第5巻 第22章

Greek Γότθοι δὲ ὀκτωκαιδεκάτῃ ἀπὸ τῆς προσεδρείας ἡμέρᾳ, Οὐιττίγιδος σφίσιν ἡγουμένου, ἀμφὶ ἡλίου ἀνατολὰς ὡς τειχομαχήσοντες ἐπὶ τὸν περίβολον ᾔεσαν, καὶ Ῥωμαίους ἅπαντας προϊοῦσα ἡ τῶν πύργων τε καὶ κριῶν ὄψις παντάπασί τε ἀήθης οὖσα ἐξέπλησσε.

Dewing On the eighteenth day from the beginning of the siege the Goths moved against the fortifications at about sunrise under the leader­ship of Vittigis in order to assault the wall, and all the Romans were struck with consternation at the sight of the advancing towers and rams, with which they were altogether unfamiliar.

Greek Βελισάριος δὲ βαδίζουσαν ξὺν ταῖς μηχαναῖς ὁρῶν τὴν τῶν πολεμίων παράταξιν, ἐγέλα τε καὶ τοὺς στρατιώτας ἡσυχάζειν ἐκέλευε, καὶ τῶν χειρῶν μηδαμῶς ἄρχειν, ἕως αὐτὸς σημήνῃ. ὅτου δὲ ἕνεκα γελῴη, ἐν μὲν τῷ αὐτίκα ἥκιστα ἐδήλου, ὕστερον δὲ ἐγνώσθη.

Dewing But Belisarius, seeing the ranks of the enemy as they advanced with the engines, began to laugh, and commanded the soldiers to remain quiet and under no circumstances to begin fighting until he himself should give the signal. Now the reason why he laughed he did not reveal at the moment, but later it became known.

Greek Ῥωμαῖοι μέντοι αὐτὸν εἰρωνεύεσθαι ὑποτοπάσαντες ἐκάκιζόν τε καὶ ἀναιδῆ ἐκάλουν, καὶ ὅτι ἐς τὰ πρόσω ἰόντας οὐκ ἀναστέλλοι τοὺς ἐναντίους, δεινὰ ἐποιοῦντο.

Dewing The Romans, however, supposing him to be hiding his real feelings by a jest, abused him and called him shameless, and were indignant that he did not try to check the enemy as they came forward.

Greek ἐπεὶ δὲ Γότθοι τῆς τάφρου ἐγγυτέρω ἵκοντο, πρῶτος ὁ στρατηγὸς τὸ τόξον ἐντείνας, τῶν τινα τεθωρακισμένων τε καὶ τῆς στρατιᾶς ἡγουμένων εἰς τὸν αὐχένα ἐπιτυχὼν βάλλει.

Dewing But when the Goths came near the moat, the general first of all stretched his bow and with a lucky aim hit in the neck and killed one of the men in armour who were leading the army on.

Greek καὶ ὁ μὲν καιρίαν πληγεὶς ἔπεσεν ὕπτιος, Ῥωμαίων δὲ ὁ λεὼς ἅπας ἀνέκραγον ἐξαίσιόν τε καὶ ἀκοῆς κρεῖσσον, ἄριστον οἰωνὸν ξυνενεχθῆναι σφίσιν οἰόμενοι.

Dewing And he fell on his back mortally wounded, while the whole Roman army raised an extraordinary shout such as was never heard before, thinking that they had received an excellent omen.

Greek δὶς δὲ Βελισαρίου τὸ βέλος ἀφέντος, ταὐτὸ τοῦτο καὶ αὖθις ξυνέβη, καὶ ἥ τε κραυγὴ μείζων ἀπὸ τοῦ περιβόλου ἤρθη καὶ τοὺς πολεμίους ἡσσῆσθαι ἤδη Ῥωμαῖοι ᾤοντο.

Dewing And twice did Belisarius send forward his bolt, and the very same thing happened again a second time, and the shouting rose still louder from the circuit-wall, and the Romans thought that the enemy were conquered already.

