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[197]
Hereupon Josephus avoided letting them know that he was to go away
to provide for his own safety, but told them that he would go out of the
city for their sakes; for that if he staid with them, he should be able
to do them little good while they were in a safe condition; and that if
they were once taken, he should only perish with them to no purpose; but
that if he were once gotten free from this siege, he should be able to
bring them very great relief; for that he would then immediately get the
Galileans together, out of the country, in great multitudes, and draw the
Romans off their city by another war. That he did not see what advantge
he could bring to them now, by staying among them, but only provoke the
Romans to besiege them more closely, as esteeming it a most valuable thing
to take him; but that if they were once informed that he was fled out of
the city, they would greatly remit of their eagerness against it. Yet did
not this plea move the people, but inflamed them the more to hang about
him. Accordingly, both the children and the old men, and the women with
their infants, came mourning to him, and fell down before him, and all
of them caught hold of his feet, and held him fast, and besought him, with
great lamentations, that he would take his share with them in their fortune;
and I think they did this, not that they envied his deliverance, but that
they hoped for their own; for they could not think they should suffer any
great misfortune, provided Josephus would but stay with them.
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