the antiquities of the jews-1-第210部分
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without Sylleus's performing any part of his agreement; and he
was gone to Rome; Herod demanded the payment of the money; and
that the robbers that were in Arabia should be delivered up; and;
by the permission of Saturninus and Volumnius; executed the
judgment himself upon those that were refractory。 He took an army
that he had; and let it into Arabia; and in three days' time
marched seven mansions; and when he came to the garrison wherein
the robbers were; he made an assault upon them; and took them
all; and demolished the place; which was called Raepta; but did
no harm to any others。 But as the Arabians came to their
assistance; under Naceb their captain; there ensued a battle;
wherein a few of Herod's soldiers; and Naceb; the captain of the
Arabians; and about twenty of his soldiers; fell; while the rest
betook themselves to flight。 So when he had brought these to
punishment; he placed three thousand Idumeans in Trachonitis; and
thereby restrained the robbers that were there。 He also sent an
account to the captains that were about Phoenicia; and
demonstrated that he had done nothing but what he ought to do; in
punishing the refractory Arabians; which; upon an exact inquiry;
they found to be no more than what was true。
3。 However; messengers were hasted away to Sylleus to Rome; and
informed him what had been done; and; as is usual; aggravated
every thing。 Now Sylleus had already insinuated himself into the
knowledge of Caesar; and was then about the palace; and as soon
as he heard of these things; he changed his habit into black; and
went in; and told Caesar that Arabia was afflicted with war; and
that all his kingdom was in great confusion; upon Herod's laying
it waste with his army; and he said; with tears in his eyes; that
two thousand five hundred of the principal men among the Arabians
had been destroyed; and that their captain Nacebus; his familiar
friend and kinsman; was slain; and that the riches that were at
Raepta were carried off; and that Obodas was despised; whose
infirm state of body rendered him unfit for war; on which account
neither he; nor the Arabian army; were present。 When Sylleus said
so; and added invidiously; that he would not himself have come
out of the country; unless he had believed that Caesar would have
provided that they should all have peace one with another; and
that; had he been there; he would have taken care that the war
should not have been to Herod's advantage; Caesar was provoked
when this was said; and asked no more than this one question;
both of Herod's friends that were there; and of his own friends;
who were come from Syria; Whether Herod had led an army thither?
And when they were forced to confess so much; Caesar; without
staying to hear for what reason he did it; and how it was done;
grew very angry; and wrote to Herod sharply。 The sum of his
epistle was this; that whereas of old he had used him as his
friend; he should now use him as his subject。 Sylleus also wrote
an account of this to the Arabians; who were so elevated with it;
that they neither delivered up the robbers that had fled to them;
nor paid the money that was due; they retained those pastures
also which they had hired; and kept them without paying their
rent; and all this because the king of the Jews was now in a low
condition; by reason of Caesar's anger at him。 Those of
Trachonitis also made use of this opportunity; and rose up
against the Idumean garrison; and followed the same way of
robbing with the Arabians; who had pillaged their country; and
were more rigid in their unjust proceedings; not only in order to
get by it; but by way of revenge also。
4。 Now Herod was forced to bear all this; that confidence of his
being quite gone with which Caesar's favor used to inspire him;
for Caesar would not admit so much as an embassage from him to
'make an apology for him; and when they came again; he sent them
away without success。 So he was cast into sadness and fear; and
Sylleus's circumstances grieved him exceedingly; who was now
believed by Caesar; and was present at Rome; nay; sometimes
aspiring higher。 Now it came to pass that Obodas was dead; and
Aeneas; whose name was afterward changed to Aretas; (12) took the
government; for Sylleus endeavored by calumnies to get him turned
out of his principality; that he might himself take it; with
which design he gave much money to the courtiers; and promised
much money to Caesar; who indeed was angry that Aretas had not
sent to him first before he took the kingdom; yet did Aeneas send
an epistle and presents to Caesar; and a golden crown; of the
weight of many talents。 Now that epistle accused Sylleus as
having been a wicked servant; and having killed Obodas by poison;
and that while he was alive; he had governed him as he pleased;
and had also debauched the wives of the Arabians; and had
borrowed money; in order to obtain the dominion for himself: yet
did not Caesar give heed to these accusations; but sent his
ambassadors back; without receiving any of his presents。 But in
