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[326]
Now after these were slain, the zealots and the multitude of the
Idumeans fell upon the people as upon a flock of profane animals, and cut
their throats; and for the ordinary sort, they were destroyed in what place
soever they caught them. But for the noblemen and the youth, they first
caught them and bound them, and shut them up in prison, and put off their
slaughter, in hopes that some of them would turn over to their party; but
not one of them would comply with their desires, but all of them preferred
death before being enrolled among such wicked wretches as acted against
their own country. But this refusal of theirs brought upon them terrible
torments; for they were so scourged and tortured, that their bodies were
not able to sustain their torments, till at length, and with difficulty,
they had the favor to be slain. Those whom they caught in the day time
were slain in the night, and then their bodies were carried out and thrown
away, that there might be room for other prisoners; and the terror that
was upon the people was so great, that no one had courage enough either
to weep openly for the dead man that was related to him, or to bury him;
but those that were shut up in their own houses could only shed tears in
secret, and durst not even groan without great caution, lest any of their
enemies should hear them; for if they did, those that mourned for others
soon underwent the same death with those whom they mourned for. Only in
the night time they would take up a little dust, and throw it upon their
bodies; and even some that were the most ready to expose themselves to
danger would do it in the day time: and there were twelve thousand of the
better sort who perished in this manner.
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