ir horses feed without having their bridles on during the time of foraging； upon which horses the Jews sallied out in whole bodies； and seized them。 And when this was continually done； and Caesar believed what the truth was； that the horses were stolen more by the negligence of his own men than by the valor of the Jews； he determined to use greater severity to oblige the rest to take care of their horses； so he commanded that one of those soldiers who had lost their horses should be capitally punished； whereby he so terrified the rest； that they preserved their horses for the time to come； for they did not any longer let them go from them to feed by themselves； but； as if they had grown to them； they went always along with them when they wanted necessaries。 Thus did the Romans still continue to make war against the temple； and to raise their banks against it。 8。 Now after one day had been interposed since the Romans ascended the breach； many of the seditious were so pressed by the famine； upon the present failure of their ravages； that they got together； and made an attack on those Roman guards that were upon the Mount of Olives； and this about the eleventh hour of the day； as supposing； first； that they would not expect such an onset； and； in the next place； that they were then taking care of their bodies； and that therefore they should easily beat them。 But the Romans were apprized of their coming to attack them beforehand； and； running together from the neighboring camps on the sudden； prevented them from getting over their fortification； or forcing the wall that was built about them。 Upon this came on a sharp fight； and here many great actions were performed on both sides； while the Romans showed both their courage and their skill in war； as did the Jews come on them with immoderate violence and intolerable passion。 The one part were urged on by shame； and the other by necessity； for it seemed a very shameful thing to the Romans to let the Jews go； now they were taken in a kind of net； while the Jews had but one hope of saving themselves； and that was in case they could by violence break through the Roman wall； and one whose name was Pedanius； belonging to a party of horsemen； when the Jews were already beaten and forced down into the valley together； spurred his horse on their flank with great vehemence； and caught up a certain young man belonging to the enemy by his ankle； as he was running away； the man was； however； of a robust body； and in his armor； so low did Pedanius bend himself downward from his horse； even as he was galloping away； and so great was the strength of his right hand； and of the rest of his body； as also such skill had he in horsemanship。 So this man seized upon that his prey； as upon a precious treasure； and carried him as his captive to Caesar； whereupon Titus admired the man that had seized the other for his great strength； and ordered the man that was caught to be punished ＇with death＇ for his attempt against the Roman wall； but betook himself to the siege of the temple； and to pressing on the raising of the banks。 9。 In the mean time； the Jews were so distressed by the fights they had been in； as the war advanced higher and higher； and creeping up to the holy house itself； that they； as it were； cut off those limbs of their body which were infected； in order to prevent the distemper's spreading further； for they set the north…west cloister； which was joined to the tower of Antonia； on fire； and after that brake off about twenty cubits of that cloister； and thereby made a beginning in burning the sanctuary； two days after which； or on the twenty…fourth day of the forenamed month； ＇Panemus or Tamuz；＇ the Romans set fire to the cloister that joined to the other； when the fire went fifteen cubits farther。 The Jews； in like manner； cut off its roof； nor did they entirely leave off what they were about till the tower of Antonia was parted from the temple； even when it was in their power to have stopped the fire； nay； they lay still while the temple was first set on fire； and deemed this spreading of the fire to be for their own advantage。 However； the armies were still fighting one against another about the temple； and the war was managed by continual sallies of particular parties against one another。 10。 Now there was at this time a man among the Jews； low of stature he was； and of a despicable appearance； of no character either as to his family； or in other respects： his flame was Jonathan。 He went out at the high priest John's monument； and uttered many other insolent things to the Romans； a challenged the best of them all to a single combat。But many of those that stood there in the army huffed him； and many of them （as they might well be） were afraid of him。 Some of them also reasoned thus； and that justly enough： that it was not fit to fight with a man that desired to die； because those that utterly despaired of deliverance had； besides other passions； a violence in attacking men that could not be opposed； and had no regard to God himself； and that to hazard oneself with a person； whom； if you overcome； you do no great matter； and by whom it is hazardous that you may be taken prisoner； would be an instance； not of manly courage； but of unmanly rashness。 