538. This success of Simon excited the zealots afresh; and though they were afraid to fight him openly in a fair battle, yet did they lay ambushes in the passes, and seized upon his wife, with a considerable number of her attendants; whereupon they came back to the city rejoicing, as if they had taken Simon himself captive, and were in present expectation that he would lay down his arms, and make supplication to them for his wife; but instead of indulging any merciful affection, he grew very angry at them for seizing his beloved wife; so he came to the wall of Jerusalem, and, like wild beasts when they are wounded, and cannot overtake those that wounded them, he vented his spleen upon all persons that he met with. Accordingly, he caught all those that were come out of the city gates, either to gather herbs or sticks, who were unarmed and in years; he then tormented them and destroyed them, out of the immense rage he was in, and was almost ready to taste the very flesh of their dead bodies. He also cut off the hands of a great many, and sent them into the city to astonish his enemies, and in order to make the people fall into a sedition, and desert those that had been the authors of his wife's seizure. He also enjoined them to tell the people that Simon swore by the God of the universe, who sees all things, that unless they will restore him his wife, he will break down their wall, and inflict the like punishment upon all the citizens, without sparing any age, and without making any distinction between the guilty and the innocent. These threatenings so greatly affrighted, not the people only, but the zealots themselves also, that they sent his wife back to him; when he became a little milder, and left off his perpetual blood-shedding.
538. Ταῦτα πάλιν τοὺς ζηλωτὰς ἐπήγειρεν, καὶ φανερῶς μὲν ἀντιπαρατάξασθαι κατέδεισαν, προλοχίσαντες δʼ ἐν ταῖς παρόδοις ἁρπάζουσι τοῦ Σίμωνος τὴν γυναῖκα καὶ τῆς περὶ αὐτὴν θεραπείας συχνούς. ἔπειτα ὡς αὐτὸν αἰχμαλωτισάμενοι τὸν Σίμωνα γεγηθότες εἰς τὴν πόλιν ὑπέστρεψαν καὶ ὅσον οὐδέπω προσεδόκων καταθέμενον τὰ ὅπλα περὶ τῆς γυναικὸς ἱκετεύσειν. τὸν δὲ οὐκ ἔλεος εἰσῆλθεν ἀλλʼ ὀργὴ περὶ τῆς ἡρπασμένης, καὶ πρὸς τὸ τεῖχος τῶν Ἱεροσολύμων ἐλθὼν καθάπερ τὰ τρωθέντα τῶν θηρίων, ἐπειδὴ τοὺς τρώσαντας οὐ κατέλαβεν, ἐφʼ οὓς εὗρε τὸν θυμὸν ἠφίει. ὅσοι γοῦν λαχανείας ἕνεκεν ἢ φρυγανισμοῦ προεληλύθεσαν ἔξω πυλῶν ἀνόπλους καὶ γέροντας συλλαμβάνων ᾐκίζετο καὶ διέφθειρεν, διʼ ὑπερβολὴν ἀγανακτήσεως μονονουχὶ καὶ νεκρῶν γευόμενος τῶν σωμάτων. πολλοὺς δὲ καὶ χειροκοπήσας εἰσέπεμπε καταπλήξασθαι τοὺς ἐχθροὺς ἅμα καὶ διαστῆσαι τὸν δῆμον ἐπιχειρῶν πρὸς τοὺς αἰτίους. ἐντέταλτο δʼ αὐτοῖς λέγειν, ὅτι Σίμων θεὸν ὄμνυσι τὸν πάντων ἔφορον, εἰ μὴ θᾶττον ἀποδώσουσιν αὐτῷ τὴν γυναῖκα, ῥήξας τὸ τεῖχος τοιαῦτα διαθήσειν πάντας τοὺς κατὰ τὴν πόλιν, μηδεμιᾶς φεισάμενος ἡλικίας μηδὲ ἀπὸ τῶν ἀναιτίων διακρίνας τοὺς αἰτίους. τούτοις οὐ μόνον ὁ δῆμος ἀλλὰ καὶ οἱ ζηλωταὶ καταπλαγέντες ἀποπέμπουσιν αὐτῷ τὴν γυναῖκα· καὶ τότε μὲν ἐκμειλιχθεὶς ὀλίγον ἀνεπαύσατο τοῦ συνεχοῦς φόνου.
545. But now sedition and civil war prevailed, not only over Judea, but in Italy also; for now Galba was slain in the midst of the Roman market-place; then was Otho made emperor, and fought against Vitellius, who set up for emperor also; for the legions in Germany had chosen him. But when he gave battle to Valens and Cecinna, who were Vitellius's generals, at Betriacum, in Gaul, Otho gained the advantage on the first day, but on the second day Vitellius's soldiers had the victory; and after much slaughter Otho slew himself, when he had heard of this defeat at Brixia, and after he had managed the public affairs three months and two days. Otho's army also came over to Vitellius's generals, and he came himself down to Rome with his army. But in the mean time Vespasian removed from Cesarea, on the fifth day of the month Deasius, [Sivan,] and marched against those places of Judea which were not yet overthrown. So he went up to the mountainous country, and took those two toparchies that were called the Gophnitick and Acrabattene toparchies. After which he took Bethel and Ephraim, two small cities; and when he had put garrisons into them, he rode as far as Jerusalem, in which march he took many prisoners, and many captives; but Cerealis, one of his commanders, took a body of horsemen and footmen, and laid waste that part of Idumea which was called the Upper Idumea, and attacked Caphethra, which pretended to be a small city, and took it at the first onset, and burnt it down. He also attacked Caphatabira, and laid siege to it, for it had a very strong wall; and when he expected to spend a long time in that siege, those that were within opened their gates on the sudden, and came to beg pardon, and surrendered themselves up to him. When Cerealis had conquered them, he went to Hebron, another very ancient city. I have told you already that this city is situated in a mountainous country not far off Jerusalem; and when he had broken into the city by force, what multitude and young men were left therein he slew, and burnt down the city; so that as now all the places were taken, excepting Herodlum, and Masada, and Macherus, which were in the possession of the robbers, so Jerusalem was what the Romans at present aimed at.
545. Οὐ μόνον δὲ κατὰ τὴν Ἰουδαίαν στάσις ἦν καὶ πόλεμος ἐμφύλιος, ἀλλὰ κἀπὶ τῆς Ἰταλίας. ἀνῄρητο μὲν γὰρ κατὰ μέσην τὴν Ῥωμαίων ἀγορὰν Γάλβας, ἀποδεδειγμένος δὲ αὐτοκράτωρ Ὄθων ἐπολέμει Οὐιτελλίῳ βασιλειῶντι· τοῦτον γὰρ ᾕρητο τὰ κατὰ Γερμανίαν τάγματα. καὶ γενομένης συμβολῆς κατὰ Φρηγδίακον τῆς Γαλατίας πρός τε Οὐάλεντα καὶ Καικίνναν τοὺς Οὐιτελλίου στρατηγούς, τῇ πρώτῃ μὲν ἡμέρᾳ περιῆν Ὄθων, τῇ δὲ δευτέρᾳ τὸ Οὐιτελλίου στρατιωτικόν· καὶ πολλοῦ φόνου γενομένου διεχρήσατο μὲν Ὄθων αὑτὸν ἐν Βριξέλλῳ τὴν ἧτταν πυθόμενος ἡμέρας δύο καὶ τρεῖς μῆνας κρατήσας τῶν πραγμάτων, προσεχώρησε δὲ τοῖς Οὐιτελλίου στρατηγοῖς ἡ στρατιά, καὶ κατέβαινεν αὐτὸς εἰς τὴν Ῥώμην μετὰ τῆς δυνάμεως. ἐν δὲ τούτῳ καὶ Οὐεσπασιανὸς ἀναστὰς ἐκ τῆς Καισαρείας πέμπτῃ Δαισίου μηνὸς ὥρμησεν ἐπὶ τὰ μηδέπω κατεστραμμένα τῶν τῆς Ἰουδαίας χωρίων. ἀναβὰς δὲ εἰς τὴν ὀρεινὴν αἱρεῖ δύο τοπαρχίας, τήν τε Γοφνιτικὴν καὶ τὴν Ἀκραβετηνὴν καλουμένην, μεθʼ ἃς Βήθηγά τε καὶ Ἐφραὶμ πολίχνια, οἷς φρουροὺς ἐγκαταστήσας μέχρι Ἱεροσολύμων ἱππάζετο· φθορὰ δʼ ἦν πολλῶν καταλαμβανομένων καὶ συχνοὺς ᾐχμαλωτίζετο. Κερεάλιος δὲ αὐτῷ τῶν ἡγεμόνων μοῖραν ἱππέων καὶ πεζῶν ἀναλαβὼν τὴν ἄνω καλουμένην Ἰδουμαίαν ἐπόρθει, καὶ Κάφεθρα μὲν ψευδοπολίχνιον ἐξ ἐφόδου λαβὼν ἐμπίπρησιν, ἑτέραν δὲ καλουμένην Χαραβὶν προσβαλὼν ἐπολιόρκει. πάνυ δʼ ἦν ἰσχυρὸν τὸ τεῖχος, καὶ τρίψεσθαι προσδοκῶντι πλείω χρόνον αἰφνιδίως ἀνοίγουσιν οἱ ἔνδον τὰς πύλας καὶ μεθʼ ἱκετηριῶν προελθόντες ἑαυτοὺς παρέδοσαν. Κερεάλιος δὲ τούτους παραστησάμενος ἐπὶ Χεβρὼν ἑτέρας πόλεως ἀρχαιοτάτης ἐχώρει· κεῖται δʼ, ὡς ἔφην, αὕτη κατὰ τὴν ὀρεινὴν οὐ πόρρω Ἱεροσολύμων· βιασάμενος δὲ τὰς εἰσόδους τὸ μὲν ἐγκαταληφθὲν πλῆθος ἡβηδὸν ἀναιρεῖ, τὸ δʼ ἄστυ καταπίμπρησι. καὶ πάντων ἤδη κεχειρωμένων πλὴν Ἡρωδείου καὶ Μασάδας καὶ Μαχαιροῦντος, ταῦτα δʼ ὑπὸ τῶν λῃστῶν κατείληπτο, σκοπὸς ἤδη τὰ Ἱεροσόλυμα προύκειτο Ῥωμαίοις.
