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And now Titus, upon consideration that the alacrity of soldiers in
war is chiefly excited by hopes and by good words, and that exhortations
and promises do frequently make men to forget the hazards they run, nay,
sometimes to despise death itself, got together the most courageous part
of his army, and tried what he could do with his men by these methods.
"O fellow soldiers," said he, "to make an exhortation to
men to do what hath no peril in it, is on that very account inglorious
to such to whom that exhortation is made; and indeed so it is in him that
makes the exhortation, an argument of his own cowardice also. I therefore
think that such exhortations ought then only to be made use of when affairs
are in a dangerous condition, and yet are worthy of being attempted by
every one themselves; accordingly, I am fully of the same opinion with
you, that it is a difficult task to go up this wall; but that it is proper
for those that desire reputation for their valor to struggle with difficulties
in such cases will then appear, when I have particularly shown that it
is a brave thing to die with glory, and that the courage here necessary
shall not go unrewarded in those that first begin the attempt. And let
my first argument to move you to it be taken from what probably some would
think reasonable to dissuade you, I mean the constancy and patience of
these Jews, even under their ill successes; for it is unbecoming you, who
are Romans and my soldiers, who have in peace been taught how to make wars,
and who have also been used to conquer in those wars, to be inferior to
Jews, either in action of the hand, or in courage of the soul, and this
especially when you are at the conclusion of your victory, and are assisted
by God himself; for as to our misfortunes, they have been owing to the
madness of the Jews, while their sufferings have been owing to your valor,
and to the assistance God hath afforded you; for as to the seditions they
have been in, and the famine they are under, and the siege they now endure,
and the fall of their walls without our engines, what can they all be but
demonstrations of God's anger against them, and of his assistance afforded
us? It will not therefore be proper for you, either to show yourselves
inferior to those to whom you are really superior, or to betray that Divine
assistance which is afforded you. And, indeed, how can it be esteemed otherwise
than a base and unworthy thing, that while the Jews, who need not be much
ashamed if they be deserted, because they have long learned to be slaves
to others, do yet despise death, that they may be so no longer; and do
make sallies into the very midst of us frequently, no in hopes of conquering
us, but merely for a demonstration of their courage; we, who have gotten
possession of almost all the world that belongs to either land or sea,
to whom it will be a great shame if we do not conquer them, do not once
undertake any attempt against our enemies wherein there is much danger,
but sit still idle, with such brave arms as we have, and only wait till
the famine and fortune do our business themselves, and this when we have
it in our power, with some small hazard, to gain all that we desire! For
if we go up to this tower of Antonia, we gain the city; for if there should
be any more occasion for fighting against those within the city, which
I do not suppose there will, since we shall then be upon the top of the
hill
1
and be upon our enemies before they can have taken breath, these advantages
promise us no less than a certain and sudden victory. As for myself, I
shall at present wave any commendation of those who die in war,
2
and omit to speak of the immortality of those men who are slain in the
midst of their martial bravery; yet cannot I forbear to imprecate upon
those who are of a contrary disposition, that they may die in time of peace,
by some distemper or other, since their souls are condemned to the grave,
together with their bodies. For what man of virtue is there who does not
know, that those souls which are severed from their fleshly bodies in battles
by the sword are received by the ether, that purest of elements, and joined
to that company which are placed among the stars; that they become good
demons, and propitious heroes, and show themselves as such to their posterity
afterwards? while upon those souls that wear away in and with their distempered
bodies comes a subterranean night to dissolve them to nothing, and a deep
oblivion to take away all the remembrance of them, and this notwithstanding
they be clean from all spots and defilements of this world; so that, in
this ease, the soul at the same time comes to the utmost bounds of its
life, and of its body, and of its memorial also. But since he hath determined
that death is to come of necessity upon all men, a sword is a better instrument
for that purpose than any disease whatsoever. Why is it not then a very
mean thing for us not to yield up that to the public benefit which we must
yield up to fate? And this discourse have I made, upon the supposition
that those who at first attempt to go upon this wall must needs be killed
in the attempt, though still men of true courage have a chance to escape
even in the most hazardous undertakings. For, in the first place, that
part of the former wall that is thrown down is easily to be ascended; and
for the new-built wall, it is easily destroyed. Do you, therefore, many
of you, pull up your courage, and set about this work, and do you mutually
encourage and assist one another; and this your bravery will soon break
the hearts of your enemies; and perhaps such a glorious undertaking as
yours is may be accomplished without bloodshed. For although it be justly
to be supposed that the Jews will try to hinder you at your first beginning
to go up to them; yet when you have once concealed yourselves from them,
and driven them away by force, they will not be able to sustain your efforts
against them any longer, though but a few of you prevent them, and get
over the wall. As for that person who first mounts the wall, I should blush
for shame if I did not make him to be envied of others, by those rewards
I would bestow upon him. If such a one escape with his life, he shall have
the command of others that are now but his equals; although it be true
also that the greatest rewards will accrue to such as die in the attempt."
3