Produced by Martin Robb.
For the Temple:A Tale of the Fall of JerusalemBy G. A. Henty.
Contents
Preface.Chapter 1: The Lake Of Tiberias.Chapter 2: A Storm On Galilee.Chapter 3: The Revolt Against Rome.Chapter 4: The Lull Before The Storm.Chapter 5: The Siege Of Jotapata.Chapter 6: The Fall Of The City.Chapter 7: The Massacre On The Lake.Chapter 8: Among The Mountains.Chapter 9: The Storming Of Gamala.Chapter 10: Captives.Chapter 11: A Tale Of Civil Strife.Chapter 12: Desultory Fighting.Chapter 13: The Test Of Devotion.Chapter 14: Jerusalem.Chapter 15: The Siege Is Begun.Chapter 16: The Subterranean Passage.Chapter 17: The Capture Of The Temple.Chapter 18: Slaves.Chapter 19: At Rome.
Illustrations
On the Sea of Galilee.Heightening the Walls of Jotapata under Shelter of Ox Hides.John Incites his Countrymen to Harass the Romans.The Roman Camp Surprised and Set on Fire.Mary and the Hebrew Women in the Hands of the Romans.Titus Brings Josephus to See John.John and his Band in Sight of Jerusalem.Misery in Jerusalem During the Siege by Titus.'Lesbia,' the Roman said, 'I have brought you two more slaves.'The Return of John to his House on the Lake.
Preface.
In all history, there is no drama of more terrible interest thanthat which terminated with the total destruction of Jerusalem. Hadthe whole Jewish nation joined in the desperate resistance made, bya section of it, to the overwhelming strength of Rome, the worldwould have had no record of truer patriotism than that displayed,by this small people, in their resistance to the forces of themistress of the world.
Unhappily, the reverse of this was the case. Except in the defenseof Jotapata and Gamala, it can scarcely be said that the Jewishpeople, as a body, offered any serious resistance to the arms ofRome. The defenders of Jerusalem were a mere fraction of itspopulation--a fraction composed almost entirely of turbulentcharacters and robber bands, who fought with the fury ofdesperation; after having placed themselves beyond the pale offorgiveness, or mercy, by the deeds of unutterable cruelty withwhich they had desolated the city, before its siege by the Romans.They fought, it is true, with unflinching courage--a courage neversurpassed in history--but it was the courage of despair; and itsresult was to bring destruction upon the whole population, as wellas upon themselves.
Fortunately the narrative of Josephus, an eyewitness of the eventswhich he describes, has come down to us; and it is the storehousefrom which all subsequent histories of the events have been drawn.It is, no doubt, tinged throughout by his desire to stand well withhis patrons, Vespasian and Titus; but there is no reason to doubtthe accuracy of his descriptions. I have endeavored to present youwith as vivid a picture as possible of the events of the war,without encumbering the story with details and, except as regardsthe exploits of John of Gamala, of whom Josephus says nothing, havestrictly followed, in every particular, the narrative of thehistorian.
G. A. Henty.
Chapter 1: The Lake Of Tiberias.
"Dreaming, John, as usual? I never saw such a boy. You are alwaysin extremes; either tiring yourself out, or lying half asleep."
"I was not half asleep, mother. I was looking at the lake."
"I cannot see much to look at, John. It's just as it has been eversince you were born, or since I was born."
"No, I suppose there's no change, mother; but I am never tired oflooking at the sun shining on the ripples, and the fishermen'sboats, and the birds standing in the shallows or flying off, in adesperate hurry, without any reason that I can make out. Besides,mother, when one is looking at the lake, one is thinking of otherthings."
"And very often thinking of nothing at all, my son."
"Perhaps so, mother; but there's plenty to think of, in thesetimes."
"Plenty, John; there are baskets and baskets of figs to be strippedfrom the trees, and hung up to dry for the winter and, next week,we are going to begin the grape harvest. But the figs are theprincipal matter, at present; and I think that it would be far moreuseful for you to go and help old Isaac and his son, in gettingthem in, than in lying there watching the lake."
"I suppose it would, mother," the lad said, rising briskly; for hisfits of indolence were by no means common and, as a rule, he wasready to assist at any work which might be going on.
