第5巻 第29章

Greek Ῥωμαίοις μὲν τὰ ἐς τὴν ξυμβολὴν παρεσκεύαστο ὧδε. Οὐίττιγις δὲ Γότθους ἐξώπλισεν ἅπαντας, οὐδένα ἐν τοῖς χαρακώμασιν, ὅτι μὴ τοὺς ἀπομάχους, ἀπολιπών.

Dewing In this fashion the Romans had made their preparations for the encounter. As for Vittigis, he had armed all the Goths, leaving not a man behind in the camps, except those unfit for fighting.

Greek καὶ τοὺς μὲν ἀμφὶ Μαρκίαν ἐν Νέρωνος πεδίῳ μένειν ἐκέλευε, φυλακῆς τε τῆς ἐν γεφύρᾳ ἐπιμελεῖσθαι, ὅπως δὴ μὴ ἐνθένδε οἱ πολέμιοι ἐπὶ σφᾶς ἴωσιν· αὐτὸς δὲ τὸ ἄλλο στράτευμα ξυγκαλέσας ἔλεξε τοιάδε·

Dewing And he commanded the men under Marcias to remain in the Plain of Nero, and to attend to the guarding of the bridge, that the enemy might not attack his men from that direction. He himself then called together the rest of the army and spoke as follows:

Greek “Ἴσως ἂν ὑμῶν τισι περὶ τῇ ἀρχῇ δεδιέναι δοκοίην καὶ ἀπ’ αὐτοῦ τήν τε ἄλλην ἐς ὑμᾶς φιλοφροσύνην ἐνδείξασθαι καὶ τανῦν ὑπὲρ εὐτολμίας ὑμῖν ἐπαγωγὰ φθέγγεσθαι.

Dewing "It may perhaps seem to some of you that I am fearful about my sovereignty, and that this is the motive which has led me, in the past, to shew a friendly spirit toward you and, on the present occasion, to address you with seductive words in order to inspire you with courage.

Greek καὶ τοῦτο οὐκ ἀπὸ τοῦ ἀνθρωπείου τρόπου λογίζονται. εἰώθασι γὰρ ἀμαθεῖς ἄνθρωποι, ὧν μὲν ἄν δέοιντο, πρᾳότητι ἐς αὐτοὺς χρῆσθαι, κἂν πολλῷ τῷ διαλλάσσοντι καταδεέστεροι τύχωσιν ὄντες, ἐς δὲ τοὺς ἄλλους δυσπρόσοδοι εἶναι, ὧν τῆς ὑπουργίας οὐ χρῄζουσιν.

Dewing And such reasoning is not out of accord with the ways of men. For unenlightened men are accustomed to shew gentleness toward those whom they want to make use of, even though these happen to be in a much humbler station than they, but to be difficult of access to others whose assistance they do not desire.

Greek ἐμοὶ μέντοι οὔτε βίου καταστροφῆς οὔτε ἀρχῆς στερήσεως μέλει. εὐξαίμην γὰρ ἂν καὶ τὴν πορφυρίδα ταύτην ἀποδύσασθαι τήμερον, εἰ Γότθος ἀνὴρ αὐτὴν ἐνδιδύσκεσθαι μέλλοι.

Dewing As for me, however, I care neither for the end of life nor for the loss of power. Nay, I should even pray that I might put off this purple to‑day, if a Goth were to put it on.

Greek καὶ τὸ Θευδάτου πέρας ὄλβιον ἐν τοῖς μάλιστα γεγενῆσθαι νενόμικα, ᾧ γε ταῖς τῶν ὁμοφύλων χερσὶ τήν τε ἀρχὴν ἀφεῖναι καὶ τὴν ψυχὴν ἅμα τετύχηκε.

Dewing And I have always regarded the end of Theodatus as one of the most fortunate, in that he was privileged to lose both his sovereignty and his life at the hands of men of his own nation.

Greek συμφορὰ γὰρ ἰδίᾳ προσπίπτουσα μὴ συμφθειρομένου τοῦ γένους τοῖς γε οὐκ ἀνοήτοις παραψυχῆς οὐκ ἐστέρηται.

Dewing For a calamity which falls upon an individual without involving his nation also in destruction does not lack an element of consolation, in the view, at least, of men who are not wanting in wisdom.

