Page:Complete works of Josephus in four volumes - Volume 4.djvu/11

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THE WARS OF THE JEWS,

OR,

THE HISTORY OF THE DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM.

BOOK III.

CONTAINING THE INTERVAL OF ABOUT ONE YEAR.

[FROM VESPASIAN'S COMING TO SUBDUE THE JEWS, TO THE TAKING OF GAMALA.]

CHAPTER I.

Vespasian is sent into Syria by Nero, in order to make war with the Jews.

1. When Nero was informed of the Romans' ill success in Judea, a concealed consternation and terror, as is usual in such cases, fell upon him; although he openly looked very big, and was very angry, and said that what had happened was rather owing to the negligence of the commander, than to any valour of the enemy: and as he thought it fit for him, who bore the burden of the whole empire, to despise such misfortunes, he now pretended so to do, and to have a soul superior to all such sad accidents whatsoever. Yet did the disturbance that was in his soul plainly

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