第7巻 第32章

Greek Βασιλεῖ μὲν οὖν τά τε ἀμφὶ Ἀρταβάνῃ καὶ Γερμανῷ ταύτῃ πη εἶχεν. ἦν δέ τις Ἀρσάκης ὄνομα ἐν Βυζαντίῳ, Ἀρμένιος γένος, Ἀρσακίδης ἀνήρ, τῷ Ἀρταβάνῃ κατὰ γένος προσήκων.

Dewing Such then were the relations of the emperor to Artabanes and to Germanus. There was also a certain Arsaces in Byzantium, an Armenian by birth and one of the Arsacidae, related to Artabanes by blood.

Greek ὃς δὴ κακουργῶν ἐς τὴν πολιτείαν οὐ πολλῷ ἔμπροσθεν ἐφωράθη καὶ προδοσίας διαφανῶς ἑάλω ἅτε δὴ ἐς Χοσρόην τὸν Περσῶν βασιλέα πράγματα ἐπὶ Ῥωμαίοις νεώτερα πράσσων.

Dewing This man had been detected not long before this in an attempt to harm the state, and he had been clearly convicted of treason, since he was negotiating with Chosroes, the Persian king, to stir up trouble for the Romans.

Greek βασιλεύς τε αὐτὸν ἄλλο μὲν εἰργάσατο οὐδὲν ἄχαρι, ξάνας δὲ οὐ πολλὰς κατὰ νώτου ἐπόμπευσε καμήλῳ ἀνὰ τὴν πόλιν ὀχούμενον, οὐδὲν μέντοι αὐτὸν οὔτε τοῦ σώματος οὔτε τῆς οὐσίας ἀφείλετο,

Dewing But the emperor did him no further harm than to beat his back with not many blows and parade him through the city mounted on a camel; however, he did him no injury in either his person or his property, nor did he even penalize him by exile.

Greek οὐ μὴν οὐδὲ φυγῇ ἐζημίωσε. δυσφορούμενος δὲ ὅμως τοῖς ξυμπεπτωκόσιν Ἀρσάκης δολώσεις ἐπί τε Ἰουστινιανῷ καὶ τῇ πολιτείᾳ ἐπινοεῖν ἤρξατο.

Dewing But Arsaces was nevertheless incensed at what had taken place, and began to devise treacherous plans against both Justinian and the state.

Greek ἐπειδή τε ξυναχθόμενόν οἱ τὸν Ἀρταβάνην ἅτε ξυγγενῆ εἶδεν, ἔτι μᾶλλον ἠρέθιζέ τε καὶ λόγων ἐνέδραις τὸν ἄνθρωπον καταλαβὼν ἐκάκιζεν, οὔτε νύκτα οὔτε ἡμέραν τινὰ ἀνιείς, ἀνδρεῖόν τε καὶ ἀνδρόγυνον ἀπὸ καιροῦ γεγονότα ὠνείδιζεν.

Dewing And when he saw that Artabanes, as his kinsman, was sharing his vexation, he began to stir him up still more, and, gaining the man's attention by crafty speeches, he ceased not day nor night to upbraid him, rebuking him for having been both courageous and faint-hearted out of season.

Greek ἐπὶ μὲν γὰρ κακοῖς ἀλλοτρίοις γενναῖόν τε καὶ τῆς τυραννίδος διαλυτὴν αὐτὸν γεγονέναι, φίλον τε ὄντα καὶ ἑστιάτορα Γόνθαριν αὐτοχειρὶ λαβόντα κτεῖναι οὐδενὶ λόγῳ.

Dewing For he had, on the one hand, given proof of his nobility of spirit in his attitude toward the misfortunes of others, in that he had put an end to tyranny; indeed, though Gontharis was his friend and his host, he had laid hold of him with his own hand and slain him under no compulsion whatever.

Greek ἐν δέ γε τῷ παρόντι ἀποδειλιάσαντα οὕτως ἀνάνδρως ἐνταῦθα καθῆσθαι, τῆς μὲν πατρίδος οἱ φρουρουμένης τε ἐνδελεχέστατα καὶ δασμοῖς ἐκτετηκυίας ἀήθεσι, τοῦ δὲ πατρὸς ἀνῃρημένου ἐπὶ ξυνθηκῶν τε καὶ ξυμβάσεως λόγῳ, παντὸς δὲ τοῦ ξυγγενοῦς δεδουλωμένου τε καὶ σκεδαννυμένου ἀεὶ πανταχόσε τῆς Ῥωμαίων ἀρχῆς.

