第8巻 第11章

Greek Τῷ μὲν οὖν Ἀνασωζάδῳ τά τε τῆς τύχης καὶ τοῦ τρόπου ἐς τοῦτο ἐτελεύτα· τὸ δὲ πέμπτον ἔτος τῆς ἐκεχειρίας διήνυστο.

Dewing As for Anasozadus, then, his fortune and his character brought him to this.

Greek καὶ Πέτρον μὲν ἄνδρα πατρίκιον, τὴν τοῦ μαγίστρου ἀρχὴν ἔχοντα, παρὰ Χοσρόην Ἰουστινιανὸς βασιλεὺς ἔστελλεν, ἐφ’ ᾧ τὰς σπονδὰς ἀμφὶ τῇ ἑῴᾳ παντάπασι διοικήσονται.

Dewing And when the fifth year of the truce had now come to an end, the Emperor Justinian sent Petrus, a patrician and holding the office of "Magister," to Chosroes, in order that they might arrange in every detail the treaty for the settlement of the East.

Greek ὁ δὲ αὐτὸν ἀπεπέμψατο, ἕψεσθαί οἱ ἄνδρα οὐκ ἐς μακρὰν ὑποσχόμενος τὸν ταῦτα διαθησόμενον, ὅπη ἑκατέροις ξυνοίσειν μέλλει.

Dewing But Chosroes sent him away, promising that after no long time he would be followed by the man who would arrange these matters in a manner advantageous to both parties.

Greek Ἰσδιγούσναν τε αὖθις οὐ πολλῷ ὕστερον ἔπεμψεν, ὀφρυάζοντά τε καὶ ἀλαζονείᾳ τινὶ ἀμυθήτῳ ἐχόμενον, οὗ δὴ ὅ τε τῦφος καὶ τὸ φύσημα φορητὸν εἶναι Ῥωμαίων οὐδενὶ ἔδοξεν.

Dewing And not long afterwards he sent Isdigousnas for the second time, a man of pretentious demeanour and filled with a kind of unspeakable villainy, whose pompous puffing and blowing no one of the Romans could bear.

Greek ἐπήγετο δὲ τήν τε γυναῖκα καὶ τὰς παῖδας καὶ τὸν ἀδελφόν, ἑπομένων τε καὶ θεραπευόντων πάμπολυ πλῆθος. εἴκασεν ἄν τις ἐς παράταξιν τοὺς ἄνδρας ἰέναι.

Dewing And he brought with him his wife and daughters and his brother, and was followed by a huge throng of retainers. One would have supposed that the good men were going out for battle.

Greek εἵποντο δὲ αὐτῷ καὶ δύο τῶν ἐν Πέρσαις λογιμωτάτων, οἳ δὴ καὶ διαδήματα ἐπὶ τῶν κεφαλῶν χρυσᾶ ἐφόρουν.

Dewing In his company also were two of the most notable men among the Persians, who actually wore golden diadems on their heads.

Greek ἔδακνέ τε τοὺς ἐν Βυζαντίῳ ἀνθρώπους, ὅτι δὴ αὐτὸν Ἰουστινιανὸς βασιλεὺς οὐ κατὰ πρεσβευτήν, ἀλλὰ πολλῷ ἔτι μᾶλλον φιλοφροσύνης τε καὶ μεγαλοπρεπείας ἠξίωσε.

Dewing And it irritated the people of Byzantium that the Emperor Justinian did not receive him simply as an ambassador, but counted him worthy of much more friendly attention and magnificence.

Greek Βραδούκιος μέντοι ξὺν αὐτῷ ἐς Βυζάντιον οὐκέτι ἦλθεν, ἐπεὶ Χοσρόην φασὶν αὐτὸν ἐξ ἀνθρώπων ἀφανίσαι, ἄλλο οὐδὲν τῷ ἀνθρώπῳ ἐπενεγκόντα, πλήν γε δὴ ὅτι ὁμοτράπεζος τῷ Ῥωμαίων βασιλεῖ γέγονεν.

Dewing But Braducius⁠ did not come again with him to Byzantium, for they say that Chosroes had removed him from the world, laying no other charge against the man than that he had been a table-companion of the Roman emperor.

Greek “οὐ γὰρ ἄν,” ἔφη, “έρμηνεύς γε ὢν ἐς τοῦτο ἀξιώματος πρὸς βασιλέως ἀφίκετο, εἰ μὴ καταπροδοὺς ἔτυχε τὰ Περσῶν πράγματα.” τινὲς δὲ τὸν Ἰσδιγούσναν αὐτὸν διαβαλεῖν φασίν, ὡς λάθρα Ῥωμαίοις ἐς λόγους ἔλθοι.

Dewing "For," said he, "as a mere interpreter he would not have achieved such high honour from the emperor, unless he had betrayed the cause of the Persians." But some say that Isdigousnas slandered him, asserting that he had conversed secretly with the Romans.

Greek τὰ δὲ πρῶτα ὁ πρεσβευτὴς οὗτος βασιλεῖ ἐντυχὼν οὐ μικρὸν ἀμφὶ τῇ εἰρήνῃ, οὐ μέγα εἶπεν, ἀλλ’ ᾐτιᾶτο Ῥωμαίους ἐς τὴν ἐκεχειρίαν ἠδικηκέναι, Ἀρέθαν τε καὶ Σαρακηνοὺς τοὺς Ῥωμαίων ἐνσπόνδους Ἀλαμουνδάρῳ ἐν σπονδαῖς λυμήνασθαι φάσκων, ἄλλα τε οὐκ ἀξιόλογα ἐπιφέρων ἐγκλήματα, ὧνπέρ μοι ἐπιμνησθῆναι οὔτι ἀναγκαῖον ἔδοξεν εἶναι.

Dewing Now when this ambassador met the emperor for the first time, he spoke no word either small or great about peace, but he made the charge that the Romans had violated the truce, alleging that Arethas⁠ and the Saracens, who were allies of the Romans, had outraged Alamundarus in time of peace, and advancing other charges of no consequence which it has seemed to me not at all necessary of the mention.

