the life of flavius josephus-第10节
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to them。 I ordered; therefore; the multitude to restrain entirely
their acclamations; and placed the most faithful of my armed men
upon the avenues; to be a guard to us; lest John should
unexpected fall upon us; and I encouraged the Galileans to take
their weapons; lest they should be disturbed at their enemies; if
any sudden insult should be made upon them。 And then; in the
first place; I put Jonathan and his partners in mind of their
'former' letter; and after what manner they had written to me;
and declared they were sent by the common consent to the people
of Jerusalem; to make up the differences I had with John; and how
they had desired me to come to them; and as I spake thus; I
publicly showed that letter they had written; till they could not
at all deny what they had done; the letter itself convicting
them。 I then said; 〃O Jonathan! and you that are sent with him as
his colleagues; if I were to be judged as to my behavior;
compared with that of John's; and had brought no more than two or
three witnesses; (20) good men and true; it is plain you had been
forced; upon the examination of their characters beforehand; to
discharge the accusations: that therefore you may be informed
that I have acted well in the affairs of Galilee; I think three
witnesses too few to be brought by a man that hath done as he
ought to do; so I gave you all these for witnesses。 Inquire of
them (21) how I have lived; and whether I have not behaved myself
with all decency; and after a virtuous manner; among them。 And I
further conjure you; O Galileans! to hide no part of the truth;
but to speak before these men as before judges; whether I have in
any thing acted otherwise than well。〃
50。 While I was thus speaking; the united voices of all the
people joined together; and called me their benefactor and
savior; and attested to my former behavior; and exhorted me to
continue so to do hereafter; and they all said; upon their oaths;
that their wives had been preserved free from injuries; and that
no one had ever been aggrieved by me。 After this; I read to the
Galileans two of those epistles which had been sent by Jonathan
and his colleagues; and which those whom I had appointed to guard
the road had taken; and sent to me。 These were full of
reproaches; and of lies; as if I had acted more like a tyrant
than a governor against them; with many other things besides
therein contained; which were no better indeed than impudent
falsities。 I also informed the multitude how I came by these
letters; and that those who carried them delivered them up
voluntarily; for I was not willing that my enemies should know
any thing of the guards I had set; lest they should be afraid;
and leave off writing hereafter。
51。 When the multitude heard these things; they were greatly
provoked at Jonathan; and his colleagues that were with him; and
were going to attack them; and kill them; and this they had
certainly done; unless I had restrained the anger of the
Galileans; and said; that〃 I forgave Jonathan and his colleagues
what was past; if they would repent; and go to their own country;
and tell those who sent them the truth; as to my conduct。〃 When I
had said this; I let them go; although I knew they would do
nothing of what they had promised。 But the multitude were very
much enraged against them; and entreated me to give them leave to
punish them for their insolence; yet did I try all methods to
persuade them to spare the men; for I knew that every instance of
sedition was pernicious to the public welfare。 But the multitude
was too angry with them to be dissuaded; and all of them went
immediately to the house in which Jonathan and his colleagues
abode。 However; when I perceived that their rage could not be
restrained; I got on horseback; and ordered the multitude to
follow me to the village Sogane; which was twenty furlongs off
Gabara; and by using this stratagem; I so managed myself; as not
to appear to begin a civil war ;amongst them。
52。 But when I was come near Sogane; I caused the multitude to
make a halt; and exhorted them not to be so easily provoked to
anger; and to the inflicting such punishments as could not be
afterwards recalled: I also gave order; that a hundred men; who
were already in years; and were principal men among them; should
get themselves ready to go to the city of Jerusalem; and should
。make a complaint before the people of such as raised seditions
in the country。 And I said to them; that〃 in case they be moved
with what you say; you shall desire the community to write to me;
and to enjoin me to continue in Galilee; and to order Jonathan
and his colleagues to depart out of it。〃 When I had suggested
these instructions to them; and while they were getting
themselves ready as fast as they could; I sent them on this
errand the third day after they had been assembled: I also sent
five hundred armed men with them 'as a guard'。 I then wrote to my
friends in Samaria; to take care that they might safely pass
through the country: for Samaria was already under the Romans;
and it was absolutely necessary for those that go quickly 'to
Jerusalem' to pass through that country; for in that road you
may; in three days' time; go from Galilee to Jerusalem。 I also
went myself; and conducted the old men as far as the bounds of
Galilee; and set guards in the roads; that it might not be easily
known by any one that these men were gone。 And when I had thus
done; I went and abode at Japha。
53。 Now Jonathan and his colleagues; having failed of
accomplishing what they would have done against me; sent John
back to Gischala; but went themselves to the city of Tiberias;
expecting it would submit itself to them; and this was founded on
a letter which Jesus; their then governor; had written them;
promising that; if they came; the multitude would receive them;
and choose to be under their government; so they went their ways
with this expectation。 But Silas; who; as I said; had been left
curator of Tiberias by me; informed me of this; and desired me to
make haste thither。 Accordingly; I complied with his advice
immediately; and came thither; but found myself in danger of my
life; from the following occasion: Jonathan and his colleagues
had been at Tiberias; and had persuaded a great many of such as
had a quarrel with me to desert me; but when they heard of my
coming; they were in fear for themselves; and came to me; and
when they had saluted me; they said; that I was a happy man in
having behaved myself so well in the government of Galilee; and
they congratulated me upon the honors that were paid me: for they
said that my glory was a credit to them; since they had been my
teachers and fellow citizens; and they said further; that it was
but just that they should prefer my friendship to them rather
than John's; and that they would have immediately gone home; but
that they staid that they might deliver up John into my power;
and when they said this they took their oaths of it; and those
such as are most tremendous amongst us; and such as I did not
think fit to disbelieve。 However; they desired me to lodge some
where else; because the next day was the sabbath; and that it was
not fit the city of Tiberias should be disturbed 'on that day'。
54。 So I suspected nothing; and went away to Tarichese; yet did I
withal leave some to make inquiry in the city how matters went;
and whether any thing was said about me: I also set many persons
all the way that led from Tarichese to Tiberias; that they might
communicate from one to another; if they learned any news from
those that were left in the city。 On the next day; therefore;
they all came into the Proseucha; (22) it was a large edifice;
and capable of receiving a great number of people; thither
Jonathan went in; and though he durst not openly speak of a
revolt; yet did he say that their city stood in need of a better
governor than it then had。 But Jesus; who was the ruler; made no
scruple to speak out; and said openly;〃 O fellow citizens! it is
better for you to be in subjection to four than to one; and those
such as are of high birth; and not without reputation for their
wisdom;〃 and pointed to Jonathan and his colleagues。 Upon his
saying this; Justus came in and commended him for what he had
said; and persuaded some of the people to be of his mind also。
But the multitude were not pleased with what was said; and had
certainly gone into a tumult; unless the sixth hour; which was
now come; had dissolved the assembly; at which hour our laws
require us to go to dinner on sabbath days; so Jonathan and his
colleagues put off their council till the next day; and went off
without success。 When I was informed of these affairs; I
determined to go to the city of Tiberias in the morning。
Accordingly; on the next day; about the first hour of the day; I
came from Tarichee; and found the multitude already assembled in
the Proseucha; but on what account they were gotten together;
those that were assembled did not know。 But when Jonathan and his
colleagues saw me there unexpectedly; they were in disorder;
after which they raised a report of their own contrivance; that
Roman horsemen were seen at a place called Union; in the