re he had been with Nero, to Alexandria, to bring
back with him from thence the fifth and the tenth legions, while he
himself, when he had passed over the Hellespont, came by land into
Syria, where he gathered together the Roman forces, with a considerable
number of auxiliaries from the kings in that neighborhood.

CHAPTER 2.

A Great Slaughter About Ascalon. Vespasian Comes To
Ptolemais.

1. Now the Jews, after they had beaten Cestius, were so much elevated
with their unexpected success, that they could not govern their zeal,
but, like people blown up into a flame by their good fortune, carried
the war to remoter places. Accordingly, they presently got together a
great multitude of all their most hardy soldiers, and marched away for
Ascalon. This is an ancient city that is distant from Jerusalem five
hundred and twenty furlongs, and was always an enemy to the Jews; on
which account they determined to make their first effort against it, and
to make their approaches to it as near as possible. This excursion was
led on by three men, who were the chief of them all, both for strength
and sagacity; Niger, called the Persite, Silas of Babylon, and besides
them John the Essene. Now Ascalon was strongly walled about, but had
almost no assistance to be relied on [near them], for the garrison
consisted of one cohort of footmen, and one troop of horsemen, whose
captain was Antonius.

2. These Jews, therefore, out of their anger, marched faster than
ordinary, and, as if they had come but a little way, approached very
near the city, and were come even to it; but Antonius, who was not
unapprized of the attack they were going to make upon the city, drew out
his horsemen beforehand, and being neither daunted at the multitude,
nor at the courage of the enemy, received their first attacks with great
bravery; and when they crowded to the very walls, he beat them off. Now
the Jews were unskillful in war, but were to fight with those who were
skillful therein; they were footmen to fight with horsemen; they were
in disorder, to fight those that were united together; they were poorly
armed, to fight those that were completely so; they were to fight more
by their rage than by sober counsel, and were exposed to soldiers that
were exactly obedient; and did every thing they were bidden upon the
least intimation. So they were easily beaten; for as soon as ever
their first ranks were once in disorder, they were put to flight by th