556. And now, as soon as Simon had set his wife free, and recovered her from the zealots, he returned back to the remainders of Idumea, and driving the nation all before him from all quarters, he compelled a great number of them to retire to Jerusalem; he followed them himself also to the city, and encompassed the wall all round again; and when he lighted upon any laborers that were coming thither out of the country, he slew them. Now this Simon, who was without the wall, was a greater terror to the people than the Romans themselves, as were the zealots who were within it more heavy upon them than both of the other; and during this time did the mischievous contrivances and courage [of John] corrupt the body of the Galileans; for these Galileans had advanced this John, and made him very potent, who made them suitable requital from the authority he had obtained by their means; for he permitted them to do all things that any of them desired to do, while their inclination to plunder was insatiable, as was their zeal in searching the houses of the rich; and for the murdering of the men, and abusing of the women, it was sport to them. They also devoured what spoils they had taken, together with their blood, and indulged themselves in feminine wantonness, without any disturbance, till they were satiated therewith; while they decked their hair, and put on women's garments, and were besmeared over with ointments; and that they might appear very comely, they had paints under their eyes, and imitated not only the ornaments, but also the lusts of women, and were guilty of such intolerable uncleanness, that they invented unlawful pleasures of that sort. And thus did they roll themselves up and down the city, as in a brothel-house, and defiled it entirely with their impure actions; nay, while their faces looked like the faces of women, they killed with their right hands; and when their gait was effeminate, they presently attacked men, and became warriors, and drew their swords from under their finely dyed cloaks, and ran every body through whom they alighted upon. However, Simon waited for such as ran away from John, and was the more bloody of the two; and he who had escaped the tyrant within the wall was destroyed by the other that lay before the gates, so that all attempts of flying and deserting to the Romans were cut off, as to those that had a mind so to do.
556. Ὁ δὲ Σίμων ὡς ἐρρύσατο παρὰ τῶν ζηλωτῶν τὴν γυναῖκα, πάλιν ἐπὶ τὰ λείψανα τῆς Ἰδουμαίας ὑπέστρεψεν, καὶ περιελαύνων πανταχόθεν τὸ ἔθνος εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα τοὺς πολλοὺς φεύγειν συνηνάγκασεν. εἵπετο δὲ καὶ αὐτὸς ἐπὶ τὴν πόλιν καὶ κυκλωσάμενος αὖθις τὸ τεῖχος ὅντινα λάβοι τῶν προϊόντων κατὰ τὴν χώραν ἐργατῶν διέφθειρεν. ἦν δὲ τῷ δήμῳ Σίμων μὲν ἔξωθεν Ῥωμαίων φοβερώτερος, οἱ ζηλωταὶ δʼ ἔνδον ἑκατέρων χαλεπώτεροι, κἀν τούτοις ἐπινοίᾳ κακῶν καὶ τόλμῃ τὸ σύνταγμα τῶν Γαλιλαίων διέφερεν· τόν τε γὰρ Ἰωάννην παρήγαγον εἰς ἰσχὺν οὗτοι, κἀκεῖνος αὐτοὺς ἐξ ἧς περιεποιήσατο δυναστείας ἠμείβετο πάντα ἐπιτρέπων δρᾶν ὧν ἕκαστος ἐπεθύμει. πόθοι δʼ ἦσαν ἁρπαγῆς ἀπλήρωτοι καὶ τῶν πλουσίων οἴκων ἔρευνα φόνος τε ἀνδρῶν καὶ γυναικῶν ὕβρεις ἐπαίζοντο, μεθʼ αἵματός τε τὰ συληθέντα κατέπινον καὶ μετʼ ἀδείας ἐνεθηλυπάθουν τῷ κόρῳ, κόμας συνθετιζόμενοι καὶ γυναικείας ἐσθῆτας ἀναλαμβάνοντες, καταντλούμενοι δὲ μύροις καὶ πρὸς εὐπρέπειαν ὑπογράφοντες ὀφθαλμούς. οὐ μόνον δὲ κόσμον, ἀλλὰ καὶ πάθη γυναικῶν ἐμιμοῦντο καὶ διʼ ὑπερβολὴν ἀσελγείας ἀθεμίτους. ἐπενόησαν ἔρωτας· ἐνηλινδοῦντο δʼ ὡς πορνείῳ τῇ πόλει καὶ πᾶσαν ἀκαθάρτοις ἐμίαναν ἔργοις. γυναικιζόμενοι δὲ τὰς ὄψεις ἐφόνων ταῖς δεξιαῖς θρυπτόμενοί τε τοῖς βαδίσμασιν ἐπιόντες ἐξαπίνης ἐγίνοντο πολεμισταὶ τά τε ξίφη προφέροντες ἀπὸ τῶν βεβαμμένων χλανιδίων τὸν προστυχόντα διήλαυνον. τοὺς ἀποδιδράσκοντας δὲ Ἰωάννην Σίμων φονικώτερον ἐξεδέχετο, καὶ διαφυγών τις τὸν ἐντὸς τείχους τύραννον ὑπὸ τοῦ πρὸ πυλῶν διεφθείρετο. πᾶσα δὲ φυγῆς ὁδὸς τοῖς αὐτομολεῖν πρὸς Ῥωμαίους βουλομένοις ἀπεκέκοπτο.
566. Yet did the army that was under John raise a sedition against him, and all the Idumeans separated themselves from the tyrant, and attempted to destroy him, and this out of their envy at his power, and hatred of his cruelty; so they got together, and slew many of the zealots, and drove the rest before them into that royal palace that was built by Grapte, who was a relation of Izates, the king of Adiabene; the Idumeans fell in with them, and drove the zealots out thence into the temple, and betook themselves to plunder John's effects; for both he himself was in that palace, and therein had he laid up the spoils he had acquired by his tyranny. In the mean time, the multitude of those zealots that were dispersed over the city ran together to the temple unto those that fled thither, and John prepared to bring them down against the people and the Idumeans, who were not so much afraid of being attacked by them (because they were themselves better soldiers than they) as at their madness, lest they should privately sally out of the temple and get among them, and not only destroy them, but set the city on fire also. So they assembled themselves together, and the high priests with them, and took counsel after what manner they should avoid their assault. Now it was God who turned their opinions to the worst advice, and thence they devised such a remedy to get themselves free as was worse than the disease itself. Accordingly, in order to overthrow John, they determined to admit Simon, and earnestly to desire the introduction of a second tyrant into the city; which resolution they brought to perfection, and sent Matthias, the high priest, to beseech this Simon to come ill to them, of whom they had so often been afraid. Those also that had fled from the zealots in Jerusalem joined in this request to him, out of the desire they had of preserving their houses and their effects. Accordingly he, in an arrogant manner, granted them his lordly protection, and came into the city, in order to deliver it from the zealots. The people also made joyful acclamations to him, as their savior and their preserver; but when he was come in, with his army, he took care to secure his own authority, and looked upon those that had invited him in to be no less his enemies than those against whom the invitation was intended.
