At the same time, he was glad of the excuse to leave for, although he had declared to Titus that he would fight again in defense5 of Jerusalem, he felt that, after the kind treatment he had met with, he could not take part in the daily skirmishes with the Romans.
Mounting a donkey, which was among the many animals captured in the attacks upon the Romans' baggage train, John bade adieu to his comrades; and with Jonas, now grown into a sturdy young fellow, started for home. He journeyed by the road to the west of Jerusalem, in order to avoid the bandits of Simon son of Gioras; who still scourged6 the neighborhood of Masada and Herodium, lying between Jerusalem and the Dead Sea. He avoided all the towns in which there were Roman garrisons7; for the bandages on his head would have shown, at once, that he had been engaged in fighting. He traveled slowly, and was six days before he arrived home.
"This time, my son, you have not come home unharmed," Simon said. "Truly you are a shadow of your former self."
"I shall soon be strong again, father; and these are honorable scars, for I had them in single combat with Titus, himself, in the valley between Hebron and Carmelia."
"Then how is it that you live to tell the tale, my son?" Simon asked, while exclamations9 of wonder broke from Mary and Martha. "Surely God did not deliver him into your hands?"
"I wish not to boast, father, and I have told the true story to none; but truly God did deliver him into my hands."
"And he is dead?" Simon exclaimed.
"No, father, he lives, for I spared him."
"Spared him!" Simon exclaimed. "What, you did not avenge10 the miseries11 of our people upon the son of the oppressor?"
"No, father; and I rejoice that I did not for, had I done so, surely the Romans would have avenged12 his death upon all the land. But I thought not of that, at the time. I was sore wounded, and bleeding, and my sense was well-nigh gone; but as I knelt upon him, and lifted my hand to slay13 him, a thought--surely sent by God, himself--came into my mind, and I said:
"'Swear by your gods that you will spare the Temple, or I slay you;' and he swore that, so far as lay in his power, he would spare the Temple."
An exclamation8 of joy burst from his hearers, and Simon said:
"Verily, my son, God has raised you up as a deliverer of his Temple; not, as some hoped, by defeating our oppressors, but by binding14 one of their mightiest15 ones to do it no harm."
"I pray, father, say naught16 of this to anyone. It is between ourselves, and Titus, and the Lord; and I would not that any man should know of it. Moreover, Titus behaved with the greatest generosity17 to me.
"My victory over him was but a surprise. I was sorely wounded, while he was almost unharmed, when I sprang upon him and, by the sudden impulse, threw him to the ground, he being burdened with his heavy armor I had but strength to hear him swear, and then I fell as one dead. Titus might have slain19 me, as I lay; but he not only did me no harm but, when his soldiers came up, he gave me into their care, and directed me to be carried down to his camp, placed in a tent, and tended by his own leech20 and, when I recovered, he let me go free."
"Truly it is a marvelous tale, John. That you should have fallen into the hands of the Romans, and come forth21 unharmed after discomfiting22 their leader, is as marvelous to me as Daniel coming unharmed from the lions' den18. We will say naught of your story, my son. Tell us only what you told your own companions, so that we may know what to say, when we are questioned."
"I told them the truth, father, although not all the truth. I said that I met Titus, and fought with him; that I wounded him somewhat; but that, by virtue23 of his armor, I did him no great harm, while he wounded me so seriously that I fell down as one dead; that he, feeling that I had fought like a brave foeman, had me carried to his tent, and tended and cared for until I was able to go forth; when he sent me away free, and unharmed."
"Truly men say of Titus that he is clement24 and merciful, and therein differs much from Vespasian his father; and the clemency25 which he showed to the people of Gischala, and other places which he has taken, proves that is so; but this deed of his to you shows that he must have a great heart, for few men of rank, and warlike fame, who had been discomfited26 by one yet scarce a man, but would have left him by the road to die, so that none might know what had happened."
"Titus made no secret of it, father," John said. "He told Josephus, in my hearing, that I had spared his life. He said naught of the oath which he had taken; but I know that he will keep it as far, as he said, lies in his power."
"What is he like?" Mary asked.
"He is not of very tall stature27, but stoutly28 built, and strong. His face--clean shaved, as is their custom--has a pleasant and kindly29 expression, that tallies30 with his disposition31, for he is greatly beloved by his soldiers. In action they say he is brave to rashness, quick to anger, but as quickly appeased32. Had he been in command of the Roman legions, they would have been not less formidable in the fight and, perhaps, when the passions of Titus were roused, not less savage33; but they would not have wrought34 such wholesale35 cruelty and destruction as they have done."