Greek ἐννοοῦντά με δὲ τό τε Βανδίλων πάθος καὶ τὸ τοῦ Γελίμερος τέλος οὐδὲν εἰσέρχεται μέτριον, ἀλλὰ Γότθους μὲν ὁρᾶν μοι δοκῶ ξὺν τοῖς παισὶ δεδουλωμένους, γυναῖκας δὲ ὑμετέρας ἀνδράσιν ἐχθίστοις τὰ πάντων αἴσχιστα ὑπηρετούσας, ἐμαυτὸν δὲ ἀγόμενον καὶ τὴν τῆς Θευδερίχου θυγατρὸς παῖδα ὅπη ποτὲ τοὺς νῦν πολεμίους ἀρέσκει· ταῦτα βουλοίμην ἂν καὶ ὑμᾶς ὅπως μὴ προσπέσωσι δείσαντας ἐς μάχην τήνδε καθίστασθαι.

Dewing But when I reflect upon the fate of the Vandals and the end of Gelimer, the thoughts which come to my mind are of no ordinary kind; nay, I seem to see the Goths and their children reduced to slavery, your wives ministering in the most shameful of ways to the most hateful of men, and myself and the granddaughter⁠ of Theoderic led wherever it suits the pleasure of those who are now our enemies; and I would have you also enter this battle fearing lest this fate befall us.

Greek οὕτω γὰρ ἂν ἐν τῷ τῆς ξυμβολῆς χωρίῳ τὴν τοῦ βίου καταστροφὴν περὶ πλείονος τῆς μετὰ τὴν ἧτταν σωτηρίας ποιήσαισθε. ἑνὶ γὰρ μόνῳ κακοτυχεῖν ἄνδρες γενναῖοι τῷ τῶν πολεμίων ἐλασσοῦσθαι νομίζουσι.

Dewing For if you do this, on the field of battle you will count the end of life as more to be desired than safety after defeat. For noble men consider that there is only one misfortune — to survive defeat at the hands of their enemy.

Greek θάνατος δέ, ἄλλως τε καὶ ταχὺς ἥκων, εὐδαίμονας ἀεὶ τοὺς πρόσθεν οὐκ εὐτυχοῦντας ἐργάζεται.

Dewing But as for death, and especially death which comes quickly, it always brings happiness to those who were before not blest by fortune.

Greek εὔδηλόν τε ὡς, ἢν μετὰ τούτων ὑμεῖς τῶν λογισμῶν τήνδε τὴν ξυμβολὴν διενέγκητε, ῥᾷστα μὲν τοὺς ἐναντίους νικήσετε, ὀλίγους τε ὄντας καὶ Γραικούς, κολάσετε δὲ αὐτοὺς αὐτίκα δὴ μάλα τῆς τε ἀδικίας καὶ ὕβρεως ἧς ἐς ἡμᾶς ἦρξαν.

Dewing It is very clear that if you keep these thoughts in mind as you go through the present engagement, you will not only conquer your opponents most easily, few as they are and Greeks,⁠ but will also punish them forthwith for the injustice and insolence with which they, without provocation, have treated us.

Greek ἡμεῖς μὲν γὰρ αὐτῶν ἀρετῇ τε καὶ πλήθει καὶ τοῖς ἄλλοις ἅπασιν ὑπεραίρειν αὐχοῦμεν, οἱ δὲ θρασύνονται καθ’ ἡμῶν τοῖς ἡμετέροις κακοῖς ἐπαρθέντες, καὶ μόνον ἐφόδιον ἔχοντες τὴν ἡμετέραν ὀλιγωρίαν. βόσκει γὰρ αὐτῶν τὴν παρρησίαν τὸ παρὰ τὴν ἀξίαν εὐτύχημα.”

Dewing For although we boast that we are their superiors in valour, in numbers, and in every other respect, the boldness which they feel in confronting us is due merely to elation at our misfortunes; and the only asset they have is the indifference we have shewn. For their self-confidence is fed by their undeserved good fortune."

Greek Τοσαῦτα καὶ Οὐίττιγις παρακελευσάμενος διεκόσμει τὸ στράτευμα ἐς παράταξιν, πεζοὺς μὲν ἐς μέσον καταστησάμενος, τοὺς ἱππέας δὲ ἐς ἄμφω τὰ κέρατα.

Dewing With these words of exhortation Vittigis proceeded to array his army for battle, stationing the infantry in the centre and the cavalry on the two wings.

