ght thing to reason justly, and not add to
the calamities which men bring upon us impiety towards our Creator. If
we have a mind to preserve ourselves, let us do it; for to be preserved
by those our enemies, to whom we have given so many demonstrations of
our courage, is no way inglorious; but if we have a mind to die, it is
good to die by the hand of those that have conquered us. For nay part, I
will not run over to our enemies' quarters, in order to be a traitor to
myself; for certainly I should then be much more foolish than those that
deserted to the enemy, since they did it in order to save themselves,
and I should do it for destruction, for my own destruction. However, I
heartily wish the Romans may prove treacherous in this matter; for if,
after their offer of their right hand for security, I be slain by
them, I shall die cheerfully, and carry away with me the sense of their
perfidiousness, as a consolation greater than victory itself."

6. Now
these and many the like motives did Josephus use to these men to prevent
their murdering themselves; but desperation had shut their ears, as
having long ago devoted themselves to die, and they were irritated at
Josephus. They then ran upon him with their swords in their hands, one
from one quarter, and another from another, and called him a coward, and
everyone of them appeared openly as if he were ready to smite him;
but he calling to one of them by name, and looking like a general to
another, and taking a third by the hand, and making a fourth ashamed
of himself, by praying him to forbear, and being in this condition
distracted with various passions, [as he well might in the great
distress he was then in,] he kept off every one of their swords
from killing him, and was forced to do like such wild beasts as are
encompassed about on every side, who always turn themselves against
those that last touched them. Nay, some of their right hands were
debilitated by the reverence they bare to their general in these his
fatal calamities, and their swords dropped out of their hands; and not
a few of them there were, who, when they aimed to smite him with their
swords, they were not thoroughly either willing or able to do it.

7. However, in this extreme distress, he was not destitute of his usual
sagacity; but trusting himself to the providence of God, he put his life
into hazard [in the manner following]: "And now," said he, "since it is
resolved among you that you will die, come