But, indeed, it was no darkness,
for the Jews lit fires upon the top of the wall, and by their light
drove off the attacking Romans. Again and again, from her lofty perch,
Miriam could see the scaling ladders appear above the crest of the wall.
Then up them would come long lines of men, each holding a shield above
his head. As the foremost of these scrambled on to the wall, the waiting
Jews rushed at them and cut them down with savage shouts, while other
Jews seizing the rungs of the ladder, thrust it from the coping to fall
with its living load back into the ditch beneath. Once there were great
cries of joy, for two standard-bearers had come up the ladders carrying
their ensigns with them. The men were overpowered and the ensigns
captured to be waved derisively at the Romans beneath, who answered the
insult with sullen roars of rage.
So things went on till at length the legionaries, wearing of this
desperate fighting, took another counsel. Hitherto Titus had desired to
preserve all the Temple, even to the outer courts and cloisters, but now
he commanded that the gates, built of great beams of cedar and overlaid
with silver plates, should be fired. Through a storm of spears and
arrows soldiers rushed up to them and thrust lighted brands into every
joint and hinge.
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