第 63 节
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不受约束 更新:2024-05-25 15:05 字数:9322
with them; and had only light armor on; while the others were completely armed。 However; three men of the Jews' side were slain; and a few wounded; so Placidus; finding himself unable to assault the city; ran away。
2。 But as Vespasian had a great mind to fall upon Galilee; he marched out of Ptolemais; having put his army into that order wherein the Romans used to march。 He ordered those auxiliaries which were lightly armed; and the archers; to march first; that they might prevent any sudden insults from the enemy; and might search out the woods that looked suspiciously; and were capable of ambuscades。 Next to these followed that part of the Romans which was completely armed; both footmen ;and horsemen。 Next to these followed ten out of every hundred; carrying along with them their arms; and what was necessary to measure out a camp withal; and after them; such as were to make the road even and straight; and if it were any where rough and hard to be passed over; to plane it; and to cut down the woods that hindered their march; that the army might not be in distress; or tired with their march。 Behind these he set such carriages of the army as belonged both to himself and to the other commanders; with a considerable number of their horsemen for their security。 After these he marched himself; having with him a select body of footmen; and horsemen; and pikemen。 After these came the peculiar cavalry of his own legion; for there were a hundred and twenty horsemen that peculiarly belonged to every legion。 Next to these came the mules that carried the engines for sieges; and the other warlike machines of that nature。 After these came the commanders of the cohorts and tribunes; having about them soldiers chosen out of the rest。 Then came the ensigns encompassing the eagle; which is at the head of every Roman legion; the king; and the strongest of all birds; which seems to them a signal of dominion; and an omen that they shall conquer all against whom they march; these sacred ensigns are followed by the trumpeters。 Then came the main army in their squadrons and battalions; with six men in depth; which were followed at last by a centurion; who; according to custom; observed the rest。 As for the servants of every legion; they all followed the footmen; and led the baggage of the soldiers; which was borne by the mules and other beasts of burden。 But behind all the legions carne the whole multitude of the mercenaries; and those that brought up the rear came last of all for the security of the whole army; being both footmen; and those in their armor also; with a great number of horsemen。
3。 And thus did Vespasian march with his army; and came to the bounds of Galileo; where he pitched his camp and restrained his soldiers; who were eager for war; he also showed his army to the enemy; in order to affright them; and to afford them a season for repentance; to see whether they would change their minds before it came to a battle; and at the same time he got things ready for besieging their strong minds。 And indeed this sight of the general brought many to repent of their revolt; and put them all into a consternation; for those that were in Josephus's camp; which was at the city called Garis; not far from Sepphoris; when they heard that the war was come near them; and that the Romans would suddenly fight them hand to hand; dispersed themselves and fled; not only before they came to a battle; but before the enemy ever came in sight; while Josephus and a few others were left behind; and as he saw that he had not an army sufficient to engage the enemy; that the spirits of the Jews were sunk; and that the greater part would willingly come to terms; if they might be credited; he already despaired of the success of the whole war; and determined to get as far as he possibly could out of danger; so he took those that staid along with him; and fled to Tiberias。
CHAPTER 7。
Vespasian; When He Had Taken The City Gadaea Marches To Jotapata。 After A Long Siege The City Is Betrayed By A Deserter; And Taken By Vespasian。
1。 So Vespasian marched to the city Gadara; and took it upon the first onset; because he found it destitute of any considerable number of men grown up and fit for war。 He came then into it; and slew all the youth; the Romans having no mercy on any age whatsoever; and this was done out of the hatred they bore the nation; and because of the iniquity they had been guilty of in the affair of Cestius。 He also set fire not only to the city itself; but to all the villas and small cities that were round about it; some of them were quite destitute of inhabitants; and out of some of them he carried the inhabitants as slaves into captivity。
2。 As to Josephus; his retiring to that city which he chose as the most fit for his security; put it into great fear; for the people of Tiberias did not imagine that he would have run away; unless he had entirely despaired of the success of the war。 And indeed; as to that point; they were not mistaken about his opinion; for he saw whither the affairs of the Jews would tend at last; and was sensible that they had but one way of escaping; and that was by repentance。 However; although he expected that the Romans would forgive him; yet did he chose to die many times over; rather than to betray his country; and to dishonor that supreme command of the army which had been intrusted with him; or to live happily under those against whom he was sent to fight。 He determined; therefore; to give an exact account of affairs to the principal men at Jerusalem by a letter; that he might not; by too much aggrandizing the power of the enemy; make them too timorous; nor; by relating that their power beneath the truth; might encourage them to stand out when they were perhaps disposed to repentance。 He also sent them word; that if they thought of coming to terms; they must suddenly write him an answer; or if they resolved upon war; they must send him an army sufficient to fight the Romans。 Accordingly; he wrote these things; and sent messengers immediately to carry his letter to Jerusalem。
3。 Now Vespasian was very desirous of demolishing Jotapata; for he had gotten intelligence that the greatest part of the enemy had retired thither; and that it was; on other accounts; a place of great security to them。 Accordingly; he sent both foot…men and horsemen to level the road; which was mountainous and rocky; not without difficulty to be traveled over by footmen; but absolutely impracticable for horsemen。 Now these workmen accomplished what they were about in four days' time; and opened a broad way for the army。 On the fifth day; which was the twenty…first of the month Artemisius; (Jyar;) Josephus prevented him; and came from Tiberias; and went into Jotapata; and raised the drooping spirits of the Jews。 And a certain deserter told this good news to Vespasian; that Josephus had removed himself thither; which made him make haste to the city; as supposing that with taking that he should take all Judea; in case he could but withal get Josephus under his power。 So he took this news to be of the vastest advantage to him; and believed it to be brought about by the providence of God; that he who appeared to be the most prudent man of all their enemies; had; of his own accord; shut himself up in a place of sure custody。 Accordingly; he sent Placidus with a thousand horsemen; and Ebutius a decurion; a person that was of eminency both in council and in action; to encompass the city round; that Josephus might not escape away privately。
4。 Vespasian also; the very next day; took his whole army and followed them; and by marching till late in the evening; arrived then at Jotapata; and bringing his army to the northern side of the city; he pitched his camp on a certain small hill which was seven furlongs from the city; and still greatly endeavored to be well seen by the enemy; to put them into a consternation; which was indeed so terrible to the Jews immediately; that no one of them durst go out beyond the wall。 Yet did the Romans put off the attack at that time; because they had marched all the day; although they placed a double row of battalions round the city; with a third row beyond them round the whole; which consisted of cavalry; in order to stop up every way for an exit; which thing making the Jews despair of escaping; excited them to act more boldly; for nothing makes men fight so desperately in war as necessity。
5。 Now when the next day an assault was made by the Romans; the Jews at first staid out of the walls and opposed them; and met them; as having formed themselves a camp before the city walls。 But when Vespasian had set against them the archers and slingers; and the whole multitude that could throw to a great distance; he permitted them to go to work; while he himself; with the footmen; got upon an acclivity; whence the city might easily be taken。 Josephus was then in fear for the city; and leaped out; and all the Jewish multitude with him; these fell together upon the Romans in great numbers; and drove them away from the wall; and performed a great many glorious and bold actions。 Yet did they suffer as much as they made the enemy suffer; for as despair of deliverance encouraged the Jews; so did a sense of shame equally encourage the Roma