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Archelaus said this much. 3.15.18 But Belisarius spoke as follows: "Let no one of you, my fellow-commanders, suppose that my words are to be a final judgment, nor that because they are spoken last, it is therefore necessary for all to follow them, whatever they may be. 3.15.19 For I have heard what seems best to each of you. And it is fitting for me also to bring forth into the midst what I know 3.15.20 and so with you to choose the better course. But it is worthwhile to remind you of this, that a short time ago the soldiers were openly saying that they feared the dangers on the sea and that they would turn to flight if an enemy ship should come against them, while we were asking God to shew us the land of Libya and a peaceful landing upon it. 3.15.21 Since these things are so, I think it is the part of foolish men to pray to receive the better things from God, but when they have been given, 3.15.22 to cast them aside and to go in the opposite direction. And if an enemy fleet should meet us as we are sailing straight for Carthage, for the soldiers who flee with all their might it will be left for them not to be blamed; for a fault that has been foretold carries its own defence; but for us, even if we are saved, there is no forgiveness. 3.15.23 And though there are many difficulties, if we remain in the ships, that one thing alone, I think, will be spoken of sufficiently, with which they chiefly deem it right to frighten us, 3.15.24 brandishing the winter storm. For if some storm should fall upon us, it is necessary for the ships, as they say, that one of two things happen: either to escape somewhere far from Libya, or to be destroyed on this very shore. 3.15.25 What then, in the present circumstances, will be more advantageous for us to have chosen? For the ships alone to be destroyed, or for the whole enterprise to be lost, men and all? And apart from this, as it is, by falling upon the enemy unprepared we shall, as is likely, come off as we wish; for the affairs of war 3.15.26 are by nature mastered by the unexpected; but a little later, when the enemy are already prepared, the contest will be for us on equal terms. 3.15.27 And one might add that perhaps we shall even have to fight for the landing itself, and to seek for those things which, though now available to us, are brought up for deliberation as if they were not essential. 3.15.28 And if a storm should then come upon us while we are fighting, as often happens at sea, struggling against both the waves and the Vandals, 3.15.29 we shall come to know our good counsel too late. I for my part say that we must disembark on the mainland at this very moment, landing the horses and arms and whatever else we think necessary for our need, and quickly dig a trench and throw a palisade around it, which can contribute to our safety no less than any wall one might mention, and setting out from there, carry on the war, if anyone should attack. 