The Jews hesitated, and, like
a living stream of steel, the Roman ranks poured over the wall. Then, of
a sudden, terror seized those unhappy men, and, with a melancholy cry of
utter despair, they turned to flee back to the Court of Israel. But this
time the Romans were not content with driving them away, they came on
with them; some of them even reached the gate before them. Up the marble
steps poured friend and foe together; together they passed the open
gate, in their mad rush sweeping away those who had stayed to guard it,
and burst into the Court of Israel. Then leaving some to hold the gate
and reinforced continually by fresh companies from the camps within and
without the Temple courts, the Romans ran on towards the doors of the
Holy House, cutting down the fugitives as they went. Now none attempted
to stand; there was no fight made; even the bravest of the Jewish
warriors, feeling that their hour was come and that Jehovah had deserted
His people, flung down their weapons and fled, some to escape to the
Upper City, more to perish on the Roman spears.
A few attempted to take refuge in the Holy House itself, and after these
followed some Romans bearing torches in their hands. Miriam, watching
terrified from the roof of the Gate Nicanor, saw them go, the torches
floating on the dusky air like points of wind-tossed fire.
Pages:
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338