Herod came again before the presidents； and upon their permission
to make a seizure for his money； he； with difficulty； went out of
his country with a party of soldiers for that purpose。 And this
is all the war which these men so tragically describe； and this
is the affair of the expedition into Arabia。 And how can this be
called a war； when thy presidents permitted it； the covenants
allowed it； and it was not executed till thy name； O Caesar； as
well as that of the other gods； had been profaned？ And now I must
speak in order about the captives。 There were robbers that dwelt
in Trachonitis； at first their number was no more than forty； but
they became more afterwards； and they escaped the punishment
Herod would have inflicted on them； by making Arabia their
refuge。 Sylleus received them； and supported them with food； that
they might be mischievous to all mankind； and gave them a country
to inhabit； and himself received the gains they made by robbery；
yet did he promise that he would deliver up these men； and that
by the same oaths and same time that he sware and fixed for
payment of his debt： nor can he by any means show that any other
persons have at this time been taken out of Arabia besides these；
and indeed not all these neither； but only so many as could not
conceal themselves。 And thus does the calumny of the captives；
which hath been so odiously represented； appear to be no better
than a fiction and a lie； made on purpose to provoke thy
indignation； for I venture to affirm that when the forces of the
Arabians came upon us； and one or two of Herod's party fell； he
then only defended himself； and there fell Nacebus their general；
and in all about twenty…five others； and no more； whence Sylleus；
by multiplying every single soldier to a hundred； he reckons the
slain to have been two thousand five hundred。〃
9。 This provoked Caesar more than ever。 So he turned to Sylleus
full of rage； and asked him how many of the Arabians were slain。
Hereupon he hesitated； and said he had been imposed upon。 The
covenants also were read about the money he had borrowed； and the
letters of the presidents of Syria； and the complaints of the
several cities； so many as had been injured by the robbers。 The
conclusion was this； that Sylleus was condemned to die； and that
Caesar was reconciled to Herod； and owned his repentance for what
severe things he had written to him； occasioned by calumny；
insomuch that he told Sylleus； that he had compelled him； by his
lying account of things； to be guilty of ingratitude against a
man that was his friend。 At the last all came to this； Sylleus
was sent away to answer Herod's suit； and to repay the debt that
he owed； and after that to be punished ＇with death＇。 But still
Caesar was offended with Aretas； that he had taken upon himself
the government； without his consent first obtained； for he had
determined to bestow Arabia upon Herod； but that the letters he
had sent hindered him from so doing； for Olympus and Volumnius；
perceiving that Caesar was now become favorable to Herod； thought
fit immediately to deliver him the letters they were commanded by
Herod to give him concerning his sons。 When Caesar had read them；
he thought it would not be proper to add another government to
him； now he was old； and in an ill state with relation to his
sons； so he admitted Aretas's ambassadors； and after he had just
reproved him for his rashness； in not tarrying till he received
the kingdom from him； he accepted of his presents； and confirmed
him in his government。
CHAPTER 11。
HOW HEROD； BY PERMISSION FROM CAESAR ACCUSED HIS SONS BEFORE An
Assembly Of Judges At Berytus ； And What Tero Suffered For Using
A Boundless And Military Liberty Of Speech。 Concerning Also The
Death Of The Young Men And Their Burial At Alexandrium。
1。 So Caesar was now reconciled to Herod； and wrote thus to him：
That he was grieved for him on account of his sons； and that in
case they had been guilty of any profane and insolent crimes
against him； it would behoove him to punish them as parricides；
for which he gave him power accordingly； but if they had only
contrived to fly away； he would have him give them an admonition；
and not proceed to extremity with them。 He also advised him to
get an assembly together； and to appoint some place near Berytus；
（14） which is a city belonging to the Romans； and to take the
presidents of Syria； and Archelaus king of Cappadocia； and as
many more as he thought to be illustrious for their friendship to
him； and the dignities they were in； and determine what should be
done by their approbation。 These were the directions that Caesar
gave him。 Accordingly Herod； when the letter was brought to him；
was immediately very glad of Caesar's reconciliation to him； and
very glad also that he had a complete authority given him over
his sons。 And it strangely came about； that whereas before； in
his adversity； though he had indeed showed himself severe； yet
had he not been very rash nor hasty in procuring the destruction
of his sons； he now； in his prosperity； took advantage of this
