his wife； and told her； and her only； the good news； as
preferring her before the rest； on account of his fondness for
her； and the intimacy there had been between them； and saluted
her； but so it happened； that as he told her of the good success
he had had； she was so far from rejoicing at it； that she rather
was sorry for it； nor was she able to conceal her resentments；
but； depending on her dignity； and the nobility of her birth； in
return for his salutations； she gave a groan； and declared
evidently that she rather grieved than rejoiced at his success；
and this till Herod was disturbed at her； as affording him； not
only marks of her suspicion； but evident signs of her
dissatisfaction。 This much troubled him； to see that this
surprising hatred of his wife to him was not concealed； but open；
and he took this so ill； and yet was so unable to bear it； on
account of the fondness he had for her； that he could not
continue long in any one mind； but sometimes was angry at her；
and sometimes reconciled himself to her； but by always changing
one passion for another； he was still in great uncertainty； and
thus was he entangled between hatred and love； and was frequently
disposed to inflict punishment on her for her insolence towards
him； but being deeply in love with her in his soul； he was not
able to get quit of this woman。 In short； as he would gladly have
her punished； so was he afraid lest； ere he were aware； he
should； by putting her to death； bring a heavier punishment upon
himself at the same time。
3。 When Herod's sister and mother perceived that he was in this
temper with regard to Mariamne they thought they had now got an
excellent opportunity to exercise their hatred against her and
provoked Herod to wrath by telling him； such long stories and
calumnies about her； as might at once excite his hatred and his
jealousy。 Now； though he willingly enough heard their words； yet
had not he courage enough to do any thing to her as if he
believed them； but still he became worse and worse disposed to
her； and these ill passions were more and more inflamed on both
sides； while she did not hide her disposition towards him； and he
turned his love to her into wrath against her。 But when he was
just going to put this matter past all remedy； he heard the news
that Caesar was the victor in the war； and that Antony and
Cleopatra were both dead； and that he had conquered Egypt；
whereupon he made haste to go to meet Caesar； and left the
affairs of his family in their present state。 However； Mariamne
recommended Sohemus to him； as he was setting out on his journey；
and professed that she owed him thanks for the care he had taken
of her； and asked of the king for him a place in the government；
upon which an honorable employment was bestowed upon him
accordingly。 Now when Herod was come into Egypt； he was
introduced to Caesar with great freedom； as already a friend of
his； and received very great favors from him； for he made him a
present of those four hundred Galatians who had been Cleopatra's
guards； and restored that country to him again； which； by her
means； had been taken away from him。 He also added to his kingdom
Gadara； Hippos； and Samaria； and； besides those； the maritime
cities； Gaza； and Anthedon； and Joppa； and Strato's Tower。
4。 Upon these new acquisitions； he grew more magnificent； and
conducted Caesar as far as Antioch； but upon his return； as much
as his prosperity was augmented by the foreign additions that had
been made him； so much the greater were the distresses that came
upon him in his own family； and chiefly in the affair of his
wife； wherein he formerly appeared to have been most of all
fortunate； for the affection he had for Mariamne was no way
inferior to the affections of such as are on that account
celebrated in history； and this very justly。 As for her； she was
in other respects a chaste woman； and faithful to him； yet had
she somewhat of a woman rough by nature； and treated her husband
imperiously enough； because she saw he was so fond of her as to
be enslaved to her。 She did not also consider seasonably with
herself that she lived under a monarchy； and that she was at
another's disposal； and accordingly would behave herself after a
saucy manner to him； which yet he usually put off in a jesting
way； and bore with moderation and good temper。 She would also
expose his mother and his sister openly； on account of the
meanness of their birth； and would speak unkindly of them；
insomuch that there was before this a disagreement and
unpardonable hatred among the women； and it was now come to
greater reproaches of one another than formerly； which suspicions
increased； and lasted a whole year after Herod returned from
Caesar。 However； these misfortunes； which had been kept under
some decency for a great while； burst out all at once upon such
an occasion as was now offered； for as the king was one day about
noon lain down on his bed to rest him； he called for Mariamne；
out of the great affection he had always for her。 She came in
accordingly； but would not lie down by him； and when he was very
