When these ambassadors were come to Rome, * they had a favorable opportunity of delivering their letters to Cæsar; because they found him reconciled to Herod. For the circumstances of Nicolaus's ambassage had been as follows. As soon as he was come to Rome, and was about the court, he did not first of all set about what he was come for only, but he thought fit also to accuse Sylleus. Now the Arabians, even before he came to talk with them, were quarrelling one with another; and some of them left Sylleus's party, and joining themselves to Nicolaus, informed him of all the wicked things that had been done; and produced to him evident demonstrations of the slaughter of a great number of Obodas's friends by Sylleus. For when these men left Sylleus, they had carried off with them those letters, whereby they could convict him. When Nicolaus saw such an opportunity afforded him, he gladly embraced it, in order to gain his own point afterward; and endeavored immediately to effect a reconciliation between Cæsar and Herod. For he was fully satisfied, that if he should desire to make a defence for Herod directly, he should not be allowed that liberty; but that if he desired to accuse Sylleus, an occasion would present itself of speaking on Herod's behalf. So when the cause was ready for a hearing, and the day was appointed, Nicolaus, while Aretas's ambassadors were present, accused Sylleus, and said, that he imputed to him the destruction of the king Obodas, and of many other of the Arabians; that he had borrowed money for no good design and he proved that he had been guilty of adultery, not only with the Arabian, but with Roman women also. And he added, that above all the rest he had alienated Cæsar from Herod; and that all that he had said about the actions of Herod were falsities.

When Nicolaus was come to this topic, Cæsar stopped him from going on; and desired him only to speak to this affair of Herod's ; and to shew that he had not led an army into Arabia, nor slain two thousand five hundred men there, nor taken prisoners, nor pillaged the country. Nicolaus replied: "I shall principally demonstrate, that either nothing at all, or but a very little of those imputations are true, of which thou hast been informed for had they been true, thou mightest justly have been still more angry at Herod." At this strange assertion, Cæsar was very attentive; and Nicolaus said, "There was a debt due to Herod of + five hundred talents, and a bond, wherein it was written, that if the time appointed for payment were elapsed, it should be lawful to make a seizure out of any part of his country. As for the pretended army, it was

* An. 6.

Or sixty talents; see chap. 9.

This oath, by the fortune of Cæsar, was put to Poly

no army, but a party sent out to require the just payment of the money: this was not sent immediately, nor SO soon as the bond allowed; but Sylleus had frequently come before Saturninus, and Volumnius, the presidents of Syria; and at last he had sworn to Berytus, by thy fortune, that he would certainly pay the money within thirty days, and deliver up the fugitives that were under his dominion. And when Sylleus had performed nothing of this, 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 Cæsar, 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 numerous 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 by the same time that he sware and fixed for payment of his debt. Nor can he by any means shew 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, invented 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 twentyfive others, and no more. Whence Sylleus, by multiplying every single soldier to a hundred, reckons the slain to have been two thousand five hundred."

This provoked Cæsar 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

carp, bishop of Smyrna, by the Roman governor, to try whether he were a Christian; as they were then esteemed who refused to swear that oath. Martyr. Polycarp. § 9.

had

had been injured by the robbers. The result was, that Sylleus was condemned to die; and that Cæsar 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 Cæsar 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 Cæsar 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 Cæsar 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 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.

CHAP. XI.

Of the Accusation of Herod's Sons before an Assembly of Judges at Berytus; also concerning their Death and Burial.

NESAR 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 crime against him, it would be proper to punish them as parricides, for which he gave him power accordingly. But if they had only contrived to flee away, he would have him give them an admonition, and not proceed to extremity. He also advised him to get an assembly together, and to appoint some place near Berytus, 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. Accordingly Herod, when the letter was brought to him, was very glad

*

of Cæsar'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 shewed 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 proper to this assembly; excepting Archelaus; for he either hated him, so that he would not invite him, or he thought he would be an obstacle to his designs.

