第4巻 第8章

Greek Ὁ μὲν οὖν Βανδιλικὸς πόλεμος ἐτελεύτα ὧδε. ὁ δὲ φθόνος, οἷα ἐν μεγάλῃ εὐδαιμονίᾳ φιλεῖ γίγνεσθαι, ᾤδαινεν ἤδη ἐς Βελισάριον, καίπερ αὐτῷ οὐδεμίαν παρέχοντα σκῆψιν.

Dewing So the Vandalic war ended thus. But envy, as is wont to happen in cases of great good fortune, was already swelling against Belisarius, although he provided no pretext for it.

Greek τῶν γὰρ ἀρχόντων τινὲς διέβαλον αὐτὸν ἐς βασιλέα, τυραννίδα αὐτῷ οὐδαμόθεν προσήκουσαν ἐπικαλοῦντες.

Dewing For some of the officers slandered him to the emperor, charging him, without any grounds whatever, with seeking to set up a kingdom for himself,⁠ a statement for which there was no basis whatever.

Greek βασιλεὺς δὲ ταῦτα μὲν ἐς τὸ πᾶν οὐκ ἐξήνεγκεν, ἢ τὴν διαβολὴν ἐν ὀλιγωρίᾳ ποιησάμενος, ἢ καὶ βέλτιον αὐτῷ ἐνομίσθη.

Dewing But the emperor did not disclose these things to the world, either because he paid no heed to the slander, or because this course seemed better to him.

Greek Σολόμωνα δὲ πέμψας αἵρεσιν Βελισαρίῳ παρέσχετο ἑλέσθαι ὁποτέραν ἂν αὐτῷ βουλομένῳ εἴη, πότερα ξὺν Γελίμερί τε καὶ Βανδίλοις ἐς Βυζάντιον ἥκειν, ἢ αὐτοῦ μένοντι ἐκείνους στεῖλαι.

Dewing But he sent Solomon and gave Belisarius the opportunity to choose whichever of two things he desired, either to come to Byzantium with Gelimer and the Vandals, or to remain there and send them.

Greek ὁ δὲ ʽοὐ γὰρ ἔλαθον αὐτὸν οἱ ἄρχοντες τὴν τυραννίδα ἐπενεγκόντεσ̓ ἐς Βυζάντιον ἀφικέσθαι ἠπείγετο, ὅπως δὴ τήν τε αἰτίαν ἐκλύσηται καὶ τοὺς διαβαλόντας μετελθεῖν δύνηται. ὅτῳ δὲ τρόπῳ τὴν τῶν κατηγόρων πεῖραν ἔμαθεν, ἐρῶν ἔρχομαι.

Dewing And Belisarius, since it did not escape him that the officers were bringing against him the charge of seeking supreme power, was eager to get to Byzantium, in order that he might clear himself of the charge and be able to proceed against his slanderers.

Greek ὅτε δὴ τὴν διαβολὴν τήνδε ποιεῖσθαι οἱ διαβαλόντες ἤθελον, δείσαντες μὴ σφίσιν ὁ τὴν ἐπιστολὴν μέλλων κομιεῖν βασιλεῖ ἐν θαλάσσῃ ἀφανισθεὶς τὰ πρασσόμενα διακωλύσῃ, ἐν δύο γραμματείοις τὴν τυραννίδα γράψαντες, ἀγγέλους δύο ὡς βασιλέα ἐν ναυσὶ δύο στέλλειν διενοοῦντο.

Dewing Now as to the manner in which he learned of the attempt of his accusers, I shall explain. When those who denounced him wished to present this slander, fearing lest the man who was to carry their letter to the emperor should be lost at sea and thus put a stop to their proceedings, they wrote the aforesaid accusation on two tablets, proposing to send two messengers to the emperor in two ships.

Greek τούτοιν ἅτερος μὲν λαθὼν. ἔπλευσεν, ὁ δὲ ἕτερος ἐξ ὑποψίας δή τινος ἐν Μανδρακίῳ ἥλω, καὶ τὰ γράμματα τοῖς λαβοῦσιν αὐτὸν ἐγχειρίσας ἔκπυστα ἐποίει τὰ πρασσόμενα.