566. Διεστασιάζετο δὲ πρὸς τὸν Ἰωάννην ἡ δύναμις, καὶ πᾶν ὅσον [ἦν] Ἰδουμαίων ἐν αὐτῇ χωρισθὲν ἐπεχείρει τῷ τυράννῳ φθόνῳ τε τῆς ἰσχύος αὐτοῦ καὶ μίσει τῆς ὠμότητος. συμβαλόντες δὲ ἀναιροῦσί τε πολλοὺς τῶν ζηλωτῶν καὶ συνελαύνουσι τοὺς λοιποὺς εἰς τὴν βασιλικὴν αὐλὴν κατασκευασθεῖσαν ὑπὸ Γραπτῆς· συγγενὴς δὲ ἦν αὕτη τοῦ τῶν Ἀδιαβηνῶν βασιλέως Ἰζᾶ· συνεισπίπτουσι δὲ οἱ Ἰδουμαῖοι, κἀκεῖθεν εἰς τὸ ἱερὸν ἐξώσαντες τοὺς ζηλωτὰς ἐφʼ ἁρπαγὴν ἐτράποντο τῶν Ἰωάννου χρημάτων· κατὰ γὰρ τὴν προειρημένην αὐλὴν αὐτός τε † ὢν ἐκεῖ καὶ τὰ λάφυρα τῆς τυραννίδος κατέθετο. ἐν δὲ τούτῳ τὸ κατὰ τὴν πόλιν ἐσκεδασμένον πλῆθος τῶν ζηλωτῶν εἰς τὸ ἱερὸν πρὸς τοὺς διαπεφευγότας ἠθροίσθη, καὶ κατάγειν αὐτοὺς παρεσκευάσατο Ἰωάννης ἐπί τε τὸν δῆμον καὶ τοὺς Ἰδουμαίους. τοῖς δὲ οὐχ οὕτω τὴν ἔφοδον αὐτῶν καταδεῖσαι παρέστη μαχιμωτέροις οὖσιν ὡς τὴν ἀπόνοιαν, μὴ νύκτωρ ἐκ τοῦ ἱεροῦ παρεισδύντες αὐτούς τε διαφθείρωσι καὶ τὸ ἄστυ καταπιμπρῶσι. συνελθόντες οὖν μετὰ τῶν ἀρχιερέων ἐβουλεύοντο, τίνα χρὴ τρόπον φυλάξασθαι τὴν ἐπίθεσιν. θεὸς δὲ ἄρα τὰς γνώμας αὐτῶν εἰς κακὸν ἔτρεψε, καὶ χαλεπώτερον ἀπωλείας ἐπενόησαν τὸ πρὸς σωτηρίαν φάρμακον· ἵνα γοῦν καταλύσωσιν Ἰωάννην, ἔκριναν δέχεσθαι Σίμωνα καὶ μετὰ ἱκετηριῶν δεύτερον εἰσαγαγεῖν ἑαυτοῖς τύραννον. ἐπεραίνετο δʼ ἡ βουλή, καὶ τὸν ἀρχιερέα Ματθίαν πέμψαντες ἐδέοντο Σίμωνι εἰσελθεῖν ὃν πολλὰ ἔδεισαν· συμπαρεκάλουν δὲ οἱ ἐκ τῶν Ἱεροσολύμων τοὺς ζηλωτὰς φεύγοντες πόθῳ τῶν οἴκων καὶ τῶν κτημάτων. ὁ δʼ αὐτοῖς ὑπερηφάνως κατανεύσας τὸ δεσπόζειν εἰσέρχεται μὲν ὡς ἀπαλλάξων τῶν ζηλωτῶν τὴν πόλιν σωτὴρ ὑπὸ τοῦ δήμου καὶ κηδεμὼν εὐφημούμενος, παρελθὼν δὲ μετὰ τῆς δυνάμεως ἐσκόπει τὰ περὶ τῆς ἑαυτοῦ δυναστείας καὶ τοὺς καλέσαντας οὐχ ἧττον ἐχθροὺς ἐνόμιζεν ἢ καθʼ ὧν ἐκέκλητο.
577. And thus did Simon get possession of Jerusalem, in the third year of the war, in the month Xanthicus [Nisan]; whereupon John, with his multitude of zealots, as being both prohibited from coming out of the temple, and having lost their power in the city, (for Simon and his party had plundered them of what they had,) were in despair of deliverance. Simon also made an assault upon the temple, with the assistance of the people, while the others stood upon the cloisters and the battlements, and defended themselves from their assaults. However, a considerable number of Simon's party fell, and many were carried off wounded; for the zealots threw their darts easily from a superior place, and seldom failed of hitting their enemies; but having the advantage of situation, and having withal erected four very large towers aforehand, that their darts might come from higher places, one at the north-east corner of the court, one above the Xystus, the third at another corner over against the lower city, and the last was erected above the top of the Pastophoria, where one of the priests stood of course, and gave a signal beforehand, with a trumpet at the beginning of every seventh day, in the evening twilight, as also at the evening when that day was finished, as giving notice to the people when they were to leave off work, and when they were to go to work again. These men also set their engines to cast darts and stones withal, upon those towers, with their archers and slingers. And now Simon made his assault upon the temple more faintly, by reason that the greatest part of his men grew weary of that work; yet did he not leave off his opposition, because his army was superior to the others, although the darts which were thrown by the engines were carried a great way, and slew many of those that fought for him.
577. Σίμων μὲν οὕτως ἐνιαυτῷ τρίτῳ τοῦ πολέμου Ξανθικῷ μηνὶ Ἱεροσολύμων ἐγκρατὴς γίνεται· Ἰωάννης δὲ καὶ τὸ τῶν ζηλωτῶν πλῆθος εἰργόμενοι τῶν ἐξόδων τοῦ ἱεροῦ καὶ τὰ τῆς πόλεως ἀπολωλεκότες, παραχρῆμα γὰρ τὰ ἐκείνων οἱ περὶ τὸν Σίμωνα διήρπασαν, ἐν ἀπόρῳ τὴν σωτηρίαν εἶχον. προσέβαλλε δὲ τῷ ἱερῷ Σίμων τοῦ δήμου βοηθοῦντος, κἀκεῖνοι καταστάντες ἐπὶ τῶν στοῶν καὶ τῶν ἐπάλξεων ἠμύνοντο τὰς προσβολάς. συχνοὶ δʼ ἔπιπτον τῶν περὶ Σίμωνα καὶ πολλοὶ τραυματίαι κατεφέροντο· ῥᾳδίως γὰρ ἐξ ὑπερδεξίου τὰς βολὰς οἱ ζηλωταὶ καὶ οὐκ ἀστόχους ἐποιοῦντο. πλεονεκτοῦντες δὲ τῷ τόπῳ καὶ πύργους ἔτι προσκατεσκεύασαν τέσσαρας μεγίστους, ὡς ἀφʼ ὑψηλοτέρων ποιοῖντο τὰς ἀφέσεις, τὸν μὲν κατὰ τὴν ἀνατολικὴν καὶ βόρειον γωνίαν, τὸν δὲ τοῦ ξυστοῦ καθύπερθεν, τὸν δὲ τρίτον κατὰ γωνίαν ἄλλην ἀντικρὺ τῆς κάτω πόλεως· ὁ δὲ λοιπὸς ὑπὲρ τὴν κορυφὴν κατεσκεύαστο τῶν παστοφορίων, ἔνθα τῶν ἱερέων εἷς ἐξ ἔθους ἱστάμενος ἑκάστην ἑβδομάδα εἰσιοῦσαν προεσήμαινε σάλπιγγι δείλης καὶ τελεσθεῖσαν αὖθις περὶ ἑσπέραν, ὅτε μὲν ἀνέργειαν τῷ λαῷ καταγγέλλων, ὅτε δʼ ἔργων ἔχεσθαι. διέστησαν δʼ ἐπὶ τῶν πύργων ὀξυβελεῖς τε καὶ λιθοβόλους μηχανὰς τούς τε τοξότας καὶ σφενδονήτας. ἔνθα δὴ τὰς μὲν προσβολὰς ὀκνηροτέρας ἐποιεῖτο ὁ Σίμων μαλακιζομένων αὐτῷ τῶν πλειόνων, ἀντεῖχε δʼ ὅμως περιουσίᾳ δυνάμεως· τὰ δὲ ἀπὸ τῶν ὀργάνων βέλη πορρωτέρω φερόμενα πολλοὺς τῶν μαχομένων ἀνῄρει.
585. NOW about this very time it was that heavy calamities came about Rome on all sides; for Vitellius was come from Germany with his soldiery, and drew along with him a great multitude of other men besides. And when the spaces allotted for soldiers could not contain them, he made all Rome itself his camp, and filled all the houses with his armed men; which men, when they saw the riches of Rome with those eyes which had never seen such riches before, and found themselves shone round about on all sides with silver and gold, they had much ado to contain their covetous desires, and were ready to betake themselves to plunder, and to the slaughter of such as should stand in their way. And this was the state of affairs in Italy at that time.
585. Κατὰ δὲ τὸν αὐτὸν καιρὸν περιέσχε καὶ τὴν Ῥώμην πάθη χαλεπά. παρῆν μὲν γὰρ ἀπὸ Γερμανίας Οὐιτέλλιος ἅμα τῷ στρατιωτικῷ πολὺ πλῆθος ἐπισυρόμενος ἕτερον, μὴ χωρούμενος δὲ τοῖς ἀποδεδειγμένοις εἰς τοὺς στρατιώτας περιβόλοις ὅλην ἐποιήσατο τὴν Ῥώμην στρατόπεδον καὶ πᾶσαν οἰκίαν ὁπλιτῶν ἐπλήρωσεν. οἱ δὲ ἀήθεσιν ὀφθαλμοῖς τὸν Ῥωμαίων πλοῦτον θεασάμενοι καὶ περιλαμφθέντες πάντοθεν ἀργύρῳ τε καὶ χρυσῷ τὰς ἐπιθυμίας μόλις κατεῖχον, ὥστε μὴ ἐφʼ ἁρπαγὰς τρέπεσθαί τε καὶ τοὺς ἐμποδὼν γινομένους ἀναιρεῖν. καὶ τὰ μὲν κατὰ τὴν Ἰταλίαν ἐν τούτοις ἦν.
