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第14章

the life of flavius josephus-第14章

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they could seize upon。 When this was done; the people of
Tiberinas thought that their city was taken by force; and so
threw down their arms for fear; and implored; they; their wives;
and children; that I would spare their city。 So I was
over…persuaded by their entreaties; and restrained the soldiers
from the vehemency with which they pursued them; while I myself;
upon the coming on of the evening; returned back with my
soldiers; and went to refresh myself。 I also invited Simon to sup
with me; and comforted him on occasion of what had happened; and
I promised that I would send him safe and secure to Jerusalem;
and withal would give him provisions for his journey thither。

64。 But on the next day; I brought ten thousand armed men with
me; and came to Tiberias。 I then sent for the principal men of
the multitude into the public place; and enjoined them to tell me
who were the authors of the revolt; and when they told me who the
men were; I sent them bound to the city Jotapata。 But as to
Jonathan and Ananias; I freed them from their bonds; and gave
them provisions for their journey; together with Simon and
Joazar; and five hundred armed men who should guard them; and so
I sent them to Jerusalem。 The people of Tiberias also came to me
again; and desired that I would forgive them for what they had
done; and they said they would amend what they had done amiss
with regard to me; by their fidelity for the time to come; and
they besought me to preserve what spoils remained upon the
plunder of the city; for those that had lost them。 Accordingly; I
enjoined those that had got them; to bring them all before us;
and when they did not comply for a great while; and I saw one of
the soldiers that were about me with a garment on that was more
splendid than ordinary; I asked him whence he had it; and when he
replied that he had it out of the plunder of the city; I had him
punished with stripes; and I threatened all the rest to inflict a
severer punishment upon them; unless they produced before us
whatsoever they had plundered; and when a great many spoils were
brought together; I restored to every one of Tiberias what they
claimed to be their own。

65。 And now I am come to this part of my narration; I have a mind
to say a few things to Justus; who hath himself written a history
concerning these affairs; as also to others who profess to write
history; but have little regard to truth; and are not afraid;
either out of ill…will or good…will to some persons; to relate
falsehoods。 These men do like those who compose forged deeds and
conveyances; and because they are not brought to the like
punishment with them; they have no regard to truth。 When;
therefore; Justus undertook to write about these facts; and about
the Jewish war; that he might appear to have been an industrious
man; he falsified in what he related about me; and could not
speak truth even about his own country; whence it is that; being
belied by him; I am under a necessity to make my defense; and so
I shall say what I have concealed till now。 And let no one wonder
that I have not told the world these things a great while ago。
For although it be necessary for an historian to write the truth;
yet is such a one not bound severely to animadvert on the
wickedness of certain men; not out of any favor to them; but out
of an author's own moderation。 How then comes it to pass; O
Justus! thou most sagacious of writers; (that I may address
myself to him as if he were here present;) for so thou boastest
of thyself; that I and the Galileans have been the authors of
that sedition which thy country engaged in; both against the
Romans and against the king 'Agrippa; junior' For before ever I
was appointed governor of Galilee by the community of Jerusalem;
both thou and all the people of Tiberias had not only taken up
arms; but had made war with Decapolis of Syria。 Accordingly; thou
hadst ordered their villages to be burnt; and a domestic servant
of thine fell in the battle。 Nor is it I only who say this; but
so it is written in the Commentaries of Vespasian; the emperor;
as also how the inhabitants of Decapolis came clamoring to
Vespasian at Ptolemais; and desired that thou; who wast the
author 'of that war'; mightest be brought to punishment。 And thou
hadst certainly been punished at the command of Vespasian; had
not king Agrippa; who had power given him to have thee put to
death; at the earnest entreaty of his sister Bernice; changed the
punishment from death into a long imprisonment。 Thy political
administration of affairs afterward doth also clearly discover
both thy other behavior in life; and that thou wast the occasion
of thy country's revolt from the Romans; plain signs of which I
shall produce presently。 I have also a mind to say a few things
to the rest of the people of Tiberias on thy account; and to
demonstrate to those that light upon this history; that you bare
no good…will; neither to the Romans; nor to the king。 To be sure;
the greatest cities of Galilee; O Justus! were Sepphoris; and thy
country Tiberias。 But Sepphoris; situated in the very midst of
Galilee; and having many villages about it; and able with ease to
have been bold and troublesome to the Romans; if they had so
pleased; yet did it resolve to continue faithful to those their
masters; and at the same time excluded me out of their city; and
prohibited all their citizens from joining with the Jews in the
war; and; that they might be out of danger from me; they; by a
wile; got leave of me to fortify their city with walls: they
also; of their own accord; admitted of a garrison of Roman
legions; sent them by Cestlus Gallus; who was then president of
Syria; and so had me in contempt; though I was then very
powerful; and all were greatly afraid of me; and at the same time
that the greatest of our cities; Jerusalem; was besieged; and
that temple of ours; which belonged to us all; was in danger of
falling under the enemy's power; they sent no assistance thither;
as not willing to have it thought they would bear arms against
the Romans。 But as for thy country; O Justus: situated upon the
lake of Gennesareth; and distance from Hippos thirty furlongs;
from Gadara sixty; and from Scythopolis; which was under the
king's jurisdiction; a hundred and twenty; when there was no
Jewish city near; it might easily have preserved its fidelity 'to
the Romans;' if it had so pleased them to do; for the city and
its people had plenty of weapons。 But; as thou sayest; I was then
the author 'of their revolts'。 And pray; O Justus! who was that
author afterwards? For thou knowest that I was in the power of
the Romans before Jerusalem was besieged; and before the same
time Jotapata was taker by force; as well as many other
fortresses; and a great many of the Galileans fell in the war。 It
was therefore then a proper time; when you were certainly freed
from any fear on my account; to throw away your weapons; and to
demonstrate to the king and to the Romans; that it was not of
choice; but as forced by necessity; that you fell into the war
against them; but you staid till Vespasian came himself as far as
your walls; with his whole army; and then you did indeed lay
aside your weapons out of fear; and your city had for certain
been taken by force; unless Vespasian had complied with the
king's supplication for you; and had excused your madness。 It was
not I; therefore; who was the author of this; but your own
inclinations to war。 Do not you remember how often I got you
under my power; and yet put none of you to death? Nay; you once
fell into a tumult one against another; and slew one hundred and
eighty…five of your citizens; not on account of your good…will to
the king and to the Romans; but on account of your own
wickedness; and this while I was besieged by the Romans in
Jotapata。 Nay; indeed; were there not reckoned up two thousand of
the people of Tiberias during the siege of Jerusalem; some of
whom were slain; and the rest caught and carried captives? But
thou wilt pretend that thou didst not engage in the war; since
thou didst flee to the king。 Yes; indeed; thou didst flee to him;
but I say it was out of fear of me。 Thou sayest; indeed; that

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