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the life of flavius josephus-第4部分

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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 this time it was that two great men; who were under the
jurisdiction of the king 'Agrippa' came to me out of the region
of Trachonius; bringing their horses and their arms; and carrying
with them their money also; and when the Jews would force them to
be circumcised; if they would stay among them; I would not permit
them to have any force put upon them; (11) but said to them;
〃Every one ought to worship God according to his own
inclinations; and not to be constrained by force; and that these
men; who had fled to us for protection; ought not to be so
treated as to repent of their coming hither。〃 And when I had
pacified the multitude; I provided for the men that were come to
us whatsoever it was they wanted; according to their usual way of
living; and that in great plenty also。

24。 Now king Agrippa sent an army to make themselves masters of
the citadel of Gamala; and over it Equieulus Modius; but the
forces that were sent were not allow to encompass the citadel
quite round; but lay before it in the open places; and besieged
it。 But when Ebutius the decurion; who was intrusted with the
government of the great plain; heard that I was at Simonias; a
village situated in the confines of Galilee; and was distant from
him sixty furlongs; he took a hundred horsemen that were with him
by night; and a certain number of footmen; about two hundred; and
brought the inhabitants of the city Gibea along with him as
auxiliaries; and marched in the night; and came to the village
where I abode。 Upon this I pitched my camp over against him;
which had a great number of forces in it: but Ebutius tried to
draw us down into the plain; as greatly depending upon his
horsemen; but we would not come down; for when I was satisfied of
the advantage that his horse would have if we came down into the
plain; while we were all footmen; I resolved to join battle with
the enemy where I was。 Now Ebutius and his party made a
courageous opposition for some time; but when he saw that his
horse were useless to him in that place; he retired back to the
city Gibea; having lost three of his men in the fight。 So I
followed him directy with two thousand armed men; and when I was
at the city Besara; that lay in the confines of Ptolemais; but
twenty furlongs from Gibea; where Ebutius abode; I placed my
armed men on the outside of the village; and gave orders that
they should guard the passes with great care; that the enemy
might not disturb us until we should have carried off the corn; a
great quantity of which lay there: it belonged to Bernice the
queen; and had been gathered together out of the neighboring
villages into Besara; so I loaded my camels and asses; a great
number of which I had brought along with me; and sent the corn
into Galilee。 When I had done this; I offered Ebutius battle; but
when he would not accept of the offer; for he was terrified at
our readiness and courage; I altered my route; and marched
towards Neopolitanus; because I had heard that the country about
Tiberias was laid waste by him。 This Neopolitanus was captain of
a troop of horse; and had the custody of Scythopolis intrusted to
his care by the enemy; and when I had hindered him from doing any
further mischief to Tiberias; I set myself to make provision for
the affairs of Galilee。

25。 But when John; the son of Levi; who; as we before told you;
abode at Gischala; was informed how all things had succeeded to
my mind; and that I was much in favor with those that were under
me; as also that the enemy were greatly afraid of me; he was not
pleased with it; as thinking my prosperity tended to his ruin。 So
he took up a bitter envy and enmity against me; and hoping; that
if he could inflame those that were under me to hate me;。 he
should put an end to the prosperity I was in; he tried to
persuade the inhabitants of Tiberias and of Sepphoris; (and for
those of Gabara he supposed they would be also of the same mind
with the others;) which were the greatest cities of Galilee; to
revolt from their subject
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