第7巻 第34章

Greek Οὕτω μὲν οἱ βάρβαροι διεδάσαντο τὴν Ῥωμαίων ἀρχήν. χρόνῳ δὲ ὕστερον Γήπαιδές τε καὶ Λαγγοβάρδαι ἅτε δὴ ἐν γειτόνων πη ᾠκημένοι ἀλλήλοις διάφοροι γεγένηνται ἐς τὰ μάλιστα.

Dewing Thus had the barbarians apportioned the Roman empire among themselves. But later on the Gepaedes and the Lombards, having come to be neighbours, became exceedingly hostile toward one another.

Greek πολεμησείοντές τε προθυμίᾳ τῇ πάσῃ ἐς ἀλλήλους ἑκάτεροι ὤργων τοῖς πολεμίοις διὰ μάχης ἰέναι, χρόνος τε τῇ ξυμβολῇ τακτὸς ὥριστο.

Dewing And they were extremely enthusiastic in their desire to fight each other, so that each nation was eager to do battle with the enemy, and a fixed time had been determined upon for the encounter.

Greek Λαγγοβάρδαι δὲ οὐκ ἂν οἰόμενοι Γήπαισιν ἀξιόμαχοι κατὰ μόνας αὐτοὶ ἔσεσθαι ʽπλήθει γὰρ αὐτοὺς ἐλασσοῦσθαι τῶν πολεμίων ξυνέβαινἐ Ῥωμαίους ἔγνωσαν ἐς ξυμμαχίαν ἐπαγαγέσθαι.

Dewing But the Lombards, thinking that they alone by their own strength would never be a match for the Gepaedes in battle (for they were, in fact, outnumbered by their enemy), decided to invite the Romans to an alliance.

Greek πέμψαντες οὖν παρὰ βασιλέα Ἰουστινιανὸν πρέσβεις στράτευμα σφίσιν ἐδέοντο πέμψαι. ὅπερ ἐπεὶ Γήπαιδες ἔγνωσαν, πέμπουσι καὶ αὐτοὶ ἐς Βυζάντιον πρέσβεις ὑπὲρ τῶν αὐτῶν δεησομένους. ἦρχε δὲ τότε Γηπαίδων μὲν Θορισὶν ὄνομα, τῶν δὲ ἑτέρων Αὐδουίν.

Dewing Accordingly they sent envoys to the Emperor Justinian begging him to send them an army. And when the Gepaedes learned this, they too sent envoys to Byzantium to present the same request. Now the Gepaedes were ruled at that time by Thorisin, and the others by .

Greek βασιλεὺς δὲ Ἰουστινιανὸς λόγους μὲν τοὺς πρὸς ἀμφοτέρων ἀκούειν ἔγνω, οὐχ ἅμα μέντοι ξυνιόντων, ἀλλὰ καὶ χωρὶς παρ’ αὐτὸν γινομένων.

Dewing So the Emperor Justinian decided indeed to hear the statement of each of them, but he did not wish them to come at the same time, but to appear before him separately.

Greek ἐν τοῖς πρῶτοι οὖν Λαγγοβάρδαι βασιλεῖ ἐς ὄψιν ἐλθόντες ἔλεξαν τοιάδε· “Ἡμῖν μέν, ὦ βασιλεῦ, καταπεπλῆχθαι τῇ Γηπαίδων ἀτοπίᾳ ξυμβαίνει, οἵ γε τοσαῦτά τε τὸ πλῆθος καὶ τοιαῦτα τὸ μέγεθος ἐς τὴν ὑμετέραν παρανενομηκότες ἀρχὴν νῦν καὶ τὴν μεγίστην τῶν ὕβρεων ὑμῖν κομιοῦντες ἐφ’ ὑμᾶς ἥκουσιν.

Dewing First the Lombards came into the emperor's presence and spoke as follows. "We, for our part, have been astounded at the outrageous conduct of the Gepaedes, seeing that, although they have already perpetrated crimes both many and great against your realm, as we all know, they have now come before you to offer you, in fact, the greatest possible insult.