"It is rarely that pity enters into the heart of a Roman," Simon said; "and yet, it is hardly for us to complain for, when we crossed over the Jordan and conquered Canaan, we put all to the sword, and spared none. It may be that in future times, if wars do not altogether cease in the world, they will be waged in another spirit; but so far, from the commencement of the world until now, it has ever been the same--war has brought desolation and destruction upon the vanquished36."
The next morning John went early into the garden; not that he was strong enough for heavy work, but in order that Mary might, as usual, join him there.
"Do you know, John," she said, after their first greeting, "you have made me happier than I have been, for some time."
"How is that, Mary?"
"It seemed to me, John, that you were getting away from me."
"Getting away, Mary!" he repeated; "how do you mean?"
"You were becoming a great leader, John. I was proud that it should be so, proud to think that you might become a deliverer of the nation; and then it would have been meet and right that you should take to yourself, as a wife, a daughter of one of the great ones of the land."
"Mary!" John exclaimed, indignantly.
"It might have been necessary, John. The tillers of the soil can marry where they please. Those who have power must wed3 for other reasons than that of love. They must make alliances that will strengthen their position, and it would have been your duty to have sacrificed your love for the sake of your country. I should have been the first to bid you do so. I should have been content to make my sacrifice, too, on the altar of our country; content with knowing that you, the deliverer of Israel, would have chosen me from among all other women, had you only had your own pleasure and happiness to consult.
"But after what you told us yesterday, I think, perhaps, that this need not be so; and that the way in which you were to save the Temple was not the way we thought. Your mission has been fulfilled--not by great victories, which would have made you the hero of Israel--but in that contest in the valley, where no eyes but those of God beheld37 you; and should the Temple be saved, no one will know that you were its savior, save we who love you. Therefore, John, once again I can look forward to the time when you and I can dwell, together, in the house of your fathers."
Mary was so earnest that John did not attempt to laugh her out of her fancies, as was his usual way. He only said, quietly:
"Perhaps you are right, Mary, as to my mission; but I do not think, dear, that even had I been made ruler of Israel, I would have gone elsewhere for a wife; but as you say, circumstances might have been too strong for me and, at any rate, I am well pleased that there is no chance of my happiness being set in one scale, and the good of my country in another."
"And now, John, I believe that you will come back to me, even if Jerusalem falls. This is the third time your life has been spared and, if we count that day when we were so nearly drowned together on the lake, we may say that four times your life has been saved, when it seemed all but lost; and I believe, now, that it will be saved to the end."
"I hope for your sake, Mary, and for my father and mother's, that it may be so. I have so much to make my life happy that I will assuredly do all in my power to save it. As you know, I have never held with those who would destroy themselves, when all seemed lost. My idea is: a man should fight until the last; but should, if possible, provide some way of escape, when fighting is no longer of avail.
"Fortunately, if I do not fall in battle, I have a talisman39 which will bring me safe to you. Titus has given me a signet ring which will, at all times, procure40 me access to him. He has promised that, at all times, he will be my friend and, should I fall into the hands of his soldiers again, he will let me go free, and will give me the lives of any who may be dear to me."
"This Titus must be a noble enemy," Mary said, with tears in her eyes. "He is strong, and kind, and generous. Had such a man been raised up as the leader of our people, instead of the leader of our foes41, how different it might have been!"
"Yes, indeed," John agreed; "truly we are sheep without a shepherd; nay42, we are sheep whose leaders are ravening43 wolves, who devour44 their own flock."
The time passed, quietly and happily save for the grief which the tidings of the terrible doings in Jerusalem caused. The two years' respite45 which the city had obtained, when Vespasian marched away from Jericho, instead of being turned to good account, had brought even greater evils than before. Simon son of Gioras, having wasted all the country towards Idumea, began to threaten Jerusalem. The Zealots marched out against him, but were driven back to the city. Simon--thinking that the Idumeans, believing him to be occupied with Jerusalem, would have grown careless--suddenly entered their country at the head of twenty thousand men.
The Idumeans flew to arms, and met him with twenty-five thousand men; and a furious battle ensued, in which neither party gained the advantage. Simon retreated, and the Idumeans dispersed47. Simon raised an even larger force than before, and advanced with forty thousand irregular troops, besides his heavy-armed soldiers. They took Hebron, and wasted Idumea with fire and sword.
The Zealots, in Simon's absence, succeeded in capturing his wife; and carried her off to Jerusalem, hoping by this means to force him to come to terms. On receiving the news he hurried back with his forces, surrounded Jerusalem, and slew48 everyone who ventured to leave the city--except some whom he sent back, having cut off their hands, to tell those within that, unless his wife were returned, he would storm the city and slay every man within it. Even the Zealots were alarmed at his threats and fury, and restored his wife; whereupon he withdrew.