Greek οὐκ ἄποθεν μέντοι τῶν χαρακωμάτων τὴν φάλαγγα διέτασσεν, ἀλλ’ αὐτοῦ ἄγχιστα, ὅπως, ἐπειδὰν τάχιστα ἡ τροπὴ γένηται, εὐπετῶς οἱ πολέμιοι καταλαμβανόμενοι διαφθείρωνται, ἐν χώρῳ πολλῷ τῆς διώξεως αὐτοῖς γινομένης.

Dewing He did not, however, draw up his phalanx far from the camps, but very near them, in order that, as soon as the rout should take place, the enemy might easily be overtaken and killed, there being abundance of room for the pursuit.

Greek ἤλπιζε γάρ, ἢν ἐν τῷ πεδίῳ ἡ μάχη συσταδὸν γένηται, αὐτοὺς οὐδὲ βραχύν τινα χρόνον ἀνθέξειν, τεκμαιρόμενος πολλῷ γε ὄντι τῷ παραλόγῳ ὅτι οὐκ ἀντίπαλον τῷ σφετέρῳ τὸ τῶν πολεμίων στράτευμα εἴη.

Dewing For he expected that if the struggle should become a pitched battle in the plain, they would not withstand him even a short time; since he judged by the great disparity of numbers that the army of the enemy was no match for his own.

Greek Οἱ μὲν οὖν στρατιῶται πρωῒ ἀρξάμενοι ἔργου ἑκατέρωθεν εἴχοντο· Οὐίττιγις δὲ καὶ Βελισάριος ὄπισθεν ἐγκελευόμενοι ἀμφοτέρους ἐς εὐψυχίαν ὥρμων.

Dewing So the soldiers on both sides, beginning in the early morning, opened battle; and Vittigis and Belisarius were in the rear urging on both armies and inciting them to fortitude.

Greek καὶ τὰ μὲν πρῶτα καθυπέρτερα ἦν τὰ Ῥωμαίων, οἵ τε βάρβαροι πρὸς τῶν τοξευμάτων συχνοὶ ἔπιπτον, δίωξις μέντοι αὐτῶν οὐδεμία ἐγίνετο.

Dewing And at first the Roman arms prevailed, and the barbarians kept falling in great numbers before their archery, but no pursuit of them was made.

Greek ἅτε γὰρ ἐν πλήθει μεγάλῳ οἱ Γότθοι καθεστῶτες ῥᾷστα δὴ ἐς τῶν διαφθειρομένων τὴν χώραν ἕτεροι ἵσταντο, αἴσθησίν τε οὐδεμίαν τῶν ἐν σφίσιν ἀπολλυμένων παρείχοντο. καὶ τοῖς Ῥωμαίοις ἱκανὸν ἐφαίνετο λίαν ὀλίγοις οὖσιν ἐς τόδε αὐτοῖς τὴν ἀγωνίαν ἀποκεκρίσθαι.

Dewing For since the Gothic cavalry stood in dense masses, other men very easily stepped into the places of those who were killed, and so the loss of those who fell among them was in no way apparent. And the Romans evidently were satisfied, in view of their very small number, that the struggle should have such a result for them.

Greek τήν τε μάχην ἄχρι ἐς τὰ τῶν ἐναντίων στρατόπεδα διενεγκοῦσιν ἐς μέσην ἡμέραν, καὶ πολλοὺς ἤδη διαφθείρασι τῶν πολεμίων βουλομένοις ἦν ἐς τὴν πόλιν ἐπανιέναι, ἤν τις αὐτοῖς γένηται σκῆψις.

Dewing So after they had by midday carried the battle as far as the camps of their opponents, and had already slain many of the enemy, they were anxious to return to the city if any pretext should present itself to them.

Greek ἐν τούτῳ τῷ πόνῳ ἄνδρες Ῥωμαίων ἀγαθοὶ πάντων μάλιστα ἐγένοντο τρεῖς, Ἀθηνόδωρός τε, ἀνὴρ Ἴσαυρος, ἐν τοῖς Βελισαρίου δορυφόροις εὐδόκιμος, καὶ Θεοδωρίσκος τε καὶ Γεώργιος,

Dewing In this part of the action three among the Romans proved themselves brave men above all others, Athenodorus an Isaurian, a man of fair fame among the guards of Belisarius, and Theodoriscus and George, spearmen of Martinus and Cappadocians by birth.

Greek Μαρτίνου δορυφόροι, Καππαδόκαι γένος. ἀεὶ γὰρ τοῦ τῆς φάλαγγος ἐξιόντες μετώπου δόρασι διειργάζοντο τῶν βαρβάρων πολλούς. ταῦτα μὲν ἐφέρετο τῇδε.

