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beforehand; and he got together the greatest body of horsemen he
was able; and those out of that number which were of an age fit
for war; and came to fight Anileus; and when he was arrived at a
certain village of his own; he lay still there; as intending to
fight him on the day following; because it was the sabbath; the
day on which the Jews rest。 And when Anileus was informed of this
by a Syrian stranger of another village; who not only gave him an
exact account of other circumstances; but told him where
Mithridates would have a feast; he took his supper at a proper
time; and marched by night; with an intent of falling upon the
Parthians while they were unaprrized what they should do; so he
fell upon them about the fourth watch of the night; and some of
them he slew while they were asleep; and others he put to flight;
and took Mithridates alive; and set him naked upon an ass (37)
which; among the Parthians; is esteemed the greatest reproach
possible。 And when he had brought him into a wood with such a
resolution; and his friends desired him to kill Mithridates; he
soon told them his own mind to the contrary; and said that it was
not right to kill a man who was of one of the principal families
among the Parthians; and greatly honored with matching into the
royal family; that so far as they had hitherto gone was
tolerable; for although they had injured Mithridates; yet if they
preserved his life; this benefit would be remembered by him to
the advantage of those that gave it him; but that if be were once
put to death; the king would not be at rest till he had made a
great slaughter of the Jews that dwelt at Babylon; 〃to whose
safety we ought to have a regard; both on account of our relation
to them; and because if any misfortune befall us; we have no
other place to retire to; since he hath gotten the flower of
their youth under him。〃 By this thought; and this speech of his
made in council; he persuaded them to act accordingly; so
Mithridates was let go。 But when he was got away; his wife
reproached him; that although he was son…in…law to the king; he
neglected to avenge himself on those that had injured him; while
he took no care about it; but was contented to have been made a
captive by the Jews; and to have escaped them; and she bid him
either to go back like a man of courage; or else she sware by the
gods of their royal family that she would certainly dissolve her
marriage with him。 Upon which; partly because he could not bear
the daily trouble of her taunts; and partly because he was afraid
of her insolence; lest she should in earnest dissolve their
marriage; he unwillingly; and against his inclinations; got
together again as great an army as he could; and marched along
with them; as himself thinking it a thing not to be borne any
longer; that he; a Parthian; should owe his preservation to the
Jews; when they had been too hard for him in the war。
7。 But as soon as Anileus understood that Mithridates was
marching with a great army against him; he thought it too
ignominious a thing to tarry about the lakes; and not to take the
first opportunity of meeting his enemies; and he hoped to have
the same success; and to beat their enemies as they did before;
as also he ventured boldly upon the like attempts。 Accordingly;
he led out his army; and a great many more joined themselves to
that army; in order to betake themselves to plunder the people;
and in order to terrify the enemy again by their numbers。 But
when they had marched ninety furlongs; while the road had been
through dry 'and sandy' places; and about the midst of the day;
they were become very thirsty; and Mithridates appeared; and fell
upon them; as they were in distress for want of water; on which
account; and on account of the time of the day; they were not
able to bear their weapons。 So Anileus and his men were put to an
ignominious rout; while men in despair were to attack those that
were fresh and in good plight; so a great slaughter was made; and
many ten thousand men fell。 Now Anileus; and all that stood firm
about him; ran away as fast as they were able into a wood; and
afforded Mithridates the pleasure of having gained a great
victory over them。 But there now came in to Anileus a conflux of
bad men; who regarded their own lives very little; if they might
but gain some present ease; insomuch that they; by thus coming to
him; compensated the multitude of those that perished in the
fight。 Yet were not these men like to those that fell; because
they were rash; and unexercised in war; however; with these he
came upon the villages of the Babylonians; and a mighty
devastation of all things was made there by the injuries that
Anileus did them。 So the Babylonians; and those that had already
been in the war; sent to Neerda to the Jews there; and demanded
Anileus。 But although they did not agree to their demands; (for
if they had been willing to deliver him up; it was not in their
power so to do;) yet did they desire to make peace with them。 To
which the other replied; that they also wanted to settle
conditions of peace with them; and sent men together with the
Babylonians; who discoursed with Anileus about them。 But the
Babylonians; upon taking a view of his situation; and having
learned where Anileus and his men lay; fell secretly upon them as
they were drunk and fallen asleep; and slew all that they caught
of them; without any fear; and killed Anileus himself also。
8。 The Babylonians were now freed from Anileus's heavy
incursions; which had been a great restraint to the effects of
that hatred they bore to the Jews; for they were almost always at
variance; by reason of the contrariety of their laws; and which
party soever grew boldest before the other; they assaulted the
other: and at this time in particular it was; that upon the ruin
of Anileus's party; the Babylonians attacked the Jews; which made
those Jews so; vehemently to resent the injuries they received
from the Babylonians; that being neither able to fight them; nor
bearing to live with them; they went to Seleucia; the principal
city of those parts; which was built by Seleucus Nicator。 It was
inhabited by many of the Macedonians; but by more of the
Grecians; not a few of the Syrians also dwelt there; and thither
did the Jews fly; and lived there five years; without any
misfortunes。 But on the sixth year; a pestilence came upon these
at Babylon; which occasioned new removals of men's habitations
out of that city; and because they came to Seleucia; it happened
that a still heavier calamity came upon them on that account
which I am going to relate immediately。
9。 Now the way of living of the people of Seleucia; which were
Greeks and Syrians; was commonly quarrelsome; and full of
discords; though the Greeks were too hard for the Syrians。 When;
therefore; the Jews were come thither; and dwelt among them;
there arose a sedition; and the Syrians were too hard for the
other; by the assistance of the Jews; who are men that despise
dangers; and very ready to fight upon any occasion。 Now when the
Greeks had the worst in this sedition; and saw that they had but
one way of recovering their former authority; and that was; if
they could prevent the agreement between the Jews and the
Syrians; they every one discoursed with such of the Syrians as
were formerly their acquaintance; and promised they would be at
peace and friendship with them。 Accordingly; they gladly agreed
so to do; and when this was done by the principal men of both
nations; they soon agreed to a reconciliation; and when they were
so agreed; they both knew that the great design of such their
union would be their common hatred to the Jews。 Accordingly; they
fell upon them; and slew about fifty thousand of them; nay; the
Jews were all destroyed; excepting a few who escaped; either by
the compassion which their friends or neighbors afforded them; in
order to let them fly away。 These retired to Ctesiphon; a Grecian
city; and situate near to Seleucia; where the king 'of Parthia'
lives in winter every year; and where the greatest part of his
riches are reposited; but the Jews had here no certain
settlement; those of Seleucia having little concern for the
king's honor。 Now the whole nation of the Jews were in fear both
of the Babylonians and of the Seleucians; because all the Syrians
that live in those places agreed with the Seleucians in the war
against the Jews; so the most of them gathered themselves
together; and went to Neerda and Nisibis; and obtained security
there by the strength of those cities; besides which their
inhabitants; who were a great many; were all warlike men。 And
this was the state of the Jews at this time in Babylonia。
BOOK XIX。
Containing The Interval Of Three Years And A Half。
From The Departure Out Of Babylon To Fadus; The Roman Procurator。
CHAPTER 1。
How Caius (1) Was Slain By Cherea。
1。 Now this Caius (2) did not demonstrate his madness in offering
injuries only to the Jews at Jerusalem; or to those that dwelt in
the neighborhood; but suffered it to extend itself through all
the earth and sea; so far as was in subjection to the Romans; and
filled it with ten thousand mischiefs; so many indee