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But Belisarius, when his servant came into his sight and told him the whole story, became overjoyed and, having praised Procopius greatly, ordered the signal for sailing to be given 3.14.16 with the trumpets. And hoisting the sails with speed, they put in at the islands of Gaulus and Melita, which separate the Adriatic and the Tyrrhenian Sea. 3.14.17 There indeed a very strong blast of the East Wind fell upon them on the next day and carried the ships to the coast of Libya to a place, which the Romans call in their own language Head of the Rock. For the place is called Caputvada, distant from Carthage a five days' journey for an unencumbered man. 3.15.1 And when they came near the shore, the general ordered them to lower the sails and, casting anchors from the ships, to lie at anchor, and summoning all the commanders to his own ship 3.15.2 he laid before them the question of the disembarkation. There indeed many other speeches were made arguing for both sides, and Archelaus came forward and spoke as follows: "I admire the virtue of our general, who, while surpassing all by far in judgment and possessing the greatest experience, and though having the power himself, has laid the question before the council, and bids each one of us to speak, so that we may be able to choose whatever course seems best, when it is possible for him both to decide alone what is needful 3.15.3 and to lead according to his authority as he might wish. But as for you, O commanders, (I know not how I might speak lightly), one might wonder that each man has not been the first himself 3.15.4 to hasten to speak against the disembarkation. And yet I know that to propose something to those who are entering into danger brings no personal benefit to the one who advised it, but for the most part results in blame. 3.15.5 For men, when things go well, attribute their actions to their own judgment or fortune, but when they have failed 3.15.6 they blame only the one who advised them. But nevertheless it shall be said. For it is not right for those who are deliberating about their safety to shrink from blame. 3.15.7 You are deliberating about disembarking into enemy territory, O commanders; with what harbour in mind to entrust the ships? Or with the wall of what city 3.15.8 to have security for yourselves? Or have you not heard that this coast, for a nine days' journey, I mean from Carthage to Iouke, as they say, extends, being altogether without harbours and exposed to the winds 3.15.9 from whatever quarter they might blow? And no wall has been left in all Libya except that of Carthage, 3.15.10 this being by the design of Gizeric. And one might add that they say this place is altogether lacking in water. For come, if you please, let us also make our determination by supposing some of the adverse possibilities. 3.15.11 For for those entering into conflicts to expect nothing difficult is neither human nor worthy of the nature of things. 3.15.12 If, then, after we have disembarked upon the mainland a storm should fall upon us, is it not necessary for one of two things to happen to the ships, either to escape as far away as possible, or to be lost on this 3.15.13 coast? Then what source of supplies will there be for us? Let no one look to me, the prefect in charge of the expenditure. For any magistracy, deprived of its means of service, is necessarily reduced to the name and 3.15.14 person of a private citizen. And where, having deposited our spare arms or any other of our necessaries, will it be necessary for us to receive the advancing barbarian? But 3.15.15 it is not good even to say how these things will turn out. I think that we ought to go straight to Carthage. For they say there is a harbour not more than forty stades distant from it, which they call Stagnum, being entirely unguarded and naturally adequate for the whole fleet. And setting out from there, 3.15.16 it will not be difficult for us to carry on the war. And I for my part think it likely that we will take Carthage by a sudden assault, especially since the enemy have been left far from it, and that once we have taken it, nothing troublesome will remain for the future. 3.15.17 For all human affairs, when the chief points have been captured, are accustomed to collapse before long. Considering all these things, it is fitting for us to choose what is best."