Greek οὗτοι γὰρ ἂν μόνοι τὰ ἔσχατα ἐς τοὺς πέλας ὑβρίζοιεν, οἳ λίαν αὐτοὺς εὐπετεῖς εἰς τὸ ἐξαπατᾶσθαι οἰόμενοι τῆς τῶν ἠδικημένων ἀπολαύσοντες εὐηθείας παρ’ αὐτοὺς ἥκοιεν.

Dewing For they, and they only, can be said to put the utmost insult upon their neighbours, who imagine that these are so very easily deceived that they come to them with the intention of profiting by the simplicity of those very men whom they have already wronged.

Greek ὑμᾶς δὲ διασκοπεῖσθαι τοσοῦτον αἰτοῦμεν, ὅπη ποτὲ γνώμης τὰ ἐς φιλίαν Γήπαισιν ἔχει. οὕτω γὰρ ἂν τὰ ξυνοίσοντα ὡς ἀσφαλέστατα ἐξεργάσαισθε τῇ Ῥωμαίων ἀρχῇ, ἐπεὶ τοῖς ἀεὶ προγεγενημένοις τεκμηριοῦσθαι τὰ ἐσόμενα ξὺν τῷ ἀσφαλεῖ δύνανται ἄνθρωποι.

Dewing Now we ask you to give careful consideration to one matter only, the question namely as to what attitude the Gepaedes assume toward their friends. For thus you could with the greatest certainty assure the welfare of the Roman empire, since men are always able to infer safely from previous events what the future will bring forth.

Greek εἰ μὲν οὖν ἐς ἑτέρους τινὰς τὴν ἀγνωμοσύνην ἐπιδεδεῖχθαι μόνον τὸ Γηπαίδων ἔθνος ξυνέβαινε, πολλοῦ λόγου τε ἂν ἡμῖν καὶ χρόνου καὶ τῆς ἔξωθεν μαρτυρίας ἐδέησε, διελέγχειν ἐφιεμένοις τὸν τῶν ἀνδρῶν τρόπον· νῦν δὲ τὸ παράδειγμα ἐγγύθεν παρ’ ὑμῶν αὐτῶν λαβεῖν πάρεστι.”

Dewing If now, it were true that the nation of the Gepaedes had displayed their ingratitude only to some other people, it would have been necessary for us to occupy much time with a long speech and to bring in testimony from outside, in striving to demonstrate the base character of the men; but as it is, we are enabled to choose an example near at hand from your own experience.

Greek “Σκέψασθε γάρ· Γότθοι μὲν τὴν Δακῶν χώραν ἐς φόρου ἀπαγωγὴν τὰ πρότερα εἶχον, Γήπαιδες δὲ τοῦ Ἴστρου ἐπὶ θάτερα τὸ ἐξ ἀρχῆς ᾤκηντο ἅπαντες, Γότθων μὲν οὕτω κατεπτηχότες τὴν δύναμιν ὥστε τὸν ποταμὸν διαπορθμεύεσθαι οὐδὲ ὅσον ἀποπειράσασθαι πώποτε ἴσχυσαν, ἔνσπονδοι δὲ καὶ φιλοι Ῥωμαίοις τὰ μάλιστα ὄντες καὶ δῶρα πολλὰ τῷ τῆς φιλίας ὀνόματι κομιζόμενοι ἀνὰ πᾶν ἔτος πρός τε τῶν ἔμπροσθεν βεβασιλευκότων,

Dewing "This is what we would have you consider: the Goths formerly held the land of Dacia as a tributary province, while all the Gepaedes dwelt originally on the other side of the Ister, being in such mortal terror of the Gothic power, on the one hand, that they never succeeded in crossing the stream, or even attempting it, while they were, on the other hand, on terms of close alliance and friendship with the Romans, and every year they received from the former emperors many gifts in the name of friendship, and indeed they have received them from thee in no less generous measure.

