So there in the red light of the sunset, with her hands bound, a placard setting out her shame upon her breast, and chained like a wild beast to the column of marble, Miriam was left alone.  Walking as near to the little battlement as the length of her chain would allow, she looked down into the Court of Israel, where many of the Zealots had gathered to catch sight of her.  So soon as they saw her they yelled and hooted and cast a shower of stones, one of which struck her on the shoulder.  With a little cry of pain she ran back as far as she could reach on the further side of the pillar.  Hence she could see the great Court of Women, whence the Gate Nicanor was approached by fifteen steps forming the half of a circle and fashioned of white marble.  This court now was nothing but a camp, for the outer Court of the Gentiles having been taken by the Romans, their battering rams were working at its walls.

Then the night fell, but brought no peace with it, for the rams smote continually, and since they were not strong enough to break through the huge stones of the mighty wall, the Romans renewed their attempt to take them by storm in the hours of darkness.  But, indeed, it was no darkness, for the Jews lit fires upon the top of the wall, and by their light drove off the attacking Romans.  Again and again, from her lofty perch, Miriam could see the scaling ladders appear above the crest of the wall.  Then up them would come long lines of men, each holding a shield above his head.  As the foremost of these scrambled on to the wall, the waiting Jews rushed at them and cut them down with savage shouts, while other Jews seizing the rungs of the ladder, thrust it from the coping to fall with its living load back into the ditch beneath.  Once there were great cries of joy, for two standard-bearers had come up the ladders carrying their ensigns with them.  The men were overpowered and the ensigns captured to be waved derisively at the Romans beneath, who answered the insult with sullen roars of rage.

So things went on till at length the legionaries, wearing of this desperate fighting, took another counsel.  Hitherto Titus had desired to preserve all the Temple, even to the outer courts and cloisters, but now he commanded that the gates, built of great beams of cedar and overlaid with silver plates, should be fired.  Through a storm of spears and arrows soldiers rushed up to them and thrust lighted brands into every joint and hinge.  They caught, and presently the silver plates ran down their blazing surface in molten streams of metal.  Nor was this all, for from the gates the fire spread to the cloisters on either side, nor did the outworn Jews attempt to stay its ravages.  They drew back sullenly, and seated in groups upon the paving of the Court of Women, watching the circle of devouring flame creep slowly on.  At length the sun rose.  Now the Romans were labouring to extinguish the fire at the gateway, and to make a road over the ruins by which they might advance.