"I do not wonder at John loving the lake," his mother said toherself, when the lad had hurried away. "It is a fair scene; and itmay be, as Simon thinks, that a change may come over it, beforelong, and that ruin and desolation may fall upon us all."
There were, indeed, few scenes which could surpass in tranquilbeauty that which Martha, the wife of Simon, was looking upon--thesheet of sparkling water, with its low shores dotted with towns andvillages. Down the lake, on the opposite shore, rose the walls andcitadel of Tiberias, with many stately buildings; for althoughTiberias was not, now, the chief town of Galilee--for Sepphoris hadusurped its place--it had been the seat of the Roman authority, andthe kings who ruled the country for Rome generally dwelt there.Half a mile from the spot where Martha was standing rose thenewly-erected walls of Hippos.
Where the towns and villages did not engross the shore, the richorchards and vineyards extended down to the very edge of the water.The plain of Galilee was a veritable garden. Here flourished, inthe greatest abundance, the vine and the fig; while the low hillswere covered with olive groves, and the corn waved thickly on therich, fat land. No region on the earth's face possessed a fairerclimate. The heat was never extreme; the winds blowing from theGreat Sea brought the needed moisture for the vegetation; and sosoft and equable was the air that, for ten months in the year,grapes and figs could be gathered.
The population, supported by the abundant fruits of the earth, wasvery large. Villages--which would elsewhere be called towns, forthose containing but a few thousand inhabitants were regarded assmall, indeed--were scattered thickly over the plain; and few areasof equal dimensions could show a population approaching that whichinhabited the plains and slopes between the Sea of Galilee and theMediterranean. None could then have dreamed of the dangers thatwere to come, or believed that this rich cultivation and teemingpopulation would disappear; and that, in time, a few flocks ofwandering sheep would scarce be able to find herbage growing, onthe wastes of land which would take the place of this fertile soil.
Certainly no such thought as this occurred to Martha, as shere-entered the house; though she did fear that trouble, and ruin,might be approaching.
John was soon at work among the fig trees, aiding Isaac and his sonReuben--a lad of some fifteen years--to pick the soft, lusciousfruit, and carry it to the little courtyard, shaded from the raysof the sun by an overhead trellis work, covered with vines andalmost bending beneath the purple bunches of grapes. Miriam--theold nurse--and four or five maid servants, under the eye of Martha,tied them in rows on strings, and fastened them to pegs driven intothat side of the house upon which the sun beat down most hotly. Itwas only the best fruit that was so served; for that which had beendamaged in the picking, and all of smaller size, were laid on traysin the sun. The girls chatted merrily as they worked; for Martha,although a good housewife, was a gentle mistress and, so long asfingers were busy, heeded not if the tongue ran on.
"Let the damsels be happy, while they may," she would say, ifMiriam scolded a little when the laughter rose louder than usual."Let them be happy, while they can; who knows what lies in thefuture?"
But at present, the future cast no shade upon the group; nor upon agirl of about fourteen years old, who danced in and out of thecourtyard in the highest spirits, now stopping a few minutes tostring the figs, then scampering away with an empty basket which,when she reached the gatherers, she placed on her head andsupported demur
ely, for a little while, at the foot of the ladderupon which John was perched--so that he could lay the figs in itwithout bruising them. But, long ere the basket was filled shewould tire of the work and, setting it on the ground, run back intothe house.
"And so you think you are helping, Mary," John said, laughing, whenthe girl returned for the fourth time, with an empty basket.
"Helping, John! Of course I am--ever so much. Helping you, andhelping them at the house, and carrying empty baskets. I considermyself the most active of the party."
"Active, certainly, Mary! but if you do not help them, in stringingand hanging the figs, more than you help me, I think you might aswell leave it alone."
"Fie, John! That is most ungrateful, after my standing here like astatue, with the basket on my head, ready for you to lay the figsin."
"That is all very fine!" John laughed; "but before the basket ishalf full, away you go; and I have to get down the ladder, andbring up the basket and fix it firmly, and that without shaking thefigs; whereas, had you left it alone, altogether, I could havebrought up the empty basket and fixed it close by my hand, withoutany trouble at all."
"You are an ungrateful boy, and you know how bad it is to beungrateful! And after my making myself so hot, too!" Miriam said."My face is as red as fire, and that is all the thanks I get. Verywell, then, I shall go into the house, and leave you to your ownbad reflections."