This had happened in the previous year, before Cerealis and Vespasian had entered Idumea. As soon as the Romans had retired49, Simon again sallied forth from Masada, collected a great number of Idumeans, and drove them before him into Jerusalem. Then he encamped before the city, and slew all who quitted the protection of its walls.
Thus, within, John of Gischala and his followers50 tyrannized over the people, murdering and plundering52 till they were sated with blood, and knew not what to do with their booty; while Simon cut off all flight beyond its walls. But at length the party of John became divided. The Idumeans, who were in considerable numbers in the city, rose and drove John and the Zealots into the palace built by Grapte; which had served them as their headquarters, and the storehouse where they piled up the treasure which they had amassed53 by the plunder51 of the people. But the Idumeans attacked them here, and drove them into the Temple--which adjoined the palace--and took possession of all the plunder that they had amassed. The Zealots, however, were in great force in the Temple, and threatened to pour out and destroy the whole city by fire. The Idumeans called an assembly of the chief priests, and they decided54 to admit Simon within the gates.
The high priest, Matthias, went out in person to invite him to enter and, amidst the joyful55 greetings of the population, Simon marched through the gates with his followers, and took possession of the upper city. This was the last and most fatal mistake of the people of Jerusalem. The sheep had invited a tiger to save them from a wolf; and now two tyrants56, instead of one, lorded it over the city. As soon as Simon entered, he proceeded to attack the Zealots in the Temple; but the commanding position of that building enabled them to defend themselves with success.
To obtain still further advantage, they reared four strong towers; and on these placed their military engines and bowmen, and so swept the approaches to the Temple that Simon was forced to desist from the attack. All through the winter, fighting went on without intermission, and the streets of Jerusalem ran with blood.
A further division took place among the Zealots. Eleazar--who had been their head before the arrival of John of Gischala--jealous of the supremacy57 of that leader, got together a party and suddenly seceded58 from the main band, and seized the inner court of the Temple. Now, fighting went on within as well as without the holy buildings. The party of Eleazar were well supplied with provisions, for the stores in the Temple were of immense extent. They were too few in numbers to sally out to attack the party of John; but they were strong enough to defend the walls of the inner court, which looked down upon the rest of the Temple, and enabled them to command the positions of John's troops.
Day and night the struggle went on. The inner court of the Temple was desecrated59 by blood--dying men lay on the steps of the altar, and the shouts and songs of the savage soldiery rose, where the hymns60 of praise of the Levites had been wont61 to ascend62.
John's troops continued their attacks upon the inner court, while they successfully resisted the assaults of Simon; who tried to take advantage of the internecine64 strife65 raging between the two parties of Zealots, but the superior height of the positions held by John's men enabled them to defend themselves as successfully as did those of Eleazar against their attacks.
And yet, during all this terrible strife, the services of the Temple were continued, in the midst of blood and carnage. Free ingress and egress66 were, as at all times, permitted to the pious67; who made their way unharmed through the fierce combatants, passed over the pavement slippery with blood, and laid their offering on the altars--often paying with their lives for their pious services, being smitten68 down, even as they prayed at the altar, by the missiles which the followers of John poured incessantly69 into the inner court.
Sometimes, drunk with the wine obtained from the abundant stores of the Temple, the followers of Eleazar would sally out against John. Sometimes John would pour out against Simon, wasting and destroying the city as far as his troops could penetrate70. Thus, the Temple became surrounded by a waste of ruins, held in turn by one or other of the factions71. Even the rites72 of burial, so dear to the Jews, were neglected; and the bodies of the slain lay, unburied, where they fell, And yet, the forces of the three factions which thus desolated73 the city were comparatively small and, had the wretched population who were tyrannized over by them possessed74 any unanimity75, or been led by any man of courage, they could easily have overthrown76 them all; for Simon's force amounted to about fifteen thousand, that of John to six thousand, while Eleazar could count but two thousand four hundred men, and yet in Jerusalem were gathered a population amounting, with the original inhabitants and the fugitives77 from the country around, to over a million people.
At length, the long interval78 of suspense79 was drawing to an end. At the death of Vitellius, Vespasian had been called upon, by the general voice of the people, to ascend the throne; and had, some time before, left for Rome to assume the imperial purple. He was joyfully80 acknowledged by the whole Roman empire; who had groaned81 under a succession of brutal82 tyrants, and now hailed the accession of one who was, at once, a great general and an upright and able man; and who would rule the empire with a firm, just, and moderate hand. When winter was over, Vespasian sent Titus--who had, in the meantime, gone to Egypt--back to Palestine, and ordered him to complete the conquest of Judea.