Greek καὶ παρὰ σοῦ μέντοι οὐδέν τι ἧσσον. ἡδέως ἂν οὖν πυθοίμεθα τούτων δὴ τῶν ἀνδρῶν τί ποτε ὑπὲρ τουτων αὐτοῖς ἐς Ῥωμαίους ἀγαθὸν εἴργασται. ἀλλ’ οὐκ ἂν ἔχοιεν οὐ μικρὸν ἢ μέγα εἰπεῖν·

Dewing We should be glad then to ask these gentlemen what good thing they have done for the Romans in return for these benefits. But they would not be able to mention one such thing, great or small.

Greek ἕως μὲν οὖν οὐκ εἶχον ἐφ’ ὅτῳ ἂν ὑμᾶς ἀδικοῖεν, οὐ γνώμῃ τινί, ἀλλ’ ἀπορίᾳ ἠναγκασμένοι ἡσυχῆ ἔμενον.

Dewing Now as long as they had no means of doing you wrong, they remained quiet, not because of any conviction on their part, but because they were compelled by lack of opportunity to do so.

Greek τοῦ μὲν γὰρ Ἴστρου ἐπέκεινα προσποιεῖσθαι ὑμεῖς οὐδὲν ἠξιοῦτε, τὸ δὲ ἐνθένδε τὸ ἐκ Γότθων αὐτοὺς ἀνεσόβει δέος.

Dewing For you, on your part, did not seek to lay any claim to the country beyond the Ister, while the fear inspired by the Goths always frightened them from the land on this side.

Greek τίς δ’ ἂν εὐγνωμοσύνην ποτὲ τὴν ἀδυναμίαν καλοίη; ποία δὲ φιλίας βεβαίωσις ἐν τῇ τοῦ ἐξαμαρτάνειν ἀμηχανίᾳ γενήσεται; οὐκ ἔστιν, ὦ βασιλεῦ, ταῦτα, οὐκ ἔστι. δύναμις γὰρ ἀνθρώπου φύσιν ἐνδείκνυται μόνη, ἐξάγουσα πᾶσιν ἐν δημοσίῳ τῇ τοῦ δρᾶν ἐξουσίᾳ τὸν τρόπον.

Dewing But who indeed would call impotence gratitude? And what assurance of friendship could be based on inability to commit an offence? None, O Emperor, none; these things cannot be. For opportunity alone reveals the nature of a man, bringing out his character to the common gaze of all because of his freedom to act.

Greek ἰδοὺ γάρ, ἐπειδὴ τάχιστα Γήπαιδες εἶδον Γότθους μὲν ἐκ Δακίας ἀπεληλαμένους ἁπάσης, ὑμᾶς δὲ ἀσχολίᾳ τῇ πρὸς τοὺς πολεμίους ἐχομένους, πανταχόθι τῆς γῆς ἐπιβατεῦσαι τῆς ὑμετέρας οἱ μιαρώτατοι τετολμήκασι.”

Dewing For behold, at the very moment the Gepaedes saw that the Goths had been driven from all Dacia, while you, on your part, were busily engaged in fighting your enemies, the cursed wretches have dared to trespass upon your land in every part.

Greek “Πῶς ἄν τις ἐφικέσθαι δύναιτο λόγῳ τῆς τοῦ πράγματος ἀτοπίας; οὐ κατεφρόνησαν τῆς Ῥωμαίων ἀρχῆς; οὐκ ἔλυσαν σπονδῶν τε καὶ συμμάχων θεσμούς;

Dewing "How could anyone adequately depict in words the outrageous nature of their action? Did they not heap contempt upon the Roman empire? Did they not break the bonds of both treaty and alliance?

Greek οὐχ ὕβρισαν εἰς οὓς ἥκιστα ἐχρῆν; οὐκ ἐβιάσαντο βασιλείαν ἦς δοῦλοι ἂν εὔξαιντο εἶναι, ἤν τις σχολὴ ὑμῖν ἐπ’ αὐτοῖς γένηται; Γήπαιδες, ὦ βασιλεῦ, Σίρμιον ἔχουσι καὶ Ῥωμαίους ἀνδραποδίζουσιν, ὅλην τε προσποιεῖσθαι Δακίαν αὐχοῦσι·

Dewing Did they not insult those whom they would never have treated thus? Did they not do violence to an empire whose slaves they would crave the privilege of being should you find any leisure to deal with them? The Gepaedes, O Emperor, are holding Sirmium and enslaving Romans, and they make the boast that they are in possession of all Dacia.

