thetradeofCarthagewasnotinterrupted；whileAfricachangedhermasterandhergovernment，theshopscontinuedopenandbusy；
andthesoldiers，aftersufficientguardshadbeenposted，modestlydepartedtothehouseswhichwereallottedfortheirreception。Belisariusfixedhisresidenceinthepalace；seatedhimselfonthethroneofGenseric；acceptedanddistributedtheBarbaricspoil；grantedtheirlivestothesuppliantVandals；andlaboredtorepairthedamagewhichthesuburbofMandraciumhadsustainedintheprecedingnight。Atsupperheentertainedhisprincipalofficerswiththeformandmagnificenceofaroyalbanquet。^20Thevictorwasrespectfullyservedbythecaptiveofficersofthehousehold；andinthemomentsoffestivity，whentheimpartialspectatorsapplaudedthefortuneandmeritofBelisarius，hisenviousflattererssecretlyshedtheirvenomoneverywordandgesturewhichmightalarmthesuspicionsofajealousmonarch。Onedaywasgiventothesepompousscenes，whichmaynotbedespisedasuseless，iftheyattractedthepopularveneration；buttheactivemindofBelisarius，whichintheprideofvictorycouldsupposeadefeat，hadalreadyresolvedthattheRomanempireinAfricashouldnotdependonthechanceofarms，orthefavorofthepeople。ThefortificationsofCarthagehadalonebeenexemptedfromthegeneralproscription；butinthereignofninety—fiveyearstheyweresufferedtodecaybythethoughtlessandindolentVandals。A
wiserconquerorrestored，withincredibledespatch，thewallsandditchesofthecity。Hisliberalityencouragedtheworkmen；thesoldiers，themariners，andthecitizens，viedwitheachotherinthesalutarylabor；andGelimer，whohadfearedtotrusthispersoninanopentown，beheldwithastonishmentanddespair，therisingstrengthofanimpregnablefortress。
[Footnote19:TheneighborhoodofCarthage，thesea，theland，andtherivers，arechangedalmostasmuchastheworksofman。
Theisthmus，orneckofthecity，isnowconfoundedwiththecontinent；theharborisadryplain；andthelake，orstagnum，nomorethanamorass，withsixorsevenfeetwaterinthemid—channel。SeeD\'Anville，GeographieAncienne，tom。iii。p。
82，Shaw，Travels，p。77—84，Marmol，Descriptiondel\'Afrique，tom。ii。p。465，andThuanus，lviii。12，tom。iii。
p。334。]
[Footnote20:FromDelphi，thenameofDelphicumwasgiven，bothinGreekandLatin，toatripod；andbyaneasyanalogy，thesameappellationwasextendedatRome，Constantinople，andCarthage，totheroyalbanquettingroom，Procopius，Vandal。l。i。c。21。
Ducange，Gloss，Graec。p。277。，adAlexiad。p。412。]
[Footnote*:Andafewothers。ProcopiusstatesinhisworkDeEdiSciis。l。vi。voli。p。5。—M]
Thatunfortunatemonarch，afterthelossofhiscapital，appliedhimselftocollecttheremainsofanarmyscattered，ratherthandestroyed，bytheprecedingbattle；andthehopesofpillageattractedsomeMoorishbandstothestandardofGelimer。
HeencampedinthefieldsofBulla，fourdays\'journeyfromCarthage；insultedthecapital，whichhedeprivedoftheuseofanaqueduct；proposedahighrewardfortheheadofeveryRoman；
affectedtosparethepersonsandpropertyofhisAfricansubjects，andsecretlynegotiatedwiththeAriansectariesandtheconfederateHuns。Underthesecircumstances，theconquestofSardiniaservedonlytoaggravatehisdistress:hereflected，withthedeepestanguish，thathehadwasted，inthatuselessenterprise，fivethousandofhisbravesttroops；andheread，withgriefandshame，thevictoriouslettersofhisbrotherZano，whoexpressedasanguineconfidencethattheking，aftertheexampleoftheirancestors，hadalreadychastisedtherashnessoftheRomaninvader。\"Alas!mybrother，\"repliedGelimer，\"Heavenhasdeclaredagainstourunhappynation。WhileyouhavesubduedSardinia，wehavelostAfrica。