s commanded that the fortress of Antonia should be levelled to
the ground; and then sent Josephus with a message to John of
Gischala, offering him free egress for himself and his men, if he
would come out to fight outside, in order that the Temple might be
saved further defilement. John replied by curses upon Josephus,
whom he denounced as a traitor; and concluded that he feared not
that the city should be taken, for it was the city of God. Then
Titus sent for a number of persons of distinction who had, from
time to time, made their escape from the city; and these attempted,
in vain, to persuade the people--if not to surrender--at least to
spare the Temple from defilement and ruin. Even the Roman soldiers
were adverse to an attack upon a place so long regarded as
pre-eminently holy, and Titus himself harangued the Jews.

"You have put up a barrier," he said, "to prevent strangers from
polluting your Temple. This the Romans have always respected. We
have allowed you to put to death all who violated its precincts;
yet you defile it, yourselves, with blood and carnage. I call on
your gods--I call on my whole army--I call upon the Jews who are
with me--I call on yourselves--to witness that I do not force you
to this crime. Come forth and fight, in any other place, and no
Roman shall violate your sacred edifice."

But John of Gischala, and the Zealots, would hear of no surrender.
They doubted whether Titus would keep his promise, and feared to
surrender the stronghold which was now their last hope. Above all,
they still believed that God would yet interfere to save his
Temple.

Titus, finding that the garrison were obstinate, raised his voice
and called out:

"John--whom I met near Hebron--if you be there, bear witness that I
have striven to keep my oath. I will strive to the end; but blame
me not if, not through my fault, but by the obstinacy of these men,
destruction comes upon the Temple."

John, who was standing within hearing, called out:

"I am here, Titus, and I bear witness; yet, I pray you, strive to
the end to keep the oath which you swore to me."

"What is this oath, John?" Simon, who was standing close by, asked.
"What compact have you with the Roman general?"

"We met in battle, alone," John said, quietly, "and it chanced that
he fell. I might have slain him, but it came to me that it were
better to try to save the Temple, than to slay one of its enemies;
and therefore swore him to save the Temple, if