what could be seen immediately below? Beyond the engines what were seen? What on Olivet? What did the Jews expect to happen to this array? What is said of the Romans as regards these expectations? What did they see rising amid the tumult in the temple? What did this lead Titus to do? What were the consequences of the digging of the trench? As the siege went on what became of Antonia? The outer court? The colonnades? Where was the final resistance made? What became of the survivors? Of the city? Gibeon, in the tribe of Benjamin, north from Jerusalem, about 6 miles by the main road. Antonia, a fortress on the north-west corner of the temple, built by Herod and named after Antony. shields, &c., the Roman testudo or tortoise, a protection formed for troops advancing against a hostile wall by locking together their shields above their heads. Vespasian, father of Titus, proclaimed emperor on the 1st of July, A.D. 69. He had been sent to conduct the Jewish war in the end of the year A.D. 66. THE FALL OF JERUSALEM. The Front of the Temple. SIMON. 1. They fight around the altar, and the dead Is howling with the strife of men, that fight not I only wait without-I take my stand Here in the vestibule-and though the thunders Hold their calm march, nor deviate to their venge ance On earth, in holy patience, Lord, I wait, 3. 4. Defying thy long lingering to subdue The faith of Simon. 'Twas but now I pass'd The corpse of Amariah, that displayed Is prisoner; I beheld him fiercely gnashing The light within Grows redder, broader. 'Tis a fire that burns 5. 6. To save or to destroy. On Sinai's top, Oh Lord! thou didst appear in flames, the mountain Burnt round about thee. Art thou here at length, And must I close mine eyes, lest they be blinded By the full conflagration of thy presence? Titus, Placidus, Terentius, Soldiers, Simon. TITUS. Save, save the Temple! Placidus, Terentius, Who's this, that stands unmoved Mid slaughter, flame and wreck, nor deigns to bow Before the conqueror of Jerusalem? What art thou? SIMON. Titus, dost thou think that Rome Shall quench the fire that burns within yon temple? TITUS. Madman, speak! what art thou? SIMON. The uncircumcised have known me heretofore, 7. PLACIDUS. It is he The bloody Captain of the Rebels, Simon, The Chief Assassin. Seize him, round his limbs Bind straight your heaviest chains. pageant An unhoped For Cæsar's high ovation. We'll not slay him SIMON. 8. 9. Knit them close, See that ye rivet well their galling links. (Holding up the chains.) And ye've no finer flax to gyve me with? TERENTIUS. Burst these, and we will forge thee stronger then. SIMON. Fool, 'tis not yet the hour. TITUS. Hark! hark! the shrieks Of those that perish in the flames. Too late It is thine own, and Cæsar yields it to thee. 10. SIMON. Can it be? the fire Destroys, the thunders cease. I'll not believe, A moment, Romans. Is't then thy will, Almighty Lord of Israel, That this thy temple be a heap of ashes? 11. By Abraham, our father! by the Twelve, 12. 'Tis there I see it. The fire that rends the Veil! We are then of thee Abandon'd-not abandon'd of ourselves. |