was in the metropolis,. had the wicked men that were in the country
opportunity to ravage the same. Accordingly, when every one of them had
plundered their own villages, they then retired into the desert; yet
were these men that now got together, and joined in the conspiracy by
parties, too small for an army, and too many for a gang of thieves: and
thus did they fall upon the holy places [11] and the cities; yet did it
now so happen that they were sometimes very ill treated by those upon
whom they fell with such violence, and were taken by them as men are
taken in war: but still they prevented any further punishment as do
robbers, who, as soon as their ravages [are discovered], run their
way. Nor was there now any part of Judea that was not in a miserable
condition, as well as its most eminent city also.

3. These things were told Vespasian by deserters; for although the
seditious watched all the passages out of the city, and destroyed all,
whosoever they were, that came thither, yet were there some that had
concealed themselves, and when they had fled to the Romans, persuaded
their general to come to their city's assistance, and save the remainder
of the people; informing him withal, that it was upon account of the
people's good-will to the Romans that many of them were already slain,
and the survivors in danger of the same treatment. Vespasian did indeed
already pity the calamities these men were in, and arose, in appearance,
as though he was going to besiege Jerusalem, but in reality to deliver
them from a [worse] siege they were already under. However, he was
obliged first to overthrow what remained elsewhere, and to leave nothing
out of Jerusalem behind him that might interrupt him in that siege.
Accordingly, he marched against Gadara, the metropolis of Perea, which
was a place of strength, and entered that city on the fourth day of the
month Dystrus [Adar]; for the men of power had sent an embassage to
him, without the knowledge of the seditious, to treat about a surrender;
which they did out of the desire they had of peace, and for saving their
effects, because many of the citizens of Gadara were rich men. This
embassy the opposite party knew nothing of, but discovered it as
Vespasian was approaching near the city. However, they despaired of
keeping possession of the city, as being inferior in number to their
enemies who were within the city, and seeing the Romans very near to
the city; so they resolved to fly,