chap, xli] OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE 307 conquerors. The historian has inserted, and the reader may easily supply, the speeches' 29 of the commanders, who, by argu- ments the most apposite to their situation, inculcated the im- portance of victory and the contempt of life. Zano, with the troops which had followed him to the conquest of Sardinia, was placed in the centre ; and the throne of Genseric might have stood, if the multitude of Vandals had imitated their intrepid resolution. Casting away their lances and missile weapons, they drew their swords, and expected the charge ; the Roman cavalry thrice passed the rivulet ; they were thrice repulsed ; and the conflict was firmly maintained, till Zano fell, and the standard of Belisarius was displayed. Gelimer retreated to his camp ; the Huns joined the pursuit ; and the victors de- spoiled the bodies of the slain. Yet no more than fifty Romans and eight hundred Vandals were found on the field of battle ; so inconsiderable was the carnage of a day which ex- tinguished a nation and transferred the empire of Africa. In the evening Belisarius led his infantry to the attack of the camp; and the pusillanimous flight of Gelimer exposed the vanity of his recent declarations that, to the vanquished, death was a relief, life a burthen, and infamy the only object of terror. His departure was secret ; but, as soon as the Vandals discovered that their king had deserted them, they hastily dis- persed, anxious only for their personal safety, and careless of every object that is dear or valuable to mankind. The Romans entered the camp without resistance ; and the wildest scenes of disorder were veiled in the darkness and confusion of the night. Every Barbarian who met their swords was in- humanly massacred ; their widows and daughters, as rich heirs or beautiful concubines, were embraced by the licentious soldiers ; and avarice itself was almost satiated with the treasures of gold and silver, the accumulated fruits of conquest or economy in a long period of prosperity and peace. In this frantic search, the troops even of Belisarius forgot their caution and respect. Intoxicated with lust and rapine, they explored, in small parties, or alone, the adjacent fields, the woods, the rocks, and the caverns, that might possibly conceal any desir- able prize ; laden with booty, they deserted their ranks, and 29 These orations always express the sense of the times, and sometimes of the actors. I have condensed that sense, and thrown away declamation.
