Original - The Preterist Archive

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NAOMI.
towers of the city, now dark in the shades of evening;
"Claudia, I would rather, oh! ten thousand times rather perish
beneath those sacred walls, if it be the will of Jehovah that the
spoiler should again possess them, than live to see my people
once more subject to the Eoman power. We have nobly shaken
it off, and never till we are exterminated will we cease to resist
their oppressions, and assert our freedom. You wonder at my
enthusiasm, as you call it ;
but be assured the same spirit
animates every son and every daughter of Israel : and when
your proud legions advance beneath these impenetrable walls,
they will be received with such a welcome as shall prove that in
Jerusalem at least the soul of our fathers still survives."
" May the gods preserve us from beholding the conflict ! "
answered Claudia, with a shudder, as she rose to accompany
her friend towards their home; "I should regret then that
I had persuaded my father to send me here, after my poor
mother's death, instead of to Caesarea, as he proposed ;
but my
heart was with you, Naomi, and I felt that in your company,
and that of your gentle mother, I should find comfort in my
sorrow. My father's strong regard and high esteem for Zadok
induced him to consent to my returning to your house, as your
mother's letter so kindly proposed ;
and at that time he had
no idea that the war would continue so long, or spread from
Galilee into Judea. Should Yespasian bring his army against
Jerusalem as my father's last letter seemed to announce
he will of course send for me, and place me at Caesarea, with
his friends who dwell there, and from thence I could easily
embark for Eome, and join my brother Marcellus. He has
been residing in the capital with our uncle Sulpitius ever since
we left Jerusalem two years ago ;
and he writes me glowing
descriptions of the splendour and magnificence of the imperial
You know we were both so young when we came from
city.
our native land to Judea, that we had forgotten all her glory
and beauty. Marcellus tells me that he is very soon to be
enrolled among the emperor's troops, and then he will probably
be sent into this country, if the war is not concluded. Now I
shall rejoice to see my dear, kind brother again; and you too,
Naomi, will not you welcome him ? You were always the
greatest friends ;
and every letter he writes is full of inquiries
and kind messages to you. But, alas ! I forget myself. If
Marcellus comes to Judea, it will probably be as the enemy of
your land and people ;
and this cruel war will separate those who
have been brought up together, and loved each other as brother
and sister from childhood."
Naomi was saved the embarrassment of a reply by their