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Βελισάριος δὲ, ἐπεί οἱ ὅ τε οἰκέτης ἐς ὄψιν ἦλθε καὶ τὸν πάντα λόγον ἔφρασε, περιχαρὴς γενόμενος καὶ Προκόπιον πολλὰ ἐπαινέσας, ἐκέλευσε σημῆναι 3.14.16 τὸν ἀπόπλουν ταῖς σάλπιγξιν. ἀράμενοί τε κατὰ τάχος τὰ ἱστία, Γαύλῳ τε καὶ Μελίτῃ ταῖς νήσοις προσέσχον, αἳ τό τε Ἀδριατικὸν καὶ Τυρρηνικὸν πέλαγος διορί3.14.17 ζουσιν. ἔνθα δὴ αὐτοῖς Εὔρου πολύ τι πνεῦμα ἐπιπεσὸν τῇ ὑστεραίᾳ τὰς ναῦς ἐς τὴν Λιβύης ἀκτὴν ἤνεγκεν ἐς χωρίον, ὃ δὴ Κεφαλὴν Βράχους τῇ σφετέρᾳ γλώσσῃ καλοῦσι Ῥωμαῖοι. Καπούτβαδα γὰρ ὁ τόπος προσαγορεύεται, πέντε ἡμερῶν ὁδὸν εὐζώνῳ ἀνδρὶ Καρχηδόνος διέχων. 3.15.1 Ἐπεὶ δὲ τῆς ἠιόνος ἀγχοῦ ἐγένοντο, τά τε ἱστία κατατίθεσθαι ὁ στρατηγὸς ἐκέλευε καὶ ἀγκύρας ἀπὸ τῶν νεῶν ἀπορριψαμένους ἀνακωχεύειν, τούς τε ἄρχοντας συγκαλέσας ἐς τὴν αὑτοῦ ναῦν ξύμπαντας 3.15.2 βουλὴν ὑπὲρ τῆς ἀποβάσεως προὔθηκεν. ἔνθα δὴ ἄλλοι τε λόγοι πολλοὶ ἐλέχθησαν ἐφ' ἑκάτερα φέροντες καὶ παρελθὼν Ἀρχέλαος ἔλεξε τοιάδε «Τοῦ μὲν στρα»τηγοῦ τὴν ἀρετὴν ἄγαμαι, ὃς καὶ γνώμῃ παρὰ πολὺ «νικῶν ξύμπαντας καὶ τῆς ἐμπειρίας ἐπὶ πλεῖστον «ἥκων, ἔχων τε τὸ κράτος αὐτὸς, ἐς μέσον μὲν τὴν «βουλὴν προὔθηκε, κελεύει δὲ λέγειν ἡμῶν ἕκαστον, «ὥστε ὅπη ἂν ἄριστα ἔχειν δοκῇ ἑλέσθαι ἡμῖν δυνα»τοῖς εἶναι, παρὸν αὐτῷ γνῶναί τε μόνῳ τὰ δέοντα 3.15.3 «καὶ κατ' ἐξουσίαν ἐξηγεῖσθαι ᾗ βούλοιτο. ὑμῶν δὲ, «ὦ ἄνδρες ἄρχοντες, (οὐκ οἶδα ὅπως ἂν εἴποιμι εὐπε»τῶς), θαυμάσειεν ἄν τις ὅτι μὴ πρῶτος αὐτὸς ἕκα3.15.4 «στος πρὸς τὴν ἀπόβασιν ἀπειπεῖν ἔσπευσε. καίτοι «ἐπίσταμαι ὡς τὸ εἰσηγεῖσθαί τι τοῖς ἐς κίνδυνον «καθισταμένοις ὄνησιν μὲν τῷ παραινέσαντι οὐδεμίαν «ἰδίᾳ φέρει, ἐς αἰτίαν δὲ ὡς τὰ πολλὰ περιίσταται. 3.15.5 «οἱ γὰρ ἄνθρωποι καλῶς μὲν φερόμενοι εἰς τὴν ἰδίαν «γνώμην ἢ τύχην ἀναφέρουσι τὰ πρασσόμενα, σφαλέν3.15.6 «τες δὲ τὸν παραινέσαντα αἰτιῶνται μόνον. εἰρήσεται «δὲ ὅμως. αἰτίαν γὰρ ὑποστείλασθαι τοὺς περὶ σω3.15.7 «τηρίας βουλευομένους οὐχ ὅσιον. βουλεύεσθε ἐς τὴν «πολεμίαν ἀποβαίνειν, ἄνδρες