ng
pikes, and were to charge forward, the instant the machines for
mounting the breach were fixed. Behind these were the best of his
infantry, while in their rear were the archers and slingers. Other
parties, with scaling ladders, were to attack the uninjured part of
the wall, and to draw off the attention of the besiegers. The rest
of the horse extended all over the hills round the town, so that
none might make their escape.

Josephus prepared to receive the attack. He placed the old, infirm,
and wounded to repel the attack on the uninjured parts of the wall.
He then chose the five strongest and bravest men and, with them,
took his place to form the front line of the defenders of the
breach. He told them to kneel down and cover their heads with their
bucklers, until the enemy's archers had emptied their quivers and,
when the Romans had fixed the machines for mounting, they were to
leap down among the enemy and fight to the last; remembering that
there was now no hope of safety, naught but to revenge the fate
which was impending over them, their wives and children.

As the Romans mounted to the assault, a terrible cry broke out from
the women. They saw the Romans still manning the lines which cut
off all escape, and they believed that the end was now at hand.
Josephus, fearing that their cries would dispirit the men, ordered
them all to be locked up in their houses, and then calmly awaited
the assault.

The trumpet of the legion sounded, and the whole Roman host set up
a terrible shout while, at the same moment, the air was darkened by
the arrows of their bowmen. Kneeling beneath their bucklers, the
Jews remained calm and immovable; and then, before the Romans had
time to set foot upon the breach, with a yell of fury they rushed
upon them, and threw themselves into the midst of their assailants.
For a time, the Romans could make no way against the desperate
courage of the Jews but, as fast as the leading files fell, fresh
troops took their places; while the Jews, who were vastly reduced
by their losses, had no fresh men to take the place of those who
died.

At last, the solid phalanx of the Romans drove back the defenders,
and entered the breach. But as they did so, from the walls above
and from the breach in front, vessels filled with boiling oil were
hurled down upon them. The Roman ranks were broken; and the men, in
agony, rolled on the ground, unable to escape the burning fluid
which penetrated through the jo