overcome, it appeared to me that Jerusalem was the most difficult to be held in subjection. So turbulent were the people that I was in perpetual fear of a sedition, for repressing the prefect of Syria, who announced to me that he had scarcely sufficient troops for defense of his own province. I fear that the insatiate thirst of conquering beyond what we are able to defend shall lose to us our noble government.

Among the many rumors which were borne to my ears, one especially occupied my mind. A young man had come into Galilee, it was said, teaching with a noble zeal a new law in the name of the gods who had sent him. At first I feared his design might be to stir up the people against the Romans; but soon my fears were borne away. Jesus, the Nazarene, spoke more as a friend of the Romans than of the Jews.

One day going by the place of Siloam, at which there was a great concourse of people, I saw a young man in the midst of the assembly, who, leaning against a tree, calmly addressed the multitude. I was told that it was Jesus. This I could easily have suspected, such was the difference between him and his hearers. His hair and beard, of golden yellow, gave a celestial aspect. He appeared to be about thirty years old. Never have I seen a gentler or more serene countenance. What a difference between him and those listening, with their black beards and tawny complexions.

Since I was unwilling to interrupt him by my presence, I pursued my walking, but gave a sign to my secretary that he should draw near to the crowd and listen. The name of my secretary was Manlius. He was the grandson of the leader of the conspirators, who were encamped in Etruria awaiting Cataline. Manlius was an old inhabitant of Judea, and knows the Hebrew language well. He was devoted to me, and worthy of my confidence.

On entering the Pretorium, I found Manlius, who related to me the words spoken at Siloam. Never have I heard from the Portico nor in the works of Philosophers, anything that can be compared with the maxims of Jesus. When a certain one of the rebellious Jews, who were so numerous in Jerusalem, asked him whether it were lawful to give a tribute to Caesar, Jesus