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the life of flavius josephus-第3部分
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wrote to the sanhedrim at Jerusalem about them; and required
their direction what I should do。 Their direction was; that I
should continue there; and that; if my fellow legates were
willing; I should join with them in the care of Galilee。 But
those my fellow legates; having gotten great riches from those
tithes which as priests were their dues; and were given to them;
determined to return to their own country。 Yet when I desired
them to stay so long; that we might first settle the public
affairs; they complied with me。 So I removed; together with them;
from the city of Sepphoris; and came to a certain village called
Bethmaus; four furlongs distant from Tiberius; and thence I sent
messengers to the senate of Tiberius; and desired that the
principal men of the city would come to me: and when they were
come; Justus himself being also with them; I told them that I was
sent to them by the people of Jerusalem as a legate; together
with these other priests; in order to persuade them to demolish
that house which Herod the tetrarch had built there; and which
had the figures of living creatures in it; although our laws have
forbidden us to make any such figures; and I desired that they
would give us leave so to do immediately。 But for a good while
Capellus and the principal men belonging to the city would not
give us leave; but were at length entirely overcome by us; and
were induced to be of our opinion。 So Jesus the son of Sapphias;
one of those whom we have already mentioned as the leader of a
seditious tumult of mariners and poor people; prevented us; and
took with him certain Galileans; and set the entire palace on
fire; and thought he should get a great deal of money thereby;
because he saw some of the roofs gilt with gold。 They also
plundered a great deal of the furniture; which was done without
our approbation; for after we had discoursed with Capellus and
the principal men of the city; we departed from Bethmaus; and
went into the Upper Galilee。 But Jesus and his party slew all the
Greeks that were inhabitants of Tiberias; and as many others as
were their enemies before the war began。
13。 When I understood this state of things; I was greatly
provoked; and went down to Tiberias; and took all the care I
could of the royal furniture; to recover all that could be
recovered from such as had plundered it。 They consisted of
candlesticks made of Corinthian brass; and of royal tables; and
of a great quantity of uncoined silver; and I resolved to
preserve whatsoever came to my hand for the king。 So I sent for
ten of the principal men of the senate; and for Capellus the son
of Antyllus; and committed the furniture to them; with this
charge; That they should part with it to nobody else but to
myself。 From thence I and my fellow legates went to Gichala; to
John; as desirous to know his intentions; and soon saw that he
was for innovations; and had a mind to the principality; for he
desired me to give him authority to carry off that corn which
belonged to Caesar; and lay in the villages of Upper Galilee; and
he pretended that he would expend what it came to in building the
walls of his own city。 But when I perceived what he endeavored
at; and what he had in his mind; I said I would not permit him so
to do; for that I thought either to keep it for the Romans or for
myself; now I was intrusted with the public affairs there by the
people of Jerusalem。 But; when he was not able to prevail with
me; he betook himself to my fellow legates; for they had no
sagacity in providing for futurity; and were very ready to take
bribes。 So he corrupted them with money to decree; That all that
corn which was within his province should be delivered to him;
while I; who was but one; was outvoted by two; and held my
tongue。 Then did John introduce another cunning contrivance of
his; for he said that those Jews who inhabited Cesarea Philippi;
and were shut up by the order of the king's deputy there; had
sent to him to desire him; that; since they had no oil that was
pure for their use; he would provide a sufficient quantity of
such oil for them; lest they should be forced to make use of oil
that came from the Greeks; and thereby transgress their own laws。
Now this was said by John; not out of his regard to religion; but
out of his most flagrant desire of gain; for he knew that two
sextaries were sold with them of Caesarea for one drachma; but
that at Gischala fourscore sextaxies were sold for four
sextaries。 So he gave order that all the oil which was there
should be carried away; as having my permission for so doing;
which yet I did not grant him voluntarily; but only out of fear
of the multitude; since; if I had forbidden him; I should have
been stoned by them。 When I had therefore permitted this to be
done by John; he gained vast sums of money by this his knavery。
14。 But when I had dismissed my fellow legates; and sent them
back to Jerusalem; I took care to have arms provided; and the
cities fortified。 And when I had sent for the most hardy among
the robbers; I saw that it was not in my power to take their arms
from them; but I persuaded the multitude to allow them money as
pay; and told them it was better for them to give them a little
willingly; rather than to 'be forced to' overlook them when they
plundered their goods from them。 And when I had obliged them to
take an oath not to come into that country; unless they were
invited to come; or else when they had not their pay given them;
I dismissed them; and charged them neither to make an expedition
against the Romans; nor against those their neighbors that lay
round about them; for my first care was to keep Galilee in peace。
So I was willing to have the principal of the Galileans; in all
seventy; as hostages for their fidelity; but still under the
notion of friendship。 Accordingly; I made them my friends and
companions as I journeyed; and set them to judge causes; and with
their approbation it was that I gave my sentences; while I
endeavored not to mistake what justice required; and to keep my
hands clear of all bribery in those determinations。
15。 I was now about the thirtieth year of my age; in which time
of life it is a hard thing for any one to escape the calumnies of
the envious; although he restrain himself from fulfilling any
unlawful desires; especially where a person is in great
authority。 Yet did I preserve every woman free from injuries; and
as to what presents were offered me; I despised them; as not
standing in need of them。 Nor indeed would I take those tithes;
which were due to me as a priest; from those that brought them。
Yet do I confess; that I took part of the spoils of those Syrians
which inhabited the cities that adjoined to us; when I had
conquered them; and that I sent them to my kindred at Jerusalem;
although; when I twice took Sepphoris by force; and Tiberias four
times; and Gadara once; and when I had subdued and taken John;
who often laid treacherous snares for me; I did not punish 'with
death' either him or any of the people forenamed; as the progress
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
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