NosoonerdidBelisariusappearwithahandfulofsoldiers，thancourageandprosperitydesertedthecauseoftheVandals。YournephewGibamund，yourbrotherAmmatas，havebeenbetrayedtodeathbythecowardiceoftheirfollowers。Ourhorses，ourships，Carthageitself，andallAfrica，areinthepoweroftheenemy。YettheVandalsstillpreferanignominiousrepose，attheexpenseoftheirwivesandchildren，theirwealthandliberty。Nothingnowremains，exceptthefieldsofBulla，andthehopeofyourvalor。AbandonSardinia；flytoourrelief；restoreourempire，orperishbyourside。\"Onthereceiptofthisepistle，ZanoimpartedhisgrieftotheprincipalVandals；buttheintelligencewasprudentlyconcealedfromthenativesoftheisland。ThetroopsembarkedinonehundredandtwentygalleysattheportofCaghari，castanchorthethirddayontheconfinesofMauritania，andhastilypursuedtheirmarchtojointheroyalstandardinthecampofBulla。Mournfulwastheinterview:thetwobrothersembraced；
theyweptinsilence；noquestionswereaskedoftheSardinianvictory；noinquiriesweremadeoftheAfricanmisfortunes:theysawbeforetheireyesthewholeextentoftheircalamities；andtheabsenceoftheirwivesandchildrenaffordedamelancholyproofthateitherdeathorcaptivityhadbeentheirlot。ThelanguidspiritoftheVandalswasatlengthawakenedandunitedbytheentreatiesoftheirking，theexampleofZano，andtheinstantdangerwhichthreatenedtheirmonarchyandreligion。Themilitarystrengthofthenationadvancedtobattle；andsuchwastherapidincrease，thatbeforetheirarmyreachedTricameron，abouttwentymilesfromCarthage，theymightboast，perhapswithsomeexaggeration，thattheysurpassed，inatenfoldproportion，thediminutivepowersoftheRomans。ButthesepowerswereunderthecommandofBelisarius；and，ashewasconsciousoftheirsuperiormerit，hepermittedtheBarbarianstosurprisehimatanunseasonablehour。TheRomanswereinstantlyunderarms；arivuletcoveredtheirfront；thecavalryformedthefirstline，whichBelisariussupportedinthecentre，attheheadoffivehundredguards；theinfantry，atsomedistance，waspostedinthesecondline；andthevigilanceofthegeneralwatchedtheseparatestationandambiguousfaithoftheMassagetae，whosecretlyreservedtheiraidfortheconquerors。Thehistorianhasinserted，andthereadermayeasilysupply，thespeeches^21
ofthecommanders，who，byargumentsthemostappositetotheirsituation，inculcatedtheimportanceofvictory，andthecontemptoflife。Zano，withthetroopswhichhadfollowedhimtotheconquestofSardinia，wasplacedinthecentre；andthethroneofGensericmighthavestood，ifthemultitudeofVandalshadimitatedtheirintrepidresolution。Castingawaytheirlancesandmissileweapons，theydrewtheirswords，andexpectedthecharge:
theRomancavalrythricepassedtherivulet；theywerethricerepulsed；andtheconflictwasfirmlymaintained，tillZanofell，andthestandardofBelisariuswasdisplayed。Gelimerretreatedtohiscamp；theHunsjoinedthepursuit；andthevictorsdespoiledthebodiesoftheslain。YetnomorethanfiftyRomans，andeighthundredVandalswerefoundonthefieldofbattle；soinconsiderablewasthecarnageofaday，whichextinguishedanation，andtransferredtheempireofAfrica。IntheeveningBelisariusledhisinfantrytotheattackofthecamp；andthepusillanimousflightofGelimerexposedthevanityofhisrecentdeclarations，thattothevanquished，deathwasarelief，lifeaburden，andinfamytheonlyobjectofterror。Hisdeparturewassecret；butassoonastheVandalsdiscoveredthattheirkinghaddesertedthem，theyhastilydispersed，anxiousonlyfortheirpersonalsafety，andcarelessofeveryobjectthatisdearorvaluabletomankind。