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when the feeling of security returned； more intent on pleasures than
on religious matters； and he began by degrees to neglect the affair；
and to turn his thoughts to other concerns； till at length the same
apparition； but now more terrible and peremptory； denounced ruin
against the king and his realm； unless his bidding were performed。
Ptolemy then gave directions that an embassy should be despatched with
presents to king Scydrothemis； who at that time ruled the people of
Sinope； and instructed them； when they were on the point of sailing；
to consult the Pythian Apollo。 Their voyage was prosperous； and the
response of the oracle was clear。 The God bade them go and carry
back with them the image of his father； but leave that of his sister
behind。
On their arrival at Sinope； they delivered to Scydrothemis the
presents from their king； with his request and message。 He wavered
in purpose； dreading at one moment the anger of the God； terrified
at another by the threats and opposition of the people。 Often he was
wrought upon by the gifts and promises of the ambassadors。 And so
three years passed away； while Ptolemy did not cease to urge his
zealous solicitations。 He continued to increase the dignity of his
embassies； the number of his ships； and the weight of his gold。 A
terrible vision then appeared to Scydrothemis； warning him to thwart
no longer the purposes of the God。 As he yet hesitated； various
disasters； pestilence； and the unmistakable anger of heaven； which
grew heavier from day to day； continued to harass him。 He summoned
an assembly； and explained to them the bidding of the God； the visions
of Ptolemy and himself； and the miseries that were gathering about
them。 The people turned away angrily from their king； were jealous
of Egypt； and； fearing for themselves； thronged around the temple。 The
story becomes at this point more marvellous； and relates that the
God of his own will conveyed himself on board the fleet； which had
been brought close to shore； and； wonderful to say； vast as was the
extent of sea that they traversed； they arrived at Alexandria on the
third day。 A temple； proportioned to the grandeur of the city； was
erected in a place called Rhacotis； where there had stood a chapel
consecrated in old times to Serapis and Isis。 Such is the most popular
account of the origin and introduction of the God Serapis。 I am
aware indeed that there are some who say that he was brought from
Seleucia； a city of Syria； in the reign of Ptolemy III。； while
others assert that it was the act of the same king； but that the place
from which he was brought was Memphis； once a famous city and the
strength of ancient Egypt。 The God himself； because he heals the sick；
many identified with Aesculapius； others with Osiris； the deity of the
highest antiquity among these nations； not a few with Jupiter； as
being supreme ruler of all things； but most people with Pluto； arguing
from the emblems which may be seen on his statues； or from conjectures
of their own。
Domitian and Mucianus received； before they reached the Alps；
favourable news of the operations among the Treveri。 The best proof of
the victory was seen in the enemy's general Valentinus； who with
undaunted courage shewed in his look his habitual high spirit。 He
was heard； but only that they might judge of his character； and he was
condemned。 During his execution he replied to one who taunted him with
the subjection of his country； 〃That I take as my consolation in
death。〃 Mucianus now brought forward as a new thought a plan he had
long concealed。 〃Since；〃 he said； 〃by the blessing of the Gods the
strength of the enemy has been broken； it would little become
Domitian； now that the war is all but finished； to interfere with
the glory of others。 If the stability of the Empire or the safety of
Gaul were in danger； it would have been right for Caesar to take his
place in the field； but the Canninefates and Batavi should be handed
over to inferior generals。 Let the Emperor display from the near
neighbourhood of Lugdunum the might and prestige of imperial power；
not meddling with trifling risks； though he would not be wanting on
greater occasions。〃
His artifices were understood； but it was a part of their respect
not to expose them。 Thus they arrived at Lugdunum。 It is believed that
from this place Domitian despatched secret emissaries to Cerialis； and
tempted his loyalty with the question whether； on his shewing himself；
he would hand over to him the command of the army。 Whether in this
scheme Domitian was thinking of war with his father； or of
collecting money； and men to be used against his brother； was
uncertain； for Cerialis； by a judicious temporising； eluded the
request as prompted by an idle and childish ambition。 Domitian； seeing
that his youth was despised by the older officers； gave up even the
less important functions of government which he had before
exercised。 Under a semblance of simple and modest tastes； he wrapped
himself in a profound reserve； and affected a devotion to literature
and a love of poetry； thus seeking to throw a veil over his character；
and to withdraw himself from the jealousy of his brother； of whose
milder temper； so unlike his own； he judged most falsely。
BOOK V； A。D。 70
EARLY in this year Titus Caesar； who had been selected by his father
to complete the subjugation of Judaea； and who had gained
distinction as a soldier while both were still subjects； began to rise
in power and reputation； as armies and provinces emulated each other
in their attachment to him。 The young man himself； anxious to be
thought superior to his station； was ever displaying his
gracefulness and his energy in war。 By his courtesy and affability
he called forth a willing obedience； and he often mixed with the
common soldiers； while working or marching； without impairing his
dignity as general。 He found in Judaea three legions； the 5th； the
10th； and the 15th； all old troops of Vespasian's。 To these he added
the 12th from Syria； and some men belonging to the 18th and 3rd；
whom he had withdrawn from Alexandria。 This force was accompanied by
twenty cohorts of allied troops and eight squadrons of cavalry； by the
two kings Agrippa and Sohemus； by the auxiliary forces of king
Antiochus； by a strong contingent of Arabs； who hated the Jews with
the usual hatred of neighbours； and； lastly； by many persons brought
from the capital and from Italy by private hopes of securing the yet
unengaged affections of the Prince。 With this force Titus entered
the enemy's territory； preserving strict order on his march；
reconnoitring every spot； and always ready to give battle。 At last
he encamped near Jerusalem。
As I am about to relate the last days of a famous city； it seems
appropriate to throw some light on its origin。
Some say that the Jews were fugitives from the island of Crete；
who settled on the nearest coast of Africa about the time when
Saturn was driven from his throne by the power of Jupiter。 Evidence of
this is sought in the name。 There is a famous mountain in Crete called
Ida； the neighbouring tribe； the Idaei； came to be called Judaei by
a barbarous lengthening of the national name。 Others assert that in
the reign of Isis the overflowing population of Egypt； led by
Hierosolymus and Judas； discharged itself into the neighbouring
countries。 Many； again； say that they were a race of Ethiopian origin；
who in the time of king Cepheus were driven by fear and hatred of
their neighbours to seek a new dwelling…place。 Others describe them as
an Assyrian horde who； not having sufficient territory； took
possession of part of Egypt； and founded cities of their own in what
is called the Hebrew country； lying on the borders of Syria。 Others；
again； assign a very distinguished origin to the Jews； alleging that
they were the Solymi； a nation celebrated in the poems of Homer； who
called the city which they founded Hierosolyma after their own name。
Most writers； however； agree in stating that once a disease； which
horribly disfigured the body； broke out over Egypt； that king
Bocchoris； seeking a remedy； consulted the oracle of Hammon； and was
bidden to cleanse his realm； and to convey into some foreign land this
race detested by the gods。 The people； who had been collected after
diligent search； finding themselves left in a desert； sat for the most
part in a stupor of grief； till one of the exiles； Moyses by name；
warned them not to look for any relief from God or man； forsaken as
they were of both； but to trust to themselves； taking for their
heaven…sent leader that man who should first help them to be quit of
their present miser