prison too rashly； so he tortured the principal of Alexander's
friends； and put not a few of them to death； without getting any
of the things out of them which he suspected。 And while Herod was
very busy about this matter； and the palace was full of terror
and trouble； one of the younger sort； when he was in the utmost
agony； confessed that Alexander had sent to his friends at Rome；
and desired that he might be quickly invited thither by Caesar；
and that he could discover a plot against him； that Mithridates；
the king of Parthia； was joined in friendship with his father
against the Romans； and that he had a poisonous potion ready
prepared at Askelori。
5。 To these accusations Herod gave credit； and enjoyed hereby； in
his miserable case； some sort of consolation； in excuse of his
rashness； as fiattering himself with finding things in so bad a
condition； but as for the poisonous potion； which he labored to
find； he could find none。 As for Alexander； he was very desirous
to aggravate the vast misfortunes he was under； so he pretended
not to deny the accusations； but punished the rashness of his
father with a greater crime of his own； and perhaps he was
willing to make his father ashamed of his easy belief of such
calumnies： he aimed especially； if he could gain belief to his
story； to plague him and his whole kingdom； for he wrote four
letters； and sent them to him； that he did not need to torture
any more persons； for he had plotted against him； and that he had
for his partners Pheroras and the most faithful of his friends；
and that Salome came in to him by night； and that she lay with
him whether he would or not； and that all men were come to be of
one mind； to make away with him as soon as they could； and so get
clear of the continual fear they were in from him。 Among these
were accused Ptolemy and Sapinnius； who were the most faithful
friends to the king。 And what more can be said； but that those
who before were the most intimate friends； were become wild
beasts to one another； as if a certain madness had fallen upon
them； while there was no room for defense or refutation； in order
to the discovery of the truth； but all were at random doomed to
destruction； so that some lamented those that were in prison；
some those that were put to death； and others lamented that they
were in expectation of the same miseries； and a melancholy
solitude rendered the kingdom deformed； and quite the reverse to
that happy state it was formerly in。 Herod's own life also was
entirely disturbed； and because he could trust nobody； he was
sorely punished by the expectation of further misery； for he
often fancied in his imagination that his son had fallen upon
him； or stood by him with a sword in his hand； and thus was his
mind night and day intent upon this thing； and revolved it over
and over； no otherwise than if he were under a distraction。 And
this was the sad condition Herod was now in。
6。 But when Archelaus； king of Cappadocia； heard of the state
that Herod was in； and being in great distress about his
daughter； and the young man ＇her husband＇； and grieving with
Herod； as with a man that was his friend； on account of so great
a disturbance as he was under； he came ＇to Jerusalem＇ on purpose
to compose their differences； and when he found Herod in such a
temper； he thought it wholly unseasonable to reprove him； or to
pretend that he had done any thing rashly； for that he should
thereby naturally bring him to dispute the point with him； and by
still more and more apologizing for himself to be the more
irritated： he went； therefore； another way to work； in order to
correct the former misfortunes； and appeared angry at the young
man； and said that Herod had been so very mild a man； that he had
not acted a rash part at all。 He also said he would dissolve his
daughter's marriage with Alexander； nor could in justice spare
his own daughter； if she were conscious of any thing； and did not
inform Herod of it。 When Archelaus appeared to be of this temper；
and otherwise than Herod expected or imagined； and； for the main；
took Herod's part； and was angry on his account； the king abated
of his harshness； and took occasion from his appearing to have
acted justly hitherto； to come by degrees to put on the affection
of a father； and was on both sides to be pitied； for when some
persons refuted the calumnies that were laid on the young man； he
was thrown into a passion； but when Archclaus joined in the
accusation； he was dissolved into tears and sorrow after an
affectionate manner。 Accordingly； he desired that he would not
dissolve his son's marriage； and became not so angry as before
for his offenses。 So when Archclaus had brought him to a more
moderate temper； he transferred the calumnies upon his friends；
and said it must be owing to them that so young a man； and one
unacquainted with malice； was corrupted； and he supposed that
there was more reason to suspect the brother than the soft。 Upon
which Herod was very much displeased at Pheroras； who indeed now
had no one that could make a reconciliation between him and his
