thetradeofCarthagewasnotinterrupted；whileAfricachangedhermasterandhergovernment，theshopscontinuedopenandbusy；
andthesoldiers，aftersufficientguardshadbeenposted，modestlydepartedtothehouseswhichwereallottedfortheirreception。Belisariusfixedhisresidenceinthepalace；seatedhimselfonthethroneofGenseric；acceptedanddistributedtheBarbaricspoil；grantedtheirlivestothesuppliantVandals；andlaboredtorepairthedamagewhichthesuburbofMandraciumhadsustainedintheprecedingnight。Atsupperheentertainedhisprincipalofficerswiththeformandmagnificenceofaroyalbanquet。^20Thevictorwasrespectfullyservedbythecaptiveofficersofthehousehold；andinthemomentsoffestivity，whentheimpartialspectatorsapplaudedthefortuneandmeritofBelisarius，hisenviousflattererssecretlyshedtheirvenomoneverywordandgesturewhichmightalarmthesuspicionsofajealousmonarch。Onedaywasgiventothesepompousscenes，whichmaynotbedespisedasuseless，iftheyattractedthepopularveneration；buttheactivemindofBelisarius，whichintheprideofvictorycouldsupposeadefeat，hadalreadyresolvedthattheRomanempireinAfricashouldnotdependonthechanceofarms，orthefavorofthepeople。ThefortificationsofCarthagehadalonebeenexemptedfromthegeneralproscription；butinthereignofninety—fiveyearstheyweresufferedtodecaybythethoughtlessandindolentVandals。A
wiserconquerorrestored，withincredibledespatch，thewallsandditchesofthecity。Hisliberalityencouragedtheworkmen；thesoldiers，themariners，andthecitizens，viedwitheachotherinthesalutarylabor；andGelimer，whohadfearedtotrusthispersoninanopentown，beheldwithastonishmentanddespair，therisingstrengthofanimpregnablefortress。
[Footnote19:TheneighborhoodofCarthage，thesea，theland，andtherivers，arechangedalmostasmuchastheworksofman。
Theisthmus，orneckofthecity，isnowconfoundedwiththecontinent；theharborisadryplain；andthelake，orstagnum，nomorethanamorass，withsixorsevenfeetwaterinthemid—channel。SeeD\'Anville，GeographieAncienne，tom。iii。p。