and lest； while he lived at Rome； he should lay plots for the
kingdom； and； moreover； do somewhat against himself。 This letter
Antipater met with in Cilicia； but had received an account of
Pheroras's death before at Tarentum。 This last news affected him
deeply； not out of any affection for Pheroras； but because he was
dead without having murdered his father； which he had promised
him to do。 And when he was at Celenderis in Cilicia； he began to
deliberate with himself about his sailing home； as being much
grieved with the ejection of his mother。 Now some of his friends
advised him that he should tarry a while some where； in
expectation of further information。 But others advised him to
sail home without delay； for that if he were once come thither；
he would soon put an end to all accusations； and that nothing
afforded any weight to his accusers at present but his absence。
He was persuaded by these last； and sailed on； and landed at the
haven called Sebastus； which Herod had built at vast expenses in
honor of Caesar； and called Sebastus。 And now was Antipater
evidently in a miserable condition； while nobody came to him nor
saluted him； as they did at his going away； with good wishes of
joyful acclamations； nor was there now any thing to hinder them
from entertaining him； on the contrary； with bitter curses； while
they supposed he was come to receive his punishment for the
murder of his brethren。
2。 Now Quintilius Varus was at this time at Jerusalem； being sent
to succeed Saturninus as president of Syria； and was come as an
assessor to Herod； who had desired his advice in his present
affairs； and as they were sitting together； Antipater came upon
them； without knowing any thing of the matter； so he came into
the palace clothed in purple。 The porters indeed received him in；
but excluded his friends。 And now he was in great disorder； and
presently understood the condition he was in； while； upon his
going to salute his father； he was repulsed by him； who called
him a murderer of his brethren； and a plotter of destruction
against himself； and told him that Varus should be his auditor
and his judge the very next day； so he found that what
misfortunes he now heard of were already upon him； with the
greatness of which he went away in confusion； upon which his
mother and his wife met him； （which wife was the daughter of
Antigonus； who was king of the Jews before Herod；） from whom he
learned all circumstances which concerned him； and then prepared
himself for his trial。
3。 On the next day Varus and the king sat together in judgment；
and both their friends were also called in； as also the king's
relations； with his sister Salome； and as many as could discover
any thing； and such as had been tortured； and besides these； some
slaves of Antipater's mother； who were taken up a little before
Antipater's coming； and brought with them a written letter； the
sum of which was this： That he should not come back； because all
was come to his father's knowledge； and that Caesar was the only
refuge he had left to prevent both his and her delivery into his
father's hands。 Then did Antipater fall down at his father's
feet； and besought him not to prejudge his cause； but that he
might be first heard by his father； and that his father would
keep himself unprejudiced。 So Herod ordered him to be brought
into the midst； and then lamented himself about his children；
from whom he had suffered such great misfortunes； and because
Antipater fell upon him in his old age。 He also reckoned up what
maintenance and what education he had given them； and what
seasonable supplies of wealth he had afforded them； according to
their own desires； none of which favors had hindered them from
contriving against him； and from bringing his very life into
danger； in order to gain his kingdom； after an impious manner； by
taking away his life before the course of nature； their father's
wishes； or justice required that that kingdom should come to
them； and that he wondered what hopes could elevate Antipater to
such a pass as to be hardy enough to attempt such things； that he
had by his testament in writing declared him his successor in the
government； and while he was alive； he was in no respect inferior
to him； either in his illustrious dignity； or in power and
authority； he having no less than fifty talents for his yearly
income； and had received for his journey to Rome no fewer than
thirty talents。 He also objected to him the case of his brethren
whom he had accused； and if they were guilty； he had imitated
their example； and if not； he had brought him groundless
accusations against his near relations； for that he had been
acquainted with all those things by him； and by nobody else； and
had done what was done by his approbation； and whom he now
absolved from all that was criminal； by becoming the inheritor of
the guilt of such their parricide。
4。 When Herod had thus spoken； he fell a weeping； and was not
able to say any more； but at his desire Nicolaus of Damascus；
being the king's friend； and always conversant with him； and
