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the wars of the jews-第37部分
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;〃 said he; 〃bound to keep the law of my own lord? For if I transgress it; and spare you; it is but just that I perish; while he that sent me; and not I; will commence a war against you; for I am under command as well as you。〃 Hereupon the whole multitude cried out that they were ready to suffer for their law。 Petronius then quieted them; and said to them; 〃Will you then make war against Caesar?〃 The Jews said; 〃We offer sacrifices twice every day for Caesar; and for the Roman people;〃 but that if he would place the images among them; he must first sacrifice the whole Jewish nation; and that they were ready to expose themselves; together with their children and wives; to be slain。 At this Petronius was astonished; and pitied them; on account of the inexpressible sense of religion the men were under; and that courage of theirs which made them ready to die for it; so they were dismissed without success。
5。 But on the following days he got together the men of power privately; and the multitude publicly; and sometimes he used persuasions to them; and sometimes he gave them his advice; but he chiefly made use of threatenings to them; and insisted upon the power of the Romans; and the anger of Caius; and besides; upon the necessity he was himself under 'to do as he was enjoined'。 But as they could be no way prevailed upon; and he saw that the country was in danger of lying without tillage; (for it was about seed time that the multitude continued for fifty days together idle;) so he at last got them together; and told them that it was best for him to run some hazard himself; 〃for either; by the Divine assistance; I shall prevail with Caesar; and shall myself escape the danger as well as you; which will he matter of joy to us both; or; in case Caesar continue in his rage; I will be ready to expose my own life for such a great number as you are。〃 Whereupon he dismissed the multitude; who prayed greatly for his prosperity; and he took the army out of Ptolemais; and returned to Antioch; from whence he presently sent an epistle to Caesar; and informed him of the irruption he had made into Judea; and of the supplications of the nation; and that unless he had a mind to lose both the country and the men in it; he must permit them to keep their law; and must countermand his former injunction。 Caius answered that epistle in a violent…way; and threatened to have Petronius put to death for his being so tardy in the execution of what he had commanded。 But it happened that those who brought Caius's epistle were tossed by a storm; and were detained on the sea for three months; while others that brought the news of Caius's death had a good voyage。 Accordingly; Petronins received the epistle concerning Caius seven and twenty days before he received that which was against himself。
CHAPTER 11。
Concerning The Government Of Claudius; And The Reign Of Agrippa。 Concerning The Deaths Of Agrippa And Of Herod And What Children They Both Left Behind Them。
1。 Now when Caius had reigned three year's and eight months; and had been slain by treachery; Claudius was hurried away by the armies that were at Rome to take the government upon him; but the senate; upon the reference of the consuls; Sentis Saturninns; and Pomponins Secundus; gave orders to the three regiments of soldiers that staid with them to keep the city quiet; and went up into the capitol in great numbers; and resolved to oppose Claudius by force; on account of the barbarous treatment they had met with from Caius; and they determined either to settle the nation under an aristocracy; as they had of old been governed; or at least to choose by vote such a one for emperor as might be worthy of it。
2。 Now it happened that at this time Agrippa sojourned at Rome; and that both the senate called him to consult with them; and at the same time Claudius sent for him out of the camp; that he might be serviceable to him; as he should have occasion for his service。 So he; perceiving that Claudius was in effect made Caesar already; went to him; who sent him as an ambassador to the senate; to let them know what his intentions were: that; in the first place; it was without his seeking that he was hurried away by the soldiers; moreover; that he thought it was not just to desert those soldiers in such their zeal for him; and that if he should do so; his own fortune would be in uncertainty; for that it was a dangerous case to have been once called to the empire。 He added further; that he would administer the government as a good prince; and not like a tyrant; for that he would be satisfied with the honor of being called emperor; but would; in every one of his actions; permit them all to give him their advice; for that although he had not been by nature for moderation; yet would the death of Caius afford him a sufficient demonstration how soberly he ought to act in that station。 3。 This message was delivered by Agrippa; to which the senate replied; that since they had an army; and the wisest counsels on their side; they would not endure a voluntary slavery。 And when Claudius heard what answer the senate had made; he sent Agrippa to them again; with the following message: That he could not bear the thoughts of betraying them that had given their oaths to be true to him; and that he saw he must fight; though unwillingly; against such as he had no mind to fight; that; however; 'if it must come to that;' it was proper to choose a place without the city for the war; because it was not agreeable to piety to pollute the temples of their own city with the blood of their own countrymen; and this only on occasion of their imprudent conduct。 And when Agrippa had heard this message; he delivered it to the senators。