Dewing But at the present juncture, he said, he was utterly cowed, and he continued to sit there without a spark of manhood, though his fatherland was kept under strictest guard and exhausted by unwonted taxes, his father had been slain on the pretext of a treaty and covenant, and his whole family had been enslaved and was kept scattered to every corner of the Roman empire.

Greek ἀλλὰ τούτων τοιούτων ὄντων αὐτῷ Ἀρταβάνης ἀποχρῆν οἴεται, εἰ στρατηγός τε Ῥωμαίων εἴη καὶ ὕπατος καλοῖτο μόνον. “Καὶ σὺ μὲν” ἔφη “ξυγγενεῖ τέ μοι ὄντι καὶ πεπονθότι ἀνήκεστα ἔργα οὐδαμῆ συναλγεῖς· ἐγὼ δέ σε οἰκτείρω τῆς ἐπ’ ἀμφοῖν ταῖν γυναικοῖν, ὦ βέλτιστε, τύχης, ἧς τε οὐ δέον ἐστέρησαι καὶ ᾗ ξυνοικεῖν ἠναγκάσθης.

Dewing But in spite of these facts Artabanes thought it sufficient for him to be a general of the Romans and merely bear the name of consul. "And you," he said, "do not share my sorrow in the least, though I am your kinsman and have suffered outrageous treatment, while I, for my part, pity you, my dear fellow, for the fortune you have suffered in the case of both those women, not only the one you have been cheated of wrongfully but also the other with whom you have been compelled to live.

Greek καίτοι οὐδένα εἰκός, ὅτῳ φρονήματος καὶ κατὰ βραχύ τινος μέτεστι, τὸν Ἰουστινιανοῦ ἀναδύεσθαι φόνον οὔτε ὀκνήσει οὔτε ὀρρωδίᾳ τινί, ὃς δὴ κάθηται ἀφύλακτος ἐς ἀεὶ ἐπὶ λέσχης τινὸς ἀωρὶ νύκτωρ, ὁμοῦ τοῖς τῶν ἱερέων ἐσχατογέρουσιν ἀνακυκλεῖν τὰ Χριστιανῶν λόγια σπουδὴν ἔχων.

Dewing And yet it ill becomes anyone who has even a little spirit in him to refuse to undertake the murder of Justinian, nor should he hesitate nor entertain any fear, — a man who always sits unguarded in some lobby to a late hour of the night, eagerly unrolling the Christian scriptures in company with priests who are at the extremity of old age.

Greek ἀλλὰ γὰρ” ἔφη “οὐδέ τίς σοι ἀντιστήσεται τῶν Ἰουστινιανοῦ ξυγγενῶν. ὁ μέντοι γε πάντων δυνατώτατος Γερμανός, οἶμαι, ξυλλήψεταί σοι προθυμούμενος ξὺν τοῖς παισὶ τοῖς αὑτοῦ, νεανίαις τε οὖσι καὶ τῇ τε ἡλικίᾳ καὶ τῷ θυμῷ ἐπ’ αὐτὸν ζέουσιν, οὕς γε καὶ τὴν πρᾶξιν αὐτοματίσειν ἐλπίδα ἔχω.

Dewing Furthermore," he continued, "not one of the kinsmen of Justinian will oppose you. Indeed the most powerful of them all, Germanus, will, I believe, assist you with all his heart and his sons as well, seeing that they are young men and consequently boiling with fury against him; and I am in hopes that these men will actually carry through the enterprise of their own accord.

Greek ἠδικημένοι γὰρ πρὸς ἐκείνου τυγχάνουσιν ἤδη ὅσα οὔτε ἡμεῖς οὔτε τις ἄλλος Ἀρμενίων οὐδείς.” τοιούτοις Ἀρσάκης ἀεὶ καταγοητεύων τὸν Ἀρταβάνην, ἐπειδή ποτε αὐτὸν ἐνδόντα εἶδεν, ἐπί τινα Περσαρμένιον ἕτερον,

Dewing For they have already suffered injustice at his hand such as neither we nor anyone else among the Armenians has suffered." By such speeches Arsaces ever sought to cast a spell over Artabanes, and as soon as ever he saw him beginning to yield, he carried the matter to another Persarmenian, Chanaranges by name.