Greek Ἐν μὲν οὖν Βυζαντίῳ ταῦτα ἐπράσσετο. Βέσσας δὲ παντὶ τῷ Ῥωμαίων στρατῷ Πέτρας ἐς πολιορκίαν καθίστατο. Ῥωμαῖοι μὲν οὖν ἀμφὶ τὸ τεῖχος διώρυσσον, ἵνα δὴ καὶ Δαγισθαῖος τὰ πρότερα τὴν διώρυχα πεποιημένος τὸν περίβολον ταύτῃ καθεῖλεν. ὅτου δὲ δὴ ἕνεκα ἐς τὸν αὐτὸν χῶρον ὤρυσσον, ἐγὼ δηλώσω.

Dewing While these negotiations were going on in Byzantium, Bessas with the whole Roman army was entering upon the siege of Petra. First the Romans dug a trench along the wall just where Dagisthaeus had made his ditch when he pulled the wall down there.⁠ Now the reason why they dug in the same place I shall explain.

Greek οἱ τὴν πόλιν τὸ ἐξ ἀρχῆς ταύτην δειμάμενοι, ἐπὶ πέτρας μὲν ἔθεντο ἐκ τοῦ ἐπὶ πλεῖστον τὰ τοῦ περιβόλου θεμέλια, ἐνιαχῆ δὲ καὶ ὑπὲρ χώματος αὐτὰ ξυνέβαινε κεῖσθαι.

Dewing Those who built this city originally placed the foundations of the circuit-wall for the most part upon rock, but here and there they were led to rest upon earth.

Greek ἦν δέ τις τοῦ τείχους μοῖρα ἐς τῆς πόλεως τὰ πρὸς ἑσπέραν οὐ λίαν εὐρεῖα, ἧς δὴ ἑκατέρωθεν ἐπὶ πέτρας τινὸς σκληρᾶς τε καὶ ἀμηχάνου τοῦ περιβόλου τὰ θεμέλια ἐτεκτήναντο.

Dewing And there was such a portion of the wall on the west side of the city of no great extent, on either side of which they had constructed the foundations of the circuit-wall upon hard, unyielding rock.

Greek ταύτην τοίνυν τὴν μοῖραν Δαγισθαῖός τε τὰ πρότερα καὶ τανῦν Βέσσας διώρυσσον ὁμοίως, οὐκ ἐφιείσης τῆς τοῦ χωρίου φύσεως σφίσι περαιτέρω ἰέναι, ἀλλὰ τὸ τῆς διώρυχος μῆκος συμμετρούσης τε αὐτοῖς καὶ πρυτανευούσης εἰκότως.

Dewing This was the portion which Dagisthaeus on the previous occasion and now Bessas likewise undermined, the character of the ground not permitting them to go further, but quite naturally determining the length of the trench for them and controlling it naturally.

Greek Ἡνίκα οὖν Πέρσαι μετὰ τὴν Δαγισθαίου ὑπαγωγὴν τὸ καταπεπτωκὸς τοῦτο τοῦ τείχους ἀνοικοδομήσασθαι ἤθελον, οὐ κατὰ τὰ πρότερα τὴν οἰκοδομίαν πεποίηνται, ἀλλὰ τρόπῳ τοιῷδε.

Dewing Consequently when the Persians, after the withdrawal of Dagisthaeus, wished to build up this part of the wall which had fallen down, they did not follow the previous plan in its construction, but did as follows.

Greek κάχληκος τὸν κενωθέντα ἐμπλησάμενοι χῶρον δοκοὺς παχείας αὐτοῦ ὕπερθεν ἔθεντο, ἅσπερ ἐνδελεχέστατα ξύσαντες ὁμαλάς τε παντάπασι καταστησάμενοι ἔζευξαν μὲν ἐς ἀλλήλας ἐς μέγα τι εὖρος, κρηπῖδα δὲ αὐτὰς ἀντὶ θεμελίων ποιησάμενοι τοῦ περιβόλου καθύπερθεν αὐτῶν ἐτεκτήναντο τὴν οἰκοδομίαν ἐμπείρως. ὅπερ οὐ ξυνέντες Ῥωμαῖοι ἔνερθεν τῶν θεμελίων ποιεῖσθαι τὴν διώρυχα ᾤοντο.

Dewing Filling the excavated place with gravel, they laid upon it heavy timbers which they had planed very thoroughly, making them entirely smooth, and then they bound them together so as to cover a wide space; these then they used as a base instead of foundation stones, and upon them they skilfully carried out the construction of the circuit-wall. This was not understood by the Romans and they thought they were making their ditch under the foundations.

Greek καὶ τὸν χῶρον κενώσαντες ὅλον ἐκ τῶν δοκῶν ὧνπερ ἐπεμνήσθην ἀρτίως ἐπὶ πλεῖστον τῆς γῆς τὸν μὲν περίβολον κατασεῖσαι κατὰ πολὺ ἴσχυσαν, μοῖρά τε αὐτοῦ ἐξαπιναίως κατεπεπτώκει, οὐ μέντοι οὔτε πη ἐπὶ θάτερα τὸ πεπτωκὸς τοῦτο ἐκλίθη οὔτε τις αὐτῷ τῶν λίθων ἐπιβολὴ ξυνεταράχθη, ἀλλ’ ἀκραιφνὲς ὅλον εὐθείᾳ τινὶ καταβάσει, ὥσπερ ἐκ μηχανῆς, ἐς τὸν κενωθέντα χῶρον καταβὰν ἔστη, καὶ τὴν οἰκείαν ἐφύλασσε χώραν, οὐκ ἐς ὕψος ὅσον τὰ πρότερα, ἀλλ’ ἔς τι ἧσσον.

Dewing But by excavating the entire space under the timbers which I have just mentioned and carrying their work across most of the ground they did succeed in damaging the wall seriously, and a portion of it had actually dropped down suddenly, but nevertheless this fallen part did not incline at all to either side nor was one of the courses of stone deranged, but the whole section descended intact in a direct line, as if let down by a machine, into the excavated space and stopped there, keeping its proper position, though not with the same height as before, but somewhat less.

