had suggested the wisest advice to them, they resolved that two of them, Jonathan and Ananias, should go to the people of Jerusalem, and the other two [Simon and Joazar] should be left behind to tarry at Tiberias. They also took along with them a hundred soldiers for their guard.

cheme. So, beyond my expectation, I escaped table. When therefore it appeared that John this danger. Whereupon I presently sent for the chief of the Galileans, and told them after what manner, against all faith given, I had been very near to destruction from Jonathan and his colleagues, and the people of Tiberias. Upon which the multitude of the Galileans were very angry, and encouraged me to delay no longer to make war upon them, but to permit them to 62. However, the governors of Tiberias took go against John, and utterly to destroy him, as care to have their city secured with walls, and well as Jonathan and his colleagues. How-commanded their inhabitants to take their arms. ever, I restrained them, though they were in They also sent for a great many soldiers from such a rage, and desired them to tarry awhile, John to assist them against me, if there should till we should be informed what orders those be occasion for them. Now John was at Gisambassadors that were sent by them to the chala. Jonathan, therefore, and those that were city of Jerusalem, should bring thence; for I with him, when they were departed from Tibetold them that it was best for them to act ac-rias, and as soon as they were come to Dabaritta, cording to their determination: whereupon a village that lay in the utmost parts of Galilee, in they were prevailed on. At which time also, the great plain, they about midnight fell among John, when the snares he had laid did not take the guards I had set, who both commanded effect, returned back to Gischala. them to lay aside their weapons, and kept 60. Now in a few days those ambassadors them in bonds upon the place, as I had charged whom we had sent, came back again and in-them to do. This news was written to me by formed us, that the people were greatly pro-Levi, who had the command of that guard comvoked at Ánanus, and Simon the son of Ga-mitted to him by me. Hereupon I said nothing maliel, and their friends; that without any pub- of it for two days; and pretended to know lic determination, they had sent to Galilee, and nothing about it, I sent a messenger to the peo had done their endeavors that I might be turn-ple of Tiberias, and advised them to lay their ed out of the government. The ambassadors arms aside, and to dismiss their men, that they said farther, that the people were ready to burn might go home. But supposing that Jonathan, their houses. They also brought letters, where- and those that were with him, were already by the chief men of Jerusalem, at the earnest arrived at Jerusalem, they made reproachful petition of the people, confirmed me in the answers to me; yet was I not terrified thereby government of Galilee, and enjoined Jonathan but contrived another stratagem against them; and his colleagues to return home quickly. for I did not think it agreeable with piety to When I had gotten these letters, I came to the kindle the fire of war against the citizens. As village Arbela, where I procured an assembly I was desirous to draw those men away from of the Galileans to meet, and bid the ambas-Tiberias, I chose out ten thousand of the best sadors to declare to them the anger of the peo-of my armed men and divided them into three ple of Jerusalem at what had been done by bodies, and ordered them to go privately, and Jonathan and his colleagues, and how much they hated their wicked doings, and how they ha confirmed me in the government of their country; as also what related to the order they hal in writing for Jonathan and his colleagues to return home. So I immediately sent them the letter, and bid him that carried it to inquire, as well as he could, how they intended to act [on this occasion.]

lie still as an ambush, in the villages. I also led a thousand into another village, which lay indeed in the mountains, as did the others, but only four furlongs distant from Tiberias, and gave order, that when they saw my signal, they should come down immediately; while I myself lay with my soldiers in the sight of every body. Hereupon the people of Tiberias, at the sight of me, came running out of the city 61. Now when they had received that letter, perpetually, and abused me greatly. Nay their and were thereby greatly disturbed, they sent madness was come to that height, that they for John and for the senators of Tiberias, and made a decent bier for me, and standing about for the principal men of the Gabarens, and pro-it, they mourned over me in the way of jest posed to hold a council, and desired them to and sport; and I could not but be myself in a consider what was to be done by them. How-pleasant humor upon the sight of this madever the governors of Tiberias were greatly dis-ness of theirs. posed to keep the govermnent to themselves; 63. And now, being desirous to catch Simon for they said it was not fit to desert their city by a wile, and Joazar with him, I sent a mesnow it was committed to their trust, and that sage to them, and desired them to come a little otherwise I should not delay to fall upon them; way out of the city, with many of their friends for they pretende falsely that so I had threaten- to guard them; for I said I would come down ed to do. Now John was not only of their opin- to them, and make a league with them, and ion, but advised them that two of them should divide the government of Galilee with them. go to accuse me before the multitude, [at Jeru- Accordingly Simon was deluded on account salem,] that I did not manage the affairs of Gal- of his imprudence, and out of the hopes of ilee as I ought to do, and that they would easily gain, and did not delay to come; but Joazar persuade the people, because of their dignity, suspecting snares were laid for him, staid be and because the whole inultitude are very mu-hind. So when Simon was come out, and his

gether, I restored to every one of Tiberina what they claimed to be their own.