588. But when Vespasian had overthrown all the places that were near to Jerusalem, he returned to Cesarea, and heard of the troubles that were at Rome, and that Vitellius was emperor. This produced indignation in him, although he well knew how to be governed as well as to govern, and could not, with any satisfaction, own him for his lord who acted so madly, and seized upon the government as if it were absolutely destitute of a governor. And as this sorrow of his was violent, he was not able to support the torments he was under, nor to apply himself further in other wars, when his native country was laid waste; but then, as much as his passion excited him to avenge his country, so much was he restrained by the consideration of his distance therefrom; because fortune might prevent him, and do a world of mischief before he could himself sail over the sea to Italy, especially as it was still the winter season; so he restrained his anger, how vehement soever it was at this time.
588. Οὐεσπασιανὸς δὲ ὡς τὰ πλησίον Ἱεροσολύμων καταστρεψάμενος ὑπέστρεψεν εἰς Καισάρειαν, ἀκούει τὰς κατὰ τὴν Ῥώμην ταραχὰς καὶ Οὐιτέλλιον αὐτοκράτορα. τοῦτο αὐτὸν καίπερ ἄρχεσθαι καθάπερ ἄρχειν καλῶς ἐπιστάμενον εἰς ἀγανάκτησιν προήγαγεν, καὶ τὸν μὲν ὡς ἐρήμου καταμανέντα τῆς ἡγεμονίας ἠδόξει δεσπότην, περιαλγήσας δὲ τῷ πάθει καρτερεῖν τὴν βάσανον οὐχ οἷός τε ἦν καὶ τῆς πατρίδος πορθουμένης ἑτέροις προσευσχολεῖν πολέμοις. ἀλλʼ ὅσον ὁ θυμὸς ἤπειγεν ἐπὶ τὴν ἄμυναν, τοσοῦτον εἶργεν ἔννοια τοῦ διαστήματος· πολλὰ γὰρ φθάσαι πανουργήσασαν τὴν τύχην πρὶν αὐτὸν εἰς τὴν Ἰταλίαν περαιωθῆναι καὶ ταῦτα χειμῶνος ὥρᾳ πλέοντα· σφαδάζουσαν ἤδη κατεῖχεν τὴν ὀργήν.
592. But now his commanders and soldiers met in several companies, and consulted openly about changing the public affairs; - and, out of their indignation, cried out, how “at Rome there are soldiers that live delicately, and when they have not ventured so much as to hear the fame of war, they ordain whom they please for our governors, and in hopes of gain make them emperors; while you, who have gone through so many labors, and are grown into years under your helmets, give leave to others to use such a power, when yet you have among yourselves one more worthy to rule than any whom they have set up. Now what juster opportunity shall they ever have of requiting their generals, if they do not make use of this that is now before them? while there is so much juster reasons for Vespasian's being emperor than for Vitellius; as they are themselves more deserving than those that made the other emperors; for that they have undergone as great wars as have the troops that come from Germany; nor are they inferior in war to those that have brought that tyrant to Rome, nor have they undergone smaller labors than they; for that neither will the Roman senate, nor people, bear such a lascivious emperor as Vitellius, if he be compared with their chaste Vespasian; nor will they endure a most barbarous tyrant, instead of a good governor, nor choose one that hath no child to preside over them, instead of him that is a father; because the advancement of men's own children to dignities is certainly the greatest security kings can have for themselves. Whether, therefore, we estimate the capacity of governing from the skill of a person in years, we ought to have Vespasian, - or whether from the strength of a young man, we ought to have Titus; for by this means we shall have the advantage of both their ages, for that they will afford strength to those that shall be made emperors, they having already three legions, besides other auxiliaries from the neighboring kings, and will have further all the armies in the east to support them, as also those in Europe, so they as they are out of the distance and dread of Vitellius, besides such auxiliaries as they may have in Italy itself; that is, Vespasian's brother, and his other son [Domitian]; the one of whom will bring in a great many of those young men that are of dignity, while the other is intrusted with the government of the city, which office of his will be no small means of Vespasian's obtaining the government. Upon the whole, the case may be such, that if we ourselves make further delays, the senate may choose an emperor, whom the soldiers, who are the saviors of the empire, will have in contempt.”
592. Συνιόντες δὲ οἵ τε ἡγεμόνες καὶ στρατιῶται καθʼ ἑταιρίαν φανερῶς ἤδη μεταβολὴν ἐβουλεύοντο καὶ διαγανακτοῦντες ἐβόων, ὡς οἱ μὲν ἐπὶ τῆς Ῥώμης στρατιῶται τρυφῶντες καὶ μηδʼ ἀκούειν πολέμου φήμην ὑπομένοντες διαχειροτονοῦσιν οἷς βούλονται τὴν ἡγεμονίαν καὶ πρὸς ἐλπίδα λημμάτων ἀποδεικνύουσιν αὐτοκράτορας, αὐτοὶ δὲ διὰ τοσούτων κεχωρηκότες πόνων καὶ γηρῶντες ὑπὸ τοῖς κράνεσιν ἑτέροις χαρίζονται τὴν ἐξουσίαν καὶ ταῦτα τὸν ἀξιώτερον ἄρχειν παρʼ αὑτοῖς ἔχοντες. ᾧ τίνα δικαιοτέραν ποτὲ τῆς εἰς αὐτοὺς εὐνοίας ἀποδώσειν ἀμοιβήν, εἰ τὴν νῦν καταπροοῖντο; τοσούτῳ δʼ εἶναι Οὐεσπασιανὸν ἡγεμονεύειν Οὐιτελλίου δικαιότερον, ὅσῳ καὶ αὐτοὺς τῶν ἐκεῖνον ἀποδειξάντων· οὐ γὰρ δὴ μικροτέρους τῶν ἀπὸ Γερμανίας διενηνοχέναι πολέμους οὐδὲ τῶν ἐκεῖθεν καταγαγόντων τὸν τύραννον ἡττῆσθαι τοῖς ὅπλοις. ἀγῶνος δὲ ἐνδεήσειν οὐδέν· οὐ γὰρ τὴν σύγκλητον ἢ τὸν Ῥωμαίων δῆμον ἀνέξεσθαι τῆς Οὐιτελλίου λαγνείας ἀντὶ τῆς Οὐεσπασιανοῦ σωφροσύνης, οὐδʼ ἀντὶ μὲν ἡγεμόνος ἀγαθοῦ τύραννον ὠμότατον, ἄπαιδα δὲ ἀντὶ πατρὸς αἱρήσεσθαι προστάτην· μέγιστον γὰρ δὴ πρὸς ἀσφάλειαν εἰρήνης εἶναι τὰς γνησίους τῶν βασιλέων διαδοχάς. εἴτε οὖν ἐμπειρίᾳ γήρως προσήκει τὸ ἄρχειν, Οὐεσπασιανὸν αὐτοὺς ἔχειν, εἴτε νεότητος ἀλκῇ, Τίτον· κραθήσεσθαι γὰρ τῆς παρʼ ἀμφοῖν ἡλικίας τὸ ὠφέλιμον. χορηγήσειν δὲ οὐ μόνον αὐτοὶ τὴν ἰσχὺν τοῖς ἀποδειχθεῖσι τρία τάγματα καὶ τὰς παρὰ τῶν βασιλέων συμμαχίας ἔχοντες συνετηρήσαμεν τά τε πρὸς ἕω πάντα καὶ τῆς Εὐρώπης ὅσα τῶν ἀπὸ Οὐιτελλίου φόβων κεχώρισται, καὶ τοὺς ἐπὶ τῆς Ἰταλίας δὲ συμμάχους, ἀδελφὸν Οὐεσπασιανοῦ καὶ παῖδα ἕτερον, ὧν τῷ μὲν προσθήσεσθαι πολλοὺς τῶν ἐν ἀξιώματι νέων, τὸν δὲ καὶ τὴν τῆς πόλεως φυλακὴν πεπιστεῦσθαι, μέρος οὐκ ὀλίγον εἰς ἐπιβολὴν ἡγεμονίας. καθόλου τε ἂν βραδύνωσιν αὐτοί, τάχα τὴν σύγκλητον ἀποδείξειν τὸν ὑπὸ τῶν συντετηρηκότων στρατιωτῶν ἀτιμούμενον.
601. These were the discourses the soldiers had in their several companies; after which they got together in a great body, and, encouraging one another, they declared Vespasian emperor, and exhorted him to save the government, which was now in danger. Now Vespasian's concern had been for a considerable time about the public, yet did he not intend to set up for governor himself, though his actions showed him to deserve it, while he preferred that safety which is in a private life before the dangers in a state of such dignity; but when he refused the empire, the commanders insisted the more earnestly upon his acceptance; and the soldiers came about him, with their drawn swords in their hands, and threatened to kill him, unless he would now live according to his dignity. And when he had shown his reluctance a great while, and had endeavored to thrust away this dominion from him, he at length, being not able to persuade them, yielded to their solicitations that would salute him emperor.
