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！
thought he had now a just handle given him to be angry； which he
could not conceal from those that came for him； but said to them；
〃What honor is this the king invites me to； which I conclude will
soon be over？ For the king hath not let me keep those original
marks of the good…will I bore him； which I once had from him； but
he hath plundered me； and that unjustly also。 Does he think that
I can leave off that liberty of speech； which； upon the
consciousness of my deserts； I shall use more loudly than before；
and shall relate how many misfortunes I have been delivered from；
how many labors I have undergone for him； whereby I procured him
deliverance and respect； as a reward for which I have borne the
hardships of bonds and a dark prison？ I shall never forget this
usage。 Nay； perhaps； my very soul； when it is departed out of the
body； will not forget the glorious actions I did on his account。〃
This was the clamor he made； and he ordered the messengers to
tell it to the king。 So he perceived that Silas was incurable in
his folly； and still suffered him to lie in prison。
2。 As for the walls of Jerusalem； that were adjoining to the new
city ＇Bezetha＇； he repaired them at the expense of the public；
and built them wider in breadth； and higher in altitude； and he
had made them too strong for all human power to demolish； unless
Marcus； the then president of Syria； had by letter informed
Claudius Caesar of what he was doing。 And when Claudius had some
suspicion of attempts for innovation； he sent to Agrippa to leave
off the building of those walls presently。 So he obeyed； as not
thinking it proper to contradict Claudius。
3。 Now this king was by nature very beneficent and liberal in his
gifts； and very ambitious to oblige people with such large
donations； and he made himself very illustrious by the many
chargeable presents he made them。 He took delight in giving； and
rejoiced in living with good reputation。 He was not at all like
that Herod who reigned before him； for that Herod was
ill…natured； and severe in his punishments； and had no mercy on
them that he hated； and every one perceived that he was more
friendly to the Greeks than to the Jews； for he adorned foreign
cities with large presents in money； with building them baths and
theatres besides； nay； in some of those places he erected
temples； and porticoes in others； but he did not vouchsafe to
raise one of the least edifices in any Jewish city； or make them
any donation that was worth mentioning。 But Agrippa's temper was
mild； and equally liberal to all men。 He was humane to
foreigners； and made them sensible of his liberality。 He was in
like manner rather of a gentle and compassionate temper。
Accordingly； he loved to live continually at Jerusalem； and was
exactly careful in the observance of the laws of his country。 He
therefore kept himself entirely pure； nor did any day pass over
his head without its appointed sacrifice。
4。 However； there was a certain mall of the Jewish nation at
Jerusalem； who appeared to be very accurate in the knowledge of
the law。 His name was Simon。 This man got together an assembly；
while the king was absent at Cesarea； and had the insolence to
accuse him as not living holily； and that he might justly be
excluded out of the temple； since it belonged only to native
Jews。 But the general of Agrippa's army informed him that Simon
had made such a speech to the people。 So the king sent for him；
and as he was sitting in the theater； he bid him sit down by him；
and said to him with a low and gentle voice； 〃What is there done
in this place that is contrary to the law？〃 But he had nothing to
say for himself； but begged his pardon。 So the king was more
easily reconciled to him than one could have imagined； as
esteeming mildness a better quality in a king than anger； and
knowing that moderation is more becoming in great men than
passion。 So he made Simon a small present； and dismissed him。
5。 Now as Agrippa was a great builder in many places； he paid a
peculiar regard to the people of Berytus； for he erected a
theater for them； superior to many others of that sort； both in
Sumptuousness and elegance； as also an amphitheater； built at
vast expenses； and besides these； he built them baths and
porticoes； and spared for no costs in any of his edifices； to
render them both handsome and large。 He also spent a great deal
upon their dedication； and exhibited shows upon them； and brought
thither musicians of all sorts； and such as made the most
delightful music of the greatest variety。 He also showed his
magnificence upon the theater； in his great number of gladiators；
and there it was that he exhibited the several antagonists； in
order to please the spectators； no fewer indeed than seven
hundred men to fight with seven hundred other men （20） and
allotted all the malefactors he had for this exercise； that both
the malefactors might receive their punishment； and that this
operation of war might be a recreation in peace。 And thus were
these criminals all destroyed at once。
CHAPTER 8。
What Other Acts Were Done By Agrippa Until His Death； And After
What Manner He Died。
1。 When Agrippa had finished what I have above related at
Berytus； he removed to Tiberias； a city of Galilee。 Now he was in
great esteem among other kings。 Accordingly there came to him
Antiochus； king of Commalena； Sampsigeratnus； king of Emesa； and
Cotys； who was king of the Lesser Armenia； and Polemo； who was
king of Pontus； as also Herod his brother； who was king of
Chalcis。 All these he treated with agreeable entertainments； and
after an obliging manner； and so as to exhibit the greatness of
his mind； and so as to appear worthy of those respects which the
kings paid to him； by coming thus to see him。 However； while
these kings staid with him； Marcus； the president of Syria； came
thither。 So the king； in order to preserve the respect that was
due to the Romans； went out of the city to meet him； as far as
seven furlongs。 But this proved to be the beginning of a
difference between him and Marcus； for he took with him in his
chariot those other kings as his assessors。 But Marcus had a
suspicion what the meaning could be of so great a friendship of
these kings one with another； and did not think so close an
agreement of so many potentates to be for the interest of the
Romans。 He therefore sent some of his domestics to every one of
them； and enjoined them to go their ways home without further
delay。 This was very ill taken by Agrippa； who after that became
his enemy。 And now he took the high priesthood away from
Matthias； and made Elioneus； the son of Cantheras； high priest in
his stead。
2。 Now when Agrippa had reigned three years over all Judea； he
came to the city Cesarea； which was formerly called Strato's
Tower； and there he exhibited shows in honor of Caesar； upon his
being informed that there was a certain festival celebrated to
make vows for his safety。 At which festival a great multitude was
gotten together of the principal persons； and such as were of
dignity through his province。 On the second day of which shows he
put on a garment made wholly of silver； and of a contexture truly