an army into those parts； had a wife following him； who had a
vast reputation for other accomplishments； and particularly was
admired above all other women for her beauty。 Anileus； the
brother of Asineus； either heard of that her beauty from others；
or perhaps saw her himself also； and so became at once her lover
and her enemy； partly because he could not hope to enjoy this
woman but by obtaining power over her as a captive； and partly
because he thought he could not conquer his inclinations for her。
As soon therefore as her husband had been declared an enemy to
them； and was fallen in the battle； the widow of the deceased was
married to this her lover。 However； this woman did not come into
their house without producing great misfortunes； both to Anileus
himself； and to Asineus also； but brought great mischiefs upon
them on the occasion following。 Since she was led away captive；
upon the death of her husband； she concealed the images of those
gods which were their country gods； common to her husband and to
herself： now it was the custom （36） of that country for all to
have the idols they worship in their own houses； and to carry
them along with them when they go into a foreign land； agreeable
to which custom of theirs she carried her idols with her。 Now at
first she performed her worship to them privately； but when she
was become Anileus's married wife； she worshipped them in her
accustomed manner； and with the same appointed ceremonies which
she used in her former husband's days； upon which their most
esteemed friends blamed him at first； that he did not act after
the manner of the Hebrews； nor perform what was agreeable to
their laws； in marrying a foreign wife； and one that transgressed
the accurate appointments of their sacrifices and religious
ceremonies； that he ought to consider； lest； by allowing himself
in many pleasures of the body； he might lose his principality； on
account of the beauty of a wife； and that high authority which；
by God's blessing； he had arrived at。 But when they prevailed not
at all upon him； he slew one of them for whom he had the greatest
respect； because of the liberty he took with him； who； when he
was dying； out of regard to the laws； imprecated a punishment
upon his murderer Anileus； and upon Asineus also； and that all
their companions might come to a like end from their enemies；
upon the two first as the principal actors of this wickedness；
and upon the rest as those that would not assist him when he
suffered in the defense of their laws。 Now these latter were
sorely grieved； yet did they tolerate these doings； because they
remembered that they had arrived at their present happy state by
no other means than their fortitude。 But when they also heard of
the worship of those gods whom the Parthians adore； they thought
the injury that Anileus offered to their laws was to be borne no
longer； and a greater number of them came to Asineus； and loudly
complained of Aniteus； and told him that it had been well that he
had of himself seen what was advantageous to them； but that
however it was now high time to correct what had been done amiss；
before the crime that had been committed proved the ruin of
himself and all the rest of them。 They added； that the marriage
of this woman was made without their consent； and without a
regard to their old laws； and that the worship which this woman
paid ＇to her gods＇ was a reproach to the God whom they
worshipped。 Now Asineus was sensible of his brother's offense；
that it had been already the cause of great mischiefs； and would
be so for the time to come； yet did he tolerate the same from the
good…will he had to so near a relation； and forgiving it to him；
on account that his brother was quite overborne by his wicked
inclinations。 But as more and more still came about him every
day； and the clamors about it became greater； he at length spake
to Anileus about these clamors； reproving him for his former
actions； and desiring him for the future to leave them off； and
send the woman back to her relations。 But nothing was gained by
these reproofs； for as the woman perceived what a tumult was made
among the people on her account； and was afraid for Anileus； lest
he should come to any harm for his love to her； she infused
poison into Asineus's food； and thereby took him off； and was now
secure of prevailing； when her lover was to be judge of what
should be done about her。
6。 So Anileus took the government upon himself alone； and led his
army against the villages of Mithridates； who was a man of
principal authority in Parthin； and had married king Artabanus's
daughter； he also plundered them； and among that prey was found
much money； and many slaves； as also a great number of sheep； and
many other things； which； when gained； make men's condition
happy。 Now when Mithridates； who was there at this time； heard
that his villages were taken； he was very much displeased to find
that Anileus had first begun to injure him； and to affront him in
his present dignity； when he had not offered any injury to him
beforehand； and he got together the greatest body of horsemen he
