the wars of the jews-第139章
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y They Made Thereto； And How That Reply Moved Titus's Indignation Against Them。 1。 And now the Romans； upon the flight of the seditious into the city； and upon the burning of the holy house itself； and of all the buildings round about it； brought their ensigns to the temple （24） and set them over against its eastern gate； and there did they offer sacrifices to them； and there did they make Titus imperator （25） with the greatest acclamations of joy。 And now all the soldiers had such vast quantities of the spoils which they had gotten by plunder； that in Syria a pound weight of gold was sold for half its former value。 But as for those priests that kept themselves still upon the wall of the holy house；（26） there was a boy that； out of the thirst he was in； desired some of the Roman guards to give him their right hands as a security for his life； and confessed he was very thirsty。 These guards commiserated his age； and the distress he was in； and gave him their right hands accordingly。 So he came down himself； and drank some water； and filled the vessel he had with him when he came to them with water； and then went off； and fled away to his own friends； nor could any of those guards overtake him； but still they reproached him for his perfidiousness。 To which he made this answer： 〃I have not broken the agreement； for the security I had given me was not in order to my staying with you； but only in order to my coming down safely； and taking up some water； both which things I have performed； and thereupon think myself to have been faithful to my engagement。〃 Hereupon those whom the child had imposed upon admired at his cunning； and that on account of his age。 On the fifth day afterward； the priests that were pined with the famine came down； and when they were brought to Titus by the guards； they begged for their lives； but he replied； that the time of pardon was over as to them； and that this very holy house； on whose account only they could justly hope to be preserved； was destroyed； and that it was agreeable to their office that priests should perish with the house itself to which they belonged。 So he ordered them to be put to death。 2。 But as for the tyrants themselves； and those that were with them； when they found that they were encompassed on every side； and； as it were； walled round； without any method of escaping； they desired to treat with Titus by word of mouth。 Accordingly； such was the kindness of his nature； and his desire of preserving the city from destruction； joined to the advice of his friends； who now thought the robbers were come to a temper； that he placed himself on the western side of the outer ＇court of the＇ temple； for there were gates on that side above the Xystus； and a bridge that connected the upper city to the temple。 This bridge it was that lay between the tyrants and Caesar； and parted them； while the multitude stood on each side； those of the Jewish nation about Sinran and John； with great hopes of pardon； and the Romans about Caesar； in great expectation how Titus would receive their supplication。 So Titus charged his soldiers to restrain their rage； and to let their darts alone； and appointed an interpreter between them； which was a sign that he was the conqueror； and first began the discourse； and said； 〃I hope you； sirs； are now satiated with the miseries of your country； who have not bad any just notions； either of our great power； or of your own great weakness； but have； like madmen； after a violent and inconsiderate manner； made such attempts； as have brought your people； your city； and your holy house to destruction。 You have been the men that have never left off rebelling since Pompey first conquered you； and have； since that time； made open war with the Romans。 Have you depended on your multitude； while a very small part of the Roman soldiery have been strong enough for you？ Have you relied on the fidelity of your confederates？ And what nations are there； out of the limits of our dominion； that would choose to assist the Jews before the Romans？ Are your bodies stronger than ours？ nay； you know that the ＇strong＇ Germans themselves are our servants。 Have you stronger walls than we have？ Pray； what greater obstacle is there than the wall of the ocean； with which the Britons are encompassed； and yet do adore the arms of the Romans。 Do you exceed us in courage of soul； and in the sagacity of your commanders？ Nay； indeed； you cannot but know that the very Carthaginians have been conquered by us。 It can therefore be nothing certainly but the kindness of us Romans which hath excited you against us； who； in the first place； have given you this land to possess； and； in the next place； have set over you kings of your own nation； and； in the third place； have preserved the laws of your forefathers to you； and have withal permitted you to live； either by yourselves； or among others； as it should please you： and； what is our chief favor of all we have given you leave to gather up that tribute which is paid to God （27） with such other gifts that are dedicated to him； nor have we called those that carried these donations to account； nor prohibited them； till at length you became richer than we ourselves； even when you were our enemies； and you made preparations for war against us with our own money； nay； after all； when you were in the enjoyment of all these advantages； you turned your too great plenty against those that gave it you； and； like merciless serpents； have thrown out your poison against those that treated you kindly。 I suppose； therefore； that you might despise the slothfulness of Nero； and； like limbs of the body that are broken or dislocated； you did then lie quiet； waiting for some other time； though still with a malicious intention； and have now showed your distemper to be greater than ever； and have extended your desires as far as your impudent and immense hopes would enable you to do it。 At this time my father came into this country； not with a design to punish you for what you had done under Cestius； but to admonish you； for had he come to overthrow your nation； he had run directly to your fountain…head； and had immediately laid this city waste； whereas he went and burnt Galilee and the neighboring parts； and thereby gave you time for repentance； which instance of humanity you took for an argument of his weakness； and nourished up your impudence by our mildness。 When Nero was gone out of the world； you did as the wickedest wretches would have done； and encouraged yourselves to act against us by our civil dissensions； and abused that time； when both I and my father were gone away to Egypt； to make preparations for this war。 Nor were you ashamed to raise disturbances against us when we were made emperors； and this while you had experienced how mild we had been； when we were no more than generals of the army。 But when the government was devolved upon us； and all other people did thereupon lie quiet； and even foreign nations sent embassies； and congratulated our access to the government； then did you Jews show yourselves to be our enemies。 You sent embassies to those of your nation that are beyond Euphrates to assist you in your raising disturbances； new walls were built by you round your city； seditions arose； and one tyrant contended against another； and a civil war broke out among you； such indeed as became none but so wicked a people as you are。 I then came to this city； as unwillingly sent by my father； and received melancholy injunctions from him。 When I heard that the people were disposed to peace； I rejoiced at it； I exhorted you to leave off these proceedings before I began this war； I spared you even when you had fought against me a great while； I gave my right hand as security to the deserters； I observed what I had promised faithfully。 When they fled to me； I had compassion on many of those that I had taken captive； I tortured those that were eager for war； in order to restrain them。 It was unwillingly that I brought my engines of war against your walls； I always prohibited my soldiers； when they were set upon your slaughter； from their severity against you。 After every victory I persuaded you to peace； as though I had been myself conquered。 When I came near your temple； I again dep