Greek τίνα πόλεμον ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν ποτε ἢ ξὺν ὑμῖν ἢ πρὸς ὑμᾶς αὐτοὺς νενικηκότες; ἢ τίνος ἀγωνίας ἆθλα τὴν χώραν ταύτην πεποιημένοι; καὶ ταῦτα ἔμμισθοι πρὸς ὑμῶν γεγονότες πολλάκις καὶ τὰ χρήματα, ὥσπερ εἴρηται, κεκομισμένοι χρόνον οὐκ ἴσμεν ὁπόσον ἄνω.

Dewing Yet what war have they ever won fighting in your behalf, or with you, or against you? Or what struggle do they consider has brought them this land as a prize? And in spite of all this, they have often been in your pay and have been receiving their payments, as previously stated, for we know not how long a time.

Greek καίτοι τῆς παρούσης αὐτῶν πρεσβείας οὐ γέγονε πρᾶξις μιαρωτέρα ἐκ τοῦ παντὸς χρόνου. ἐπειδὴ γὰρ ἡμᾶς πολεμησείοντας ἐπ’ αὐτοὺς εἶδον, ἐς Βυζάντιόν τε θαρσοῦσιν ἀφῖχθαι καὶ βασιλεῖ ἐς τοσόνδε περιυβρισμένῳ ἐς ὄψιν ἥκειν.

Dewing And yet there has never been in all time an act more despicable than this present embassy of theirs. For as soon as they saw that we were eager to make war on them, they had the hardihood to come to Byzantium and appear before the emperor who has been so grievously insulted by them.

Greek ἴσως που καὶ ἀναιδείας περιουσίᾳ ἐς ξυμμαχίαν παρακαλέσουσιν ἐφ’ ἡμῖν τοῖς οὕτω κατεσπουδασμένοις ὑμῖν.

Dewing In sooth they will, perhaps, in their excess of shamelessness, invite you to form an alliance of arms against us who have been so favoured by you.

Greek καὶ μὴν εἰ μὲν ἀποδωσείοντες ἥκουσιν ὧνπερ ἐπεβάτευσαν οὐδὲν σφίσι προσῆκον, Λαγγοβάρδας αἰτιωτάτους τῆς ἐνθένδε ὠφελείας λογιστέον Ῥωμαίοις, ὧνπερ τῷ δέει ἀναγκασθέντες τὴν ἀκούσιον εὐγνωμοσύνην ὀψὲ τοῦ καιροῦ μεταμπίσχονται.

Dewing And verily if they have come with the purpose of giving back what they have usurped without any right, the Lombards should be counted by the Romans most responsible for that benefit, if they are really constrained through fear of them unwillingly to change their course and manifest gratitude late in the day.

Greek τῷ γὰρ τὴν ἀνάγκην πεποιημένῳ τὴν χάριν εἰκότως ὁ τῆς εὐεργεσίας τυχὼν εἴσεται. εἰ δέ γε μηδὲ νῦν ἐκστῆναι τῶν οὐ προσηκόντων βεβούληνται, τίς ἂν εἴη ταύτης δὴ τῆς κακοτροπίας ὑπερβολή;”

Dewing For naturally he who creates the constraint will be thanked by him who receives the benefit. But if indeed they have decided even now to retreat from none of their usurped holdings, what could surpass such baseness?

Greek “Ταῦτα μὲν οὖν ἡμῖν ἀφελείᾳ βαρβαρικῇ, λόγων σπανιζούσῃ, τῶν πραγμάτων οὐδαμῆ ἐπαξίως εἰρήσθω.

Dewing "This then shall be our plea, expressed with barbarian simplicity, with scant words, and in no way worthily of the situation.

