orld, even to the
distant Britons, had done homage to the Romans, and that further
resistance would only bring destruction upon them. Finally, he
offered their lives to all, if they would lay down their arms and
surrender themselves as prisoners of war.

Simon and John replied that they and their followers had bound
themselves, by a solemn oath, never to surrender themselves into
the hands of the Romans; but they expressed their willingness to
retire, with their wives and families, into the wilderness, and
leave the Romans in possession of the city. Titus considered this
language, for men in so desperate a position, to be a mockery; and
answered sternly that, henceforth, he would receive no deserters,
and show no mercy, and that they might fight their hardest. He at
once ordered the destruction of all the buildings standing round
the Temple.

The flames spread as far as the Palace of Helena, on Ophel, to the
south of the Temple platform. Here the members of the royal family
of Adiabene dwelt, and also in the Palaces of Grapte and Monobazus;
and the descendants of Helena now went over to the Romans, and
Titus, although he had declared that he would in future spare none,
did not take their lives, seeing that they were of royal blood.

Simon and John of Gischala, when they heard that the Adiabene
princes had gone over to the Romans, rushed to the Palace of
Helena, sacked it, and murdered all who had taken refuge in the
building--seven thousand in number. They then sacked the rest of
the outer lower town, and retired with their booty into the high
town.

Titus, furious at this conduct, ordered all the outer lower town to
be burned; and soon, from the Temple platform to the Fountain of
Siloam, a scene of desolation extended. The Roman soldiers then
commenced to throw up banks, the one against Herod's Palace, the
other near the bridge across the valley close to the Palace of
Agrippa.

The Idumeans, under Simon, were opposed to further resistance, and
five of their leaders opened communication with Titus, who was
disposed to treat with them; but the conspiracy was discovered by
Simon, and the five leaders executed. Still, in spite of the
watchfulness of Simon and John, large numbers of the inhabitants
made their escape to the Romans who, tired of slaying, spared their
lives, but sold the able-bodied as slaves, and allowed the rest to
pass through their lines.

On the 1st of September, after eighteen days' incessant l