he
next also; for the soldiers were not able to burn all the cloisters that
were round about together at one time, but only by pieces.

3. But then, on the next day, Titus commanded part of his army to
quench the fire, and to make a road for the more easy marching up of
the legions, while he himself gathered the commanders together. Of those
there were assembled the six principal persons: Tiberius Alexander, the
commander [under the general] of the whole army; with Sextus Cerealis,
the commander of the fifth legion; and Larcius Lepidus, the commander
of the tenth legion; and Titus Frigius, the commander of the fifteenth
legion: there was also with them Eternius, the leader of the two legions
that came from Alexandria; and Marcus Antonius Julianus, procurator of
Judea: after these came together all the rest of the procurators and
tribunes. Titus proposed to these that they should give him their advice
what should be done about the holy house. Now some of these thought
it would be the best way to act according to the rules of war, [and
demolish it,] because the Jews would never leave off rebelling while
that house was standing; at which house it was that they used to get all
together. Others of them were of opinion, that in case the Jews would
leave it, and none of them would lay their arms up in it, he might save
it; but that in case they got upon it, and fought any more, he might
burn it; because it must then be looked upon not as a holy house, but as
a citadel; and that the impiety of burning it would then belong to
those that forced this to be done, and not to them. But Titus said, that
"although the Jews should get upon that holy house, and fight us thence,
yet ought we not to revenge ourselves on things that are inanimate,
instead of the men themselves;" and that he was not in any case for
burning down so vast a work as that was, because this would be a
mischief to the Romans themselves, as it would be an ornament to their
government while it continued. So Fronto, and Alexander, and Cerealis
grew bold upon that declaration, and agreed to the opinion of Titus.
Then was this assembly dissolved, when Titus had given orders to the
commanders that the rest of their forces should lie still; but that they
should make use of such as were most courageous in this attack. So he
commanded that the chosen men that were taken out of the cohorts should
make their way through the ruins, and quench the fire.

4. Now it is true that