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informed the king of it； who caught Corinthus； and put him to the
torture； and thereby got out of him the whole conspiracy。 He also
caught two other Arabians； who were discovered by Corinthus； the
one the head of a tribe； and the other a friend to Sylleus； who
both were by the king brought to the torture； and confessed that
they were come to encourage Corinthus not to fail of doing what
he had undertaken to do； and to assist him with their own hands
in the murder； if need should require their assistance。 So
Saturninns； upon Herod's discovering the whole to him； sent them
to Rome。
3。 At this time Herod commanded Pheroras； that since he was so
obstinate in his affection for his wife； he should retire into
his own tetrarchy； which he did very willingly； and sware many
oaths that he would not come again till he heard that Herod was
dead。 And indeed when； upon a sickness of the king； he was
desired to come to him before he died； that he might intrust him
with some of his injunctions； he had such a regard to his oath；
that he would not come to him； yet did not Herod so retain his
hatred to Pheroras； but remitted of his purpose ＇not to see him＇；
which he before had； and that for such great causes as have been
already mentioned： but as soon as he began to be ill； he came to
him； and this without being sent for； and when he was dead； he
took care of his funeral； and had his body brought to Jerusalem；
and buried there； and appointed a solemn mourning for him。 This
＇death of Pheroras＇ became the origin of Antipater's misfortunes；
although he were already sailed for Rome； God now being about to
punish him for the murder of his brethren； I will explain the
history of this matter very distinctly； that it may be for a
warning to mankind； that they take care of conducting their whole
lives by the rules of virtue。
CHAPTER 4。
Pheroras's Wife Is Accused By His Freedmen； As Guilty Of
Poisoning Him； And How Herod； Upon Examining； Of The Matter By
Torture Found The Poison； But So That It Had Been Prepared For
Himself By His Son Antipater； And Upon An Inquiry By Torture He
Discovered The Dangerous Designs Of Antipater。
1。 As soon as Pheroras was dead； and his funeral was over； two of
Pheroras's freed…men； who were much esteemed by him； came to
Herod； and entreated him not to leave the murder of his brother
without avenging it； but to examine into such an unreasonable and
unhappy death。 When he was moved with these words； for they
seemed to him to be true； they said that Pheroras supped with his
wife the day before he fell sick； and that a certain potion was
brought him in such a sort of food as he was not used to eat； but
that when he had eaten； he died of it： that this potion was
brought out of Arabia by a woman； under pretense indeed as a
love…potion； for that was its name； but in reality to kill
Pheroras； for that the Arabian women are skillful in making such
poisons： and the woman to whom they ascribe this was confessedly
a most intimate friend of one of Sylleus's mistresses； and that
both the mother and the sister of Pheroras's wife had been at the
places where she lived； and had persuaded her to sell them this
potion； and had come back and brought it with them the day before
that his supper。 Hereupon the king was provoked； and put the
women slaves to the torture； and some that were free with them；
and as the fact did not yet appear； because none of them would
confess it； at length one of them； under the utmost agonies； said
no more but this； that she prayed that God would send the like
agonies upon Antipater's mother； who had been the occasion of
these miseries to all of them。 This prayer induced Herod to
increase the women's tortures； till thereby all was discovered；
their merry meetings； their secret assemblies； and the disclosing
of what he had said to his son alone unto Pheroras's （4） women。
（Now what Herod had charged Antipater to conceal； was the gift of
a hundred talents to him not to have any conversation with
Pheroras。） And what hatred he bore to his father； and that he
complained to his mother how very long his father lived； and that
he was himself almost an old man； insomuch that if the kingdom
should come to him； it would not afford him any great pleasure；
and that there were a great many of his brothers； or brothers'
children； bringing up； that might have hopes of the kingdom as
well as himself； all which made his own hopes of it uncertain；
for that even now； if he should himself not live； Herod had
ordained that the government should be conferred； not on his son；
but rather on a brother。 He also had accused the king of great
barbarity； and of the slaughter of his sons； and that it was out
of the fear he was under； lest he should do the like to him； that
made him contrive this his journey to Rome； and Pheroras contrive
to go to his own tetrarchy。 （5）
2。 These confessions agreed with what his sister had told him；
and tended greatly to corroborate her testimony； and to free her
from the suspicion of her unfaithfulness to him。 So the king
having satisfied himself of the spite which Doris； Antipater's
mother； as well as himself； bore to him； took away from her all
her fine ornaments； which were worth many talents； and then sent
her away； and entered into friendship with Pheroras's women。 But
he who most of all irritated the king against his son was one
Antipater； the procurator of Antipater the king's son； who； when
he was tortured； among other things； said that Antipater had
prepared a deadly potion； and given it to Pheroras； with his
desire that he would give it to his father during his absence；
and when he was too remote to have the least suspicion cast upon
him thereto relating； that Antiphilus； one of Antipater's
friends； brought that potion out of Egypt； and that it was sent
to Pheroras by Thendion； the brother of the mother of Antipater；
the king's son； and by that means came to Pheroras's wife； her
husband having given it her to keep。 And when the king asked her
about it； she confessed it； and as she was running to fetch it；
she threw herself down from the house…top； yet did she not kill
herself； because she fell upon her feet； by which means； when the
king had comforted her； and had promised her and her domestics
pardon； upon condition of their concealing nothing of the truth
from him； but had threatened her with the utmost miseries if she
proved ungrateful ＇and concealed any thing＇： so she promised； and
swore that she would speak out every thing； and tell after what
manner every thing was done； and said what many took to be
entirely true； that the potion was brought out of Egypt by
Antiphilus； and that his brother； who was a physician； had
procured it； and that〃 when Thendion brought it us； she kept it
upon Pheroras's committing it to her； and that it was prepared by
Antipater for thee。 When； therefore； Pheroras was fallen sick；
and thou camest to him and tookest care of him； and when he saw
the kindness thou hadst for him； his mind was overborne thereby。
So he called me to him； and said to me； 'O woman！ Antipater hath
circumvented me in this affair of his father and my brother； by
persuading me to have a