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the antiquities of the jews-1-第335章

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thee; both as to empire and as to thy own preservation; but if he
die; that will be but a prelude to thy own misfortunes; for to be
alone under the weight of such vast affairs is very dangerous;
nor will the gods suffer those actions which are unjustly done;
contrary to that law which directs men to act otherwise; to go
off unpunished。〃 This was the speech which Tiberius made; which
did not persuade Caius to act accordingly; although he promised
so to do; but when he was settled in the government; he took off
this Tiberius; as was predicted by the other Tiberius; as he was
also himself; in no long time afterward; slain by a secret plot
laid against him。

10。 So when Tiberius had at this time appointed Caius to be his
successor; he outlived but a few days; and then died; after he
had held the government twenty…two years five months and three
days。 Now Caius was the fourth emperor。 But when the Romans
understood that Tiberius was dead; they rejoiced at the good
news; but had not courage to believe it; not because they were
unwilling it should be true; for they would have given huge sums
of money that it might be so; but because they were afraid; that
if they had showed their joy when the news proved false; their
joy should be openly known; and they should be accused for it;
and be thereby undone。 For this Tiberius had brought a vast
number of miseries on the best families of the Romans; since he
was easily inflamed with passion in all cases; and was of such a
temper as rendered his anger irrevocable; till he had executed
the same; although he had taken a hatred against men without
reason; for he was by nature fierce in all the sentences he gave;
and made death the penalty for the lightest offenses; insomuch
that when the Romans heard the rumor about his death gladly; they
were restrained from the enjoyment of that pleasure by the dread
of such miseries as they foresaw would follow; if their hopes
proved ill…grounded。 Now Marsyas; Agrippa's freed…man; as soon as
he heard of Tiberius's death; came running to tell Agrippa the
news; and finding him going out to the bath; he gave him a nod;
and said; in the Hebrew tongue; 〃The lion (26) is dead;〃 who;
understanding his meaning; and being ovejoyed at the news; 〃Nay;〃
said he; 〃but all sorts of thanks and happiness attend thee for
this news of thine; only I wish that what thou sayest may prove
true。〃 Now the centurion who was set to keep Agrippa; when he saw
with what haste Marsyas came; and what joy Agrippa had from what
he said; he had a suspicion that his words implied some great
innovation of affairs; and he asked them about what was said。
They at first diverted the discourse; but upon his further
pressing; Agrippa; without more ado; told him; for he was already
become his friend; so he joined with him in that pleasure which
this news occasioned; because it would be fortunate to Agrippa;
and made him a supper。 But as they were feasting; and the cups
went about; there came one who said that Tiberius was still
alive; and would return to the city ill a few days。 At which news
the centurion was exceedingly troubled; because he had done what
might cost him his life; to have treated so joyfully a prisoner;
and this upon the news of the death of Caesar; so he thrust
Agrippa from the couch whereon he lay; and said; 〃Dost thou think
to cheat me by a lie about the emperor without punishment? and
shalt not thou pay for this thy malicious report at the price of
thine head?〃 When he had so said; he ordered Agrippa to be bound
again; (for he had loosed him before;) and kept a severer guard
over him than formerly; and in that evil condition was Agrippa
that night; but the next day the rumor increased in the city; and
confirmed the news that Tiberius was certainly dead; insomuch
that men durst now openly and freely talk about it; nay; some
offered sacrifices on that account。 Several letters also came
from Caius; one of them to the senate; which informed them of the
death of Tiberius; and of his own entrance on the government;
another to Piso; the governor of the city; which told him the
same thing。 He also gave order that Agrippa should be removed out
of the camp; and go to that house where he lived before he was
put in prison; so that he was now out of fear as to his own
affairs; for although he was still in custody; yet it was now
with ease to his own affairs。 Now; as soon as Caius was come to
Rome; and had brought Tiberius's dead body with him; and had made
a sumptuous funeral for him; according to the laws of his
country; he was much disposed to set Agrippa at liberty that very
day; but Antonia hindered him; not out of any ill…will to the
prisoner; but out of regard to decency in Caius; lest that should
make men believe that he received the death of Tiberius with
pleasure; when he loosed one whom he had bound immediately。
However; there did not many days pass ere he sent for him to his
house; and had him shaved; and made him change his raiment; after
which he put a diadem upon his head; and appointed him to be king
of the tetrarchy of Philip。 He also gave him the tetrarchy of
Lysanias; (27) and changed his iron chain for a golden one of
equal weight。 He also sent Marullus to be procurator of Judea。

11。 Now; in the second year of the reign of Caius Caesar; Agrippa
desired leave to be given him to sail home; and settle the
affairs of his government; and he promised to return again; when
he had put the rest in order; as it ought to be put。 So; upon the
emperor's permission; he came into his own country; and appeared
to them all unexpectedly as asking; and thereby demonstrated to
the men that saw him the power of fortune; when they compared his
former poverty with his present happy affluence; so some called
him a happy man; and others could not well believe that things
were so much changed with him for the better。

CHAPTER 7。

How Herod The Tetrarch Was Banished。

1。 But Herodias; Agrippa's sister; who now lived as wife to that
Herod who was tetrarch of Galilee and Peres; took this authority
of her brother in an envious manner; particularly when she saw
that he had a greater dignity bestowed on him than her husband
had; since; when he ran away; it was because he was not able to
pay his debts; and now he was come back; he was in a way of
dignity; and of great good fortune。 She was therefore grieved and
much displeased at so great a mutation of his affairs; and
chiefly when she saw him marching among the multitude with the
usual ensigns of royal authority; she was not able to conceal how
miserable she was; by reason of the envy she had towards him; but
she excited her husband; and desired him that he would sail to
Rome; to court honors equal to his; for she said that she could
not bear to live any longer; while Agrippa; the son of that
Aristobulus who was condemned to die by his father; one that came
to her husband in such extreme poverty; that the necessaries of
life were forced to be entirely supplied him day by day; and when
he fled away from his creditors by sea; he now returned a king;
while he was himself the son of a king; and while the near
relation he bare to royal authority c
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