suffering any incurable
disaster in the present case; for those that are ready to assist us
are many, and at hand also; yet it is in our power to seize upon this
victory ourselves; and I think we ought to prevent the coming of those
my father is sending to us for our assistance, that our success may be
peculiar to ourselves, and of greater reputation to us. And I cannot but
think this an opportunity wherein my father, and I, and you shall be
all put to the trial, whether he be worthy of his former glorious
performances, whether I be his son in reality, and whether you be really
my soldiers; for it is usual for my father to conquer; and for myself, I
should not bear the thoughts of returning to him if I were once taken
by the enemy. And how will you be able to avoid being ashamed, if you do
not show equal courage with your commander, when he goes before you into
danger? For you know very well that I shall go into the danger first,
and make the first attack upon the enemy. Do not you therefore desert
me, but persuade yourselves that God will be assisting to my onset. Know
this also before we begin, that we shall now have better success than we
should have, if we were to fight at a distance."

3. As Titus was saying this, an extraordinary fury fell upon the men;
and as Trajan was already come before the fight began, with four hundred
horsemen, they were uneasy at it, because the reputation of the victory
would be diminished by being common to so many. Vespasian had also sent
both Antonius and Silo, with two thousand archers, and had given it them
in charge to seize upon the mountain that was over against the city,
and repel those that were upon the wall; which archers did as they were
commanded, and prevented those that attempted to assist them that way;
And now Titus made his own horse march first against the enemy, as did
the others with a great noise after him, and extended themselves upon
the plain as wide as the enemy which confronted them; by which means
they appeared much more numerous than they really were. Now the Jews,
although they were surprised at their onset, and at their good order,
made resistance against their attacks for a little while; but when they
were pricked with their long poles, and overborne by the violent noise
of the horsemen, they came to be trampled under their feet; many also of
them were slain on every side, which made them disperse themselves,
and run to the city, as fast as every one of th