change for the better； and the freedom he now had； to exercise
his hatred against them after an unheard of manner； he therefore
sent and called as many as he thought fit to this assembly；
excepting Archclaus； for as for him； he either hated him； so that
he would not invite him； or he thought he would be an obstacle to
his designs。
2。 When the presidents； and the rest that belonged to the cities；
were come to Berytus； he kept his sons in a certain village
belonging to Sidon； called Platana； but near to this city； that
if they were called； he might produce them； for he did not think
fit to bring them before the assembly： and when there were one
hundred and fifty assessors present； Herod came by himself alone；
and accused his sons； and that in such a way as if it were not a
melancholy accusation； and not made but out of necessity； and
upon the misfortunes he was under； indeed； in such a way as was
very indecent for a father to accuse his sons； for he was very
vehement and disordered when he came to the demonstration of the
crime they were accused of； and gave the greatest signs of
passion and barbarity： nor would he suffer the assessors to
consider of the weight of the evidence； but asserted them to be
true by his own authority； after a manner most indecent in a
father against his sons； and read himself what they themselves
had written； wherein there was no confession of any plots or
contrivances against him； but only how they had contrived to fly
away； and containing withal certain reproaches against him； on
account of the ill…will he bare them； and when he came to those
reproaches； he cried out most of all； and exaggerated what they
said； as if they had confessed the design against him； and took
his oath that he had rather lose his life than hear such
reproachful words。 At last he said that he had sufficient
authority； both by nature and by Caesar's grant to him； ＇to do
what he thought fit＇。 He also added an allegation of a law of
their country； which enjoined this： That if parents laid their
hands on the head of him that was accused； the standers by were
obliged to cast stones at him； and thereby to slay him； which
though he were ready to do in his own country and kingdom； yet
did he wait for their determination； and yet they came thither
not so much as judges； to condemn them for such manifest designs
against him； whereby he had almost perished by his sons' means；
but as persons that had an opportunity of showing their
detestation of such practices； and declaring how unworthy a thing
it must be in any； even the most remote； to pass over such
treacherous designs ＇without punishment＇。
3。 When the king had said this； and the young men had not been
produced to make any defense for themselves； the assessors
perceived there was no room for equity and reconciliation； so
they confirmed his authority。 And in the first place； Saturninus；
a person that had been consul； and one of great dignity；
pronounced his sentence； but with great moderation and trouble；
and said that he condemned Herod's sons； but did not think they
should be put to death。 He had sons of his own； and to put one's
son to death is a greater misfortune than any other that could
befall him by their means。 After him Saturninus's sons； for he
had three sons that followed him； and were his legates；
pronounced the same sentence with their father。 On the contrary；
Volumnius's sentence was to inflict death on such as had been so
impiously undutiful to their father； and the greatest part of the
rest said the same； insomuch that the conclusion seemed to be；
that the young men were condemned to die。 Immediately after this
Herod came away from thence； and took his sons to Tyre； where
Nicolaus met him in his voyage from Rome； of whom he inquired；
after he had related to him what had passed at Berytus； what his
sentiments were about his sons； and what his friends at Rome
thought of that matter。 His answer was； 〃That what they had
determined to do to thee was impious； and that thou oughtest to
keep them in prison； and if thou thinkest any thing further
necessary； thou mayst indeed so punish them； that thou mayst not
appear to indulge thy anger more than to govern thyself by
judgment； but if thou inclinest to the milder side； thou mayst
absolve them； lest perhaps thy misfortunes be rendered incurable；
and this is the opinion of the greatest part of thy friends at
Rome also。〃 Whereupon Herod was silent； and in great
thoughtfulness； and bid Nicolaus sail along with him。
4。 Now as they came to Cesarea； every body was there talking of
Herod's sons； and the kingdom was in suspense； and the people in
great expectation of what would become of them； for a terrible
fear seized upon all men； lest the ancient disorders of the
family should come to a sad conclusion； and they were in great
trouble about their sufferings； nor was it without danger to say
any rash thing about this matter； nor even to hear another saying
it； but men's pity was forced to be shut up in themselves； which
rendered the excess of their sorrow very irksome； but very silent
yet was there an old s