第6巻 第18章

Greek Πρῶτοι δὲ Ῥωμαίων Ἰλδίγερ τε καὶ οἱ ξὺν αὐτῷ ἀφικόμενοι ἐς τὸ τῶν πολεμίων χαράκωμα τῶν Γότθων ὅσοι νόσοις τισὶν ἐχόμενοι αὐτοῦ ἔμειναν ἐν ἀνδραπόδων ἐποιήσαντο λόγῳ, καὶ χρήματα πάντα ξυνέλεξαν ὅσα φεύγοντες Γότθοι ἐλίποντο.

Dewing Among the Romans, Ildiger and his men were the first to arrive at the enemy's camp, and they made slaves of such of the Goths as had remained there suffering from sickness of one kind or another, and collected all the valuables which the Goths had left in their flight.

Greek καὶ Βελισάριος παντὶ τῷ στρατῷ ἦλθεν ἐς μέσην ἡμέραν. καὶ ἐπεὶ ὠχριῶντάς τε καὶ δεινὸν αὐχμῶντας Ἰωάννην τε καὶ τοὺς ξὺν αὐτῷ εἶδε, τοῦ θράσους ὑπαινιττόμενος τὸ ἀλόγιστον χάριτας αὐτὸν ἔφασκεν Ἰλδίγερι ὀφείλειν.

Dewing And Belisarius with his whole army arrived at midday. And when he saw John and his men pale and dreadfully emaciated, he said to him, hinting at the rashness of his audacious deed, that he owed a debt of gratitude to Ildiger.

Greek ὁ δὲ οὐκ Ἰλδίγερι, ἀλλὰ Ναρσῇ τῷ βασιλέως ταμίᾳ ὁμολογεῖν ἔφη, παραδηλῶν, οἶμαι, Βελισάριον οὐ σφόδρα ἐθελούσιον, ἀλλὰ Ναρσῇ ἀναπεισθέντα σφίσιν ἀμῦναι. καὶ τὸ λοιπὸν ἄμφω ὑποψίᾳ πολλῇ ἐς ἀλλήλους ἐχρῶντο.

Dewing But John said that he recognized his obligation, not to Ildiger, but to Narses, the emperor's steward, implying, I suppose, that Belisarius had not come to his defence very willingly, but only after being persuaded by Narses. And from that time both these men began to regard each other with great suspicion.

Greek διὸ δὴ οὐδὲ Ναρσῆν εἴων οἱ ἐπιτήδειοι ξὺν Βελισαρίῳ στρατεύεσθαι, ἀλλ’ ἀνέπειθον ὅσον αἰσχρὸν εἴη τῷ τῶν ἀπορρήτων βασιλεῖ κοινωνοῦντι μὴ οὐχὶ αὐτοκράτορι τοῦ στρατοῦ εἶναι, ἀλλὰ στρατηγῷ ἀνδρὶ ὑπακούειν.

Dewing It was for this reason that the friends of Narses even tried to prevent him from marching with Belisarius, and they sought to shew him how disgraceful it was for one who shared the secrets of the emperor not to be commander-in‑chief of the army, but to take orders from a mere general.

Greek οὐ γάρ ποτε Βελισάριον ἐπὶ τῇ ἴσῃ ἑκόντα εἶναι τῆς στρατιᾶς ξὺν αὐτῷ ἄρξειν ἀπεφαίνοντο, βουλομένῳ δέ οἱ καθ’ αὑτὸν τῷ Ῥωμαίων στρατῷ ἐξηγεῖσθαι πλείους τε στρατιώτας καὶ πολλῷ ἀμείνους ξὺν τοῖς ἄρχουσιν ἕψεσθαι.

Dewing For they expressed the view that Belisarius would never willingly share with him the command of the army on equal terms, but that, if he wished to take command of the Roman army for himself, he would be followed by the greater part of the soldiers, and much the best ones too, together with their commanders.