Greek σὺ δέ, ὦ βασιλεῦ, διασκοπούμενος ὅσα ἐνδεεστέρως ἢ κατὰ τὴν χρείαν ἡμῖν εἴρηται, τὰ Ῥωμαίοις τε καὶ Λαγγοβάρδαις τοῖς σοῖς ξυνοίσοντα πρᾶσσε, τοῦτο πρὸς τοῖς ἄλλοις ἅπασιν ἐννοῶν, ὡς ἡμῖν μὲν ἀμφὶ τῷ θεῷ ὁμογνωμονοῦσι τὸ ἐξ ἀρχῆς συντετάξονται Ῥωμαῖοι δικαίως, τοῖς δὲ Ἀρειανοῖς οὖσι καὶ δι’ αὐτὸ τοῦτο ἀπ’ ἐναντίας χωρήσουσι.”

Dewing But we beg that thou, O Emperor, after carefully weighing what we have said less adequately than the facts deserve, take that course of action which will redound to the benefit both of the Romans and of the Lombards, thy people, calling to mind this, in addition to all other considerations, that while the Romans will justly take sides with us, seeing that we have been in agreement from the first as regards religion, they will stand in opposition to our opponents for the simple reason that they are Arians."

Greek Λαγγοβάρδαι μὲν τοσαῦτα εἶπον. γενόμενοι δὲ τῇ ὑστεραίᾳ παρὰ βασιλέα καὶ οἱ Γηπαίδων πρέσβεις ἔλεξαν ὧδε· “Δίκαιον, ὦ βασιλεῦ, τοὺς ἐπὶ ξυμμαχίας αἰτήσει παρὰ τοὺς πέλας ἀφικομένους ἀναδιδάξαι πρῶτον, ὡς δίκαιά τε δεησόμενοι πάρεισι καὶ ξύμφορα τοῖς ξυμμαχήσουσιν, οὕτω τε τοὺς λόγους ὧνπερ ἕνεκα πρεσβεύουσι ποιεῖσθαι.

Dewing Thus spoke the Lombards. On the following day the envoys of the Gepaedes in turn came before the emperor and spoke as follows: "It may fairly be expected, O Emperor, that those who approach a neighbouring state with a request to form an alliance of arms, should first demonstrate that they have come with a just request and with proposals of advantage to those who are to form the alliance, and then speak on the matters of which they have come to treat.

Greek ὡς μὲν οὖν ἠδικήμεθα πρὸς Λαγγοβαρδῶν, αὐτόθεν δῆλον· δίκῃ γὰρ διαλύειν τὰ διάφορα ἐν σπουδῇ ἔχομεν,

Dewing In the first place, then, that we have been wronged by the Lombards is evident from the facts themselves; for we are eager to settle our difficulties by arbitration,

Greek δικάζεσθαι δὲ οἷς ἂν σπουδάζηται βιάζεσθαι οὐδαμῆ πρόσεστιν.

Dewing and those who are bent on arbitration can have nothing to do with violence.

Greek ὡς δὲ πολυανθρωπίᾳ τε καὶ ἀρετῇ Γήπαιδες παρὰ πολὺ Λαγγοβαρδῶν κρείσσους τυγχάνουσιν ὄντες,

Dewing In the second place, why should one, in order to prove that the Gepaedes are far superior to the Lombards both in multitude and in valour, address long speeches to those who know?

Greek τί ἄν τις ἐν εἰδόσι μακρολογοίη; τὸ δὲ ξὺν τοῖς καταδεεστέροις ἐς τὴν ἀγωνίαν καθισταμένους ἐς κακόν τι προὖπτον ἰέναι, παρὸν τὴν νίκην ξὺν τοῖς δυνατωτέροις ταττομένους ἀκίνδυνον ἔχειν, οὐκ ἄν τινας οἰόμεθα τῶν καὶ κατὰ βραχὺ σωφρονούντων ἑλέσθαι.

Dewing Now the policy of entering a conflict on the side of the weaker contestant and thus getting into an evil plight which has been foreseen, though the opportunity is offered of having the victory without danger by arraying oneself with the more powerful contestant, is not one, we think, which any men gifted with even a little discretion would choose.