Greek κενωθέντος οὖν παντὸς τοῦ τῶν δοκῶν ἔνερθεν χώρου ὑφιζάνειν αὐτὰς ἐνταῦθα ξὺν τῇ ὑπὲρ αὐτὰς οἰκοδομίᾳ πάσῃ ξυνέβη.

Dewing So when the whole space under the timbers had been excavated, it came about that they settled into it with the entire wall on them.

Greek Τοῖς δὲ Ῥωμαίοις οὐδ’ ὣς ἐσβατὸν ἐγεγόνει τὸ τεῖχος. ὁ γὰρ τῶν Περσῶν ὅμιλος, ἡνίκα πολὺς ξὺν τῷ Μερμερόῃ ἐνταῦθα ἦλθε, μέγα τι χρῆμα τῇ πρόσθεν οἰκοδομίᾳ ἐνθέμενοι ὑψηλὸν ἐσάγαν τὸν περίβολον ἐτεκτήναντο.

Dewing But even so the wall did not become accessible of that Romans. For when Mermeroes had come there with his great throng of Persians, they had added a great deal to the earlier masonry and so built the circuit-wall exceedingly high.

Greek Ῥωμαῖοι μὲν οὖν, ἐπειδὴ τοῦ περιβόλου τὸ κατασεισθὲν αὖθις ἑστηκὸς εἶδον, διηποροῦντό τε καὶ ἀμηχανίᾳ πολλῇ εἴχοντο.

Dewing So the Romans, when they saw the part of the wall which had been shaken down still standing, were at a loss and found themselves involved in great perplexity.

Greek οὔτε γὰρ διορύσσειν ἔτι ἠδύναντο, ἐς τοῦτο ἀποκεκριμένης τῆς κατώρυχος σφίσι, κριῷ τε χρῆσθαι οὐδαμῆ εἶχον, ἐπεὶ ἐν μὲν τῷ ἀνάντει ἐτειχομάχουν, ἡ δὲ μηχανὴ αὕτη ἐφέλκεσθαι οὐχ οἵα τέ ἐστιν ὅτι μὴ ἐν χωρίῳ ὁμαλῷ τε καὶ λίαν ὑπτίῳ.

Dewing For neither could they mine any longer, seeing their digging had brought such a result, nor were they able at all to employ the ram, for they were fighting against a wall on a slope, and this engine cannot be brought up to a wall except on smooth and very flat ground.

Greek Τύχῃ δέ τινι ξυνεκύρησεν ἐν τούτῳ τῷ Ῥωμαίων στρατῷ εἶναι βαρβάρων τῶν Σαβείρων ὀλίγους τινὰς ἐξ αἰτίας τοιᾶσδε.

Dewing Now by some chance it so fell out that there were in this Roman army a small number of the barbarians called Sabiri, for the following reason.

Greek οἱ Σάβειροι ἔθνος μέν ἐστιν Οὐννικόν, ᾤκηνται δὲ ἀμφὶ τὰ Καυκάσια ὄρη, πάμπολυ πλῆθος μὲν ἐσάγαν ὄντες, ἐς ἀρχὰς δὲ πολλὰς ἐπιεικῶς διῃρημένοι.

Dewing The Sabiri are a Hunnic nation and live in the region of the Caucasus, being a very numerous people and properly divided among many different rulers.

Greek τούτων δὲ τῶν ἀρχόντων οἱ μέν τινές εἰσι τῷ Ῥωμαίων αὐτοκράτορι, οἱ δὲ τῷ Περσῶν βασιλεῖ ἐκ παλαιοῦ γνώριμοι. τοῖν τε βασιλέοιν ἑκάτερος χρυσίον εἰώθει τακτὸν τοῖς αὑτοῦ ἐνσπόνδοις προΐεσθαι, οὐκ ἐπέτειον μέντοι, ἀλλ’ ἡνίκα ἂν ἐς τοῦτο αὐτὸν ἡ χρεία ἐνάγοι.

Dewing And some of the rulers from ancient times have had relations with the Roman emperor, and others with the king of Persia. And each of these two sovereigns was accustomed to pay a fixed amount of gold to those in alliance with him, not annually, however, but only as need impelled him to do so.

Greek τότε οὖν Ἰουστινιανὸς βασιλεὺς τῶν Σαβείρων τούς οἱ ἐπιτηδείους ἐς τὴν ὁμαιχμίαν παρακαλῶν ἔστειλέ τινα τὸν τὰ χρήματα παρ’ αὐτοὺς κομιοῦντα.

Dewing At that time, accordingly, the Emperor Justinian, by way of inviting those of the Sabiri who were friendly to him to a fighting alliance, had sent a man who was to convey the money to them.

Greek ὁ δὲ ʽπολεμίων γὰρ μεταξὺ ὄντων ἐς ὄρη τὰ Καυκάσια ἰέναι ξὺν τῷ ἀσφαλεῖ ἄλλως τε καὶ χρήματα ἐπαγόμενος οὐδαμῆ εἶχεν’ ἀφικνεῖται μὲν παρά τε τὸν Βέσσαν καὶ τὸ Ῥωμαίων στρατόπεδον, ὅπερ ἐς τὴν Πέτρας πολιορκίαν καθίστατο, παρὰ δὲ τοὺς Σαβείρους πέμψας ἐκέλευσεν αὐτῶν τινὰς ὅτι τάχιστα τοὺς τὰ χρήματα ληψομένους παρ’ αὐτον ἥκειν, οἵ τε βάρβαροι τρεῖς ἀπολεξάμενοι τῶν ἐν σφίσιν ἀρχόντων, ξὺν ὀλίγοις τισὶν ἐς Λαζικὴν εὐθὺς ἔπεμψαν· οἳ δὴ ἐνταῦθα γενόμενοι ξὺν τῷ Ῥωμαίων στρατῷ ἐς τήνδε τὴν τειχομαχίαν κατέστησαν.

Dewing But this man, seeing that, with enemies between, he could in no wise travel in safety into the Caucasus region, particularly when carrying money, went only as far as Bessas and the Roman army that was engaged in besieging Petra, and from there he sent to the Sabiri, bidding some of them who were to receive the money to come to him with all speed; whereupon the Sabiri selected three of their leading men and straightway sent them with a small escort into Lazica. These, then, were the men who, upon arrogant there, had entered into the attack on the wall with the Roman army.

