The Life of Flavius Josephus | Page 4

eminent on account of is nobility, but had a
higher commendation on account of his righteousness, and was in great reputation in
Jerusalem, the greatest city we have. I was myself brought up with my brother, whose
name was Matthias, for he was my own brother, by both father and mother; and I made
mighty proficiency in the improvements of my learning, and appeared to have both a
great memory and understanding. Moreover, when I was a child, and about fourteen years
of age, I was commended by all for the love I had to learning; on which account the high
priests and principal men of the city came then frequently to me together, in order to
know my opinion about the accurate understanding of points of the law. And when I was
about sixteen years old, I had a mind to make trim of the several sects that were among us.
These sects are three: - The first is that of the Pharisees, the second that Sadducees, and
the third that of the Essens, as we have frequently told you; for I thought that by this
means I might choose the best, if I were once acquainted with them all; so I contented
myself with hard fare, and underwent great difficulties, and went through them all. Nor
did I content myself with these trials only; but when I was informed that one, whose
name was Banus, lived in the desert, and used no other clothing than grew upon trees,
and had no other food than what grew of its own accord, and bathed himself in cold water
frequently, both by night and by day, in order to preserve his chastity, I imitated him in
those things, and continued with him three years. (3) So when I had accomplished my
desires, I returned back to the city, being now nineteen years old, and began to conduct
myself according to the rules of the sect of the Pharisees, which is of kin to the sect of the
Stoics, as the Greeks call them.
3. But when I was in the twenty-sixth year of my age, it happened that I took a voyage to
Rome, and this on the occasion which I shall now describe. At the time when Felix was
procurator of Judea there were certain priests of my acquaintance, and very excellent
persons they were, whom on a small and trifling occasion he had put into bonds, and sent
to Rome to plead their cause before Caesar. These I was desirous to procure deliverance
for, and that especially because I was informed that they were not unmindful of piety
towards God, even under their afflictions, but supported themselves with figs and nuts. (4)
Accordingly I came to Rome, though it were through a great number of hazards by sea;
for as our ship was drowned in the Adriatic Sea, we that were in it, being about six
hundred in number, (5) swam for our lives all the night; when, upon the first appearance
of the day, and upon our sight of a ship of Cyrene, I and some others, eighty in all, by
God's providence, prevented the rest, and were taken up into the other ship. And when I
had thus escaped, and was come to Dieearchia, which the Italians call Puteoli, I became
acquainted with Aliturius, an actor of plays, and much beloved by Nero, but a Jew by
birth; and through his interest became known to Poppea, Caesar's wife, and took care, as
soon as possible, to entreat her to procure that the priests might be set at liberty. And
when, besides this favor, I had obtained many presents from Poppea, I returned home
again.
4. And now I perceived innovations were already begun, and that there were a great many
very much elevated in hopes of a revolt from the Romans. I therefore endeavored to put a
stop to these tumultuous persons, and persuaded them to change their minds; and laid

before their eyes against whom it was that they were going to fight, and told them that
they were inferior to the Romans not only in martial skill, but also in good fortune; and
desired them not rashly, and after the most foolish manner, to bring on the dangers of the
most terrible mischiefs upon their country, upon their families, and upon themselves. And
this I said with vehement exhortation, because I foresaw that the end of such a war would
be most unfortunate to us. But I could not persuade them; for the madness of desperate
men was quite too hard for me.
5. I was then afraid, lest, by inculcating these things so often, I should incur their hatred
and their suspicions, as if I were of our enemies' party, and should run into the