Greek Χαναράγγην ὄνομα, τὸ πρᾶγμα ἦγεν. ἦν δὲ οὗτος ὁ Χαναράγγης νεανίας μέν, καλὸς δὲ τὸ σῶμα, οὐ μέντοι κατεσπουδασμένος, ἀλλ’ ἐπὶ πλεῖστον παιδαριώδης.

Dewing Now this Chanaranges was a young man who, though comely of person, was not a man of serious character, but childish to an extraordinary degree.

Greek Ἐπεὶ οὖν Ἀρσάκης αὐτόν τε καὶ Ἀρταβάνην τά τε ἐς τὴν γνώμην καὶ ἐς τοὺς λόγους ξυνέμιξεν, ἀπηλλάσσετο ἐπαγγειλάμενος Γερμανόν τε καὶ τοὺς αὐτοῦ παῖδας ὁμογνώμονας ἐς τὸ ἔργον θήσεσθαι σφίσι.

Dewing So when Arsaces had brought him and Artabanes into mutual agreement, both in their thinking and in their speaking, he departed, promising to make Germanus and his sons of the same mind with them in regard to the undertaking.

Greek καὶ ἦν γὰρ Ἰουστῖνος ὁ πρεσβύτερος τῶν Γερμανοῦ παίδων νεανίας μὲν καὶ πρῶτον ὑπηνήτης, δραστήριος δὲ καὶ ἐς τὰς πράξεις ὀξύτερος·

Dewing Now Justinus, the elder of the sons of Germanus, was a youth wearing his first beard, but an energetic fellow and unusually keen in action;

Greek ὥστε καὶ ἐς τῶν ὑπάτων τὸν δίφρον οὐ πολλῷ ἔμπροσθεν ἀναβεβήκει. ἀφικόμενός τε παρ’ αὐτὸν Ἀρσάκης ἔφασκέν οἱ λάθρα ἐν ἱερῷ τινι ἐντυχεῖν βούλεσθαι.

Dewing indeed, as a result of these qualities, he had actually risen to the dignity of the consular chair not long before. Accordingly, Arsaces approached him and said that he wished to speak with him secretly in some sanctuary.

Greek ἐπεί τε ἐν τῷ ναῷ ἐγενέσθην ἄμφω, ἠξίου πρῶτον Ἀρσάκης τὸν Ἰουστῖνον δι’ ὅρκων ἰσχυρίσασθαι μή ποτε τοὺς λόγους ἔς τινα τῶν πάντων ἀνθρώπων ὅτι μὴ ἐς τὸν πατέρα μόνον ἐξοίσειν.

Dewing When they had both entered the church, Arsaces first required Justinus to affirm on oath that he would never report their conversation to any man in the whole world, except his father alone.

Greek ταῦτά τε ὀμωμοκότι τῷ ἀνδρὶ ὠνείδιζεν εἰ βασιλεῖ ξυγγενὴς πλησιαίτατος ὢν ἀγοραίους μὲν καὶ ἀγελαίους ἀνθρώπους τινὰς ἔχοντας οὐδὲν αὐτοῖς προσῆκον ὁρῶν τὰς τῆς πολιτείας ἀρχάς, αὐτὸς δὲ τηλίκος ὢν ἤδη ὡς αὐτοῦ εἶναι διοικεῖσθαι τὰ πράγματα, οὐχ αὑτὸν μόνον περιορῴη, ἀλλὰ καὶ τὸν πατέρα, καίπερ ἐπ’ ἄκρον ἀρετῆς ἥκοντα, καὶ τὸν ἀδελφὸν Ἰουστινιανὸν ἐν ἰδιώτου μοίρᾳ καθημένους τὸν πάντα αἰῶνα.

Dewing And after the man had sworn to this effect, he took him to task because, on the one hand, he, a very close relative of the emperor, saw other men holding the offices of the state, common plebeian fellows with no claim to such distinction, while he himself, on the other hand, though he was now of such age that he was entitled to manage his own affairs, paid no heed to the fact that not only he himself, but also his father, and that, too, in spite of his high achievements, and his brother Justinian had to sit for ever in the place of private citizens.

Greek καὶ οὐδὲ τοῦ θείου τὴν οὐσίαν αὐτὸν εἰσιέναι ξυνέβη, ἧς δὴ κληρονόμος τά γε ὅσα βεβουλῆσθαι Βοραΐδην αὐτὸς γεγονώς, εἶτα οὐ δέον ἐκ τοῦ ἐπὶ πλεῖστον ἀφῄρηται.