acquainted with whatsoever he did； and with the circumstances of
his affairs； proceeded to what remained； and explained all that
concerned the demonstrations and evidences of the facts。 Upon
which Antipater； in order to make his legal defense； turned
himself to his father； and enlarged upon the many indications he
had given of his good…will to him； and instanced in the honors
that had been done him； which yet had not been done； had he not
deserved them by his virtuous concern about him； for that he had
made provision for every thing that was fit to be foreseen
beforehand； as to giving him his wisest advice； and whenever
there was occasion for the labor of his own hands； he had not
grudged any such pains for him。 And that it was almost impossible
that he； who had delivered his father from so many treacherous
contrivances laid against him； should be himself in a plot
against him； and so lose all the reputation he had gained for his
virtue； by his wickedness which succeeded it； and this while he
had nothing to prohibit him； who was already appointed his
successor； to enjoy the royal honor with his father also at
present； and that there was no likelihood that a person who had
the one half of that authority without any danger； and with a
good character； should hunt after the whole with infamy and
danger； and this when it was doubtful whether he could obtain it
or not； and when he saw the sad example of his brethren before
him； and was both the informer and the accuser against them； at a
time when they might not otherwise have been discovered； nay； was
the author of the punishment inflicted upon them； when it
appeared evidently that they were guilty of a wicked attempt
against their father； and that even the contentions there were in
the king's family were indications that he had ever managed
affairs out of the sincerest affection to his father。 And as to
what he had done at Rome； Caesar was a witness thereto； who yet
was no more to be imposed upon than God himself； of whose
opinions his letters sent hither are sufficient evidence； and
that it was not reasonable to prefer the calumnies of such as
proposed to raise disturbances before those letters； the greatest
part of which calumnies had been raised during his absence； which
gave scope to his enemies to forge them； which they had not been
able to do if he had been there。 Moreover he showed the weakness
of the evidence obtained by torture； which was commonly false；
because the distress men are in under such tortures naturally
obliges them to say many things in order to please those that
govern them。 He also offered himself to the torture。
5。 Hereupon there was a change observed in the assembly； while
they greatly pitied Antipater； who by weeping and putting on a
countenance suitable to his sad case made them commiserate the
same； insomuch that his very enemies were moved to compassion；
and it appeared plainly that Herod himself was affected in his
own mind； although he was not willing it should be taken notice
of。 Then did Nicolaus begin to prosecute what the king had begun；
and that with great bitterness； and summed up all the evidence
which arose from the tortures； or from the testimonies。 He
principally and largely cried up the king's virtues； which he had
exhibited in the maintenance and education of his sons； while he
never could gain any advantage thereby； but still fell from one
misfortune to another。 Although he owned that he was not so much
surprised with that thoughtless behavior of his former sons； who
were but young； and were besides corrupted by wicked counselors；
who were the occasion of their wiping out of their minds the
righteous dictates of nature； and this out of a desire of coming
to the government sooner than they ought to do； yet that he could
not but justly stand amazed at the horrid wickedness of
Antipater； who； although he had not only had great benefits
bestowed on him by his father； enough to tame his reason； yet
could not be more tamed than the most envenomed serpents； whereas
even those creatures admit of some mitigation； and will not bite
their benefactors； while Antipater hath not let the misfortunes
of his brethren be any hinderance to him； but he hath gone on to
imitate their barbarity notwithstanding。 〃Yet wast thou； O
Antipater！ （as thou hast thyself confessed；） the informer as to
what wicked actions they had done； and the searcher out of the
evidence against them； and the author of the punishment they
underwent upon their detection。 Nor do we say this as accusing
thee for being so zealous in thy anger against them； but are
astonished at thy endeavors to imitate their profligate behavior；
and we discover thereby that thou didst not act thus for the
safety of thy father； but for the destruction of thy brethren；
that by such outside hatred of their impiety thou mightest be
believed a lover of thy father； and mightest thereby get thee
power enough to do mischief with the greatest impunity； which
design thy actions indeed demonstrate。 It is true； thou tookest
thy brethren off； because thou didst convict theft of their
wicked designs； but