TheRomansenteredthecampwithoutresistance；andthewildestscenesofdisorderwereveiledinthedarknessandconfusionofthenight。EveryBarbarianwhomettheirswordswasinhumanlymassacred；theirwidowsanddaughters，asrichheirs，orbeautifulconcubines，wereembracedbythelicentioussoldiers；andavariceitselfwasalmostsatiatedwiththetreasuresofgoldandsilver，theaccumulatedfruitsofconquestoreconomyinalongperiodofprosperityandpeace。Inthisfranticsearch，thetroops，evenofBelisarius，forgottheircautionandrespect。Intoxicatedwithlustandrapine，theyexplored，insmallparties，oralone，theadjacentfields，thewoods，therocks，andthecaverns，thatmightpossiblyconcealanydesirableprize:ladenwithbooty，theydesertedtheirranks，andwanderedwithoutaguide，onthehighroadtoCarthage；andiftheflyingenemieshaddaredtoreturn，veryfewoftheconquerorswouldhaveescaped。Deeplysensibleofthedisgraceanddanger，Belisariuspassedanapprehensivenightonthefieldofvictory:atthedawnofday，heplantedhisstandardonahill，recalledhisguardiansandveterans，andgraduallyrestoredthemodestyandobedienceofthecamp。ItwasequallytheconcernoftheRomangeneraltosubduethehostile，andtosavetheprostrate，Barbarian；andthesuppliantVandals，whocouldbefoundonlyinchurches，wereprotectedbyhisauthority，disarmed，andseparatelyconfined，thattheymightneitherdisturbthepublicpeace，norbecomethevictimsofpopularrevenge。AfterdespatchingalightdetachmenttotreadthefootstepsofGelimer，headvanced，withhiswholearmy，abouttendays\'march，asfarasHippoRegius，whichnolongerpossessedtherelicsofSt。Augustin。^22Theseason，andthecertainintelligencethattheVandalhadfledtoaninaccessiblecountryoftheMoors，determinedBelisariustorelinquishthevainpursuit，andtofixhiswinterquartersatCarthage。Fromthencehedespatchedhisprincipallieutenant，toinformtheemperor，thatinthespaceofthreemonthshehadachievedtheconquestofAfrica。
[Footnote*:Gibbonhadforgottenthatthebearerofthe\"victoriouslettersofhisbrother\"hadsailedintotheportofCarthage；andthatthelettershadfallenintothehandsoftheRomans。Proc。Vandal。l。i。c。23。—M。]
[Footnote21:Theseorationsalwaysexpressthesenseofthetimes，andsometimesoftheactors。Ihavecondensedthatsense，andthrownawaydeclamation。]
[Footnote22:TherelicsofSt。AugustinwerecarriedbytheAfricanbishopstotheirSardinianexile，A。D。500；anditwasbelieved，intheviiithcentury，thatLiutprand，kingoftheLombards，transportedthemA。D。721fromSardiniatoPavia。Intheyear1695，theAugustanfriarsofthatcityfoundabrickarch，marblecoffin，silvercase，silkwrapper，bones，blood，&c。，andperhapsaninscriptionofAgostinoinGothicletters。
Butthisusefuldiscoveryhasbeendisputedbyreasonandjealousy，Baronius，Annal。A。D。725，No。2—9。Tillemont，Mem。
Eccles。tom。xiii。p。944。Montfaucon，DiariumItal。p。26—30。
Muratori，Antiq。Ital。MediiAevi，tom。v。dissert。lviii。p。9，whohadcomposedaseparatetreatisebeforethedecreeofthebishopofPavia，andPopeBenedictXIII。]
Belisariusspokethelanguageoftruth。ThesurvivingVandalsyielded，withoutresistance，theirarmsandtheirfreedom；theneighborhoodofCarthagesubmittedtohispresence；
