and was maimed in his body； he was made a captive by the
Parthians； and thence returned home again after some time； on
account of the hopes that Herod had given him； none of which came
to pass according to his expectation； but he still conflicted
with many misfortunes through the whole course of his life； and；
what was the heaviest calamity of all； as we have related
already； he came to an end which was undeserved by him。 His
character appeared to be that of a man of a mild and moderate
disposition； and suffered the administration of affairs to be
generally done by others under him。 He was averse to much
meddling with the public； nor had shrewdness enough to govern a
kingdom。 And both Antipater and Herod came to their greatness by
reason of his mildness； and at last he met with such an end from
them as was not agreeable either to justice or piety。
5。 Now Herod； as soon as he had put Hyrcanus out of the way； made
haste to Caesar； and because he could not have any hopes of
kindness from him； on account of the friendship he had for
Antony； he had a suspicion of Alexandra； lest she should take
this opportunity to bring the multitude to a revolt； and
introduce a sedition into the affairs of the kingdom； so he
committed the care of every thing to his brother Pheroras； and
placed his mother Cypros； and his sister ＇Salome＇； and the whole
family at Masada； and gave him a charge； that if he should hear
any sad news about him； he should take care of the government。
But as to Mariamne his wife； because of the misunderstanding
between her and his sister； and his sister's mother； which made
it impossible for them to live together； he placed her at
Alexandrium； with Alexandra her mother； and left his treasurer
Joseph and Sohemus of Iturea to take care of that fortress。 These
two had been very faithful to him from the beginning； and were
now left as a guard to the women。 They also had it in charge；
that if they should hear any mischief had befallen him； they
should kill them both； and； as far as they were able； to preserve
the kingdom for his sons； and for his brother Pheroras。
6。 When he had given them this charge； he made haste to Rhodes；
to meet Caesar； and when he had sailed to that city； he took off
his diadem； but remitted nothing else of his usual dignity。 And
when； upon his meeting him； he desired that he would let him
speak to him； he therein exhibited a much more noble specimen of
a great soul； for he did not betake himself to supplications； as
men usually do upon such occasions； nor offered him any petition；
as if he were an offender； but； after an undaunted manner； gave
an account of what he had done； for he spake thus to Caesar： That
he had the greatest friendship for Antony； and did every thing he
could that he might attain the government； that he was not indeed
in the army with him； because the Arabians had diverted him； but
that he had sent him both money and corn； which was but too
little in comparison of what he ought to have done for him； 〃for
if a man owns himself to be another's friend； and knows him to be
a benefactor； he is obliged to hazard every thing； to use every
faculty of his soul； every member of his body； and all the wealth
he hath； for him； in which I confess I have been too deficient。
However； I am conscious to myself； that so far I have done right；
that I have not deserted him upon his defeat at Actium； nor upon
the evident change of his fortune have I transferred my hopes
from him to another； but have preserved myself； though not as a
valuable fellow soldier； yet certainly as a faithful counselor；
to Antony； when I demonstrated to him that the only way that he
had to save himself； and not to lose all his authority； was to
slay Cleopatra； for when she was once dead； there would be room
for him to retain his authority； and rather to bring thee to make
a composition with him； than to continue at enmity any longer。
None of which advises would he attend to； but preferred his own
rash resolution before them； which have happened unprofitably for
him； but profitably for thee。 Now； therefore； in case thou
determinest about me； and my alacrity in serving Antony；
according to thy anger at him； I own there is no room for me to
deny what I have done； nor will I be ashamed to own； and that
publicly too； that I had a great kindness for him。 But if thou
wilt put him out of the case； and only examine how I behave
myself to my benefactors in general； and what sort of friend I
am； thou wilt find by experience that we shall do and be the same
to thyself； for it is but changing the names； and the firmness of
friendship that we shall bear to thee will not be disapproved by
thee。〃
7。 By this speech； and by his behavior； which showed Caesar the
frankness of his mind； he greatly gained upon him； who was
himself of a generous and magnificent temper； insomuch that those
very actions； which were the foundation of the accusation against
him； procured him Caesar's good…will。 Accordingly； he restored
him his diadem again； and encouraged him to exhibit himself as
great a friend to himself as he had been to Antony； and then had