Dewing Nay more, he had not even been allowed to enter into the property of his uncle, to which he and no other had been heir as far as concerned the purpose of Boraïdes, but the greater part of it had been unjustly wrested from him.

Greek καίτοι πολλῷ ἔτι μᾶλλον αὐτοὺς περιοφθήσεσθαι εἰκὸς αὐτίκα δὴ μάλα, ἐπειδὰν τάχιστα Βελισάριος ἐξ Ἰταλίας ἀφίκηται. ἠγγέλλετο γὰρ ὢν ἐν Ἰλλυριοῖς ἤδη που μέσοις.

Dewing Still it was probable that they would be still further humiliated forthwith, as soon as Belisarius should arrive from Italy; for he was reported to be already somewhere in the heart of Illyricum.

Greek τοσαῦτα ὑπειπὼν Ἀρσάκης ἐς τὴν ἐς βασιλέα ἐπιβουλὴν τὸν νεανίαν ὥρμα, τά τέ οἱ αὐτῷ καὶ Ἀρταβάνῃ ξυγκείμενα καὶ τῷ Χαναράγγῃ ἀμφὶ τὸ ἔργον τοῦτο ἀποκαλύψας.

Dewing After such an introduction Arsaces sought to compel the youth to take part in the plot against the emperor, disclosing to him the agreement reached between himself, Artabanes and Chanaranges in regard to this business.

Greek ταῦτα Ἰουστῖνος ἀκούσας ξυνεταράχθη τε καὶ ἰλιγγιάσας ἄντικρυς τῷ Ἀρσάκῃ ἀπεῖπε μήτ’ ἄν οἱ αὐτῷ μήτε Γερμανῷ τῷ πατρὶ ταῦτά ποτε ποιητέα εἶναι.

Dewing Upon hearing this Justinus was greatly agitated and his head swam, but he told Arsaces flatly that neither he himself nor his father Germanus could ever do these things.

Greek Καὶ ὁ μὲν Ἀρσάκης τὰ ξυμπεσόντα τῷ Ἀρταβάνῃ ἀπήγγειλεν, ὁ δὲ Ἰουστῖνος ἐς τὸν πατέρα τὸν πάντα λόγον ἀνήνεγκε. καὶ ὃς Μαρκέλλῳ κοινολογησάμενος, ὃς τῶν ἐν Παλατίῳ φυλάκων ἦρχεν, ἀμφὶ τὸ πρᾶγμα ξυμβουλὴν ἐποιεῖτο, εἴπερ σφίσι ταῦτα ἐς βασιλέα ἐξενεγκεῖν ξύμφορον εἴη.

Dewing Then, while Arsaces reported to Artabanes what had happened, Justinus referred the whole matter to his father. He thereupon conferred with Marcellus, the commander of the palace guards, and they took the question under consideration whether it was advisable to report this matter to the emperor.

Greek ἦν δὲ οὗτος ὁ Μάρκελλος ἐμβριθέστατός τε τὸ ἦθος καὶ τῇ σιωπῇ τὰ πολλὰ νέμων, οὔτε χρημάτων τι ἕνεκα πράσσων οὔτε λόγων ἢ πράξεων γελωτοποιῶν ἀνεχόμενος οὔτε ἄλλως ἀνειμένῃ διαίτῃ χαίρων, ἀλλὰ βίον σκληρόν τέ τινα καὶ ἡδονῆς ἀλλότριον ἐς ἀεὶ ἔχων, τοῦ μέντοι δικαίου ἐπιμελητὴς ἀκριβὴς καὶ τοῦ ἀληθοῦς διαπυρώτατος ἐραστής.

Dewing Now this Marcellus was a man of very great dignity who observed silence in most matters, neither doing anything for the sake of money nor tolerating buffoonery in word nor deed nor taking any pleasure in other forms of relaxation, but always living a kind of austere life to which pleasure was strange; but at the same time he was scrupulous in his observance of justice and a most ardent lover of truth.