So there being nobody that came out to accept the man's challenge； and the Jew cutting them with a great number of reproaches； as cowards； （for he was a very haughty man in himself； and a great despiser of the Romans；） one whose name was Pudens； of the body of horsemen； out of his abomination of the other's words； and of his impudence withal； and perhaps out of an inconsiderate arrogance； on account of the other's lowness of stature； ran out to him； and was too hard for him in other respects； but was betrayed by his ill fortune； for he fell down； and as he was down； Jonathan came running to him； and cut his throat； and then； standing upon his dead body； he brandished his sword； bloody as it was； and shook his shield with his left hand； and made many acclamations to the Roman army； and exulted over the dead man； and jested upon the Romans； till at length one Priscus； a centurion； shot a dart at him as he was leaping and playing the fool with himself； and thereby pierced him through； upon which a shout was set up both by the Jews and the Romans； though on different accounts。 So Jonathan grew giddy by the pain of his wounds； and fell down upon the body of his adversary； as a plain instance how suddenly vengeance may come upon men that have success in war； without any just deserving the same。 CHAPTER 3。 Concerning A Stratagem That Was Devised By The Jews； By Which They Burnt Many Of The Romans； With Another Description Of The Terrible Famine That Was In The City。
1。 But now the seditious that were in the temple did every day openly endeavor to beat off the soldiers that were upon the banks； and on the twenty…seventh day of the forenamed month ＇Panemus or Tamuz＇ contrived such a stratagem as this： They filled that part of the western cloister （14） which was between the beams； and the roof under them； with dry materials； as also with bitumen and pitch； and then retired from that place； as though they were tired with the pains they had taken； at which procedure of theirs； many of the most inconsiderate among the Romans； who were carried away with violent passions； followed hard after them as they were retiring； and applied ladders to the cloister； and got up to it suddenly； but the prudent part of them； when they understood this unaccountable retreat of the Jews； stood still where they were before。 However； the cloister was full of those that were gone up the ladders； at which time the Jews set it all on fire； and as the flame burst out every where on the sudden； the Romans that were out of the danger were seized with a very great consternation； as were those that were in the midst of the danger in the utmost distress。 So when they perceived themselves surrounded with the flames； some of them threw themselves down backwards into the city； and some among their enemies ＇in the temple＇； as did many leap down to their own men； and broke their limbs to pieces； but a great number of those that were going to take these violent methods were prevented by the fire； though some prevented the fire by their own swords。 However； the fire was on the sudden carried so far as to surround those who would have otherwise perished。 As for Caesar himself； he could not； however； but commiserate those that thus perished； although they got up thither without any order for so doing； since there was no way of giving the many relief。 Yet was this some comfort to those that were destroyed； that every body might see that person grieve； for whose sake they came to their end； for he cried out openly to them； and leaped up； and exhorted those that were about him to do their utmost to relieve them； So every one of them died cheerfully； as carrying along with him these words and this intention of Caesar as a sepulchral monument。 Some there were indeed who retired into the wall of the cloister； which was broad； and were preserved out of the fire； but were then surrounded by the Jews； and although they made resistance against the Jews for a long time； yet were they wounded by them； and at length they all fell down dead。 2。 At the last a young man among them； whose name was Longus； became a decoration to this sad affair； and while every one of them that perished were worthy of a memorial； this man appeared to deserve it beyond all the rest。 Now the Jews admired this man for his courage； and were further desirous of having him slain； so they persuaded him to come down to them； upon security given him for his life。 But Cornelius his brother persuaded him on the contrary； not to tarnish his own glory； nor that of the Roman army。 He complied with this last advice； and lifting up his sword before both armies； he slew himself。 Yet there was one Artorius among those surrounded by the fire who escaped by his subtlety； for when he had with a loud voice called to him Lucius； one of his fellow soldiers that lay with him in the same tent； and said to him； 〃I do leave thee heir of all I have； if thou wilt come and receive me。〃 Upon this he came running to receive him readily； Artorius the