The Twelfth Legion--that which had been defeated, when under the command of Cestius--was ordered to reinforce the three already in Judea; and the gaps made in the ranks during the war, and by the withdrawal83 of the men who had accompanied Vespasian to Rome, were filled by an addition of two thousand picked troops from Alexandria, and three thousand from the legions stationed on the Euphrates. The Syrian kings sent large contingents84; and Tiberius Alexander--an intimate friend of Titus, a man of wisdom and integrity--was appointed to high command. His knowledge of the country, which he had once governed, added to his value in the Roman councils.
As soon as the news spread that the Roman army was collecting for its march against Jerusalem, the signal fires were kindled86 on the hills above Gamala; and John, after a tender farewell to his parents and Mary, set out with Jonas. In twenty-four hours, the band had again assembled. When they were gathered, John addressed them. He pointed85 out to them that the campaign that they were now about to undertake differed widely from those which had preceded it.
"Hitherto," he said "you have but skirmished around the Romans, and have run but comparatively little danger; but now, those who go with me must make up their minds that they are going to Jerusalem to die. It may be that the Lord will yet deliver the Holy City from her enemies, as he delivered it in days of old. But you know what has been doing in Jerusalem, for the last four years; that not only the streets, but the altar itself have been flooded with the blood of the people, how the Jews themselves have desecrated the Temple, and how wickedness of all kinds has prevailed in the city.
"Thus, you can judge for yourselves what chance there is that God will interfere87 on behalf of the people who have forsaken88 and insulted him. If he does not interfere, in my opinion the fate of the city is sealed. I have seen the Romans at work, at Jotapata and Gamala; and I know how the strongest walls go down before their engines and battering89 rams90. Moreover I hear that, in the wars which have been raging within the gates, the magazines--which contain sufficient food to last even her great population for years--have been entirely91 destroyed; and thus those who go to defend her have to face not the Roman sword only, but famine.
"Therefore, I say that those who go up to defend the Temple must make up their minds that they go to die for the Temple. It is for each of you to ask yourselves whether you are ready to do this. I ask no one to go with me. Let each, before it is too late, ask himself whether he is ready to do this thing. I blame none who find the sacrifice too great. It is between them and their conscience.
"Therefore, I pray you, let all tonight disperse46 among the hills, each by himself, so that you may think over what I have said; and let all who may come to the conclusion that they are not called upon to go to certain death, in defense of the Temple, depart to their homes without reproach from their comrades. Each man here has done his duty, so long as hope remained. Now it is for each to decide, for himself, whether he feels called upon to give his life for the Temple."
Silently the crowd dispersed, and John joined the captains, and passed the night with them.
"I fear we shall have but a small gathering92 in the morning," one of them said, as they sat down by the fire. "Many will fight as long as there is hope, but few will go down to certain death."
"It is better so," John said. "Misery93 and ruin have fallen upon the country. As you saw for yourselves, Judea and Idumea are but deserts, and more have fallen by famine and misery than by the sword. We would not have our nation blotted94 out; and as, in the days after the captivity95 in Babylon, God again collected his people and restored their land to them, so it may be his intention to do, now, when they have paid the full penalty of their disobedience and wickedness. Therefore, I would not that any should go down to die, save those who feel that God has called them to do so.
"Already the victims who have fallen in these four years are well-nigh countless96; and in Jerusalem there are a million people--sufficient, if they have spirit and strength and the Lord is with them--to defend the walls. Thus, then, however small the number of those who may gather tomorrow, I shall be content. Had the Romans advanced against Jerusalem at the commencement of the war, there was not a Jew capable of bearing arms but would have gone up to the defense of the Holy City; but now, their spirit is broken by the woes97 that have come upon them, and still more by the civil wars in Jerusalem herself. A spirit of hopelessness and despair has come upon us. It is not that men fear to die, or that they care to live; it is that they say:
"'What matters it whether we live or die? All is lost. Why should we trouble as to what may come upon us?'"
"Then you no longer believe in your mission, John?" one of the party said, gloomily.
"I have never proclaimed a mission," John said. "Others have proclaimed it for me. I simply invited a score of men to follow me, to do what we could to hinder the Romans; and because God gave us success, others believed that I was sent as a deliverer.