andthemoredistantprovincesweresuccessivelysubduedbythereportofhisvictory。Tripoliwasconfirmedinhervoluntaryallegiance；SardiniaandCorsicasurrenderedtoanofficer，whocarried，insteadofasword，theheadofthevaliantZano；andtheIslesofMajorca，Minorca，andYvicaconsentedtoremainanhumbleappendageoftheAfricankingdom。Caesarea，aroyalcity，whichinloosergeographymaybeconfoundedwiththemodernAlgiers，wassituatethirtydays\'marchtothewestwardofCarthage:byland，theroadwasinfestedbytheMoors；buttheseawasopen，andtheRomanswerenowmastersofthesea。AnactiveanddiscreettribunesailedasfarastheStraits，whereheoccupiedSeptemorCeuta，^23whichrisesoppositetoGibraltarontheAfricancoast；thatremoteplacewasafterwardsadornedandfortifiedbyJustinian；andheseemstohaveindulgedthevainambitionofextendinghisempiretothecolumnsofHercules。HereceivedthemessengersofvictoryatthetimewhenhewaspreparingtopublishthePandectsoftheRomanlaws；andthedevoutorjealousemperorcelebratedthedivinegoodness，andconfessed，insilence，themeritofhissuccessfulgeneral。^24
ImpatienttoabolishthetemporalandspiritualtyrannyoftheVandals，heproceeded，withoutdelay，tothefullestablishmentoftheCatholicchurch。Herjurisdiction，wealth，andimmunites，perhapsthemostessentialpartofepiscopalreligion，wererestoredandamplifiedwithaliberalhand；theArianworshipwassuppressed；theDonatistmeetingswereproscribed；^25andthesynodofCarthage，bythevoiceoftwohundredandseventeenbishops，^26applaudedthejustmeasureofpiousretaliation。Onsuchanoccasion，itmaynotbepresumed，thatmanyorthodoxprelateswereabsent；butthecomparativesmallnessoftheirnumber，whichinancientcouncilshadbeentwiceoreventhricemultiplied，mostclearlyindicatesthedecaybothofthechurchandstate。WhileJustinianapprovedhimselfthedefenderofthefaith，heentertainedanambitioushope，thathisvictoriouslieutenantwouldspeedilyenlargethenarrowlimitsofhisdominiontothespacewhichtheyoccupiedbeforetheinvasionoftheMoorsandVandals；andBelisariuswasinstructedtoestablishfivedukesorcommandersintheconvenientstationsofTripoli，Leptis，Cirta，Caesarea，andSardinia，andtocomputethemilitaryforceofpalatinesorborderersthatmightbesufficientforthedefenceofAfrica。ThekingdomoftheVandalswasnotunworthyofthepresenceofaPraetorianpraefect；andfourconsulars，threepresidents，wereappointedtoadministerthesevenprovincesunderhisciviljurisdiction。Thenumberoftheirsubordinateofficers，clerks，messengers，orassistants，wasminutelyexpressed；threehundredandninety—sixforthepraefecthimself，fiftyforeachofhisvicegerents；andtherigiddefinitionoftheirfeesandsalarieswasmoreeffectualtoconfirmtherightthantopreventtheabuse。Thesemagistratesmightbeoppressive，buttheywerenotidle；andthesubtilequestionsofjusticeandrevenuewereinfinitelypropagatedunderthenewgovernment，whichprofessedtorevivethefreedomandequityoftheRomanrepublic。TheconquerorwassolicitoustoextractapromptandplentifulsupplyfromhisAfricansubjects；
andheallowedthemtoclaim，eveninthethirddegree，andfromthecollateralline，thehousesandlandsofwhichtheirfamilieshadbeenunjustlydespoiledbytheVandals。AfterthedepartureofBelisarius，whoactedbyahighandspecialcommission，noordinaryprovisionwasmadeforamaster—generaloftheforces；
buttheofficeofPraetorianpraefectwasintrustedtoasoldier；
thecivilandmilitarypowerswereunited，accordingtothepracticeofJustinian，inthechiefgovernor；andtherepresentativeoftheemperorinAfrica，aswellasinItaly，wassoondistinguishedbytheappellationofExarch。^27
[Footnote23:TheexpressionofProcopiusdeEdific。l。vi。c。
7。Ceuta，whichhasbeendefacedbythePortuguese，flourishedinnoblesandpalaces，inagricultureandmanufactures，underthemoreprosperousreignoftheArabs，l\'AfriquedeMarmai，tom。
ii。p。236。]
[Footnote24:SeethesecondandthirdpreamblestotheDigest，orPandects，promulgatedA。D。533，December16。TothetitlesofVandalicusandAfricanus，Justinian，orratherBelisarius，hadacquiredajustclaim；Gothicuswaspremature，andFrancicusfalse，andoffensivetoagreatnation。]
