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they spent four days, 3.12.8 the following incident occurred. Two Massagetae, since they were drunk, killed one of their comrades who was annoying them during a drinking bout. For of all men 3.12.9 the Massagetae are the greatest drinkers of unmixed wine. Belisarius, therefore, immediately impaled these two men on the hill which is near 3.12.10 Abydus. And when the others, and especially the relatives of the two men, were disgruntled and said that they had not come into the alliance to suffer punishment nor to be subject to the laws of the Romans (for their own customs, they said, did not exact such penalties for homicide), and Roman soldiers joined them in muttering this charge against the general, those, indeed, to whom it had become a concern that there should be no punishment for their wrongdoings, Belisarius, calling together both the Massagetae and the rest of the army, spoke 3.12.11 as follows: "If my words were now addressed to men for the first time "entering into war, it would have required a long "speech for me to persuade you how great a provision 3.12.12 "for the winning of victory is justice. For those who do not "understand the fortunes of such struggles think that the outcome of war lies in their hands alone. 3.12.13 "But you, who have often conquered enemies neither "inferior in physique nor by nature ill-suited for bravery, "and have often had experience of your adversaries, "are not ignorant, I think, that while men from "each army always fight, God acts as umpire "in whatever way seems good to him and bestows the "victory in the war. 3.12.14 "Since, therefore, this is so, it is fitting to consider the good condition of the "body and diligence with arms "and all other preparation for war as of less "importance than justice and the things pertaining to God. 3.12.15 "For that which is most able to benefit "those in need would more reasonably be honoured by them. 3.12.16 "And the first proof of justice would be "the punishment of those who have killed unjustly. For if it is necessary to judge and name both "the just and the unjust from "the actions always done to one's neighbours, "nothing would be more precious to a man than his life. 3.12.17 "But if some barbarian, because he killed his kinsman "while drunk, thinks justice should be lenient, through the very things "by which he says the charges should be dismissed he reasonably makes 3.12.18 "the crimes worse. For it is not right to get so drunk, "especially one serving in a military camp, as to readily kill "one's dearest friends; but drunkenness itself, even "if homicide does not result at all, is worthy of punishment, and "a wrong done to a kinsman would seem to those who have sense "to be a matter for greater punishment than a wrong done to strangers. 