Presently
from the cloisters, clad in garments of silk and wearing crowns of
laurel, appeared the Caesars, Vespasian and Titus, attended by Domitian
and their staffs. As they came the soldiers saw them and set up a mighty
triumphant shout which sounded like the roar of the sea, that endured
while the Caesars sat themselves upon their thrones. Up and up went
the sound of the continual shouting, till at length Vespasian rose and
lifted his hand.
Then silence fell and, covering his head with his cloak, he seemed to
make some prayer, after which Titus also covered his head with his
cloak and offered a prayer. This done, Vespasian addressed the soldiers,
thanking them for their bravery and promising them rewards, whereon they
shouted again until they were marched off to the feast that had been
made ready. Now the Caesars vanished and the officers began to order the
great procession, of which Miriam could see neither the beginning nor
the end. All she knew was that before her in lines eight wide were
marshalled two thousand or more Jewish prisoners bound together with
ropes, among whom, immediately in front of her, were a few women. Next
she came, walking by herself, and behind her, also walking by himself, a
dark, sullen-looking man, clad in a white robe and a purple cloak, with
a gilded chain about his neck.
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