601. Τοιαῦτα κατὰ συστροφὰς οἱ στρατιῶται διελάλουν· ἔπειτα συναθροισθέντες καὶ παρακροτήσαντες ἀλλήλους ἀναγορεύουσι τὸν Οὐεσπασιανὸν αὐτοκράτορα καὶ σώζειν τὴν κινδυνεύουσαν ἡγεμονίαν παρεκάλουν. τῷ δὲ φροντὶς μὲν ἦν πάλαι περὶ τῶν ὅλων, οὔτι γε μὴν αὐτὸς ἄρχειν προῄρητο, τοῖς μὲν ἔργοις ἑαυτὸν ἄξιον ἡγούμενος, προκρίνων δὲ τῶν ἐν λαμπρότητι κινδύνων τὴν ἐν ἰδιώταις ἀσφάλειαν. ἀρνουμένῳ δὲ μᾶλλον οἱ ἡγεμόνες ἐπέκειντο καὶ περιχυθέντες οἱ στρατιῶται ξιφήρεις ἀναιρεῖν αὐτὸν ἠπείλουν, εἰ μὴ βούλοιτο ζῆν ἀξίως. πολλὰ δὲ πρὸς αὐτοὺς διατεινάμενος ἐξ ὧν διωθεῖτο τὴν ἀρχὴν τελευταῖον, ὡς οὐκ ἔπειθεν, εἴκει τοῖς ὀνομάσασι.
605. So upon the exhortations of Mucianus, and the other commanders, that he would accept of the empire, and upon that of the rest of the army, who cried out that they were willing to be led against all his opposers, he was in the first place intent upon gaining the dominion over Alexandria, as knowing that Egypt was of the greatest consequence, in order to obtain the entire government, because of its supplying of corn [to Rome]; which corn, if he could be master of, he hoped to dethrone Vitellius, supposing he should aim to keep the empire by force (for he would not be able to support himself, if the multitude at Rome should once be in want of food); and because he was desirous to join the two legions that were at Alexandria to the other legions that were with him. He also considered with himself, that he should then have that country for a defense to himself against the uncertainty of fortune; for Egypt is hard to be entered by land, and hath no good havens by sea. It hath on the west the dry deserts of Libya; and on the south Siene, that divides it from Ethiopia, as well as the cataracts of the Nile, that cannot be sailed over; and on the east the Red Sea extended as far as Coptus; and it is fortified on the north by the land that reaches to Syria, together with that called the Egyptian Sea, having no havens in it for ships. And thus is Egypt walled about on every side. Its length between Pelusium and Siene is two thousand furlongs, and the passage by sea from Plinthine to Pelusium is three thousand six hundred furlongs. Its river Nile is navigable as far as the city called Elephantine, the forenamed cataracts hindering ships from going any farther, The haven also of Alexandria is not entered by the mariners without difficulty, even in times of peace; for the passage inward is narrow, and full of rocks that lie under the water, which oblige the mariners to turn from a straight direction: its left side is blocked up by works made by men's hands on both sides; on its right side lies the island called Pharus, which is situated just before the entrance, and supports a very great tower, that affords the sight of a fire to such as sail within three hundred furlongs of it, that ships may cast anchor a great way off in the night time, by reason of the difficulty of sailing nearer. About this island are built very great piers, the handiwork of men, against which, when the sea dashes itself, and its waves are broken against those boundaries, the navigation becomes very troublesome, and the entrance through so narrow a passage is rendered dangerous; yet is the haven itself, when you are got into it, a very safe one, and of thirty furlongs in largeness; into which is brought what the country wants in order to its happiness, as also what abundance the country affords more than it wants itself is hence distributed into all the habitable earth.
605. Προτρεπομένων δʼ αὐτὸν ἤδη Μουκιανοῦ τε καὶ τῶν ἄλλων ἡγεμόνων ὡς αὐτοκράτορα καὶ τῆς ἄλλης στρατιᾶς ἄγειν ἐπὶ πᾶν τὸ ἀντίπαλον, ὁ δὲ πρῶτον τῶν ἐπʼ Ἀλεξανδρείας εἴχετο πραγμάτων, εἰδὼς πλεῖστον τῆς ἡγεμονίας μέρος τὴν Αἴγυπτον οὖσαν διὰ τὴν τοῦ σίτου χορηγίαν, ἧς κρατήσας εἰ παρέλκοι καὶ βίᾳ καθαιρήσειν ἤλπιζεν Οὐιτέλλιον, οὐ γὰρ ἀνέξεσθαι πείνης ἐπὶ Ῥώμης τὸ πλῆθος, τὰ δύο τε ἐπὶ τῆς Ἀλεξανδρείας τάγματα προσποιήσασθαι βουλόμενος. ἐνεθυμεῖτο δὲ καὶ πρόβλημα τὴν χώραν ἔχειν τῶν ἀπὸ τῆς τύχης ἀδήλων· ἔστι γὰρ κατά τε γῆν δυσέμβολος καὶ τὰ πρὸς θαλάσσης ἀλίμενος, κατὰ μὲν ἑσπέραν προβεβλημένη τὰ ἄνυδρα τῆς Λιβύης, κατὰ δὲ μεσημβρίαν τὴν διορίζουσαν ἀπὸ Αἰθιόπων τὴν Συήνην καὶ τοὺς ἀπλώτους τοῦ ποταμοῦ καταράκτας, ἀπὸ δὲ τῆς ἀνατολῆς τὴν ἐρυθρὰν θάλασσαν ἀναχεομένην μέχρι Κοπτοῦ. βόρειον δὲ τεῖχος αὐτῇ ἥ τε μέχρι Συρίας γῆ καὶ τὸ καλούμενον Αἰγύπτιον πέλαγος, πᾶν ἄπορον ὅρμων. τετείχισται μὲν οὕτως ἡ Αἴγυπτος πάντοθεν· τὸ μεταξὺ δὲ Πηλουσίου καὶ Συήνης μῆκος αὐτῆς σταδίων δισχιλίων, ὅ τε ἀπὸ τῆς Πλινθίνης ἀνάπλους εἰς τὸ Πηλούσιον σταδίων τρισχιλίων ἑξακοσίων. ὁ δὲ Νεῖλος ἀναπλεῖται μέχρι τῆς Ἐλεφάντων καλουμένης πόλεως, ὑπὲρ ἣν εἴργουσι προσωτέρω χωρεῖν οὓς προειρήκαμεν καταράκτας. δυσπρόσιτος δὲ λιμὴν ναυσὶ καὶ κατʼ εἰρήνην Ἀλεξανδρείας· στενός τε γὰρ εἴσπλους καὶ πέτραις ὑφάλοις τὸν ἐπʼ εὐθὺ καμπτόμενος δρόμον. καὶ τὸ μὲν ἀριστερὸν αὐτοῦ μέρος πέφρακται χειροκμήτοις σκέλεσιν, ἐν δεξιᾷ δὲ ἡ προσαγορευομένη Φάρος νῆσος πρόκειται, πύργον ἔχουσα μέγιστον ἐκπυρσεύοντα τοῖς καταπλέουσιν ἐπὶ τριακοσίους σταδίους, ὡς ἐν νυκτὶ πόρρωθεν ὁρμίζοιντο πρὸς τὴν δυσχέρειαν τοῦ κατάπλου. περὶ ταύτην τὴν νῆσον καταβέβληται χειροποίητα τείχη μέγιστα, προσαρασσόμενον δὲ τούτοις τὸ πέλαγος καὶ τοῖς ἄντικρυς ἕρκεσιν ἀμφαγνυμένον ἐκτραχύνει τὸν πόρον καὶ σφαλερὰν διὰ στενοῦ τὴν εἴσοδον ἀπεργάζεται. ὁ μέντοι γε λιμὴν ἀσφαλέστατος ἔνδον καὶ τριάκοντα σταδίων τὸ μέγεθος, εἰς ὃν τά τε λείποντα τῇ χώρᾳ πρὸς εὐδαιμονίαν κατάγεται καὶ τὰ περισσεύοντα τῶν ἐπιχωρίων ἀγαθῶν εἰς πᾶσαν χωρίζεται τὴν οἰκουμένην.
616. Justly, therefore, did Vespasian desire to obtain that government, in order to corroborate his attempts upon the whole empire; so he immediately sent to Tiberius Alexander, who was then governor of Egypt and of Alexandria, and informed him what the army had put upon him, and how he, being forced to accept of the burden of the government, was desirous to have him for his confederate and supporter. Now as soon as ever Alexander had read this letter, he readily obliged the legions and the multitude to take the oath of fidelity to Vespasian, both which willingly complied with him, as already acquainted with the courage of the man, from that his conduct in their neighborhood. Accordingly Vespasian, looking upon himself as already intrusted with the government, got all things ready for his journey [to Rome]. Now fame carried this news abroad more suddenly than one could have thought, that he was emperor over the east, upon which every city kept festivals, and celebrated sacrifices and oblations for such good news; the legions also that were in Mysia and Pannonia, who had been in commotion a little before, on account of this insolent attempt of Vitellius, were very glad to take the oath of fidelity to Vespasian, upon his coming to the empire. Vespasian then removed from Cesarea to Berytus, where many embassages came to him from Syria, and many from other provinces, bringing with them from every city crowns, and the congratulations of the people. Mucianus came also, who was the president of the province, and told him with what alacrity the people [received the news of his advancement], and how the people of every city had taken the oath of fidelity to him.