"You need not do that, Mary. You can sit down in the shade there,and watch us at work; and eat figs, and get yourself cool, all atthe same time. The sun will be down in another half hour, and thenI shall be free to amuse you."
"Amuse me, indeed!" the girl said indignantly, as she sat down onthe bank to which John had pointed. "You mean that I shall amuseyou; that is what it generally comes to. If it wasn't for me I amsure, very often, there would not be a word said when we are outtogether."
"Perhaps that is true," John agreed; "but you see, there is so muchto think about."
"And so you choose the time when you are with me to think! Thankyou, John! You had better think, at present," and, rising from theseat she had just taken, she walked back to the house again,regardless of John's explanations and shouts.
Old Isaac chuckled, on his tree close by.
"They are ever too sharp for us, in words, John. The damsel isyounger than you, by full two years; and yet she can always put youin the wrong, with her tongue."
"She puts meanings to my words which I never thought of," Johnsaid, "and is angered, or pretends to be--for I never know which itis--at things which she has coined out of her own mind, for theyhad no place in mine."
"Boys' wits are always slower than girls'," the old man said. "Agirl has more fancy, in her little finger, than a boy in his wholebody. Your cousin laughs at you, because she sees that you take itall seriously; and wonders, in her mind, how it is her thoughts runahead of yours. But I love the damsel, and so do all in the housefor, if she be a little wayward at times, she is bright and loving,and has cheered the house since she came here.
"Your father is not a man of many words; and Martha, as becomes herage, is staid and quiet, though she is no enemy of mirth andcheerfulness; but the loss of all her children, save you, hassaddened her, and I think she must often have pined that she hadnot a girl; and she has brightened much since the damsel came here,three years ago.
"But the sun is sinking, and my basket is full. There will beenough for the maids to go on with, in the morning, until we cansupply them with more."
John's basket was not full, but he was well content to stop and,descending their ladders, the three returned to the house.
Simon of Gadez--for that was the name of his farm, and the littlefishing village close by, on the shore--was a prosperous andwell-to-do man. His land, like that of all around him, had comedown from father to son, through long generations; for the law bywhich all mortgages were cleared off, every seven years, preventedthose who might be disposed to idleness and extravagance fromruining themselves, and their children. Every man dwelt upon theland which, as eldest son, he had inherited; while the youngersons, taking their smaller share, would settle in the towns orvillages and become traders, or fishermen, according to their bentand means.
There were poor in Palestine--for there will be poor, everywhere,so long as human nature remains as it is; and some men are idle andself indulgent, while others are industrious and thrifty--but,taking it as a whole there were, thanks to the wise provisions oftheir laws, no people on the face of the earth so generallycomfortable, and well to do. They grumbled, of course, over theexactions of the tax collectors--exactions due, not to thecontribution which was paid by the province to imperial Rome, butto the luxury and extravagance of their kings, and to the greed andcorruption of the officials. But in spite of this, the people ofrich and prosperous Galilee could have lived in contentment, andhappiness, had it not been for the factions in their midst.
On reaching the house, John found that his father had just returnedfrom Hippos, whither he had gone on business. He nodded when thelad entered, with his basket.
"I have hired eight men in the market, today, to come out tomorrowto aid in gathering in the figs," he said; "and your mother hasjust sent down, to get some of the fishermen's maidens to come into help her. It is time that we had done with them, and we willthen set about the vintage. Let us reap while we can, there is nosaying what the morrow will bring forth.
"Wife, add something to the evening meal, for the Rabbi Solomon BenManasseh will sup with us, and sleep here tonight."
John saw that his father looked graver than usual, but he knew hisduty as a son too well to think of asking any questions; and hebusied himself, for a time, in laying out the figs on trays--knowingthat, otherwise, their own weight would crush the soft fruit beforethe morning, and bruise the tender skins.
A quarter of an hour later, the quick footsteps of a donkey wereheard approaching. John ran out and, having saluted the rabbi, heldthe animal while his father assisted him to alight and, welcominghim to his house, led him within. The meal was soon served. Itconsisted of fish from the lake, kid's flesh seethed in milk, andfruit.
