The City of Delight

She took his easy declaration with a frown. If it were true he should

not show that flippancy; if it were not he should not have jested.

"I saw," he continued, "Titus and his beloved Nicanor ride around the

walls. Though they were the full length of a bow-shot from me, I knew

what they talked about. Now, this young Nicanor is a gad that tickles

Titus when his soft heart would urge him into tendernesses toward the

enemy. But for Nicanor, Titus would have withdrawn his legions long

ago and left Jerusalem to die of its own violences.

"On the day that you came into Jerusalem, Titus, as a display of

amicable intentions, rode up to the walls without arms or armor,

trusting to the Jews' soldierly honor in refusing to attack an unarmed

man. But the Jews have never been instructed in the nice points of

military courtesy, so they went out against him by thousands. And but

for the fact that he is practised in dodging arrows and his horse is

used to running away, Emperor Vespasian would have to leave the ægis

to the unlovely Domitian.

"Any Roman but Titus would remember this against the Jews until he had

put the last one in bondage, but Titus is not a Roman. I think

some-times that he is a Christian, since it is their boast to love

their enemies. Whatever his feelings after that ignominious adventure

of a few days ago, forth he rides this morning; beside him the Gad,

Nicanor; behind him, that sweet traitor, Josephus.

"The Darling of Mankind rode so meditatively, so dejectedly, that I

knew by his attitude, he said: 'Alack, it galls me to go against this

goodly city!' "By the swagger of the Gad I knew he said: 'Dost gall thee, in truth?

Then truly, alack! Withhold thy hand until the city comes out against

thee, so thou canst hush thy conscience saying that they began it!' "Saith the Darling, 'But there be babes and innocent men and women

within those walls, who, deserving most of all, shall suffer the

greatest!' "'By Hecate!' quoth the Gad, 'there is not a yearling within that city

possessing the power to pucker its lips but would spit upon thee!' "'It would be sacred innocence!' declares Titus.

"'Or an old man that would not burn thine ears with malediction!' "'That would be holy dotage!' "'Or a fine young man but would pale thee on a pike!' "'Then let some one whom they hate less venomously, beseech them to

their own salvation,' implores the Darling.

"Whereupon the Gad beckons insinuatingly to Josephus.

"'Josephus,' says he, 'let us, being more lovable men than Titus, go

up unto these walls and give the Jews a chance to be kind.' "Josephus turns pale, but Nicanor rides upon Jerusalem. And at that

what should a miscreant Jew do but string an arrow and plunge it

nicely, like a bodkin in a pincushion, in the fat shoulder of the Gad!

Alas! It was the ruin of the Holy City! When Titus, pale with concern,

reaches his friend kicking on the ground, does the Gad curse the Jews

and inveigh against the hardy walls that contain them? Not he! He

struggles about so that he may look into the eyes of Titus and

commands him to make war on them instantly under pain of the

accusation of partiality to them against his friends! And behold, war

is declared. I, with mine own eyes, saw siege laid effectively about

our unhappy city!"