Greek ὥστε καὶ ὑμῖν ἐφ’ ἑτέρους τινὰς ἰοῦσι ξυντετάξονται τὸ λοιπὸν Γήπαιδες, χάριν μὲν τῶν πεπραγμένων ὀφείλοντες, δυνάμεως δὲ περιουσίᾳ ξυμποριζόμενοι τὴν τῶν πολεμίων, ὡς τὸ εἰκός, ἐπικράτησιν.

Dewing Consequently you also will find, when you go forth against another enemy, that the Gepaedes hereafter will array themselves with you, thus paying a debt of gratitude for what you have done, and by their overwhelming power helping you in all probability to achieve the overmastery of your foes.

Greek καὶ μὴν καὶ τοῦτο λογίζεσθαι ὑμᾶς ἂν πρέποι, ὡς Λαγγοβάρδαι μὲν ἐξ ὑπογυίου Ῥωμαίοις γεγένηνται φίλοι, Γήπαιδας δὲ ὑμῖν ἐνσπόνδους τε τὸ ἀνέκαθεν καὶ γνωρίμους γεγονέναι ξυμβαίνει.

Dewing Furthermore, it would be in point for you to consider this fact also, that while the Lombards have become friends of the Romans on the spur of the moment, the Gepaedes have been in alliance with you and well known to you from ancient times.

Greek φιλία δὲ χρόνου μήκει ξυμπλεκομένη τὴν διάλυσιν οὐκ εὐπετῆ ἔχει. ὥστε ξυμμάχους οὐ δυνατοὺς μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ βεβαίους κεκτήσεσθε.

Dewing And friendship cemented by long continuance is not easily dissolved. Consequently you will acquire not only powerful, but also steadfast, allies.

Greek δικαιώματα μὲν οὖν πρὸς ὑμᾶς ἐς τὴν ξυμμαχίαν ἐπαγωγὰ ταῦτά ἐστιν ἡμῖν.” “Θεάσασθε δὲ ὁποῖοι Λαγγοβάρδαι τοὺς τρόπους εἰσί.

Dewing These, then, are the just grounds on the basis of which we invite you to form this alliance. "Now observe what manner of men the Lombards are.

Greek δίκῃ μὲν τὰ διάφορα διαλῦσαι, καίπερ πολλὰ προκαλουμένων ἡμῶν, οὐδαμῆ ἔγνωσαν, θράσει ἀλογίστῳ ἐχόμενοι· ἐπεὶ δὲ ὁ πόλεμος ἤδη που ἐν χερσὶ γέγονεν, οἱ δὲ ὀπίσω τῶν πραγμάτων ἀναποδίζοντες τῷ τὴν οἰκείαν ἀσθένειαν ξυνεπίστασθαι παρ’ ὑμᾶς ἥκουσιν, ἀξιοῦντες Ῥωμαίους ἀνελέσθαι τὸν ὑπὲρ αὐτῶν οὐ δέον ἀγῶνα.

Dewing At first they absolutely refused to settle our differences by arbitration, though we invited them repeatedly to do so, overcome, as they were, by unreasoning boldness. But now that the war has come almost to an actual engagement, they, making a tardy retreat from their position because they realize fully their own weakness, have come to you, asking the Romans to take up the unjust struggle in their behalf.

Greek πάντως δὲ οἱ κλῶπες οὗτοι τό τε Σίρμιον καὶ ἄλλα ἐπὶ Δακίας ἄττα χωρία ὑπόθεσιν ὑμῖν τοῦ πολέμου τοῦδε προΐσχονται εἶναι.

Dewing Doubtless these thieves bring up the case of Sirmium and a few other towns in Dacia, and put this forward as a pretext on which you may enter this war.

Greek καίτοι πόλεών τε καὶ χώρας τοσοῦτον τῇ σῇ βασιλείᾳ περίεστιν ὥστε καὶ διερευνᾶσθαι τῶν ἀνθρώπων τινας, οἷς ἂν καὶ δοίης μοῖραν τινα πρὸς ἐνοίκησιν.

Dewing And yet thy empire comprises such an overabundance both of cities and of lands that thou art actually searching for men upon whom thou couldst confer some part of it for their habitation.

