ter an ignominious manner, with their
children, these are not such evils as are natural and necessary among
men; although such as do not prefer death before those miseries, when it
is in their power so to do, must undergo even them, on account of their
own cowardice. We revolted from the Romans with great pretensions
to courage; and when, at the very last, they invited us to preserve
ourselves, we would not comply with them. Who will not, therefore,
believe that they will certainly be in a rage at us, in case they can
take us alive? Miserable will then be the young men who will be strong
enough in their bodies to sustain many torments! miserable also will
be those of elder years, who will not be able to bear those calamities
which young men might sustain! One man will be obliged to hear the voice
of his son implore help of his father, when his hands are bound. But
certainly our hands are still at liberty, and have a sword in them; let
them then be subservient to us in our glorious design; let us die before
we become slaves under our enemies, and let us go out of the world,
together with our children and our wives, in a state of freedom. This it
is that our laws command us to do this it is that our wives and children
crave at our hands; nay, God himself hath brought this necessity upon
us; while the Romans desire the contrary, and are afraid lest any of us
should die before we are taken. Let us therefore make haste, and instead
of affording them so much pleasure, as they hope for in getting us under
their power, let us leave them an example which shall at once cause
their astonishment at our death, and their admiration of our hardiness
therein."

CHAPTER 9.

How The People That Were In The Fortress Were Prevailed On
By The Words Of Eleazar, Two Women And Five Children Only
Excepted And All Submitted To Be Killed By One Another.

1. Now as Eleazar was proceeding on in this exhortation, they all
cut him off short, and made haste to do the work, as full of an
unconquerable ardor of mind, and moved with a demoniacal fury. So they
went their ways, as one still endeavoring to be before another, and as
thinking that this eagerness would be a demonstration of their courage
and good conduct, if they could avoid appearing in the last class; so
great was the zeal they were in to slay their wives and children, and
themselves also! Nor indeed, when they came to the work itself, did
their courage fail them, as on