Greek ὃς δὴ τότε οὐκ εἴα τὸν λόγον ἐς βασιλέα φέρεσθαι. “Σὲ μὲν γὰρ τούτου” ἔφη “μηνυτὴν γενέσθαι ἀξύμφορον. ἢν γάρ τι λάθρα ἐρεῖν βασιλεῖ βούλοιο, ὑποτοπήσουσί τε εὐθὺς οἱ ἀμφὶ Ἀρταβάνην αὐτὸ μεμηνύσθαι, καὶ ἤν που Ἀρσάκης διαφυγὼν λαθεῖν δύνηται, ἀνεξέλεγκτον τὸ ἔγκλημα μενεῖ.

Dewing So he naturally would not on that occasion allow the report to be carried to the emperor. "For as for you," he said, "it is inexpedient that you should carry information of this thing. For if you should wish to say anything to the emperor in secret, Artabanes and his friends will straightway become suspicious that the matter has been denounced, and, if perchance Arsaces is able to escape unnoticed, the charge will remain unproved.

Greek ἐγὼ δέ τι μὴ λίαν ἀκριβολογησάμενος ἢ πιστεύειν αὐτὸς ἢ βασιλεῖ ἐσαγγέλλειν οὐδαμῆ εἴωθα.

Dewing And I, on the other hand, am not at all accustomed either to believe myself or to report to the emperor anything which I have not thoroughly verified.

Greek βούλομαι τοίνυν ἢ τῶν λόγων αὐτήκοος γενέσθαι ἢ τῶν μοι ἐπιτηδείων τινὰ ἐκ παρασκευῆς ὑμετέρας ἀκοῦσαι τοῦ ἀνθρώπου λέγοντός τι ὑπὲρ τούτων διαφανές.”

Dewing It is my desire, consequently, either that I hear the words with my own ears or that one of my intimates, by your contriving, hear the man saying something unmistakably clear about these matters."

Greek Ταῦτα ὁ Γερμανὸς ἀκούσας Ἰουστῖνον τὸν παῖδα ἐκέλευε πράσσειν ὅπως ἡ Μαρκέλλου ἐπίταξις ἐπιτελὴς εἴη.

Dewing When Germanus heard this, he bade his son Justinus arrange that the requirement of Marcellus should be carried out.

Greek ὁ δὲ Ἀρσάκῃ μέν τι ὑπὲρ τούτου εἰπεῖν οὐκέτι εἶχεν, ἐπεὶ ἄντικρυς αὐτῷ, ὥσπερ μοι ἐρρήθη, ἀπειπὼν ἔτυχε.

Dewing He, however, was no longer able to say anything about this matter to Arsaces, since he had, as stated above, given him a flat refusal.

Greek τοῦ δὲ Χαναράγγου ἀνεπυνθάνετο εἰ Ἀρταβάνου γνώμῃ ἔναγχος Ἀρσάκης παρ’ αὐτὸν ἥκοι. “Ἐγὼ μὲν γὰρ οὐκ ἄν ποτε” ἔφη “τῶν τι ἀπορρήτων ἐθάρσησα ἐπ’ ἐκείνῳ τοιῷδε ὄντι καταλιπεῖν.

Dewing Still he did enquire of Chanaranges whether Arsaces had recently approached him at the suggestion of Artabanes. "For I," he said, "should never have had the courage to entrust any of my secrets to him, seeing he is such a man as he is.

Greek ἀλλ’ εἴ μοι βούλοιό τι αὐτὸς τῶν προὔργου εἰπεῖν, ἐπὶ κοινῆς βουλευσάμενοι τάχα

Dewing But if you should be willing yourself to tell me something to the point, we could, by deliberating in common, perhaps accomplish something really worth while."

Greek ἄν τι καὶ ἀγαθὸν πράξαιμεν.” ὑπὲρ τούτων ὁ Χαναράγγης τῷ Ἀρταβάνῃ κοινολογησάμενος ἅπαντα ἐς τὸν Ἰουστῖνον ἐξήνεγκεν, ὅσα δὴ πρότερον Ἀρσάκης αὐτῷ εἰπὼν ἔτυχεν.

Dewing Chanaranges then conferred with Artabanes about this and reported to Justinus each and every thing which Arsaces had previously told him.

Greek Ἐπεὶ δὲ Ἰουστῖνος αὐτός τε ἅπαντα ἐπιτελέσειν καὶ τὸν πατέρα ὡμολόγει ὁμογνωμονοῦντα παρέξεσθαι, ἐδόκει τῷ Γερμανῷ τὸν Χαναράγγην ἐς λόγους ξυμμῖξαι, τακτή τε ἡμέρα τῷ διαλόγῳ ξυνέκειτο.