Greek καὶ τότε μὲν Βελισάριος τῇ μὲν στρατιᾷ πάσῃ κινεῖν τὰ τοξεύματα πάντα ἐσήμαινε, τοὺς δὲ ἀμφ’ αὑτὸν ἅπαντας ἐς μόνους τοὺς βόας ἐκέλευε βάλλειν.

Dewing Then Belisarius gave the signal for the whole army to put their bows into action, but those near himself he commanded to shoot only at the oxen.

Greek πάντων τε τῶν βοῶν αὐτίκα πεσόντων, οὔτε τοὺς πύργους περαιτέρω κινεῖν οἱ πολέμιοι εἶχον οὔτε τι ἐπιτεχνήσασθαι ἀπορούμενοι ἐν αὐτῷ τῷ ἔργῳ οἷοί τε ἦσαν.

Dewing And all the oxen fell immediately, so that the enemy could neither move the towers further nor in their perplexity do anything to meet the emergency while the fighting was in progress.

Greek οὕτω δὲ Βελισαρίου τε ἡ πρόνοια ἐγνώσθη τοῦ μὴ ἑκαστάτω ὄντας τοὺς πολεμίους ἀναστέλλειν πειρᾶσθαι, καὶ ὅτι γελῴη τὴν τῶν βαρβάρων εὐήθειαν, οἳ δὴ βόας περιάξειν ἐς τῶν ἐναντίων τὸ τεῖχος οὕτως ἀνεπισκέπτως ἐλπίδα εἶχον. ταῦτα μὲν ἀμφὶ Σαλαρίαν πύλην ἐγένετο.

Dewing In this way the forethought of Belisarius in not trying to check the enemy while still at a great distance came to be understood, as well as the reason why he had laughed at the simplicity of the barbarians, who had been so thoughtless as to hope to bring oxen up to the enemy's wall. Now all this took place at the Salarian Gate.

Greek Οὐίττιγις δὲ ταύτῃ ἀποκρουσθείς, Γότθων μὲν στρατιὰν πολλὴν αὐτοῦ εἴασε, φάλαγγα δὲ αὐτῶν βαθεῖαν κομιδῆ ποιησάμενος καὶ τοῖς ἄρχουσιν ἐπιστείλας προσβολὴν μὲν μηδαμῆ τοῦ περιβόλου ποιεῖσθαι, μένοντας δὲ ἐν τάξει βάλλειν τε συχνὰ ἐς τὰς ἐπάλξεις καὶ ὡς ἥκιστα Βελισαρίῳ καιρὸν ἐνδιδόναι ἐπιβοηθεῖν ἑτέρωσε τοῦ τείχους ὅπη ἂν αὐτὸς προσβάλλειν μέλλῃ στρατῷ πλείονι, οὕτω δὴ ἀμφὶ πύλην Πραινεστίναν ἐπὶ μοῖραν τοῦ περιβόλου ἣν Ῥωμαῖοι Βιβάριον καλοῦσι, καὶ ᾗ τὸ τεῖχος ἦν ἐπιμαχώτατον μάλιστα,

Dewing But Vittigis, repulsed at this point, left there a large force of Goths, making of them a very deep phalanx and instructing the commanders on no condition to make an assault upon the fortifications, but remaining in position to shoot rapidly at the parapet, and give Belisarius no opportunity whatever to take reinforcements to any other part of the wall which he himself might propose to attack with a superior force; he then went to the Praenestine Gate with a great force, to a part of the fortifications which the Romans call the "Vivarium,"⁠ where the wall was most assailable.

Greek πολλῷ στρατῷ ᾔει. ἐτύγχανον δὲ ἤδη καὶ μηχαναὶ ἄλλαι πύργων τε καὶ κριῶν καὶ κλίμακες πολλαὶ ἐνταῦθα οὖσαι.

