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280

THE JEWISH WAR.

Book V. manders, it appeared evident that he would execute the law against all those that were concerned; so these soldiers minds sunk down in despair, as expecting to be put to death, and that justly, and quickly. However, the other legions came round about Titus, and intreated his favour to these their fellow-soldiers, and made supplication to him, that he would pardon the rashness of a few, on account of the better obedience of all the rest; and promised for them, that they should make amends for their present fault by their more virtuous behaviour for the time to come.

5. So Cæsar complied with their desires, and with what prudence dictated to him also; for he esteemed it fit to punish single persons by real executions, but that the punishment of great multitudes should proceed no farther than reproofs: so he was reconciled to the soldiers, but gave them a special charge to act more wisely for the future; and he considered with himself how he might be even with the Jews for their stratagem. And now, when the space between the Romans and the wall had been levelled, which was done in four days; and as he was desirous to bring the baggage of the army, with the rest of the multitude that followed him, safely to the camp, he set the strongest part of his army over against that wall which lay on the north quarter of the city, and over against the western part of it, and made his army seven deep, with the footmen placed before them, and the horsemen behind them, each of the last in three ranks, while the archers stood in the midst in seven ranks. And now as the Jews were prohibited, by so great a body of men, from, making sallies upon the Romans both the beasts that bear the burdens, and belonged to the three legions, and the rest of the multitude marched on without any fear. But as for Titus himself, he was but about two furlongs distant from the wall, at that part of it where was the corner, and over against that tower which was called Psephinus, at which tower the compass of the wall belonging to the north bended, and extended itself over against the west; but the other part of the army fortified itself at the tower called Hippicus, and was distant in like manner, but two furlongs from the city. However the tenth legion continued in its own place upon the Mount of Olives.

*Perhaps, says Dr. Hudson, here was that gate called the Gate of the Corner, in 2 Chr. xxvi 9. See ch. lv.

2.

END OF VOL. VI.

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