“But if the city is to be effectually starved, we must close up every avenue of access. Now, hitherto, we have kept but an ill watch upon the western and southern sides of the city, with the result that certain merchants, despising the Roman power, and eager to coin wealth out of Jewish necessities, are in the habit of stealing nightly to the city to supply its wants. Tyrians bring fish, and Egyptians corn; Arabs purvey dates, and the Nabatæans supplies of bitumen from the Dead Sea, that fiery bitumen whose effects we know so well. Unless these doings be stopped, the siege will be prolonged indefinitely. Now, my counsel is that we encircle the city with a wall to be patrolled night and day; so shall we cut off the enemy from all outside help. “And since the more mouths there are in the city the more quickly will food vanish, do you, O Cæsar, who have hitherto dealt kindly with deserters, make it known that henceforth crucifixion shall be the lot of those who come to us for pity. “In six weeks’ time they will be eating each other, and victory will be ours; for we shall be contending, not with strong men, but with gaunt and famished weaklings, scarce able to lift spear or shield. “Fasting is a part of their religion,” this renegade Hebrew concluded, with a sneer. “Let them be made to keep such a fast as they never before kept in all their history.” The counsel of Tiberius Alexander prevailed, as Crispus knew that it would prevail, even before the prefect had made an end of speaking. Vain was it for others to propose a different plan, when, forty years previously, a Divine voice had said: “_Thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee around, and keep thee in on every side._” The next day witnessed the beginning of the fatal circuit. Around the doomed city was drawn, over high hill and down deep ravine, a double wall; one, the contravallation, designed to repel sorties from the city; the other, the circumvallation, to repel attacks coming from without. Each of these investing lines was defended on its outer side by a deep trench, and at every third furlong rose a castellum or fort, the station of a garrison. The whole of the army, 50,000 strong, was employed upon the work, which was completed at the end of three days; a marvelously quick feat, even for Romans, accustomed, as they were, to trenching and embanking. The Zealots affected to view these operations with unconcern, casting gibes at Titus, whenever he came within earshot. Some of these gibes had reference to Berenice, who was known to be the object of his adoration. “The fair one at Cæsarea is lonely,” they cried. “The daughter of Agrippa looketh out at a window, and crieth through the lattice, ‘Why is his chariot so long in coming? why tarry the wheels of his chariot?’” Other gibes were directed at Titus’ plebeian origin.