any thing that we have been accused of is brought to light, then
to come and defend your metropolis, and to inflict punishment on
those that are found guilty; for the enemy cannot prevent you who
are so near to the city. But if, after all, none of these
proposals seem acceptable and moderate, do not you wonder that
the gates are shut against you, while you bear your arms about
you."

4. Thus spake Jesus; yet did not the multitude of the
Idumeans give any attention to what he said, but were in a
rage, because they did not meet with a ready entrance into the
city. The generals also had indignation at the offer of laying
down their arms, and looked upon it as equal to a captivity, to
throw them away at any man's injunction
whomsoever. But Simon, the son of Cathlas, one of their
commanders, with much ado quieted the tumult of his own
men, and stood so that the high priests might hear him, and
said as follows: "I can no longer wonder that the patrons of
liberty are under custody in the temple, since there are those
that shut the gates of our common city (8) to their own
nation, and at the same time are prepared to admit the
Romans into it; nay, perhaps are disposed to crown the gates
with garlands at their coming, while they speak to the
Idumeans from their own towers, and enjoin them to throw down
their arms which they have taken up for the
preservation of its liberty. And while they will not intrust
the guard of our metropolis to their kindred, profess to make
them judges of the differences that are among them; nay, while
they accuse some men of having slain others without a legal
trial, they do themselves condemn a whole nation after an