Two Jewish soldiers, in the time of _Vespasian_, had made many campaigns
together; and a participation of dangers, at length, bred an union of
hearts. They were remarked throughout the whole army, as the two
friendly brothers; they felt and fought for each other.--Their
friendship might have continued, without interruption, till death, had
not the good fortune of the one alarmed the pride of the other, which
was in his promotion to be a centurion under the famous _John_, who
headed a particular party of the Jewish male-contents.
From this moment their former love was converted into the most
inveterate enmity. They attached themselves to opposite factions, and
sought each other’s lives in the conflict of adverse party. In this
manner they continued for more than two years, vowing mutual revenge,
and animated with an unconquerable spirit of aversion. At length,
however, that party of the _Jews_, to which the mean soldier belonged,
joining with the _Romans_, it became victorious, and drove _John_, with
all his adherents, into the temple. History has given us more than one
picture of the dreadful conflagration of that superb edifice. The
_Roman_ soldiers were gathered round it; the whole temple was in flames,
and thousands were seen amidst them, within its sacred circuit. It was
in this situation of things, that the now-successful soldier saw his
former friend upon the battlements of the highest tower, looking round
with horror, and just ready to be consumed with flames. All his former
tenderness now returned; he saw the man of his bosom just going to
perish; and, unable to withstand the impulse, he ran spreading his arms,
and crying out to his friend, to leap down from the top, and find safety
with him. The Centurion from above heard and obeyed; and, casting
himself from the top of the tower, into his fellow-soldier’s arms, both
fell a sacrifice on the spot; one being crushed to death by the weight
of his companion, and the other dashed to pieces by the greatness of his
fall.
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