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[345]
So they came and invited the man to come up, and gave him assurances
that his life should be preserved: but they did not prevail with him; for
he gathered suspicions from the probability there was that one who had
done so many things against the Romans must suffer for it, though not from
the mild temper of those that invited him. However, he was afraid that
he was invited to come up in order to be punished, until Vespasian sent
besides these a third tribune, Nicanor, to him; he was one that was well
known to Josephus, and had been his familiar acquaintance in old time.
When he was come, he enlarged upon the natural mildness of the Romans towards
those they have once conquered; and told him that he had behaved himself
so valiantly, that the commanders rather admired than hated him; that the
general was very desirous to have him brought to him, not in order to punish
him, for that he could do though he should not come voluntarily, but that
he was determined to preserve a man of his courage. He moreover added this,
that Vespasian, had he been resolved to impose upon him, would not have
sent to him a friend of his own, nor put the fairest color upon the vilest
action, by pretending friendship and meaning perfidiousness; nor would
he have himself acquiesced, or come to him, had it been to deceive him.
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