same manner as a ram butts with his head. This great beam was hung on another, with ropes, like a pair of balances; the beam it hung upon was supported by two props. The ram being drawn back by the force of many men, was then pushed forward with great violence against the wall; so that no wall or tower could withstand the repeated strokes of this head of massy iron. Such was the engine employed by the Romans; the first stroke of which shook the walls so terribly, that there was a general outcry in the town, as if the place had been taken.

Jesephus observed that the ram constantly beat one part of the wall, which must inevitably give way, except the force of it could be broken; he therefore ordered sacks to be filled with chaff, and let down from the wall, just against the place where the ram struck: the looseness of the chaff making no resistance, broke the violence of the stroke. By this invention, their enemies were retarded for a time; for, wherever they placed the ram, thither the sacks were removed. At length the Romans contrived, by taking long poles and scythes at the end of them, to cut the sacks and let out the chaff, and then the ram took effect.

Josephus and his soldiers next set fire to the engines and mounts of the Romans, who had the mortification to see, in one hour, all their works consumed, which had cost them so much trouble and labour in erecting. The fire was so intense, that it was with difficulty they defended themselves from its fury.

One of the Jews shot an arrow from the wall, and wounded, Vespasian in the foot. The Romans seeing the blood flow from the wound, spread the tidings through the camp, and he was soon surrounded by all his army, who came running to see their general. Titus especially, expressed the greatest anxiety for his father's safety. Vespasian, concealing the pain of the wound, endeavoured to remove their fears, exhorting them to fight the more vigorously against the enemy. Animated with revenge, they flew to the assault, and defending themselves, with hurdles, from the darts and arrows of their enemies, they again battered the walls with the ram.

This was a terrible night to the Jews; many were killed with arrows and stones, and others by the falling of the towers and walls. The mountains echoed with the lamentations of the citizens, and the groans of the wounded and dying. Josephus repaired the breach before the Romans could set up a bridge to enter it. In the morning, Vespasian brought part of his army to enter the breach, at the same time guarding every avenue from the city, that none might escape; ordering others to scale the walls, to draw the attention of the besieged from the breach. Josephus, perceiving his intention, placed the old men and children at those parts of the wall that were not battered, and himself, with his choicest troops, defended the breach. He, with six men, went forward to receive the first assault.

As soon as the bridges were set, the Jews attacked their enemies with the utmost fury, determining to conquer or die. But they had no new

forces to bring forward in the room of those who were already covered with wounds, and exhausted with fatigue; while the Romans advanced with fresh troops, and so contrived to join their armour together, that they appeared like one body, or as a wall of defence. In this manner they beat back the Jews, and set foot on the walls. Josephus, ever fruitful in inventions, found a way to divide this compact body. He ordered his men to fetch scalding oil, which he had previously got ready, to pour on the Romans. The oil soon made its way between the armour and the flesh, and, continuing its heat a long time, scorched them like fire, causing excruciating pain some fell from the wall, others leaped from the bridge, and many died. But this did not deter the Romans. Josephus, perceiving a fresh company approach, ordered a herb, called fennigreek, to be boiled and poured on the bridge; which made it so slippery, that the Romans could not keep on their feet, but, falling down, were trodden to death by their own company; others slipped down upon the ramparts. The Romans being thus kept at a distance, the Jews had time to annoy them with their arrows and darts.

Vespasian was witness to the miseries his men endured, and, towards evening, ordered them to retire; many being slain, and more wounded. The besieged had only six men slain, though more than three hundred wounded. This engagement took

place about the twentieth of June.

The Romans then went to work again to raise mounts and towers, from which they shot arrows

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into the town, whereby many were daily slain; but whenever they attempted to enter the breach, the Jews valiantly defended it. At length, however, they were betrayed by one of their own city, after having held out, beyond all expectation, forty-seven days.

This traitor informed Vespasian how the city might be taken, there being few men able to resist, and these were so wearied out with fatigue, that they had of late ceased from labour the latter part of the night, and slept till morning; it would therefore be very easy to assault them at that time.

Vespasian could scarcely give credit to what he said, knowing how faithful the Jews were to each other; yet, though he could place no confidence in this informer, he had him detained, and determined to try the experiment. He accordingly marched his army at the hour appointed, in profound silence, towards the wall. Titus advanced first, with some chosen troops. They got into the midst of the town by day-light, and found the citizens fast asleep; the watch being prevented from seeing the enemy, by reason of a great mist; so that the inhabitants were not awakened, till death was at their doors. The Romans, enraged at what they had suffered during the siege, spared none but women and children; whom they took prisoners, amounting to twelve hundred. The whole number that was slain, from the commencement of the siege to the time the city was taken, amounted to forty thousand. The place was surprised and taken on the first of July.

the general massacre. He had fled from the midst of his enemies, and leaped into a deep well, which had a large cave on one side, that could not be perceived by those above. Here he found forty of his bravest men, who had provisions for many days. Josephus went out in the night, to see if he could make his escape; but, finding that impossible, he returned to the cave. In the mean time, the Romans were searching every place to find him, dead or alive.

On the third day, a woman that had been in the cave, informed the Romans where he was. Upon which, Vespasian sent two tribunes to promise him safety, if he would surrender himself; but Josephus would not accept the offer. As he had been the author of the evils that the Romans endured, he concluded that they sought for him only to punish him. Vespasian then sent a third tribune, named Nicanor, a friend of Josephus, who used many arguments to persuade him to yield, but without effect. His refusal to listen to the overtures that were made him, roused the indignation of the Roman soldiers, who began to throw fire into the cave in order to burn him and his men out of it; but Vespasian stopped them, having a great desire to take him alive. Nicanor still continuing his entreaties, Josephus at length surrendered himself; at the same time, making a solemn appeal to God, that, in so doing, he meant not to betray his country, but would labour to promote its real welfare by all the means in his power.

He now met with a more severe trial than any of