Dewing Then, since Justinus agreed both to carry out everything himself and to bring his father to agreement with them, it was decided that Chanaranges should meet Germanus in conference, and a definite day was appointed for the interview.

Greek ταῦτα ὁ Γερμανὸς Μαρκέλλῳ σημήνας ἠξίου τῶν τινά οἱ ἐπιτηδείων παρέχεσθαι σφίσιν,

Dewing Germanus reported this to Marcellus and requested him to provide them one of his intimates who should hear with his own ears the words of Chanaranges.

Greek αὐτήκοον τῶν Χαναράγγου λόγων ἐσόμενον. ὁ δὲ Λεόντιον παρείχετο, τὸν Ἀθανασίου γαμβρόν, ἄνδρα λόγου τε τοῦ δικαίου μεταποιούμενον καὶ ἀληθίζεσθαι ἐξεπιστάμενον μάλιστα.

Dewing And he provided Leontius, the son-in‑law of Athanasius, a man who had strict regard for justice and thoroughly capable of speaking the truth.

Greek ὃν δὴ ὁ Γερμανὸς ἐς τὴν οἰκίαν ἐσαγαγὼν ἐν δωματίῳ ἐκάθισεν, ἵνα δὴ ἀπεκρέματό τις παχεῖα σινδὼν παραπέτασμα τῆς στιβάδος οὖσα, ἐφ’ ἧς ἑστιᾶσθαι εἰώθει.

Dewing This man Germanus introduced into his house and placed in a room where a thick curtain had been hung to conceal the couch on which he was accustomed to dine.

Greek ταύτης τε τῆς σινδόνος τὸν μὲν Λεόντιον ἐντὸς ἔκρυψεν, αὐτὸς δὲ ξὺν Ἰουστίνῳ τῷ παιδὶ ἐκτὸς ἔμενεν.

Dewing And he hid Leontius inside this curtain, while he himself with his son Justinus remained outside.

Greek ἐνταῦθα τοῦ Χαναράγγου ἀφικομένου ἤκουσε σαφῶς ὁ Λέοντιος ἅπαντα λέγοντος, ἅπερ αὐτῷ τε καὶ Ἀρταβάνῃ καὶ τῷ Ἀρσάκῃ ἐν βουλῇ ἐγεγόνει.

Dewing When Chanaranges came there, Leontius clearly heard him say everything which he, Artabanes, and Arsaces had planned.

Greek ἐν τοῖς καὶ τόδε ἐς τὸν λόγον ἦλθεν, ὡς, ἢν βασιλέα κτείνωσι Βελισαρίου ἔτι ἐς Βυζάντιον ὁδῷ ἰόντος, οὐδὲν ἂν τῶν βεβουλευμένων προχωρήσειε σφίσιν· εἴπερ αὐτοῖς μὲν βασιλέα Γερμανὸν καταστήσεσθαι βουλομένοις εἴη, Βελισάριον δὲ πλῆθος στρατιᾶς ἀθροίσειν εἰκὸς ἐκ τῶν ἐπὶ Θρᾴκης χωρίων, οὕτω τε σφίσιν ἐπιόντα τὸν ἄνθρωπον οὐδεμιᾷ μηχανῇ ἀπωθεῖσθαι ἱκανοὶ ἔσονται.

Dewing Among these things this too was mentioned, that, if they killed the emperor while Belisarius was still on the way to Byzantium, their purpose would not be advanced at all; for, though they might wish to establish Germanus on the throne, it was probable that Belisarius would gather a vast army from the towns of Thrace, and they would be unable by any device to repulse the man when he came against them in this way.

Greek δεήσει γοῦν ἐς μὲν τὴν Βελισαρίου παρουσίαν ἀποθέσθαι τὴν πρᾶξιν, ἐπειδὰν δὲ ὁ ἀνὴρ τάχιστα ἐς Βυζάντιόν τε ἀφίκηται καὶ παρὰ βασιλέα ἐν Παλατίῳ εἴη, τότε δή, ἑσπέρας βαθείας που οὔσης, ἐγχειρίδια φέροντας ἀπροσδοκήτους ἐνταῦθα γενέσθαι, καὶ Μάρκελλόν τε καὶ Βελισάριον ξὺν βασιλεῖ κτεῖναι.

