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[138]
But now a multitude of Germans had surrounded the theater with their
swords drawn: all the spectators looked for nothing but death, and at every
one coming in a fear seized upon them, as if they were to be cut in pieces
immediately; and in great distress they were, as neither having courage
enough to go out of the theater, nor believing themselves safe from dangers
if they tarried there. And when the Germans came upon them, the cry was
so great, that the theater rang again with the entreaties of the spectators
to the soldiers, pleading that they were entirely ignorant of every thing
that related to such seditious contrivances, and that if there were any
sedition raised, they knew nothing of it; they therefore begged that they
would spare them, and not punish those that had not the least hand in such
bold crimes as belonged to other persons, while they neglected to search
after such as had really done whatsoever it be that hath been done. Thus
did these people appeal to God, and deplore their infelicity with shedding
of tears, and beating their faces, and said every thing that the most imminent
danger and the utmost concern for their lives could dictate to them. This
brake the fury of the soldiers, and made them repent of what they minded
to do to the spectators, which would have been the greatest instance of
cruelty. And so it appeared to even these savages, when they had once fixed
the heads of those that were slain with Asprenas upon the altar; at which
sight the spectators were sorely afflicted, both upon the consideration
of the dignity of the persons, and out of a commiseration of their sufferings;
nay, indeed, they were almost in as great disorder at the prospect of the
danger themselves were in, seeing it was still uncertain whether they should
entirely escape the like calamity. Whence it was that such as thoroughly
and justly hated Caius could yet no way enjoy the pleasure of his death,
because they were themselves in jeopardy of perishing together with him;
nor had they hitherto any firm assurance of surviving.
Flavius Josephus. The Works of Flavius Josephus. Translated by. William Whiston, A.M. Auburn and Buffalo. John E. Beardsley. 1895.
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