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[303]
And now Titus pitched his camp within the city, at that place which
was called "the Camp of the Assyrians," having seized upon all
that lay as far as Cedron, but took care to be out of the reach of the
Jews' darts. He then presently began his attacks, upon which the Jews divided
themselves into several bodies, and courageously defended that wall; while
John and his faction did it from the tower of Antonia, and from the northern
cloister of the temple, and fought the Romans before the monuments of king
Alexander; and Sireoh's army also took for their share the spot of ground
that was near John's monument, and fortified it as far as to that gate
where water was brought in to the tower Hippicus. However, the Jews made
violent sallies, and that frequently also, and in bodies together out of
the gates, and there fought the Romans; and when they were pursued all
together to the wall, they were beaten in those fights, as wanting the
skill of the Romans. But when they fought them from the walls, they were
too hard for them; the Romans being encouraged by their power, joined to
their skill, as were the Jews by their boldness, which was nourished by
the fear they were in, and that hardiness which is natural to our nation
under calamities; they were also encouraged still by the hope of deliverance,
as were the Romans by their hopes of subduing them in a little time. Nor
did either side grow weary; but attacks and rightings upon the wall, and
perpetual sallies out in bodies, were there all the day long; nor were
there any sort of warlike engagements that were not then put in use. And
the night itself had much ado to part them, when they began to fight in
the morning; nay, the night itself was passed without sleep on both sides,
and was more uneasy than the day to them, while the one was afraid lest
the wall should be taken, and the other lest the Jews should make sallies
upon their camps; both sides also lay in their armor during the night time,
and thereby were ready at the first appearance of light to go to the battle.
Now among the Jews the ambition was who should undergo the first dangers,
and thereby gratify their commanders. Above all, they had a great veneration
and dread of Simon; and to that degree was he regarded by every one of
those that were under him, that at his command they were very ready to
kill themselves with their own hands. What made the Romans so courageous
was their usual custom of conquering and disuse of being defeated, their
constant wars, and perpetual warlike exercises, and the grandeur of their
dominion; and what was now their chief encouragement -Titus who was present
every where with them all; for it appeared a terrible thing to grow weary
while Caesar was there, and fought bravely as well as they did, and was
himself at once an eye-witness of such as behaved themselves valiantly,
and he who was to reward them also. It was, besides, esteemed an advantage
at present to have any one's valor known by Caesar; on which account many
of them appeared to have more alacrity than strength to answer it. And
now, as the Jews were about this time standing in array before the wall,
and that in a strong body, and while both parties were throwing their darts
at each other, Longinus, one of the equestrian order, leaped out of the
army of the Romans, and leaped into the very midst of the army of the Jews;
and as they dispersed themselves upon the attack, he slew two of their
men of the greatest courage; one of them he struck in his mouth as he was
coming to meet him, the other was slain by him by that very dart which
he drew out of the body of the other, with which he ran this man through
his side as he was running away from him; and when he had done this, he
first of all ran out of the midst of his enemies to his own side. So this
man signalized himself for his valor, and many there were who were ambitious
of gaining the like reputation. And now the Jews were unconcerned at what
they suffered themselves from the Romans, and were only solicitous about
what mischief they could do them; and death itself seemed a small matter
to them, if at the same time they could but kill any one of their enemies.
But Titus took care to secure his own soldiers from harm, as well as to
have them overcome their enemies. He also said that inconsiderate violence
was madness, and that this alone was the true courage that was joined with
good conduct. He therefore commanded his men to take care, when they fought
their enemies, that they received no harm from them at the same time, and
thereby show themselves to be truly valiant men.
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