616. Ἐφίετο μὲν οὖν εἰκότως τῶν ταύτῃ πραγμάτων Οὐεσπασιανὸς εἰς βεβαίωσιν τῆς ὅλης ἡγεμονίας, ἐπιστέλλει δʼ εὐθὺς τῷ διέποντι τὴν Αἴγυπτον καὶ τὴν Ἀλεξάνδρειαν Τιβερίῳ Ἀλεξάνδρῳ, δηλῶν τὸ τῆς στρατιᾶς πρόθυμον, καὶ ὡς αὐτὸς ὑποδὺς ἀναγκαίως τὸ βάρος τῆς ἡγεμονίας συνεργὸν αὐτὸν καὶ βοηθὸν προσλαμβάνοι. παραναγνοὺς δὲ τὴν ἐπιστολὴν Ἀλέξανδρος προθύμως τά τε τάγματα καὶ τὸ πλῆθος εἰς αὐτὸν ὥρκωσεν. ἑκάτεροι δὲ ἀσμένως ὑπήκουσαν τὴν ἀρετὴν τἀνδρὸς ἐκ τῆς ἐγγὺς στρατηγίας εἰδότες. καὶ ὁ μὲν πεπιστευμένος ἤδη τὰ περὶ τὴν ἀρχὴν προπαρεσκεύαζεν αὐτῷ καὶ τὰ πρὸς τὴν ἄφιξιν, τάχιον δʼ ἐπινοίας διήγγελλον αἱ φῆμαι τὸν ἐπὶ τῆς ἀνατολῆς αὐτοκράτορα, καὶ πᾶσα μὲν πόλις ἑώρταζεν εὐαγγέλια [δὲ] καὶ θυσίας ὑπὲρ αὐτοῦ ἐπετέλει. τὰ δὲ κατὰ Μυσίαν καὶ Παννονίαν τάγματα, μικρῷ πρόσθεν κεκινημένα πρὸς τὴν Οὐιτελλίου τόλμαν, μείζονι χαρᾷ Οὐεσπασιανῷ τὴν ἡγεμονίαν ὤμνυον. ὁ δʼ ἀναζεύξας ἀπὸ Καισαρείας εἰς Βηρυτὸν παρῆν, ἔνθα πολλαὶ μὲν ἀπὸ τῆς Συρίας αὐτῷ, πολλαὶ δὲ κἀπὸ τῶν ἄλλων ἐπαρχιῶν πρεσβεῖαι συνήντων, στεφάνους παρʼ ἑκάστης πόλεως καὶ συγχαρτικὰ προσφέρουσαι ψηφίσματα. παρῆν δὲ καὶ Μουκιανὸς ὁ τῆς ἐπαρχίας ἡγεμὼν τὸ πρόθυμον τῶν δήμων καὶ τοὺς κατὰ πόλιν ὅρκους ἀπαγγέλλων.
622. So Vespasian's good fortune succeeded to his wishes every where, and the public affairs were, for the greatest part, already in his hands; upon which he considered that he had not arrived at the government without Divine Providence, but that a righteous kind of fate had brought the empire under his power; for as he called to mind the other signals, which had been a great many every where, that foretold he should obtain the government, so did he remember what Josephus had said to him when he ventured to foretell his coming to the empire while Nero was alive; so he was much concerned that this man was still in bonds with him. He then called for Mucianus, together with his other commanders and friends, and, in the first place, he informed them what a valiant man Josephus had been, and what great hardships he had made him undergo in the siege of Jotapata. After that he related those predictions of his which he had then suspected as fictions, suggested out of the fear he was in, but which had by time been demonstrated to be Divine. “It is a shameful thing (said he) that this man, who hath foretold my coming to the empire beforehand, and been the minister of a Divine message to me, should still be retained in the condition of a captive or prisoner.” So he called for Josephus, and commanded that he should be set at liberty; whereupon the commanders promised themselves glorious things, froth this requital Vespasian made to a stranger. Titus was then present with his father, and said, “O father, it is but just that the scandal [of a prisoner] should be taken off Josephus, together with his iron chain. For if we do not barely loose his bonds, but cut them to pieces, he will be like a man that had never been bound at all.” For that is the usual method as to such as have been bound without a cause. This advice was agreed to by Vespasian also; so there came a man in, and cut the chain to pieces; while Josephus received this testimony of his integrity for a reward, and was moreover esteemed a person of credit as to futurities also.
622. Προχωρούσης δὲ πανταχοῦ κατὰ νοῦν τῆς τύχης καὶ τῶν πραγμάτων συννενευκότων ἐκ τοῦ πλείστου μέρους, ἤδη παρίστατο τῷ Οὐεσπασιανῷ νοεῖν, ὡς οὐ δίχα δαιμονίου προνοίας ἅψαιτο τῆς ἀρχῆς, ἀλλὰ δικαία τις εἱμαρμένη περιαγάγοι τὸ κρατεῖν τῶν ὅλων ἐπʼ αὐτόν· ἀναμιμνήσκεται γὰρ τά τε ἄλλα σημεῖα, πολλὰ δʼ αὐτῷ γεγόνει πανταχοῦ προφαίνοντα τὴν ἡγεμονίαν, καὶ τὰς τοῦ Ἰωσήπου φωνάς, ὃς αὐτὸν ἔτι ζῶντος Νέρωνος αὐτοκράτορα προσειπεῖν ἐθάρσησεν. ἐξεπέπληκτο δὲ τὸν ἄνδρα δεσμώτην ἔτι ὄντα παρʼ αὐτῷ, καὶ προσκαλεσάμενος Μουκιανὸν ἅμα τοῖς ἄλλοις ἡγεμόσι καὶ φίλοις πρῶτον μὲν αὐτοῦ τὸ δραστήριον ἐκδιηγεῖτο καὶ ὅσα περὶ τοῖς Ἰωταπάτοις διʼ αὐτὸν ἔκαμον, ἔπειτα τὰς μαντείας, ἃς αὐτὸς μὲν ὑπώπτευσε τότε πλάσματα τοῦ δέους, ἀποδειχθῆναι δὲ ὑπὸ τοῦ χρόνου καὶ τῶν πραγμάτων θείας. αἰσχρὸν οὖν, ἔφη, τὸν προθεσπίσαντά μοι τὴν ἀρχὴν καὶ διάκονον τῆς τοῦ θεοῦ φωνῆς ἔτι αἰχμαλώτου τάξιν ἢ δεσμώτου τύχην ὑπομένειν καὶ καλέσας τὸν Ἰώσηπον λυθῆναι κελεύει. τοῖς μὲν οὖν ἡγεμόσιν ἐκ τῆς εἰς τὸν ἀλλόφυλον ἀμοιβῆς λαμπρὰ καὶ περὶ αὑτῶν ἐλπίζειν παρέστη, συνὼν δὲ τῷ πατρὶ Τίτος δίκαιον, ὦ πάτερ, ἔφη, τοῦ Ἰωσήπου καὶ τὸ ὄνειδος ἀφαιρεθῆναι σὺν τῷ σιδήρῳ· γενήσεται γὰρ ὅμοιος τῷ μὴ δεθέντι τὴν ἀρχήν, ἂν αὐτοῦ μὴ λύσωμεν ἀλλὰ κόψωμεν τὰ δεσμά. τοῦτο γὰρ ἐπὶ τῶν μὴ δεόντως δεθέντων πράττεται. συνεδόκει ταῦτα, καὶ παρελθών τις πελέκει διέκοψε τὴν ἅλυσιν. ὁ δὲ Ἰώσηπος εἰληφὼς περὶ τῶν προειρημένων γέρας τὴν ἐπιτιμίαν ἤδη καὶ περὶ τῶν μελλόντων ἀξιόπιστος ἦν.
630. AND now, when Vespasian had given answers to the embassages, and had disposed of the places of power justly, and according to every one's deserts, he came to Antioch, and consulting which way he had best take, he preferred to go for Rome, rather than to march to Alexandria, because he saw that Alexandria was sure to him already, but that the affairs at Rome were put into disorder by Vitellius; so he sent Mucianus to Italy, and committed a considerable army both of horsemen and footmen to him; yet was Mucianus afraid of going by sea, because it was the middle of winter, and so he led his army on foot through Cappadocia and Phrygia.
630. Οὐεσπασιανὸς δὲ ταῖς πρεσβείαις χρηματίσας καὶ καταστησάμενος ἑκάστοις τὰς ἀρχὰς δικαίως καὶ διὰ τῶν ἀξίων εἰς Ἀντιόχειαν ἀφικνεῖται. καὶ βουλευόμενος, ποῖ τρέπεσθαι, προυργιαίτερα τῆς εἰς Ἀλεξάνδρειαν ὁρμῆς τὰ κατὰ τὴν Ῥώμην ἔκρινε, τὴν μὲν βέβαιον οὖσαν ὁρῶν, τὰ δʼ ὑπὸ Οὐιτελλίου ταρασσόμενα. πέμπει δὴ Μουκιανὸν εἰς τὴν Ἰταλίαν παραδοὺς ἱππέων τε καὶ πεζῶν συχνὴν δύναμιν. ὁ δὲ διὰ τὴν τοῦ χειμῶνος ἀκμὴν δείσας τὸ πλεῖν πεζῇ τὴν στρατιὰν ἦγε διὰ Καππαδοκίας καὶ Φρυγίας.