Dewing For they constantly kept going out beyond the front of the phalanx, and there despatched many of the barbarians with their spears. Such was the course of events here.

Greek Ἐν δὲ Νέρωνος πεδίῳ χρόνον μὲν συχνὸν ἀντεκάθηντο ἑκάτεροι ἀλλήλοις, καὶ οἱ Μαυρούσιοι ἐπεκδρομάς τε ἀεὶ ποιούμενοι καὶ τὰ δοράτια ἐσακοντίζοντες τοὺς Γότθους ἐλύπουν.

Dewing But in the Plain of Nero the two armies remained for a long time fa­cing one another, and the Moors, by making constant sallies and hurling their javelins among the enemy, kept harrying the Goths.

Greek ἐπεξιέναι γὰρ αὐτοῖς ἥκιστα ἤθελον, δεδιότες τοὺς ἐκ τοῦ Ῥωμαίων δήμου οὐκ ἄποθεν ὄντας, οὓς δὴ στρατιώτας τε ᾤοντο εἶναι καί τινα ἐνέδραν ἐς σφᾶς ποιουμένους ἡσυχῆ μένειν, ὅπως κατὰ νώτου ἰόντες ἀμφιβόλους τε ποιησάμενοι διαφθείρωσιν.

Dewing For the Goths were quite unwilling to go out against them through fear of the forces of the Roman populace which were not far away, thinking, of course, that they were soldiers and were remaining quiet because they had in mind some sort of ambush against themselves with the object of getting in their rear, exposing them to attack on both sides, and thus destroying them.

Greek ἤδη δὲ τῆς ἡμέρας μεσούσης ὁρμᾷ μὲν τὸ Ῥωμαίων στράτευμα ἐκ τοῦ αἰφνιδίου ἐπὶ τοὺς πολεμίους, τρέπονται δὲ παρὰ δόξαν οἱ Γότθοι τῷ ἀπροσδοκήτῳ καταπλαγέντες.

Dewing But when it was now the middle of the day, the Roman army suddenly made a rush against the enemy, and the Goths were unexpectedly routed, being paralyzed by the suddenness of the attack.

Greek καὶ οὐδὲ ἐς τὸ χαράκωμα φυγεῖν ἴσχυσαν, ἀλλ’ ἐς τοὺς ἐκείνῃ λόφους ἀναβάντες ἡσύχαζον. οἱ δὲ Ῥωμαῖοι πολλοὶ μὲν ἦσαν, οὐ στρατιῶται δὲ πάντες,

Dewing And they did not succeed even in fleeing to their camp, but climbed the hills near by and remained quiet. Now the Romans, though many in number, were not all soldiers, but were for the most part a throng of men without defensive armour.

Greek ἀλλ’ οἱ πλεῖστοι γυμνὸς ὅμιλος. ἅτε γὰρ τοῦ στρατηγοῦ ἑτέρωθι ὄντος πολλοὶ ἐν τῷ Ῥωμαίων στρατοπέδῳ ναῦται καὶ οἰκέται τοῦ πολέμου μεταλαχεῖν ἐφιέμενοι ἀνεμίγνυντο τῷ ταύτῃ στρατῷ.

Dewing For inasmuch as the general was elsewhere, many sailors and servants in the Roman camp, in their eagerness to have a share in the war, mingled with that part of the army.

Greek καὶ πλήθει μὲν τοὺς βαρβάρους ἐκπλήξαντες, ὥσπερ ἐρρήθη, ἐς φυγὴν ἔτρεψαν, ἀκοσμίᾳ δὲ τὰ Ῥωμαίων πράγματα ἔσφηλαν.

Dewing And although by their mere numbers they did fill the barbarians with consternation and turn them to flight, as has been said, yet by reason of their lack of order they lost the day for the Romans.

Greek ἐπιμιξίᾳ γὰρ τῇ ἐκείνων ἐς ἀταξίαν πολλὴν οἱ στρατιῶται ἐμπεπτωκότες, καίπερ σφίσι Βαλεντίνου πολλὰ ἐγκελευομένου, τῶν παραγγελλομένων ἥκιστα ἤκουον.

Dewing For the intermixture of the above-mentioned men caused the soldiers to be thrown into great disorder, and although Valentinus kept constantly shouting orders to them, they could not hear his commands at all.

