第 76 节
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不受约束 更新:2024-05-25 15:05 字数:9322
ls of the city。 Now a great number of the Romans fell in this battle; among whom was Ebutius; the decurion; a man who appeared not only in this engagement; wherein he fell; but every where; and in former engagements; to be of the truest courage; and one that had done very great mischief to the Jews。 But there was a centurion whose name was Gallus; who; during this disorder; being encompassed about; he and ten other soldiers privately crept into the house of a certain person; where he heard them talking at supper; what the people intended to do against the Romans; or about themselves (for both the man himself and those with him were Syrians)。 So he got up in the night time; and cut all their throats; and escaped; together with his soldiers; to the Romans。 6。 And now Vespasian comforted his army; which was much dejected by reflecting on their ill success; and because they had never before fallen into such a calamity; and besides this; because they were greatly ashamed that they had left their general alone in great dangers。 As to what concerned himself; he avoided to say any thing; that he might by no means seem to complain of it; but he said that 〃we ought to bear manfully what usually falls out in war; and this; by considering what the nature of war is; and how it can never be that we must conquer without bloodshed on our own side; for there stands about us that fortune which is of its own nature mutable; that while they had killed so many ten thousands of the Jews; they had now paid their small share of the reckoning to fate; and as it is the part of weak people to be too much puffed up with good success; so is it the part of cowards to be too much aftrighted at that which is ill; for the change from the one to the other is sudden on both sides; and he is the best warrior who is of a sober mind under misfortunes; that he may continue in that temper; and cheerfully recover what had been lost formerly; and as for what had now happened; it was neither owing to their own effeminacy; nor to the valor of the Jews; but the difficulty of the place was the occasion of their advantage; and of our disappointment。 Upon reflecting on which matter one might blame your zeal as perfectly ungovernable; for when the enemy had retired to their highest fastnesses; you ought to have restrained yourselves; and not; by presenting yourselves at the top of the city; to be exposed to dangers; but upon your having obtained the lower parts of the city; you ought to have provoked those that had retired thither to a safe and settled battle; whereas; in rushing so hastily upon victory; you took no care of your safety。 But this incautiousness in war; and this madness of zeal; is not a Roman maxim。 While we perform all that we attempt by skill and good order; that procedure is the part of barbarians; and is what the Jews chiefly support themselves by。 We ought therefore to return to our own virtue; and to be rather angry than any longer dejected at this unlucky misfortune; and let every one seek for his own consolation from his own hand; for by this means he will avenge those that have been destroyed; and punish those that have killed them。 For myself; I will endeavor; as I have now done; to go first before you against your enemies in every engagement; and to be the last that retires from it。〃 7。 So Vespasian encouraged his army by this speech; but for the people of Gamala; it happened that they took courage for a little while; upon such great and unaccountable success as they had had。 But when they considered with themselves that they had now no hopes of any terms of accommodation; and reflecting upon it that they could not get away; and that their provisions began already to be short; they were exceedingly cast down; and their courage failed them; yet did they not neglect what might be for their preservation; so far as they were able; but the most courageous among them guarded those parts of the wall that were beaten down; while the more infirm did the same to the rest of the wall that still remained round the city。 And as the Romans raised their banks; and attempted to get into the city a second time; a great many of them fled out of the city through impracticable valleys; where no guards were placed; as also through subterraneous caverns; while those that were afraid of being caught; and for that reason staid in the city; perished for want of food; for what food they had was brought together from all quarters; and reserved for the fighting men。 8。 And these were the hard circumstances that the people of Gamala were in。 But now Vespasian went about other work by the by; during this siege; and that was to subdue those that had seized upon Mount Tabor; a place that lies in the middle between the great plain and Scythopolis; whose top is elevated as high as thirty furlongs (2) and is hardly to be ascended on its north side; its top is a plain of twenty…six furlongs; and all encompassed with a wall。 Now Josephus erected this so long a wall in forty days' time; and furnished it with other materials; and with water from below; for the inhabitants only made use of rain water。 As therefore there was a great multitude of people gotten together upon this mountain; Vespasian sent Placidus with six hundred horsemen thither。 Now; as it was impossible for him to ascend the mountain; he invited many of them to peace; by the offer of his right hand for their security; and of his intercession for them。 Accordingly they came down; but with a treacherous design; as well as he had the like treacherous design upon them on the other side; for Placidus spoke mildly to them; as aiming to take them; when he got them into the plain; they also came down; as complying with his proposals; but it was in order to fall upon him when he was not aware of it: however; Placidus's stratagem was too hard for theirs; for when the Jews began to fight; he pretended to run away; and when they were in pursuit of the Romans; he enticed them a great way along the plain; and then made his horsemen turn back; whereupon he beat them; and slew a great number of them; and cut off the retreat of the rest of the multitude; and hindered their return。 So they left Tabor; and fled to Jerusalem; while the people of the country came to terms with him; for their water failed them; and so they delivered up the mountain and themselves to Placidus。 9。 But of the people of Gamala; those that were of the bolder sort fled away and hid themselves; while the more infirm perished by famine; but the men of war sustained the siege till the two and twentieth day of the month Hyperberetmus; 'Tisri;' when three soldiers of the fifteenth legion; about the morning watch; got under a high tower that was near them; and undermined it; without making any noise; nor when they either came to it; which was in the night time; nor when they were under it; did those that guarded it perceive them。 These soldiers then upon their coming avoided making a noise; and when they had rolled away five of its strongest stones; they went away hastily; whereupon the tower fell down on a sudden; with a very great noise; and its guard fell headlong with it; so that those that kept guard at other places were under such disturbance; that they ran away; the Romans also slew many of those that ventured to oppose them; among whom was Joseph; who was slain by a dart; as he was running away over that part of the wall that was broken down: but as those that were in the city were greatly aftrighted at the noise; they ran hither and thither; and a great consternation fell upon them; as though all the enemy had fallen in at once upon them。 Then it was that Chares; who was ill; and under the physician's hands; gave up the ghost; the fear he was in greatly contributing to make his distemper fatal to him。 But the Romans so well remembered their former ill success; that they did not enter the city till the three and twentieth day of the forementioned month。 10。 At which time Titus; who was now returned; out of the indignation he had at the destruction the Romans had undergone while he was absent; took two hundred chosen horsemen and some footmen with him; and entered without noise into the city。 Now as the watch perceived that he was coming; they made a noise; and betook themselves to their arms; and as that his entrance was presently known to those that were in the city; some of them caught hold of their children and their wives; and drew them after them; and fled away to the citadel; with lamentations and cries; while others of them went to meet Titus; and were killed perpetually; but so many of them as were hindered from running up to the citadel; not knowing what in the world to do; fell among the Roman guards; while the groans of those that were killed were prodigiously great every where; and blood ran down over all the lower parts of the city; from the upper。 But then Vespasian himself came to his assistance against those that had fled to the citadel; and brought his whole army with him; now this upper part of the city was every way rocky; and difficult of ascent; and elevated to a vast altitude; and very full of people on all sides; and encompassed with precipices; whereby the Jews cut off those th