Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1910 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XXVI JUSTICE THE AVENGER It was a lovely sunny morning in April as Crispus and Rufus strolled along the sands in the vicinity of Caisarea-by-the-sea. "Have you seen the new coin struck by Titus to commemorate his conquest?" asked Rufus; and, being answered in the negative, he drew forth a sesterce, and exhibited it to the gaze of Crispus. The obverse of the coin bore the laureated head of Titus; the reverse, a graceful palm-tree, at the foot of which sat the weeping figure of a woman, emblematic of Judaea; behind the palm stood Titus in a military uniform, with his foot on a helmet, holding in his right hand a lance, and in his left a sword. The words Judaea Capta formed the legend. "This weeping figure is obviously intended as a portrait of Berenice," remarked Crispus in some surprise. "Just so. 'Tis said that Titus, happening to see Berenice sitting beneath a palm weeping, or pretending to weep, for her country, was so struck by the sight that he ordered the Master of the Mint at Caesarea to immortalize her figure and attitude in the issue of commemorative coins." "Did Berenice have aught to say on the matter?" "She was not averse to it." No; doubtless it suited her taste for emotional display to see herself set forth to the Roman world in the character of a devout patriot weeping for the fall of her country. The hollowness both of her grief and of her religion, in fact her entire lack of womanly feeling, was shown by her presence at the games held at Caesarea Philippi in honor of Domitian's birthday, when she could calmly sit in the amphitheater there and see 2,500 hapless Jews slaughtered, either in combats with wild beasts, or in fighting with each other as gladiators; for Titus, prevented from sailing to Rome by reason of...