History of the Jews, Vol. 2 (of 6)Graetz, Heinrich
History
History of the Jews, Vol. 2 (of 6)
Graetz, Heinrich
Jews -- History
to speak in a low tone in order to be heard by the Judges but not by
the Judæans. In the course of his defense he made use of an unworthy
piece of sophistry, which might have made an impression upon some
bigoted Roman, but which could hardly satisfy an intelligent mind. "It
requires great decision of character," he said, "to oppose the barbaric
superstitions of the Judæans and, for the good of our country, to show
proper contempt towards these seditious people, who invade our public
assemblies. If Pompey did not avail himself of a conqueror's rights,
and left the treasures of the Temple untouched, we may be sure he did
not restrain himself out of reverence for the Judæan sanctuary, but out
of astuteness, to avoid giving the suspicious and slanderous Judæan
nation an opportunity of accusing him; for otherwise he would hardly
have spared foreign, still less Judæan, sanctuaries. When Jerusalem was
unconquered, and when the Judæans were living in peace, they displayed
a deeply-rooted antipathy to the glory of the Roman State, to the
dignity of the Roman name, and to the laws of our ancestors. During the
last war the Judæan nation proved most effectually how bitterly they
hate us. How little this nation is beloved by the immortal gods is now
evident, as her country is conquered and leased out." What impression
this speech made upon the audience, and what decision was given to
Flaccus, are unknown. A year later Cicero was punished by a sentence of
banishment. He was not allowed to be seen within eighty miles of Rome,
and his villas were razed to the ground.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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