Dewing It would consequently be necessary to postpone the execution of the plan until Belisarius should be present, but as soon as the man should reach Byzantium and should be closeted with the emperor in the palace, then, at some time late in the evening, they should go there unexpectedly, armed with daggers, and kill Marcellus and Belisarius as well as the emperor.

Greek οὕτω γὰρ τὸ ἐνθένδε ἀδεέστερον ᾗ βούλονται διοικήσονται. Ταῦτα Μάρκελλος πρὸς Λεοντίου μαθὼν οὐδ’ ὣς ἐς βασιλέα τὸν λόγον ἀνενεγκεῖν ἔγνω, ἀλλ’ ἔτι ὀκνήσει πολλῇ εἴχετο, τοῦ μὴ τὸν Ἀρταβάνην σπουδῇ πολλῇ κατεργάσασθαι ἀπερισκέπτως.

Dewing For such a course of action would enable them thereafter to make such dispositions as they wished without fear. Even when Marcellus learned this from Leontius, he could not as yet make up his mind to report the matter to the emperor, being, as he was, still very reluctant to act, lest by excessive haste he should doom Artabanes on imperfect evidence.

Greek ὁ μέντοι Γερμανος ἅπαντα ἔς τε Βούζην καὶ Κωνσταντιανὸν ἐξήνεγκε, δείσας, ὅπερ ἐγένετο, μή τινα ἐκ τῆς μελλήσεως ὑποψίαν λάβῃ.

Dewing Germanus, however, revealed everything to Bouzes and Constantianus, fearing, as actually happened, that some suspicion would attach to him as a result of the delay.

Greek Ἡμέραις δὲ πολλαῖς ὕστερον, ἐπειδὴ παρὼν Βελισάριος ἄγχιστά του ἤδη ἠγγέλλετο, Μάρκελλος μὲν ἐς βασιλέα τὸν πάντα λόγον ἀνήνεγκεν, ὁ δὲ αὐτίκα ἐς τὴν εἱρκτὴν ἀπαχθῆναι τοὺς ἀμφὶ Ἀρταβάνην ἐκέλευε, τῶν τε ἀρχόντων τισὶ τὴν ἐπ’ αὐτοῖς ἐπέτρεπε βάσανον.

Dewing Many days later, when word came that Belisarius was now close at hand, Marcellus reported the whole matter to the emperor, who immediately commanded Artabanes and his associates to be taken off to prison, entrusting to some of his officers the duty of torturing them.⁠

Greek ἐπεὶ δὲ ἡ ἐπιβουλὴ ξύμπασα ἐς φῶς τε ἤδη ἐληλύθει καὶ διαρρήδην ἐν γράμμασιν ἦν, ἅπαντας βασιλεὺς τοὺς ἐκ τῆς συγκλήτου βουλῆς ἐν Παλατίῳ ἐκάθισεν, οὗπερ εἰώθασι τὰς ἀμφὶ τοῖς ἀντιλεγομένοις ποιεῖσθαι γνώσεις.

Dewing And when the whole conspiracy had now come to light and was clearly set down in writing, the emperor called a session of all the members of the senate in the palace, where they are accustomed to make their decisions regarding matters in dispute.

Greek οἵπερ ἀναλεξάμενοι ἅπαντα ὅσα τοῖς εὐθυνομένοις δεδιηγῆσθαι τετύχηκεν, οὐδέν τι ἧσσον ἐς Γερμανόν τε καὶ Ἰουστῖνον τὸν αὐτοῦ παῖδα τὸ ἔγκλημα ἦγον, ἕως ὁ Γερμανὸς Μαρκέλλου τε καὶ Λεοντίου τὴν μαρτυρίαν παρασχόμενος ἐκλύειν τὴν ὑποψίαν ἔσχεν.

Dewing When they had read over everything which had been stated by the men under examination, they nevertheless sought to involve Germanus and his son Justinus in the accusation, until Germanus, by presenting the testimony of Marcellus and Leontius, succeeded in clearing himself of the suspicion.

Greek αὐτοί τε γὰρ καὶ Κωνσταντιανὸς καὶ Βούζης διώμοτοι ἰσχυρίσαντο μηδ’ ὁτιοῦν σφᾶς τούτων δὴ ἕνεκα τὸν Γερμανὸν ἀποκρύψασθαι, ἀλλὰ ταύτῃ πάντα ξυνενεχθῆναι ᾗπέρ μοι ἔναγχος δεδιήγηται.

