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1. Now as soon as the army had no more people to slay or to
plunder, because there remained none to be the objects of their
fury, (for they would not have spared any, had there remained any
other work to be done,) Caesar gave orders that they should now
demolish the entire city and temple, but should leave as many of
the towers standing as were of the greatest eminency; that is,
Phasaelus, and Hippicus, and Mariamne; and so much of the wall as
enclosed the city on the west side. This wall was spared, in
order to afford a camp for such as were to lie in garrison, as
were the towers also spared, in order to demonstrate to posterity
what kind of city it was, and how well fortified, which the Roman
valor had subdued; but for all the rest of the wall, it was so
thoroughly laid even with the ground by those that dug it up to
the foundation, that there was left nothing to make those that
came thither believe it had ever been inhabited. This was the end
which Jerusalem came to by the madness of those that were for
innovations; a city otherwise of great magnificence, and of
mighty fame among all mankind.
2. But Caesar resolved to leave there, as a guard, the tenth
legion, with certain troops of horsemen, and companies of
footmen. So, having entirely completed this war, he was desirous
to commend his whole army, on account of the great exploits they
had performed, and to bestow proper rewards on such as had
signalized themselves therein. He had therefore a great tribunal
made for him in the midst of the place where he had formerly
encamped, and stood upon it with his principal commanders about
him, and spake so as to be heard by the whole arrmy in the manner
following: That he returned them abundance of thanks for their
good-will which they had showed to him: he commended them for
that ready obedience they had exhibited in this whole war, which
obedience had appeared in the many and great dangers which they
had courageously undergone; as also for that courage they had
shown, and had thereby augmented of themselves their country's
power, and had made it evident to all men, that neither the
multitude of their enemies, nor the strength of their places, nor
the largeness of their cities, nor the rash boldness and brutish
rage of their antagonists, were sufficient at any time to get
clear of the Roman valor, although some of them may have fortune
in many respects on their side. He said further, that it was but
reasonable for them to put an end to this war, now it had lasted
so long, for that they had nothing better to wish for when they
entered into it; and that this happened more favorably for them,
and more for their glory, that all the Romans had willingly
accepted of those for their governors, and the curators of their
dominions, whom they had chosen for them, and had sent into their
own country for that purpose, which still continued under the
management of those whom they had pitched on, and were thankful
to them for pitching upon them. That accordingly, although he did
both admire and tenderly regard them all, because he knew that
every one of them had gone as cheerfully about their work as
their abilities and opportunities would give them leave; yet, he
said, that he would immediately bestow rewards and dignities on
those that had fought the most bravely, and with greater force,
and had signalized their conduct in the most glorious manner, and
had made his army more famous by their noble exploits; and that
no one who had been willing to take more pains than another
should miss of a just retribution for the same; for that he had
been exceeding careful about this matter, and that the more,
because he had much rather reward the virtues of his fellow
soldiers than punish such as had offended.
3. Hereupon Titus ordered those whose business it was to read the
list of all that had performed great exploits in this war, whom
he called to him by their names, and commended them before the
company, and rejoiced in them in the same manner as a man would
have rejoiced in his own exploits. He also put on their heads
crowns of gold, and golden ornaments about their necks, and gave
them long spears of gold,. and ensigns that were made of silver,
and removed every one of them to a higher rank; and besides
this, he plentifully distributed among them, out of the spoils,
and the other prey they had taken, silver, and gold, and
garments. So when they had all these honors bestowed on them,
according to his own appointment made to every one, and he had
wished all sorts of happiness to the whole army, he came down,
among the great acclamations which were made to him, and then
betook himself to offer thank-offerings [to the gods], and at
once sacrificed a vast number of oxen, that stood ready at the
altars, and distributed them among the army to feast on. And when
he had staid three days among the principal commanders, and so
long feasted with them, he sent away the rest of his army to the
several places where they would be every one best situated; but
permitted the tenth legion to stay, as a guard at Jerusalem, and
did not send them away beyond Euphrates, where they had been
before. And as he remembered that the twelfth legion had given
way to the Jews, under Cestius their general, he expelled them
out of all Syria, for they had lain formerly at Raphanea, and
sent them away to a place called Meletine, near Euphrates, which
is in the limits of Armenia and Cappadocia; he also thought fit
that two of the legions should stay with him till he should go to
Egypt. He then went down with his army to that Cesarea which lay
by the sea-side, and there laid up the rest of his spoils in
great quantities, and gave order that the captives should he kept
there; for the winter season hindered him then from sailing into
Italy.
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