Greek Οὗτοι ἐπειδὴ Ῥωμαίους εἶδον ἀπογνόντας τε καὶ ἀπορουμένους τὸ παρὸν θέσθαι, μηχανήν τινα ἐπετεχνήσαντο, οἵα οὔτε Ῥωμαίων οὔτε Περσῶν τινί, ἐξ οὗ γεγόνασιν ἄνθρωποι, ἐς ἔννοιαν ἦλθε· καίτοι τεχνιτῶν μὲν πολὺς ὅμιλος ἐν ἑκατέρᾳ πολιτείᾳ γέγονέ τε ἀεὶ καὶ τανῦν ἔστιν.

Dewing Now when these Sabiri saw that the Romans were in despair and at a loss how to handle the situation, they devised a contrivance, such as had never been conceived by anyone else of the Romans or of the Persians since men have existed, although there have always been and now are great numbers of engineers in both countries.

Greek ἐς χρείαν δὲ πολλάκις ἐς τὸν πάντα αἰῶνα κατέστησαν τῆς μηχανῆς ἑκάτεροι ταύτης, ἐς ἐρύματα τειχομαχοῦντες ἐν χωρίοις σκληροῖς καὶ δυσβάτοις τισὶ κείμενα· ἀλλ’ αὐτῶν οὐδενὶ τὸ ἐνθύμημα τοῦτο γεγένηται ὅπερ τούτοις δὴ τοῖς βαρβάροις τανῦν γέγονεν· οὕτως ἀεὶ προϊόντι τῷ χρόνῳ συννεωτερίζειν τῶν πραγμάτων τὰς ἐπινοίας φιλεῖ τῶν ἀνθρώπων ἡ φύσις.

Dewing And though both negotiations have often been in need of this device throughout their history, in storming the walls of fortresses situated on any rough and difficult ground, yet not to a single one of them has come this idea which now occurred to these barbarians. Thus as time goes on human ingenuity is ever wont to keep pace with it by discovering new devices.

Greek κριὸν γὰρ αὐτοσχεδιάζουσιν οἱ Σάβειροι οὗτοι, οὐχ ᾗπερ εἰώθει,

Dewing For these Sabiri improvised a ram, not in the customary form, but using a new method which was their innovation.

Greek ἀλλὰ καινουργήσαντες ἑτέρῳ τῳ τρόπῳ. οὐ γὰρ δοκοὺς ἐς τὴν μηχανὴν ταύτην, οὐκ ὀρθάς, οὐκ ἐγκαρσίας ἐμβέβληνται, ἀλλὰ ῥάβδους παχείας τινὰς ἐς ἀλλήλας ξυνδέοντες, καὶ αὐτὰς ἀντὶ τῶν δοκῶν πανταχόθι ἐναρμοσάμενοι, βύρσαις τε τὴν μηχανὴν καλύψαντες ὅλην τὸ τοῦ κριοῦ διεσώσαντο σχῆμα, μίαν δοκὸν μόνην, ᾗπερ εἴθισται, κατὰ μέσην τὴν μηχανὴν ἁλύσεσιν ἀναρτήσαντες χαλαραῖς τισίν, ἧσπερ τὸ ἄκρον ὀξὺ γεγενημένον καὶ σιδήρῳ περικαλυφθὲν ὥσπερ βέλους ἀκὶς ἔμελλε συχνὰ κατὰ τοῦ περιβόλου ἐμβάλλεσθαι.

Dewing They did not put any beams into this engine, either upright or transverse, but they bound together some rather thick wands and fitted them in place everywhere instead of the beams; then they covered the entire engine with hides and so kept the shape of a ram, and hung a sailing beam by loose chains, as is customary, in the centre of the engine, and the head of this, having been made sharp and covered over with iron like the barb of a missile, was intended to deal repeated blows of that circuit-wall.

Greek οὕτω δὲ κούφην τὴν μηχανὴν ἀπειργάσαντο, ὥστε οὐκέτι αὐτὴν πρὸς ἀνδρῶν τῶν ἔνδον ὄντων ἐφέλκεσθαι ἢ διωθεῖσθαι ἀναγκαῖον ἐγίνετο, ἀλλ’ ἄνδρες τεσσαράκοντα, οἳ καὶ τὴν δοκὸν ἀνασύρειν τε καὶ κατὰ τοῦ περιβόλου ἐμβάλλεσθαι ἔμελλον, ἔνδον τῆς μηχανῆς ὄντες καὶ ὑπὸ τῶν βυρσῶν καλυπτόμενοι ἔφερον τὸν κριὸν ἐπὶ τῶν ὤμων οὐδενὶ πόνῳ.

Dewing And they made the engine so light that it was no longer necessary that it be dragged or pushed along by the men inside, but forty men, who were also destined to draw back the beam and thrust it forward against the wall, being inside the engine and concealed by the hides, could carry the ram upon their shoulders with no difficulty.

Greek Τρεῖς μὲν οὗτοι οἱ βάρβαροι μηχανὰς τοιαύτας εἰργάσαντο, τὰς δοκοὺς ξὺν τῷ σιδήρῳ ἐκ τῶν κριῶν ἀφελόμενοι, οὓς δὴ Ῥωμαῖοι ἐν παρασκευῇ ἔχοντες οὐχ οἷοί τε ἦσαν ἐς τὸ τεῖχος ἐφέλκειν· ὑποδύντες δὲ αὐτῶν ἑκάστην οὐχ ἥσσους ἢ κατὰ τεσσαράκοντα στρατιῶται Ῥωμαῖοι ἀριστίνδην ἀπολεχθέντες ὡς ἀγχοτάτω τοῦ τείχους ἔθεντο.

Dewing These barbarians made three such engines, taking the beams with their iron heads from the rams which the Romans had in readiness but were unable to draw up to the wall. And Roman soldiers chosen for their valour in groups of not less than forty went inside each one of them and set them down very close to the wall.

