elayed the matter,
as believing they should get possession of the city in a little time,
without any hazard. But when Titus was just coming thither with his
armed men, Simon was acquainted with the matter before he came,
and presently took the tower into his own custody, before it was
surrendered, and seized upon these men, and put them to death in the
sight of the Romans themselves; and when he had mangled their dead
bodies, he threw them down before the wall of the city.

3. In the mean time, Josephus, as he was going round the city, had his
head wounded by a stone that was thrown at him; upon which he fell down
as giddy. Upon which fall of his the Jews made a sally, and he had been
hurried away into the city, if Caesar had not sent men to protect him
immediately; and as these men were fighting, Josephus was taken up,
though he heard little of what was done. So the seditious supposed they
had now slain that man whom they were the most desirous of killing, and
made thereupon a great noise, in way of rejoicing. This accident
was told in the city, and the multitude that remained became very
disconsolate at the news, as being persuaded that he was really dead, on
whose account alone they could venture to desert to the Romans. But when
Josephus's mother heard in prison that her son was dead, she said to
those that watched about her, That she had always been of opinion, since
the siege of Jotapata, [that he would be slain,] and she should never
enjoy him alive any more. She also made great lamentation privately to
the maid-servants that were about her, and said, That this was all the
advantage she had of bringing so extraordinary a person as this son into
the world; that she should not be able even to bury that son of hers,
by whom she expected to have been buried herself. However, this false
report did not put his mother to pain, nor afford merriment to the
robbers, long; for Josephus soon recovered of his wound, and came
out, and cried out aloud, That it would not be long ere they should
be punished for this wound they had given him. He also made a fresh
exhortation to the people to come out upon the security that would be
given them. This sight of Josephus encouraged the people greatly, and
brought a great consternation upon the seditious.

4. Hereupon some of the deserters, having no other way, leaped down from
the wall immediately, while others of them went out of the city with
stones, as if they would fight them; but