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[601]
AFTER these things were over, Bathyllus came under examination, in
order to convict Antipater, who proved the concluding attestation to Antipater's
designs; for indeed he was no other than his freed-man. This man came,
and brought another deadly potion, the poison of asps, and the juices of
other serpents, that if the first potion did not do the business, Pheroras
and his wife might be armed with this also to destroy the king. He brought
also an addition to Antipater's insolent attempt against his father, which
was the letters which he wrote against his brethren, Archelaus and Philip,
which were the king's sons, and educated at Rome, being yet youths, but
of generous dispositions. Antipater set himself to get rid of these as
soon as he could, that they might not be prejudicial to his hopes; and
to that end he forged letters against them in the name of his friends at
Rome. Some of these he corrupted by bribes to write how they grossly reproached
their father, and did openly bewail Alexander and Aristobulus, and were
uneasy at their being recalled; for their father had already sent for them,
which was the very thing that troubled Antipater.
[604]
Nay, indeed, while Antipater was in Judea, and before he was upon
his journey to Rome, he gave money to have the like letters against them
sent from Rome, and then came to his father, who as yet had no suspicion
of him, and apologized for his brethren, and alleged on their behalf that
some of the things contained in those letters were false, and others of
them were only youthful errors. Yet at the same time that he expended a
great deal of his money, by making presents to such as wrote against his
brethren, did he aim to bring his accounts into confusion, by buying costly
garments, and carpets of various contextures, with silver and gold cups,
and a great many more curious things, that so, among the view great expenses
laid out upon such furniture, he might conceal the money he had used in
hiring men [to write the letters]; for he brought in an account of his
expenses, amounting to two hundred talents, his main pretense for which
was file law-suit he had been in with Sylleus. So while all his rogueries,
even those of a lesser sort also, were covered by his greater villainy,
while all the examinations by torture proclaimed his attempt to murder
his father, and the letters proclaimed his second attempt to murder his
brethren; yet did no one of those that came to Rome inform him of his misfortunes
in Judea, although seven months had intervened between his conviction and
his return, so great was the hatred which they all bore to him. And perhaps
they were the ghosts of those brethren of his that had been murdered that
stopped the mouths of those that intended to have told him. He then wrote
from Rome, and informed his [friends] that he would soon come to them,
and how he was dismissed with honor by Caesar.
[608]
Now the king, being desirous to get this plotter against him into
his hands, and being also afraid lest he should some way come to the knowledge
how his affairs stood, and be upon his guard, he dissembled his anger in
his epistle to him, as in other points he wrote kindly to him, and desired
him to make haste, because if he came quickly, he would then lay aside
the complaints he had against his mother; for Antipater was not ignorant
that his mother had been expelled out of the palace. However, he had before
received a letter, which contained an account of the death of Pheroras,
at Tarentum, 2
and made great lamentations at it; for which some commended him, as being
for his own uncle; though probably this confusion arose on account of his
having thereby failed in his plot [on his father's life]; and his tears
were more for the loss of him that was to have been subservient therein,
than for [an uncle] Pheroras: moreover, a sort of fear came upon him as
to his designs, lest the poison should have been discovered. However, when
he was in Cilicia, he received the forementioned epistle from his father,
and made great haste accordingly. But when he had sailed to Celenderis,
a suspicion came into his mind relating to his mother's misfortunes; as
if his soul foreboded some mischief to itself. Those therefore of his friends
which were the most considerate advised him not rashly to go to his father,
till he had learned what were the occasions why his mother had been ejected,
because they were afraid that he might be involved in the calumnies that
had been cast upon his mother: but those that were less considerate, and
had more regard to their own desires of seeing their native country, than
to Antipater's safety, persuaded him to make haste home, and not, by delaying
his journey, afford his father ground for an ill suspicion, and give a
handle to those that raised stories against him; for that in case any thing
had been moved to his disadvantage, it was owing to his absence, which
durst not have been done had he been present. And they said it was absurd
to deprive himself of certain happiness, for the sake of an uncertain suspicion,
and not rather to return to his father, and take the royal authority upon
him, which was in a state of fluctuation on his account only. Antipater
complied with this last advice, for Providence hurried him on [to his destruction].
So he passed over the sea, and landed at Sebastus, the haven of Cesarea.
[614]
And here he found a perfect and unexpected solitude, while ever body
avoided him, and nobody durst come at him; for he was equally hated by
all men; and now that hatred had liberty to show itself, and the dread
men were in at the king's anger made men keep from him; for the whole city
[of Jerusalem] was filled with the rumors about Antipater, and Antipater
himself was the only person who was ignorant of them; for as no man was
dismissed more magnificently when he began his voyage to Rome so was no
man now received back with greater ignominy. And indeed he began already
to suspect what misfortunes there were in Herod's family; yet did he cunningly
conceal his suspicion; and while he was inwardly ready to die for fear,
he put on a forced boldness of countenance. Nor could he now fly any whither,
nor had he any way of emerging out of the difficulties which encompassed
him; nor indeed had he even there any certain intelligence of the affairs
of the royal family, by reason of the threats the king had given out: yet
had he some small hopes of better tidings; for perhaps nothing had been
discovered; or if any discovery had been made, perhaps he should be able
to clear himself by impudence and artful tricks, which were the only things
he relied upon for his deliverance.
[617]
And with these hopes did he screen himself, till he came to the palace,
without any friends with him; for these were affronted, and shut out at
the first gate. Now Varus, the president of Syria, happened to be in the
palace [at this juncture]; so Antipater went in to his father, and, putting
on a bold face, he came near to salute him. But Herod Stretched out his
hands, and turned his head away from him, and cried out, "Even this
is an indication of a parricide, to be desirous to get me into his arms,
when he is under such heinous accusations. God confound thee, thou vile
wretch; do not thou touch me, till thou hast cleared thyself of these crimes
that are charged upon thee. I appoint thee a court where thou art to be
judged, and this Varus, who is very seasonably here, to be thy judge; and
get thou thy defense ready against tomorrow, for I give thee so much time
to prepare suitable excuses for thyself." And as Antipater was so
confounded, that he was able to make no answer to this charge, he went
away; but his mother and wife came to him, and told him of all the evidence
they had gotten against him. Hereupon he recollected himself, and considered
what defense he should make against the accusations.
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