Dewing Now it so happened that engines of war were already there, including towers and rams and a great number of ladders.

Greek Ἐν τούτῳ δὲ Γότθων προσβολὴ ἑτέρα ἐς πύλην Αὐρηλίαν ἐγίνετο τρόπῳ τοιῷδε. Ἀδριανοῦ τοῦ Ῥωμαίων αὐτοκράτορος τάφος ἔξω πύλης Αὐρηλίας ἐστίν, ἀπέχων τοῦ περιβόλου ὅσον λίθου βολήν, θέαμα λόγου πολλοῦ ἄξιον.

Dewing But in the meantime another Gothic assault was being made at the Aurelian Gate⁠ in the following manner. The tomb of the Roman Emperor Hadrian⁠ stands outside the Aurelian Gate, removed about a stone's throw from the fortifications, a very noteworthy sight.

Greek πεποίηται γὰρ ἐκ λίθου Παρίου καὶ οἱ λίθοι ἐπ’ ἀλλήλοις μεμύκασιν, οὐδὲν ἄλλο ἐντὸς ἔχοντες. πλευραί τε αὐτοῦ τέσσαρές εἰσιν ἴσαι ἀλλήλαις, εὖρος μὲν σχεδόν τι ἐς λίθου βολὴν ἑκάστη ἔχουσα, μῆκος δὲ ὑπὲρ τὸ τῆς πόλεως τεῖχος·

Dewing For it is made of Parian marble, and the stones fit closely one upon the other, having nothing at all⁠ between them. And it has four sides which are all equal, each being about a stone's throw in length, while their height exceeds that of the city wall;

Greek ἀγάλματά τε ἄνω ἐκ λίθου εἰσὶ τοῦ αὐτοῦ ἀνδρῶν τε καὶ ἵππων θαυμάσια οἷα. τοῦτον δὴ τὸν τάφον οἱ παλαιοὶ ἄνθρωποι ʽἐδόκει γὰρ τῇ πόλει ἐπιτείχισμα εἶναἰ τειχίσμασι δύο ἐς αὐτὸν ἀπὸ τοῦ περιβόλου διήκουσι περιβάλλουσι καὶ μέρος εἶναι τοῦ τείχους πεποίηνται.

Dewing and above there are statues of the same marble, representing men and horses, of wonderful workman­ship.⁠ But since this tomb seemed to the men of ancient times a fortress threatening the city, they enclosed it by two walls, which extend to it from the circuit-wall,⁠ and thus made it a part of the wall.

Greek ἔοικε γοῦν πύργῳ ὑψηλῷ πύλης τῆς ἐκείνῃ προβεβλημένῳ. ἦν μὲν οὖν τὸ ἐνταῦθα ὀχύρωμα ἱκανώτατον. τούτου δὲ τῷ φυλακτηρίῳ Κωνσταντῖνον ἐπιστήσας Βελισάριος ἔτυχεν.

Dewing And, indeed, it gives the appearance of a high tower built as a bulwark before the gate there. So the fortifications at that point were most adequate. Now Constantinus, as it happened, had been appointed by Belisarius to have charge of the garrison at this tomb.

Greek ᾧ δὴ ἐπέστειλε καὶ τῆς φυλακῆς τείχους τοῦ ἐχομένου ἐπιμελεῖσθαι, φαύλην τινὰ καὶ οὐκ ἀξιόλογον φρουρὰν ἔχοντος. ἥκιστα γὰρ ταύτῃ ἐπιμάχου ὄντος τοῦ περιβόλου, ἅτε τοῦ ποταμοῦ παραρρέοντος, οὐδεμίαν αὐτόθι προσβολὴν ἔσεσθαι ὑποτοπήσας, οὐκ ἀξιόλογον ἐνταῦθα φυλακτήριον κατεστήσατο, ἀλλ’ ὀλίγων οἱ τῶν στρατιωτῶν ὄντων, τοῖς τῶν χωρίων ἀναγκαιοτάτοις τὸ πλῆθος ἔνειμεν.