friends with him for his guard, I met him, and saluted him with great civility, and professed that I was obliged to him for his coming up to 65. And now I am come to this part of my me; but a little while afterward I walked along narration, I have a mind to say a few things to with him, as though I would say something to Justus, who hath himself written a history conhim by himself, and, when I had drawn him a cerning these affairs; as also to others whe good way from his friends, I took him about profess to write history, but have little regard the middle, and gave him to my friends that to truth, and are not afraid, either out of illwere with me, to carry him into a village; and, will or good-will to some persons, to relate commanding my armed men to come down, I falsehoods. These men do, like those who with them made an assault upon Tiberias. compose forged deeds and conveyances; and Now as the fight grew hot on both sides, and because they are not brought to the like punishthe soldiers belonging to Tiberias were in a ment with them, they have no regard to truth. fair way to conquer me, (for my armed men When, therefore, Justus undertook to write were already fled away,) I saw the posture of about these facts, and about the Jewish war, my affairs; and encouraging those that were that he might appear to have been an induswith me, I pursued those of Tiberias, even trious man, he falsified in what he related about when they were already conquerors, into the me, and could not speak truth even about his city. I also sent another band of soldiers into own country; whence it is, that being belied the city by the lake, and gave them orders to by him, I am under a necessity to make my Bet on fire the first house they could seize upon. defence; and so I shall say what I have conWhen this was done, the people of Tiberias cealed till now. And let no one wonder that thought that their city was taken by force, and I have not told the world these things a great so threw down their arms for fear, and im- while ago. For although it be necessary for plored, they, their wives and children, that I an historian to write the truth, yet is such a one would spare their city. So I was over-persuad- not bound severely to animadvert on the wicked by their entreaties, and restrained the sol-edness of certain men; not out of any favor to diers from the vehemency with which they them, but out of an author's own moderation. pursued them; while I myself, upon the coming How then comes it to pass, O Justus, thou on of the evening, returned back with my sol- most sagacious of writers, (that I may address diers, and went to refresh myself. I also in-myself to him as if he were here present,) for vited Simon to sup with me, and comforted so thou boastest of thyself, that I and the Galihim on occasion of what had happened; and leans have been the authors of that sedition I promised that I would send him safe and which thy country engaged in, both against the secure to Jerusalem, and withal would give Romans and against the king [Agrippa junior?] him provisions for his journey thither. For before ever I was appointed governor of Galilee by the community of Jerusalem, both thou, and all the people of Tiberias, had not only taken up arms, but had made war with Decapolis of Syria. Accordingly, thou hadst ordered their villages to be burnt, and a domestic servant of thine fell in the battle. Nor is it I only who say this; but so it is written in the commentaries of Vespasian the emperor, as also how the inhabitants of Decapolis came clamoring to Vespasian at Ptolemais, and desired that thou, who w the author [of that war] mightest be brought to punishment. And thou hadst certainly been punished at the command of Vespasian, had not king Agrippa, who had power given him to have thee put to death, at the earnest entreaty of his sister Bernice, changed the punishment of death into a long imprisonment. Thy political administration of affairs afterwards does also clearly discover both thy other behavior in life, and that thou wast the occasion of thy country's revolt from the Romans; plain signs of which I shall produce presently. I have also a mind to say a few things to the rest of the people of Tibe rias on thy account, and to demonstrate to . those that light upon this history, that you bear no good-will, neither to the Romans, nor to the king. To be sure, the greatest cities of Galilee, O Justus, were Sepphoris, and thy country Tiberias. But Sepphoris, situated in the very midst of Galilee, and having many villages about it, and able with ease to have been bold

64. But, on the next day, I brought ten thouBand armed men with me, and came to Tiberias. I then sent for the principal men of the multitude into the public place, and enjoined them to tell me who were the authors of the revolt; and when they had told me who the men were, I sent them bound to the city Jotapata. But, as to Jonathan and Ananias, I freed them from their bonds, and gave them provisions for their journey, together with Simon and Joazar, and five hundred armed men who should guard them, and so I sent them to Jerusalem. The people of Tiberias also came to me again, and desired that I would forgive them for what they had done, and they Baid they would amend what they had done amiss, with regard to me, by their fidelity for the time to come; and they besought me to preserve what spoils remained upon the plunder of the city, for those that had lost them. Accordingly, I enjoined those that had got them, to bring them all before us; and when they did not comply for a great while, and I saw one of the soldiers that were about me with a garment on that was more splendid than ordinary, I asked him whence he had it and he replied that he had it out of the plunder of the city; I had him punished with stripes, and I threatened all the rest to inflict a severer punishment upon them, unless they produced before us whatsoever they had plundered; and when a great many spoils were brought to

