Romans hath made thee forget thyself, we ought to take
care that the glory of our forefathers may not be tarnished. We will
lend thee our right hand and a sword; and if thou wilt die willingly,
thou wilt die as general of the Jews; but if unwillingly, thou wilt die
as a traitor to them." As soon as they said this, they began to thrust
their swords at him, and threatened they would kill him, if he thought
of yielding himself to the Romans.

5. Upon this Josephus was afraid of their attacking him, and yet thought
he should be a betrayer of the commands of God, if he died before they
were delivered. So he began to talk like a philosopher to them in the
distress he was then in, when he said thus to them: "O my friends, why
are we so earnest to kill ourselves? and why do we set our soul and
body, which are such dear companions, at such variance? Can any one
pretend that I am not the man I was formerly? Nay, the Romans are
sensible how that matter stands well enough. It is a brave thin to die
in war; but so that it be according to the law of war, by the hand of
conquerors. If, therefore, I avoid death from the sword of the Romans,
I am truly worthy to be killed by my own sword, and my own hand; but if
they admit of mercy, and would spare their enemy, how much more ought
we to have mercy upon ourselves, and to spare ourselves? For it is
certainly a foolish thing to do that to ourselves which we quarrel with
them for doing to us. I confess freely that it is a brave thing to die
for liberty; but still so that it be in war, and done by those who take
that liberty from us; but in the present case our enemies do neither
meet us in battle, nor do they kill us. Now he is equally a coward who
will not die when he is obliged to die, and he who will die when he is
not obliged so to do. What are we afraid of, when we will not go up
to the Romans? Is it death? If so, what we are afraid of, when we
but suspect our enemies will inflict it on us, shall we inflict it on
ourselves for certain? But it may be said we must be slaves. And are we
then in a clear state of liberty at present? It may also be said that
it is a manly act for one to kill himself. No, certainly, but a most
unmanly one; as I should esteem that pilot to be an arrant coward, who,
out of fear of a storm, should sink his ship of his own accord. Now
self-murder is a crime most remote from the common nature of all
animals, and an instance of impiety against God our Creator; nor i