313
[Whiston sect. 1] [sect. 437] AND now did the madness of the Sicarii, like a disease, reach as
far as the cities of Cyrene; for one Jonathan, a vile person, and by trade
a weaver, came thither and prevailed with no small number of the poorer
sort to give ear to him; he also led them into the desert, upon promising
them that he would show them signs and apparitions. And as for the other
Jews of Cyrene, he concealed his knavery from them, and put tricks upon
them; but those of the greatest dignity among them informed Catullus, the
governor of the Libyan Pentapolis, of his march into the desert, and of
the preparations he had made for it. So he sent out after him both horsemen
and footmen, and easily overcame them, because they were unarmed men; of
these many were slain in the fight, but some were taken alive, and brought
to Catullus. As for Jonathan, the head of this plot, he fled away at that
time; but upon a great and very diligent search, which was made all the
country over for him, he was at last taken. And when he was brought to
Catullus, he devised a way whereby he both escaped punishment himself,
and afforded an occasion to Catullus of doing much mischief; for he falsely
accused the richest men among the Jews, and said that they had put him
upon what he did.
[Whiston sect. 2] [sect. 443] Now Catullus easily admitted of these his calumnies, and aggravated
matters greatly, and made tragical exclamations, that he might also be
supposed to have had a hand in the finishing of the Jewish war. But what
was still harder, he did not only give a too easy belief to his stories,
but he taught the Sicarii to accuse men falsely. He bid this Jonathan,
therefore, to name one Alexander, a Jew (with whom he had formerly had
a quarrel, and openly professed that he hated him); he also got him to
name his wife Bernice, as concerned with him. These two Catullus ordered
to be slain in the first place; nay, after them he caused all the rich
and wealthy Jews to be slain, being no fewer in all than three thousand.
This he thought he might do safely, because he confiscated their effects,
and added them to Caesar's revenues.
[Whiston sect. 3] [sect. 447] Nay, indeed, lest any Jews that lived elsewhere should convict him
of his villainy, he extended his false accusations further, and persuaded
Jonathan, and certain others that were caught with him, to bring an accusation
of attempts for innovation against the Jews that were of the best character
both at Alexandria and at Rome. One of these, against whom this treacherous
accusation was laid, was Josephus, the writer of these books. However,
this plot, thus contrived by Catullus, did not succeed according to his
hopes; for though he came himself to Rome, and brought Jonathan and his
companions along with him in bonds, and thought he should have had no further
inquisition made as to those lies that were forged under his government,
or by his means; yet did Vespasian suspect the matter and made an inquiry
how far it was true. And when he understood that the accusation laid against
the Jews was an unjust one, he cleared them of the crimes charged upon
them, and this on account of Titus's concern about the matter, and brought
a deserved punishment upon Jonathan; for he was first tormented, and then
burnt alive.
[Whiston sect. 4] [sect. 451] But as to Catullus, the emperors Were so gentle to him, that he underwent
no severe condemnation at this time; yet was it not long before he fell
into a complicated and almost incurable distemper, and died miserably.
He was not only afflicted in body, but the distemper in his mind was more
heavy upon him than the other; for he was terribly disturbed, and continually
cried out that he saw the ghosts of those whom he had slain standing before
him. Whereupon he was not able to contain himself, but leaped out of his
bed, as if both torments and fire were brought to him. This his distemper
grew still a great deal worse and worse continually, and his very entrails
were so corroded, that they fell out of his body, and in that condition
he died. Thus he became as great an instance of Divine Providence as ever
was, and demonstrated that God punishes wicked men.
[Whiston sect. 5] [sect. 454] And here we shall put an end to this our history; wherein we formerly
promised to deliver the same with all accuracy, to such as should be desirous
of understanding after what manner this war of the Romans with the Jews
was managed. Of which history, how good the style is, must be left to the
determination of the readers; but as for its agreement with the facts,
I shall not scruple to say, and that boldly, that truth hath been what
I have alone aimed at through its entire composition.