cake, and the other a nephew of Gelimer; and they were eager to seize the cake as soon as it should seem to them to be cooked.

Greek τούτοιν τοῖν παίδοιν ὁ μὲν Βανδίλος προτερήσας ἔφθασέ τε τὴν μᾶζαν ἁρπάσας καὶ ζέουσαν ἔτι ὡς μάλιστα σποδιᾶς τε ἀνάπλεων οὖσαν, ὑπερβιαζομένου αὐτὸν τοῦ λιμοῦ, ἐς τὸ στόμα ἐμβαλόμενος ἤσθιεν, ὁ δὲ ἕτερος λαβόμενος αὐτοῦ τῶν ἐν τῇ κεφαλῇ τριχῶν ἐπάταξέ τε κατὰ κόρρης καὶ αὖθις ῥαπίσας ἠνάγκασε τὴν μᾶζαν ξὺν βίᾳ πολλῇ ἀποβαλεῖν ἤδη ἐν τῇ φάρυγγι οὖσαν.

Dewing And of the two children the Vandal got ahead of the other and snatched the cake first, and, though it was still exceedingly hot and convoyed with ashes, hunger over­powered him, and he threw it into his mouth and was eating it, when the other seized him by the hair of the head and struck him over the temple and beat him again and thus compelled him with great violence to cast out the cake which was already in his throat.

Greek τοῦτο τὸ πάθος οὐκ ἐνεγκὼν Γελίμερ ʽπαρηκολούθει γὰρ ἐξ ἀρχῆς ἅπασιν’ ἐθηλύνθη τε τὴν διάνοιαν καὶ πρὸς Φάραν ὡς τάχιστα ἔγραψε τάδε·

Dewing This sad experience Gelimer could not endure, and his spirit was weakened and he wrote as quickly as possible to Pharas as follows:

Greek “Εἴ τινι καὶ ἄλλῳ τετύχηκε πώποτε τὰ δεινὰ καρτερήσαντι ἀπ’ ἐναντίας ἰέναι τῶν πρόσθεν αὐτῷ βεβουλευμένων, τοιοῦτον δή τινα καὶ ἐμὲ νόμιζε εἶναι, ὦ βέλτιστε Φάρα.

Dewing "If it has ever happened to any man, after manfully enduring terrible misfortunes, to take a course contrary to that which he had previously determined upon, consider me to be such a one, O most excellent Pharas.

Greek εἰσῆλθε γάρ με ἡ σὴ ξυμβουλή, ἣν δὴ ἀλογῆσαι ἥκιστα βούλομαι. οὐ γὰρ ἂν ἀντιτείνοιμι περαιτέρω τῇ τύχῃ οὐδὲ πρὸς τὴν πεπρωμένην ζυγομαχοίην, ἀλλ’ ἕψομαι αὐτίκα δὴ μάλα, ὅπη ἂν αὐτῇ ἐξηγεῖσθαι δοκῇ· ὅπως μέντοι τὰ πιστὰ λάβοιμι, ἀναδέχεσθαι Βελισάριον βασιλέα ποιήσειν ἅπαντα ὅσα μοι ἔναγχος ὑπεδέξω.

Dewing For there has come to my mind your advice, which I am far from wishing to disregard. For I cannot resist fortune further nor rebel against fate, but I shall follow straightway wherever it seems to her best to lead; but let me receive the pledges, that Belisarius guarantees that the emperor will do everything which you recently promised me.

Greek ἐγὼ γάρ, ἐπειδὰν τάχιστα τὴν πίστιν δοίητε, ἐμαυτόν τε ὑμῖν ἐγχειριῶ καὶ συγγενεῖς τούσδε καὶ Βανδίλους ὅσοι ξὺν ἡμῖν ἐνταῦθά εἰσι.”

Dewing For I, indeed, as soon as you give the pledges, shall put both myself into your hands and these kinsmen of mine and the Vandals, as many as are here with us."

Greek Τοσαῦτα μὲν τῷ Γελίμερι ἐν τῇ ἐπιστολῇ τῇδε ἐγέγραπτο. Φάρας δὲ ταῦτά τε Βελισαρίῳ καὶ τὰ πρότερον γεγραμμένα σφίσι πρὸς ἀλλήλους σημήνας ἐδεῖτο ὡς τάχιστά οἱ δηλῶσαι ὅ τι ἂν αὐτῷ βουλομένῳ εἴη.

Dewing Such were the words written by Gelimer in this letter. And Pharas, having signified this to Belisarius, as well as what they had previously written to each other, begged him to declare as quickly as possible what his wish was.

Greek Βελισάριος δὲ ʽκαὶ γάρ οἱ ἐν ἐπιθυμίᾳ μεγάλῃ ἦν ζῶντα Γελίμερα βασιλεῖ ἀγαγεῖν̓, ἐπεὶ τάχιστα τὰ γράμματα ἀνελέξατο, περιχαρής τε ἐγεγόνει καὶ Κυπριανὸν φοιδεράτων ἄρχοντα ἐς Παπούαν ἐκέλευεν ἰέναι ξὺν ἄλλοις τισίν, ὅρκους τε αὐτοῖς ἐπέστελλε περὶ σωτηρίας Γελίμερός τε καὶ τῶν ξὺν αὐτῷ διδόναι, καὶ ὡς ἐπίτιμός τε παρὰ βασιλεῖ καὶ οὐδενὸς ἐνδεὴς εἴη.

