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第29章

the wars of the jews-第29章

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hem to pity his case; as though he had been condemned himself; now he had gained a bitter victory against his sons。 So he asked every one's sentence; which sentence was first of all given by Saturninus; and was this: That he condemned the young men; but not to death; for that it was not fit for him; who had three sons of his own now present; to give his vote for the destruction of the sons of another。 The two lieutenants also gave the like vote; some others there were also who followed their example; but Volumnius began to vote on the more melancholy side; and all those that came after him condemned the young men to die; some out of flattery; and some out of hatred to Herod; but none out of indignation at their crimes。 And now all Syria and Judea was in great expectation; and waited for the last act of this tragedy; yet did nobody; suppose that Herod would be so barbarous as to murder his children: however; he carried them away to Tyre; and thence sailed to Cesarea; and deliberated with himself what sort of death the young men should suffer。

4。 Now there was a certain old soldier of the king's; whose name was Tero; who had a son that was very familiar with and a friend to Alexander; and who himself particularly loved the young men。 This soldier was in a manner distracted; out of the excess of the indignation he had at what was doing; and at first he cried out aloud; as he went about; that justice was trampled under foot; that truth was perished; and nature confounded; and that the life of man was full of iniquity; and every thing else that passion could suggest to a man who spared not his own life; and at last he ventured to go to the king; and said; 〃Truly I think thou art a most miserable man; when thou hearkenest to most wicked wretches; against those that ought to be dearest to thee; since thou hast frequently resolved that Pheroras and Salome should be put to death; and yet believest them against thy sons; while these; by cutting off the succession of thine own sons; leave all wholly to Antipater; and thereby choose to have thee such a king as may be thoroughly in their own power。 However; consider whether this death of Antipater's brethren will not make him hated by the soldiers; for there is nobody but commiserates the young men; and of the captains; a great many show their indignation at it openly。〃 Upon his saying this; he named those that had such indignation; but the king ordered those men; with Tero himself and his son; to be seized upon immediately。

5。 At which time there was a certain barber; whose name was Trypho。 This man leaped out from among the people in a kind of madness; and accused himself; and said; 〃This Tero endeavored to persuade me also to cut thy throat with my razor; when I trimmed thee; and promised that Alexander should give me large presents for so doing。〃 When Herod heard this; he examined Tero; with his son and the barber; by the torture; but as the others denied the accusation; and he said nothing further; Herod gave order that Tero should be racked more severely; but his son; out of pity to his father; promised to discover the whole to the king; if he would grant 'that his father should be no longer tortured'。 When he had agreed to this; he said that his father; at the persuasion of Alexander; had an intention to kill him。 Now some said this was forged; in order to free his father from his torments; and some said it was true。

6。 And now Herod accused the captains and Tero in an assembly of the people; and brought the people together in a body against them; and accordingly there were they put to death; together with 'Trypho' the barber; they were killed by the pieces of wood and the stones that were thrown at them。 He also sent his sons to Sebaste; a city not far from Cesarea; and ordered them to be there strangled; and as what he had ordered was executed immediately; so he commanded that their dead bodies should be brought to the fortress Alexandrium; to be buried with Alexander; their grandfather by the mother's side。 And this was the end of Alexander and Aristobulus。

CHAPTER 28。

How Antipater Is Hated Of All Men; And How The King Espouses The Sons Of Those That Had Been Slain To His Kindred;But That Antipater Made Him Change Them For Other Women。 Of Herod's Marriages; And Children。

1。 But an intolerable hatred fell upon Antipater from the nation; though he had now an indisputable title to the succession; because they all knew that he was the person who contrived all the calumnies against his brethren。 However; he began to be in a terrible fear; as he saw the posterity of those that had been slain growing up; for Alexander had two sons by Glaphyra; Tigranes and Alexander; and Aristobulus had Herod; and Agrippa; and Aristobulus; his sons; with Herodias and Mariamne; his daughters; and all by Bernice; Salome's daughter。 As for Glaphyra; Herod; as soon as he had killed Alexander; sent her back; together with her portion; to Cappadocia。 He married Bernice; Aristobulus's daughter; to Antipater's uncle by his mother; and it was Antipater who; in order to reconcile her to him; when she had been at variance with him; contrived this match; he also got into Pheroras's favor; and into the favor of Caesar's friends; by presents; and other ways of obsequiousness; and sent no small sums of money to Rome; Saturninus also; and his friends in Syria; were all well replenished with the presents he made them; yet the more he gave; the more he was hated; as not making these presents out of generosity; but spending his money out of fear。 Accordingly; it so fell out that the receivers bore him no more good…will than before; but that those to whom he gave nothing were his more bitter enemies。 However; he bestowed his money every day more and more profusely; on observing that; contrary to his expectations; the king was taking care about the orphans; and discovering at the same time his repentance for killing their fathers; by his commiseration of those that sprang from them。

2。 Accordingly; Herod got together his kindred and friends; and set before them the children; and; with his eyes full of tears; said thus to them: 〃It was an unlucky fate that took away from me these children's fathers; which children are recommended to me by that natural commiseration which their orphan condition requires; however; I will endeavor; though I have been a most unfortunate father; to appear a better grandfather; and to leave these children such curators after myself as are dearest to me。 I therefore betroth thy daughter; Pheroras; to the elder of these brethren; the children of Alexander; that thou mayst be obliged to take care of them。 I also betroth to thy son; Antipater; the daughter of Aristobulus; be thou therefore a father to that orphan; and my son Herod 'Philip' shall have her sister; whose grandfather; by the mother's side; was high priest。 And let every one that loves me be of my sentiments in these dispositions; which none that hath an affection for me will abrogate。 And I pray God that he will join these children together in marriage; to the advantage of my kingdom; and of my posterity; and may he look down with eyes more serene upon them than he looked upon their fathers。〃

3。 While he spake these words he wept; and joined the children's fight hands together; after which he embraced them every one after an affectionate manner; and dismissed the assembly。 Upon this; Antipater was in great disorder immediately; and lamented publicly at what was done; for he supposed that this dignity which was conferred on these orphans was for his own destruction; even in his father's lifetime; and that he should run another risk of losing the government; if Alexander's sons should have both Archelaus 'a king'; and Pheroras a tetrarch; to support them。 He also considered how he was himself hated by the nation; and how they pitied these orphans; how great affection the Jews bare to those brethren of his when they were alive; and how gladly they remembered them now they had perished by his means。 So he resolved by all the ways possible to get these espousals dissolved。

4。 Now he was afraid of going subtlely about this matter with his father; who was hard to be pleased; and was presently moved upon the least suspicion: s

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