Greek διόπερ οὐδὲ τοῖς φεύγουσιν ἐπισπόμενοί τινα ἔκτεινον, ἀλλ’ ἐν τοῖς λόφοις ἡσυχάζοντας ἀδεῶς τὰ ποιούμενα θεᾶσθαι ξυνεχώρησαν.

Dewing For this reason they did not even follow up the fugitives or kill a man, but allowed them to stand at rest on the hills and in security to view what was going on.

Greek οὐδὲ τὴν ἐκείνῃ διελεῖν γέφυραν ἐν νῷ ἐποιήσαντο, ὅπως τὸ λοιπὸν ἡ πόλις μὴ ἑκατέρωθεν πολιορκοῖτο, τῶν βαρβάρων ἔτι ὑπὲρ ποταμὸν Τίβεριν ἐνστρατοπεδεύεσθαι οὐκ ἂν δυναμένων.

Dewing Nor did they take thought to destroy the bridge there, and thus prevent the city from being afterwards besieged on both sides; for, had they done so, the barbarians would have been unable to encamp any longer on the farther side of the Tiber River.

Greek οὐ μὴν οὐδὲ τὴν γέφυραν διαβάντες κατὰ νώτου τῶν ἐναντίων ἐγένοντο οἳ τοῖς ἀμφὶ Βελισάριον ταύτῃ ἐμάχοντο. ὅπερ εἰ ἐγεγόνει, οὐκ ἂν ἔτι, οἶμαι, οἱ Γότθοι πρὸς ἀλκὴν ἔβλεπον, ἀλλ’ ἐς φυγὴν αὐτίκα μάλα ἐτράποντο, ὡς ἕκαστός πη ἐδύνατο.

Dewing Furthermore, they did not even cross the bridge and get in the rear of their opponents who were fighting there with the troops of Belisarius. And if this had been done, the Goths, I think, would no longer have thought of resistance, but they would have turned instantly to flight, each man as he could.

Greek νῦν δὲ καταλαβόντες τὸ τῶν πολεμίων χαράκωμα ἐς ἁρπαγὴν τῶν χρημάτων ἐτράποντο, καὶ πολλὰ μὲν ἐνθένδε ἀργυρώματα, πολλὰ δὲ ἄλλα χρήματα ἔφερον.

Dewing But as it was, they took possession of the enemy's camp and turned to plundering his goods, and they set to work carrying thence many vessels of silver and many other valuables.

Greek οἱ δὲ βάρβαροι χρόνον μέν τινα θεώμενοι τὰ ποιούμενα ἡσύχαζόν τε καὶ αὐτοῦ ἔμενον, τέλος δὲ ξυμφρονήσαντες θυμῷ τε πολλῷ καὶ κραυγῇ ἐχόμενοι ἐπὶ τοὺς ἐναντίους ἐχώρησαν.

Dewing Meanwhile the barbarians for some time remained quietly where they were and observed what was going on, but finally by common consent they advanced against their opponents with great fury and shouting.

Greek εὑρόντες δὲ ἀνθρώπους κόσμῳ οὐδενὶ τὰ σφέτερα ληϊζομένους ἔκτεινάν τε συχνοὺς καὶ τοὺς λοιποὺς κατὰ τάχος ἐξήλασαν. ὅσοι γὰρ ἐγκαταληφθέντες αὐτῶν οὐ διεφθάρησαν, ἀπὸ τῶν ὤμων τὰ χρήματα ῥίψαντες ἄσμενοι ἔφευγον.

Dewing And finding men in complete disorder engaged in plundering their property, they slew many and quickly drove out the rest. For all who were caught inside the camp and escaped slaughter were glad to cast their plunder from their shoulders and take to flight.

Greek Ἐν ᾧ δὲ ταῦτα ἐν Νέρωνος πεδίῳ ἐγίνετο, ἐν τούτῳ ὁ ἄλλος τῶν βαρβάρων στρατὸς ἄγχιστα τῶν σφετέρων στρατοπέδων ταῖς ἀσπίσι φραξάμενοι τοὺς ἐναντίους καρτερῶς ἠμύναντο, καὶ πολλοὺς μὲν ἄνδρας, ἵππους δὲ πολλῷ πλείους διέφθειρον.

Dewing While these things were taking place in the Plain of Nero, meantime the rest of the barbarian army stayed very near their camps and, protecting themselves with their shields, vigorously warded off their opponents, destroying many men and a much larger number of horses.

