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ted the light。 However； Josephus's men remembered the charges he had given them； they stopped their ears at the sounds； and covered their bodies against the darts； and as to the engines that were set ready to go to work； the Jews ran out upon them； before those that should have used them were gotten upon them。 And now； on the ascending of the soldiers； there was a great conflict； and many actions of the hands and of the soul were exhibited； while the Jews did earnestly endeavor； in the extreme danger they were in； not to show less courage than those who； without being in danger； fought so stoutly against them； nor did they leave struggling with the Romans till they either fell down dead themselves； or killed their antagonists。 But the Jews grew weary with defending themselves continually； and had not enough to come in their places； and succor them； while； on the side of the Romans； fresh men still succeeded those that were tired； and still new men soon got upon the machines for ascent； in the room of those that were thrust down； those encouraging one another； and joining side to side with their shields； which were a protection to them； they became a body of men not to be broken； and as this band thrust away the Jews； as though they were themselves but one body； they began already to get upon the wall。
28。 Then did Josephus take necessity for his counselor in this utmost distress； （which necessity is very sagacious in invention when it is irritated by despair；） and gave orders to pour scalding oil upon those whose shields protected them。 Whereupon they soon got it ready； being many that brought it； and what they brought being a great quantity also； and poured it on all sides upon the Romans； and threw down upon them their vessels as they were still hissing from the heat of the fire： this so burnt the Romans； that it dispersed that united band； who now tumbled clown from the wall with horrid pains； for the oil did easily run down the whole body from head to foot； under their entire armor； and fed upon their flesh like flame itself； its fat and unctuous nature rendering it soon heated and slowly cooled； and as the men were cooped up in their head…pieces and breastplates； they could no way get free from this burning oil； they could only leap and roll about in their pains； as they fell down from the bridges they had laid。 And as they thus were beaten back； and retired to their own party； who still pressed them forward； they were easily wounded by those that were behind them。
29。 However； in this ill success of the Romans； their courage did not fail them； nor did the Jews want prudence to oppose them； for the Romans； although they saw their own men thrown down； and in a miserable condition； yet were they vehemently bent against those that poured the oil upon them； while every one reproached the man before him as a coward； and one that hindered him from exerting himself； and while the Jews made use of another stratagem to prevent their ascent； and poured boiling fenugreek upon the boards； in order to make them slip and fall down； by which means neither could those that were coming up； nor those that were going down； stand on their feet； but some of them fell backward upon the machines on which they ascended； and were trodden upon； many of them fell down upon the bank they had raised； and when they were fallen upon it were slain by the Jews； for when the Romans could not keep their feet； the Jews being freed from fighting hand to hand； had leisure to throw their darts at them。 So the general called off those soldiers in the evening that had suffered so sorely； of whom the number of the slain was not a few； while that of the wounded was still greater； but of the people of Jotapata no more than six men were killed； although more than three hundred were carried off wounded。 This fight happened on the twentieth day of the month Desius ＇Sivan＇。 30。 Hereupon Vespasian comforted his army on occasion of what happened； and as he found them angry indeed； but rather wanting somewhat to do than any further exhortations； he gave orders to raise the banks still higher； and to erect three towers； each fifty feet high； and that they should cover them with plates of iron on every side； that they might be both firm by their weight； and not easily liable to be set on fire。 These towers he set upon the banks； and placed upon them such as could shoot darts and arrows； with the lighter engines for throwing stones and darts also； and besides these； he set upon them the stoutest men among the slingers； who not being to be seen by reason of the height they stood upon； and the battlements that protected them； might throw their weapons at those that were upon the wall； and were easily seen by them。 Hereupon the Jews； not being easily able to escape those darts that were thrown down upon their heads； nor to avenge themselves on those whom they could not see； and perceiving that the height of the towers was so great； that a dart which they threw with their hand could hardly reach it； and that the iron plates about them made it very hard to come at them by fire； they ran away from the walls； and fled hastily out of the city； and fell upon those that shot at them。 And thus did the people of Jotapata resist the Romans； while a great number of them were every day killed； without their being able to retort the evil upon their enemies； nor could they keep them out of the city without danger to themselves。
31。 About this time it was that Vespasian sent out Trajan against a city called Japha； that lay near to Jotapata； and that desired innovations； and was puffed up with the unexpected length of the opposition of Jotapata。 This Trajan was the commander of the tenth legion； and to him Vespasian committed one thousand horsemen； and two thousand footmen。 When Trajan came to the city； he found it hard to be taken； for besides the natural strength of its situation； it was also secured by a double wall； but when he saw the people of this city coming out of it； and ready to fight him； he joined battle with them； and after a short resistance which they made； he pursued after them； and as they fled to their first wall； the Romans followed them so closely； that they fell in together with them： but when the Jews were endeavoring to get again within their second wall； their fellow citizens shut them out； as being afraid that the Romans would force themselves in with them。 It was certainly God therefore who brought the Romans to punish the Galileans； and did then expose the people of the city every one of them manifestly to be destroyed by their bloody enemies； for they fell upon the gates in great crowds； and earnestly calling to those that kept them； and that by their names also； yet had they their throats cut in the very midst of their supplications； for the enemy shut the gates of the first wall； and their own citizens shut the gates of the second； so they were enclosed between two walls； and were slain in great numbers together； many of them were run through by swords of their own men； and many by their own swords； besides an immense number that were slain by the Romans。 Nor had they any courage to revenge themselves； for there was added to the consternation they were in f