贝壳电子书 > 英文原著电子书 > the antiquities of the jews-1 >

第290章

the antiquities of the jews-1-第290章

小说: the antiquities of the jews-1 字数: 每页4000字

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!



all sorts of methods to divert him from his taking such a course;
so she sent a letter to his sister Herodias; who was now the wife
of Herod the tetrarch; and let her know Agrippa's present design;
and what necessity it was which drove him thereto; and desired
her; as a kinswoman of his; to give him her help; and to engage
her husband to do the same; since she saw how she alleviated
these her husband's troubles all she could; although she had not
the like wealth to do it withal。 So they sent for him; and
allotted him Tiberias for his habitation; and appointed him some
income of money for his maintenance; and made him a magistrate of
that city; by way of honor to him。 Yet did not Herod long
continue in that resolution of supporting him; though even that
support was not sufficient for him; for as once they were at a
feast at Tyre; and in their cups; and reproaches were cast upon
one another; Agrippa thought that was not to be borne; while
Herod hit him in the teeth with his poverty; and with his owing
his necessary food to him。 So he went to Flaccus; one that had
been consul; and had been a very great friend to him at Rome
formerly; and was now president of Syria。

3。 Hereupon Flaccus received him kindly; and he lived with him。
Flaccus had also with him there Aristobulus; who was indeed
Agrippa's brother; but was at variance with him; yet did not
their enmity to one another hinder the friendship of Flaccus to
them both; but still they were honorably treated by him。 However;
Aristobulus did not abate of his ill…will to Agrippa; till at
length he brought him into ill terms with Flaccus; the occasion
of bringing on which estrangement was this: The Damascens were at
difference with the Sidonians about their limits; and when
Flaccus was about to hear the cause between them; they understood
that Agrippa had a mighty influence upon him; so they desired
that he would be of their side; and for that favor promised him a
great deal of money; so he was zealous in assisting the Damascens
as far as he was able。 Now Aristobulus had gotten intelligence of
this promise of money to him; and accused him to Flaccus of the
same; and when; upon a thorough examination of the matter; it
appeared plainly so to be; he rejected Agrippa out of the number
of his friends。 So he was reduced to the utmost necessity; and
came to Ptolemais; and because he knew not where else to get a
livelihood; he thought to sail to Italy; but as he was restrained
from so doing by want of money; he desired Marsyas; who was his
freed…man; to find some method for procuring him so much as he
wanted for that purpose; by borrowing such a sum of some person
or other。 So Marsyas desired of Peter; who was the freed…man of
Bernice; Agrippa's mother; and by the right of her testament was
bequeathed to Antonia; to lend so much upon Agrippa's own bond
and security; but he accused Agrippa of having defrauded him of
certain sums of money; and so obliged Marsyas; when he made the
bond of twenty thousand Attic drachmae; to accept of twenty…five
hundred drachma as (18) less than what he desired; which the
other allowed of; because he could not help it。 Upon the receipt
of this money; Agrippa came to Anthedon; and took shipping; and
was going to set sail; but Herennius Capito; who was the
procurator of Jamhis; sent a band of soldiers to demand of him
three hundred thousand drachmae of silver; which were by him
owing to Caesar's treasury while he was at Rome; and so forced
him to stay。 He then pretended that he would do as he bid him;
but when night came on; he cut his cables; and went off; and
sailed to Alexandria; where he desired Alexander the alabarch
(19) to lend him two hundred thousand drachmae; but he said he
would not lend it to him; but would not refuse it to Cypros; as
greatly astonished at her affection to her husband; and at the
other instances of her virtue; so she undertook to repay it。
Accordingly; Alexander paid them five talents at Alexandria; and
promised to pay them the rest of that sum at Dicearchia
'Puteoli'; and this he did out of the fear he was in that Agrippa
would soon spend it。 So this Cypros set her husband free; and
dismissed him to go on with his navigation to Italy; while she
and her children departed for Judea。

4。 And now Agrippa was come to Puteoli; whence he wrote a letter
to Tiberius Caesar; who then lived at Capreae; and told him that
he was come so far in order to wait on him; and to pay him a
visit; and desired that he would give him leave to come over to
Caprein: so Tiberius made no difficulty; but wrote to him in an
obliging way in other respects; and withal told him he was glad
of his safe return; and desired him to come to Capreae; and when
he was come; he did not fail to treat him as kindly as he had
promised him in his letter to do。 But the next day came a letter
to Caesar from Herennius Capito; to inform him that Agrippa had
borrowed three hundred thousand drachmae; and not pad it at the
time appointed; but when it was demanded of him; he ran away like
a fugitive; out of the places under his government; and put it
out of his power to get the money of him。 When Caesar had read
this letter; he was much troubled at it; and gave order that
Agrippa should be excluded from his presence until he had paid
that debt: upon which he was no way daunted at Caesar's anger;
but entreated Antonia; the mother of Germanicus; and of Claudius;
who was afterward Caesar himself; to lend him those three hundred
thousand drachmae; that he might not be deprived of Tiberius's
friendship; so; out of regard to the memory of Bernice his
mother; (for those two women were very familiar with one
another;) and out of regard to his and Claudius's education
together; she lent him the money; and; upon the payment of this
debt; there was nothing to hinder Tiberius's friendship to him。
After this; Tiberius Caesar recommended to him his grandson; (20)
and ordered that he should always accompany him when he went
abroad。 But upon Agrippa's kind reception by Antonia; he betook
him to pay his respects to Caius; who was her grandson; and in
very high reputation by reason of the good…will they bare his
father。 Now there was one Thallus; a freed…man of Caesar; of whom
he borrowed a million of drachmae; and thence repaid Antonia the
debt he owed her; and by sending the overplus in paying his court
to Caius; became a person of great authority with him。

5。 Now as the friendship which Agrippa had for Caius was come to
a great height; there happened some words to pass between them;
as they once were in a chariot together; concerning Tiberius;
Agrippa praying 'to God' (for they two sat by themselves) that
Tiberius might soon go off the stage; and leave the government to
Caius; who was in every respect more worthy of it。 Now Eutychus;
who was Agrippa's freed…man; and drove his chariot; heard these
words; and at that time said nothing of them; but when Agrippa
accused him of stealing some garments of his; (which was
certainly true;) he ran away from him; but when he was caught;
and brought before Piso; who was governor of the city; and the
man was asked why he ran away; be replied; that he had somewhat
to say to Caesar; that tended to his security and preservation:
so Piso bound him; and sent him to Capreae。 But Tiberius;
according to his usual custom; kept him still in bonds; being a
delayer of affairs; if ever there was any other king or tyrant
that was so; for he did not admit ambassadors quickly; and no
successors were despatched away to governors or procurators of
the provinces that had been formerly sent; unless they were dead;
whence it was that he was so negligent in hearing the causes of
prisoners; insomuch that when he was asked by his friends what
was the reason of his delay in such cases; he said that he
delayed to hear ambassadors; lest; upon their quick dismission;
other ambassadors should be appointed; and return upon him; and
so he should bring trouble upon himself in their public reception
and dismission: that he permitted those governors who had been
sent once to their government 'to stay there a long while'; out
of regard to the subjects that were under them; fo

返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0

你可能喜欢的