separate. The Jews could take no rest by night, for fear the Romans should take their wall; and the Romans were equally afraid of the sallies of the Jews: so that they all lay in their armour during the night-time, and were ready to fight again the first thing in the morning.

The great ambition of the Jews was to obtain praise from their commanders; and above all from Simon, for whom they had the greatest veneration and dread, and for whose sake they would have even killed themselves.

While, on the other hand, how could the Romans, for shame, grow weary of fighting, while their own beloved commander Titus was with them? He was every where present; he fought with them, and could see who fought bravely, and was always ready to reward.

Every soldier thought his fortune made, if he were esteemed by Titus; so that they frequently, in his presence, attempted even more than they had strength to perform.

While the two armies stood within view of one another, a Roman, of the name of Lon

ginus, belonging to the equestrian order, leaped in among the Jews, and with desperate violence killed several of them, and then fought his way out again to his own party. Many of the Romans would have followed his example, but Titus disapproved of it: "Such fighting," said he, "is inconsiderate rashness, which has nothing to do with valour; and that is true courage alone which is guided by sense."

Titus had no wish to see his brave companions foolishly throw away their lives, and he was equally careful of the blood of his

enemies.

Ten of the Jews, led by a man of the name of Castor, lay in ambush behind a part of the wall against which Titus directed an engine to play. For a time the men lay still under their breastplates, as if in great fear; but at last, when the tower was actually shaken, they got up, and Castor stretched out his hand to Titus, and begged for mercy for himself and followers. Titus, believing him sincere, stopped the battering-ram, and desired that no more stones should be thrown till he had heard what Castor had to say, for

he thought now that the Jews were really going to repent.

Castor told him he would come down, if Titus would give him his right hand for security.

Titus answered, that he was well pleased with such conduct, and that he would give all his friends, as well as all the Jews in the city, the same security if they would come over to him.

Five of the ten men who were with Castor likewise pretended to ask mercy; while the other five cried out aloud, that they would rather die than be slaves to the Romans.

Castor kept them disputing, and in the mean time sent word to Simon that he might take some time to consult what was to be done for the safety of the city, as he would delude the Romans, and keep them still for some time. At the same time that he was sending the message to Simon, he appeared openly to be persuading his companions to accept of Titus's offer; while they seemed very angry, and flourished about their naked swords as if they would rather die than yield. Titus looked on, admiring the cou