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, 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 exhibited the greatest signs of pas sion, and barbarity. Nor would he suffer the assessors to consider the weight of the evidences: 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 contrivance against him; but only how they had contrived to flee 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, 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 himself sufficient authority both by nature, and by Cæsar's grant to him, to do what he thought fit. He also added an allegation of a law of their country, which enjoined that + if parents laid their hands on the head of him that was accused, the bystanders were obliged to cast stones at him, and thereby to slay him. Which though he were ready to do in his own country and kingdoin, yet did he wait for their determination: that 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 shewing 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.

When the king had said this, and the young men had not been produced to make any defence for themselves, the assessors perceived that 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 said, that he condemned Herod's sons; but did not think they should he put to death. He had sons of his own and to put a son to death seemed a greater misfortune than any other that could happen 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 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 enquired, 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" What they had determined to do to thee was impious: and thou certainly, oughtest to keep them in prison; and if thou thinkest any farther necessary, thou mayest indeed so punish them that thou mayest not appear to indulge thy anger, more than to govern thyself by judgment. But if thou inclinest to the milder side, thou mayest absolve them; lest perhaps thy misfortunes be rendered incurable. And this is the opinion of the greatest part of thy friends at Rome also." Hereupon Herod was silent, and in great thoughtfulness; and bade Nicolaus sail along with him.

Now as they came to Cæsarea, every body was there talking of Herod's sons; and the kingdom was in suspence, and the people in great expectation 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 thing about this matter: nor even to hear another saying it. But men's pity was forced to be shut up within themselves which rendered the excess of their sorrow very irksome, but very silent. Yet was there an old soldier of Herod's whose name was Tero, who had

VOL. I.NO. XXXIII.

a son of the same age with Alexander, and his friend, who was so very free, as openly to speak out, what others silently thought about the matter: and was forced to cry out often among the multitude, and said, in the most unguarded manner, that Truth was perished, and justice taken away from men: while lies and ill will prevailed, and brought such a mist before public affairs, that the offenders were not able to see the greatest mischiefs that could befal men.' And as he was so bold, he seemed not to have kept himself out of danger by speaking so freely. But the reasonableness of what he said induced men to regard him; as having behaved himself with great manhood, and this at a proper time. For which reason every one heard what he said with pleasure: and although they took care of their own safety, by keeping silent themselves; yet did they kindly receive the great freedom he took. For the expectation they were in of so great an affliction put a force upon them, to speak of Tero whatsoever they pleased.

This man thrust himself into the king's presence,. with the greatest freedom; and desired to speak with him alone; which the king permitted him to do.. He then said, "Since I am not able, O king, to bear up under so great a concern as I feel, I have preferred the use of this bold liberty that I now take; which may be for thy advantage, if thou mindest to get any profit by it; before my own safety. Whither is thy understanding gone, and left thy soul empty? Whither is that extraordinary sagacity of thine gone, whereby thou hast performed so many and such glorious actions ? Whence comes this solitude, and desertion of thy friends and relations: of whom I cannot but determine, that they are neither thy friends and relations, while they overlook such horrid wickedness, in thy once happy kingdom? Dost not thou perceive what is doing? Wilt thou slay these two young men, born of thy queen, who are accomplished with every virtue in the highest degree, and leave thyself destitute in thy old age; but exposed to one son; who hath very ill managed the hopes thou hast given him? and to relations, whose death thou hast so often resolved on thyself? Dost not thou take notice, that the very silence of the multitude at once sees the crime, and abhors the fact ?.. The whole army and its officers have commiseration on the poor unhappy youths; and hatred against those that are the actors in this matter." These words the king heard; and for some time with good temper. But when Tero plainly touched upon the bad behaviour and perfidiousness of his domestics, he was moved at it. But Tero went on farther; and by degrees used an unbounded military freedom of speech. Nor was he so well disciplined as to accommodate himself to the time. So Herod was greatly disturbed and seeming to be rather reproached by this speech, than to be hearing what was for his advantage; while he learned hereby,