Only the men sat down; the rabbi sitting upon Simon's right hand,John on his left, and Isaac and his son at the other end of thetable. Martha's maids waited upon them, for it was not the customfor the women to sit down with the men and, although in the countrythis usage was not strictly observed, and Martha and little Marygenerally took their meals with Simon and John, they did not do soif any guest was present.
In honor of the visitor, a white cloth had been laid on the table.All ate with their fingers; two dishes of each kind being placed onthe table--one at each end. But few words were said during themeal. After it was concluded, Isaac and his son withdrew and,presently, Martha and Mary, having taken their meal in the women'sapartments, came into the room. Mary made a little face at John, tosignify her disapproval of the visitor, whose coming would compelher to keep silent all the evening. But though John smiled, he madeno sign of sympathy for, indeed, he was anxious to hear the newsfrom without; and doubted not that he should learn much, from therabbi.
Solomon Ben Manasseh was a man of considerable influence inGalilee. He was a tall, stern-looking old man, with bushy blackeyebrows, deep-set eyes, and a long beard of black hair, streakedwith gray. He was said to have acquired much of the learning of theGentiles, among whom, at Antioch, he had dwelt for some years; butit was to his powers as a speaker that he owed his influence. Itwas the tongue, in those days, that ruled men; and there were fewwho could lash a crowd to fury, or still their wrath when excited,better than Solomon Ben Manasseh.
For some time they talked upon different subjects: on the cornharvest and vintage, the probable amount of taxation, the marriagefeast which was to take place, in the following week, at the houseof one of the principal citizens of Hippos, and other matters. Butat last Simon broached the subject which was uppermost in all theirthoughts.
"And the news from Tiberias, you say, is bad, rabbi?"
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p; "The news from Tiberias is always bad, friend Simon. In all theland there is not a city which will compare with it, in thewrongheadedness of its people and the violence of its seditions;and little can be hoped, as far as I can see, so long as our goodgovernor, Josephus, continues to treat the malefactors soleniently. A score of times they have conspired against his lifeand, as often, has he eluded them; for the Lord has been ever withhim. But each time, instead of punishing those who have broughtabout these disorders, he lets them go free; trusting always thatthey will repent them of their ways, although he sees that hiskindness is thrown away, and that they grow even bolder and morebitter against him after each failure.
"All Galilee is with him. Whenever he gives the word, every mantakes up his arms and follows him and, did he but give the order,they would level those proud towns Tiberias and Sepphoris to theground, and tear down stone by stone the stronghold of John ofGischala. But he will suffer them to do nothing--not a hair ofthese traitors' heads is to be touched; nor their property, to thevalue of a penny, be interfered with.
"I call such lenity culpable. The law ordains punishment for thosewho disturb the people. We know what befell those who rebelledagainst Moses. Josephus has the valor and the wisdom of King David;but it were well if he had, like our great king, a Joab by hisside, who would smite down traitors and spare not."
"It is his only fault," Simon said. "What a change has taken place,since he was sent hither from Jerusalem to take up our government!All abuses have been repressed, extortion has been put down, taxeshave been lightened. We eat our bread in peace and comfort, andeach man's property is his own. Never was there such a change as hehas wrought and, were it not for John of Gischala, Justus the sonof Piscus, and Jesus the son of Sapphias, all would go quietly andwell; but these men are continually stirring up the people--who, intheir folly, listen to them--and conspiring to murder Josephus, andseize upon his government."
"Already he has had, more than once, to reduce to submissionTiberias and Sepphoris; happily without bloodshed for, when thepeople of these cities saw that all Galilee was with Josephus, theyopened their gates and submitted themselves to his mercy. Truly, inLeviticus it is said:
"'Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the childrenof thy people; but thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.'
"But Josephus carries this beyond reason. Seeing that hisadversaries by no means observe this law, he should remember thatit is also said that 'He that taketh the sword shall fall by thesword,' and that the law lays down punishments for the transgressors.Our judges and kings slew those who troubled the land, and destroyedthem utterly; and Josephus does wrong to depart from their teaching."
"I know not where he could have learned such notions of mercy tohis enemies, and to the enemies of the land," Simon said. "He hasbeen to Rome, but it is not among the Romans that he will havefound that it is right to forgive those who rise up in rebellion."