Greek τούς τε γὰρ Ἐρούλους καὶ τοὺς δορυφόρους τε καὶ ὑπασπιστὰς τοὺς αὐτοῦ, καὶ ὧν Ἰουστῖνός τε καὶ αὐτὸς Ἰωάννης ἦρχον, ξὺν τοῖς Ἀρατίῳ τε καὶ Ναρσῇ ἑπομένοις οὖχ ἧσσον ἢ μυρίους ἔφασκον εἶναι, ἀνδρείους τε ὄντας καὶ διαφερόντως ἀγαθοὺς τὰ πολέμια, βούλεσθαί τε τὴν Ἰταλίας ἐπικράτησιν οὐ Βελισαρίῳ λογίζεσθαι μόνῳ, ἀλλὰ τὸ μέρος καὶ Ναρσῆν φέρεσθαι.

Dewing For the Eruli, they said, and Narses' own spearmen and guards, and the troops commanded by Justinus and John himself, together with the forces of Aratius and the other Narses, amounted to not less than ten thousand men, brave soldiers and especially capable warriors, and they did not wish the subjugation of Italy to be reckoned to the credit of Belisarius alone, but desired that Narses too should carry off his share of the honour.

Greek τὴν γὰρ βασιλέως αὐτὸν οἴεσθαι ὁμιλίαν ἀπολιπεῖν, οὐκ ἐφ’ ᾧ κινδύνοις ἰδίοις τὴν Βελισαρίου δόξαν κρατύνηται, ἀλλ’ ἐφ’ ᾧ ἔργα ξυνέσεώς τε καὶ ἀνδρείας ἐπιδειξάμενος διαβόητος ἀνθρώποις ἅπασιν, ὡς τὸ εἰκός, εἴη.

Dewing For they supposed that he had left the society of the emperor, not that by fa­cing danger himself he might establish the glory of Belisarius, but presumably in order that by making a display of deeds of wisdom and bravery he might become famous among all men.

Greek καίτοι οὐδὲ Βελισάριον ἔφασκον δυνήσεσθαί τι ἄνευ γε αὐτῶν τὸ λοιπὸν δρᾶσαι.

Dewing Furthermore, they said, even Belisarius would thenceforth be unable to accomplish anything without these troops.

Greek στρατιᾶς γὰρ ἧς ἐκεῖνος ἄρχοι τὸ πλεῖστον ἤδη ἔν τε φρουρίοις καὶ πόλεσιν ἀπολελεῖφθαι ἅσπερ αὐτὸς εἷλε, καὶ κατέλεγον ἀπὸ Σικελίας ἀρξάμενοι ἄχρι ἐς Πικηνοὺς ἑξῆς ἅπαντα.

Dewing For the greater part of the forces which he commanded had already been left behind in fortresses and cities which he had himself captured, and they enumerated them all, starting at Sicily and naming them in order as far as Picenum.

Greek Ναρσῆς τε ἐπεὶ ταῦτα ἤκουσεν, ἥσθη ἐς ἄγαν τῇ ὑποθήκῃ καὶ οὔτε κατέχειν τὴν διάνοιαν οὔτε μένειν ἐν τοῖς καθεστῶσιν ἔτι ἐδύνατο.

Dewing When Narses heard this, he was exceedingly pleased with the suggestion and could no longer restrain his mind or tolerate the existing arrangement.

Greek πολλάκις οὖν Βελισαρίου ἄλλου του ἔργου ἔχεσθαι ἀξιοῦντος ἐς σκήψεις τινὰς ἄλλοτε ἄλλας ἀναχωρῶν τὴν παρακέλευσιν ἀπεκρούετο.

Dewing Often, therefore, when Belisarius thought proper to undertake some new enterprise, he would resort to different pretexts, now one and now another, and thus block the project he was urging.

Greek ὧν δὴ αἰσθόμενος Βελισάριος ξυγκαλέσας τοὺς ἄρχοντας ἅπαντας ἔλεξε τοιάδε· “Οὐ ταὐτὰ ὑμῖν, ἄνδρες ἄρχοντες, περὶ τοῦδε τοῦ πολέμου δοκῶ μοι γιγνώσκειν.