ἄρχοντες· τίνι λιμένι «παρακαταθέσθαι τὰς ναῦς ἐννοοῦντες; ἢ τίνος πόλεως 3.15.8 «τείχει τὸ ἐχυρὸν ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν αὐτῶν ἕξοντες; ἢ οὐκ «ἀκηκόατε ὡς ταύτην μὲν τὴν ἀκτὴν ἐννέα ἡμερῶν «ὁδὸν, λέγω δὲ εἰς Ἰούκην ἐκ Καρχηδόνος, κατατείνειν «φασὶν, ἀλίμενόν τε παντελῶς οὖσαν καὶ τοῖς ἀνέμοις 3.15.9 «ὅθεν ἂν ἐπιπνεύσαιεν ἐκκειμένην; τεῖχος δὲ οὐδὲν «ἐς πᾶσαν Λιβύην ὅτι μὴ τὸ Καρχηδόνος ἀπολέλειπται, 3.15.10 «τοῦτο Γιζερίχου βουλεύσαντος. προσθείη δὲ ἄν τις «ὡς καὶ τούτῳ τῷ χωρίῳ ὕδωρ τὸ παράπαν ἐνδεῖν «λέγουσι. φέρε γὰρ, εἰ δοκεῖ, καί τι τῶν ἐναντίων 3.15.11 «ὑποθέμενοι τὴν διάγνωσιν ποιησώμεθα. τοὺς γὰρ «ἐς ἀγῶνας καθισταμένους μηδὲν προσδοκᾶν δύσκολον «οὔτε ἀνθρώπινον οὔτε τῆς τῶν πραγμάτων φύσεως 3.15.12 «ἄξιον. ἢν οὖν ἀποβεβηκότων ἡμῶν εἰς τὴν ἤπειρον «χειμὼν ἐπιπέσοι, οὐκ ἀνάγκη δυοῖν θάτερον ταῖς «ναυσὶ ξυμβῆναι, ἢ ὡς ἀπωτάτω διαφυγεῖν, ἢ ἐπὶ τῆς 3.15.13 «ἀκτῆς ἀπολωλέναι ταύτης; εἶτα τίς ἡμῖν τῶν ἀναγκαίων «γενήσεται πόρος; μηδεὶς ἐς ἐμὲ βλεπέτω τὸν τῆς δα»πάνης χορηγὸν ἔπαρχον. ἀρχὴν γὰρ πᾶσαν τῆς «ὑπουργίας ἐστερημένην ἐπάναγκες ἐς ὄνομά τε καὶ 3.15.14 «πρόσωπον ἰδιώτου ἀποκεκρίσθαι. ποῦ δὲ ἡμῖν τῶν «ὅπλων τὰ περιττὰ καταθεμένοις ἢ ἄλλο τι τῶν ἀναγ»καίων δέχεσθαι δεήσει προσιόντα τὸν βάρβαρον; ἀλλὰ 3.15.15 «ταῦτα μὲν οὐδὲ λέγειν καλὸν ὅπη ἐκβήσεται. ἐγὼ «δὲ ἡγοῦμαι χρῆναι ἡμᾶς εὐθὺ Καρχηδόνος ἰέναι. «λιμένα γὰρ οὐ πλεῖον ἢ τεσσαράκοντα σταδίους αὐτῆς «διέχοντα εἶναί φασιν, ὃν δὴ Στάγνον καλοῦσιν, ἀφύ»λακτόν τε παντάπασιν ὄντα καὶ πρὸς τὸν ἅπαντα «στόλον ἱκανῶς πεφυκότα. ὅθεν δὴ ὁρμωμένοις ἡμῖν 3.15.16 «τὸν πόλεμον διενεγκεῖν οὐ χαλεπὸν ἔσται. οἶμαι δὲ «ἔγωγε ὡς Καρχηδόνος τε ἡμᾶς ἐξ ἐπιδρομῆς κρατή»σειν εἰκὸς, ἄλλως τε καὶ μακρὰν αὐτῆς ἀπολελειμμέ»νων τῶν πολεμίων, καὶ κρατήσασιν οὐδὲν τοῦ λοιποῦ 3.15.17 «μοχθηρὸν ἔσεσθαι. τὰ γὰρ ἀνθρώπεια πάντα κατει»λημμένων τῶν κεφαλαίων καταρρεῖν οὐκ ἐς μακρὰν «εἴωθεν. ὧν δὴ πάντων ἡμᾶς ἐνθυμουμένους τὰ «βέλτιστα αἱρεῖσθαι προσήκει.»