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arrived at Bithynia； he had ambassadors that met him from all
parts。 The principal men also of the Jews came thither； to accuse
Phasaelus and Herod； and they said that Hyrcanus had indeed the
appearance of reigning； but that these men had all the power： but
Antony paid great respect to Herod； who was come to him to make
his defense against his accusers； on which account his
adversaries could not so much as obtain a hearing； which favor
Herod had gained of Antony by money。 But still； when Antony was
come to Ephesus； Hyrcanus the high priest； and our nation； sent
an embassage to him； which carried a crown of gold with them； and
desired that he would write to the governors of the provinces； to
set those Jews free who had been carried captive by Cassius； and
this without their having fought against him； and to restore them
that country； which； in the days of Cassius； had been taken from
them。 Antony thought the Jews' desires were just； and wrote
immediately to Hyrcanus； and to the Jews。 He also sent； at the
same time； a decree to the Tyrians； the contents of which were to
the same purpose。
3。 〃Marcus Antonius； imperator； to Hyrcanus the high priest and
ethnarch of the Jews； sendeth greeting。 It you be in health； it
is well； I am also in health； with the army。 Lysimachus； the son
of Pausanias； and Josephus； the son of Menneus； and Alexander；
the son of Theodorus； your ambassadors； met me at Ephesus； and
have renewed the embassage which they had formerly been upon at
Rome； and have diligently acquitted themselves of the present
embassage； which thou and thy nation have intrusted to them； and
have fully declared the goodwill thou hast for us。 I am therefore
satisfied； both by your actions and your words； that you are
well…disposed to us； and I understand that your conduct of life
is constant and religious： so I reckon upon you as our own。 But
when those that were adversaries to you； and to the Roman people；
abstained neither from cities nor temples； and did not observe
the agreement they had confirmed by oath； it was not only on
account of our contest with them； but on account of all mankind
in common； that we have taken vengeance on those who have been
the authors of great injustice towards men； and of great
wickedness towards the gods； for the sake of which we suppose it
was that the sun turned away his light from us； （23） as unwilling
to view the horrid crime they were guilty of in the case of
Caesar。 We have also overcome their conspiracies； which
threatened the gods themselves； which Macedonia received； as it
is a climate peculiarly proper for impious and insolent attempts；
and we have overcome that confused rout of men； half mad with
spite against us； which they got together at Philippi in
Macedonia； when they seized on the places that were proper for
their purpose； and； as it were； walled them round with mountains
to the very sea； and where the passage was open only through a
single gate。 This victory we gained； because the gods had
condemned those men for their wicked enterprises。 Now Brutus；
when he had fled as far as Philippi； was shut up by us； and
became a partaker of the same perdition with Cassius； and now
these have received their punishment； we suppose that we may
enjoy peace for the time to come； and that Asia may be at rest
from war。 We therefore make that peace which God hath given us
common to our confederates also； insomuch that the body of Asia
is now recovered out of that distemper it was under by the means
of our victory。 I； therefore； bearing in mind both thee and your
nation； shall take care of what may be for your advantage。 I have
also sent epistles in writing to the several cities； that if any
persons； whether free…men or bond…men； have been sold under the
spear by Caius Cassius； or his subordinate officers； they may be
set free。 And I will that you kindly make use of the favors which
I and Dolabella have granted you。 I also forbid the Tyrians to
use any violence with you； and for what places of the Jews they
now possess； I order them to restore them。 I have withal accepted
of the crown which thou sentest me。〃
4。 〃Marcus Antonius； imperator； to the magistrates； senate； and
people of Tyre； sendeth greeting。 The ambassadors of Hyrcanus；
the high priest and ethnarch ＇of the Jews＇； appeared before me at
Ephesus； and told me that you are in possession of part of their
country； which you entered upon under the government of our
adversaries。 Since； therefore； we have undertaken a war for the
obtaining the government； and have taken care to do what was
agreeable to piety and justice； and have brought to punishment
those that had neither any remembrance of the kindnesses they had
received； nor have kept their oaths； I will that you be at peace
with those that are our confederates； as also； that what you have
taken by the means of our adversaries shall not be reckoned your
own； but be returned to those from whom you took them； for none
of them took their provinces or their armies by the gift of the
senate； but they seized them by force； and bestowed them by
violence upon such as became useful to them in their unjust
proceedings。 Since； therefore； those men have received the
punishment due to them； we desire that our confederates may
retain whatsoever it was that they formerly possessed without
disturbance； and that you restore all the places which belong to
Hyrcanus； the ethnarch of the Jews； which you have had； though it
were but one day before Caius Cassius began an unjustifiable war
against us； and entered into our province； nor do you use any
force against him； in order to weaken him； that he may not be
able to dispose of that which is his own； but if you have any
contest with him about your respective rights； it shall be lawful
for you to plead your cause when we come upon the places
concerned； for we shall alike preserve the rights and hear all
the causes of our confederates。〃
5。 〃Marcus Antonius； imperator； to the magistrates； senate； and
people of Tyre； sendeth greeting。 I have sent you my decree； of
which I will that ye take care that it be engraven on the public
tables； in Roman and Greek letters； and that it stand engraven in
the most illustrious places； that it may be read by all。 Marcus
Antonius； imperator； one of the triumvirate over the public
affairs； made this declaration： Since Caius Cassius； in this
revolt he hath made； hath pillaged that province which belonged
not to him； and was held by garrisons there encamped； while they
were our confederates； and hath spoiled that nation of the Jews
that was in friendship with the Roman people； as in war； and
since we have overcome his madness by arms； we now correct by our
decrees and judicial determinations what he hath laid waste； that
those things may be restored to our confederates。 And as for what
hath been sold of the Jewish possessions； whether they be bodies
or possessions； let them be released； the bodies into that state
of freedom they were originally in； and the possessions to their
former owners。 I also will that he who shall not comply with this
decree of mine shall be punished for his disobedience； and if
such a one be caught； I