Dewing And Belisarius, perceiving this, called together all the commanders and spoke as follows: "It seems to me, fellow officers, that I do not have the same opinion regarding this war as you have.

Greek ὑμᾶς μὲν γὰρ ὁρῶ τῶν πολεμίων ἅτε παντάπασιν ἡσσημένων ὑπερφρονοῦντας.

Dewing For you, I see, are contemptuous of the enemy as being completely vanquished.

Greek ἐγὼ δὲ ταύτῃ ὑμῶν τῇ παρρησίᾳ ἐς προὖπτον ἡμᾶς ἐμπεσεῖσθαι κίνδυνον οἶμαι, ἐπεὶ τοὺς μὲν βαρβάρους οὔτε ἀνανδρίᾳ τινὶ οὔτε ὀλιγανθρωπίᾳ ἡσσῆσθαι ἡμῶν, προνοίᾳ δὲ μόνῃ καὶ βουλῇ καταστρατηγηθέντας ἐς φυγὴν ἐνθένδε τετράφθαι οἶδα.

Dewing But my opinion is that by this confidence of yours we shall fall into a danger which can be foreseen, because I know that the barbarians have not been vanquished by us because of any lack of courage on their part or because of inferiority in numbers, but that it is by means of careful planning beforehand that they have been outgeneralled, and consequently have turned to flight from this place.

Greek δέδοικα δὲ μὴ ταῦτα ὑμεῖς τῇ οὐκ ἀληθεῖ δόξῃ σφαλλόμενοι τὰ ἀνήκεστα ὑμᾶς τε αὐτοὺς καὶ τὰ Ῥωμαίων πράγματα δράσητε.

Dewing And I fear that you may be deceived in regard to these facts because of your false estimate of the situation, and may thus do irreparable harm both to yourselves and to the cause of the Romans.

Greek ῥᾷον γὰρ οἱ νενικηκέναι δοκοῦντες τοῖς πεπραγμένοις ἐπαιρόμενοι διαφθείρονται ἢ οἱ παρὰ δόξαν μὲν ἐπταικότες, δέει δὲ τὸ λοιπὸν καὶ φροντίδι πολλῇ ἐς τοὺς ἐναντίους ἐχόμενοι.

Dewing For those who, accounting themselves victorious, are lifted up by their achievements are more readily destroyed than those who have indeed suffered an unexpected reverse, but thereafter are actuated by fear and abundant respect of their enemy.

Greek ῥᾳθυμία μὲν γὰρ τῶν εὖ καθεστώτων τινὰς ἔφθειρε, πόνος δὲ ξὺν μερίμνῃ τῶν δεδυστυχηκότων πολλοὺς ὤνησεν.

Dewing For while indifference has sometimes ruined men who were in good case, energy coupled with solicitude has often relieved those who had been unfortunate.

Greek ἐπεὶ τῶν μὲν ὀλιγωρίᾳ εἰκόντων ἡ δύναμις ὡς τὰ πολλὰ ἐλασσοῦσθαι φιλεῖ, μελέτη δὲ ἰσχὺν ἐντιθέναι ἱκανῶς πέφυκεν.

Dewing For, on the one hand, when men allow themselves to drift into an attitude of unconcern, the measure of their strength is wont, as a rule, to be lessened, but, on the other hand, careful study of a situation is naturally calculated to instil vigour.

Greek οὐκοῦν ἐνθυμείσθω ὑμῶν ἕκαστος ὡς ἐν Ῥαβέννῃ μὲν Οὐίττιγίς τέ ἐστι καὶ Γότθων μυριάδες πολλαί, Οὐραΐας δὲ Μεδιόλανόν τε πολιορκεῖ καὶ περιβέβληται Λιγουρίαν ὅλην, Αὔξιμος δὲ ἤδη στρατιᾶς πλήρης πολλῆς τε καὶ λόγου ἀξίας, ἄλλα τε χωρία πολλὰ πρὸς ἀξιομάχων ἡμῖν φρουρεῖται βαρβάρων μέχρι ἐς Οὐρβιβεντόν, ἣ Ῥώμης ἐν γειτόνων τυγχάνει οὖσα.

