violence, and unexpected assault, they slew at great many of the Romans that guarded the frontiers: and as the consular legate Fonteius Agrippa came to meet them, and fought courageously against them, he was slain by them. They then over-ran all the region that had been subject to him; tearing and rending every thing that fell in their way. But when Vespasian was informed of what had happened, and how Mysia was laid waste; he sent away Rubrius Gallus to punish these Sarmatians. By whose means many of them perished in the battles he fought against them; and that part which escaped fled with fear to their own. country. So when this general had put an end to the war, he provided for the future security of the country. For he placed more and more numerous garrisons in the place; till he made it altogether impossible for the barbarians to pass over the river any more. And thus had this war in Mysia a sudden conclusion.

opportunity to venture upon the declaration of their sentiments. The multitude was also ready; and when these men told them of what they intended to attempt, that news was gladly received by them. So when a great part of the Germans had agreed to rebel, and the rest were no better disposed; Vespasian, as guided by divine Providence, sent letters to Petilius Cerealis, who had formerly had the command of Germany: whereby he declared him to have the dignity of consul, and commanded him to take upon him the government of Britain. So he went whither he was ordered to go and when he was informed of the revolt of the Germans, he fell upon them, as soon as they were gotten together, and put his army in battle array, and slew a great multitude of them in the fight, and forced them to leave off their madness, and to grow wiser. Nay, had he not fallen thus suddenly upon them on the place, it had not been long ere they would however have been brought to punishment. For as soon as the news of their revolt was come to Rome, and Cæsar Domitian was made acquainted with it, he made no delay, though he was exceeding young; but OF THE SABBATIC RIVER, WHICH TITUS SAW, AS HE WAS

undertook this weighty affair. He had a courageous mind from his father, and had made greater improvements than belonged to such an age. Accordingly he marched against the barbarians immediately. Whereupon their hearts failed them at the very rumor of his approach; and they submitted themselves to him with fear; and thought it a happy thing that they were brought under their old yoke again without suffering any farther mischiefs. When, therefore, Domitian had settled all the affairs of Gaul in such good order, that it would not be easily put into disorder any more, he returned to Rome, with honor and glory as having performed such exploits as were above his own age, but worthy of so great a father.

At the same time with the forementioned revolt of the Germans, did the bold attempt of the Scythians against the Romans occur. For those Scythians who are called Sarmatians, being a very numerous people, transported themselves over the Danube into Mysia, without being perceived. After which, by their

CHAP. V.

JOURNEYING THROUGH SYRIA; AND HIS REJECTION OF
THE PETITION PREFERRED AGAINST THE JEWS OF AN-
TIOCH. ALSO CONCERNING TITUS'S AND VESPASIAN'S
TRIUMPH.

T

NITUS Caesar, having tarried some time at Berytus, removed thence, and exhibited magnificent shows in all those cities of Syria, through which he went; and made use of the captive Jews as public instances of the destruction of that nation. He then saw a river, as he went along, of such a nature as deserves to be recorded in history. It runs in the middle between Arcea, belonging to Agrippa's kingdom, and Raphanea. It hath somewhat very peculiar in it for when it runs, its current is strong, and has plenty of water; after which itssprings fail for six days together, and leave its channel dry, as any one may see. After these days it runs on the seventh day as it did before, and as though it had undergone no change at all: it hath also been observed to keep this order perpetually, and exactly. Whence it is that they call it The Sabbatic

* Since in these latter ages this Sabbatic river, once so famous, which, by Josephus's account here, ran every

River: that name being taken from the sacred seventh day among the Jews.

sides ?" Hereupon the people of Antioch, when they had failed of success in this their first request, made him a second. For they desired that he would order those tables of brass to be removed, on which the Jews' privileges were engraven. However Titus would not grant that neither: but permitted the Jews of Antioch to continue to enjoy the same. privileges in that city which they had before: and then departed for Egypt. And as he came to Jerusalem in his progress, and compared the melancholy condition he saw it then

When the people of Antioch were informed that Titus was approaching, they were so rejoiced that they could not keep within their walls; but hastened to give him the meeting: nay, they proceeded as far as thirty furlongs, and more, with that intention. These were not the men only; but a multitude of women also, with their children, did the same. And when they saw him coming up to them, they stood on both sides of the way, and stretched out their right hands, saluting him, and mak-in, with the ancient glory of the city; and ing all sorts of acclamations, and, turned back together with him. They also, among all the acclamations they made to him, besought him all the way he went to eject the Jews out of their city. Yet did not Titus at all yield to this petition; but gave them the bare hearing of it quietly. However, the Jews were in a great deal of fear, under the uncertainty they were in, what his opinion was, and what he would do to them. For Titus did not stay at Antioch, but continued his progress immediately-to Zeguma, which lies upon Euphrates; whither came to him messengers from Vologeses king of Parthia, and brought him a crown of gold, upon the victory he had gained over the Jews: which he accepted of, and feasted the king's messengers, and then came back to Antioch. And when the senate and people of Antioch earnestly entreated him to come upon their theatre, where their whole multitude was assembled, and expected him, he complied with great humanity. But when they pressed him, with much earnestness, and continually begged of him that he would eject the Jews out of their city, he gave them this very pertinent answer: "How can this be done, since that country of theirs, whither the Jews must be obliged then to retire, is destroyed, and no place will receive them be

seventh day, and rested on six: but according to Pliny, Nat. Hist. xxxi. 11, ran perpetually on six days, and rested every seventh: (though it no way appears by either of their accounts that the seventh day of this river was the Jewish seventh day, or sabbath ;) is quite vanished, I shall add no more about it; only see Dr. Hudson's note. In Varenius's Geography, I. 17, the reader will find several instances of such periodical fountains and rivers; though none of their periods were that of a just week; as of old this appears to have been.

