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！
them； for one apartment was called Caesar's； another Agrippa's。
He also fell in love again； and married another wife； not
suffering his reason to hinder him from living as he pleased。 The
occasion of this his marriage was as follows： There was one
Simon； a citizen of Jerusalem； the son of one Boethus； a citizen
of Alexandria； and a priest of great note there； this man had a
daughter； who was esteemed the most beautiful woman of that time；
and when the people of Jerusalem began to speak much in her
commendation； it happened that Herod was much affected with what
was said of her； and when he saw the damsel； he was smitten with
her beauty； yet did he entirely reject the thoughts of using his
authority to abuse her； as believing； what was the truth； that by
so doing he should be stigmatized for violence and tyranny； so he
thought it best to take the damsel to wife。 And while Simon was
of a dignity too inferior to be allied to him； but still too
considerable to be despised； he governed his inclinations after
the most prudent manner； by augmenting the dignity of the family；
and making them more honorable； so he immediately deprived Jesus；
the son of Phabet； of the high priesthood； and conferred that
dignity on Simon； and so joined in affinity with him ＇by marrying
his daughter＇。
4。 When this wedding was over； he built another citadel in that
place where he had conquered file Jews when he was driven out of
his government； and Antigonus enjoyed it。 This citadel is distant
from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs。 It was strong by
nature； and fit for such a building。 It is a sort of a moderate
hill； raised to a further height by the hand of man； till it was
of the shape of a woman's breast。 It is encompassed with circular
towers； and hath a strait ascent up to it； which ascent is
composed of steps of polished stones； in number two hundred。
Within it are royal and very rich apartments； of a structure that
provided both for security and for beauty。 About the bottom there
are habitations of such a structure as are well worth seeing；
both on other accounts； and also on account of the water which is
brought thither from a great way off； and at vast expenses； for
the place itself is destitute of water。 The plain that is about
this citadel is full of edifices； not inferior to any city in
largeness； and having the hill above it in the nature of a
castle。
5。 And now； when all Herod's designs had succeeded according to
his hopes； he had not the least suspicion that any troubles could
arise in his kingdom； because he kept his people obedient； as
well by the fear they stood in of him； for he was implacable in
the infliction of his punishments； as by the provident care he
had showed towards them； after the most magnanimous manner； when
they were under their distresses。 But still he took care to have
external security for his government as a fortress against his
subjects； for the orations he made to the cities were very fine；
and full of kindness； and he cultivated a seasonable good
understanding with their governors； and bestowed presents on
every one of them； inducing them thereby to be more friendly to
him； and using his magnificent disposition so as his kingdom
might be the better secured to him； and this till all his affairs
were every way more and more augmented。 But then this magnificent
temper of his； and that submissive behavior and liberality which
he exercised towards Caesar； and the most powerful men of Rome；
obliged him to transgress the customs of his nation； and to set
aside many of their laws； and by building cities after an
extravagant manner； and erecting temples； … not in Judea indeed；
for that would not have been borne； it being forbidden for us to
pay any honor to images； or representations of animals； after the
manner of the Greeks； but still he did thus in the country
＇properly＇ out of our bounds； and in the cities thereof （17） The
apology which he made to the Jews for these things was this： That
all was done； not out of his own inclinations； but by the
commands and injunctions of others； in order to please Caesar and
the Romans； as though he had not the Jewish customs so much in
his eye as he had the honor of those Romans； while yet he had
himself entirely in view all the while； and indeed was very
ambitious to leave great monuments of his government to
posterity； whence it was that he was so zealous in building such
fine cities； and spent such vast sums of money upon them。
6。 Now upon his observation of a place near the sea； which was
very proper for containing a city； and was before called Strato's
Tower； he set about getting a plan for a magnificent city there；
and erected many edifices with great diligence all over it； and
this of white stone。 He also adorned it with most sumptuous
palaces and large edifices for containing the people； and what
was the greatest and most laborious work of all； he adorned it
with a haven； that was always free from the waves of the sea。 Its
largeness was not less than the Pyrmum ＇at Athens＇； and had
towards the city a double station for the ships。 It was of
excellent workmanship； and this was the more remarkable for its
being built in a place that of itself was not suitable to such
noble structures； but was to be brought to perfection by
materials from other places； and at very great expenses。 This
city is situate in Phoenicia； in the passage by sea to Egypt；
between Joppa and Dora； which are lesser maritime cities； and not
fit for havens； on account of the impetuous south winds that beat
upon them； which rolling the sands that come from the sea against
the shores； do not admit of ships lying in their station； but the
merchants are generally there forced to ride at their anchors in
the sea itself。 So Herod endeavored to rectify this
inconvenience； and laid out such a compass towards the land as
might be sufficient for a haven； wherein the great ships might
lie in safety； and this he effected by letting down vast stones
of above fifty feet in length； not less than eighteen in breadth；
and nine in depth； into twenty fathom deep； and as some were
lesser； so were others bigger than those dimensions。 This mole
which he built by the sea…side was two hundred feet wide； the
half of which was opposed to the current of the waves； so as to
keep off those waves which were to break upon them； and so was
called Procymatia； or the first breaker of the waves； but the
other half had upon it a wall； with several towers； the largest
of which was named Drusus； and was a work of very great
excellence； and had its name from Drusus； the son…in…law of
Caesar； who died young。 There were also a great number of arches
where the mariners dwelt。 There was also before them a quay； ＇or
landing place；＇ which ran round the entire haven； and was a most
agreeable walk to such as had a mind to that exercise； but the
entrance or mouth of the port was made on the north quarter； on
which side was the stillest of the winds of all in this place：
and the basis of the whole circuit on the left hand； as you enter
the port； supported a round turret； which was made very strong；
in order to resist the greatest waves； while o