[Footnote9:Iliad。Delta。123。Howconcise—howjust—howbeautifulisthewholepicture!Iseetheattitudesofthearcher—Ihearthetwangingofthebow。]
[Footnote10:Thetextappearstoallowforthelargestvessels50，000medimni，or3000tons，sincethemedimnusweighed160
Roman，or120avoirdupois，pounds。Ihavegivenamorerationalinterpretation，bysupposingthattheAtticstyleofProcopiusconcealsthelegalandpopularmodius，asixthpartofthemedimnus，Hooper\'sAncientMeasures，p。152，&c。AcontraryandindeedastrangermistakehascreptintoanorationofDinarchus，contraDemosthenem，inReiskeOrator。Graectomiv。P。ii。p。
34。Byreducingthenumberofshipsfrom500to50，andtranslatingbymines，orpounds，Cousinhasgenerouslyallowed500tonsforthewholeoftheImperialfleet!Didheneverthink?]
IntheseventhyearofthereignofJustinian，andaboutthetimeofthesummersolstice，thewholefleetofsixhundredshipswasrangedinmartialpompbeforethegardensofthepalace。Thepatriarchpronouncedhisbenediction，theemperorsignifiedhislastcommands，thegeneral\'strumpetgavethesignalofdeparture，andeveryheart，accordingtoitsfearsorwishes，explored，withanxiouscuriosity，theomensofmisfortuneandsuccess。ThefirsthaltwasmadeatPerinthusorHeraclea，whereBelisariuswaitedfivedaystoreceivesomeThracianhorses，amilitarygiftofhissovereign。FromthencethefleetpursuedtheircoursethroughthemidstofthePropontis；butastheystruggledtopasstheStraitsoftheHellespont，anunfavorablewinddetainedthemfourdaysatAbydus，wherethegeneralexhibitedamemorablelessonoffirmnessandseverity。TwooftheHuns，whoinadrunkenquarrelhadslainoneoftheirfellow—soldiers，wereinstantlyshowntothearmysuspendedonaloftygibbet。Thenationaldignitywasresentedbytheircountrymen，whodisclaimedtheservilelawsoftheempire，andassertedthefreeprivilegeofScythia，whereasmallfinewasallowedtoexpiatethehastysalliesofintemperanceandanger。
Theircomplaintswerespecious，theirclamorswereloud，andtheRomanswerenotaversetotheexampleofdisorderandimpunity。
Buttherisingseditionwasappeasedbytheauthorityandeloquenceofthegeneral:andherepresentedtotheassembledtroopstheobligationofjustice，theimportanceofdiscipline，therewardsofpietyandvirtue，andtheunpardonableguiltofmurder，which，inhisapprehension，wasaggravatedratherthanexcusedbytheviceofintoxication。^11InthenavigationfromtheHellesponttoPeloponnesus，whichtheGreeks，afterthesiegeofTroy，hadperformedinfourdays，^12thefleetofBelisariuswasguidedintheircoursebyhismaster—galley，conspicuousinthedaybytherednessofthesails，andinthenightbythetorchesblazingfromthemasthead。Itwasthedutyofthepilots，astheysteeredbetweentheislands，andturnedtheCapesofMaleaandTaenarium，topreservethejustorderandregularintervalsofsuchamultitudeofships:asthewindwasfairandmoderate，theirlaborswerenotunsuccessful，andthetroopsweresafelydisembarkedatMethoneontheMesseniancoast，toreposethemselvesforawhileafterthefatiguesofthesea。Inthisplacetheyexperiencedhowavarice，investedwithauthority，maysportwiththelivesofthousandswhicharebravelyexposedforthepublicservice。Accordingtomilitarypractice，thebreadorbiscuitoftheRomanswastwicepreparedintheoven，andthediminutionofonefourthwascheerfullyallowedforthelossofweight。Togainthismiserableprofit，andtosavetheexpenseofwood，thepraefectJohnofCappadociahadgivenordersthattheflourshouldbeslightlybakedbythesamefirewhichwarmedthebathsofConstantinople；andwhenthesackswereopened，asoftandmouldypastewasdistributedtothearmy。Suchunwholesomefood，assistedbytheheatoftheclimateandseason，soonproducedanepidemicaldisease，whichsweptawayfivehundredsoldiers。