The next was John, a Jew of noble birth, Who thought that he was born to rule the earth; His father told him so, and he believ’d, Nor doubted but the world would be reliev’d From Roman tyranny.—Mistaken youth, Had some kind friend inclined thine heart to truth, How many husbands’ groans and fathers’ fears, How many mothers had been spar’d their tears; But such is man; his restless passions’ slave, He seeks for happiness, and finds a grave. Spurr’d by ambition and a thirst for fame, He gains his end, then dies and leaves—a name: He hears that joys are found beyond the skies, And not on earth, yet after joys he flies, Gives up the chace, pursues again, and dies. The other murd’ring chief, Who fill’d Jerusalem with woe and grief, Was Simeon, Eleazer’s haughty sire, A Jew by birth, and fill’d with Jewish fire, By some call’d Simon—dreadful in array, He swore to Judah’s throne to cut his way. Eight thousand men of war his power own’d, Beneath whose swords how many thousands groan’d! Eleazer and his bands the temple gain’d, And with their horrid deeds the place profan’d; In blood they walk’d, breathing defiance round, The vaulted roof their awful oaths resound; Madly they rush, like tygers on their prey, And murder all who dare oppose their way. Without was John’s and Chezron’s savage bands, In bloody strife engag’d, clos’d hands to hands, While from the hill above the shafts were pour’d, To fell those wretches who escap’d the sword. By Simon’s party was the hill possess’d, And wing’d their darts, whilst others closely press’d; But hark! the Romans shout, “It’s down! it’s down! A breach is made, and we possess the town!” The wall so long by Roman arms assail’d, The wall which long o’er Roman arts prevail’d, But now, deserted by the city’s feud, Gives way, at last, by Roman pow’r subdu’d.