giving
ground, and ill a sad condition, [for he stood by Titus at the tower of
Antonia,] leaped out, and of himself alone put the Jews to flight, when
they were already conquerors, and made them retire as far as the corner
of the inner court of the temple; from him the multitude fled away in
crowds, as supposing that neither his strength nor his violent attacks
could be those of a mere man. Accordingly, he rushed through the midst
of the Jews, as they were dispersed all abroad, and killed those that he
caught. Nor, indeed, was there any sight that appeared more wonderful in
the eyes of Caesar, or more terrible to others, than this. However, he
was himself pursued by fate, which it all not possible that he, who was
but a mortal man, should escape; for as he had shoes all full of thick
and sharp nails [4] as had every one of the other soldiers, so when he
ran on the pavement of the temple, he slipped, and fell down upon his
back with a very great noise, which was made by his armor. This made
those that were running away to turn back; whereupon those Romans that
were in the tower of Antonia set up a great shout, as they were in fear
for the man. But the Jews got about him in crowds, and struck at him
with their spears and with their swords on all sides. Now he received
a great many of the strokes of these iron weapons upon his shield,
and often attempted to get up again, but was thrown down by those that
struck at him; yet did he, as he lay along, stab many of them with his
sword. Nor was he soon killed, as being covered with his helmet and his
breastplate in all those parts of his body where he might be mortally
wounded; he also pulled his neck close to his body, till all his other
limbs were shattered, and nobody durst come to defend him, and then he
yielded to his fate. Now Caesar was deeply affected on account of this
man of so great fortitude, and especially as he was killed in the sight
of so many people; he was desirous himself to come to his assistance,
but the place would not give him leave, while such as could have done
it were too much terrified to attempt it. Thus when Julian had struggled
with death a great while, and had let but few of those that had given
him his mortal wound go off unhurt, he had at last his throat cut,
though not without some difficulty, and left behind him a very great
fame, not only among the Romans, and with Caesar himself, but among
his enemies also; then did the Jews catch up his dead