"And yet, I believe that I had a mission, and that mission has been fulfilled. I told you not, before; but I tell you now, for your comfort, what happened between me and Titus--but I wish not that it should be told to others. I told you that I fought with him; and that, being wounded and insensible, I was carried into his tent--but that was not all. When we fought, although sorely wounded, I sprang upon him and we fell to the ground, I uppermost. I drew my knife, and would have slain him; when the Lord put a thought into my mind, and I called upon him to swear that he would spare the Temple.
"He swore that, if it lay in his power, he would do so. Then he was but in inferior command. Now he is general of the army, and should be able to keep his oath. Thus, if I had a mission to save the Temple, I trust that I have fulfilled it; and that, whatever fate may fall upon the city, the Temple will yet remain erect98 and unharmed."
John's words gave new life and energy to the before dispirited men gathered round him. It seemed to them not only that the Temple would be saved, but that their belief in their leader's mission as a deliverer was fully63 justified99; and a feeling of enthusiasm succeeded that of depression.
"Why did you not tell us before? Why did you not let all your followers know what a great thing you had done, John?" one of them asked, presently.
"For two reasons," John replied. "I did not wish to seem to exalt100 myself, or to boast of the success which God had given me over the Roman; for it was assuredly his strength, and not mine, for I myself could do naught against the strength and skill of Titus and, as I told you, was wounded nigh to death, while he received small hurt. In the next place I thought that, if I made it public, it would be noised abroad through the land; and that Titus, when he heard that all men knew that he had been worsted in fight with a Jew, might repent101 of his oath--or might even ask to be sent to some other command, so that he might not be called upon to keep it."
John's companions agreed that the second reason was a valid one, though they did not agree that the first should have weighed with him.
"It is not by hiding a light under a bushel," one of them said, "that men gain the confidence of their followers. The more men believe in their leaders, the more blindly will they follow him, the greater the efforts they will make for him. It was the belief in your mission which gathered eight thousand men on these mountains to follow you; and the proof that you have given us that that belief was well founded, and that you had a mission to save the Temple--the knowledge that you had, single handed, forced the Roman general to swear an oath to save the Temple--would have so heightened that enthusiasm that they would have followed you, had you bidden them attack the whole Roman army. I agree that, for your second reason, it was wise to say nothing of what took place; but your first was, I think, a mistaken one."
"At any rate," another said, "the hand of God is plainly marked in the matter; for it has placed Titus in full command, and has thus given him the power of carrying out the oath which he swore. Now, my friends, we can go up with light hearts with John to Jerusalem for, though we may die, yet do we feel assured that the Lord purposes to save the Temple; and that, one day, he will restore the glories of Judah."
In the morning, as John had expected, the number of those who gathered at the sound of the trumpet102 was comparatively small. The night's reflection, the feeling that the sacrifice of their lives would be of no avail, and the dull despair that had seized the whole nation had had their effect and, of the eight thousand men who had gathered there the night before, but six hundred now obeyed the summons.
These gathered, stern and silent, but with an expression of desperate resolution on their faces. At the earnest request of his captains, John allowed them to go among the men and to tell them that, although the manner in which it was done was a secret, John had given to them undoubted proofs that he had a mission from God; and that they believed that, whatever might happen to Jerusalem, it was the Lord's will that the Temple should be saved. The joyous103 expression of their leaders' faces, even more than their words, assured their followers of their sincerity104. Their spirit rose, and a renewed feeling of enthusiasm seized them; and when, an hour later, John took his place on a rock to address them, the shouts of greeting which broke forth showed him how great was the change in their spirit.
"My friends," he said, "I greet you who have decided to die with me, if need be, in defense of Jerusalem. I blame not those who have gone. They would not have gone, had the Lord required them to stay; but to you he has spoken, and has told you that he has need of your services. Henceforward, we will act as one band--a band of men inspired with one thought, and one aim. And now, though our numbers may not be great, yet a force so composed of men who hold their lives as naught may do wonders. You remember how Gideon sent the greater part of his army away and, with a mere105 handful, defeated the hosts of the enemy!
"We look not for victory; but we will show the Romans what men can do to avenge their bleeding country--what deeds Jews can perform, when fighting for the Temple. We shall go into Jerusalem. There we will hold aloof106 from all parties. If we are attacked, we will defend ourselves. But our aim will be to act as a body apart from others, ready to undertake the most desperate services, and to set an example of courage and devotion.
"Now let us count our numbers, and arrange ourselves anew into companies."
It was found that the bands composed of men from Tiberias, and the other cities of the lake, had entirely disappeared; and that those who had stayed were principally hardy107 dwellers108 among the hills. They were again divided into twenty companies of thirty men each and, after examining their arms, and seeing that all were well provided, John gave the order, and the band set off.