"Yes, he was in Rome when he was twenty-six years old," Solomonsaid. "He went thither to plead the cause of certain priests whohad been thrown into bonds, by Felix, and sent to Rome. It was aperilous voyage, for his ship was wrecked in the Adriatic and, ofsix hundred men who were on board, only eighty were pickedup--after floating and swimming all night--by a ship of Cyrene. Hewas not long in Rome for, being introduced to Poppaea, the wife ofCaesar, he used his interest with her and obtained the release ofthose for whose sake he went there.
"No, if he gained these ideas from anyone, he learned them from oneBanus--an Ascetic, of the sect of the Essenes, who lived in thedesert with no other clothing than the bark and leaves of trees,and no other food save that which grew wild. Josephus lived withhim, in like fashion, for three years and, doubtless, learned allthat was in his heart. Banus was a follower, they say, of that Johnwhom Herod put to death; and for aught I know, of that Jesus whowas crucified, two years afterwards, at Jerusalem, and in whom manypeople believed, and who has many followers, to this day. I haveconversed with some of them and, from what they tell me, this Jesustaught doctrines similar to those which Josephus practices; andwhich he may have learned from Banus, without accepting thedoctrines which the members of this sect hold, as to their founderbeing the promised Messiah who was to restore Israel."
"I, too, have talked with many of the sect," Simon said; "and haveargued with them on the folly of their belief, seeing that theirfounder by no means saved Israel, but was himself put to death.From what I could see, there was much that was good in thedoctrines they hold; but they have exaggerated ideas, and areopposed to all wars, even to fighting for their country. I hearthat, since there has been trouble with Rome, most of them havedeparted altogether out of the land, so as to avoid the necessityof fighting."
"They are poor creatures," Solomon Ben Manasseh said, scornfully;"but we need not talk of them now, for they affect us in no way,save that it may be that Josephus has learned somewhat of theirdoctrines, from Banus; and that he is thus unduly and, as I think,most unfortunately for the country, inclined too much to mercy,instead of punishing the evildoers as they deserve."
"But nevertheless, rabbi, it seems to me that there has been goodpolicy, as well, in the mercy which Josephus has shown his foes.You know that John has many friends in Jerusalem; and that, if hecould accuse Josephus of slaughtering any, he would be able to makeso strong a party, there, that he could obtain the recall ofJosephus."
"We would not let him go," Solomon said, hotly. "Since the Romanshave gone, we submit to the supremacy of the council at Jerusalem,but it is only on sufferance. For long ages we have had nothing todo with Judah; and we are not disposed to put our necks under theiryoke, now. We submit to unity because, in the Romans, we have acommon foe; but we are not going to be tyrannized. Josephus hasshown himself a wise ruler. We are happier, under him, than we havebeen for generations under the men who call themselves kings, butwho are nothing but Roman satraps; and we are not going to sufferhim to be taken from us. Only let the people of Jerusalem try that,and they will have to deal with all the men of Galilee."
"I am past the age at which men are bound to take up the sword, andJohn has not yet attained it but, if there were need, we would bothgo out and fight. What could they do, for the population of Galileeis greater than that of Judah? And while we would fight, every man,to the death; the Jews would, few of them, care to hazard theirlives only to take from us the man we desire to rule over us.Still, Josephus does wisely, perhaps, to give no occasion foraccusation by his enemies.
"There is no talk, is there, rabbi, of any movement on the part ofthe Romans to come against us, in force?"
"None, so far as I have heard," the rabbi replied. "King Agripparemains in his country, to the east; but he has no Roman force withhim sufficient to attempt any great enterprise and, so long as theyleave us alone, we are content."
"They will come, sooner or later," Simon said, shaking his head."They are busy elsewhere. When they have settled with their otherenemies, they will come here to avenge the defeat of Cestius, torestore Florus, and to reconquer the land. Where Rome has once laidher paw, she never lets slip her prey."
"Well, we can fight," Solomon Ben Manasseh said, sternly. "Ourforefathers won the land with the sword, and we can hold it by thesword."
"Yes," Martha said quietly, joining in the conversation for thefirst time, "if God fights for us, as He fought for ourforefathers."
"Why should He not?" the rabbi asked sternly. "We are still hispeople. We are faithful to his law."
