友情提示:如果本网页打开太慢或显示不完整,请尝试鼠标右键“刷新”本网页!阅读过程发现任何错误请告诉我们,谢谢!! 报告错误
飞读中文网 返回本书目录 我的书架 我的书签 TXT全本下载 进入书吧 加入书签

the wars of the jews-第134章

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!



   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。      4。 And now Titus brought one of his engines to the middle tower of the north part of the wall; in which a certain crafty Jew; whose name was Castor; lay in ambush; with ten   others like himself; the rest being fled away by reason of the archers。 These men lay still for a while; as in great fear; under their breastplates; but when the tower was shaken; they arose; and Castor did then stretch out his hand; as a petitioner; and called for Caesar; and by his voice moved his compassion; and begged of him to have mercy upon   them; and Titus; in the innocency of his heart; believing him to be in earnest; and hoping that the Jews did now repent; stopped the working of the battering ram; and forbade them to shoot at the petitioners; and bid Castor say what he had a mind to say to him。 He said that he would come down; if he would give him his right hand for his security。 To which Titus replied; that he was well pleased with such his   agreeable conduct; and would be well pleased if all the   Jews would be of his mind; and that he was ready to give the like security to the city。 Now five of the ten dissembled with him; and pretended to beg for mercy; while the rest cried out aloud that they would never be slaves to the   Romans; while it was in their power to die in a state of freedom。 Now while these men were quarrelling for a long while; the attack was delayed; Castor also sent to Simon; and told him that they might take some time for consultation about what was to be done; because he would elude the   power of the Romans for a considerable time。 And at the   same time that he sent thus to him; he appeared openly to exhort those that were obstinate to accept of Titus's hand for their security; but they seemed very angry at it; and brandished their naked swords upon the breast…works; and struck themselves upon their breast; and fell down as if they had been slain。 Hereupon Titus; and those with him; were amazed at the courage of the men; and as they were   not able to see exactly what was done; they admired at   their great fortitude; and pitied their calamity。 During this interval; a certain person shot a dart at Castor; and   wounded him in his nose; whereupon he presently pulled   out the dart; and showed it to Titus; and complained that this was unfair treatment; so Caesar reproved him that shot the dart; and sent Josephus; who then stood by him; to   give his right hand to Castor。 But Josephus said that he would not go to him; because these pretended petitioners meant nothing that was good; he also restrained those   friends of his who were zealous to go to him。 But still there was one Eneas; a deserter; who said he would go to him。   Castor also called to them; that somebody should come   and receive the money which he had with him; this made   Eneas the more earnestly to run to him with his bosom   open。 Then did Castor take up a great stone; and threw it at him; which missed him; because he guarded himself   against it; but still it wounded another soldier that was coining to him。 When Caesar understood that this was a   delusion; he perceived that mercy in war is a pernicious thing; because such cunning tricks have less place under the exercise of greater severity。 So he caused the engine to work more strongly than before; on account of his anger at the deceit put upon him。 But Castor and his companions   set the tower on fire when it began to give way; and leaped through the flame into a hidden vault that was under it; which made the Romans further suppose that they were   men of great courage; as having cast themselves into the fire。      CHAPTER 8。            How The Romans Took The Second Wall Twice;   And Got All Ready For Taking The Third Wall。      1。 Now Caesar took this wall there on the fifth day after he had taken the first; and when the Jews had fled from him; he entered into it with a thousand armed men; and those of his choice troops; and this at a place where were the   merchants of wool; the braziers; and the market for cloth; and where the narrow streets led obliquely to the wall。   Wherefore; if Titus had either demolished a larger part of the wall immediately; or had come in; and; according to the law of war; had laid waste what was left; his victory would not; I suppose; have been mixed with any loss to himself。 But now; out of the hope he had that he should make the   Jews ashamed of their obstinacy; by not being willing; when he was able; to afflict them more than he needed to do; he did not widen the breach of the wall; in order to make a safer retreat upon occasion; for he did not think they would lay snares for him that did them such a kindness。 When   therefore he came in; he did not permit his soldiers to kill any of those they caught; nor to set fire to their houses neither; nay; he gave leave to the seditious; if they had a mind; to fight without any harm to the people; and promised to restore the people's effects to them; for he was very desirous to preserve the city for his own sake; and the   temple for the sake of the city。 As to the people; he had them of a long time ready to comply with his proposals; but as to the fighting men; this humanity of his seemed a mark of his weakness;
返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0
未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!
温馨提示: 温看小说的同时发表评论,说出自己的看法和其它小伙伴们分享也不错哦!发表书评还可以获得积分和经验奖励,认真写原创书评 被采纳为精评可以获得大量金币、积分和经验奖励哦!