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！
are allowed every one to worship as our own institutions require；
and yet to live ＇in peace＇； and although they would not be thus
treated themselves； yet do they endeavor to compel others to
comply with them； as if it were not as great an instance of
impiety profanely to dissolve the religious solemnities of any
others； as to be negligent in the observation of their own
towards their gods。 And let us now consider the one of these
practices。 Is there any people； or city； or community of men； to
whom your government and the Roman power does not appear to be
the greatest blessing '。 Is there any one that can desire to make
void the favors they have granted？ No one is certainly so mad；
for there are no men but such as have been partakers of their
favors； both public and private； and indeed those that take away
what you have granted； can have no assurance but every one of
their own grants made them by you may be taken from them also；
which grants of yours can yet never be sufficiently valued； for
if they consider the old governments under kings； together with
your present government； besides the great number of benefits
which this government hath bestowed on them； in order to their
happiness； this is instead of all the rest； that they appear to
be no longer in a state of slavery； but of freedom。 Now the
privileges we desire； even when we are in the best circumstances；
are not such as deserve to be envied； for we are indeed in a
prosperous state by your means； but this is only in common with
others； and it is no more than this which we desire； to preserve
our religion without any prohibition； which as it appears not in
itself a privilege to be envied us； so it is for the advantage of
those that grant it to us； for if the Divinity delights in being
honored； it must delight in those that permit them to be honored。
And there are none of our customs which are inhuman； but all
tending to piety； and devoted to the preservation of justice； nor
do we conceal those injunctions of ours by which we govern our
lives； they being memorials of piety； and of a friendly
conversation among men。 And the seventh day we set apart from
labor； it is dedicated to the learning of our customs and laws；
（1） we thinking it proper to reflect on them； as well as on any
＇good＇ thing else； in order to our avoiding of sin。 If any one
therefore examine into our observances； he will find they are
good in themselves； and that they are ancient also； though some
think otherwise； insomuch that those who have received them
cannot easily be brought to depart from them； out of that honor
they pay to the length of time they have religiously enjoyed them
and observed them。 Now our adversaries take these our privileges
away in the way of injustice； they violently seize upon that
money of ours which is owed to God； and called sacred money； and
this openly； after a sacrilegious manner； and they impose
tributes upon us； and bring us before tribunals on holy days； and
then require other like debts of us； not because the contracts
require it； and for their own advantage； but because they would
put an affront on our religion； of which they are conscious as
well as we； and have indulged themselves in an unjust； and to
them involuntary； hatred； for your government over all is one；
tending to the establishing of benevolence； and abolishing of
ill…will among such as are disposed to it。 This is therefore what
we implore from thee； most excellent Agrippa； that we may not be
ill…treated； that we may not be abused； that we may not be
hindered from making use of our own customs； nor be despoiled of
our goods； nor be forced by these men to do what we ourselves
force nobody to do； for these privileges of ours are not only
according to justice； but have formerly been granted us by you。
And we are able to read to you many decrees of the senate； and
the tables that contain them； which are still extant in the
capitol； concerning these things； which it is evident were
granted after you had experience of our fidelity towards you；
which ought to be valued； though no such fidelity had been； for
you have hitherto preserved what people were in possession of；
not to us only； but almost to all men； and have added greater
advantages than they could have hoped for； and thereby your
government is become a great advantage to them。 And if any one
were able to enumerate the prosperity you have conferred on every
nation； which they possess by your means； he could never put an
end to his discourse； but that we may demonstrate that we are not
unworthy of all those advantages we have obtained； it will be
sufficient for us； to say nothing of other things； but to speak
freely of this king who now governs us； and is now one of thy
assessors； and indeed in what instance of good…will； as to your
house； hath he been deficient？ What mark of fidelity to it hath
he omitted？ What token of honor hath he not devised？ What
occasion for his assistance of you hath he not regarded at the
very first？ What hindereth； therefore； but that your kindnesses
may be as numerous as his so great benefits to you have been？ It
may also perhaps be fit not here to pass over in silence the
valor of his father Antipater； who； when Caesar made an
expedition into Egypt； assisted him with two thousand armed men；
and proved inferior to none； neither in the battles on land； nor
in the management of the navy； and what need I say any thing of
how great weight those soldiers were at that juncture？ or how
many and how great presents they were vouchsafed by Caesar？ And
truly I ought before now to have mentioned the epistles which
Caesar wrote to the senate； and how Antipater had honors； and the
freedom of the city of Rome； bestowed upon him； for these are
demonstrations both that we have received these favors by our own
deserts； and do on that account petition thee for thy
confirmation of them； from whom we had reason to hope for them；
though they had not been given us before； both out of regard to
our king's disposition towards you； and your disposition towards
him。 And further； we have been informed by those Jews that were
there with what kindness thou camest into our country； and how
thou offeredst the most perfect sacrifices to God； and honoredst
him with remarkable vows； and how thou gavest the people a feast；
and acceptedst of their own hospitable presents to thee。 We ought
to esteem all these kind entertainments made both by our nation
and to our city； to a man who is the ruler and manager of so much
of the public affairs； as indications of that friendship which
thou hast returned to the Jewish nation； and which hath been
procured them by the family of Herod。 So we put thee in mind of
these things in the presence of the king； now sitting by thee；
and make our request for no more but this； that what you have
given us yourselves you will not see taken away by others from
us。〃
4。 When Nicolaus had made this speech； there was no opposition
made to it by the Greeks； for this was not an inquiry made； as in
a court of justice； but an intercession to prevent violence to be
offered to the Jews any longer； nor did the Greeks make any
defense of thems