Dewing And he had instructed him also to attend to the guarding of the adjoining wall, which had a small and inconsiderable garrison. For, since that part of the circuit-wall was the least assailable of all because the river flows along it, he supposed that no assault would be made there, and so stationed an insignificant garrison at that place, and since the soldiers he had were few, he assigned the great majority to the positions where there was most need of them.

Greek ἐς πεντακισχιλίους γὰρ μάλιστα τὸ βασιλέως στράτευμα ἐν Ῥώμῃ κατ’ ἀρχὰς τῆσδε τῆς πολιορκίας ξυνῄει.

Dewing For the emperor's army gathered in Rome at the beginning of this siege amounted at most to only five thousand men.

Greek Κωνσταντῖνος δὲ ʽκαὶ γάρ οἱ ἠγγέλλοντο οἱ πολέμιοι τῆς ἐς τὸν Τίβεριν ἀποπειρώμενοι διαβάσεωσ̓ δείσας περὶ τῷ ἐκείνῳ τειχίσματι αὐτὸς μὲν κατὰ τάχος ἐκεῖσε ξὺν ὀλίγοις τισὶν ἐβοήθει, τοῖς δὲ πλείοσι τῆς ἐν τῇ πύλῃ τε καὶ τῷ τάφῳ φρουρᾶς ἐπιμελεῖσθαι παρήγγελλεν.

Dewing But since it was reported to Constantinus that the enemy were attempting the crossing of the Tiber, he became fearful for that part of the fortifications and went thither himself with all speed, accompanied by some few men to lend assistance, commanding the greater part of his men to attend to the guarding of the gate and the tomb.

Greek ἐν τούτῳ δὲ οἱ Γότθοι πύλῃ τῇ Αὐρηλίᾳ καὶ τῷ Ἀδριανοῦ πύργῳ προσέβαλλον, μηχανὴν μὲν οὐδεμίαν ἔχοντες, κλιμάκων δὲ πάμπολύ τι ἐπαγόμενοι χρῆμα καὶ τοξευμάτων πλήθει ῥᾷον ἔς τε ἀπορίαν καταστήσασθαι τοὺς πολεμίους οἰόμενοι καὶ τοῦ ἐνταῦθα φυλακτηρίου κρατήσειν δι’ ὀλιγανθρωπίαν οὐδενὶ πόνῳ.

Dewing But meanwhile the Goths began an assault upon the Aurelian Gate and the Tower of Hadrian, and though they had no engines of war, they brought up a great quantity of ladders, and thought that by shooting a vast number of arrows they would very easily reduce the enemy to a state of helplessness and overpower the garrison there without any trouble on account of its small numbers.

Greek θύρας δὲ προβεβλημένοι ἐβάδιζον, οὐδὲν ἐλασσουμένας τῶν ἐν Πέρσαις θυρεῶν, καὶ ἔλαθόν γε τοὺς ἐναντίους ἀγχοτάτω αὐτῶν ἥκοντες.

Dewing And as they advanced, they held before them shields no smaller than the long shields used by the Persians, and they succeeded in getting very close to their opponents without being perceived by them.

Greek ὑπὸ γὰρ τῇ στοᾷ κρυπτόμενοι ἦλθον ἣ ἐς τὸν Πέτρου τοῦ ἀποστόλου νεὼν διήκει. ἐνθένδε φανέντες ἐξαπιναίως ἔργου εἴχοντο, ὡς μήτε τῇ καλουμένῃ βαλλίστρᾳ χρῆσθαι τοὺς φύλακας οἵους τε εἶναι ʽοὐ γὰρ πέμπουσιν ὅτι μὴ ἐξ ἐναντίας αἱ μηχαναὶ αὗται τὰ βέλἠ οὐ μὴν οὐδὲ τοῖς τοξεύμασι τοὺς ἐπιόντας ἀμύνεσθαι, τοῦ πράγματος σφίσι διὰ τὰς θύρας ἀντιστατοῦντος.