4。 In the mean time; one of the soldiers belonging to the senate drew his sword; and cried out; 〃O my fellow soldiers; what is the meaning of this choice of ours; to kill our brethren; and to use violence to our kindred that are with Claudius? while we may have him for our emperor whom no one can blame; and who hath so many just reasons 'to lay claim to the government'; and this with regard to those against whom we are going to fight。〃 When he had said this; he marched through the whole senate; and carried all the soldiers along with him。 Upon which all the patricians were immediately in a great fright at their being thus deserted。 But still; because there appeared no other way whither they could turn themselves for deliverance; they made haste the same way with the soldiers; and went to Claudius。 But those that had the greatest luck in flattering the good fortune of Claudius betimes met them before the walls with their naked swords; and there was reason to fear that those that came first might have been in danger; before Claudius could know what violence the soldiers were going to offer them; had not Agrippa ran before; and told him what a dangerous thing they were going about; and that unless he restrained the violence of these men; who were in a fit of madness against the patricians; he would lose those on whose account it was most desirable to rule; and would be emperor over a desert。
5。 When Claudius heard this; he restrained the violence of the soldiery; and received the senate into the camp; and treated them after an obliging manner; and went out with them presently to offer their thank…offerings to God; which were proper upon; his first coming to the empire。 Moreover; he bestowed on Agrippa his whole paternal kingdom immediately; and added to it; besides those countries that had been given by Augustus to Herod; Trachonitis and Auranitis; and still besides these; that kingdom which was called the kingdom of Lysanius。 This gift he declared to the people by a decree; but ordered the magistrates to have the donation engraved on tables of brass; and to be set up in the capitol。 He bestowed on his brother Herod; who was also his son…in…law; by marrying 'his daughter' Bernice; the kingdom of Chalcis。
6。 So now riches flowed in to Agrippa by his enjoyment of so large a dominion; nor did he abuse the money he had on small matters; but he began to encompass Jerusalem with such a wall; which; had it been brought to perfection; had made it impracticable for the Romans to take it by siege; but his death; which happened at Cesarea; before he had raised the walls to their due height; prevented him。 He had then reigned three years; as he had governed his tetrarchies three other years。 He left behind him three daughters; born to him by Cypros; Bernice; Mariamne; and Drusilla; and a son born of the same mother; whose name was Agrippa: he was left a very young child; so that Claudius made the country a Roman province; and sent Cuspius Fadus to be its procurator; and after him Tiberius Alexander; who; making no alterations of the ancient laws; kept the nation in tranquillity。 Now after this; Herod the king of Chalcis died; and left behind him two sons; born to him of his brother's daughter Bernice; their names were Bernie Janus and Hyrcanus。 'He also left behind him' Aristobulus; whom he had by his former wife Mariamne。 There was besides another brother of his that died a private person; his name was also Aristobulus; who left behind him a daughter; whose name was Jotape: and these; as I have formerly said; were the children of Aristobulus the son of Herod; which Aristobulus and Alexander were born to Herod by Mariamne; and were slain by him。 But as for Alexander's posterity; they reigned in Armenia。
CHAPTER 12。
Many Tumults Under Cumanus; Which Were Composed By Quadratus。 Felix Is Procurator Of Judea。 Agrippa Is Advanced From Chalcis To A Greater Kingdom。
1 Now after the death of Herod; king of Chalcis; Claudius set Agrippa; the son of Agrippa; over his uncle's kingdom; while Cumanus took upon him the office of procurator of the rest; which was a Roman province; and therein he succeeded Alexander; under which Cureanus began the troubles; and the Jews' ruin came on; for when the multitude were come together to Jerusalem; to the feast of unleavened bread; and a Roman cohort stood over the cloisters of the temple; (for they always were armed; and kept guard at the festivals; to prevent any innovation which the multitude thus gathered together might make;) one of the soldiers pulled back his garment; and cowering down a
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