on it that, in the last extremity, I will
do all in my power to save the Temple; and indeed, in no case would
I have injured a building so venerable and holy."

Titus then left the tent, but Josephus remained for some time,
talking with John.

"I suppose you, like all others, have looked upon me as a traitor,
John?" he began.

"Not so," John replied. "I knew that you fought bravely, at
Jotapata; and risked your life many times in its defense I knew,
too, that you from the first opposed the revolt against the Romans,
and it is not for me to judge as to your position among them."

"I am a prisoner," Josephus said. "I am kindly treated, indeed, and
Vespasian frequently asks my opinion of matters connected with the
country; but surely I am doing more good to my countrymen, by
softening his heart towards them, than if I had died at
Jotapata--still more if I had been, like John of Gischala, a
scourge to it. I trust even yet that, through my influence,
Jerusalem may be saved. When the time comes Vespasian will, I hope,
grant terms; and my only fear is that the madness of the people
will lead them to refuse all accommodation, and so force him into
taking the city by storm--in which case it cannot but be that
terrible misery will fall upon it, and that vast numbers will lose
their lives.

"And now, tell me how you are, at home, and what you have been
doing since I last saw you."

John thought it as well not to mention, to Josephus, the prominent
part which he had taken among those who had so harassed the Romans;
but he said that he had joined the bands raised in Galilee, and had
been among those who had hung upon the Roman flank and rear,
wherever they marched.

"The Jews have behaved with prudence and valor," Josephus said,
"and I now see that it would have been far better had I trusted
more in mountain warfare, than in fenced cities; but it would have
been the same, in the end. I know the Jews. They would have fought
bravely, for a time; but the thought of each would have turned to
his farm and his vineyard, and they would never have kept the field
for any length of time. The Romans therefore would, in the end,
have tired them out and, perhaps, the fate which has befallen the
cities that resisted would have fallen upon all the land.

"And now remember that, although but a prisoner, I have much
influence with Vespasian; and that at any time, should you fall
into their hands again, I will exert that influence in your