To the number of over four thousand men they
gathered silently in the Court of Israel. Then of a sudden the gates
were thrown open, and among them that of Nicanor. The trumpets blew a
signal and out they poured into the Court of Women, driving in the Roman
guards and outposts as sticks and straws are driven by a sudden flood.
But the legionaries beyond were warned, and locking their shields
together stood firm, so that the Jews fell back from their iron line as
such a flood falls from an opposing rock. Yet they would not retreat,
but fought furiously, killing many of the Romans, until at length Titus
charged on them at the head of a squadron of horse and drove them back
headlong through the gates. Then the Romans came on and put those whom
they had captured to the sword, but as yet they did not attempt the
storming of the gates. Only officers advanced as near to the wall
as they dared and called to the Jews to surrender, saying that Titus
desired to preserve their Temple and to spare their lives. But the Jews
answered them with insults, taunts, and mockery, and Miriam, listening,
wondered what spirit had entered into these people and made them mad, so
that they chose death and destruction rather than peace and mercy.
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