Greek ἐπεὶ δὲ Ῥωμαίων οἱ μὲν τραυματίαι γεγενημένοι, οἱ δὲ τῶν ἵππων σφίσι διαφθαρέντων ἐξέλιπον τὴν παράταξιν, ἐν ὀλίγῃ καὶ πρότερον τῇ στρατιᾷ οὔσῃ ἔτι μᾶλλον ἡ ὀλιγανθρωπία διαφανὴς ἦν, πολύ τε τὸ διαλλάσσον τοῦ τῶν Γότθων ὁμίλου ἐφάνη.

Dewing But on the Roman side, when those who had been wounded and those whose horses had been killed left the ranks, then, in an army which had been small even before, the smallness of their numbers was still more evident, and the difference between them and the Gothic host was manifestly great.

Greek ἅπερ ἐν νῷ λαβόντες οἱ τῶν βαρβάρων ἱππεῖς ἐκ τοῦ δεξιοῦ κέρως ἐπὶ τοὺς κατ’ αὐτοὺς πολεμίους ἐχώρησαν δρόμῳ. ὧν δὴ τὰ δόρατα οὐκ ἐνεγκόντες οἱ ταύτῃ Ῥωμαῖοι ἐς φυγὴν ὥρμηντο καὶ ἐς τῶν πεζῶν τὴν φάλαγγα ἧκον.

Dewing Finally the horsemen of the barbarians who were on the right wing, taking note of this, advanced at a gallop against the enemy opposite them. And the Romans there, unable to withstand their spears, rushed off in flight and came to the infantry phalanx.

Greek οὐ μὴν οὐδὲ οἱ πεζοὶ τοὺς ἐπιόντας ὑφίσταντο, ἀλλὰ ξὺν τοῖς ἱππεῦσιν οἱ πολλοὶ ἔφευγον. αὐτίκα δὲ καὶ τὸ ἄλλο Ῥωμαίων στράτευμα ὑπεχώρει, ἐγκειμένων σφίσι τῶν πολεμίων, καὶ ἡ τροπὴ κατὰ κράτος ἐγίνετο.

Dewing However, the infantry also were unable to hold their ground against the oncoming horsemen, and most of them began to join the cavalry in flight. And immediately the rest of the Roman army also began to retire, the enemy pressing upon their heels, and the rout became decisive.

Greek Πριγκίπιος δὲ καὶ Ταρμοῦτος ξὺν ὀλίγοις τισὶ τῶν ἀμφ’ αὑτοὺς πεζῶν ἔργα ἐπεδείξαντο ἀρετῆς ἄξια ἐς αὐτούς.

Dewing But Principius and Tarmutus with some few of the infantry of their command made a display of valorous deeds against the Goths.

Greek μαχομένους τε γὰρ καὶ τρέπεσθαι ξὺν τοῖς ἄλλοις ἥκιστα ἀξιοῦντας τῶν Γότθων οἱ πλεῖστοι ἐν θαύματι τοῦτο μεγάλῳ ποιούμενοι ἔστησαν. καὶ ἀπ’ αὐτοῦ οἵ τε ἄλλοι πεζοὶ καὶ τῶν ἱππέων οἱ πλεῖστοι ἀδεέστερον διεσώθησαν.

Dewing For as they continued to fight and disdained to turn to flight with the others, most of the Goths were so amazed that they halted. And consequently the rest of the infantry and most of the horsemen made their escape in greater security.

Greek Πριγκίπιος μὲν οὖν, κρεουργηθεὶς τὸ σῶμα ὅλον, αὐτοῦ ἔπεσε, καὶ πεζοὶ ἀμφ’ αὐτὸν τεσσαράκοντα καὶ δύο.

Dewing Now Principius fell where he stood, his whole body hacked to pieces, and around him fell forty‑two foot-soldiers.

Greek Ταρμοῦτος δὲ δύο ἀκόντια Ἰσαυρικὰ ἐν ἀμφοτέραις ταῖς χερσὶν ἔχων, νύττων τε ἀεὶ τοὺς ἐπιόντας ἐπιστροφάδην, ἐπειδὴ κοπτόμενος τὸ σῶμα ἀπεῖπεν, Ἔννου τἀδελφοῦ ξὺν ἱππεῦσί τισιν ἐπιβεβοηθηκότος, ἀνέπνευσέ τε καὶ δρόμῳ ὀξεῖ λύθρου τε καὶ πληγῶν ἔμπλεως ἐπὶ τὸν περίβολον οὐδέτερον τῶν ἀκοντίων ἀποβαλὼν ᾔει.