Dewing For they came hidden under the colonnade which extends⁠ to the church of the Apostle Peter. From that shelter they suddenly appeared and began the attack, so that the guards were neither able to use the engine called the ballista (for these engines do not send their missiles except straight out), nor, indeed, could they ward off their assailants with their arrows, since the situation was against them on account of the large shields.

Greek ἐπεὶ δὲ καρτερῶς τε οἱ Γότθοι ἐνέκειντο, βάλλοντες συχνὰ ἐς τὰς ἐπάλξεις, καὶ τὰς κλίμακας ἤδη προσθήσειν τῷ τειχίσματι ἔμελλον, κυκλώσαντες σχεδόν τι τοὺς ἐκ τοῦ τάφου ἀμυνομένους, ἀεὶ γὰρ αὐτοῖς, εἰ χωρήσειαν, κατὰ νώτου ἐκ τῶν πλαγίων ἐγίνοντο, χρόνον μέν τινα ὀλίγον ἔκπληξις τοῖς Ῥωμαίοις ἐγένετο οὐκ ἔχουσι καθ’ ὅ τι χρὴ ἀμυνομένους σωθῆναι, μετὰ δὲ ξυμφρονήσαντες τῶν ἀγαλμάτων τὰ πλεῖστα, μεγάλα λίαν ὄντα, διέφθειρον, αἴροντές τε λίθους περιπληθεῖς ἐνθένδε χερσὶν ἀμφοτέραις κατὰ κορυφὴν ἐπὶ τοὺς πολεμίους ἐρρίπτουν, οἱ δὲ βαλλόμενοι ἐνεδίδοσαν.

Dewing But the Goths kept pressing vigorously upon them, shooting many missiles at the battlements, and they were already about to set their ladders against the wall, having practically surrounded those who were fighting from the tomb; for whenever the Goths advanced they always got in the rear of the Romans on both flanks;⁠ and for a short time consternation fell upon the Romans, who knew not what means of defence they should employ to save themselves, but afterwards by common agreement they broke in pieces the most of the statues, which were very large, and taking up great numbers of stones thus secured, threw them with both hands down upon the heads of the enemy, who gave way before this shower of missiles.

Greek κατὰ βραχύ τε αὐτῶν ὑποχωρούντων, τὸ πλέον ἤδη Ῥωμαῖοι ἔχοντες, ἐθάρσησάν τε καὶ ξὺν βοῇ μείζονι τόξοις τε καὶ λίθων βολαῖς τοὺς τειχομαχοῦντας ἠμύνοντο.

Dewing And as they retreated a little way, the Romans, having by now the advantage, plucked up courage, and with a mighty shout began to drive back their assailants by using their bows and hurling stones at them.

Greek καὶ τῶν μηχανῶν ἁψάμενοι ἐς δέος μέγα τοὺς ἐναντίους ἦγον, ἥ τε προσβολὴ αὐτῶν δι’ ὀλίγου ἐγένετο.

Dewing And putting their hands to the engines, they reduced their opponents to great fear, and their assault was quickly ended.

Greek παρῆν δὲ ἤδη καὶ Κωνσταντῖνος δεδιξάμενός τε τοὺς τοῦ ποταμοῦ ἀποπειρασαμένους καὶ ῥᾳδίως ὠσάμενος, ἐπεὶ οὐ παντάπασιν ἀφύλακτον, ὥσπερ ᾤοντο, τὸ ἐκείνῃ τείχισμα εὗρον. οὕτω τε ἐν τῷ ἀσφαλεῖ τὰ ἀμφὶ πύλην Αὐρηλίαν ἐγένετο.

Dewing And by this time Constantinus also was present, having frightened back those who had tried the river and easily driven them off, because they did not find the wall there entirely unguarded, as they had supposed they would. And thus safety was restored at the Aurelian Gate.