CHAP. XIII.
THe next day some soldiers went up into the Country, and stole their ripe fruits, whom the General severely chastised; and calling the Army together, spake thus.
To feed upon other mens goods by violence, is at all times wicked, because unjust; But now, setting the consideration of justice aside (though that were hard) it is so aboundantly inconvenient, that we must fear the danger: we are here put ashore with this only confidence, that the Africans being anci∣ently Romans, are unsure, and ill affected to the Vandals. From this I did hope for supply of necessaries, and to avoid mischief from the enemy. But now your intemperance hath changed all to the contrary. You have reconciled the Africans to the Vandals, and turn'd their hatred upon your selves, (for wrong'd men naturally hate them that do them the present violence;) and so you have for a little gain now sold your future safety, and plenty. By buying what you needed, you might have avoided the imputation of injustice, and made the ow∣ners your friends. Now you must have the war with Africans and Vandals too; nay with God himself; whose assistance no man can invoke, doing wrong. But give over this sharking, and quit your hands of a gain so full of hazard: The proper time now being, when sobriety must preserve us, and disorder will bring certain death▪ If you be carefull of these things, God will be propitious, the people of Africk well affected, and the Vandals easie to be dealt with.
After this speech, Belisarius sent Boraides, one of his life-guard, with some of his Targetiers, to Syllectus a sea-town in the way to Carthage, and a days jour∣ney from the Camp; whose Inhabitants, he heard, instead of their demolished walls, to have fortified each man his own house, to keep off the Moors, and so to have made a kind of Town wall. Boraides he instructed to attempt the Town, and taking it, to do no hurt, but with representing many conveniences, and how they come to set them at liberty, to get entrance for the Army. They about candles lighting getting near the Town, past the night in a deep bottom there; and the next morning overtaking some Peasants, they slipt into the Town with them, and possest it; then without tumult, called the Bishop, and principal of the Town; told them their Generals instructions, and immediately receiving the keys from them, sent the same to the General. The same day the Master of the Kings Posts revolted, and gave up all his horses. The General also took one of