3.15.30 And nothing of the necessary provisions will fail us if we prove ourselves brave men. For it falls to those who conquer their enemies to be masters of what belongs to them, and victory, embracing all possessions, is wont to deposit them wherever it inclines. So both your safety and an abundance of good things lie in your hands." 3.15.31 When Belisarius had said these things, the whole council both agreed and approved, and having been dismissed, they made the landing as quickly as possible, about three months after 3.15.32 their departure from Byzantium had occurred. And the general, pointing out a certain place on the shore, ordered both the soldiers and the sailors to dig the trench 3.15.33 and to throw up the palisade. And they did accordingly. And since a great multitude was working, and fear was stirring up their eagerness, and the general was urging them on, on that very day the trench was dug and the palisade was completed and the stakes had been fixed in place in a circle on all sides. 3.15.34 There indeed a very wonderful thing happened to those who were digging the trench. The earth sent forth a great quantity of water, a thing which had not happened before in Byzacium, especially since the place was waterless. 3.15.35 This water indeed sufficed for every need for the men and for the other animals. And rejoicing with the general

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Ἀρχέλαος μὲν τοσαῦτα εἶπε. 3.15.18 Βελισάριος δὲ ἔλεξεν ὧδε «Μηδεὶς ὑμῶν, ὦ ξυνάρ»χοντες, ἐπιγνώμονος εἶναι τοὺς λόγους οἰέσθω, μηδὲ «διὰ τοῦτο ἐν ὑστάτῳ εἰρῆσθαι, ὥστε αὐτοῖς ἕπεσθαι, «ὁποῖοι ποτ' ἂν ὦσιν, ἀναγκαῖον ἅπασι γίγνεσθαι. 3.15.19 «ὅσα μὲν γὰρ ὑμῶν ἑκάστῳ δοκεῖ ἄριστα εἶναι ἀκήκοα. «προσήκει δὲ καὶ ἐμὲ ὅσα γινώσκω ἐς μέσον ἐξενεγκόντα 3.15.20 «οὕτω σὺν ὑμῖν ἑλέσθαι τὰ κρείσσω. ἐκεῖνο δὲ «ὑπομνῆσαι ὑμᾶς ἄξιον, ὡς ὀλίγῳ πρότερον οἱ μὲν «στρατιῶται δεδιέναι τε τοὺς ἐν τῇ θαλάσσῃ κινδύνους «ἄντικρυς ἔλεγον καὶ ὡς ἐς φυγὴν τρέψονται, ἢν ναῦς «πολεμία ἐπ' αὐτοὺς ἴοι, ἡμεῖς δὲ τὸν θεὸν ᾐτοῦμεν «γῆν τὴν Λιβύης καὶ τὴν ἐς ταύτην ἀπόβασιν εἰρη3.15.21 «ναίαν ἡμῖν ἐπιδεῖξαι. τούτων δὲ τοιούτων ὄντων, «ἀξυνέτων ἀνδρῶν ἡγοῦμαι εἶναι εὔχεσθαι μὲν παρὰ «τοῦ θεοῦ λαβεῖν τὰ βελτίονα, δεδομένων δὲ αὐτῶν 3.15.22 «ἀποσείεσθαί τε καὶ ἀπ' ἐναντίας ἰέναι. ἢν δὲ καὶ «πλέουσιν ἡμῖν εὐθὺ Καρχηδόνος στόλος ἀπαντήσῃ «πολέμιος, τοῖς μὲν στρατιώταις κατὰ κράτος φεύγουσι «τὸ μὴ μεμπτοῖς εἶναι λελείψεται· ἁμάρτημα γὰρ προρρη»θὲν τὴν ἀπολογίαν ἐφ' ἑαυτοῦ φέρει· ἡμῖν δὲ καὶ 3.15.23 «διασωθεῖσιν οὐδεμία συγγνώμη. πολλῶν δὲ ὄντων, «ἢν ἐν ταῖς ναυσὶ μένωμεν, δυσχερῶν, ἐκεῖνο μόνον «ἱκανῶς, οἶμαι, λελέξεται, ᾧ μάλιστα δεδίττεσθαι ἡμᾶς 3.15.24 «ἀξιοῦσι, τὸν χειμῶνα ἐπανασείοντες. ἢν γάρ τις «ἐπιπέσοι χειμὼν, ἀνάγκη ταῖς ναυσὶν, ὥσπερ φασὶ, «δυοῖν ξυμβῆναι τὸ ἕτερον, ἢ πόρρω που τῆς Λιβύης «διαφυγεῖν, ἢ ἐπὶ τῆς ἀκτῆς διαφθαρῆναι ταύτης. 