t, and look down
upon the same Temple area, and think of the Holy and Beautiful House, as
it appeared before the sad prophecy had been fulfilled.

On this spot the poet Milman makes Titus to stand just before the
destruction of Jerusalem, with determination and yet with misgiving,
looking down on the city in its pride and the Temple in its
gorgeousness, and saying:

"Yon proud City!
As on our Olive-crowned hill we stand,
Where Kidron at our feet its scanty waters
Distills from stone to stone with gentle motion,
As through a valley sacred to sweet Peace,
How boldly doth it front us! How majestically!
Like as a luxurious vineyard, the hillside
Is hung with marble fabrics, line o'er line,
Terrace o'er terrace, nearer still, and nearer
To the blue Heavens. Here bright and sumptuous palaces,
With cool and verdant gardens interspersed;
Here towers of war that frown in massy strength;
While over all hangs the rich purple eve,
As conscious of its being her last farewell
Of light and glory to the fated city.
And as our clouds of battle, dust and smoke
Are melted into air, behold the Temple
In undisturbed and lone serenity,
Finding itself a solemn sanctuary
In the profound of Heaven! It stands before us
A mount of snow, fettered with golden pinnacles!
The very sun, as though he worshiped there,
Lingers upon the gilded cedar roofs;
And down the long and branching porticoes,
On every flowery, sculptured capital,
Glitters the homage of His parting beams.
.... The sight might almost win
The offended majesty of Rome to mercy."

But Roman majesty was not to be won to mercy. To the Twelve, Christ had
foretold the destruction of the city. And now when the four were alone
with Him, they "asked Him privately, tell us when shall these things
be." For wise reasons Jesus did not tell. But one of them at least would
learn both when and what these things would be. This was John. His
tender and loving heart was to bleed with the horrible story of the fall
of Jerusalem. There hunger and famine would be so dire that mothers
would slay and devour their own children. Multitudes would die of
disease and pestilence. Rage and madness would make the city like a cage
of wild beasts. Thousands would be carried away into captivity. The most
beautiful youths would be kept to show the triumph of their conquer