to receive the attack of the barbarians?  Nay, as for this, it is not well even to say how it will turn out.  But I think that we ought to make straight for Carthage.  For they say that there is a harbour called Stagnum not more than forty stades distant from that city, which is entirely unguarded and large enough for the whole fleet.  And if we make this the base of our operations, we shall carry on the war without difficulty.  And I, for my part, think it likely that we shall win Carthage by a sudden attack, especially since the enemy are far away from it, and that after we have won it we shall have no further trouble.  For it is a way with all men’s undertakings that when the chief point has been captured, they collapse after no long time.  It behoves us, therefore, to bear in mind all these things and to choose the best course.”  So spoke Archelaus.

And Belisarius spoke as follows:  “Let no one of you, fellow-officers, think that my words are those of censure, nor that they are spoken in the last place to the end that it may become necessary for all to follow them, of whatever sort they may be.  For I have heard what seems best to each one of you, and it is becoming that I too should lay before you what I think, and then with you should choose the better course.  But it is right to remind you of this fact, that the soldiers said openly a little earlier that they feared the dangers by sea and would turn to flight if a hostile ship should attack them, and we prayed God to shew us the land of Libya and allow us a peaceful disembarkation upon it.  And since this is so, I think it the part of foolish men first to pray to receive from God the more favourable fortune, then when this is given them, to reject it and go in the contrary direction.  And if we do sail straight for Carthage and a hostile fleet encounters us, the soldiers will remain without blame, if they flee with all their might—­for a delinquency announced beforehand carries with it its own defence—­but for us, even if we come through safely, there will be no forgiveness.  Now while there are many difficulties if we remain in the ships, it will be sufficient, I think, to mention only one thing,—­that by which especially they wish to frighten us when they hold over our heads the danger of a storm.  For if any storm should fall upon us, one of two things, they say, must necessarily befall the ships, either that they flee far from Libya or be destroyed upon this headland.  What then under the present circumstances will be more to our advantage to choose? to have the ships alone destroyed, or to have lost everything, men and all?  But apart from this, at the present time we shall fall upon the enemy unprepared, and in all probability shall fare as we desire; for in warfare it is the unexpected which is accustomed to govern the course of events.  But a little later, when the enemy have already made their preparation, the struggle we shall have will be one of strength evenly matched.