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[519]
However, when Titus, in going his rounds along those valleys, saw
them full of dead bodies, and the thick putrefaction running about them,
he gave a groan; and, spreading out his hands to heaven, called God to
witness that this was not his doing; and such was the sad case of the city
itself. But the Romans were very joyful, since none of the seditious could
now make sallies out of the city, because they were themselves disconsolate,
and the famine already touched them also. These Romans besides had great
plenty of corn and other necessaries out of Syria, and out of the neighboring
provinces; many of whom would stand near to the wall of the city, and show
the people what great quantities of provisions they had, and so make the
enemy more sensible of their famine, by the great plenty, even to satiety,
which they had themselves. However, when the seditious still showed no
inclinations of yielding, Titus, out of his commiseration of the people
that remained, and out of his earnest desire of rescuing what was still
left out of these miseries, began to raise his banks again, although materials
for them were hard to he come at; for all the trees that were about the
city had been already cut down for the making of the former banks. Yet
did the soldiers bring with them other materials from the distance of ninety
furlongs, and thereby raised banks in four parts, much greater than the
former, though this was done only at the tower of Antonia. So Caesar went
his rounds through the legions, and hastened on the works, and showed the
robbers that they were now in his hands. But these men, and these only,
were incapable of repenting of the wickednesses they had been guilty of;
and separating their souls from their bodies, they used them both as if
they belonged to other folks, and not to themselves. For no gentle affection
could touch their souls, nor could any pain affect their bodies, since
they could still tear the dead bodies of the people as dogs do, and fill
the prisons with those that were sick.
1
1 THE GREAT SLAUGHTERS AND SACRILEGE THAT WERE IN JERUSALEM.
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