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AN INFERNAL SUGGESTION 435
Philopator, was scourged out of our Holiest by
a vision of
angels. But Alexander the Great bowed before our High
Priest laddua, and God gave him unexampled victories. And
Julius, your mighty ancestor, was dear to our race, and he
prospered through our prayers.'
*
Yea,' said the High Priest, ' and when the Caesar Gaius
would have profaned our Temple with a statue of himself, our
God smote him with madness, and ere a year was over the
dagger reached his heart.'
Nero had fits of superstition, and he listened with greedy
ears. I thought,' he said, '
that you Jews hated all mankind
'
except yourselves.'
'
'
We hate them not,' answered Ishmael. On the contrary,
we pray for all the seventy nations of mankind, and we offer
daily sacrifices for their welfare. If those sacrifices ceased,
the world would perish.'
'
'
Listen, Csesar, to the High Priest's words,' said Poppeea,
and set these priests free.'
'
What Poppsea asks is done,' said Nero. But,' he continued,
'
turning to the Jews, '
is not your nation seditious and
'
turbulent ?
'
It is not,' answered Ishmael. We never stir unless we
'
are wronged. We would fain sit in peace, each under his
own vine and his own fig-tree. We offer sacrifices in our
Temple for the Emperor's safety.'
'
Nero must not confuse us with the Christians,' said Josephus,
quietly. The Romans and Greeks have not yet learnt
'
the difference between us ;
and all their crimes are set down
to us.'
'
'
The
'
Christians ? said Nero. Who are they ? I have
heard of them as malefactors, the scum of the earth, but
always thought they were a sect of Jews.'
'
'
Forbid it Heaven ! said the High Priest, vehemently.
'
They worship a crucified mesitli, who deceived the people.
Some of them, I confess with anguish, are of our race, but far
more are Gentiles.'
'
But did not Claudius drive the Jews from Rome, because
they were always rioting at the instigation
of one Chrestus ?
Indeed, I thought they were called Christians.'
'They like to be called Christians,' said Josephus, 'as
though they were chrestoi, or excellent. But Christos is the