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in some points of no consequence。 But the king's sister ＇Salome＇
was their antagonist； who for a good while had looked about all
their affairs； and was apprized that this their friendship was
made in order to do Herod some mischief； and was disposed to
inform the king of it。 And since these people knew that their
friendship was very disagreeable to Herod； as tending to do him a
mischief； they contrived that their meetings should not be
discovered； so they pretended to hate one another； and to abuse
one another when time served； and especially when Herod was
present； or when any one was there that would tell him： but still
their intimacy was firmer than ever； when they were private。 And
this was the course they took。 But they could not conceal from
Salome neither their first contrivance； when they set about these
their intentions； nor when they had made some progress in them；
but she searched out every thing； and； aggravating the relations
to her brother； declared to him； as well their secret assemblies
and compotations； as their counsels taken in a clandestine
manner； which if they were not in order to destroy him； they
might well enough have been open and public。 But to appearance
they are at variance； and speak about one another as if they
intended one another a mischief； but agree so well together when
they are out of the sight of the multitude； for when they are
alone by themselves； they act in concert； and profess that they
will never leave off their friendship； but will fight against
those from whom they conceal their designs。 And thus did she
search out these things； and get a perfect knowledge of them； and
then told her brother of them； who understood also of himself a
great deal of what she said； but still durst not depend upon it；
because of the suspicions he had of his sister's calumnies。 For
there was a certain sect of men that were Jews； who valued
themselves highly upon the exact skill they had in the law of
their fathers； and made men believe they were highly favored by
God； by whom this set of women were inveigled。 These are those
that are called the sect of the Pharisees； who were in a capacity
of greatly opposing kings。 A cunning sect they were； and soon
elevated to a pitch of open fighting and doing mischief。
Accordingly； when all the people of the Jews gave assurance of
their good…will to Caesar； and to the king's government； these
very men did not swear； being above six thousand； and when the
king imposed a fine upon them； Pheroras's wife paid their fine
for them。 In order to requite which kindness of hers； since they
were believed to have the foreknowledge of things to come by
Divine inspiration； they foretold how God had decreed that
Herod's government should cease； and his posterity should be
deprived of it； but that the kingdom should come to her and
Pheroras； and to their children。 These predictions were not
concealed from Salome； but were told the king； as also how they
had perverted some persons about the palace itself； so the king
slew such of the Pharisees as were principally accused； and
Bagoas the eunuch； and one Carus； who exceeded all men of that
time in comeliness； and one that was his catamite。 He slew also
all those of his own family who had consented to what the
Pharisees foretold； and for Bagoas； he had been puffed up by
them； as though he should be named the father and the benefactor
of him who； by the prediction； was foretold to be their appointed
king； for that this king would have all things in his power； and
would enable Bagoas to marry； and to have children of his own
body begotten。
CHAPTER 3。
Concerning The Enmity Between Herod And Pheroras； How Herod Sent
Antipater To Caesar； And Of The Death Of Pheroras。
1。 When Herod had punished those Pharisees who had been convicted
of the foregoing crimes； he gathered an assembly together of his
friends； and accused Pheroras's wife； and ascribing the abuses of
the virgins to the impudence of that woman； brought an accusation
against her for the dishonor she had brought upon them： that she
had studiously introduced a quarrel between him and his brother；
and； by her ill temper； had brought them into a state of war；
both by her words and actions； that the fines which he had laid
had not been paid； and the offenders had escaped punishment by
her means； and that nothing which had of late been done had been
done without her； 〃for which reason Pheroras would do well； if he
would of his own accord； and by his own command； and not at my
entreaty； or as following my opinion； put this his wife away； as
one that will still be the occasion of war between thee and me。
And now； Pheroras； if thou valuest thy relation to me； put this
wife of thine away； for by this means thou wilt continue to be a
brother to me； and wilt abide in thy love to me。〃 Then said
Pheroras； （although he was pressed hard by the former words；）
that as he would not do so unjust a thing as to renounce his
brotherly relation to him； so would he not leave off his
affection for his wife； that he would rather choose to die than
to live； and be deprived of a wife that was so dear unto him。
Hereupon Herod put off his anger against Pheroras on these
accounts； although he himself thereby underwent a very uneasy
punishment。 However； he forbade Antipater and his mother to have
any conversation with Pheroras； and bid them to take care to
avoid the assemblies of the women； which they promised to do； but
still got together when occasion served； and both Ptieroras and
Antipater had their own merry meetings。 The report went also；
that Antipater had criminal conversation with Pheroras's wife；
and that they were brought together by Antipater's mother。
2。 But Antipater had now a suspicion of his father； and was
afraid that the effects of his hatred to him might increase； so
he wrote to his friends at Rome； and bid them to send to Herod；
that he would immediately send Antipater to Caesar； which when it
was done； Herod sent Antipater thither； and sent most noble
presents along with him； as also his testament； wherein Antipater
was appointed to be his successor； and that if Antipater should
die first； his son ＇Herod Philip＇ by the high priest's daughter
should succeed。 And； together with Antipater； there went to Rome
Sylleus the Arabian； although he had done nothing of all that
Caesar had enjoined him。 Antipater also accused him of the same
crimes of which he had been formerly accused by Herod。 Sylleus
was also accused by Aretas； that without his consent he had slain
many of the chief of the Arabians at Petra； and particularly
Soemus； a man that deserved to be honored by all men； and that he
had slain Fabatus； a servant of Caesar。 These were the things of
which Sylleus was accused； and that on the occasion following：
There was one Corinthus； belonging to Herod； of the guards of the
king's body； and one who was greatly trusted by him。 Sylleus had
persuaded this man with the offer of a great sum of money to kill
Herod； and he had promised to do it。 When Fabatus had been made
acquainted with this； for Sylleus had himself told him of it； he
informed the king of it； who caught Corinthus； and put h