They caught, and presently the silver plates ran down
their blazing surface in molten streams of metal. Nor was this all, for
from the gates the fire spread to the cloisters on either side, nor did
the outworn Jews attempt to stay its ravages. They drew back sullenly,
and seated in groups upon the paving of the Court of Women, watching the
circle of devouring flame creep slowly on. At length the sun rose. Now
the Romans were labouring to extinguish the fire at the gateway, and to
make a road over the ruins by which they might advance. When it was
done at last, with shouts of triumph the legionaries, commanded by Titus
himself and accompanied by a body of horsemen, advanced into the Court
of Women. Back before them fled the Jews, pouring up the steps of the
Gate Nicanor, on the roof of which Miriam was chained to her pinnacle.
But of her they took no note, none had time to think, or even to look
at a single girl bound there on high in punishment for some offence, of
which the most of them knew nothing. Only they manned the walls to right
and left, and held the gateway, but to the roof where Miriam was they
did not climb, because its parapet was too low to shelter them from the
arrows of their assailants.
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