按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
enemy。 Now it was a horseman who brought the letter； a man at
other times bold； and one that had served in the army under the
king。 It was the second hour of the night that he came； when I
was feasting with my friends； and the principal of the Galileans。
This man； upon my servant's telling me that a certain horseman of
the Jewish nation was come； was called in at my command； but did
not so much as salute me at all； but held out a letter； and said；
〃This letter is sent thee by those that are come from Jerusalem；
do thou write an answer to it quickly； for I am obliged to return
to them very soon。 Now my guests could not but wonder at the
boldness of the soldier。 But I desired him to sit down and sup
with us； but when he refused so to do； I held the letter in my
hands as I received it； and fell a talking with my guests about
other matters。 But a few hours afterwards； I got up； and when I
had dismissed the rest to go to their beds； I bid only four of my
intimate friends to stay； and ordered my servant to get some wine
ready。 I also opened the letter so； that nobody could perceive
it； and understanding thereby presently the purport？of the
writing； I sealed it up again； and appeared as if I had not yet
read it； but only held it in my hands。 I ordered twenty drachmae
should be given the soldier for the charges of his journey； and
when he took the money； and said that he thanked me for it； I
perceived that he loved money； and that he was to be caught
chiefly by that means； and I said to him；〃 If thou wilt but drink
with us； thou shalt have a drachma for every glass thou
drinkest。〃 So he gladly embraced this proposal； and drank a great
deal of wine； in order to get the more money； and was so drunk；
that at last he could not keep the secrets he was intrusted with；
but discovered them without my putting questions to him； viz。
That a treacherous design was contrived against me； and that I
was doomed to die by those that sent him。 When I heard this； I
wrote back this answer： 〃Josephus to Jonathan； and those that are
with him； sendeth greeting。 Upon the information that you are
come in health into Galilee； I rejoice； and this especially
because I can now resign the care of public affairs here into
your hands； and return into my native country； which is what I
have desired to do a great while； and I confess I ought not only
to come to you as far as Xaloth； but farther； and this without
your commands。 But I desire you to excuse me； because I cannot do
it now； since I watch the motions of Placidus； who hath a mind to
go up into Galilee； and this I do here at Chabolo。 Do you
therefore； on the receipt of this epistle； come hither to me。
Fare you well。〃
45。 When I had written thus； and given the letter to be carried
by the soldier； I sent along with him thirty of the Galileans of
the best characters； and gave them instructions to salute those
ambassadors； but to say nothing else to them。 I also gave orders
to as many of those armed men； whom I esteemed most faithful to
me； to go along with the others； every one with him whom he was
to guard； lest some conversation might pass between those whom I
sent and those who were with Jonathan。 So those men went ＇to
Jonathan＇。 But when Jonathan and his partners had failed in this
their first attempt； they sent me another letter； the contents
whereof were as follows： 〃Jonathan； and those with him； to
Josephus； send greeting。 We require thee to come to us to the
village Gabaroth； on the third day； without any armed men； that
we may hear what thou hast to lay to the charge of John ＇of
Gischala＇。〃 When they had written this letter； they saluted the
Galileans whom I sent； and came to Japha； which was the largest
village of all Galilee； and encompassed with very strong walls；
and had a great number of inhabitants in it。 There the multitude
of men； with their wives and children； met them； and exclaimed
loudly against them； and desired them to be gone； and not to envy
them the advantage of an excellent commander。 With these clamors
Jonathan and his partners were greatly provoked； although they
durst not show their anger openly； so they made them no answer；
but went to other villages。 But still the same clamors met them
from all the people； who said； 〃Nobody should persuade them to
have any other commander besides Josephus。〃 So Jonathan and his
partners went away from them without success； and came to
Sepphoris； the greatest city of all Galilee。 Now the men of that
city； who inclined to the Romans in their sentiments； met them
indeed； but neither praised nor reproached me and when they were
gone down from Sepphoris to Asochis； the people of that place
made a clamor against them； as those of Japha had done； whereupon
they were able to contain themselves no longer； but ordered the
armed men that were with them to beat those that made the clamor
with their clubs。 And when they came to Gabara； John met them
with three thousand armed men； but； as I understood by their
letter that they had resolved to fight against me； I arose from
Chabolo； with three thousand armed men also； but left in my camp
one of my fastest friends； and came to Jotapata； as desirous to
be near them； the distance being no more than forty furlongs。
Whence I wrote thus to them： 〃If you are very desirous that I
should come to you； you know there are two hundred and forty
cities and villages in Galilee； I will come to any of them which
you please； excepting Gaburn and Gischala； the one of which is
John's native city； and the other in confederacy and friendship
with him。〃
46。 When Jonathan and his partners had received this letter； they
wrote me no more answers； but called a council of their friends
together； and taking John into their consultation； they took
counsel together by what means they might attack me。 John's
opinion was； that they should write to all the cities and
villages that were in Galilee； for that there must be certainly
one or two persons in every one of them that were at variance
with me； and that they should be invited to come to oppose me as
an enemy。 He would also have them send this resolution of theirs
to the city of Jerusalem； that its citizens； upon the knowledge
of my being adjudged to be an enemy by the Galileans； might
themselves I also confirm that determination。 He said also； that
when this was done； even those Galileans who were well affected
to me； would desert me out of fear。 When John had given them this
counsel； what he had said was very agreeable to the rest of them。
I was also made acquainted with these affairs about the third
hour of the night； by the means of one Saccheus； who had belonged
to them； but now deserted them and came over to me； and told me
what they were about； so I perceived that no time was to be lost。
Accordingly； I gave command to Jacob； an armed man of my guard；
whom I esteemed faithful to me； to take two hundred men； and to
guard the passages that led from Gahara to Galilee； and to seize
upon the passengers； and send them to me； especially such as were
caught with letters about them： I also sent Jeremias himself； one
of my friends； with six hundred armed men； to the borders of
Galilee；