[Footnote25:SeetheoriginalactsinBaronius，A。D。535，No。
21—54。Theemperorapplaudshisownclemencytotheheretics，cumsufficiateisvivere。]
[Footnote26:DupinGeograph。SacraAfricana，p。lix。adOptat。
Milav。observesandbewailsthisepiscopaldecay。Inthemoreprosperousageofthechurch，hehadnoticed690bishoprics；buthoweverminutewerethedioceses，itisnotprobablethattheyallexistedatthesametime。]
[Footnote27:TheAfricanlawsofJustinianareillustratedbyhisGermanbiographer，Cod。l。i。tit。27。Novell。36，37，131。
Vit。Justinian，p。349—377。]
YettheconquestofAfricawasimperfecttillherformersovereignwasdelivered，eitheraliveordead，intothehandsoftheRomans。Doubtfuloftheevent，GelimerhadgivensecretordersthatapartofhistreasureshouldbetransportedtoSpain，wherehehopedtofindasecurerefugeatthecourtofthekingoftheVisigoths。Buttheseintentionsweredisappointedbyaccident，treachery，andtheindefatigablepursuitofhisenemies，whointerceptedhisflightfromthesea—shore，andchasedtheunfortunatemonarch，withsomefaithfulfollowers，totheinaccessiblemountainofPapua，^28intheinlandcountryofNumidia。HewasimmediatelybesiegedbyPharas，anofficerwhosetruthandsobrietywerethemoreapplauded，assuchqualitiescouldseldombefoundamongtheHeruli，themostcorruptoftheBarbariantribes。TohisvigilanceBelisariushadintrustedthisimportantchargeand，afteraboldattempttoscalethemountain，inwhichhelostahundredandtensoldiers，Pharasexpected，duringawintersiege，theoperationofdistressandfamineonthemindoftheVandalking。Fromthesoftesthabitsofpleasure，fromtheunboundedcommandofindustryandwealth，hewasreducedtosharethepovertyoftheMoors，^29supportableonlytothemselvesbytheirignoranceofahappiercondition。Intheirrudehovels，ofmudandhurdles，whichconfinedthesmokeandexcludedthelight，theypromiscuouslysleptontheground，perhapsonasheep—skin，withtheirwives，theirchildren，andtheircattle。Sordidandscantyweretheirgarments；theuseofbreadandwinewasunknown；andtheiroatenorbarleycakes，imperfectlybakedintheashes，weredevouredalmostinacrudestate，bythehungrysavages。ThehealthofGelimermusthavesunkunderthesestrangeandunwontedhardships，fromwhatsoevercausetheyhadbeenendured；buthisactualmiserywasimbitteredbytherecollectionofpastgreatness，thedailyinsolenceofhisprotectors，andthejustapprehension，thatthelightandvenalMoorsmightbetemptedtobetraytherightsofhospitality。TheknowledgeofhissituationdictatedthehumaneandfriendlyepistleofPharas。\"Likeyourself，\"saidthechiefoftheHeruli，\"IamanilliterateBarbarian，butIspeakthelanguageofplainsenseandanhonestheart。Whywillyoupersistinhopelessobstinacy?Whywillyouruinyourself，yourfamily，andnation?Theloveoffreedomandabhorrenceofslavery?Alas!mydearestGelimer，areyounotalreadytheworstofslaves，theslaveofthevilenationoftheMoors?WoulditnotbepreferabletosustainatConstantinoplealifeofpovertyandservitude，ratherthantoreigntheundoubtedmonarchofthemountainofPapua?DoyouthinkitadisgracetobethesubjectofJustinian?Belisariusishissubject；andweourselves，whosebirthisnotinferiortoyourown，arenotashamedofourobediencetotheRomanemperor。Thatgenerousprincewillgrantyouarichinheritanceoflands，aplaceinthesenate，andthedignityofpatrician:sucharehisgraciousintentions，andyoumaydependwithfullassuranceonthewordofBelisarius。SolongasHeavenhascondemnedustosuffer，patienceisavirtue；