Keeping on the eastern side of Jordan they stopped at a large village, near the ford109 opposite Jericho; and here a quantity of grain was purchased, and was made up into sacks, each weighing fifty pounds.
"The granaries that remain will be principally in the hands of the troops of John, or Simon," John said; "and it is as well that we should have our own store to depend upon. So long as we can buy food, we will do so; and we can fall back upon our own magazine, if necessary. It will be best for two or three of us to go into the city, first, and find a quarter where we can lodge110 close together, and as far removed as possible from the factions. Simon holds the upper town, and John the Temple; therefore we will establish ourselves in the lower town. We will not go in in a body, for they might refuse us admittance; but as the Romans approach there will be a stream of fugitives entering the city. We will mingle111 with them, and pass in unobserved.
"Many of the fugitives will be carrying the goods they most value; and many, doubtless, will take in provisions with them. Therefore, our sacks of grain will not excite attention."
It was five years since John had journeyed up with his parents to Jerusalem, and he therefore knew but little of the city. Some of his followers, however, had been there more recently; and he picked out four of these, one of whom was a captain of a company, to enter the city and find a suitable post for them. The whole band crossed the Jordan together, and made a detour112 to avoid Jericho, where the Tenth Legion had been quartered during the winter. Then they took their way up the steep road through the hills until, passing through Bethany, they came out on the crest113 of the hill looking down upon the Valley of Jehoshaphat; with the Temple rising immediately opposite to them, and the palace of Agrippa, and the crowded houses of the city, in the background.
Illustration: John and his Band in Sight of Jerusalem.
The men laid down their sacks, and stood for a long time, looking at Jerusalem. Many were moved to tears, as they looked on the stately beauty of the Holy City, and thought how low it had fallen; with civil tumult114 within, and a terrible enemy approaching from without. Even now, there is no fairer scene in the world than the view of Jerusalem from the spot where they were standing--called then, as now, the Mount of Olives--and it must have been superb, indeed, in the days when the Temple stood intact, and the palaces of Agrippa and Herod rose on the brow of Mount Zion.
After a long pause they resumed their way, crossed the upper end of the Valley of Jehoshaphat, and established themselves for the night in a grove115 of trees near the Grotto116 of Jeremiah; four chosen men at once entering the city, by the Old Gate on the north side of the city. The country here--and indeed, all the hills around Jerusalem--were covered with the houses of the wealthy, surrounded by gardens and orchards117. They belonged not only to the Jews of the city; but to those who dwelt in foreign countries, and who were accustomed each year to come to Jerusalem for the Passover, and to spend some time there before they returned to their distant homes. Even now, undismayed by the dangers of the times, and the knowledge that the Romans would shortly besiege118 the city, pilgrims were arriving from all the cities of Asia Minor119, Greece, and Egypt, for the time of the Passover was close at hand.
At the foot of the walls, and on the slopes around, large numbers of pilgrims were encamped--the rich in gorgeous tents, the poor in shelters constructed of boughs120 or carpets. This overflow121 of people was an occurrence which was witnessed every year, on the same occasion; but its proportions were this time of greater magnitude than usual, partly owing to the difficulty of procuring122 lodgings123 in the town, owing to the crowds of fugitives there, partly because many thought it safer to camp outside, and to enter the city only to pay their devotions, and take part in the ceremonial, than to put themselves wholly into the power of the ruffians of Simon and John.
In the following morning the men returned, and reported that they had found a spot in the inner lower town, between the Corner Gate and the Gate of Ephraim in the second wall, where was a large house, inhabited now but by two or three persons. Here a great number of them could take up their quarters, while the others could find lodging124 near. The reason why so many houses were empty there was that it was somewhat exposed to the irruptions of Simon's men from the upper town, as they frequently came down and robbed those who entered the city at the Damascus Gate, from which led the great north road.
Crowds of fugitives were making their way by this road to the city, flying before the advance of the Romans; who were, they said, but a few hours' march in their rear. Many were men, coming to take their part in the defense of the city; but the great proportion were old men, women, and children, flying for refuge. John shook his head, as he watched the stream of fugitives, for he well knew the horrors that would befall the besieged125 town.
"Better a thousand times," he said to Jonas, "that these poor people should have remained in their villages. They have nothing which would tempt38 the cupidity126 of the Roman soldiers, and no evil might have befallen them; whereas now they will perish by famine or disease, or be slain by the Romans, besides consuming the food which would have sustained the fighting men. Were I master of Jerusalem I would, when I heard the Romans were approaching, have cleared out from the city all who could not aid in the defense It would have seemed a harsh action; but it would have been a merciful one, and would greatly strengthen the power of resistance."