Dewing But Tarmutus, holding two Isaurian javelins, one in each hand, continued to thrust them into his assailants as he turned from side to side, until, finally, he desisted because his body was covered with wounds; but when his brother Ennes came to the rescue with a detachment of cavalry, he revived, and running swiftly, covered as he was with gore and wounds, he made for the fortifications without throwing down either of his javelins.

Greek ποδώκης δὲ ὢν φύσει διαφυγεῖν ἴσχυσε, καίπερ οὕτω τοῦ σώματος ἔχων, παρ’ αὐτάς τε τὰς Πιγκιανὰς πύλας ἐλθὼν ἔπεσε. καὶ αὐτὸν τετελευτηκέναι δόξαντα ὑπὲρ ἀσπίδος ἄραντες τῶν τινες ἑταίρων ἐκόμισαν.

Dewing And being fleet of foot by nature, he succeeded in making his escape, in spite of the plight of his body, and did not fall until he had just reached the Pincian Gate. And some of his comrades, supposing him to be dead, lifted him on a shield and carried him.

Greek ὁ δὲ ἡμέρας δύο ἐπιβιοὺς ἐτελεύτησε, λόγον αὑτοῦ πολὺν ἔν τε Ἰσαύροις καὶ τῷ ἄλλῳ στρατοπέδῳ ἀπολιπών.

Dewing But he lived on two days before he died, leaving a high reputation both among the Isaurians and in the rest of the army.

Greek Πεφοβημένοι τε ἤδη Ῥωμαῖοι φρουρᾶς τῆς ἐν τῷ τείχει ἐπεμελοῦντο καὶ τὰς πύλας ἐπιθέντες ξὺν θορύβῳ πολλῷ τῇ πόλει τοὺς φεύγοντας οὐκ ἐδέχοντο, δεδιότες μὴ ξυνεισβάλλωσιν αὐτοῖς οἱ πολέμιοι.

Dewing The Romans meanwhile, being by now thoroughly frightened, attended to the guarding of the wall, and shutting the gates they refused, in their great excitement, to receive the fugitives into the city, fearing that the enemy would rush in with them.

Greek καὶ αὐτῶν ὅσοι οὐκ ἔφθασαν τοῦ περιβόλου ἐντὸς γεγενημένοι, τὴν τάφρον διαβάντες καὶ τῷ τείχει τὰ νῶτα ἐρείσαντες, ἔτρεμόν τε καὶ πάσης ἀλκῆς ἐπιλελησμένοι εἱστήκεισαν, ἀμύνεσθαί τε τοὺς βαρβάρους ἥκιστα ἴσχυον, καίπερ ἐγκειμένους τε καὶ τὴν τάφρον ὑπερβῆναι ἐπ’ αὐτοὺς μέλλοντας.

Dewing And such of the fugitives as had not already got inside the fortifications, crossed the moat, and standing with their backs braced against the wall were trembling with fear, and stood there forgetful of all valour and utterly unable to ward off the barbarians, although they were pressing upon them and were about to cross the moat to attack them.

Greek αἴτιον δὲ ἦν ὅτι τοῖς μὲν πολλοῖς τὰ δόρατα ἔν τε τῇ ξυμβολῇ καὶ τῇ φυγῇ κατεαγότα ἐτύγχανε, τὰ δὲ τόξα ἐνεργεῖν στενοχωρίᾳ τῇ πρὸς ἀλλήλους οὐχ οἷοί τε ἦσαν.

Dewing And the reason was that most of them had lost their spears, which had been broken in the engagement and during the flight, and they were not able to use their bows because they were huddled so closely together.

Greek ἕως μὲν οὖν οὐ πολλοὶ ἐν ταῖς ἐπάλξεσι καθεωρῶντο, οἱ Γότθοι ἐνέκειντο, ἐλπίδα ἔχοντες τούς τε ἀποκεκλεισμένους ἅπαντας διαφθεῖραι καὶ τοὺς ἐν τῷ περιβόλῳ βιάσασθαι.

Dewing Now so long as not many defenders were seen at the battlement, the Goths kept pressing on, having hopes of destroying all those who had been shut out and of over­powering the men who held the circuit-wall.