633. In the mean time, Antonius Primus took the third of the legions that were in Mysia, for he was president of that province, and made haste, in order to fight Vitellius; whereupon Vitellius sent away Cecinna, with a great army, having a mighty confidence in him, because of his having beaten Otho. This Cecinna marched out of Rome in great haste, and found Antonius about Cremona in Gall, which city is in the borders of Italy; but when he saw there that the enemy were numerous and in good order, he durst not fight them; and as he thought a retreat dangerous, so he began to think of betraying his army to Antonius. Accordingly, he assembled the centurions and tribunes that were under his command, and persuaded them to go over to Antonius, and this by diminishing the reputation of Vitellius, and by exaggerating the power of Vespasian. He also told them that with the one there was no more than the bare name of dominion, but with the other was the power of it; and that it was better for them to prevent necessity, and gain favor, and, while they were likely to be overcome in battle, to avoid the danger beforehand, and go over to Antonius willingly; that Vespasian was able of himself to subdue what had not yet submitted without their assistance, while Vitellius could not preserve what he had already with it.
633. Ἐν δὲ τούτῳ καὶ Ἀντώνιος Πρῖμος ἀναλαβὼν τὸ τρίτον τάγμα τῶν κατὰ Μυσίαν, ἔτυχεν δʼ ἡγεμονεύων αὐτόθι, Οὐιτελλίῳ παραταξόμενος ἠπείγετο. Οὐιτέλλιος δὲ αὐτῷ συναντήσοντα μετὰ πολλῆς δυνάμεως Καικίναν Ἀλιηνὸν ἐκπέμπει, μέγα θαρρῶν τἀνδρὶ διὰ τὴν ἐπʼ Ὄθωνι νίκην. ὁ δὲ ἀπὸ τῆς Ῥώμης ἐλαύνων διὰ τάχους περὶ Κρέμωνα τῆς Γαλατίας τὸν Ἀντώνιον καταλαμβάνει· μεθόριος δʼ ἐστὶν ἡ πόλις αὕτη τῆς Ἰταλίας. κατιδὼν δὲ ἐνταῦθα τὸ πλῆθος τῶν πολεμίων καὶ τὴν εὐταξίαν, συμβαλεῖν μὲν οὐκ ἐθάρρει, σφαλερὰν δὲ τὴν ἀναχώρησιν λογιζόμενος προδοσίαν ἐβουλεύετο. συναγαγὼν δὲ τοὺς ὑπʼ αὐτὸν ἑκατοντάρχας καὶ χιλιάρχους ἐνῆγεν μεταβῆναι πρὸς τὸν Ἀντώνιον, ταπεινῶν μὲν τὰ Οὐιτελλίου πράγματα, τὴν Οὐεσπασιανοῦ δʼ ἰσχὺν ἐπαίρων, καὶ παρʼ ᾧ μὲν εἶναι λέγων μόνον τῆς ἀρχῆς ὄνομα, παρʼ ᾧ δὲ τὴν δύναμιν, καὶ αὐτοὺς δὲ ἄμεινον προλαβόντας τὴν ἀνάγκην ποιῆσαι χάριν καὶ μέλλοντας ἡττᾶσθαι τοῖς ὅπλοις ταῖς γνώμαις τὸν κίνδυνον φθάσαι· Οὐεσπασιανὸν μὲν γὰρ ἱκανὸν εἶναι καὶ χωρὶς αὐτῶν προσκτήσασθαι καὶ τὰ λείποντα, Οὐιτέλλιον δʼ οὐδὲ σὺν αὐτοῖς τηρῆσαι τὰ ὄντα.
639. Cecinna said this, and much more to the same purpose, and persuaded them to comply with him; and both he and his army deserted; but still the very same night the soldiers repented of what they had done, and a fear seized on them, lest perhaps Vitellius who sent them should get the better; and drawing their swords, they assaulted Cecinna, in order to kill him; and the thing had been done by them, if the tribunes had not fallen upon their knees, and besought them not to do it; so the soldiers did not kill him, but put him in bonds, as a traitor, and were about to send him to Vitellius. When [Antonius] Primus heard of this, he raised up his men immediately, and made them put on their armor, and led them against those that had revolted; hereupon they put themselves in order of battle, and made a resistance for a while, but were soon beaten, and fled to Cremona; then did Primus take his horsemen, and cut off their entrance into the city, and encompassed and destroyed a great multitude of them before the city, and fell into the city together with the rest, and gave leave to his soldiers to plunder it. And here it was that many strangers, who were merchants, as well as many of the people of that country, perished, and among them Vitellius's whole army, being thirty thousand and two hundred, while Antonius lost no more of those that came with him from Mysia than four thousand and five hundred: he then loosed Cecinna, and sent him to Vespasian to tell him the good news. So he came, and was received by him, and covered the scandal of his treachery by the unexpected honors he received from Vespasian.
639. Πολλὰ τοιαῦτα λέγων ἔπεισε καὶ πρὸς τὸν Ἀντώνιον αὐτομολεῖ μετὰ τῆς δυνάμεως. τῆς δʼ αὐτῆς νυκτὸς ἐμπίπτει μετάνοια τοῖς στρατιώταις καὶ δέος τοῦ προπέμψαντος, εἰ κρείσσων γένοιτο· σπασάμενοι δὲ τὰ ξίφη τὸν Καικίναν ὥρμησαν ἀνελεῖν, κἂν ἐπράχθη τὸ ἔργον αὐτοῖς, εἰ μὴ προσπίπτοντες οἱ χιλίαρχοι καθικέτευσαν αὐτούς. οἱ δὲ τοῦ μὲν κτείνειν ἀπέσχοντο, δήσαντες δὲ τὸν προδότην οἷοί τε ἦσαν πέμπειν Οὐιτελλίῳ. ταῦτʼ ἀκούσας ὁ Πρῖμος αὐτίκα τοὺς σφετέρους ἀνίστησι καὶ μετὰ τῶν ὅπλων ἦγεν ἐπὶ τοὺς ἀποστάντας. οἱ δὲ παραταξάμενοι πρὸς ὀλίγον μὲν ἀντέσχον, αὖθις δὲ τραπέντες ἔφευγον εἰς τὴν Κρέμωνα. τοὺς δὲ ἱππεῖς ἀναλαβὼν Πρῖμος ὑποτέμνεται τὰς εἰσόδους αὐτῶν, καὶ τὸ μὲν πολὺ πλῆθος κυκλωσάμενος πρὸ τῆς πόλεως διαφθείρει, τῷ δὲ λοιπῷ συνεισπεσὼν διαρπάσαι τὸ ἄστυ τοῖς στρατιώταις ἐφῆκεν. ἔνθα δὴ πολλοὶ μὲν τῶν ξένων ἔμποροι, πολλοὶ δὲ τῶν ἐπιχωρίων ἀπώλοντο, πᾶσα δὲ καὶ ἡ Οὐιτελλίου στρατιά, μυριάδες ἀνδρῶν τρεῖς καὶ διακόσιοι· τῶν δʼ ἀπὸ τῆς Μυσίας Ἀντώνιος τετρακισχιλίους ἀποβάλλει καὶ πεντακοσίους. λύσας δὲ τὸν Καικίναν πέμπει πρὸς Οὐεσπασιανὸν ἀγγελοῦντα τὰ πεπραγμένα. καὶ ὃς ἐλθὼν ἀπεδέχθη τε ὑπʼ αὐτοῦ καὶ τὰ τῆς προδοσίας ὀνείδη ταῖς παρʼ ἐλπίδα τιμαῖς ἐπεκάλυψεν.
645. And now, upon the news that Antonius was approaching, Sabinus took courage at Rome, and assembled those cohorts of soldiers that kept watch by night, and in the night time seized upon the capitol; and, as the day came on, many men of character came over to him, with Domitian, his brother's son, whose encouragement was of very great weight for the compassing the government. Now Vitellius was not much concerned at this Primus, but was very angry with those that had revolted with Sabinus; and thirsting, out of his own natural barbarity, after noble blood, he sent out that part of the army which came along with him to fight against the capitol; and many bold actions were done on this side, and on the side of those that held the temple. But at last, the soldiers that came from Germany, being too numerous for the others, got the hill into their possession, where Domitian, with many other of the principal Romans, providentially escaped, while the rest of the multitude were entirely cut to pieces, and Sabinus himself was brought to Vitellius, and then slain; the soldiers also plundered the temple of its ornaments, and set it on fire. But now within a day's time came Antonius, with his army, and were met by Vitellius and his army; and having had a battle in three several places, the last were all destroyed. Then did Vitellius come out of the palace, in his cups, and satiated with an extravagant and luxurious meal, as in the last extremity, and being drawn along through the multitude, and abused with all sorts of torments, had his head cut off in the midst of Rome, having retained the government eight months and five days and had he lived much longer, I cannot but think the empire would not have been sufficient for his lust. Of the others that were slain, were numbered above fifty thousand. This battle was fought on the third day of the month Apelleus [Casleu]; on the next day Mucianus came into the city with his army, and ordered Antonius and his men to leave off killing; for they were still searching the houses, and killed many of Vitellius's soldiers, and many of the populace, as supposing them to be of his party, preventing by their rage any accurate distinction between them and others. He then produced Domitian, and recommended him to the multitude, until his father should come himself; so the people being now freed from their fears, made acclamations of joy for Vespasian, as for their emperor, and kept festival days for his confirmation, and for the destruction of Vitellius.
