Meanwhile the Romans were pressing through the Gate Nicanor in an unending stream, till presently there was a cry of "Make way! Make way!" Miriam looked down to see a man, bare-headed and with close-cropped hair, white-robed also and unarmoured, as though he had risen from his couch, riding on a great war-horse, an ivory wand in his hand and preceded by an officer who bore the standard of the Roman Eagles.

It was Titus itself, who as he came shouted to the centurions to beat back the legionaries and extinguish the fire.

But who now could beat them back?
As well might he have attempted to restrain the hosts of Gehenna burst to the upper earth.

They were mad with the lust of blood and the lust of plunder, and even to the voice of their dread lord they paid no heed.
New flames sprang up in other parts of the vast Temple.

It was doomed.
The golden doors were burst open and, attended by his officers, Titus passed through them to view for the first and last time the home of Jehovah, God of the Jews.