Histories 2.5

1Vespasian had all but finished the Jewish war; the siege of Jerusalem remained, a task hard and steep more because of the nature of the mountain and the obstinacy of the superstition than because the besieged had enough strength left to endure their hardships. 1Vespasian himself, as we have related above, had three legions, practised in war; Mucianus held four in peace, but rivalry and the glory of the neighbouring army had driven off sloth, and as much strength as dangers and toil had given the former, so much vigour had unbroken rest and the toil of a war not yet tried given the latter. 1Each had auxiliaries of cohorts and cavalry squadrons, fleets, client kings, and a name famous, though with differing renown.