desirous of her company； she showed her contempt of him； and
added； by way of reproach； that he had caused her father and her
brother to be slain。 （11） And when he took this injury very
unkindly； and was ready to use violence to her； in a precipitate
manner； the king's sister Salome； observing that he was more than
ordinarily disturbed； sent in to the king his cup…bearer； who had
been prepared long beforehand for such a design； and bid him tell
the king how Mariamne had persuaded him to give his assistance in
preparing a love potion for him； and if he appeared to be greatly
concerned； and to ask what that love potion was； to tell him that
she had the potion； and that he was desired only to give it him；
but that in case he did not appear to be much concerned at this
potion； to let the thing drop； and that if he did so； no harm
should thereby come to him。 When she had given him these
instructions； she sent him in at this time to make such a speech。
So he went in； after a composed manner； to gain credit to what he
should say； and yet somewhat hastily； and said that Mariamne had
given him presents； and persuaded him to give him a love potion。
And when this moved the king； he said that this love potion was a
composition that she had given him； whose effects he did not
know； which was the reason of his resolving to give him this
information； as the safest course he could take； both for himself
and for the king。 When Herod heard what he said； and was in an
ill disposition before； his indignation grew more violent； and he
ordered that eunuch of Mariamne； who was most faithful to her； to
be brought to torture about this potion； as well knowing it was
not possible that any thing small or great could be done without
him。 And when the man was under the utmost agonies； he could say
nothing concerning the thing he was tortured about； but so far he
knew； that Mariamne's hatred against him was occasioned by
somewhat that Sohemus had said to her。 Now as he was saying this；
Herod cried out aloud； and said that Sohemus； who had been at all
other times most faithful to him； and to his government； would
not have betrayed what injunctions he had given him； unless he
had had a nearer conversation than ordinary with Mariamne。 So he
gave order that Sohemus should be seized on and slain
immediately； but he allowed his wife to take her trial； and got
together those that were most faithful to him； and laid an
elaborate accusation against her for this love potion and
composition； which had been charged upon her by way of calumny
only。 However； he kept no temper in what he said； and was in too
great a passion for judging well about this matter。 Accordingly；
when the court was at length satisfied that he was so resolved；
they passed the sentence of death upon her； but when the sentence
was passed upon her； this temper was suggested by himself； and by
some others of the court； that she should not be thus hastily put
to death； but be laid in prison in one of the fortresses
belonging to the kingdom： but Salome and her party labored hard
to have the woman put to death； and they prevailed with the king
to do so； and advised this out of caution； lest the multitude
should be tumultuous if she were suffered to live； and thus was
Mariamne led to execution。
5。 When Alexandra observed how things went； and that there were
small hopes that she herself should escape the like treatment
from Herod； she changed her behavior to quite the reverse of what
might have been expected from her former boldness； and this after
a very indecent manner； for out of her desire to show how
entirely ignorant she was of the crimes laid against Mariamne；
she leaped out of her place； and reproached her daughter in the
hearing of all the people； and cried out that she had been an ill
woman； and ungrateful to her husband； and that her punishment
came justly upon her for such her insolent behavior； for that she
had not made proper returns to him who had been their common
benefactor。 And when she had for some time acted after this
hypocritical manner； and been so outrageous as to tear her hair；
this indecent and dissembling behavior； as was to be expected；
was greatly condemned by the rest of the spectators； as it was
principally by the poor woman who was to suffer； for at the first
she gave her not a word； nor was discomposed at her peevishness；
and only looked at her； yet did she out of a greatness of soul
discover her concern for her mother's offense； and especially for
her exposing herself in a manner so unbecoming her； but as for
herself； she went to her death with an unshaken firmness of mind；
and without changing the color of her face； and thereby evidently
discovered the nobility of her descent to the spectators； even in
the last moments of her life。
6。 And thus died Mariamne； a woman of an excellent character；
both for chastity and greatness of soul； but she wanted
moderation； and had too much of contention in her nature； yet had
she all that can be said in the beauty of her body； and her
majestic appearance in conversation； and thence arose the
gre