"But God has, many times in the past, suffered us to fall into thehands of our enemies as a punishment for our sins," Martha said,quietly. "The tribes were carried away into captivity, and arescattered we know not where. The temple was destroyed, and thepeople of Judah dwelt long as captives in Babylon. He suffered usto fall under the yoke of the Romans.
"In his right time, He will fight for us again; but can we say thatthat time has come, rabbi, and that He will smite the Romans, as Hesmote the host of Sennacherib?"
"That no man can say," the rabbi ans
wered, gloomily. "Time onlywill show but, whether or no, the people will fight valiantly."
"I doubt not that they will fight," Simon said; "but many othernations, to whom we are but as a handful, have fought bravely, buthave succumbed to the might of Rome. It is said that Josephus, andmany of the wisest in Jerusalem, were heartily opposed to thetumults against the Romans, and that they only went with the peoplebecause they were in fear of their lives; and even at Tiberias manymen of worth and gravity, such as Julius Capellus, Herod the son ofMiarus, Herod the son of Gamalus, Compsus, and others, are allstrongly opposed to hostility against the Romans.
"And it is the same, elsewhere. Those who know best what is themight and power of Rome would fain remain friendly with her. It isthe ignorant and violent classes have led us into this strait; fromwhich, as I fear, naught but ruin can arise."
"I thought better things of you, Simon," the rabbi said, angrily.
"But you yourself have told me," Simon urged, "that you thought ita mad undertaking to provoke the vengeance of Rome."
"I thought so, at first," Solomon admitted, "but now our hand isplaced on the plow, we must not draw back; and I believe that theGod of our fathers will show his might before the heathen."
"I trust that it may be so," Simon said, gravely. "In His hand isall power. Whether He will see fit to put it forth, now, in ourbehalf remains to be seen. However, for the present we need notconcern ourselves greatly with the Romans. It may be long beforethey bring an army against us; while these seditions, here, are atour very door, and ever threaten to involve us in civil war."
"We need fear no civil war," the rabbi said. "The people of allGalilee, save the violent and ill disposed in a few of the towns,are all for Josephus. If it comes to force, John and his party knowthat they will be swept away, like a straw before the wind. Thefear is that they may succeed in murdering Josephus; either by theknife of an assassin, or in one of these tumults. They would ratherthe latter, because they would then say that the people had tornhim to pieces, in their fury at his misdoings.
"However, we watch over him, as much as we can; and his friendshave warned him that he must be careful, not only for his own sake,but for that of all the people; and he has promised that, as far ashe can, he will be on his guard against these traitors."
"The governor should have a strong bodyguard," John exclaimed,impetuously, "as the Roman governors had. In another year, I shallbe of age to have my name inscribed in the list of fighting men;and I would gladly be one of his guard."
"You are neither old enough to fight, nor to express an opinionunasked," Simon said, "in the presence of your elders."
"Do not check the boy," the rabbi said. "He has fire and spirit;and the days are coming when we shall not ask how old, or howyoung, are those who would fight, so that they can but hold arms.
"Josephus is wise not to have a military guard, John, because thepeople love not such appearance of state. His enemies would usethis as an argument that he was setting himself up above them. Itis partly because he behaves himself discreetly, and goes aboutamong them like a private person, of no more account thanthemselves, that they love him. None can say he is a tyrant,because he has no means of tyrannizing. His enemies cannot urge itagainst him at Jerusalem--as they would doubtless do, if theycould--that he is seeking to lead Galilee away from the rule ofJerusalem, and to set himself up as its master for, to do this, hewould require to gather an army; and Josephus has not a singlearmed man at his service, save and except that when he appears tobe in danger many, out of love of him, assemble and provide himescort.
"No, Josephus is wise in that he affects neither pomp nor state;that he keeps no armed men around him, but trusts to the love ofthe people. He would be wiser, however, did he seize one of theoccasions when the people have taken up arms for him to destroy allthose who make sedition; and to free the country, once and for all,from the trouble.
