XV

And when they came near the shore, the general bade them furl the sails, throw out anchors from the ships, and make a halt; and calling together all the commanders to his own ship, he opened a discussion with regard to the disembarkation.  Thereupon many speeches were made inclining to either side, and Archelaus came forward and spoke as follows: 

“I admire, indeed, the virtue of our general, who, while surpassing all by far in judgment and possessing the greatest wealth of experience, and at the same time holding the power alone, has proposed an open discussion and bids each one of us speak, so that we shall be able to choose whichever course seems best, though it is possible for him to decide alone on what is needful and at his leisure to put it into execution as he wishes.  But as for you, my fellow officers—­I do not know how I am to say it easily—­one might wonder that each one did not hasten to be the first to oppose the disembarkation.  And yet I understand that the making of suggestions to those who are entering upon a perilous course brings no personal advantage to him who offers the advice, but as a general thing results in bringing blame upon him.  For when things go well for men, they attribute their success to their own judgment or to fortune, but when they fail, they blame only the one who has advised them.  Nevertheless I shall speak out.  For it is not right for those who deliberate about safety to shrink from blame.  You are purposing to disembark on the enemy’s land, fellow-officers; but in what harbour are you planning to place the ships in safety?  Or in what city’s wall will you find security for yourselves?  Have you not then heard that this promontory—­I mean from Carthage to Iouce—­extends, they say, for a journey of nine days, altogether without harbours and lying open to the wind from whatever quarter it may blow?  And not a single walled town is left in all Libya except Carthage, thanks to the decision of Gizeric.[48] And one might add that in this place, they say, water is entirely lacking.  Come now, if you wish, let us suppose that some adversity befall us, and with this in view make the decision.  For that those who enter into contests of arms should expect no difficulty is not in keeping with human experience nor with the nature of things.  If, then, after we have disembarked upon the mainland, a storm should fall upon us, will it not be necessary that one of two things befall the ships, either that they flee away as far as possible, or perish upon this promontory?  Secondly, what means will there be of supplying us with necessities?  Let no one look to me as the officer charged with the maintenance of the army.  For every official, when deprived of the means of administering his office, is of necessity reduced to the name and character of a private person.  And where shall we deposit our superfluous arms or any other part of our necessaries when we are compelled