Petronius's heart
relented; he left his soldiers behind and went on to try the Jews at
Tiberias. There he met a similar band. He tried again to be stern
with them. All other nations had worshipped the Emperor's image, why
should not they? Would they make war against their emperor? 'We
have no thought of war,' they cried with one voice, 'but we will
submit to be massacred rather than break our law;' and at once the
whole crowd fell with their faces to the earth, and declared that
they were ready to offer their throats to the swords of the Roman
soldiers.
For forty days that scene lasted; it was the time for sowing, and the
whole land lay untilled. Petronius could do nothing with people who
were ready to be martyrs, but not rebels; and he gave way. He
excused himself to the mad emperor as he best could. He promised the
Jews that he would do all he could for them, even at the risk of his
own life--and he very nearly lost his life in trying to save them.
But the thing tided over, and the poor Jews conquered, as the
Christian martyrs conquered afterwards, by resignation; by that
highest courage which shows itself not in anger but in patience, and
suffering instead of rebelling.
Well it had been for the Jews elsewhere if they had been of the same
mind. But near Babylon, just about the time St.
Pages:
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142