Dewing And one of these two sailed away without being detected, but the second, on account of some suspicion or other, was captured in Mandracium, and putting the writing into the hands of his captors, he made known what was being done.

Greek ταύτῃ τε μαθὼν Βελισάριος ἐς ὄψιν ἐλθεῖν τὴν βασιλέως, ὥσπερ ἐρρήθη, ἠπείγετο. ταῦτα μὲν δὴ ἐν Καρχηδόνι ἐφέρετο τῇδε.

Dewing So Belisarius, having learned in this way, was eager to come before the emperor, as has been said. Such, then, was the course of these events at Carthage.

Greek Μαυρούσιοι δὲ ὅσοι ἔν τε Βυζακίῳ καὶ Νουμιδίᾳ ᾤκηντο, ἐς ἀπόστασίν τε ἐξ αἰτίας οὐδεμιᾶς εἶδον καὶ τὰς σπονδὰς διαλύσαντες χεῖρας ἀνταίρειν ἐξαπιναίως Ῥωμαίοις ἔγνωσαν. καὶ τοῦτο οὐκ ἀπὸ τρόπου τοῦ οἰκείου σφίσιν ἐπράσσετο.

Dewing But the Moors who dwelt in Byzacium and in Numidia turned to revolt for no good reason, and they decided to break the treaty and to rise suddenly against the Romans. And this was not out of keeping with their peculiar character.

Greek ἔστι γὰρ ἐν Μαυρουσίοις οὔτε θεοῦ φόβος οὔτε ἀνθρώπων αἰδώς. μέλει γὰρ αὐτοῖς οὔτε ὅρκων οὔτε ὁμήρων, ἢν καὶ παῖδες ἢ ἀδελφοὶ τῶν ἐν σφίσιν ἡγουμένων τύχωσιν ὄντες.

Dewing For there is among the Moors neither fear of God nor respect for men. For they care not either for oaths or for hostages, even though the hostages chance to be the children or brothers of their leaders.

Greek οὐδὲ ἄλλῳ οὐδενὶ εἰρήνη ἐν Μαυρουσίοις, ὅτι μὴ τῶν πολεμίων τῶν κατ’ αὐτῶν δέει κρατύνεται. ὅτῳ δὲ αὐτοῖς αἵ τε πρὸς Βελισάριον σπονδαὶ ἐγένοντο καὶ ὅτῳ διελύθησαν τρόπῳ, ἐγὼ δηλώσω.

Dewing Nor is peace maintained among the Moors by any other means than by fear of the enemies opposing them. Now I shall set forth in what manner the treaty was made by them with Belisarius and how it was broken.

Greek ἡνίκα ὁ βασιλέως στόλος ἐπίδοξος ἐγεγόνει ὡς ἐς Λιβύην ἀφίξεται, δείσαντες οἱ Μαυρούσιοι μή τι ἐνθένδε κακὸν λάβωσι ταῖς ἐκ τῶν γυναικῶν μαντείαις ἐχρῶντο.

Dewing When it came to be expected that the emperor's expedition would arrive in Libya, the Moors, fearing lest they should receive some harm from it, consulted the oracles of their women.

Greek ἄνδρα γὰρ μαντεύεσθαι ἐν τῷ ἔθνει τούτῳ οὐ θέμις, ἀλλὰ γυναῖκες σφίσι κάτοχοι ἐκ δή τινος ἱερουργίας γινόμεναι προλέγουσι τὰ ἐσόμενα, τῶν πάλαι χρηστηρίων οὐδενὸς ἧσσον.

Dewing For it is not lawful in this nation for a man to utter oracles, but the women among them as a result of some sacred rites become possessed and foretell the future, no less than any of the ancient oracles.