3.15.25 «τί τοίνυν ὡς ἐκ τῶν παρόντων ἑλομένοις ἡμῖν μᾶλλον «ξυνοίσει; μόνας διεφθάρθαι τὰς ναῦς, ἢ αὐτοῖς ἀν»δράσιν ἅπαντα ἀπολωλέναι τὰ πράγματα; χωρὶς δὲ «τούτων νῦν μὲν ἀπαρασκεύοις ἐπιπεσόντες τοῖς πολε»μίοις κατὰ νοῦν, ὡς τὸ εἰκὸς, ἀπαλλάξομεν· τὰ γὰρ 3.15.26 «πολέμια τῷ ἀπροσδοκήτῳ δουλοῦσθαι πέφυκε· μικρὸν «δὲ ὕστερον ἤδη τῶν πολεμίων ἐν παρασκευῇ γεγονό»των ἐξ ἀντιπάλου ἡμῖν τῆς δυνάμεως ὁ ἀγὼν ἔσται. 3.15.27 «προσθείη δὲ ἄν τις ὡς καὶ ὑπὲρ αὐτῆς ἴσως ἀγωνιεῖ»σθαι δεήσει τῆς ἀποβάσεως, ἐκεῖνά τε ζητεῖν, ἃ νῦν «παρόντα ἡμῖν ὡς οὐκ ἀναγκαῖα ἐς βουλὴν ἔρχεται. 3.15.28 «ἢν δὲ καὶ χειμὼν τηνικαῦτα ἀγωνιζομένοις ἡμῖν ἐπι»γένηται, ὡς τὰ πολλὰ ἐν θαλάσσῃ φιλεῖ γίνεσθαι, «πρός τε τὰ κύματα καὶ τοὺς Βανδίλους διαμαχόμενοι 3.15.29 «μεταμαθεῖν τὴν εὐβουλίαν εἰσόμεθα. φημὶ δὴ ἔγωγε «χρῆναι ἀποβῆναι μὲν ἡμᾶς ἐς τὴν ἤπειρον αὐτίκα δὴ «μάλα, ἵππους τε ἀποβιβάζοντας καὶ ὅπλα καὶ εἴ τι «ἄλλο ἐς τὴν χρείαν ἡμῖν ἀναγκαῖον εἶναι οἰόμεθα, «τάφρον δὲ κατὰ τάχος ὀρύξαι καὶ χαράκωμα περιβα»λεῖν οὐδέν τι ἧσσον ὅτου τις ἂν εἴποι τείχους εἰς «ἀσφάλειαν ἡμῖν συντελέσαι δυνάμενον, ἐκεῖθεν δὲ «ὁρμωμένους τὸν πόλεμον, ἤν τις ἐπίοι, διενεγκεῖν. 3.15.30 «ἐπιλείψει δὲ ἡμᾶς ἄνδρας ἀγαθοὺς γινομένους τῶν «ἐπιτηδείων οὐδέν. τοῖς γὰρ κρατοῦσι τῶν πολεμίων «τὸ κυρίοις εἶναι τῶν ἐκείνοις προσηκόντων ξυμβαίνει, «καὶ ἡ νίκη πάντα περιβαλομένη τὰ χρήματα, ἔνθα «ἂν κλίνῃ, κατατίθεσθαι πέφυκεν. ὥστε ὑμῖν ἥ τε «σωτηρία καὶ ἡ τῶν ἀγαθῶν περιουσία ἐν ταῖς χερσὶ «κεῖται.» 3.15.31 Ταῦτα Βελισαρίου εἰπόντος ξυνέφασάν τε καὶ ἀπεδέξαντο ἅπας ὁ ξύλλογος καὶ διαλυθέντες ὡς τάχιστα τὴν ἀπόβασιν ἐποιήσαντο τρισὶ μάλιστα μησὶν ὕστερον 3.15.32 ἢ αὐτοῖς ἐκ Βυζαντίου ὁ ἀπόπλους ἐγένετο. καὶ δείξας τι χωρίον ἐπὶ τῆς ἠιόνος ὁ στρατηγὸς τοῖς τε στρατιώταις καὶ ναύταις ἐκέλευε τήν τε τάφρον ὀρύσ3.15.33 σειν καὶ τὸ χαράκωμα περιβάλλεσθαι. οἱ δὲ κατὰ ταῦτα ἐποίουν. ἅτε δὲ ὄχλου πολλοῦ ἐργαζομένου καὶ τοῦ φόβου τὴν προθυμίαν ἐγείροντος καὶ τοῦ στρατηγοῦ ἐγκελευομένου, αὐτῇ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἥ τε τάφρος ὀρώρυκτο καὶ τὸ χαράκωμα ξυντετέλεστο καὶ οἱ σκόλοπες κύκλῳ 3.15.34 πανταχόθεν ξυνεπεπήχατο. ἔνθα δὴ καί τι τοῖς τὴν τάφρον ὀρύσσουσι τετύχηκε θαυμάσιον ἡλίκον. ὕδατος πολύ τι χρῆμα ἡ γῆ ἀνῆκεν, οὐ γεγονὸς τοῦτο ἐν Βυζακίῳ πρότερον, ἄλλως τε καὶ τοῦ χωρίου ἀνύδρου 3.15.35 ὄντος. τοῦτο δὴ τὸ ὕδωρ ἐς πᾶσαν χρείαν τοῖς ἀνθρώποις καὶ τοῖς ἄλλοις ζῴοις ἐπήρκεσε. καὶ συνηδόμενος τῷ στρατηγῷ