3.12.19 "Therefore, it is possible to see what the example and the outcome 3.12.20 "of these deeds is. But it "is fitting for you neither to begin unjust violence nor to take "anything that belongs to others; for I will not overlook it, nor "will I consider any of you my fellow soldier, even "if he seems very formidable to the enemy, who is not able "to use clean hands against his opponents. 3.12.21 "For bravery would not be victorious if not arrayed with 3.12.22 "justice." Belisarius said these things. But the whole army, when they had heard what was said and looked up at the two impaled men, were overcome by an irresistible fear and took it to mind to live temperately, since they would not be beyond great danger, if they were caught doing anything unlawful. 3.13.1 After this Belisarius considered how the entire fleet might always sail in the same course and put in at the same place. 3.13.2 For he knew that in a great fleet, especially if rough winds should fall upon them, it is inevitable that many of the ships are left behind and are scattered over the sea, and their pilots do not know which of the ships putting out ahead 3.13.3 it is better to follow. Therefore, having considered the matter, he did the following. Of the three ships on which he himself and his retinue sailed, he had the sails painted with red ochre from the upper corner for about a third of their length, and setting up poles erect on the stern of each, he hung lamps from them, so that both by day and by night the general's ships might be conspicuous; which indeed the

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ἡμέρας διατρίβουσι τέσσαρας 3.12.8 πρᾶγμα τοιόνδε ξυνενεχθῆναι. Μασσαγέται δύο τῶν τινα ἑταίρων ἐν τῇ ἀκρατοποσίᾳ ἐρεσχελοῦντα σφᾶς, ἅτε οἰνωμένω, ἀνειλέτην. πάντων γὰρ ἀνθρώπων 3.12.9 μάλιστά εἰσιν ἀκρατοπόται οἱ Μασσαγέται. Βελισάριος οὖν αὐτίκα τὼ ἄνδρε τούτω ἐν τῷ κολωνῷ, ὃς ἄγχι 3.12.10 Ἀβύδου ἐστὶν, ἀνεσκολόπισε. καὶ ἐπειδὴ οἵ τε ἄλλοι καὶ οἱ τοῖν ἀνδροῖν ξυγγενεῖς ἐδυσχέραινόν τε καὶ ἔφασκον οὐκ ἐπὶ τιμωρίᾳ οὐδ' ἐπὶ τῷ ὑπεύθυνοι εἶναι Ῥωμαίων νόμοις ἐς ξυμμαχίαν ἥκειν (τὰ γὰρ δὴ σφῶν νόμιμα οὐ τοιάσδε τῶν φόνων ποιεῖσθαι τὰς τίσεις), ξυνεθρύλλουν δὲ αὐτοῖς τὴν ἐς τὸν στρατηγὸν αἰτίαν καὶ στρατιῶται Ῥωμαῖοι, οἷς δὴ ἐπιμελὲς ἐγεγόνει τῶν ἁμαρτανομένων μὴ εἶναι δίκας, τούς τε Μασσαγέτας καὶ τὸ ἄλλο στράτευμα ξυγκαλέσας Βελισάριος ἔλεξε 3.12.11 τοιάδε «Εἰ μὲν πρὸς ἄνδρας νῦν πρῶτον εἰς πόλεμον «καθισταμένους οἱ λόγοι ἐγίνοντο, μακροῦ ἄν μοι «ἐδέησε λόγου λέξαντα πεῖσαι ὑμᾶς ἡλίκον ἐστὶν 3.12.12 «ἐφόδιον εἰς τροπαίου κτῆσιν τὸ δίκαιον. οἱ γὰρ οὐκ «ἐξεπιστάμενοι τὰς τῶν τοιούτων ἀγώνων τύχας ἐν «ταῖς χερσὶ μόναις οἴονται εἶναι τὸ τοῦ πολέμου πέρας. 