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little and little the king was prevailed upon to drop the
suspicion； and left off his anger at her； and being overcome with
his passion for his wife； he made an apology to her for having
seemed to believe what he had heard about her； and returned her a
great many acknowledgments of her modest behavior； and professed
the extraordinary affection and kindness he had for her； till at
last； as is usual between lovers； they both fell into tears； and
embraced one another with a most tender affection。 But as the
king gave more and more assurances of his belief of her fidelity；
and endeavored to draw her to a like confidence in him； Marianme
said； Yet was not that command thou gavest； that if any harm came
to thee from Antony； I； who had been no occasion of it； should
perish with thee； a sign of thy love to me？〃 When these words
were fallen from her； the king was shocked at them； and presently
let her go out of his arms； and cried out； and tore his hair with
his own hands； and said； that 〃now he had an evident
demonstration that Joseph had had criminal conversation with his
wife； for that he would never have uttered what he had told him
alone by himself； unless there had been such a great familiarity
and firm confidence between them。 And while he was in this
passion he had like to have killed his wife； but being still
overborne by his love to her； he restrained this his passion；
though not without a lasting grief and disquietness of mind。
However； he gave order to slay Joseph； without permitting him to
come into his sight； and as for Alexandra； he bound her； and kept
her in custody； as the cause of all this mischief。
CHAPTER 4。
How Cleopatra； When She Had Gotten From Antony Some Parts Of
Judea And Arabia Came Into Judea； And How Herod Gave Her Many
Presents And Conducted Her On Her Way Back To Egypt。
1。 Now at this time the affairs of Syria were in confusion by
Cleopatra's constant persuasions to Antony to make an attempt
upon every body's dominions； for she persuaded him to take those
dominions away from their several princes； and bestow them upon
her； and she had a mighty influence upon him； by reason of his
being enslaved to her by his affections。 She was also by nature
very covetous； and stuck at no wickedness。 She had already
poisoned her brother； because she knew that he was to be king of
Egypt； and this when he was but fifteen years old； and she got
her sister Arsinoe to be slain； by the means of Antony； when she
was a supplicant at Diana's temple at Ephesus； for if there were
but any hopes of getting money； she would violate both temples
and sepulchers。 Nor was there any holy place that was esteemed
the most inviolable； from which she would not fetch the ornaments
it had in it； nor any place so profane； but was to suffer the
most flagitious treatment possible from her； if it could but
contribute somewhat to the covetous humor of this wicked
creature： yet did not all this suffice so extravagant a woman；
who was a slave to her lusts； but she still imagined that she
wanted every thing she could think of； and did her utmost to gain
it； for which reason she hurried Antony on perpetually to deprive
others of their dominions； and give them to her。 And as she went
over Syria with him； she contrived to get it into her possession；
so he slew Lysanias； the son of Ptolemy； accusing him of his
bringing the Parthians upon those countries。 She also petitioned
Antony to give her Judea and Arabia； and； in order thereto；
desired him to take these countries away from their present
governors。 As for Antony； he was so entirely overcome by this
woman； that one would not think her conversation only could do
it； but that he was some way or other bewitched to do whatsoever
she would have him； yet did the grossest parts of her injustice
make him so ashamed； that he would not always hearken to her to
do those flagrant enormities she would have persuaded him to。
That therefore he might not totally deny her； nor； by doing every
thing which she enjoined him； appear openly to be an ill man； he
took some parts of each of those countries away from their former
governors； and gave them to her。 Thus he gave her the cities that
were within the river Eleutherus； as far as Egypt； excepting Tyre
and Sidon； which he knew to have been free cities from their
ancestors； although she pressed him very often to bestow those on
her also。
2。 When Cleopatra had obtained thus much； and had accompanied
Antony in his expedition to Armenia as far as Euphrates； she
returned back； and came to Apamia and Damascus； and passed on to
Judea； where Herod met her； and farmed of her parts of Arabia；
and those revenues that came to her from the region about
Jericho。 This country bears that balsam； which is the most
precious drug that is there； and grows there alone。 The place
bears also palm trees； both many in number； and those excellent
in their kind。 When she was there； and was very often with Herod；
she endeavored to have criminal conversation with the king； nor
did she affect secrecy in the indulgence of such sort of
pleasures； and perhaps she had in some measure a passion of love
to him； or rather； what is most probable； she laid a treacherous
snare for him； by aiming to obtain such adulterous conversation
from him： however； upon the whole； she seemed overcome with love
to him。 Now Herod had a great while borne no good…will to
Cleopatra； as knowing that she was a woman irksome to all； and at
that time he thought her particularly worthy of his hatred； if
this attempt proceeded out of lust； he had also thought of
preventing her intrigues； by putting her to death； if such were
her endeavors。 However； he refused to comply with her proposals；
and called a counsel of his friends to consult with them whether
he should not kill her； now he had her in his power； for that he
should thereby deliver all those from a multitude of evils to
whom she was already become irksome； and was expected to be still
so for the time to come； and that this very thing would be much
for the advantage of Antony himself； since she would certainly
not be faithful to him； in case any such season or necessity
should come upon him as that he should stand in need of her
fidelity。 But when he thought to follow this advice； his friends
would not let him； and told him that； in the first place； it was
not right to attempt so great a thing； and run himself thereby
into the utmost danger； and they laid hard at him； and begged of
him to undertake nothing rashly； for that Antony would never bear
it； no； not though any one should evidently lay before his eyes
that it was for his own advantage； and that the appearance of
depriving him of her conversation； by this violent and
treacherous method； would probably set his affections more on a
flame than before。 Nor did it appear that he could offer any
thing of tolerable weight in his defense； this attempt being
against such a woman as was of the highest dignity of any of her
sex at that time in the world； and as to any advantage to be
expected from such an undertaking； if any such could be supposed
in this case； it would appear to deserve condemnation； on account
of