Dewing For these men, as well as Constantianus and Bouzes, declared under oath that Germanus had concealed from them nothing whatever as far as concerned these matters, but that everything had happened as I have just related.

Greek οἱ μὲν οὖν ἐκ τῆς συγκλήτου εὐθὺς αὐτοῦ τε καὶ τοῦ παιδὸς ἀπεψηφίσαντο ἅπαντες ἅτε οὐδὲν εἰς τὴν πολιτείαν ἡμαρτηκότων.

Dewing The senators, consequently, straightway acquitted both him and his son unanimously as having committed no offence against the state.

Greek Ἐπεὶ δὲ εἴσω πάντες ἐν βασιλέως ἐγένοντο, αὐτὸς μὲν ὀξὺ θυμωθεὶς βασιλεὺς ἠγανάκτει τε καὶ ὑπερφυῶς ἐπὶ τὸν Γερμανὸν ἠγριαίνετο τὴν βραδυτῆτα τῆς δηλώσεως αἰτιώμενος, τῶν τε ἀρχόντων δύο μέν τινες θεραπεύοντες αὐτὸν ὡμολόγουν τὴν γνώμην, καὶ ξὺν αὐτῷ δυσφορουμένοις ἐῴκεσαν· ταύτῃ τε τὸν βασιλέως θυμὸν ἐπὶ μέγα ἐξῇρον, ἀλλοτρίας αὐτῷ χαριεῖσθαι συμφορὰς ἐν σπουδῇ ἔχοντες.

Dewing But when all had gone within to the emperor's apartment, the emperor himself, who had become violently angry, began to complain and to speak with the great bitterness against Germanus, blaming him for the tardiness of his disclosure, and two of the officials, courting his favour, agreed with his opinion and seemed to share his displeasure. In this way they greatly increased the emperor's anger, eager as they were to be complacent to him in matters involving other men's misfortunes.

Greek οἱ δὲ ἄλλοι κατεπτηχότες σιωπῇ εἴχοντο, τῷ μὴ ἀντιστατεῖν ἃ βούλοιτο ἐγχωροῦντες αὐτῷ· Μάρκελλος δὲ μόνος ὀρθοστομήσας διασώσασθαι τὸν ἄνθρωπον ἴσχυσε.

Dewing But the others, cowed by fear, remained silent, yielding to him by not opposing his wish; Marcellus alone, however, by speaking with plain directness succeeded in saving the man.

Greek τὴν γὰρ αἰτίαν ἐφ’ ἑαυτὸν ἕλκων τε καὶ βιαζόμενος δυνάμει τῇ πάσῃ Γερμανὸν μὲν οἱ ἐπικαιρότατα ἔφη τὰ πρασσόμενα ἐξειπεῖν, αὐτὸν δὲ περιέργως ἀκριβολογούμενον σχολαιότερον αὐτὰ μεμηνυκέναι.

Dewing For taking the blame upon himself and speaking with all the emphasis in his power, he said that Germanus, for his part, had told him most seasonably what was going on, but that he himself, making a very careful and detailed investigation, had reported the matter more deliberately.

Greek καὶ τὴν βασιλέως ὀργὴν οὕτω κατέπαυσε. μέγα τε ἀπ’ αὐτοῦ κλέος οὗτος ὁ Μάρκελλος περιεβάλετο ἐς πάντας ἀνθρώπους ἅτε ἀρετῆς ἐν τοῖς ἀναγκαιοτάτοις μεταποιούμενος.

Dewing And in this way he allayed the emperor's anger. So Marcellus won for himself great renown from this incident among all men, as one who in a moment of the gravest peril shewed his sterling quality.

Greek βασιλεὺς δὲ Ἰουστινιανὸς παρέλυσε τὸν Ἀρταβάνην ἧς εἶχεν ἀρχῆς, ἄλλο δὲ αὐτὸν εἰργάσατο οὐδὲν ἄχαρι, οὐ μὴν οὐδὲ τῶν ἄλλων οὐδένα, πλήν γε δὴ ὅτι ἅπαντας οὐ ξὺν ἀτιμίᾳ ἐν φυλακῇ ἔσχεν, ἐν Παλατίῳ μέντοι, οὐκ ἐν τῷ δημοσίῳ οἰκήματι.

Dewing And the Emperor Justinian removed Artabanes from the office he held, but he did him no harm, nor in fact any one of the others, beyond keeping them all under guard without dishonour — in the palace, however, not in the public prison.