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therefore； send to Caius； and let him know what your resolutions
are； and will assist your suit as far as I am able； that you may
not be exposed to suffer on account of the honest designs you
have proposed to yourselves； and may God be your assistant； for
his authority is beyond all the contrivance and power of men； and
may he procure you the preservation of your ancient laws； and may
not he be deprived； though without your consent； of his
accustomed honors。 But if Caius be irritated； and turn the
violence of his rage upon me； I will rather undergo all that
danger and that affliction that may come either on my body or my
soul； than see so many of you to perish； while you are acting in
so excellent a manner。 Do you； therefore； every one of you； go
your way about your own occupations； and fall to the cultivation
of your ground； I will myself send to Rome； and will not refuse
to serve you in all things； both by myself and by my friends。〃
6。 When Petronius had said this； and had dismissed rite assembly
of the Jews； he desired the principal of them to take care of
their husbandry； and to speak kindly to the people； and encourage
them to have good hope of their affairs。 Thus did he readily
bring the multitude to be cheerful again。 And now did God show
his presence to Petronius； and signify to him that he would
afford him his assistance in his whole design； for he had no
sooner finished the speech that he made to the Jews； but God sent
down great showers of rain； contrary to human expectation； （33）
for that day was a clear day； and gave no sign； by the appearance
of the sky； of any rain； nay； the whole year had been subject to
a great drought； and made men despair of any water from above；
even when at any time they saw the heavens overcast with clouds；
insomuch that when such a great quantity of rain came； and that
in an unusual manner； and without any other expectation of it；
the Jews hoped that Petronius would by no means fail in his
petition for them。 But as to Petronius； he was mightily surprised
when he perceived that God evidently took care of the Jews； and
gave very plain signs of his appearance； and this to such a
degree； that those that were in earnest much inclined to the
contrary had no power left to contradict it。 This was also among
those other particulars which he wrote to Caius； which all tended
to dissuade him； and by all means to entreat him not to make so
many ten thousands of these men go distracted； whom； if he should
slay； （for without war they would by no means suffer the laws of
their worship to be set aside；） he would lose the revenue they
paid him； and would be publicly cursed by them for all future
ages。 Moreover； that God； who was their Governor； had shown his
power most evidently on their account； and that such a power of
his as left no room for doubt about it。 And this was the business
that Petronius was now engaged in。
7。 But king Agrippa； who now lived at Rome； was more and more in
the favor of Caius； and when he had once made him a supper； and
was careful to exceed all others； both in expenses and in such
preparations as might contribute most to his pleasure； nay； it
was so far from the ability of others； that Caius himself could
never equal； much less exceed it （such care had he taken
beforehand to exceed all men； and particularly。 to make all
agreeable to Caesar）； hereupon Caius admired his understanding
and magnificence； that he should force himself to do all to
please him； even beyond such expenses as he could bear； and was
desirous not to be behind Agrippa in that generosity which he
exerted in order to please him。 So Caius； when he had drank wine
plentifully； and was merrier than ordinary； said thus during the
feast； when Agrippa had drunk to him： 〃I knew before now how
great a respect thou hast had for me； and how great kindness thou
hast shown me； though with those hazards to thyself； which thou
underwentest under Tiberius on that account； nor hast thou
omitted any thing to show thy good…will towards us； even beyond
thy ability； whence it would be a base thing for me to be
conquered by thy affection。 I am therefore desirous to make thee
amends for every thing in which I have been formerly deficient；
for all that I have bestowed on thee； that may be called my
gifts； is but little。 Everything that may contribute to thy
happiness shall be at thy service； and that cheerfully； and so
far as my ability will reach。〃 （34） And this was what Caius said
to Agrippa； thinking be would ask for some large country； or the
revenues of certain cities。 But although he had prepared
beforehand what he would ask； yet had he not discovered his
intentions； but made this answer to Caius immediately： That it
was not out of any expectation of gain that he formerly paid his
respects to him； contrary to the commands of Tiberius； nor did he
now do any thing relating to him out of regard to his own
advantage； and in order to receive any thing from him； that the
gifts he had already bestowed upon him were great； and beyond the
hopes of even a craving man； for although they may be beneath thy
power； ＇who art the donor；＇ yet are they greater than my
inclination and dignity； who am the receiver。 And as Caius was
astonished at Agrippa's inclinations； and still the more pressed
him to make his request for somewhat which he might gratify him
with； Agrippa replied； 〃Since thou； O my lord！ declarest such is
thy readiness to grant； that I am worthy of thy gifts； I will ask
nothing relating to my own felicity； for what thou hast already
bestowed on me has made me excel therein； but I desire somewhat
which may make thee glorious for piety； and render the Divinity
assistant to thy designs； and may be for an honor to me among
those that inquire about it； as showing that I never once fail of
obtaining what I desire of thee； for my petition is this； that
thou wilt no longer think of the dedication of that statue which
thou hast ordered to be set up in the Jewish temple by
Petronius。〃
8。 And thus did Agrippa venture to cast the die upon this
occasion； so great was the affair in his opinion； and in reality；
though he knew how dangerous a thing it was so to speak； for had
not Caius approved of it； it had tended to no less than the loss
of his life。 So Caius； who was mightily taken with Agrippa's
obliging behavior； and on other accounts thinking it a
dishonorable thing to be guilty of falsehood before so many
witnesses； in points wherein he had with such alacrity forced
Agrippa to become a petitioner； and that it would look as if he
had already repented of what he had said； and because he greatly
admired Agrippa's virtue； in not desiring him at all to augment
his own dominions； either with larger revenues； or other
authority； but took care of the public tranquillity； of the laws；
and of the Divinity itself； he granted him what he had requested。
He also wrote thus to Petronius； commending him for his
assembling his army； and then consulting him about these affairs。
〃If therefore；〃 said' he；〃 thou hast already erected my statue；
let it stand； but if thou hast not yet dedicated it； do not
trouble thyself further about it； but dismiss