645. Ἀνεθάρσει δὲ ἤδη καὶ κατὰ τὴν Ῥώμην Σαβῖνος, ὡς πλησίον Ἀντώνιος ὢν ἀπηγγέλλετο, καὶ συναθροίσας τὰ τῶν νυκτοφυλάκων στρατιωτῶν τάγματα νύκτωρ καταλαμβάνει τὸ Καπετώλιον. μεθʼ ἡμέραν δʼ αὐτῷ πολλοὶ τῶν ἐπισήμων προσεγένοντο καὶ Δομετιανὸς ὁ τἀδελφοῦ παῖς, μεγίστη μοῖρα τῶν εἰς τὸ κρατεῖν ἐλπίδων. Οὐιτελλίῳ δὲ Πρίμου μὲν ἐλάττων φροντὶς ἦν, τεθύμωτο δʼ ἐπὶ τοὺς συναποστάντας τῷ Σαβίνῳ, καὶ διὰ τὴν ἔμφυτον ὠμότητα διψῶν αἵματος εὐγενοῦς τοῦ στρατιωτικοῦ τὴν συγκατελθοῦσαν αὐτῷ δύναμιν ἐπαφίησι τῷ Καπετωλίῳ. πολλὰ μὲν οὖν ἔκ τε ταύτης καὶ τῶν ἀπὸ τοῦ ἱεροῦ μαχομένων ἐτολμήθη, τέλος δὲ τῷ πλήθει περιόντες οἱ ἀπὸ τῆς Γερμανίας ἐκράτησαν τοῦ λόφου. καὶ Δομετιανὸς μὲν σὺν πολλοῖς τῶν ἐν τέλει Ῥωμαίων δαιμονιώτερον διασώζεται, τὸ δὲ λοιπὸν πλῆθος ἅπαν κατεκόπη, καὶ Σαβῖνος ἀναχθεὶς ἐπὶ Οὐιτέλλιον ἀναιρεῖται διαρπάσαντές τε οἱ στρατιῶται τὰ ἀναθήματα τὸν ναὸν ἐνέπρησαν. καὶ μετὰ μίαν ἡμέραν εἰσελαύνει μὲν Ἀντώνιος μετὰ τῆς δυνάμεως, ὑπήντων δʼ οἱ Οὐιτελλίου καὶ τριχῆ κατὰ τὴν πόλιν συμβαλόντες ἀπώλοντο πάντες. προέρχεται δὲ μεθύων ἐκ τοῦ βασιλείου Οὐιτέλλιος καὶ δαψιλέστερον ὥσπερ ἐν ἐσχάτοις τῆς ἀσώτου τραπέζης κεκορεσμένος. συρεὶς δὲ διὰ τοῦ πλήθους καὶ παντοδαπαῖς αἰκίαις ἐξυβρισθεὶς ἐπὶ μέσης τῆς Ῥώμης ἀποσφάττεται, μῆνας ὀκτὼ κρατήσας καὶ ἡμέρας πέντε, ὃν εἰ συνέβη πλείω βιῶσαι χρόνον, ἐπιλιπεῖν ἂν αὐτοῦ τῇ λαγνείᾳ τὴν ἡγεμονίαν οἶμαι. τῶν δʼ ἄλλων νεκρῶν ὑπὲρ πέντε μυριάδες ἠριθμήθησαν. ταῦτα μὲν τρίτῃ μηνὸς Ἀπελλαίου πέπρακτο, τῇ δʼ ὑστεραίᾳ Μουκιανὸς εἴσεισι μετὰ τῆς στρατιᾶς, καὶ τοὺς σὺν Ἀντωνίῳ παύσας τοῦ κτείνειν, ἔτι γὰρ ἐξερευνώμενοι τὰς οἰκίας πολλοὺς μὲν τῶν Οὐιτελλίου στρατιωτῶν πολλοὺς δὲ τῶν δημοτικῶν ὡς ἐκείνου ἀνῄρουν φθάνοντες τῷ θυμῷ τὴν ἀκριβῆ διάκρισιν, προαγαγὼν δὲ τὸν Δομετιανὸν συνίστησι τῷ πλήθει μέχρι τῆς τοῦ πατρὸς ἀφίξεως ἡγεμόνα. ὁ δὲ δῆμος ἀπηλλαγμένος ἤδη τῶν φόβων αὐτοκράτορα Οὐεσπασιανὸν εὐφήμει, καὶ ἅμα τήν τε τούτου βεβαίωσιν ἑώρταζε καὶ τὴν Οὐιτελλίου κατάλυσιν.
656. And now, as Vespasian was come to Alexandria, this good news came from Rome, and at the same time came embassies from all his own habitable earth, to congratulate him upon his advancement; and though this Alexandria was the greatest of all cities next to Rome, it proved too narrow to contain the multitude that then came to it. So upon this confirmation of Vespasian's entire government, which was now settled, and upon the unexpected deliverance of the public affairs of the Romans from ruin, Vespasian turned his thoughts to what remained unsubdued in Judea. However, he himself made haste to go to Rome, as the winter was now almost over, and soon set the affairs of Alexandria in order, but sent his son Titus, with a select part of his army, to destroy Jerusalem. So Titus marched on foot as far as Nicopolis, which is distant twenty furlongs from Alexandria; there he put his army on board some long ships, and sailed upon the river along the Mendesian Nomus, as far as the city Tumuis; there he got out of the ships, and walked on foot, and lodged all night at a small city called Tanis. His second station was Heracleopolis, and his third Pelusium; he then refreshed his army at that place for two days, and on the third passed over the mouths of the Nile at Pelusium; he then proceeded one station over the desert, and pitched his camp at the temple of the Casian Jupiter, and on the next day at Ostracine. This station had no water, but the people of the country make use of water brought from other places. After this he rested at Rhinocolura, and from thence he went to Raphia, which was his fourth station. This city is the beginning of Syria. For his fifth station he pitched his camp at Gaza; after which he came to Ascalon, and thence to Jamnia, and after that to Joppa, and from Joppa to Cesarea, having taken a resolution to gather all his other forces together at that place.
656. Εἰς δὲ τὴν Ἀλεξάνδρειαν ἀφιγμένῳ τῷ Οὐεσπασιανῷ τὰ ἀπὸ τῆς Ῥώμης εὐαγγέλια ἧκε καὶ πρέσβεις ἐκ πάσης τῆς ἰδίας οἰκουμένης συνηδόμενοι· μεγίστη τε οὖσα μετὰ τὴν Ῥώμην ἡ πόλις στενοτέρα τοῦ πλήθους ἠλέγχετο. κεκυρωμένης δὲ ἤδη τῆς ἀρχῆς ἁπάσης καὶ σεσωσμένων παρʼ ἐλπίδα Ῥωμαίοις τῶν πραγμάτων Οὐεσπασιανὸς ἐπὶ τὰ λείψανα τῆς Ἰουδαίας τὸν λογισμὸν ἐπέστρεφεν. αὐτὸς μέντοι γε εἰς τὴν Ῥώμην ὥρμητο λήξαντος τοῦ χειμῶνος ἀνάγεσθαι καὶ τάχος τὰ κατὰ τὴν Ἀλεξάνδρειαν διῴκει, τὸν δὲ υἱὸν Τίτον μετὰ τῆς ἐκκρίτου δυνάμεως ἀπέστειλεν ἐξαιρήσοντα τὰ Ἱεροσόλυμα. ὁ δὲ προελθὼν πεζῇ μέχρι Νικοπόλεως, εἴκοσι δὲ αὕτη διέχει τῆς Ἀλεξανδρείας σταδίους, κἀκεῖθεν ἐπιβήσας τὴν στρατιὰν μακρῶν πλοίων ἀναπλεῖ διὰ τοῦ Νείλου κατὰ τὸν Μενδήσιον νομὸν μέχρι πόλεως Θμούεως. ἐκεῖθεν δʼ ἀποβὰς ὁδεύει καὶ κατὰ πολίχνην Τάνιν αὐλίζεται. δεύτερος αὐτῷ σταθμὸς Ἡρακλέους πόλις καὶ τρίτος Πηλούσιον γίνεται. δυσὶ δʼ ἡμέραις ἐνταῦθα τὴν στρατιὰν ἀναλαβὼν τῇ τρίτῃ διέξεισι τὰς ἐμβολὰς τοῦ Πηλουσίου, καὶ προελθὼν σταθμὸν ἕνα διὰ τῆς ἐρήμου πρὸς τῷ τοῦ Κασίου Διὸς ἱερῷ στρατοπεδεύεται, τῇ δʼ ὑστεραίᾳ κατὰ τὴν Ὀστρακίνην· οὗτος ὁ σταθμὸς ἦν ἄνυδρος, ἐπεισάκτοις δὲ ὕδασιν οἱ ἐπιχώριοι χρῶνται. μετὰ ταῦτα πρὸς Ῥινοκουρούροις ἀναπαύεται, κἀκεῖθεν εἰς Ῥάφειαν προελθὼν σταθμὸν τέταρτον, ἔστι δʼ ἡ πόλις αὕτη Συρίας ἀρχή, τὸ πέμπτον ἐν Γάζῃ τίθεται στρατόπεδον, μεθʼ ἣν εἰς Ἀσκάλωνα κἀκεῖθεν εἰς Ἰάμνειαν, ἔπειτα εἰς Ἰόππην κἀξ Ἰόππης εἰς Καισάρειαν ἀφικνεῖται διεγνωκὼς αὐτόθι τὰς ἄλλας δυνάμεις ἀθροίζειν.