We haven't cost you one drop of Roman
blood or one denarius of Roman money, and yet you are taking at one
act the whole of our substance and punishing us for the misdeeds of
others--others whom you haven't succeeded in punishing yet."
"That is bad judgment," Titus said, frowning at the last sentence.
"Unpleasant truth always is," Joseph retorted.
One of the tribunes laughed impulsively and Titus looked around at him
reproachfully.
"Come, come, Carus," he said.
"Thy pardon, Caesar," the tribune replied, "but we'll be whipped in
this wordy battle. And even a small defeat were an unpropitious sign
on this expedition."
"To Hades with your signs! If I am whipped with six hundred back of
me, I ought to be! Boy, we have your sheep by conquest; you will have
to take them back the same way."
Joseph's face fell.
"I have had them since I was nine years old. I've tended them since
they were lambs and their mothers before them. It is like surrendering
so many children," he said dejectedly. "In truth I can fight for them
even if it be but to lose, and I am bidden not to fight at that."
"By Hector, that is not a Jewish tenet!" Titus exclaimed.
Joseph said nothing. He stood still in the path of the Roman six
hundred with his curly head sunk on his breast. There was silence.
"Is it?" Titus demanded uncomfortably.
"No; and for that reason you are still fighting them and will fight
and lose and lose and lose, before you win.
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