was able； and those out of that number which were of an age fit
for war； and came to fight Anileus； and when he was arrived at a
certain village of his own； he lay still there； as intending to
fight him on the day following； because it was the sabbath； the
day on which the Jews rest。 And when Anileus was informed of this
by a Syrian stranger of another village； who not only gave him an
exact account of other circumstances； but told him where
Mithridates would have a feast； he took his supper at a proper
time； and marched by night； with an intent of falling upon the
Parthians while they were unaprrized what they should do； so he
fell upon them about the fourth watch of the night； and some of
them he slew while they were asleep； and others he put to flight；
and took Mithridates alive； and set him naked upon an ass （37）
which； among the Parthians； is esteemed the greatest reproach
possible。 And when he had brought him into a wood with such a
resolution； and his friends desired him to kill Mithridates； he
soon told them his own mind to the contrary； and said that it was
not right to kill a man who was of one of the principal families
among the Parthians； and greatly honored with matching into the
royal family； that so far as they had hitherto gone was
tolerable； for although they had injured Mithridates； yet if they
preserved his life； this benefit would be remembered by him to
the advantage of those that gave it him； but that if be were once
put to death； the king would not be at rest till he had made a
great slaughter of the Jews that dwelt at Babylon； 〃to whose
safety we ought to have a regard； both on account of our relation
to them； and because if any misfortune befall us； we have no
other place to retire to； since he hath gotten the flower of
their youth under him。〃 By this thought； and this speech of his
made in council； he persuaded them to act accordingly； so
Mithridates was let go。 But when he was got away； his wife
reproached him； that although he was son…in…law to the king； he
neglected to avenge himself on those that had injured him； while
he took no care about it； but was contented to have been made a
captive by the Jews； and to have escaped them； and she bid him
either to go back like a man of courage； or else she sware by the
gods of their royal family that she would certainly dissolve her
marriage with him。 Upon which； partly because he could not bear
the daily trouble of her taunts； and partly because he was afraid
of her insolence； lest she should in earnest dissolve their
marriage； he unwillingly； and against his inclinations； got
together again as great an army as he could； and marched along
with them； as himself thinking it a thing not to be borne any
longer； that he； a Parthian； should owe his preservation to the
Jews； when they had been too hard for him in the war。
7。 But as soon as Anileus understood that Mithridates was
marching with a great army against him； he thought it too
ignominious a thing to tarry about the lakes； and not to take the
first opportunity of meeting his enemies； and he hoped to have
the same success； and to beat their enemies as they did before；
as also he ventured boldly upon the like attempts。 Accordingly；
he led out his army； and a great many more joined themselves to
that army； in order to betake themselves to plunder the people；
and in order to terrify the enemy again by their numbers。 But
when they had marched ninety furlongs； while the road had been
through dry ＇and sandy＇ places； and about the midst of the day；
they were become very thirsty； and Mithridates appeared； and fell
upon them； as they were in distress for want of water； on which
account； and on account of the time of the day； they were not
able to bear their weapons。 So Anileus and his men were put to an
ignominious rout； while men in despair were to attack those that
were fresh and in good plight； so a great slaughter was made； and
many ten thousand men fell。 Now Anileus； and all that stood firm
about him； ran away as fast as they were able into a wood； and
afforded Mithridates the pleasure of having gained a great
victory over them。 But there now came in to Anileus a conflux of
bad men； who regarded their own lives very little； if they might
but gain some present ease； insomuch that they； by thus coming to
him； compensated the multitude of those that perished in the
fight。 Yet were not these men like to those that fell； because
they were rash； and unexercised in war； however； with these he
came upon the villages of the Babylonians； and a mighty
devastation of all things was made there by the injuries that
Anileus did them。 So the Babylonians； and those that had already
been in the war； sent to Neerda to the Jews there； and demanded
Anileus。 But although they did not agree to their demands； （for
if they had been willing to deliver him up； it was not in their
power so to do；） yet did they desire to make peace with them。 To
which the other replied； that they also wanted to settle
conditions of peace with them； and sent men together with the
Babylonians； who dis