Greek τότε οὖν πυνθανομένοις αὐτοῖς, ὥσπερ ἐρρήθη, αἱ γυναῖκες ἀνεῖλον, στρατὸν ἐξ ὑδάτων, Βανδίλων κατάλυσιν, Μαυρουσίων φθοράν τε καὶ ἧτταν,

Dewing So on that occasion, when they made enquiry, as has been said, the women gave the response: "There shall be a host from the waters, the overthrow of the Vandals, destruction and defeat of the Moors, when the general of the Romans shall come unbearded."

Greek ὅτε Ῥωμαίοις ὁ στρατηγὸς ἀγένειος ἔλθοι. ταῦτα ἀκούσαντες οἱ Μαυρούσιοι, ἐπεὶ τὸ βασιλέως στράτευμα εἶδον ἐκ θαλάσσης ἧκον, ἐν δέει τε μεγάλῳ ἐγένοντο καὶ ξυμμαχεῖν Βανδίλοις ἥκιστα ἤθελον, ἀλλ’ ἐς Βελισάριον πέμψαντες καὶ τὴν εἰρήνην, ὡς πρόσθεν δεδήλωται, κρατυνάμενοι ἡσύχαζόν τε καὶ τὸ μέλλον ὅπη ἐκβήσεται ἐκαραδόκουν.

Dewing When the Moors heard this, since they saw that the emperor's army had come from the sea, they began to be in great fear and were quite unwilling to fight in alliance with the Vandals, but they sent to Belisarius and established peace, as has been stated previously,⁠ and then remained quiet and waited for the future, to see how it would fall out.

Greek ἐπεὶ δὲ Βανδίλων τὰ πράγματα ἤδη ἐς πέρας ἀφῖκτο, πέμπουσιν ἐς τὸ Ῥωμαίων στράτευμα, διερευνώμενοι εἴ τις αὐτοῖς ἐν ἀρχῇ ἀγένειός ἐστιν.

Dewing And when the power of the Vandals had now come to an end, they sent to the Roman army, investigating whether there was anyone unbearded among them holding an office.

Greek ἐπεὶ δὲ ἅπαντας πώγωνος ἑώρων ἐμπιπλαμένους, οὐ χρόνον τὸν παρόντα τὸ μαντεῖον σημαίνειν σφίσιν ᾤοντο, ἀλλὰ πολλαῖς γενεαῖς ὕστερον, ταύτῃ τὸ λόγιον ἑρμηνεύοντες, ᾗ αὐτοὶ ἤθελον.

Dewing And when they saw all wearing full beards, they thought that the oracle did not indicate the present time to them, but one many generations later, interpreting the saying in that way which they themselves wished.

Greek αὐτίκα μὲν οὖν ἐς τὴν διάλυσιν τῶν σπονδῶν ὥρμηντο, ἀλλὰ τὸ ἐκ Βελισαρίου δέος αὐτοὺς διεκώλυεν.

Dewing Immediately, therefore, they were eager to break the treaty, but their fear of Belisarius prevented them.

Greek οὐ γάρ ποτε πολέμῳ Ῥωμαίων περιέσεσθαι, παρόντος γε αὐτοῦ, ἐν ἐλπίδι εἶχον.

Dewing For they had no hope that they would ever overcome the Romans in war, at least with him present.

Greek ὡς δὲ τὴν ἄφοδον αὐτοῦ σὺν τοῖς ὑπασπισταῖς τοῖς αὐτοῦ καὶ δορυφόροις ποιεῖσθαι ἤκουσαν, ἤδη τε τὰς ναῦς ὑπ’ αὐτῶν τε καὶ Βανδίλων πληροῦσθαι ἐπύθοντο, τὰ ὅπλα ἐξαπιναίως ἀράμενοι ἅπασαν κακοῦ ἰδέαν ἐς τοὺς Λίβυας ἐπεδείξαντο.

Dewing But when they heard that he was making his departure together with his guards and spearmen, and that the ships were already being filled with them and the Vandals, they suddenly rose in arms and displayed every manner of outrage upon the Libyans.

