them to surrender, to save themselves, their city, and
their place of worship. But his words were answered with bitter curses.
Darts were hurled at him, their last human mediator, as he stood pleading
with them. The Jews had rejected the entreaties of the Son of God, and now
expostulation and entreaty only made them more determined to resist to the
last. In vain were the efforts of Titus to save the temple; One greater
than he had declared that not one stone was to be left upon another.

The blind obstinacy of the Jewish leaders, and the detestable crimes
perpetrated within the besieged city, excited the horror and indignation
of the Romans, and Titus at last decided to take the temple by storm. He
determined, however, that if possible it should be saved from destruction.
But his commands were disregarded. After he had retired to his tent at
night, the Jews, sallying from the temple, attacked the soldiers without.
In the struggle, a firebrand was flung by a soldier through an opening in
the porch, and immediately the cedar-lined chambers about the holy house
were in a blaze. Titus rushed to the place, followed by his generals and
legionaries, and commanded the soldiers to quench the flames. His words
were unheeded. In their fury the soldiers hurled blazing brands into the
chambers adjoining the temple, and then with their swords they slaughtered
in great numbers those who had found shelter there. Blood flowed down the
temple steps like water. Thousands upon thousands of Jews perished. Above
the sound of battle, voices were heard shouting, "Ichabod!"--the glory is
departed.

"Titus found it impossible to check the rage of the soldiery; he entered
with his officers, and surveyed the interior of the sacred edifice. The
splendor filled them with wonder; and as the flames had not yet penetrated
to the holy place, he made a last effort to save it, and springing forth,
again exhorted the soldiers to stay the progress of the conflagration. The
centurion Liberalis endeavored to force obedience with his staff of
office; but even respect for the emperor gave way to the furious animosity
against the Jews, to the fierce excitement of battle, and to the
insatiable hope of plunder. The soldiers saw everything around them
radiant with gold, which shone dazzlingly in the wild light of the flames;
they supposed that incalculable treasures were laid up in the sanctuary. A
soldier, unperceived, thrust a lighted torch between the hinges of