Greek ἐπεὶ δὲ στρατιωτῶν τε καὶ τοῦ Ῥωμαίων δήμου ἀμυνομένων πολύ τι χρῆμα ἐς τὰς ἐπάλξεις εἶδον, αὐτίκα δὴ ἀπογνόντες ἐνθένδε ὀπίσω ἀπήλαυνον, πολλὰ τοὺς ἐναντίους κακίσαντες.

Dewing But when they saw a very great number both of soldiers and of the Roman populace at the battlements defending the wall, they immediately abandoned their purpose and rode off thence to the rear, heaping much abuse upon their opponents.

Greek ἥ τε μάχη ἐν τοῖς τῶν βαρβάρων χαρακώμασιν ἀρξαμένη ἔν τε τῇ τάφρῳ καὶ τῷ τῆς πόλεως ἐτελεύτησε τείχει.

Dewing And the battle, having begun at the camps of the barbarians, ended at the moat and the wall of the city. The Loeb Editor's Notes: 1 Leaders of foederati; see Book III.xi.4‑6; they had been recalled from Africa to Byzantium, cf. Book IV.xix.2. ❦ 2 The story of the origin of these oracles is given in Dionysius of Halicarnassus, Ant. Rom. IV.lxii. They were burned with the Capitol in 83 B.C. The second collection was burned by Stilicho in 405 A.D. The oracles Procopius saw (cf. § 35 of this chapter) were therefore a third collection. ❦ 3 Book VII.xx. ❦ 4 Chap. xxiii.27. ❦ 5 At this time the town of Portus, on the north side of the Tiber's mouths, Ostia, on the south side, having been long neglected. Cf. chap. xxvi.7, 8. ❦ 6 Five thousand; cf. chap. xxiv.2. ❦ 7 Book III.iv.36. ❦ 8 Janus was an old Italian divinity, whose worship was said to have been introduced by Romulus. We are not told by anyone else that he was included among the Penates, but the statement is doubtless true. ❦ 9 "This temple of Janus — the most celebrated, but not the only one in Rome — must have stood a little to the right of the Arch of Septimius Severus (as one looks toward the Capitol) and a little in front of the Mamertine Prison." — Hodgkin. Thayer's Note: Exhaustive details and citations are given in Platner-Ashby, A Topographical Dictionary of Ancient Rome, s.v. Ianus Geminus. ❦ 10 i.e. the Fates. Thayer's Note: Further details and citations are given in Platner-Ashby, A Topographical Dictionary of Ancient Rome, s.v. Tria Fata. ❦ 11 The northern mouth. ❦ 12 The Emperor Claudius cut the northern channel for the river, in order to prevent inundations of Rome, and made the "Portus Claudii," opening to the sea, near its mouth; a second enclosed harbour, adjoining that of Claudius, was built by Trajan. ❦ 13 i.e. Antium. ❦ 14 i.e. Slavonians, described in Book VI.xxvi and Book VII.xiv ff. ❦ 15 A Slavic people, described in Book VII.xiv. ❦ 16 Referring to the battle described in chap. xviii. ❦ 17 i.e. smaller, but equal in strength. ❦ 18 Chap. xix.12, xiii.15. ❦ 19 Matasuntha. ❦ 20 Cf. Book IV.xxvii.38, note. Thayer's Note: a Elsewhere (V.11.2 and my note) the text of the Wars as we have it seems to indicate that one Roman mile was equivalent in Procopius' mind to 5.9 stadia, which is a very strange figure since other ancient writers generally put the stadion at 7⅔‑8 to the mile. This passage, at first glance, seems to allow us to settle the matter; but we cannot. The straight-line distance from the Roman Forum to Trajan's hexagonal basin at Portus is roughly 22.5 km, or 15.2 Roman miles, which Procopius says here is 126 stadia. That gives an equivalence of 8.29 stadia to the mile, which, if we allow for the approximations involved in our assumptions, is well within the normal range of "8 stadia to the mile". Unfortunately . . . in the passage we have here, Procopius will very specifically talk about a road or towpath that hugged the Tiber. The distance between the same two places, if we follow the course of the Tiber — as that river is today — is considerably more than 22.5 km of course: roughly 30.4 km is my approximation. That works out to 20.5 Roman miles, which would put Procopius' stadion at about 6.1 to the mile, or pretty close to the 5.9 we read in V.11.2. ◂ previous next ▸ Images with borders lead to more information. The thicker the border, the more information. (Details here.) UP TO: Gothic 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