Dewing Accordingly, let each one of you remember that Vittigis is in Ravenna with many tens of thousands of Goths, that Uraias is besieging Milan and has brought the whole of Liguria under his power, that Auximus is already filled with an array both numerous and formidable, and that many other places, as far as Urviventus,⁠ which is in the neighbourhood of Rome, are guarded by barbarian garrisons which are a match for us.

Greek ὥστε νῦν μᾶλλον ἡμῖν ἢ πρότερον ἐν κινδύνῳ τὰ πράγματα κεῖται, ἐς κύκλωσίν τινα τῶν πολεμίων ἐμπεπτωκόσιν.

Dewing Consequently the situation is more perilous for us at the present time than it formerly was, seeing that we have come to be, in a way, surrounded by the enemy.

Greek ἐῶ γὰρ λέγειν ὡς καὶ Φράγγους αὐτοῖς ἐν Λιγουρίᾳ ξυντετάχθαι φασίν, ὅπερ οὐκ ἔξω δέους μεγάλου ἐς μνήμην ἰέναι πᾶσι Ῥωμαίοις ἱκανῶς ἄξιον.

Dewing And this is not all, for I pass over the report that the Franks also have joined forces with them in Liguria, a thing which cannot fail to be remembered by all Romans with great fear.

Greek φημὶ τοίνυν ἔγωγε χρῆναι μοῖραν μὲν τοῦ στρατοῦ ἐς Λιγουρίαν τε καὶ Μεδιόλανον στέλλεσθαι, τοὺς δὲ λοιποὺς ἐν μὲν τῷ παραυτίκα ἐπί τε Αὔξιμον καὶ τοὺς ἐκείνῃ πολεμίους χωρεῖν, ὅσα ἂν ὁ θεὸς διδῷ πράξοντας· ἔπειτα δὲ καὶ τἄλλα τοῦ πολέμου ἔργα διαχειρίζειν ὅπη ἂν ἄριστά τε δοκῇ καὶ βέλτιστα εἶναι.” Βελισάριος μὲν τοσαῦτα εἶπε.

Dewing I state, therefore, as my opinion that a part of the army ought to be sent to Liguria and Milan, but that the rest should instantly proceed against Auximus and the enemy there, in order to accomplish whatever God permits; and afterwards we should also take in hand the other tasks of the war in whatever way seems best and most advantageous." So spoke Belisarius.

Greek Ναρσῆς δὲ ἀμείβεται ὧδε· “Τὰ μὲν ἄλλα, ὦ στρατηγέ, μὴ οὐχὶ ξὺν ἀληθείᾳ σοι πάντα εἰρῆσθαι οὐδεὶς ἂν ἀντείποι.

Dewing And Narses replied as follows: "In other respects, General, no one could deny that everything has been spoken by you with truth.

Greek πάντα δὲ τουτονὶ τὸν βασιλέως στρατὸν ἐς Μεδιόλανόν τε καὶ Αὔξιμον ἀποκεκρίσθαι μόνον ἀξύμφορον εἶναι παντελῶς οἶμαι.

Dewing But that the emperor's whole army here should be divided between Milan and Auximus alone I consider to be utterly inexpedient.

Greek ἀλλὰ σὲ μὲν ἐπὶ ταῦτα Ῥωμαίων ἐξηγεῖσθαι οἷς ἂν αὐτὸς βούλοιο οὐδὲν ἀπεικός, ἡμεῖς δὲ βασιλεῖ τὴν Αἰμιλίων ἐπικτησόμεθα χώραν, ἣν μάλιστα Γότθους προσποιεῖσθαί φασι, καὶ Ῥάβενναν ξυνταράξομεν οὕτως ὥστε τοὺς καθ’ ὑμᾶς αὐτοὺς πολεμίους ὅ τι βούλεσθε διεργάσεσθε, πάσης ἀποκεκλεισμένους τῆς τῶν ἀμυνόντων ἐλπίδος.