TheirhealthwasrestoredbythediligenceofBelisarius，whoprovidedfreshbreadatMethone，andboldlyexpressedhisjustandhumaneindignationtheemperorheardhiscomplaint；thegeneralwaspraisedbuttheministerwasnotpunished。FromtheportofMethone，thepilotssteeredalongthewesterncoastofPeloponnesus，asfarastheIsleofZacynthus，orZante，beforetheyundertookthevoyageintheireyesamostarduousvoyageofonehundredleaguesovertheIonianSea。Asthefleetwassurprisedbyacalm，sixteendayswereconsumedintheslownavigation；andeventhegeneralwouldhavesufferedtheintolerablehardshipofthirst，iftheingenuityofAntoninahadnotpreservedthewateringlassbottles，whichsheburieddeepinthesandinapartoftheshipimpervioustotheraysofthesun。AtlengththeharborofCaucana，^13onthesouthernsideofSicily，affordedasecureandhospitableshelter。TheGothicofficerswhogovernedtheislandinthenameofthedaughterandgrandsonofTheodoric，obeyedtheirimprudentorders，toreceivethetroopsofJustinianlikefriendsandallies:provisionswereliberallysupplied，thecavalrywasremounted，^14andProcopiussoonreturnedfromSyracusewithcorrectinformationofthestateanddesignsoftheVandals。HisintelligencedeterminedBelisariustohastenhisoperations，andhiswiseimpatiencewassecondedbythewinds。ThefleetlostsightofSicily，passedbeforetheIsleofMalta，discoveredthecapesofAfrica，ranalongthecoastwithastronggalefromthenorth—east，andfinallycastanchoratthepromontoryofCaputVada，aboutfivedays\'journeytothesouthofCarthage。^15
[Footnote11:IhavereadofaGreeklegislator，whoinflictedadoublepenaltyonthecrimescommittedinastateofintoxication；butitseemsagreedthatthiswasratherapoliticalthanamorallaw。]
[Footnote12:Oreveninthreedays，sincetheyanchoredthefirsteveningintheneighboringisleofTenedos:theseconddaytheysailedtoLesbonthethirdtothepromontoryofEuboea，andonthefourththeyreachedArgos，Homer，Odyss。P。130—183。
Wood\'sEssayonHomer，p。40—46。ApiratesailedfromtheHellesponttotheseaportofSpartainthreedays，Xenophon。
Hellen。l。ii。c。l。]
[Footnote13:Caucana，nearCamarina，isatleast50miles350
or400stadiafromSyracuse，Cluver。SiciliaAntiqua，p。191。
Note*:LordMahon。LifeofBelisarius，p。88suggestssomevalidreasonsforreadingCatana，theancientnameofCatania。—
M。]
[Footnote14:Procopius，Gothic。l。i。c。3。Tibitollithinnitumaptaquadrigisequa，intheSicilianpasturesofGrosphus，Horat。Carm。ii。16。Acragas……magnanimumquondamgeneratorequorum，Virg。Aeneid。iii。704。Thero\'shorses，whosevictoriesareimmortalizedbyPindar，werebredinthiscountry。]
[Footnote15:TheCaputVadaofProcopiuswhereJustinianafterwardsfoundedacity—DeEdific。l。vi。c。6isthepromontoryofAmmoninStrabo，theBrachodesofPtolemy，theCapaudiaofthemoderns，alongnarrowslipthatrunsintothesea，Shaw\'sTravels，p。111。]
IfGelimerhadbeeninformedoftheapproachoftheenemy，hemusthavedelayedtheconquestofSardiniafortheimmediatedefenceofhispersonandkingdom。Adetachmentoffivethousandsoldiers，andonehundredandtwentygalleys，wouldhavejoinedtheremainingforcesoftheVandals；andthedescendantofGensericmighthavesurprisedandoppressedafleetofdeepladentransports，incapableofaction，andoflightbrigantinesthatseemedonlyqualifiedforflight。Belisariushadsecretlytrembledwhenheoverheardhissoldiers，inthepassage，emboldeningeachothertoconfesstheirapprehensions:iftheywereonceonshore，theyhopedtomaintainthehonoroftheirarms；butiftheyshouldbeattackedatsea，theydidnotblushtoacknowledgethattheywantedcouragetocontendatthesametimewiththewinds，thewaves，andtheBarbarians。^16TheknowledgeoftheirsentimentsdecidedBelisariustoseizethefirstopportunityoflandingthemonthecoastofAfrica；andheprudentlyrejected，inacouncilofwar，theproposalofsailingwiththefleetandarmyintotheportofCarthage。