o escape our hands
hitherto; but as for the Jews, that I may speak of them too, though they
have been already beaten, yet do they not give up the cause; and a sad
thing it would be for us to grow wealthy under good success, when they
bear up under their misfortunes. As to the alacrity which you show
publicly, I see it, and rejoice at it; yet am I afraid lest the
multitude of the enemy should bring a concealed fright upon some of you:
let such a one consider again, who we are that are to fight, and who
those are against whom we are to fight. Now these Jews, though they be
very bold and great despisers of death, are but a disorderly body, and
unskillful in war, and may rather be called a rout than an army; while I
need say nothing of our skill and our good order; for this is the reason
why we Romans alone are exercised for war in time of peace, that we may
not think of number for number when we come to fight with our enemies:
for what advantage should we reap by our continual sort of warfare, if
we must still be equal in number to such as have not been used to war.
Consider further, that you are to have a conflict with men in effect
unarmed, while you are well armed; with footmen, while you are horsemen;
with those that have no good general, while you have one; and as these
advantages make you in effect manifold more than you are, so do
their disadvantages mightily diminish their number. Now it is not
the multitude of men, though they be soldiers, that manages wars with
success, but it is their bravery that does it, though they be but a
few; for a few are easily set in battle-array, and can easily assist one
another, while over-numerous armies are more hurt by themselves than by
their enemies. It is boldness and rashness, the effects of madness, that
conduct the Jews. Those passions indeed make a great figure when they
succeed, but are quite extinguished upon the least ill success; but we
are led on by courage, and obedience, and fortitude, which shows itself
indeed in our good fortune, but still does not for ever desert us in our
ill fortune. Nay, indeed, your fighting is to be on greater motives than
those of the Jews; for although they run the hazard of war for liberty,
and for their country, yet what can be a greater motive to us than
glory? and that it may never be said, that after we have got dominion
of the habitable earth, the Jews are able to confront us. We must also
reflect upon this, that there is no fear of our