太子爷小说网 > 英语电子书 > the life of flavius josephus >

第4节

the life of flavius josephus-第4节

小说: the life of flavius josephus 字数: 每页4000字

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!



of this discourse will show。 And on this account; I suppose; it
was that God; (10) who is never unacquainted with those that do
as they ought to do; delivered me still out of the hands of these
my enemies; and afterwards preserved me when I fell into those
many dangers which I shall relate hereafter。

16。 Now the multitude of the Galileans had that great kindness
for me; and fidelity to me; that when their cities were taken by
force; and their wives and children carried into slavery; they
did not so deeply lament for their own calamities; as they were
solicitous for my preservation。 But when John saw this; he envied
me; and wrote to me; desiring that I would give him leave to come
down; and make use of the hot…baths of Tiberias for the recovery
of the health of his body。 Accordingly; I did not hinder him; as
having no suspicion of any wicked designs of his; and I wrote to
those to whom I had committed the administration of the affairs
of Tiberius by name; that they should provide a lodging for John;
and for such as should come with him; and should procure him what
necessaries soever he should stand in need of。 Now at this time
my abode was in a village of Galilee; which is named Cans。

17。 But when John was come to the city of Tiberias; he persuaded
the men to revolt from their fidelity to me; and to adhere to
him; and many of them gladly received that invitation of his; as
ever fond of innovations; and by nature disposed to changes; and
delighting in seditions; but they were chiefly Justus and his
father Pistus; that were earnest for their revolt from me; and
their adherence to John。 But I came upon them; and prevented
them; for a messenger had come to me from Silas; whom I had made
governor of Tiberias; as I have said already; and had told me of
the inclinations of the people of Tiberias; and advised me to
make haste thither; for that; if I made any delay; the city would
come under another's jurisdiction。 Upon the receipt of this
letter of Silas; I took two hundred men along with me; and
traveled all night; having sent before a messenger to let the
people of Tiberias know that I was coming to them。 When I came
near to the city; which was early in the morning; the multitude
came out to meet me; and John came with them; and saluted me; but
in a most disturbed manner; as being afraid that my coming was to
call him to an account for what I was now sensible he was doing。
So he; in great haste; went to his lodging。 But when I was in the
open place of the city; having dismissed the guards I had about
me; excepting one; and ten armed men that were with him; I
attempted to make a speech to the multitude of the people of
Tiberias: and; standing on a certain elevated place; I entreated
them not to be so hasty in their revolt; for that such a change
in their behavior would be to their reproach; and that they would
then justly be suspected by those that should be their governors
hereafter; as if they were not likely to be faithful to them
neither。

18。 But before I had spoken all I designed; I heard one of my own
domestics bidding me come down; for that it was not a proper time
to take care of retaining the good…will of the people of
Tiberias; but to provide for my own safety; and escape my enemies
there; for John had chosen the most trusty of those armed men
that were about him out of those thousand that he had with him;
and had given them orders when he sent them; to kill me; having
learned that I was alone; excepting some of my domestics。 So
those that were sent came as they were ordered; and they had
executed what they came about; had I not leaped down from the
elevation I stood on; and with one of my guards; whose name was
James; been carried 'out of the crowd' upon the back of one Herod
of Tiberias; and guided by him down to the lake; where I seized a
ship; and got into it; and escaped my enemies unexpectedly; and
came to Tarichese。

19。 Now; as soon as the inhabitants of that city understood the
perfidiousness of the people of Tiberias; they were greatly
provoked at them。 So they snatched up their arms; and desired me
to be their leader against them; for they said they would avenge
their commander's cause upon them。 They also carried the report
of what had been done to me to all the Galileans; and eagerly
endeavored to irritate them against the people of Tiberias; and
desired that vast numbers of them would get together; and come to
them; that they might act in concert with their commander; what
should be determined as fit to be done。 Accordingly; the
Galileans came to me in great numbers; from all parts; with their
weapons; and besought me to assault Tiberias; to take it by
force; and to demolish it; till it lay even with the ground; and
then to make slaves of its inhabitants; with their wives and
children。 Those that were Josephus's friends also; and had
escaped out of Tiberias; gave him the same advice。 But I did not
comply with them; thinking it a terrible thing to begin a civil
war among them; for I thought that this contention ought not to
proceed further than words; nay; I told them that it was not for
their own advantage to do what they would have me to do; while
the Romans expected no other than that we should destroy one
another by our mutual seditions。 And by saying this; I put a stop
to the anger of the Galileans。

20。 But now John was afraid for himself; since his treachery had
proved unsuccessful。 So he took the armed men that were about
him; and removed from Tiberias to Gischala; and wrote to me to
apologize for himself concerning What had been done; as if it had
been done without his approbation; and desired me to have no
suspicion of him to his disadvantage。 He also added oaths and
certain horrible curses upon himself; and supposed he should be
thereby believed in the points he wrote about to me。

21。 But now another great number of the Galileans came together
again with their weapons; as knowing the man; how wicked and how
sadly perjured he was; and desired me to lead them against him
and promised me that they would utterly both him and Gischala。
Hereupon I professed that I was obliged to them for their
readiness to serve me; and that I would more than requite their
good…will to me。 However; I entreated them to restrain
themselves; and begged of them to give me leave to do what I
intended; which was to put an end to these troubles without
bloodshed; and when I had prevailed with the multitude of the
Galileans to let me do so; I came to Sepphoris。

22。 But the inhabitants of this city having determined to
continue in their allegiance to the Romans; were afraid of my
coming to them; and tried; by putting me upon another action; to
divert me; that they might be freed from the terror they were in。
Accordingly; they sent to Jesus; the captain of those robbers who
were in the confines of Ptolemais; and promised to give him a
great deal of money; if he would come with those forces he had
with him; which were in number eight hundred; and fight with us。
Accordingly; he complied with what they desired; upon the
promises they had made him; and was desirous to fall upon us when
we were unprepared for him; and knew nothing of his coming
beforehand。 So he sent to me; and desired that I would give him
leave to come and salute me。 When I had given him that leave;
which I did without the least knowledge of his treacherous
intentions beforehand; he took his band of robbers; and made
haste to come to me。 Yet did not this his knavery succeed well at
last; for as he was already nearly approaching; one of those with
him deserted him; and came to me; and told me what he had
undertaken to do。 When I was informed of this; I went into the
market…place; and pretended to know nothing of his treacherous
purpose。 I took with me many Galileans that were armed; as also
some of those of Tiberias; and; when I had given orders that all
the roads should be carefully guarded; I charged the keepers of
the gates to give admittance to none but Jesus; when he came;
with the principal of his men; and to exclude the rest; and in
case they aimed to force themselves in; to use stripes 'in order
to repel them'。 Accordingly; those that had received such a
charge did as they were bidden; and Jesus came in with a few
others; and when I had ordered him to throw down his arms
immediately; and told him; that if he refused so to do; he was a
dead man; he seeing armed men standing all round about him; was
terrified; and complied; and as for those of his followers that
were excluded; when they were informed that he was seized; they
ran away。 I then called Jesus to me by himself; and told him;
that〃 I was not a stranger to that treacherous design he had
against me; nor was I ignorant by whom he was sent for; that;
however; I would forgive him what he had done already; if he
would repent of it; and be faithful to me hereafter。〃 And thus;
upon his promise to do all that I desired; I let him go; and gave
him leave to get those whom he had formerly had with him together
again。 But I threatened the inhabitants of Sepphoris; that; if
they would not leave off their ungrateful treatment of me; I
would punish them sufficiently。

23。 At

返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0

你可能喜欢的