3.12.13 «ὑμεῖς δὲ, οἳ πολλάκις μὲν νενικήκατε πολεμίους οὔτε «τοῖς σώμασιν ἐλασσουμένους καὶ πρὸς ἀνδρίαν ἱκανῶς «πεφυκότας, πολλάκις δὲ τῶν ἐναντίων ἐν πείρᾳ «γεγένησθε, οὐκ ἀγνοεῖτε, οἶμαι, ὡς μάχονται μὲν ἐξ «ἑκατέρας ἀεὶ στρατιᾶς ἄνθρωποι, βραβεύει δὲ ὁ θεὸς «ὅπως ποτὲ αὐτῷ δοκεῖ καὶ τὸ τοῦ πολέμου δίδωσι 3.12.14 «κράτος. ὅτε τοίνυν ταῦτα οὕτως ἔχει, τήν τε τοῦ «σώματος εὐεξίαν καὶ τὴν ἐν τοῖς ὅπλοις ἐπιμέλειαν «καὶ τὴν ἄλλην τοῦ πολέμου παρασκευὴν περὶ ἐλάσσο»νος προσήκει τοῦ τε δικαίου καὶ τῶν εἰς θεὸν ἡκόν3.12.15 «των ποιεῖσθαι. τὸ γὰρ μάλιστα ξυνενεγκεῖν τοῖς «δεομένοις δυνάμενον μᾶλλον ἂν εἰκότως πρὸς ἐκείνων 3.12.16 «τιμῷτο. πρῶτον δ' ἂν τοῦ δικαίου γένοιτο γνώρισμα «ἡ τῶν ἀδίκως ἀνῃρηκότων ποινή. εἰ γὰρ τό τε «δίκαιον καὶ τὸ ἄδικον κρίνειν τε καὶ ὀνομάζειν ἐκ «τῶν εἰς τοὺς πέλας ἀεὶ πρασσομένων ἐπάναγκες, «οὐδὲν ἂν γένοιτο μᾶλλον ἀνθρώπῳ τῆς ψυχῆς ἔντι3.12.17 «μον. εἰ δέ τις βάρβαρος, ὅτι τὸν ξυγγενῆ μεθύων «ἀνεῖλεν, ἀξιοῖ συγγνώμονα ἔχειν τὴν δίκην, δι' ὧν «ἀπολύεσθαι τὰς αἰτίας φησὶ χείρω εἰκότως εἶναι ποιεῖ 3.12.18 «τὰ ἐγκλήματα. οὔτε γὰρ οὕτω μεθύειν ἄξιον ἄλλως «τε καὶ τὸν ἐν στρατοπέδῳ βαδίζοντα, ὥστε ἀναιρεῖν «τοὺς φιλτάτους ἑτοίμως, ἀλλ' αὐτή γε ἡ μέθη, κἂν «ὁ φόνος ἥκιστα ἐπιγένηται, ποινῆς ἀξία, τό τε ξυγ»γενὲς ἀδικούμενον περὶ πλείονος ἂν τῶν οὐ προση»κόντων ἐς τιμωρίαν τοῖς γε νοῦν ἔχουσι φαίνοιτο. 3.12.19 «τὸ μὲν οὖν παράδειγμα καὶ ἡ τῶν πραττομένων ἀπό3.12.20 «βασις ὁποία ποτέ ἐστιν ὁρᾶν πάρεστιν. ὑμᾶς δὲ «προσήκει μήτε χειρῶν ἄρχειν ἀδίκων μήτε τι φέρε»σθαι τῶν ἀλλοτρίων· ὡς οὐ περιόψομαί γε οὐδὲ «ὑμῶν τινα συστρατιώτην ἐμὸν ἡγήσομαι εἶναι, κἂν «πάνυ φοβερὸς τοῖς πολεμίοις εἶναι δοκῇ ὃς ἂν μὴ «καθαραῖς ταῖς χερσὶν ἐς τοὺς ἀντιπάλους δύνηται 3.12.21 «χρῆσθαι. τὸ γὰρ ἀνδρεῖον οὐκ ἂν νικῴη μὴ μετὰ 3.12.22 «τοῦ δικαίου ταττόμενον.» Βελισάριος μὲν τοσαῦτα εἶπεν. ἡ δὲ στρατιὰ ξύμπασα, ἐπειδὴ τά τε λεγόμενα ἤκουσαν καὶ ἐς τὼ ἀνεσκολοπισμένω ἀνέβλεψαν, ἐς δέος τι ἀμήχανον ἦλθον καὶ σωφρόνως βιοτεύειν ἐν νῷ ἔλαβον, ὡς οὐκ ἔξω κινδύνου μεγάλου ἐσόμενοι, ἤν τι οὐκ ἔννομον ποιοῦντες ἁλοῖεν. 3.13.1 Μετὰ δὲ ταῦτα ἐφρόντιζε Βελισάριος ὅπως τε ὁ ξύμπας στόλος ἀεὶ κατὰ ταὐτὰ πλέοι καὶ ἐς χωρίον 3.13.2 ταὐτὸ προσορμίζοιτο. ᾔδει γὰρ ὡς ἐν μεγάλῳ στόλῳ, ἄλλως τε καὶ ἢν τραχεῖς σφίσιν ἄνεμοι ἐπιπέσοιεν, ἐπάναγκες ἀπολείπεσθαί τε τῶν νεῶν πολλὰς καὶ σκεδάννυσθαι ἐς τὸ πέλαγος, οὐκ εἰδέναι τε αὐτῶν τοὺς κυβερνήτας ὁποίαις ποτὲ τῶν ἔμπροσθεν ἀναγο3.13.3 μένων ἕπεσθαι ἄμεινον. λογισάμενος οὖν ἐποίει τάδε. τριῶν νεῶν, ἐν αἷς αὐτός τε καὶ ἡ θεραπεία ἔπλει, τὰ ἱστία ἐκ γωνίας τῆς ἄνω καὶ ἐς τριτημόριον μάλιστα ἔχρισε μίλτῳ, κοντούς τε ὀρθοὺς ἀναστήσας ἐν πρύμνῃ ἑκάστῃ ἀπεκρέμασεν ἀπ' αὐτῶν λύχνα, ὅπως ἔν τε ἡμέρᾳ καὶ νυκτὶ αἱ τοῦ στρατηγοῦ νῆες ἔκδηλοι εἶεν· αἷς δὴ ἕπεσθαι τοὺς