The history of the warres of the Emperour Justinian in eight books : of the Persian, II, Vandall, II, Gothicke, IV / written in Greek by Procopivs of Caesarea ; and Englished by Henry Holcroft, Knight.

CHAP. II.

THe next day Gelimer placed the Vandals wives and children, and all their wealth, in the midst of the Trench, though unfortified; and calling them to∣gether, spake thus.

We strive not now, dear Countrymen! about loss of ho∣nor, or Empire; as if by cowardly abandoning these, we might live quietly at home, and hold our estates. Fortune hath turn'd us now to this point, either to con∣quer our enemies, or to leave them masters of our wives, and children, Coun∣try, and all our wealth; and the only advantage of our escaping will be to be slaves, and beholders of these things. But if we vanquish we shall live in prosperity, and after an honorable death, leave our Families happy, and pre∣serve the Vandals name and Empire. If ever men fought a battel for all they have, and for the hopes of all men, we are they. Our fear and danger now, is not to die; but not to vanquish our enemies: which failing, only death is good for us. Let none of you therefore faint, but couragiously abandon his person; affecting death rather, then the base miseries of a defe••t. He that is ashamed to be base, fears no dangers. Think not upon the former fight, where∣in not our cowardise, but some cross fortune tript us; whose stream holds not always the same course, but changes every day. In valour we presume to have the advantage; and in numbers we exceed our enemies by ten times as many men. Then have we many, and great provocations to valour. The glory of our ancestors, ashamed of our degenerating and the Empire they left us, pro∣testing to forsake us, if unworthy. Then to see the howlings of these women, and these weeping children, even stops my speech, with the extream grief: so that I will only say this: That these our dearest pledges we shall never more see, if we vanquish not our enemies. Consider it, and be valiant, and do not deface the glory of Gens••rich.

Having thus said, he commanded his brother Tzazon particularly to animate his soldiers, that came from Sardinia; who assembling them some space from the camp,

spake thus. 'Fellow soldiers! The generality of Vandals are to combat for what you have heard from the King: but you are moreover to strive with your own selves. Lately fighting for dominion, and to recover the Island, you o∣vercame. Now you hazard in the greatest things you have, and must use your greatest courage. Who fight for dominion, and are vanquished, are not ruined in the main: But fighting for all, their lives depend upon the conclusion of the battel. And if you be valiant to day, the deposition of Godas will clearly ap∣pear an effect of your valour; but if now you faint, you will lose the reputa∣tion also of that action. And we have the advantage over the rest; terrified with their former defeat; we being unvanquisht, and fighting with a courage untainted. Then will the greatest part of the garland of victory be yours, you will be called the Preservers of the Vandal Nation: for by winning in com∣pany of men formerly unfortunate, you will appropriate to your selves the bet∣ter fortune. Upon these considerations you may do well to stint the howling of your women and children, and calling God to your assistance, to march boldly against the enemy in the head of your Countrymen.

Gelimer and Tzazon, after these exhortations, drew them out; and about noon came on (the Romans being preparing their dinners) and stood in order up∣on the banks of the brook there. On the other bank the Romans put also in or∣der thus; The left wing Martinus, Valerianus, John, Cyprian, Althias, and Mar∣cellus had, and the other Commanders of Confederates: The right wing Pap∣pus, Barbatus, and Aigan, and the Captains of the Legionary horse. In the midst stood John, with the Generals Lanciers, and Ensigne; and thither in the due season came Belisarius himself, leaving the foot behind, marching fair and softly. The Hunns who used before not to mingle their ranks with the Roman Army, then stood aloof, with the intention I have said. The Vandals order was,

to distribute each wing among the Colonels of thousands, every one leading his proper Regiment: And in the middle stood Tzazon; and in the rear the Moors. Gelimer himself rode about from place to place, to encourage his soldi∣ers: Whom he warned in this fight, not to use Javelins, nor any weapons but their swords. It was long ere they began. Then John, by Belisarius his direction, with a few chosen men, passed the brook, and charged those in the middle; where Tzazon repulsed him back towards the main Army, pursuing him to the brooks side, but not going over. Again John drawing out more Targetiers of Belisari∣us, rode against Tzazon; and being again repulsed, retired. He renewed the charge the third time, with almost all Belisarius his Targetiers and Lanciers, and the Generals Ensigne, shouting and clashing their arms. The Barbarians valiant∣ly received them, using their swords only; and the fight grew stiff, where many Vandals, and of the best, were slain, and Tzazon himself. Then came on the whole Roman Cavalry, and passing the brook, charged the enemy. And the defeat, begin∣ning in the middle, appeared clearly; each one routing their opposites with ease. Which the Massagetes perceiving, according to their resolution they followed the execution with the Roman Army, which lasted not long; the Vandals recovering their Camp; and the Romans not holding themselves able to fight with them in their entrenchment, stript such dead bodies as had any gold upon them, and retired to their Camp. In this fight were slain of Romans 50. and of Vandals 800. But Belisarius about the evening (his foot being come up) marcht with his whole Ar∣my to the Vandals Camp. Gelimer seeing Belisarius with his foot, and all marching, without one word speaking, or giving any direction, leapt on horseback and fled the way into Numidia; his kinsmen, and some few houshold servants following him, amazed, and concealing what it was for. Some time the Vandals knew not of Gelimers flight; but when they found it, and saw the enemy, the men were in a tumult; the women howled, the children cryed; none sought to save their goods, nor regarded the lamentations of their dearest friends; But every man in confusion ran away. The Romans took the Camp, with all the wealth in it, and destitute of men: And following the chase all night, killed the men they over∣took, and made slaves of the women and children. They found in the Camp so great a mass of wealth, as was never together in a place. For the Vandals had long ransackt the Roman Provinces, and brought much wealth into Africk; which being also good land, and most plentifull of all commodities; the reve∣nues in mony were not spent in other Countrys, but put up by the owners for the space of 95 years,* 1.1 in which the Vandals had the dominion of Africk. From whence their wealth now grown into a great bulk, was that day restored to the Romans. This overthrow, and taking the Vandals Camp, happened three months after the coming of the Roman Army to Carthage, in the middle of December.

Notes

• * 1.1

  An. Dom. 533. Just. 70.