Greek ἑκατέρωθεν δὲ μηχανῆς ἑκάστης ἕτεροι ἵσταντο, τεθωρακισμένοι τε καὶ κράνεσι τὰς κεφαλὰς ἐς τὸ ἀκριβὲς κεκαλυμμένοι καὶ κοντοὺς ἔχοντες, ὧνπερ τὰ ἄκρα σιδηρίοις ἀγκιστροειδέσιν ἐρήρειστο, τούτου δὴ παρεσκευασμένων αὐτοῖς ἕνεκα, ὅπως, ἐπειδὰν ἡ τοῦ κριοῦ ἐς τὸν περίβολον ἐμβολὴ ξυγχέῃ τὰς τῶν λίθων ἐπιβολάς, τούτοις δὴ τοῖς κοντοῖς περιαιρεῖν τε τοὺς ξυγχεομένους τῶν λίθων καὶ ἀπορρίπτειν δυνατοὶ εἶεν.

Dewing And others were standing on either side of each engine, armed with the corselet and having their heads carefully covered by helmet and carrying poles, the ends of which were fitted with hook-shaped irons; now the purpose for which these had been provided was this, that as soon as the impact of the ram on the wall should break up the courses of the stones, they might be able with these poles to loosen and pupil down such stones as were dislodged.

Greek Ῥωμαῖοι μὲν οὖν ἔργου εἴχοντο καὶ τὸ τεῖχος ἤδη συχναῖς ταῖς ἐμβολαῖς κατεσείετο, οἱ δὲ τῶν μηχανῶν ἐφ’ ἑκάτερα ὄντες τοῖς ἀγκιστροειδέσι κοντοῖς τῶν λίθων τοὺς ξυνταρασσομένους ἀπὸ τῆς κατὰ τὴν οἰκοδομίαν ξυνθήκης ἐρρίπτουν, ἁλώσεσθαί τε ἡ πόλις αὐτίκα δὴ μάλα ἐπίδοξος ἦν.

Dewing So the Romans set to work and the wall was already being shaken by frequent blows, using their hooked poles, were pulling down the stones as they were dislodged from their setting in the masonry, and its seemed c Eratosthenes that the city would be captured instantly.

Greek Οἱ δὲ Πέρσαι ἐπενόουν τάδε. ξύλινον πύργον, ὅσπερ αὐτοῖς ἐκ παλαιοῦ παρεσκεύαστο, καθύπερθεν τοῦ περιβόλου ἐτίθεντο, ἀνδρῶν ἔμπλεων τῶν ἐν σφίσι μαχιμωτάτων, ἥλοις τε σιδηροῖς καὶ θώραξι τάς τε κεφαλὰς καὶ τὸ ἄλλο σῶμα περιβαλόντων.

Dewing But the Persians hit on the following plan. They placed on the top of the circuit-wall a wooden tower which had been made ready by them long before, filling it with their most warlike men, who had their heads and the rest of their bodies protected by iron nails and corselets.

Greek ἀγγεῖα δὲ θείου τε καὶ ἀσφάλτου ἐμπλησάμενοι καὶ φαρμάκου ὅπερ Μῆδοι μὲν νάφθαν καλοῦσιν, Ἕλληνες δὲ Μηδείας ἔλαιον, πυρί τε ταῦτα ὑφάψαντες ἐπὶ τὰς μηχανὰς τῶν κριῶν ἔβαλλον, ἅσπερ ὀλίγου ἐμπιπράναι πάσας ἐδέησαν.

Dewing And they had filled pots with sulphur and bitumen and the substance which the Persians call "naphtha"⁠ and the Greeks "Medea's oil," and they now set fire to these and commenced to throw them upon the sheds of the rams, and they came within a little of burning them all.

Greek ἀλλ’ οἱ παρὰ ταύτας, ὥσπερ μοι ἐρρήθη, ἑστῶτες, τοῖς κοντοῖς, ὧνπερ ἐπεμνήσθην ἀρτίως, ἐνδελεχέστατα περιαιροῦντες τὰ βαλλόμενα καὶ περικαθαίροντες, ἅπαντα ἐς τὸ ἔδαφος ἐκ τῶν μηχανῶν εὐθὺς ἐρρίπτουν.

Dewing But the men standing beside them, as I have said, by means of the pole which I have just mentioned kept removing these missiles with the great the determination and clearing them off, so that they hurled everything down to the ground from the engines as soon as it fell.

Greek οὐκ ἐπὶ πολὺ δὲ πρὸς τὸ ἔργον τοῦτο ἀνθέξειν ὑπώπτευον· τὸ γὰρ πῦρ οὗ προσψαύσειεν ἐνεπίμπρα αὐτίκα, εἰ μὴ εὐθυωρὸν ἀποβληθείη. ταῦτα μὲν οὖν ἐπράσσετο τῇδε.

Dewing But they could not expect to hold out long in this work; for the fire kindled instantly whatever it touched, unless it was immediately thrown off. Such then was the course of events here.

Greek Βέσσας δὲ αὐτὸς τεθωρακισμένος καὶ ἅπαν ἐξοπλίσας τὸ στράτευμα κλίμακας πολλὰς ἐς τὸ πεπτωκὸς τοῦ τείχους προῆγε.

Dewing But Bessus, who had himself donned his corselet and put his whole army under arms, began to move forward many ladders to the part of the wall which had sunk.

Greek καὶ λόγῳ τοσοῦτον παραθαρρύνας, ὅσον μὴ ἀμβλῦναι τοῦ καιροῦ τὴν ἀκμήν, ἔργοις τῆς παρακελεύσεως τὰ λοιπὰ ἔνειμεν. ἀνὴρ γὰρ πλέον ἢ ἑβδομήκοντα γεγονὼς ἐτῶν καὶ παντάπασιν ἔξωρος ὢν ἤδη πρῶτος ἐπέβη τῆς κλίμακος.

Dewing And after stirring their courage with a speech of only such length as not to blunt the point of the opportunity, he devoted the remainder of his exhortation to action. For though he was a man of more than seventy years and already well past his prime, he was the first to mount the ladder.

Greek ἐνταῦθα μάχη καὶ ἀρετῆς ἐπίδειξις γίνεται Ῥωμαίοις τε καὶ Πέρσαις οἵαν ἔγωγε κατὰ τοῦτον τὸν χρόνον οὐδαμῆ οἶμαι ξυνενεχθῆναι.

