[11].

At length, the town being set on fire by their attempting to burn the works of the Romans, Brutus, instead of laying hold of this opportunity to storm the place, made every effort to preserve it, entreating his soldiers to try all means of extinguishing the fire; but the desperate frenzy of the citizens was not to be mollified.12.Far from thinking themselves obliged to the generous enemy for the efforts which they made to save them, they resolved to perish in the flames.

Instead of extinguishing, therefore, they did all in their power to augment the fire, by throwing in wood, dry reeds, and all kinds of fuel.13.Nothing could exceed the distress of Brutus upon seeing the townsmen thus resolutely bent on destroying themselves.

He rode about the fortifications, stretching out his hands to the Xan'thians, and conjuring them to have pity on themselves and their city; but, insensible to his expostulations, they rushed into the flames with desperate obstinacy, and the whole soon became a heap of undistinguishable ruin.14.At this horrid spectacle Brutus melted into tears, offering a reward to every soldier who should bring him a Ly'cian alive.

The number of those whom it was possible to save from their own fury amounted to no more than one hundred and fifty.15.Some writers, however, affirm that the town was burnt to the ground, and the inhabitants destroyed, by the command of Brutus; and that those who surrendered at discretion, he deprived of all their public and private property.
16.