Dewing It would not be at all unreasonable for you, on your part, to lead against these places such of the Romans as you yourself might wish, but we, on our part, shall take possession for the emperor of the territory of Aemilia, which the Goths are making the greatest effort to win for themselves, and we shall harass Ravenna in such a way that you will crush the enemy before you as you wish, while they are excluded from the hope of armies to support them.

Greek ἢν γὰρ ξὺν ὑμῖν ἐν Αὐξίμῳ προσεδρεύειν ἑλοίμεθα, δέδοικα μὴ τῶν ἐκ Ῥαβέννης ἐπιόντων βαρβάρων περιέσται ἡμῖν ἀμφιβόλοις τε γεγενῆσθαι πρὸς τῶν πολεμίων καὶ τῶν ἀναγκαίων ἀπολελειμμένοις αὐτοῦ διεφθάρθαι.” καὶ Ναρσῆς μὲν τοσαῦτα ἔλεξε.

Dewing For if we should elect to join you in carrying on a siege at Auximus, the barbarians, I fear, will come upon us from Ravenna, with the result that we shall become exposed to the enemy on both sides and, being at a distance from our base of supplies, we shall be destroyed on the spot." Such were the words of Narses.

Greek Βελισάριος δὲ δείσας μὴ ἐς πολλὰ Ῥωμαίων ἰόντων καταρρεῖν τε τὰ βασιλέως ξυμβαίη πράγματα καὶ τῇ ἐνθένδε ἀκοσμίᾳ ξυγχεῖσθαι, γράμματα βασιλέως Ἰουστινιανοῦ ἔδειξεν ἃ πρὸς τοὺς στρατοπέδου ἄρχοντας ἔγραψεν.

Dewing But Belisarius feared that, if the Romans should go against many places at once, it would come about that the emperor's cause would be weakened and finally ruined by the confusion resulting therefrom, and so he shewed a letter from the Emperor Justinian which he had written to the commanders of the army,

Greek ἐδήλου δὲ ἡ γραφὴ τάδε· “Ναρσῆν τὸν ἡμέτερον ταμίαν οὐκ ἐφ’ ᾧ ἄρξαι τοῦ στρατοπέδου ἐς Ἰταλίαν ἐπέμψαμεν· μόνον γὰρ Βελισάριον παντὶ τῷ στρατῷ ἐξηγεῖσθαι βουλόμεθα ὅπη ἂν αὐτῷ δοκῇ ὡς ἄριστα ἔχειν, αὐτῷ τε ὑμᾶς ἕπεσθαι ἅπαντας ἐπὶ τῷ συμφέροντι τῇ ἡμετέρᾳ πολιτείᾳ προσήκει.” τὰ μὲν οὖν βασιλέως γράμματα ὧδέ πη εἶχε.

Dewing conveying the following message: "We have not sent our steward Narses to Italy in order to command the army; for we wish Belisarius alone to command the whole army in whatever manner seems to him to be best, and it is the duty of all of you to follow him in the interest of our state." Such was the purport of the emperor's letter.

Greek Ναρσῆς δὲ τῆς ἐπιστολῆς τοῦ ἀκροτελευτίου λαβόμενος ἀπ’ ἐναντίας Βελισάριον ἰσχυρίζετο ἐν τῷ παρόντι τοῦ τῆς πολιτείας ξυμφόρου βουλεύεσθαι· διὸ δὴ σφίσιν οὐκ ἀναγκαῖον εἶναι αὐτῷ ἕπεσθαι.

Dewing But Narses, laying hold of the final words of the letter, declared that Belisarius at the present time was laying plans contrary to the interest of the state; for this reason, he said, it was unnecessary for them to follow him.