a common thing, in those times, for any one who was afflicted with illness, or unhappy, to shave off the hair of their head, to avoid drinking wine for thirty days, and then to offer sacrifices. This was what Berenice came to Jerusalem to do: and, hearing of Florus's cruel conduct, she went barefooted before his tribunal, to entreat him to spare the Jews. But Florus not only would not listen to her, but threatened, if she did not flee from Jerusalem immediately, that he would make her suffer too.

"I do not wonder, Aunt," said Anne, whose feeling heart was shocked at such cruelties, "that the poor Jews were provoked at the Romans for such unfeeling conduct. I thought the Romans were reckoned a generous nation; and, I am sure, I should think it far from generous to conquer people, and then trample upon them in every way."

"You have read, Anne," said Aunt Jane, "of generous actions performed by Roman men; and, I have no doubt, you could, at this very moment, relate many instances of their noble conduct. Nor are you mistaken: such men as Florus would be despised by the Romans themselves, and be considered a disgrace to their country: and if his conduct had been fully known at Rome, it would

DISCONTENTS OF THE PEOPLE.

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have been inquired into, and severely censured: but remember, my dear, how very far Judea is from Rome; and how very difficult it must have been for a true account of these things to be heard at such a distance."

Anne agreed to the good sense of Aunt Jane's remark, and, though rather reluctantly, went on reading.

The Chief Priests, and superiors of the Jews, were afraid that the common people, who were so justly provoked at the Romans, would be inclined to make war against them immediately; and, being better acquainted with the great strength of the Romans, and with the small chance that the Jews would have against them, they tried every means to pacify their countrymen. The priests brought out the holy vessels and ornaments, and entreated the people not to provoke the Romans to rob them of those sacred treasures. The harpers and singers of hymns, too, presented themselves; and even the Chief Priests sprinkled dust upon their heads, and begged the people to avoid giving offence to the Romans.

These persuasions had a good effect upon the people for a time; much to the disappointment of Florus, who wished to engage the Jews in a war with the Romans, in order that he might, while

they were fighting, make himself master of their gold and silver vessels, and all their money.

For a time, Florus was obliged to be quiet: for when King Agrippa returned from Egypt, and some of the most powerful Jews came to congratulate him upon his return, and to pay their respects to him, they began to lament their own hard fate, and the calamities they had suffered, during his absence, from the tyranny and avarice of Florus. Though Agrippa was sorry for the sufferings of the Jews, he did not like to believe all they said about Florus; nor would he consent to their wish of sending ambassadors to the Emperor Nero, to complain of him. He summoned all the Jews into a large gallery, and, having placed his sister Berenice in a conspicuous place, where she might be seen by all the people, he addressed them to the following purpose:-" I perceive, my friends, that some among you are anxious to go to war with the Romans. Ah! poor young men, you are inexperienced and blind: you know not the evils you wish to bring down upon yourselves. Little do you know the people you are going to fight against. Who has ever been able to withstand their power? If the great kingdoms, which Rome now counts as her slaves, cannot make themselves free, can you, divided as you

AGRIPPA'S ADVICE.

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are among yourselves, without arms and without experience, ever hope to free yourselves from her yoke? What friends have you to fight with you? Look at every country by which your own is surrounded; is it not, like your own, subject to Roman dominion? Wise men go to war with some hope of success, even if it be but a poor one; but you, my friends, have no hope. Is it not best, then, to pause before you run into such danger? Look at your wives, your little children ; they are now safe: spare them, I entreat you, while it is yet in your power." When Agrippa had said this, both himself and his sister burst into tears; while all the answer the people made was: "It is not the Romans! It is Florus only-our enemy Florus,-whom we wish to fight against."

"It is my opinion, Aunt," said Anne, “ that Agrippa might have been very wise, but that he was not very feeling: for as the Jews had really suffered so much from Florus, he ought rather to have punished him, than have blamed the Jews."

"It was intended, my dear,” replied Aunt Jane, "to calm the feelings of the angry Jews; but, I much fear, it would answer that purpose time only."

for a

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CHAPTER II.

AGRIPPA ended by recommending the Jews, if they did not wish to be considered as enemies to the Romans, to rebuild the walls of the Fort of Antonia, which they had destroyed, and to refuse no longer to pay tribute to Cæsar; he likewise advised them to submit to the government of Florus.

The distressed Jews saw that, if Florys were left unpunished, there was little hope that their sufferings would be removed; and though, for a time, Agrippa's good advice had some effect upon them, yet they soon forgot all but their anger against Florus and the Romans.

Massada, a strong Roman fort, was taken by the Jews. In the Temple, too, Eleazar, son of Ananias the High Priest, instigated the priests to refuse all sacrifices, or offerings, which came from the Romans. The Chief Priests would not comply with this resolution; but there was a