Greek οἱ γὰρ στρατιῶται ὀλίγοι τε ἐν ἑκάστῃ ἐσχατιᾶς χώρᾳ καὶ ἔτι ἀπαράσκευοι ὄντες, καταθέουσιν οὐκ ἂν εἶχον πανταχόσε τοῖς βαρβάροις ἀνθίστασθαι, οὐδὲ τὰς ἐπεκδρομὰς συχνάς τε καὶ οὐκ ἐκ τοῦ ἐμφανοῦς γινομένας διακωλύσειν.

Dewing For the soldiers were both few in each place on the frontier and still unprepared, so that they would not have been able to stand against the barbarians as they made inroads at every point, nor to prevent their incursions, which took place frequently and not in an open manner.

Greek ἀλλ’ ἄνδρες μὲν οὐδενὶ κόσμῳ ἐκτείνοντο, γυναῖκες δὲ σὺν παισὶν ἐν ἀνδραπόδων λόγῳ ἐγίνοντο, τά τε χρήματα ἐκ πάσης ἐσχατιᾶς ἤγετο καὶ φυγῆς ἡ χώρα ξύμπασα ὑπεπίμπλατο. ταῦτα Βελισαρίῳ ἤδη που ἀναγομένῳ ἠγγέλλετο.

Dewing But men were being killed indiscriminately and women with their children were being made slaves, and the wealth was being plundered from every part of the frontier and the whole country was being filled with fugitives. These things were reported to Belisarius when he was just about setting sail.

Greek καὶ αὐτὸς μὲν ἀναστρέφειν οὐκέτι εἶχε, Σολόμωνι δὲ διέπειν τὸ Λιβύης κράτος παρείχετο, ἀπολέξας καὶ τῶν ὑπασπιστῶν τε καὶ δορυφόρων τῶν αὑτοῦ μέρος τὸ πλεῖστον, ὥστε Σολόμωνι ἑπομένους Μαυρουσίων ὅτι τάχιστα τοὺς ἐπαναστάντας τῆς ἐς Ῥωμαίους ἀδικίας σὺν προθυμίᾳ πολλῇ τίσασθαι.

Dewing And since it was now too late for him to return himself, he entrusted Solomon with the administration of Libya and he also chose out the greatest part of his own guards and spearmen, instructing them to follow Solomon and as quickly as possible to punish with all zeal those of the Moors who had risen in revolt and to exact vengeance for the injury done the Romans.

Greek καὶ βασιλεὺς δὲ στρατιὰν ἄλλην Σολόμωνι ἔπεμψε, ξὺν Θεοδώρῳ τε τῷ ἐκ Καππαδοκίας καὶ Ἰλδίγερι· ὃς δὴ Ἀντωνίνης γαμβρὸς τῆς Βελισαρίου γυναικὸς ἦν.

Dewing And the emperor sent another army also to Solomon with Theodorus, the Cappadocian, and Ildiger, who was the son-in‑law of Antonina, the wife of Belisarius.

Greek ἐπειδὴ δὲ τῶν ἐπὶ Λιβύης χωρίων τοὺς φόρους οὐκέτι ἦν ἐν γραμματείοις τεταγμένους εὑρεῖν, ᾗπερ αὐτοὺς ἀπεγράψαντο ἐν τοῖς ἄνω χρόνοις Ῥωμαῖοι, ἅτε Γιζερίχου ἀναχαιτίσαντός τε καὶ διαφθείραντος κατ’ ἀρχὰς ἅπαντα, Τρύφων τε καὶ Εὐστράτιος πρὸς βασιλέως ἐστάλησαν, ἐφ’ ᾧ τοὺς φόρους αὐτοῖς τάξουσι κατὰ λόγον ἑκάστῳ. οἳ δὴ οὐ μέτριοι Λίβυσιν οὐδὲ φορητοὶ ἔδοξαν εἶναι.

Dewing And since it was no longer possible to find the revenues of the districts of Libya set down in order in documents, as the Romans had recorded them in former times,⁠ inasmuch as Gizeric had upset and destroyed everything in the beginning, Tryphon and Eustratius were sent by the emperor, in order to assess the taxes for the Libyans each according to his proportion. But these men seemed to the Libyans neither moderate nor endurable.