ThreemonthsaftertheirdeparturefromConstantinople，themenandhorses，thearmsandmilitarystores，weresafelydisembarked，andfivesoldierswereleftasaguardonboardeachoftheships，whichweredisposedintheformofasemicircle。Theremainderofthetroopsoccupiedacamponthesea—shore，whichtheyfortified，accordingtoancientdiscipline，withaditchandrampart；andthediscoveryofasourceoffreshwater，whileitallayedthethirst，excitedthesuperstitiousconfidence，oftheRomans。Thenextmorning，someoftheneighboringgardenswerepillaged；andBelisarius，afterchastisingtheoffenders，embracedtheslightoccasion，butthedecisivemoment，ofinculcatingthemaximsofjustice，moderation，andgenuinepolicy。\"WhenIfirstacceptedthecommissionofsubduingAfrica，Idependedmuchless，\"saidthegeneral，\"onthenumbers，oreventhebraveryofmytroops，thanonthefriendlydispositionofthenatives，andtheirimmortalhatredtotheVandals。Youalonecandeprivemeofthishope；ifyoucontinuetoextortbyrapinewhatmightbepurchasedforalittlemoney，suchactsofviolencewillreconciletheseimplacableenemies，andunitetheminajustandholyleagueagainsttheinvadersoftheircountry。\"Theseexhortationswereenforcedbyarigiddiscipline，ofwhichthesoldiersthemselvessoonfeltandpraisedthesalutaryeffects。
Theinhabitants，insteadofdesertingtheirhouses，orhidingtheircorn，suppliedtheRomanswithafairandliberalmarket:
thecivilofficersoftheprovincecontinuedtoexercisetheirfunctionsinthenameofJustinian:andtheclergy，frommotivesofconscienceandinterest，assiduouslylaboredtopromotethecauseofaCatholicemperor。ThesmalltownofSullecte，^17oneday\'sjourneyfromthecamp，hadthehonorofbeingforemosttoopenhergates，andtoresumeherancientallegiance:thelargercitiesofLeptisandAdrumetumimitatedtheexampleofloyaltyassoonasBelisariusappeared；andheadvancedwithoutoppositionasfarasGrasse，apalaceoftheVandalkings，atthedistanceoffiftymilesfromCarthage。ThewearyRomansindulgedthemselvesintherefreshmentofshadygroves，coolfountains，anddeliciousfruits；andthepreferencewhichProcopiusallowstothesegardensoveranythathehadseen，eitherintheEastorWest，maybeascribedeithertothetaste，orthefatigue，orthehistorian。Inthreegenerations，prosperityandawarmclimatehaddissolvedthehardyvirtueoftheVandals，whoinsensiblybecamethemostluxuriousofmankind。Intheirvillasandgardens，whichmightdeservethePersiannameofParadise，^18
theyenjoyedacoolandelegantrepose；and，afterthedailyuseofthebath，theBarbarianswereseatedatatableprofuselyspreadwiththedelicaciesofthelandandsea。Theirsilkenrobeslooselyflowing，afterthefashionoftheMedes，wereembroideredwithgold；loveandhuntingwerethelaborsoftheirlife，andtheirvacanthourswereamusedbypantomimes，chariot—races，andthemusicanddancesofthetheatre。
[Footnote16:AcenturionofMarkAntonyexpressed，thoughinamoremanlytrain，thesamedisliketotheseaandtonavalcombats，PlutarchinAntonio，p。1730，edit。Hen。Steph。]
[Footnote*:RatherintothepresentLakeofTunis。LordMahon，p。92。—M。]
[Footnote17:SullecteisperhapstheTurrisHannibalis，anoldbuilding，nowaslargeastheTowerofLondon。ThemarchofBelisariustoLeptis。Adrumetum，&c。，isillustratedbythecampaignofCaesar，Hirtius，deBelloAfricano，withtheAnalyseofGuichardt，andShaw\'sTravelsp。105—113inthesamecountry。]
[Footnote18:Theparadises，anameandfashionadoptedfromPersia，mayberepresentedbytheroyalgardenofIspahan，Voyaged\'Olearius，p。774。See，intheGreekromances，theirmostperfectmodel，Longus。Pastoral。l。iv。p。99—101
AchillesTatius。l。i。p。22，23。]