Dewing There a battle took place and a display of valour by both Romans and Persians such as I at least believe has never once been seen in these times.

Greek τὸ μὲν γὰρ βαρβάρων πλῆθος εἰς δισχιλίους καὶ τριακοσίους ξυνῄει, Ῥωμαῖοι δὲ ἐς ἑξακισχιλίους ἐτύγχανον ὄντες.

Dewing For while the number of the barbarians amounted to two thousand three hundred, the Romans counted as many as six thousand.

Greek καὶ αὐτῶν ἑκατέρωθεν ὅσοι οὐ διεφθάρησαν τραυματίαι σχεδόν τι γεγόνασι πάντες, ὀλίγοις τε λίαν ἐπ’ ἀθῴοις τοῖς σώμασι περιεῖναι ξυνέβη. Ῥωμαῖοι μὲν οὖν τὴν ἀνάβασιν ἐβιάζοντο δυνάμει τῇ πάσῃ, Πέρσαι δὲ αὐτοὺς πόνῳ πολλῷ ἀπεκρούοντο.

Dewing And practically all those on both sides who were not killed received wounds, and it proved true that exceedingly few survived with their bodies intact. So the Romans, for their part, were struggling with all their strength to force the ascent, while the Persians on their side were beating them back the great vigorous.

Greek ἀμφοτέρωθεν δὲ κτεινομένων πολλῶν οὐ μακράν που ἐγένοντο τοῦ ἀπεῶσθαι τὸν κίνδυνον Πέρσαι· ὠθισμοῦ γὰρ πολλοῦ ἐν τῇ τῶν κλιμάκων ὑπερβολῇ γεγενημένου ἄλλοι τε Ῥωμαίων συχνοὶ ἅτε πολεμίοις καθύπερθεν οὖσι μαχόμενοι ἔθνησκον καὶ Βέσσας ὁ στρατηγὸς ἐς τὸ ἔδαφος πεσὼν ἔκειτο.

Dewing Thus many were being slain on both sides and the Persians were not far from repelling the danger. For at the tops of the ladders a violent struggle for position took place, and many of the Romans, fighting as they were with an enemy above them, were being slain, and Bessas the general also fell to the ground and lay there.

Greek καὶ τότε δὴ κραυγῆς ἐξαισίας πρὸς ἀμφοτέρων γεγενημένης οἱ μὲν βάρβαροι πανταχόθεν ξυρρέοντες ἐπ’ αὐτὸν ἔβαλον, οἱ δὲ δορυφόροι ξυνέστησάν τε σπουδῇ ἀμφ’ αὐτὸν καὶ κράνη μὲν ἐν ταῖς κεφαλαῖς ἔχοντες, θώρακας δὲ ἀμπεχόμενοι πάντες, ἔτι μέντοι καθύπερθεν ταῖς ἀσπίσι φραξάμενοι καὶ ἐν χρῷ ξυνιόντες ἀλλήλοις, ὀροφῆς αὐτῷ σχῆμα ἐποίουν καὶ τόν τε στρατηγὸν ὡς ἀσφαλέστατα ἔκρυψαν καὶ τὰ βαλλόμενα παντὶ σθένει ἀπεκρούοντο.

Dewing And at that point a tremendous shout arose from both armies as the barbarians rushed together from all sides and shot at him, and his bodyguard gathered hastily about him, all of them having helmets on the heads and wearing corselets; and by holding their shields close together over their heads and crowding in so as to touch one another, they made a sort of rough over him and concealed their general in special safety, and kept fending off the missiles with all their strength.

Greek καὶ πάταγος μὲν τῶν ἀεὶ πεμπομένων κἀν ταῖς ἀσπίσιν τε καὶ τοῖς ἄλλοις ὅπλοις ἀποκαυλιζομένων πολὺς ἐγεγόνει, κραυγῇ δὲ καὶ ἄσθματι καὶ ταλαιπωρίᾳ ἕκαστος εἴχετο.

Dewing And a great din arose from the missiles which were thrown continually and blunted on the shields and other armour, and at the same time each man was shouting and panting and exerting himself to the utmost.

Greek Ῥωμαῖοί τε ἅπαντες τῷ στρατηγῷ ἀμύνειν ἐν σπουδῇ ἔχοντες ἔβαλλον ἐς τὸ τεῖχος, οὐδένα ἀνιέντες καιρόν, καὶ ταύτῃ τοὺς πολεμίους ἀνέστελλον.

Dewing Meanwhile all the Romans, in their eagerness to defend their general, were shooting at the wall, stopping not for an instant, seeking thus to check the enemy.

Greek Τότε δὴ ὁ Βέσσας ʽοὐδὲ γὰρ ἐξανίστασθαι εἶχε, τῆς ὁπλίσεως ἀντιστατούσης, ἄλλως τε καὶ τοῦ σώματός οἱ οὐκ εὐσταλοῦς ὄντος, ἦν γὰρ οὗτος ἀνὴρ εὔσαρκός τε καί, ὅπερ ἐρρήθη, ἐσχατογέρων’ οὐκ ἐς ἀμηχανίαν ἐξέπεσε, καίπερ ἐς τοσοῦτον κινδύνου ἥκων, ἀλλὰ βουλεύεταί τι ἐκ τοῦ αἰφνιδίου ᾧπερ αὑτόν τε καὶ τὰ Ῥωμαίων πράγματα διασώσασθαι ἔσχε.

Dewing In this crisis Bessas distinguished himself; though he could not get on his feet on account of the impediment of his armour and also because his body was not nimble (for this man was fleshy and, as said, very old), still he did not yield to helpless despair, even when he had come into such great danger, but formed a plan on the spur of the moment by which he succeeded in saving both himself not ruin cause.

Greek τοῖς γὰρ δορυφόροις ἐπέστελλε σύρειν τε αὐτὸν ἐκ ποδὸς καὶ ὡς ἀπωτάτω τοῦ τείχους ἐφέλκειν.