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lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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3
wed
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| v.娶，嫁，与…结婚 | |
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4
watchfulness
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| 警惕，留心； 警觉（性） | |
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5
defense
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| n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩 | |
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scourged
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| 鞭打( scourge的过去式和过去分词 )； 惩罚，压迫 | |
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garrisons
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| 守备部队，卫戍部队( garrison的名词复数 ) | |
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exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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9
exclamations
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| n.呼喊( exclamation的名词复数 )；感叹；感叹语；感叹词 | |
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10
avenge
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| v.为...复仇，为...报仇 | |
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miseries
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| n.痛苦( misery的名词复数 )；痛苦的事；穷困；常发牢骚的人 | |
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12
avenged
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| v.为…复仇，报…之仇( avenge的过去式和过去分词 )；为…报复 | |
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13
slay
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| v.杀死，宰杀，杀戮 | |
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binding
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| 有约束力的，有效的，应遵守的 | |
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15
mightiest
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| adj.趾高气扬( mighty的最高级 )；巨大的；强有力的；浩瀚的 | |
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16
naught
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| n.无，零 [=nought] | |
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17
generosity
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| n.大度，慷慨，慷慨的行为 | |
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18
den
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| n.兽穴；秘密地方；安静的小房间，私室 | |
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19
slain
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| 杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去分词 )； (slay的过去分词) | |
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20
leech
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| n.水蛭，吸血鬼，榨取他人利益的人；vt.以水蛭吸血；vi.依附于别人 | |
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21
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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22
discomfiting
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| v.使为难( discomfit的现在分词 )；使狼狈；使挫折；挫败 | |
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23
virtue
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| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
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24
clement
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| adj.仁慈的；温和的 | |
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25
clemency
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| n.温和，仁慈，宽厚 | |
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26
discomfited
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| v.使为难( discomfit的过去式和过去分词)；使狼狈；使挫折；挫败 | |
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27
stature
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| n.（高度）水平，（高度）境界，身高，身材 | |
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28
stoutly
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| adv.牢固地，粗壮的 | |
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29
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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30
tallies
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| n.账( tally的名词复数 )；符合；（计数的）签；标签v.计算，清点( tally的第三人称单数 )；加标签（或标记）于；（使）符合；（使）吻合 | |
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31
disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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32
appeased
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| 安抚，抚慰( appease的过去式和过去分词 )； 绥靖（满足另一国的要求以避免战争） | |
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33
savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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34
wrought
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| v.引起；以…原料制作；运转；adj.制造的 | |
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35
wholesale
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| n.批发；adv.以批发方式；vt.批发，成批出售 | |
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36
vanquished
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| v.征服( vanquish的过去式和过去分词 )；战胜；克服；抑制 | |
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37
beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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38
tempt
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| vt.引诱，勾引，吸引，引起…的兴趣 | |
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39
talisman
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| n.避邪物，护身符 | |
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40
procure
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| vt.获得，取得，促成；vi.拉皮条 | |
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41
foes
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| 敌人，仇敌( foe的名词复数 ) | |
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42
nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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43
ravening
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| a.贪婪而饥饿的 | |
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44
devour
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| v.吞没；贪婪地注视或谛听，贪读；使着迷 | |
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45
respite
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| n.休息，中止，暂缓 | |
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46
disperse
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| vi.使分散；使消失；vt.分散；驱散 | |
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47
dispersed
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| adj. 被驱散的, 被分散的, 散布的 | |
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48
slew
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| v.（使）旋转；n.大量，许多 | |
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49
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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50
followers
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| 追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件 | |
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51
plunder
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| vt.劫掠财物，掠夺；n.劫掠物，赃物；劫掠 | |
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52
plundering
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| 掠夺，抢劫( plunder的现在分词 ) | |
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53
amassed
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| v.积累，积聚( amass的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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54
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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55
joyful
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| adj.欢乐的，令人欢欣的 | |
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56
tyrants
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| 专制统治者( tyrant的名词复数 )； 暴君似的人； （古希腊的）僭主； 严酷的事物 | |
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57
supremacy
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| n.至上；至高权力 | |
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58
seceded
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| v.脱离，退出( secede的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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59
desecrated
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| 毁坏或亵渎( desecrate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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60
hymns
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| n.赞美诗，圣歌，颂歌( hymn的名词复数 ) | |
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61
wont
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| adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯 | |
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62
ascend
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| vi.渐渐上升，升高；vt.攀登，登上 | |
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63
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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64
internecine