Greek Φράγγους ἀμέλει καὶ τὸ Ἐρούλων ἔθνος καὶ τούτους Λαγγοβάρδας τοσούτοις ἐδωρήσω πόλεώς τε καὶ χώρας, ὦ βασιλεῦ,

Dewing Indeed thou hast bestowed upon the Franks and the nation of the Eruli and these Lombards such generous gifts of both cities and lands, O Emperor, that no one could enumerate them all.

Greek μέτροις, ὁπόσα οὐκ ἄν τις διαριθμήσαιτο. ἡμεῖς δὲ τῇ φιλίᾳ τῇ σῇ τὸ θαρσεῖν ἔχοντες, τοῦτο, ὅπερ ἐβούλου, διαπεπράγμεθα· ὁ δέ τι προΐεσθαι τῶν ὑπαρχόντων βεβουλευμένος κρείσσω παρὰ πολὺ τοῦ πρὸς αὐτοῦ τετυχηκότος τῆς χάριτος τὸν προτερήσαντά τε καὶ γνώμῃ τὸ δῶρον αὐτονόμῳ ἑλόμενον οἴεται εἶναι, ἢν μὴ ἐς τὸν κεκτημένον ὑβρίζων, ἀλλὰ τῷ φίλος οἱ ἐς τὰ μάλιστα εἶναι θαρσῶν, τὴν τοῦ πράγματος ἀξίωσιν πεποιῆσθαι δοκεῖ, ὅπερ καὶ Γήπαισιν ἐς Ῥωμαίους τετύχηκεν εἶναι.

Dewing But we, emboldened by thy friendship, have accomplished that which thou didst wish, and truly, when a man has formed the purpose of parting with some one of his possessions, he thinks far less highly of one who waits to receive his gift than of one who anticipates his purpose and takes the gift by his own decision, provided such an one does not appear to have claimed the right to take this course in a spirit of insolence toward the possessor, but in a spirit of confidence in the strong friendship he feels toward him; and this is exactly the attitude of the Gepaedes toward the Romans.

Greek ὧν ἐνθυμουμένους ὑμᾶς μάλιστα μὲν κατὰ τὸ ξυμμαχικὸν αἰτοῦμεν σὺν ἡμῖν ἐπὶ Λαγγοβάρδας ἰέναι δυνάμει τῇ πάσῃ· εἰ δὲ μή, ἐκποδὼν ἀμφοτέροις στῆναι. ταῦτα γὰρ βουλευόμενοι δίκαιά τε ποιεῖτε καὶ λίαν ἐπιτηδείως τῇ Ῥωμαίων ἀρχῇ.”

Dewing We ask you, then, to recall these things and, probably, to observe the terms of our alliance by throwing all your strength into the conflict on our side against the Lombards; otherwise, to stand aside for both. For in reaching such a decision you are accepting with justice and greatly to the advantage of the Roman empire."

Greek Καὶ Γήπαιδες μὲν τοσαῦτα εἶπον. βουλευσάμενος δὲ πολλὰ Ἰουστινιανὸς βασιλεὺς αὐτοὺς μὲν ἀποπέμψασθαι ἀπράκτους ἔγνω, ὁμαιχμίαν δὲ πρὸς Λαγγοβάρδας διώμοτον πεποιημένος πλέον αὐτοῖς ἢ ἐς μυρίους ἱππεῖς ἔπεμψεν, ὧν δὴ Κωνσταντιανὸς καὶ Βούζης καὶ Ἀράτιος ἦρχον.

Dewing Such was the speech of the Gepaedes, whom the Emperor Justinian, after long deliberation, decided to send away with their mission unaccomplished; but he made a sworn alliance of arms with the Lombards, and then sent them more than ten thousand horsemen commanded by Constantianus, Bouzes, and Aratius.

Greek ξυνῆν δὲ αὐτοῖς καὶ Ἰωάννης, ὁ Βιταλιανοῦ ἀδελφιδοῦς, προρρηθὲν αὐτῷ ἐκ βασιλέως, ἐπειδὰν τάχιστα διαμαχήσωνται πρὸς τὸ Γηπαίδων ἔθνος, ἐνθένδε σπουδῇ ἐς τὴν Ἰταλίαν ξὺν τοῖς ἑπομένοις ἰέναι. ἐτύγχανε γὰρ ἐξ Ἰταλίας καὶ αὐτὸς ἥκων.