Dewing For he directed his bodyguards to drag him by the foot and thus pull him very far from the wall,

Greek οἱ δὲ κατὰ ταῦτα ἐποίουν. καὶ αὐτὸν οἱ μὲν ἔσυρον, οἱ δὲ ξὺν αὐτῷ ὑπεχώρουν, τὰς μὲν ἀσπίδας ὕπερθεν ἐπ’ ἀλλήλους ἔχοντες, τοσαύτην δὲ ποιούμενοι βάδισιν ὅσον ἐκεῖνος ἐσύρετο, ὡς μὴ ἀπαρακάλυπτος γεγονὼς πρὸς τῶν πολεμίων βληθείη.

Dewing and they carried out this order. And so, while some were dragging him, others were retreating with him, holding their shields above him and toward each other, and walking at the same speed as he was being dragged, so that he might not, though becoming uncovered, be hit by the enemy.

Greek ἐπειδὴ δὲ ὁ Βέσσας ἐν τῷ ἀσφαλεῖ ἐγεγόνει, ἐξανίστατό τε καὶ παρακελευσάμενος ἐπὶ τὸ τεῖχος ᾔει, τῆς τε κλίμακος ἐπιβατεύσας αὖθις ἐπὶ τὴν ἀνάβασιν ὥρμητο.

Dewing Then as soon as Bessas had reached safety, he got on his feet, and urging his men forward went toward the wall, and setting foot on the ladder once more made haste to mount it.

Greek ἐπισπόμενοι δὲ Ῥωμαῖοι πάντες ἔργα ἐς τοὺς πολεμίους ἐπεδείκνυντο ἀρετῆς ἄξια. περίφοβοί τε γενόμενοι Πέρσαι καιρὸν σφίσι τινὰ τοὺς ἐναντίους διδόναι ᾔτουν, ὅπως συσκευασάμενοι ἀπαλλάσσωνται τὴν πόλιν ἐνδόντες.

Dewing And all the Romans following behind him made a display of real heroism against the enemy. Then the Persians became terrified and begged their opponents to give them some time, in order that they might pack up and get out of the way when they handed over the city.

Greek Βέσσας δὲ δολώσεις αὐτοὺς ἐπιτεχνάσασθαι ὑποτοπάζων, ὅπως μεταξὺ κρατύνωνται τὸ τοῦ περιβόλου ὀχύρωμα, τὴν μὲν ξυμβολὴν καταπαύειν ἔφη οὐχ οἷός τε εἶναι, τοὺς δὲ ἀμφὶ τῇ ὁμολογίᾳ βουλομένους αὐτῷ ξυγγενέσθαι, τῶν στρατοπέδων μαχομένων, οὐδέν τι ἧσσον εἰς ἑτέραν τινὰ ξὺν αὐτῷ ἰέναι τοῦ τείχους μοῖραν, δείξας τι χωρίον αὐτοῖς.

Dewing But Bessas suspected that they had contrived some trickery, to the end that in the interval they might increase the strength of the circuit-wall, and so he said that he was unable to put a stop to the fighting, but those who wished to meet him to discuss terms could, while the armies were fighting, nevertheless proceed with him to another part of the wall; and he designated a certain spot to them.

Greek Τῶν δὲ οὐκ ἐνδεχομένων τὸν λόγον γίνεται μὲν αὖθις καρτερά τις μάχη καὶ ὠθισμὸς πολύς, ἔτι δὲ ἀγχωμάλου τῆς ξυμβολῆς οὔσης ξυνηνέχθη τὸ τεῖχος ἑτέρωθι, οὗπερ διορύξαντες Ῥωμαῖοι πρότερον ἔτυχον, ἐξαπιναίως καταπεσεῖν. ἐνταῦθα οὖν πολλοὶ ἐξ ἀμφοτέρων ξυνέρρεον.

Dewing This proposal, however, was not accepted by them, and once more fierce fighting commenced, involving a violent tussle; but while the conflict was still indecisive, it so fell out that the wall at another point, where the Romans had previously undermined it, suddenly toppled over. Consequently many from both armies rushed together at that spot.

Greek καὶ Ῥωμαῖοι μὲν πλήθει τοὺς πολεμίους παρὰ πολὺ ὑπεραίροντες, καίπερ δίχα διῃρημένοι, πολλῷ ἔτι μᾶλλον βάλλοντές τε καὶ ὠθοῦντες καρτερώτατα τοῖς ἐναντίοις ἐνέκειντο.

Dewing And now the Romans showed their great numerical superiority over the enemy, though of they were divided into two parts, and they kept pressing the battle against their opponents, shooting faster than ever and pushing forward with the greatest force.

Greek Πέρσαι δὲ οὐκέτι ὁμοίως ἀντεῖχον, ἑκατέρωθι βιαζόμενοι, ἀλλὰ διαιρεθεῖσα ἡ ὀλιγανθρωπία ἐς ἄμφω τὰ μέρη διαφανὴς ἦν.

Dewing The Persians, on the other hand, no longer resisted with the same strength as before, assailed violently as they were at both points, and the smallness of their numbers thus divided between two fronts was conspicuous.

Greek οὕτω δὲ πονουμένων ἀμφοτέρων ἔτι τῶν στρατευμάτων καὶ οὔτε Περσῶν ἀποκρούεσθαι δυναμένων ἐγκειμένους σφίσι τοὺς πολεμίους οὔτε Ῥωμαίων βιάζεσθαι παντάπασι τὴν εἴσοδον οἵων τε ὄντων, νεανίας ἀνήρ, Ἀρμένιος γένος, Ἰωάννης ὄνομα, Θωμᾶ υἱὸς ὅνπερ ἐπίκλησιν ἐκάλουν Γούζην, τὰ μὲν καταπεπτωκότα τοῦ περιβόλου καὶ τοὺς ἐνταῦθα ὠθισμοὺς εἴασεν, Ἀρμενίων δὲ τῶν οἱ ἑπομένων ἐπαγαγόμενος ὀλίγους τινὰς διὰ τοῦ κρημνωδους, ᾗπερ ἅπαντες τὴν πόλιν ἀνάλωτον εἶναι ὑπώπτευον, βιασάμενος ἀνέβη τοὺς ταύτῃ φρουρούς.

