, when the fate of Jotapata was related at Jerusalem, a great
many at the first disbelieved it, on account of the vastness of the
calamity, and because they had no eye-witness to attest the truth
of what was related about it; for not one person was saved to be a
messenger of that news, but a fame was spread abroad at random that the
city was taken, as such fame usually spreads bad news about. However,
the truth was known by degrees, from the places near Jotapata, and
appeared to all to be too true. Yet were there fictitious stories added
to what was really done; for it was reported that Josephus was slain
at the taking of the city, which piece of news filled Jerusalem full of
sorrow. In every house also, and among all to whom any of the slain
were allied, there was a lamentation for them; but the mourning for the
commander was a public one; and some mourned for those that had lived
with them, others for their kindred, others for their friends, and
others for their brethren, but all mourned for Josephus; insomuch that
the lamentation did not cease in the city before the thirtieth day; and
a great many hired mourners,[5] with their pipes, who should begin the
melancholy ditties for them.

6. But as the truth came out in time, it appeared how the affairs of
Jotapata really stood; yet was it found that the death of Josephus was
a fiction; and when they understood that he was alive, and was among the
Romans, and that the commanders treated him at another rate than they
treated captives, they were as vehemently angry at him now as they had
showed their good-will before, when he appeared to have been dead. He
was also abused by some as having been a coward, and by others as a
deserter; and the city was full of indignation at him, and of reproaches
cast upon him; their rage was also aggravated by their afflictions, and
more inflamed by their ill success; and what usually becomes an occasion
of caution to wise men, I mean affliction, became a spur to them to
venture on further calamities, and the end of one misery became still
the beginning of another; they therefore resolved to fall on the Romans
the more vehemently, as resolving to be revenged on him in revenging
themselves on the Romans. And this was the state of Jerusalem as to the
troubles which now came upon it.

7. But Vespasian, in order to see the kingdom of Agrippa, while the king
persuaded himself so to do, [partly in order to his treating the general
and his army in