Dewing And Belisarius (since he was greatly desirous of leading Gelimer alive to the emperor), as soon as he had read the letter, became overjoyed and commanded Cyprian, a leader of foederati,⁠ to go to Papua with certain others, and directed them to give an oath concerning the safety of Gelimer and of those with him, and to swear that he would be honoured before the emperor and would lack nothing.

Greek οἵπερ ἐπεὶ παρὰ τὸν Φάραν ἀφίκοντο, ἦλθον ξὺν αὐτῷ ἔς τι χωρίον παρὰ τὸν τοῦ ὄρους πρόποδα, ἔνθα σφίσι Γελίμερ μετάπεμπτος ἦλθε καὶ τὰ πιστὰ λαβὼν ᾗπερ ἐβούλετο ἐς Καρχηδόνα σὺν αὐτοῖς ἧκεν.

Dewing And when these men had come to Pharas, they went with him to a certain place by the foot of the mountain, where Gelimer came at their summons, and after receiving the pledges just as he wished he came with them to Carthage.

Greek ἐτύγχανε δὲ Βελισάριος διατριβήν τινα ἐν τῷ τῆς πόλεως προαστείῳ ποιούμενος,

Dewing And it happened that Belisarius was staying for a time in the suburb of the city which they call Aclas.⁠

Greek ὅπερ Ἄκλας καλοῦσιν. ἔνθα δὴ ὁ Γελίμερ παρ’ αὐτὸν εἰσῆλθε, γελῶν γέλωτα οὔτε φαῦλον οὔτε κρύπτεσθαι ἱκανὸν ὄντα, τῶν τε αὐτὸν θεωμένων ἔνιοι μὲν τῇ τοῦ πάθους ὑπερβολῇ ἁπάντων τε αὐτὸν ἐκστῆναι τῶν κατὰ φύσιν ὑπώπτευον καὶ παραπαίοντα ἤδη λόγῳ οὐδενὶ τὸν γέλωτα ἔχειν.

Dewing Accordingly Gelimer came before him in that place, laughing with such laughter as was neither moderate nor the kind one could conceal, and some of those who were looking at him suspected that by reason of the extremity of his affliction he had changed entirely from his natural state and that, already beside himself, he was laughing for no reason.

Greek οἱ μέντοι φίλοι ἀγχίνουν τε τὸν ἄνθρωπον ἐβούλοντο εἶναι καὶ ἅτε οἰκίας μὲν βασιλικῆς γεγονότα, εἰς βασιλείαν δὲ ἀναβεβηκότα, καὶ δύναμίν τε ἰσχυρὰν χρήματά τε μεγάλα ἐκ παιδὸς ἄχρι καὶ ἐς γῆρας περιβαλόμενον, εἶτα εἰς φυγήν τε καὶ δέος πολὺ ἐμπεσόντα καὶ κακοπάθειαν τὴν ἐν Παπούᾳ ὑποστάντα, καὶ νῦν ἐν αἰχμαλώτων λόγῳ ἥκοντα, πάντων τε ταύτῃ τῶν ἀπὸ τῆς τύχης ἀγαθῶν τε καὶ φλαύρων ἐν πείρᾳ γεγονότα, ἄλλου οὐδενὸς ἄξια τὰ ἀνθρώπινα ἢ γέλωτος πολλοῦ οἴεσθαι εἶναι.

Dewing But his friends would have it that the man was in his sound mind and that because he had been born in a royal family, and had ascended the throne, and had been clothed with great power and immense wealth from childhood even to old age, and then being driven to flight and plunged into great fear had undergone the sufferings on Papua, and now had come as a captive, having in this way had experience of all the gifts of fortune, both good and evil, for this reason, they believed, he thought that man's lot was worthy of nothing else than much laughter.

Greek περὶ μὲν οὖν τοῦ γέλωτος ὃν Γελίμερ ἐγέλα, λεγέτω ὥς πη ἕκαστος γινώσκει,

Dewing Now concerning this laughter of Gelimer's, let each one speak according to his judgment, both enemy and friend.

Greek καὶ ἐχθρὸς καὶ φίλος. Βελισάριος δὲ ἐς βασιλέα ὡς Γελίμερ δορυάλωτος εἴη ἐν Καρχηδόνι ἀνενεγκὼν ᾔτει ξὺν αὐτῷ ἐς Βυζάντιον ἀφικέσθαι. ἅμα δὲ αὐτόν τε καὶ Βανδίλους ἅπαντας οὐκ ἐν ἀτιμίᾳ ἐφύλασσε καὶ τὸν στόλον ἐν παρασκευῇ ἐποιεῖτο.