Inamarchoftenortwelvedays，thevigilanceofBelisariuswasconstantlyawakeandactiveagainsthisunseenenemies，bywhom，ineveryplace，andateveryhour，hemightbesuddenlyattacked。Anofficerofconfidenceandmerit，JohntheArmenian，ledthevanguardofthreehundredhorse；sixhundredMassagetaecoveredatacertaindistancetheleftflank；andthewholefleet，steeringalongthecoast，seldomlostsightofthearmy，whichmovedeachdayabouttwelvemiles，andlodgedintheeveninginstrongcamps，orinfriendlytowns。ThenearapproachoftheRomanstoCarthagefilledthemindofGelimerwithanxietyandterror。Heprudentlywishedtoprotractthewartillhisbrother，withhisveterantroops，shouldreturnfromtheconquestofSardinia；andhenowlamentedtherashpolicyofhisancestors，who，bydestroyingthefortificationsofAfrica，hadlefthimonlythedangerousresourceofriskingabattleintheneighborhoodofhiscapital。TheVandalconquerors，fromtheiroriginalnumberoffiftythousand，weremultiplied，withoutincludingtheirwomenandchildren，toonehundredandsixtythousandfightingmen:andsuchforces，animatedwithvalorandunion，mighthavecrushed，attheirfirstlanding，thefeebleandexhaustedbandsoftheRomangeneral。Butthefriendsofthecaptivekingweremoreinclinedtoaccepttheinvitations，thantoresisttheprogress，ofBelisarius；andmanyaproudBarbariandisguisedhisaversiontowarunderthemorespeciousnameofhishatredtotheusurper。YettheauthorityandpromisesofGelimercollectedaformidablearmy，andhisplanswereconcertedwithsomedegreeofmilitaryskill。AnorderwasdespatchedtohisbrotherAmmatas，tocollectalltheforcesofCarthage，andtoencounterthevanoftheRomanarmyatthedistanceoftenmilesfromthecity:hisnephewGibamund，withtwothousandhorse，wasdestinedtoattacktheirleft，whenthemonarchhimself，whosilentlyfollowed，shouldchargetheirrear，inasituationwhichexcludedthemfromtheaidoreventheviewoftheirfleet。ButtherashnessofAmmataswasfataltohimselfandhiscountry。Heanticipatedthehouroftheattack，outstrippedhistardyfollowers，andwaspiercedwithamortalwound，afterhehadslainwithhisownhandtwelveofhisboldestantagonists。HisVandalsfledtoCarthage；thehighway，almosttenmiles，wasstrewedwithdeadbodies；anditseemedincrediblethatsuchmultitudescouldbeslaughteredbytheswordsofthreehundredRomans。ThenephewofGelimerwasdefeated，afteraslightcombat，bythesixhundredMassagetae:theydidnotequalthethirdpartofhisnumbers；buteachScythianwasfiredbytheexampleofhischief，whogloriouslyexercisedtheprivilegeofhisfamily，byriding，foremostandalone，toshootthefirstarrowagainsttheenemy。Inthemeanwhile，Gelimerhimself，ignorantoftheevent，andmisguidedbythewindingsofthehills，inadvertentlypassedtheRomanarmy，andreachedthesceneofactionwhereAmmatashadfallen。HeweptthefateofhisbrotherandofCarthage，chargedwithirresistiblefurytheadvancingsquadrons，andmighthavepursued，andperhapsdecided，thevictory，ifhehadnotwastedthoseinestimablemomentsinthedischargeofavain，thoughpious，dutytothedead。Whilehisspiritwasbrokenbythismournfuloffice，heheardthetrumpetofBelisarius，who，leavingAntoninaandhisinfantryinthecamp，pressedforwardswithhisguardsandtheremainderofthecavalrytorallyhisflyingtroops，andtorestorethefortuneoftheday。Muchroomcouldnotbefound，inthisdisorderlybattle，forthetalentsofageneral；butthekingfledbeforethehero；andtheVandals，accustomedonlytoaMoorishenemy，wereincapableofwithstandingthearmsanddisciplineoftheRomans。GelimerretiredwithhastystepstowardsthedesertofNumidia:buthehadsoontheconsolationoflearningthathisprivateordersfortheexecutionofHildericandhiscaptivefriendshadbeenfaithfullyobeyed。Thetyrant\'srevengewasusefulonlytohisenemies。Thedeathofalawfulprinceexcitedthecompassionofhispeople；hislifemighthaveperplexedthevictoriousRomans；andthelieutenantofJustinian，byacrimeofwhichhewasinnocent，wasrelievedfromthepainfulalternativeofforfeitinghishonororrelinquishinghisconquests。
