at are already dead in the
war, it is reasonable we should esteem them blessed, for they are
dead in defending, and not in betraying their liberty; but as to the
multitude of those that are now under the Romans, who would not pity
their condition? and who would not make haste to die, before he would
suffer the same miseries with them? Some of them have been put upon the
rack, and tortured with fire and whippings, and so died. Some have been
half devoured by wild beasts, and yet have been reserved alive to be
devoured by them a second time, in order to afford laughter and sport to
our enemies; and such of those as are alive still are to be looked on as
the most miserable, who, being so desirous of death, could not come
at it. And where is now that great city, the metropolis of the Jewish
nation, which was fortified by so many walls round about, which had
so many fortresses and large towers to defend it, which could hardly
contain the instruments prepared for the war, and which had so many ten
thousands of men to fight for it? Where is this city that was believed
to have God himself inhabiting therein? It is now demolished to the very
foundations, and hath nothing but that monument of it preserved, I mean
the camp of those that hath destroyed it, which still dwells upon its
ruins; some unfortunate old men also lie upon the ashes of the temple,
and a few women are there preserved alive by the enemy, for our bitter
shame and reproach. Now who is there that revolves these things in his
mind, and yet is able to bear the sight of the sun, though he might live
out of danger? Who is there so much his country's enemy, or so unmanly,
and so desirous of living, as not to repent that he is still alive? And
I cannot but wish that we had all died before we had seen that holy city
demolished by the hands of our enemies, or the foundations of our holy
temple dug up after so profane a manner. But since we had a generous
hope that deluded us, as if we might perhaps have been able to avenge
ourselves on our enemies on that account, though it be now become
vanity, and hath left us alone in this distress, let us make haste to
die bravely. Let us pity ourselves, our children, and our wives while it
is in our own power to show pity to them; for we were born to die, [17]
as well as those were whom we have begotten; nor is it in the power of
the most happy of our race to avoid it. But for abuses, and slavery, and
the sight of our wives led away af