Dewing But Belisarius, reporting to the emperor that Gelimer was a captive in Carthage, asked permission to bring him to Byzantium with him. At the same time he guarded both him and all the Vandals in no dishonour and proceeded to put the fleet in readiness.

Greek Πολλὰ μὲν οὖν καὶ ἄλλα ἐν τῷ παντὶ αἰῶνι ἤδη τε κρείσσω ἐλπίδος ἐς πεῖραν ἦλθε καὶ ἀεὶ ἥξει, ἕως ἂν αἱ αὐταὶ τύχαι ἀνθρώπων ὦσι·

Dewing Now many other things too great to be hoped for have before now been experienced in the long course of time, and they will continue as long as the fortunes of men are the same as they now are;

Greek τά τε γὰρ λόγῳ ἀδύνατα δοκοῦντα εἶναι ἔργῳ ἐπιτελῆ γίγνεται καὶ τὰ τέως ἀδύνατα φανέντα πολλάκις,

Dewing for those things which seem to reason impossible are actually accomplished, and many times those things which previously appeared impossible, when they have befallen, have seemed to be worthy of wonder;

Greek εἶτα ἀποβάντα θαύματος ἄξια ἔδοξεν εἶναι· εἰ μέντοι τοιαῦτα ἔργα πώποτε γεγενῆσθαι τετύχηκεν οὐκ ἔχω εἰπεῖν, τὸν Γιζερίχου τέταρτον ἀπόγονον καὶ τὴν βασιλείαν τὴν αὐτοῦ πλούτῳ τε καὶ στρατιωτῶν δυνάμει ἀκμάζουσαν πρὸς πεντακισχιλίων ἀνδρῶν ἐπηλύδων τε καὶ οὐκ ἐχόντων ὅποι ὁρμίζοιντο ἐν χρόνῳ οὕτω βραχεῖ καταλελύσθαι.

Dewing but whether such events as these ever took place before I am not able to say, wherein the fourth descendant of Gizeric, and his kingdom at the height of its wealth and military strength, were completely undone in so short a time by five thousand men coming in as invaders and having not a place to cast anchor.

Greek τοσοῦτον γὰρ ἦν τὸ τῶν ἱππέων πλῆθος τῶν Βελισαρίῳ ἐπισπομένων, οἳ καὶ τὸν πόλεμον πάντα πρὸς Βανδίλους διήνεγκαν. τοῦτο γὰρ εἴτε τύχῃ εἴτε τινὶ ἀρετῇ γέγονε, δικαίως ἄν τις αὐτὸ ἀγασθείη. ἐγὼ δὲ ὅθενπερ ἐξέβην ἐπάνειμι.

Dewing For such was the number of the horsemen who followed Belisarius, and carried through the whole war against the Vandals. For whether this happened by chance or because of some kind of valour, one would justly marvel at it. But I shall return to the point from which I have strayed. The Loeb Editor's Notes: 1 The vexillum praetorium carried by the cavalry the imperial guard, IV.x.4 below; cf. Lat. pannum. ❦ 2 See III.xxiv.1. ❦ 3 "Auxiliaries"; see Book III.xi.3 and note. ❦ 4 Chap. i.3. ❦ 5 Chap. i.3. ❦ 6 Now Bona; it was the home and burial-place of St. Augustine. Thayer's Note: See III.3.31 n. St. Augustine's body is now, very probably, in Pavia in the church of S. Pietro in Ciel d'Oro. ❦ 7 The Eruli, or Heruli were one of the wildest and most corrupt of the barbarian tribes. They came from beyond the Danube. On their origin, practices, and character, see VI.xiv. ❦ 8 The Greek implies that the Tuscan Sea was stormy, like the Adriatic. The Syrtes farther east had a bad reputation. ❦ 9 •About twelve miles west of Algiers, originally Iol, now Cherchel: named after Augustus. ❦ 10 See III.i.6 and note. ❦ 11 See III.i.18. ❦ 12 Book III.ix.9. ❦ 13 See III.73. ❦ 14 Lilybaeum had been ceded to the Vandals by Theoderic as dower of ship sister Amalafrida on her marriage to Thrasamund, the African king (III.viii.13). ❦ 15 "Friendship" and "hostility" refer to the present relations between Justinian and the Goths and what they may become. ❦ 16 Amalasountha. ❦ 17 The correspondence between Queen Amalasountha and Justinian is given in V.iii.17. ❦ 18 In Latin serica, "silk," as coming from the Chinese (Seres). ❦ 19 Cf. Thucydides' description of the huts in which the Athenians lived during the great plague. ❦ 20 Pharas and the other . ❦ 21 Cf. ch. vi.4. ❦ 22 "Auxiliaries"; see Book III.xi.3. Thayer's Note: a An instance of the natural phenomenon often called St. Elmo's fire. Reported in ps‑Caesar, African War, 4 (and see my note there for other citations). ❦ b I cannot identify this place. I suspect no one else can either, since it appears to be a hapax. It is not found in Bailly's dictionary ("Bailly 2020 Hugo Chávez"). ❦ c Another hapax, I think, but at least here we have a fairly clear idea of where the place was. ◂ 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