and troublesome to the Romans, if they had so pleased, yet did it resolve to continue faithful to those their masters, and at the same time excluded me out of their city, and prohibited all their citizens from joining with the Jews in the war, and that they might be out of danger from me, they by a wile got leave of me to fortify their city with walls: they also, of their own accord, admitted of a garrison of Roman legions, sent them by Cestius Gallus, who was chen president of Syria, and so had me in contempt, though I was then very powerful, and all were greatly afraid of me; and at the same time that the greatest of our cities, Jerusalem, was besieged, and that temple of ours, which belonged to us all, was in danger of falling under the enemy's power, they sent no assistance thither, as not willing to have it thought they would bear arms against the Romans. But as for thy country, O Justus, situated upon the lake of Genesareth, and distant from Hippos thirty furlongs, from Gadara sixty, and from Scythopolis, which was under the king's jurisdiction, a hundred and twenty; when there was no Jewish city near, it might easily have preserved its fidelity [to the Romans] if it had so pleased them to do; for the city and its people had plenty of weapons. But, as thou sayest, I was then the author [of their revolt.] And pray, O Justus, who was the author afterwards. For thou knowest that I was in the power of the Romans before Jerusalem was besieged, and before the same time Jotapata was taken by force, as well as many other fortresses, and a great many of the Galileans fell in the war. It was, therefore, then a proper time, when you were certainly freed from any fear on my account, to throw away your weapons, and to demonstrate to the king and to the Romans, that it was not of choice, but as forced by necessity, that you fell into the war against them; but you staid till Vespasian came himself as far as your walls, with his whole army; and then you did indeed lay aside your weapons out of fear, and your city had for certain been taken by force, unless Vespasian had complied with the king's supplication for you, and had excused your madness. It was not I, therefore, who was the author of this, but your own inclinations to war. Do not you remember how often I got you under my power, and yet put none of you to death? nay, you once fell into a tumult one against another, and slew one hundred and eighty-five of your citizens, not on account of your good-will to the king and to the Romans, but on account of your own wickedness, and this while I was besieged by the Romans in Jotapata. Nay, indeed, were there not reckoned up two thousand of the people of Tiberias, during the siege of Jerusalem, some of whom were slain, and the rest caught and carried captives? But thou wilt pretend that thou didst not engage in the war, since thou didst flee to the king. Yes, indeed, thou didst flee to him; but I say it was out of fear of me. Thou sayest, indeed, that it is I who am a wicked man. But then, for what reasor was it that king Agrippa. I nears to me, that thou hast done it much more

who procured thee thy life when thou wast condemned to die by Vespasian, and who be stowed so much riches upon thee, did twice afterward put thee into bonds, and as often obliged thee to run away from thy country, and, when he had once ordered thee to be put to death, he granted thee a pardon at the earnest desire of Bernice? and, when (after so many of thy wicked pranks) he had made thee his secretary, he caught thee falsifying his epistles, and drove thee away from his sight. But I shall not inquire accurately into these matters of scandal against thee. Yet cannot I but wonder at thy impudence, when thou hast the assurance to say, that thou hast better related these affairs [of the war] than have all the others that have written about them, whilst thou didst not know what was done in Galilee; for thou wast then at Berytus with the king nor didst thou know how much the Romans suffered at the siege of Jotapata, or what miseries they brought upon us; nor couldst thou learn by inquiry what I did during that siege myself; for all those that might afford such information were quite destroyed in that siege. But perhaps thou wilt say, thou hast written of what was done against the people of Jerusa lem exactly. But how should that be? for neither wast thou concerned in that war, nor hast thou read the commentaries of Cæsar; of which we have evident proof, because thou hast contradicted those commentaries of Cæsar in thy history. But if thou art so hardy as to affirm that thou hast written that history better than all the rest, why didst thou not publish thy history while the emperors Vespasian and Titus, the generals in that war, as well as king Agrippa and his family, who were men very well skilled in the learning of the Greeks, were all alive? for thou hast had it written these twenty years, and then mightest thou have had the testimony of thy accuracy. But now when these men are no longer with us, and thou thinkest thou canst not be contradicted, thou venturest to publish it. But then I was not in like manner afraid of my own writing, but I offered my books to the emperors themselves, when the facts were almost under men's eyes; for I was conscious to myself, that I had observed the truth of the facts; and as 1 expected to have their attestation to them, so I was not deceived in such expectation. Moreover, I immediately presented my history to many other persons, some of whom were concerned in the war, as was king Agrippa, and some of his kindred. Now the emperor Titus was so desirous that the knowledge of these affairs should be taken from these books alone that he subscribed his own hand to them, and ordered that they should be published; and fo king Agrippa, he wrote me sixty-two letters, and attested to the truth of what I had therein delivered; two of which letters I have here subjoined, and thou mayest thereby know their contents. "King Agrippa to Josephus, his dear friend, sendeth greeting: I have read over thy book with great pleasure, and it ap