called to mind the greatness of its present ruins, as well as its ancient splendor, he could not but lament its destruction: so far was he from boasting, that so great and goodly a city as that was, had been by him taken by force. Nay, he frequently cursed those that had been the authors of their revolt; and had brought such a punishment upon the city. Insomuch that it openly appeared that he did not desire that such a calamity, as this punishment of theirs amounted to, should be a demonstration of his courage. Yet was there no small quantity of the riches that had been in that city still found among its ruins; a great deal of which the Romans dug up: but the greatest part was discovered by those who were captives, and so they carried it away. I mean the gold, and the silver, and the rest of that most precious furniture which the Jews had, and which the owners had treasured up under ground, * against the uncertain fortunes of war.

So Titus took the journey he intended to Egypt; and passed over the desert very suddenly, and came to Alexandria, and took up a resolution to go to Rome by sea. And as he was accompanied by two legions, he sent each of them again to the places whence they had before come. The fifth he sent to Mysia, and the fifteenth to Pannonia. As for the

*The Eastern people appear to have considered this as the most secure method of preserving their property. It was accordingly very generally practised; and hence is an opinion now generally prevalent in those countries that great treasures lie hid in the earth. This is the reason why it is so dangerous for travellers to dig, or open the ground, because it is supposed they are influenced by covetousness, and are searching for wealth. B.

leaders

only in their silk garments, and crowned with laurel. Vespasian accepted of these shouts of theirs. But while they were still disposed to go on in such acclamations, he gave them a signal of silence: and when every body held. their peace, he stood up; and covering the greatest part of his head with his cloak, he put up the accustomed solemu prayers. The like prayers did Titus put up also, After which prayers Vespasian made a short speech. to the people; and then sent away the soldiers to a dinner prepared for them by the emperors. Then did he retire to that gate which was called the Gate of the Pomp: because pompous shows always go through it. There it was that they took some refreshment; and when they had put on their triumphal garments, and had offered sacrifices to the gods that were placed at the gate, they sent the triumph forward, and marched through the theatres; that they might be the more easily seen by the multitudes.

leaders of the captives, Simon and John, with the other seven hundred men, whom he had selected out of the rest, as being eminently tall, and handsome of body, he gave order that they should soon be carried to Italy; as resolving to produce them in his triumph. So when he had had a prosperous voyage to his mind, the city of Rome behaved itself in his reception, and their meeting him at a distance, as it did in the case of his father. But what made the most splendid appearance in Titus's opinion was, when his father met him, and received him. But still the multitude of the citizens conceived the greatest joy, when they saw them all three together: as they did at this time. Nor were many days past, when they determined to have but one triumph that should be common to † both of them; on account of the glorious exploits they had performed; although the senate had decreed each of them a separate triumph by himself. So when notice had been previously given of the day appointed for this pompous solemnity on account of their victories, not one of the im-tude of the shows, as they deserve; and the mense multitude was left in the city; but every body went out so far as to gain only a station where they might stand; and left only such a passage as was necessary for those that were to be seen to go along it.

Now it is impossible to describe the multi

magnificence of them: such indeed, as a man could not easily think of, as performed either by the labor of workmen, the variety of riches, or the rarities of nature. For almost all such. curiosities as the most happy men ever get by degrees were here heaped on one another; and these both admirable, and costly in their nature: and as all brought together on that day, demonstrated the vastness of the dominions of the Romans. For here was to be seen. a prodigious quantity of silver, gold, and ivory, contrived into all sorts of things: and did not appear as carried along in pompous show only, but, as a man may say, running along like a river. Some parts were composed of the rarest purple hangings, and so carried along: and others accurately represented what was embroidered by the art of the Babylonians. There were also precious stones that were

Now all the soldiery marched out by companies, and in their several ranks, under their respective commanders, in the night time: and were about the gates, not of the upper palaces, but those near the temple of Isis. For there it was that the emperors had rested the preceding night. And as soon as it was day, Vespasian and Titus came out, crowned with laurel, and clothed in those ancient purple habits which were proper to their family: and then went as far as Octavian's Walks. For there it was that the senate, the principal rulers, and those that had been recorded as of the equestrian order, waited for them. Now a tribunal had been erected before the clois-transparent, some set in crowns of gold, and ters, and ivory chairs had been set upon it. And when they came and sat down upon them, the soldiery made an acclamation of joy, and all gave them attestations of their valor. While they were themselves without their arms, and

Vespasian and his two sons, Titus and Domitian.

some in other ouches, as the workmen pleased. And of these such a vast number were brought, that we could not but thence learn how vainly we imagined any of them to be rarities. The images of the gods were also carried, being as

† Vespasian and Titus.