him in great esteem。 Moreover； he added this； that Quintus Didius
had written to him that Herod had very readily assisted him in
the affair of the gladiators。 So when he had obtained such a kind
reception； and had； beyond all his hopes； procured his crown to
be more entirely and firmly settled upon him than ever by
Caesar's donation； as well as by that decree of the Romans； which
Caesar took care to procure for his greater security； he
conducted Caesar on his way to Egypt； and made presents； even
beyond his ability； to both him and his friends； and in general
behaved himself with great magnanimity。 He also desired that
Caesar would not put to death one Alexander； who had been a
companion of Antony； but Caesar had sworn to put him to death；
and so he could not obtain that his petition。 And now he returned
to Judea again with greater honor and assurance than ever； and
affrighted those that had expectations to the contrary； as still
acquiring from his very dangers greater splendor than before； by
the favor of God to him。 So he prepared for the reception of
Caesar； as he was going out of Syria to invade Egypt； and when he
came； he entertained him at Ptolemais with all royal
magnificence。 He also bestowed presents on the army； and brought
them provisions in abundance。 He also proved to be one of
Caesar's most cordial friends； and put the army in array； and
rode along with Caesar； and had a hundred and fifty men； well
appointed in all respects； after a rich and sumptuous manner； for
the better reception of him and his friends。 He also provided
them with what they should want； as they passed over the dry
desert； insomuch that they lacked neither wine nor water； which
last the soldiers stood in the greatest need of； and besides； he
presented Caesar with eight hundred talents； and procured to
himself the good…will of them all； because he was assisting to
them in a much greater and more splendid degree than the kingdom
he had obtained could afford； by which means he more and more
demonstrated to Caesar the firmness of his friendship； and his
readiness to assist him； and what was of the greatest advantage
to him was this； that his liberality came at a seasonable time
also。 And when they returned again out of Egypt； his assistances
were no way inferior to the good offices he had formerly done
them。
CHAPTER 7。
How Herod Slew Sohemus And Mariamne And Afterward Alexandra And
Costobarus； And His Most Intimate Friends； And At Last The Sons
Of Babbas Also。
1。 However； when he came into his kingdom again； he found his
house all in disorder； and his wife Mariamne and her mother
Alexandra very uneasy； for as they supposed （what was easy to be
supposed） that they were not put into that fortress ＇Alexandrium＇
for the security of their persons； but as into a garrison for
their imprisonment； and that they had no power over any thing；
either of others or of their own affairs； they were very uneasy；
and Mariamne supposing that the king's love to her was but
hypocritical； and rather pretended （as advantageous to himself）
than real； she looked upon it as fallacious。 She also was grieved
that he would not allow her any hopes of surviving him； if he
should come to any harm himself。 She also recollected what
commands he had formerly given to Joseph； insomuch that she
endeavored to please her keepers； and especially Sohemus； as well
apprized how all was in his power。 And at the first Sohemus was
faithful to Herod； and neglected none of the things he had given
him in charge； but when the women； by kind words and liberal
presents； had gained his affections over to them； he was by
degrees overcome； and at length discovered to them all the king's
injunctions； and this on that account principally； that he did
not so much as hope he would come back with the same authority he
had before； so that he thought he should both escape any danger
from him； mid supposed that he did hereby much gratify the women；
who were likely not to be overlooked in the settling of the
government； nay； that they would be able to make him abundant
recompense； since they must either reign themselves； or be very
near to him that should reign。 He had a further ground of hope
also； that though Herod should have all the success he could wish
for； and should return again； he could not contradict his wife in
what she desired； for he knew that the king's fondness for his
wife was inexpressible。 These were the motives that drew Sohemus
to discover what injunctions had been given him。 So Mariamne was
greatly displeased to hear that there was no end of the dangers
she was under from Herod； and was greatly uneasy at it； and
wished that he might obtain no favors ＇from Caesar＇； and esteemed
it almost an insupportable task to live with him any longer； and
this she afterward openly declared； without concealing her
resentment。
2。 And now Herod sailed home with joy； at the unexpected good
success he had had； and went first of all； as was proper； to this
his wife； and told her； and her only； the good news； as
preferring her before the rest