[Footnote*:80，000。Hist。Arc。c。18。Gibbonhasbeenmisledbythetranslation。SeeLordov。p。99。—M。]
ChapterXLI:ConquestsOfJustinian，CharactOfBalisarius。
PartII。
Assoonasthetumulthadsubsided，theseveralpartsofthearmyinformedeachotheroftheaccidentsoftheday；andBelisariuspitchedhiscamponthefieldofvictory，towhichthetenthmile—stonefromCarthagehadappliedtheLatinappellationofDecimus。FromawisesuspicionofthestratagemsandresourcesoftheVandals，hemarchedthenextdayinorderofbattle，haltedintheeveningbeforethegatesofCarthage，andallowedanightofrepose，thathemightnot，indarknessanddisorder，exposethecitytothelicenseofthesoldiers，orthesoldiersthemselvestothesecretambushofthecity。ButasthefearsofBelisariusweretheresultofcalmandintrepidreason，hewassoonsatisfiedthathemightconfide，withoutdanger，inthepeacefulandfriendlyaspectofthecapital。Carthageblazedwithinnumerabletorches，thesignalsofthepublicjoy；thechainwasremovedthatguardedtheentranceoftheport；thegateswerethrownopen，andthepeople，withacclamationsofgratitude，hailedandinvitedtheirRomandeliverers。ThedefeatoftheVandals，andthefreedomofAfrica，wereannouncedtothecityontheeveofSt。Cyprian，whenthechurcheswerealreadyadornedandilluminatedforthefestivalofthemartyrwhomthreecenturiesofsuperstitionhadalmostraisedtoalocaldeity。
TheArians，consciousthattheirreignhadexpired，resignedthetempletotheCatholics，whorescuedtheirsaintfromprofanehands，performedtheholyrites，andloudlyproclaimedthecreedofAthanasiusandJustinian。Oneawfulhourreversedthefortunesofthecontendingparties。ThesuppliantVandals，whohadsolatelyindulgedthevicesofconquerors，soughtanhumblerefugeinthesanctuaryofthechurch；whilethemerchantsoftheEastweredeliveredfromthedeepestdungeonofthepalacebytheiraffrightedkeeper，whoimploredtheprotectionofhiscaptives，andshowedthem，throughanapertureinthewall，thesailsoftheRomanfleet。Aftertheirseparationfromthearmy，thenavalcommandershadproceededwithslowcautionalongthecoasttilltheyreachedtheHermaeanpromontory，andobtainedthefirstintelligenceofthevictoryofBelisarius。Faithfultohisinstructions，theywouldhavecastanchorabouttwentymilesfromCarthage，ifthemoreskilfulseamenhadnotrepresentedtheperilsoftheshore，andthesignsofanimpendingtempest。
Stillignorantoftherevolution，theydeclined，however，therashattemptofforcingthechainoftheport；andtheadjacentharborandsuburbofMandraciumwereinsultedonlybytherapineofaprivateofficer，whodisobeyedanddesertedhisleaders。
ButtheImperialfleet，advancingwithafairwind，steeredthroughthenarrowentranceoftheGoletta，andoccupied，inthedeepandcapaciouslakeofTunis，asecurestationaboutfivemilesfromthecapital。^19NosoonerwasBelisariusinformedoftheirarrival，thanhedespatchedordersthatthegreatestpartofthemarinersshouldbeimmediatelylandedtojointhetriumph，andtoswelltheapparentnumbers，oftheRomans。BeforeheallowedthemtoenterthegatesofCarthage，heexhortedthem，inadiscourseworthyofhimselfandtheoccasion，nottodisgracethegloryoftheirarms；andtorememberthattheVandalshadbeenthetyrants，butthattheywerethedeliverers，oftheAfricans，whomustnowberespectedasthevoluntaryandaffectionatesubjectsoftheircommonsovereign。TheRomansmarchedthroughthestreetsincloserankspreparedforbattleifanenemyhadappeared:thestrictordermaintainedbythegeneralimprintedontheirmindsthedutyofobedience；andinanageinwhichcustomandimpunityalmostsanctifiedtheabuseofconquest，thegeniusofonemanrepressedthepassionsofavictoriousarmy。Thevoiceofmenaceandcomplaintwassilent；