Being  sensible  that  the  Jews  possessed  a  re-
markable fidelity  to  each  other,  which  the  most
4M*


52i


JEWISH  HISTORY.
suppressed  every  sentiment  of  hunianity^Rid
compassion  in  the  breasts  of  tlic  con(|uerors,  who
threw  many  of  tiie  Jews  from  the  top  of  the  fort;
others  who  liad  courage  and  inclination  to  offer
resistance,  were  either  pressed  to  death  by  the
immense  crowds  of  the  enemy,  or  forced  down
precipices,  and  killed  by  the  ruins  w  Inch  fill  from
above.  Many  of  Josrphus'  particular  friends,
being  unwilling  that  the  Romans  should  acquire
the  reputation  of  taking  away  their  lives,  re-
tired to  a  remote  part  of  the  city,  where  they
died  by  the  hands  of  each  other.
Such  of  the  guards  as  first  observed  the  city
to  be  taken,  fled  to  a  turret  towards  the  north,
\\  here  they  were  attacked  by  the  enemy,  against
whom  they  for  some  lime  made  a  good  ilefence :
but  being  oppressed  by  numbers,  they  offered  to
capitulate.  1  heir  proposals,  however,  were  re-
jected, and  they  died  with  great  resolution.
The  Romans  might  have  valued  themselves
on  gaining  the  victory  without  the  loss  of  blood
on  their  side,  had  it  not  been  for  the  fate  of  An-
tony, a  centurion,  who  was  tr£acherously  mur-
dered in  the  following  manner.  A  number  of
Jews  having  fleti  for  refuge  to  the  caves,  one  of
them  called  to  Antony  for  quarter.  The  cen-
turion innncdiately  stretched  Ibrlh  his  right  hand,
thereby  indicating  his  compliance ;  when  the
Jew  basely  stabbed  iiim  in  the  groin  with  a  dag-
ger, and  caused  his  death.
