When Caesar has heard my case and when Titus, my general, also gives his
verdict against me, I will die, but not before. You, Prince, and you,
Captains, who have never drawn sword outside the streets of Rome, you
call me coward, me, who have served with honour through five campaigns,
who, from my youth till now have been in arms, and this upon the
evidence of a renegade Jew who, for years, has been my private enemy,
and of a soldier whom I scourged as a thief. Look now upon this breast
and say if it is that of a coward!" and rending his robes asunder,
Marcus exposed his bosom, scarred with four white wounds. "Call my
comrades, those with whom I have fought in Gaul, in Sicily, in Egypt and
in Judaea, and ask them if Marcus is a coward? Ask that Jew even, to whom
I gave his life, whether Marcus is a coward?"
"Have done with your boasting," said Domitian, "and hide those
scratches. You were taken prisoner by the Jews--it is enough. You have
your prayer, your case shall go to Caesar. If the tale you tell is true
you would produce that woman who is said to have rescued you from the
Jews and whom you purchased as a slave. When you do this we will take
her evidence. Till then to your prison with you. Guards, remove the man
Marcus, called the Fortunate, once a Prefect of Horse in the army of
Judaea.
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