."

"I, too, have talked with many of the sect," Simon said; "and have
argued with them on the folly of their belief, seeing that their
founder by no means saved Israel, but was himself put to death.
From what I could see, there was much that was good in the
doctrines they hold; but they have exaggerated ideas, and are
opposed to all wars, even to fighting for their country. I hear
that, since there has been trouble with Rome, most of them have
departed altogether out of the land, so as to avoid the necessity
of fighting."

"They are poor creatures," Solomon Ben Manasseh said, scornfully;
"but we need not talk of them now, for they affect us in no way,
save that it may be that Josephus has learned somewhat of their
doctrines, from Banus; and that he is thus unduly and, as I think,
most unfortunately for the country, inclined too much to mercy,
instead of punishing the evildoers as they deserve."

"But nevertheless, rabbi, it seems to me that there has been good
policy, as well, in the mercy which Josephus has shown his foes.
You know that John has many friends in Jerusalem; and that, if he
could accuse Josephus of slaughtering any, he would be able to make
so strong a party, there, that he could obtain the recall of
Josephus."

"We would not let him go," Solomon said, hotly. "Since the Romans
have gone, we submit to the supremacy of the council at Jerusalem,
but it is only on sufferance. For long ages we have had nothing to
do with Judah; and we are not disposed to put our necks under their
yoke, now. We submit to unity because, in the Romans, we have a
common foe; but we are not going to be tyrannized. Josephus has
shown himself a wise ruler. We are happier, under him, than we have
been for generations under the men who call themselves kings, but
who are nothing but Roman satraps; and we are not going to suffer
him to be taken from us. Only let the people of Jerusalem try that,
and they will have to deal with all the men of Galilee."

"I am past the age at which men are bound to take up the sword, and
John has not yet attained it but, if there were need, we would both
go out and fight. What could they do, for the population of Galilee
is greater than that of Judah? And while we would fight, every man,
to the death; the Jews would, few of them, care to hazard their
lives only to take from us the man we desire to rule over us.
Still, Josephus does wisely, perhaps, to give no occasion for
accusation by his enemies