the life of flavius josephus-第6节
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of my life to God; and made haste to go out to the multitude。
Accordingly; I put on a black garment; and hung my sword at my
neck; and went by such a different way to the hippodrome; wherein
I thought none of my adversaries would meet me; so I appeared
among them on the sudden; and fell down flat on the earth; and
bedewed the ground with my tears: then I seemed to them all an
object of compassion。 And when I perceived the change that was
made in the multitude; I tried to divide their opinions before
the armed men should return from my house; so I granted them that
I had been as wicked as they supposed me to be; but still I
entreated them to let me first inform them for what use I had
kept that money which arose from the plunder; and; that they
might then kill me if they pleased: and upon the multitude's
ordering me to speak; the armed men came upon me; and when they
saw me; they ran to kill me; but when the multitude bade them
hold their hands; they complied; and expected that as soon as I
should own to them that I kept the money for the king; it would
be looked on as a confession of my treason; and they should then
be allowed to kill me。
29。 When; therefore; silence was made by the whole multitude; I
spake thus to them: 〃O my countrymen! I refuse not to die; if
justice so require。 However; I am desirous to tell you the truth
of this matter before I die; for as I know that this city of
yours 'Tarichee' was a city of great hospitality; and filled with
abundance of such men as have left their own countries; and are
come hither to be partakers of your fortune; whatever it be; I
had a mind to build walls about it; out of this money; for which
you are so angry with me; while yet it was to be expended in
building your own walls。〃 Upon my saying this; the people of
Taricheae and the strangers cried out; that〃 they gave me thanks;
and desired me to be of good courage;〃 although the Galileans and
the people of Tiberias continued in their wrath against me;
insomuch that there arose a tumult among them; while some
threatened to kill me; and some bade me not to regard them; but
when I promised them that I would build them walls at Tiberias;
and at other cities that wanted them; they gave credit to what I
promised; and returned every one to his own home。 So I escaped
the forementioned danger; beyond all my hopes; and returned to my
own house; accompanied with my friends; and twenty armed men
also。
30。 However; these robbers and other authors of this tumult; who
were afraid; on their own account; lest I should punish them for
what they had done; took six hundred armed men; and came to the
house where I abode; in order to set it on fire。 When this their
insult was told me; I thought it indecent for me to run away; and
I resolved to expose myself to danger; and to act with some
boldness; so I gave order to shut the doors; and went up into an
upper room; and desired that they would send in some of their men
to receive the money 'from the spoils' for I told them they would
then have no occasion to be angry with me; and when they had sent
in one of the boldest of them all; I had him whipped severely;
and I commanded that one of his hands should be cut off; and hung
about his neck; and in this case was he put out to those that
sent him。 At which procedure of mine they were greatly
affrighted; and in no small consternation; and were afraid that
they should themselves be served in like manner; if they staid
there; for they supposed that I had in the house more armed men
than they had themselves; so they ran away immediately; while I;
by the use of this stratagem; escaped this their second
treacherous design against me。
31。 But there were still some that irritated the multitude
against me; and said that those great men that belonged to the
king ought not to be suffered to live; if they would not change
their religion to the religion of those to whom they fled for
safety: they spake reproachfully of them also; and said that they
were wizards; and such as called in the Romans upon them。 So the
multitude was soon deluded by such plausible pretenses as were
agreeable to their own inclinations; and were prevailed on by
them。 But when I was informed of this; I instructed the multitude
again; that those who fled to them for refuge ought not to be
persecuted: I also laughed at the allegation about witchcraft;
(13) and told them that the Romans would not maintain so many ten
thousand soldiers; if they could overcome their enemies by
wizards。 Upon my saying this; the people assented for a while;
but they returned again afterwards; as irritated by some ill
people against the great men; nay; they once made an assault upon
the house in which they dwelt at Tarichess; in order to kill
them; which; when I was informed of; I was afraid lest so horrid
a crime should take effect; and nobody else would make that city
their refuge any more。 I therefore came myself; and some others
with me; to the house where these great men lived; and locked the
doors; and had a trench drawn from their house leading to the
lake; and sent for a ship; and embarked therein with them; and
sailed to the confines of Hippos: I also paid them the value of
their horses; nor in such a flight could I have their horses
brought to them。 I then dismissed them; and begged of them
earnestly that they would courageously bear I this distress which
befell them。 I was also myself I greatly displeased that I was
compelled to expose those that had fled to me to go again into an
enemy's country; yet did I think it more eligible that they
should perish among the Romans; if it should so happen; than in
the country that was under my jurisdiction。 However; they escaped
at length; and king Agrippa forgave them their offenses。 And this
was the conclusion of what concerned these men。
32。 But as for the inhabitants of the city of Tiberias; they
wrote to the king; and desired him to send them forces sufficient
to be a guard to their country; for that they were desirous to
come over to him: this was what they wrote to him。 But when I
came to them; they desired me to build their walls; as I had
promised them to do; for they had heard that the walls of
Tarichess were already built。 I agreed to their proposal
accordingly; and when I had made preparation for the entire
building; I gave order to the architects to go to work; but on
the third day; when I was gone to Tarichess; which was thirty
furlongs distant from Tiberias; it so fell out; that some Roman
horsemen were discovered on their march; not far from the city;
which made it to be supposed that the forces were come from the
king; upon which they shouted; and lifted up their voices in
commendations of the king; and in reproaches against me。 Hereupon
one came running to me; and told me what their dispositions were;
and that they had resolved to revolt from me: upon hearing which
news I was very much alarmed; for I had already sent away my
armed men from Tarichess; to their own homes; because the next
day was our sabbath; for I would not have the people of Tarichess
disturbed 'on that day' by a multitude of soldiers; and indeed;
whenever I sojourned at that city; I never took any particular
care for a guard about my own body; because I had had frequent
instances of the fidelity its inhabitants bore to me。 I had now
about me no more than seven armed men; besides some friends; and
was doubtful what to do; for to send to recall my own forces I
did not think proper; because the present day was almost over;
and had those forces been with me; I could not take up arms on
the next day; because our laws forbade us so to do; even though
our necessity should be very great; and if I should permit the
people of Tarichess; and the strangers with them; to guard the
city; I saw that they would not be sufficient for that purpose;
and I perceived that I should be obliged to delay my assistance a
great while; for I thought with myself that the forces that came
from the king would prevent me; and that I should be driven out
of the city。 I considered; therefore; how to get clear of these
forces by a stratagem; so I immediately placed those my friends
of Tarichee; on whom I could best confide; at the gates; to watch
those very carefully who went out at those gates: I also called
to me the heads of families; and bade every one of them to seize
upon a ship (14) to go on board it; and to take a master with
them; and follow him to the city of Tiberias。 I also myself went
on board one of those ships; with my friends; and the seven armed
men already mentioned; and sailed for Tiberias。
33。 But now; when the people of Tiberias perceived that there
were no forces come from the king; and yet saw the whole lake
full of ships; they were in fear what would become of their city;
and were greatly terrified; as supposing that the ships were full
of men on board; so they then changed their minds; and threw down
their weapons; and met me with their wives and children; and made
acclamations to me with great commendations; for they imagined
that I did not know their former inclinations 'to have been
against me'; so they persuaded me to spare the city。 But when I
was co