On the same day the overseer of the public post deserted, handing over all the government horses.  And they captured also one of those who are occasionally sent to bear the royal responses, whom they call “veredarii"[49]; and the general did him no harm but presented him with much gold and, receiving pledges from him, put into his hand the letter which the Emperor Justinian had written to the Vandals, that he might give it to the magistrates of the Vandals.  And the writing was as follows:  “Neither have we decided to make war upon the Vandals, nor are we breaking the treaty of Gizeric, but we are attempting to dethrone your tyrant, who, making light of the testament of Gizeric, has imprisoned your king and is keeping him in custody, and those of his relatives whom he hated exceedingly he put to death at the first, and the rest, after robbing them of their sight, he keeps under guard, not allowing them to terminate their misfortunes by death.  Do you, therefore, join forces with us and help us in freeing yourselves from so wicked a tyranny, in order that you may be able to enjoy both peace and freedom.  For we give you pledges in the name of God that these things will come to you by our hand.”  Such was the message of the emperor’s letter.  But the man who received this from Belisarius did not dare to publish it openly, and though he shewed it secretly to his friends, he accomplished nothing whatever of consequence.

XVII

And Belisarius, having arrayed his army as for battle in the following manner, began the march to Carthage.  He chose out three hundred of his guards, men who were able warriors, and handed them over to John, who was in charge of the expenditures of the general’s household; such a person the Romans call “optio."[50] And he was an Armenian by birth, a man gifted with discretion and courage in the highest degree.  This John, then, he commanded to go ahead of the army, at a distance of not less than twenty stades, and if he should see anything of the enemy, to report it with all speed, so that they might not be compelled to enter into battle unprepared.  And the allied Massagetae he commanded to travel constantly on the left of the army, keeping as many stades away or more; and he himself marched in the rear with the best troops.  For he suspected that it would not be long before Gelimer, following them from Hermione, would make an attack upon them.  And these precautions were sufficient, for on the right side there was no fear, since they were travelling not far from the coast.  And he commanded the sailors to follow along with them always and not to separate themselves far from the army, but when the wind was favouring to lower the great sails, and follow with the small sails, which they call “dolones,"[51] and when the wind dropped altogether to keep the ships under way as well as they could by rowing.