brother。 So when he saw that Archclaus had the greatest power
with Herod； he betook himself to him in the habit of a mourner；
and like one that had all the signs upon him of an undone man。
Upon this Archclaus did not overlook the intercession he made to
him； nor yet did he undertake to change the king's disposition
towards him immediately； and he said that it was better for him
to come himself to the king； and confess himself the occasion of
all； that this would make the king's anger not to be extravagant
towards him； and that then he would be present to assist him。
When he had persuaded him to this； he gained his point with both
of them； and the calumnies raised against the young man were；
beyond all expectation； wiped off。 And Archclaus； as soon as he
had made the reconciliation； went then away to Cappadocia； having
proved at this juncture of time the most acceptable person to
Herod in the world； on which account he gave him the richest
presents； as tokens of his respects to him； and being on other
occasions magnanimous； he esteemed him one of his dearest
friends。 He also made an agreement with him that he would go to
Rome； because he had written to Caesar about these affairs； so
they went together as far as Antioch； and there Herod made a
reconciliation between Archclaus and Titus； the president of
Syria； who had been greatly at variance； and so returned back to
Judea。
CHAPTER 11。
Concerning The Revolt Of The Trachonites； How Sylleus Accused
Herod Before Caesar； And How Herod； When Caesar Was Angry At Him；
Resolved To Send Nicolaus To Rome。
1。 When Herod had been at Rome； and was come back again； a war
arose between him and the Arabians； on the occasion following：
The inhabitants of Trachonitis； after Caesar had taken the
country away from Zenodorus； and added it to Herod； had not now
power to rob； but were forced to plough the land； and to live
quietly； which was a thing they did not like； and when they did
take that pains； the ground did not produce much fruit for them。
However； at the first the king would not permit them to rob； and
so they abstained from that unjust way of living upon their
neighbors； which procured Herod a great reputation for his care。
But when he was sailing to Rome； it was at that time when he went
to accuse his son Alexander； and to commit Antipater to Caesar's
protection； the Trachonites spread a report as if he were dead；
and revolted from his dominion； and betook themselves again to
their accustomed way of robbing their neighbors； at which time
the king's commanders subdued them during his absence； but about
forty of the principal robbers； being terrified by those that had
been taken； left the country； and retired into Arabia； Sylleus
entertaining them； after he had missed of marrying Salome； and
gave them a place of strength； in which they dwelt。 So they
overran not only Judea； but all Celesyria also； and carried off
the prey； while Sylleus afforded them places of protection and
quietness during their wicked practices。 But when Herod came back
from Rome； he perceived that his dominions had greatly suffered
by them； and since he could not reach the robbers themselves；
because of the secure retreat they had in that country； and which
the Arabian government afforded them； and yet being very uneasy
at the injuries they had done him； he went all over Trachonitis；
and slew their relations； whereupon these robbers were more angry
than before； it being a law among them to be avenged on the
murderers of their relations by all possible means； so they
continued to tear and rend every thing under Herod's dominion
with impunity。 Then did he discourse about these robberies to
Saturninus and Volumnius； and required that they should be
punished； upon which occasion they still the more confirmed
themselves in their robberies； and became more numerous； and made
very great disturbances； laying waste the countries and villages
that belonged to Herod's kingdom； and killing those men whom they
caught； till these unjust proceedings came to be like a real war；
for the robbers were now become about a thousand； … at which
Herod was sore displeased； and required the robbers； as well as
the money which he had lent Obodas； by Sylleus； which was sixty
talents； and since the time of payment was now past； he desired
to have it paid him； but Sylleus； who had laid Obodas aside； and
managed all by himself； denied that the robbers were in Arabia；
and put off the payment of the money； about which there was a
hearing before Saturninus and Volumnius； who were then the
presidents of Syria。 （11） At last he； by their means； agreed；
that within thirty days' time Herod should be paid his money； and
that each of them should deliver up the other's subjects
reciprocally。 Now； as to Herod； there was not one of the other's
subjects found in his kingdom； either as doing any injustice； or
on any other account； but it was proved that the Arabians had the
robbers amongst them。
2。 When this day appointed for payment of the money was past；
without Sylleus's performing any part of his agreement； and he
was gone to