"Sedition should be always nipped in the bud. Lenity, in such acase, is the most cruel course; for it encourages men to think thatthose in authority fear them, and that they can conspire withoutdanger; and whereas, at first, the blood of ten men will put an endto sedition, it needs, at last, the blood of as many thousands torestore peace and order. It is good for a man to be merciful, butnot for a ruler, for the good of the whole people is placed in hishands. The sword of justice is given to him, and he is mostmerciful who uses it the most promptly against those who worksedition. The wise ruler will listen to the prayers of his people,and will grant their petitions, when they show that their case ishard; but he will grant nothing to him who asketh with his sword inhis hand, for he knows full well that when he yields, once, he mustyield always; until the time comes, as come it surely will, when hemust resist with the sword. Then the land will be filled with bloodwhereas, in the beginning, he could have avoided all trouble, byrefusing so much as to listen to those who spoke with threats.
"Josephus is a good man, and the Lord has given him great gifts. Hehas done great things for the land; but you will see that many woeswill come, and much blood will be shed, from this lenity of histowards those who stir up tumults among the people."
A few minutes later the family retired to bed; the hour being alate one for Simon's household, which generally retired to rest ashort time after the evening meal.
The next day the work of gathering in the figs was carried on,earnestly and steadily, with the aid of the workers whom Simon hadhired in the town and, in two days, the trees were all stripped,and strings of figs hung to dry from the boughs of all the treesround the house.
Then the gathering of the grapes began. All the inhabitants of thelittle fishing village lent their aid--men as well as women andchildren--for the vintage was looked upon as a holiday; and Simonwas regarded as a good friend by his neighbors, being ever ready toaid them when there was need, judging any disputes which arosebetween them, and lending them money without interest if misfortunecame upon their boats or nets, or if illness befell them; while thewomen, in times of sickness or trouble, went naturally to Marthawith their griefs, and were assured of sympathy, good advice, andany drugs or dainty food suited to the case.
The women and girls picked the grapes, and laid them in baskets.These were carried by men, and emptied into the vat; where othermen trod them down, and pressed out the juice. Martha and her maidssaw to the cooking and laying out, on the great tables in thecourtyard, of the meals; to which all sat down, together. Simonsuperintended the crushing of the grapes; and John worked now atone task, and now at another. It was a pretty scene, and renderedmore gay by the songs of the women and girls, as they worked; andthe burst of merry laughter which, at times, arose.
It lasted four days, by which time the last bunch, save those on afew vines preserved for eating, was picked and crushed; and thevats in the cellar, sunk underground for coolness, were full to thebrim. Simon was much pleased with the result; and declared thatnever, in his memory, had the vine and fig harvest turned out moreabundant. The corn had long before been gathered, and thereremained now only the olives; but it would be some little time yetbefore these were fit to be gathered, and their oil extracted, forthey were allowed to hang on the trees until ready to drop.
The last basket of grapes was brought in with much ceremony; thegatherers forming a little procession, and singing a thanksgivinghymn as they walked. The evening meal was more bounteous, even,than usual; and all who helped carried away with them substantialproofs of Simon's thankfulness, and satisfaction.
For the next few days Simon and his men, and Martha's maids, lenttheir assistance in getting in the vintage of their neighbors; foreach family had its patch of ground, and grew sufficient grapes andfruits for its own needs. Those in the village brought their grapesto a vat, which they had in common; the measures of the grapesbeing counted as they were put in, and the wine afterwards divided,in like proportion--for wine, to be good, must be made inconsiderable quantities.
And now there was, for a time, little to do on the farm. Simonsuperintended the men who wer
e plowing up the corn stubbles, readyfor the sowing in the spring; sometimes putting his hand to theplow, and driving the oxen. Isaac and his son worked in thevineyard and garden, near the house; aided to some extent by Johnwho, however, was not yet called upon to take a man's share in thework of the farm--he having but lately finished his learning, withthe rabbi, at the school in Hippos. Still, he worked steadily everymorning and, in the afternoon, generally went out on the lake withthe fishermen, with whom he was a great favorite.
This was not to last long for, at seventeen, he was to join hisfather, regularly, in the management of the farm and, indeed, theRabbi Solomon, who was a frequent guest, was of opinion that Simongave the boy too much license; and that he ought, already, to bedoing man's work.
But Simon, when urged by him, said:
"I know that, at his age, I was working hard, rabbi; but the ladhas studied diligently, and I have a good report of him; and Ithink it well that, at his age, the bow should be unbent somewhat.
"Besides, who knows what is before us! I will let the lad have asmuch pleasure from his life as he can. The storm is approaching;let him play, while the sun shines."