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| adj.两败俱伤的 | |
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65
strife
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| n.争吵，冲突，倾轧，竞争 | |
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66
egress
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| n.出去；出口 | |
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67
pious
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| adj.虔诚的；道貌岸然的 | |
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68
smitten
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| 猛打，重击，打击( smite的过去分词 ) | |
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69
incessantly
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| ad.不停地 | |
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70
penetrate
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| v.透(渗)入；刺入，刺穿；洞察，了解 | |
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71
factions
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| 组织中的小派别，派系( faction的名词复数 ) | |
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72
rites
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| 仪式，典礼( rite的名词复数 ) | |
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73
desolated
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| adj.荒凉的，荒废的 | |
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74
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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75
unanimity
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| n.全体一致，一致同意 | |
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76
overthrown
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| adj. 打翻的，推倒的，倾覆的 动词overthrow的过去分词 | |
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77
fugitives
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| n.亡命者，逃命者( fugitive的名词复数 ) | |
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78
interval
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| n.间隔，间距；幕间休息，中场休息 | |
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79
suspense
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| n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑 | |
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80
joyfully
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| adv. 喜悦地, 高兴地 | |
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81
groaned
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| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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82
brutal
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| adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的 | |
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83
withdrawal
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| n.取回，提款；撤退，撤军；收回，撤销 | |
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84
contingents
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| （志趣相投、尤指来自同一地方的）一组与会者( contingent的名词复数 )； 代表团； （军队的）分遣队； 小分队 | |
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85
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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86
kindled
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| （使某物）燃烧，着火( kindle的过去式和过去分词 )； 激起（感情等）； 发亮，放光 | |
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87
interfere
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| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
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88
Forsaken
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| adj. 被遗忘的, 被抛弃的 动词forsake的过去分词 | |
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89
battering
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| n.用坏，损坏v.连续猛击( batter的现在分词 ) | |
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90
rams
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| n.公羊( ram的名词复数 )；(R-)白羊（星）座；夯；攻城槌v.夯实（土等）( ram的第三人称单数 )；猛撞；猛压；反复灌输 | |
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91
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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92
gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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93
misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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94
blotted
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| 涂污( blot的过去式和过去分词 )； （用吸墨纸）吸干 | |
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95
captivity
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| n.囚禁；被俘；束缚 | |
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96
countless
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| adj.无数的，多得不计其数的 | |
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97
woes
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| 困境( woe的名词复数 )； 悲伤； 我好苦哇； 某人就要倒霉 | |
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98
erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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99
justified
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| a.正当的，有理的 | |
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100
exalt
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| v.赞扬，歌颂，晋升，提升 | |
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101
repent
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| v.悔悟，悔改，忏悔，后悔 | |
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102
trumpet
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| n.喇叭，喇叭声；v.吹喇叭，吹嘘 | |
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103
joyous
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| adj.充满快乐的；令人高兴的 | |
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104
sincerity
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| n.真诚，诚意；真实 | |
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105
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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106
aloof
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| adj.远离的；冷淡的，漠不关心的 | |
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107
hardy
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| adj.勇敢的，果断的，吃苦的；耐寒的 | |
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108
dwellers
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| n.居民，居住者( dweller的名词复数 ) | |
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109
Ford
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| n.浅滩，水浅可涉处；v.涉水，涉过 | |
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110
lodge
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| v.临时住宿，寄宿，寄存，容纳；n.传达室，小旅馆 | |
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111
mingle
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| vt.使混合，使相混；vi.混合起来；相交往 | |
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112
detour
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| n.绕行的路，迂回路；v.迂回，绕道 | |
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113
crest
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| n.顶点；饰章；羽冠；vt.达到顶点；vi.形成浪尖 | |
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114
tumult
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| n.喧哗；激动，混乱；吵闹 | |
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115
grove
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| n.林子，小树林，园林 | |
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116
grotto
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| n.洞穴 | |
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117
orchards
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| （通常指围起来的）果园( orchard的名词复数 ) | |
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118
besiege
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| vt.包围，围攻，拥在...周围 | |
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119
minor
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| adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修 | |
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120
boughs
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| 大树枝( bough的名词复数 ) | |
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121
overflow
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| v.(使)外溢，(使)溢出；溢出，流出，漫出 | |
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122
procuring
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| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的现在分词 )；拉皮条 | |
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123
lodgings
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| n. 出租的房舍, 寄宿舍 | |
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124
lodging
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| n.寄宿，住所；(大学生的)校外宿舍 | |
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125
besieged
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| 包围，围困，围攻( besiege的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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126
cupidity
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| n.贪心，贪财 | |
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