Dewing Now while both the armies were still struggling thus, and the Persians, on the one hand, could not repulse their enemy as they pressed upon them, and the Romans, on the other hand, were unable completely to force their entrance, a young man of the Armenian race named John, son of Thomas, whom they were wont to call Guzes, abandoned the downfallen part of the circuit-wall and the struggles there, and, taking with him some few of his Armenian followers, ascended by the precipice, where all considered the city to be impregnable, having over­powered the guards at that point.

Greek κατά τε τὰς ἐπάλξεις γενόμενος ἕνα Περσῶν τῶν τῇδε ἀμυνομένων, ὅσπερ μαχιμώτατος ἐδόκει εἶναι, δόρατι ἔκτεινεν. ἐσβατόν τε Ῥωμαίοις ξυνηνέχθη τρόπῳ τοιῷδε.

Dewing Then, after getting on the parapet, he slew with his spear one of the Persian defenders there, who appeared to be the most warlike. In this manner an entry was made possible for the Romans.

Greek Πέρσαι οἳ ἐν πύργῳ τῷ ξυλίνῳ ἑστήκεσαν μέγα τι χρῆμα τῶν πυρφόρων ἀγγείων ὑφῆψαν, ὅπως τῶν βαλλομένων τῷ περιόντι καταφλέξαι αὐτοῖς ἀνδράσι τὰς μηχανὰς οἷοί τε ὦσιν, οὐ δυναμένων τῶν ἀμυνομένων ἅπαντα τοῖς κοντοῖς διωθεῖσθαι.

Dewing Now the Persians who were posted in the wooden tower had kindled a huge number of fire-bearing pots, in order that they might be able by the very number of their missiles to burn up the engines, men and all, their defenders being unable to push them all aside with their poles.

Greek πνεῦμα δὲ νότου σκληρόν τε καὶ ὑπερφυὲς ἄγαν ἐξαπιναίως ἐξ ἐναντίας αὐτοῖς ξὺν πολλῷ πατάγῳ ἐπιπεσόν, τῶν τοῦ πύργου σανίδων ἀμηγέπη μιᾶς ἥψατο.

Dewing But suddenly there sprang up from the south a wind of extraordinary violence and blew against them with a great roar, and in some way or other it set fire to one of the planks of the tower.

Greek οὐ ξυνιέντων δὲ αὐτίκα τῶν ἐνταῦθα Περσῶν ʽπόνῳ γὰρ καὶ θορύβῳ καὶ δέει καὶ ταραχῇ ἀμέτρῳ εἴχοντο ἅπαντες, ἥ τε ἀνάγκη αὐτοῖς παρῃρεῖτο τὴν αἴσθησιν’ ἡ φλὸξ κατὰ βραχὺ αἰρομένη τῷ τε τῆς Μηδείας ἐπωνύμῳ ἐλαίῳ καὶ οἷσπερ ἄλλοις ἐξήρτυτο τὸν πύργον ὅλον καὶ Πέρσας τοὺς ἐνταῦθα ἐνέπρησεν.

Dewing But the Persians there did not immediately comprehend this, for they were every man of them working and shouting immoderately, being fiddle with fear and in the midst of wild confusion, and the urgency of the moment had robbed them of their senses; so the flame rising little by little, fed by the oil which bears Medea's name and all the other things with which the tower was supplied, consumed the whole tower and the Persians who were in it.

Greek ἐξηνθρακωμένοι τε ἅπαντες ἔπεσον, οἱ μὲν ἐντὸς τοῦ περιβόλου, οἱ δὲ τούτου ἐκτός, ἵνα δὴ αἵ τε μηχαναὶ καὶ οἱ ἀμφ’ αὐτὰς Ῥωμαῖοι ἑστήκεσαν· οὕτω δὲ καὶ οἱ ἄλλοι Ῥωμαῖοι, ὅσοι δὴ ἐς τοῦ περιβόλου τὰ καταπεπτωκότα ἐμάχοντο, ἐνδιδόντων σφίσι τῶν πολεμίων ἔς τε ὀλιγωρίαν ἐμπεπτωκότων, ἐντὸς τοῦ περιβόλου ἐγένοντο, καὶ κατ’ ἄκρας ἡ Πέτρα ἑάλω.

Dewing These were all burned to death, and their charred bodies fell, some inside the wall, others outside where the engines stood with the Romans about them. Than the other Romans also who were fighting at the fallen part of the wall, since the enemy were giving way before them in utter despair and strove no longer to resist, got inside the fortifications, and Petra was captured completely.

Greek Τῶν μὲν οὖν Περσῶν ἐς πεντακοσίους ἐς τὴν ἀκρόπολιν ἀναδραμόντες καὶ τὸ ἐκείνῃ καταλαβόντες ὀχύρωμα ἡσυχῆ ἔμενον, τοὺς δὲ ἄλλους Ῥωμαῖοι, ὅσους οὐκ ἔκτειναν ἐν τῇ ξυμβολῇ, ἐζώγρησαν ἅπαντας ἐς τριάκοντα καὶ ἑπτακοσίους μάλιστα ὄντας.

Dewing So about five hundred of the Persians ran up to the acropolis, and seizing the stronghold there remained quiet, but the Romans made prisoners of all the others, such as they had not slain in the fighting, amounting to about seven hundred and thirty.

Greek καὶ αὐτῶν ὀκτὼ μὲν καὶ δέκα ἀκραιφνεῖς εὗρον, οἱ δὲ λοιποὶ ἅπαντες τραυματίαι ὄντες ἐτύγχανον. ἔπεσον δὲ καὶ Ῥωμαίων πολλοί τε καὶ ἄριστοι, καὶ Ἰωάννης ὁ Θωμᾶ υἱός, λίθῳ τὴν κεφαλὴν ἐν τῇ ἐς τὴν πόλιν εἰσόδῳ πρός του τῶν βαρβάρων βληθεὶς ἔργα τε θαυμαστὰ ἐς τοὺς πολεμίους ἐπιδειξάμενος.

Dewing And among these they found only eighteen unhurt, all the rest having been wounded. There fell too munition of the best of the Romans, and among them John the son of Thomas, who, while entering the city, was hit on the head by a stone thrown by one of the barbarians, but only after he had made a display of marvellous deeds against the enemy.