*  Antonia  was  a  castle  built  by  Herod  in  honor  of  his  friend
Anthony,  near  the  temple,  at  the  northwest  comer,  on  an  inacces-
sible rock  fifty  cubits  high ;  and  the  castle  upon  it  was  forty  cubits
more ;  it  was  four-square,  with  four  towers  at  the  comers,  com-
manding all  the  temple,  into  which  there  were  also  secret  passages
from  it.  See  the  description  of  it,  Joseph.  Antiq.,  lib.  6,  cap.  7.
But  not  only  the  Roman  banners,  which  the  Jews  looked  upon  as
idols,  and  perhaps  they  were  not  mistaken,  might  offend  the
Zealots,  when  waving  on  the  towers  so  near  their  temple;  but
Josephus  says  in  his  Antiq.,  lib.  17,  cap.  18,  "that  Herod  did  really
erect  a  golden  eagle,  of  an  almost  inestimable  value,  on  the  very
portal  of  the  temple ;  which  Judas  and  Matthias,  two  brave  young
men,  and  zealous  for  .their  law,  were  so  much  offended  at,  that
they  got  their  friends  together,  and  cut  it  all  to  pieces  with  their
swords  and  axes,Jthough  it  cost  many  of  their  lives."

*This  seems  the  most  natural  interpretation  of  the  sceptre's
departing  from  Judah ;  that  is,  the  legislative  power,  which  till
now  remained  with  those  two  tribes  that  returned  from  captivity.
16


The  Life  of  Christ

Her  sons,  oppressed,  are  servile  clients  made,
And  all  their  wealth  is  drained  for  foreign  aid.
The  shattered  remnants  of  the  public  spoils
This  robber  left  us  to  reward  our  toils.
You  know  our  bold,  our  unsuccessful  fight.
But  desperate  stand,  beneath  the  Gaulonite;
What  numbers  perished  in  the  glorious  strife.
Through  patriot  virtue  or  contempt  of  life;
What  floods  of  gore  forsook  our  heroes'  veins
To  dress  the  soil  and  dye  their  native  plains.