Dewing Associated with them also was John the nephew of Vitalian, who had received previous instructions from the emperor that, as soon as they should fight a decisive battle with the nation of the Gepaedes, he should hasten thence to Italy with his troops. For he, too, as it happened, had returned from Italy.

Greek ξύμμαχοι δὲ αὐτοῖς Ἔρουλοι πεντακόσιοί τε καὶ χίλιοι εἵποντο, ὧν ἄλλοι τε καὶ Φιλημοὺθ ἦρχον.

Dewing They also took with them as allies fifteen hundred Eruli, commanded by Philemuth and others.

Greek οἱ γὰρ ἄλλοι ξύμπαντες Ἔρουλοι ἐς τρισχιλίους ὄντες ξὺν τοῖς Γήπαισιν ἐτετάχατο, ἐπεὶ Ῥωμαίων ἀποστάντες οὐ πολλῷ ἔμπροσθεν ἔτυχον ἐξ αἰτίας ἥ μοι ἐν τοῖς ἔμπροσθεν ἐρρήθη.

Dewing For, except for these, the whole nation of the Eruli, to the number of three thousand, were arrayed with the Gepaedes, since they had revolted from the Romans not long before for a cause which I have set forth above.

Greek Μοῖρα δὲ Ῥωμαίων τῶν παρὰ Λαγγοβάρδας ἐπὶ ξυμμαχίᾳ ἰόντων Ἐρούλων τισὶ ξὺν Ἀόρδῳ τῷ τοῦ ἄρχοντος ἀδελφῷ ἐξαπιναίως ἐπιτυγχάνουσι.

Dewing Now a detachment of the Romans who were marching to join the Lombards as allies unexpectedly chanced upon some of the Eruli with Aordus, the brother of their ruler.

Greek μάχης τε καρτερᾶς γενομένης νικῶσι Ῥωμαῖοι, καὶ τόν τε Ἄορδον τῶν τε Ἐρούλων πολλοὺς ἔκτειναν. γνόντες δὲ Γήπαιδες ἄγχιστά πη εἶναι τὸν Ῥωμαίων στρατόν, τὰ διάφορα εὐθὺς Λαγγοβάρδαις διέλυσαν, ἔς τε σπονδὰς οἱ βάρβαροι οὗτοι ξυνέβησαν ἀλλήλοις, ἀκόντων Ῥωμαίων.

Dewing And a fierce battle ensued in which the Romans were victorious, and they slew both Aordus and many of the Eruli. Then the Gepaedes, upon learning that the Roman army was close at hand, straightway settled their disagreement with the Lombards, and so these barbarians made a treaty of peace with each other, contrary to the will of the Romans.

Greek ταῦτα ἐπεὶ ὁ Ῥωμαίων στρατὸς ἔμαθον, ἐν πολλῇ ἀμηχανίᾳ ἐγένοντο. οὔτε γὰρ ἔτι ἐδύναντο πρόσω ἰέναι οὔτε ἀναστρέφειν ὀπίσω εἶχον δειμαίνοντες οἱ στρατηγοὶ μὴ Γήπαιδές τε καὶ Ἔρουλοι καταθέοντες τὴν Ἰλλυριῶν ληΐσωνται χώραν.

Dewing When the Roman army learned this, they found themselves involved in a very perplexing situation. For neither were they able to continue their advance nor could they retrace their steps, because the generals feared lest both Gepaedes and Eruli would overrun and plunder the land of Illyricum.

Greek αὐτοῦ γοῦν μείναντες ἐς βασιλέα τὰ παρόντα σφίσιν ἀνήνεγκαν. ταῦτα μὲν οὖν ἐπράσσετο τῇδε. ἐγὼ δὲ ὅθεν τὴν ἐκβολὴν τοῦ λόγου ἐποιησάμην ἐπάνειμι.

Dewing At any rate, they remained there and reported their situation to the emperor. Such was the course of these events. But I shall return to the point in my narrative from which I strayed.