the mean time the affairs of Judea and Arabia became worse and
worse; partly because of the anarchy they were under; and partly
because; as bad as they were; nobody had power to govern them;
for of the two kings; the one was not yet confirmed in his
kingdom; and so had not authority sufficient to restrain the
evil…doers; and as for Herod; Caesar was immediately angry at him
for having avenged himself; and so he was compelled to bear all
the injuries that were offered him。 At length; when he saw no end
of the mischief which surrounded him; he resolved to send
ambassadors to Rome again; to see whether his friends had
prevailed to mitigate Caesar; and to address themselves to Caesar
himself; and the ambassador he sent thither was Nicolans of
Damascus。
CHAPTER 10。
How Eurycles Falsely Accused Herod's Sons; And How Their Father
Bound Them; And Wrote To Caesar About Them。 Of Sylleus And How He
Was Accused By Nicolaus。
1。 The disorders about Herod's family and children about this
time grew much worse; for it now appeared certain; nor was it
unforeseen before…hand; that fortune threatened the greatest and
most insupportable misfortunes possible to his kingdom。 Its
progress and augmentation at this time arose on the occasion
following: One Eurycles; a Lacedemonian; (a person of note there;
but a man of a perverse mind; and so cunning in his ways of
voluptuousness and flattery; as to indulge both; and yet seem to
indulge neither of them;) came in his travels to Herod; and made
him presents; but so that he received more presents from him。 He
also took such proper seasons for insinuating himself into his
friendship; that he became one of the most intimate of the king's
friends。 He had his lodging in Antipater's house; but he had not
only access; but free conversation; with Alexander; as pretending
to him that he was in great favor with Archclaus; the king of
Cappadocia; whence he pretended much respect to Glaphyra; and in
an occult manner cultivated a friendship with them all; but
always attending to what was said and done; that he might be
furnished with calumnies to please them all。 In short; he behaved
himself so to every body in his conversation; as to appear to be
his particular friend; and he made others believe that his being
any where was for that person's advantage。 So he won upon
Alexander; who was but young; and persuaded him that he might
open his grievances to him with assurance and with nobody else。
So he declared his grief to him; how his father was alienated
from him。 He related to him also the affairs of his mother; and
of Antipater; that he had driven them from their proper dignity;
and had the power over every thing himself; that no part of this
was tolerable; since his father was already come to hate them;
and he added; that he would neither admit them to his table; nor
to his conversation。 Such were the complaints; as was but
natural; of Alexander about the things that troubled him; and
these discourses Eurycles carried to Antipater; and told him he
did not inform him of this on his own account; but that being
overcome by his kindness; the great importance of the thing
obliged him to do it; and he warned him to have a care of
Alexander; for that what he said was spoken with vehemency; and
that; in consequence of what he said; he would certainly kill him
with his own hand。 Whereupon Antipater; thinking him to be his
friend by this advice; gave him presents upon all occasions; and
at length persuaded him to inform Herod of what he had heard。 So
when he related to the king Alexander's ill temper; as discovered
by the words he had heard him speak; he was easily believed by
him; and he thereby brought the king to that pass; turning him
about by his words; and irritating him; till he increased his
hatred to him and made him implacable; which he showed at that
very time; for he immediately gave Eurycles a present of fifty
talents; who; when he had gotten them; went to Archclaus; king of
Cappadocia; and commended Alexander before him; and told him that
he had been many ways of advantage to him; in making a
reconciliation between him and his father。 So he got money from
him also; and went away; before his pernicious practices were
found out; but when Eurycles was returned to Lacedemon; he did
not leave off doing mischief; and so; for his many acts of
injustice; he was banished from his own country。
2。 But as for the king of the Jews; he was not now in the temper
he was in formerly towards Alexander and Aristobulus; when he had
been content with the hearing their calumnies when others told
him of them; but he was now come to that pass as to hate them
himself; and to urge men to speak against them; though they did
not do it of themselves。 He also observed all that was said; and
put questions; and gave ear to every one that would but speak; if
they could but say any thing against them; till at length he
heard that Euaratus of Cos was a conspirator with Alexander;
which thing to Herod was the most agreeable and sweetest news
imaginable。
3。 But still a greater misfortune came upon the young men; while
the calumnies against them were continually increa