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！
great deal of Herod's money escaped； and principally all that the
man had been so provident as to send into Idumea beforehand； nor
indeed did what was in the city suffice the Parthians； but they
went out into the country； and plundered it； and demolished the
city Marissa。
10。 And thus was Antigonus brought back into Judea by the king of
the Parthians； and received Hyrcanus and Phasaelus for his
prisoners； but he was greatly cast down because the women had
escaped； whom he intended to have given the enemy； as having
promised they should have them； with the money； for their reward：
but being afraid that Hyrcanus； who was under the guard of the
Parthians； might have his kingdom restored to him by the
multitude； he cut off his ears； and thereby took care that the
high priesthood should never come to him any more； because he was
maimed； while the law required that this dignity should belong to
none but such as had all their members entire （25） But now one
cannot but here admire the fortitude of Phasaelus； who；
perceiving that he was to be put to death； did not think death
any terrible thing at all； but to die thus by the means of his
enemy； this he thought a most pitiable and dishonorable thing；
and therefore； since he had not his hands at liberty； but the
bonds he was in prevented him from killing himself thereby； he
dashed his head against a great stone； and thereby took away his
own life； which he thought to be the best thing he could do in
such a distress as he was in； and thereby put it out of the power
of the enemy to bring him to any death he pleased。 It is also
reported； that when he had made a great wound in his head；
Antigonus sent physicians to cure it； and； by ordering them to
infuse poison into the wound； killed him。 However； Phasaelus
hearing； before he was quite dead； by a certain woman； that his
brother Herod had escaped the enemy； underwent his death
cheerfully； since he now left behind him one who would revenge
his death； and who was able to inflict punishment on his enemies。
CHAPTER 14。
How Herod Got Away From The King Of Arabia And Made Haste To Go
Into Egypt And Thence Went Away In Haste Also To Rome； And How；
By Promising A Great Deal Of Money To Antony He Obtained Of The
Senate And Of Caesar To Be Made King Of The Jews。
1。 As for Herod； the great miseries he was in did not discourage
him； but made him sharp in discovering surprising undertakings；
for he went to Malchus； king of Arabia； whom he had formerly been
very kind to； in order to receive somewhat by way of requital；
now he was in more than ordinary want of it； and desired he would
let him have some money； either by way of loan； or as his free
gift； on account of the many benefits he had received from him；
for not knowing what was become of his brother； he was in haste
to redeem him out of the hand of his enemies； as willing to give
three hundred talents for the price of his redemption。 He also
took with him the son of Phasaelus； who was a child of but seven
years of age； for this very reason； that he might be a hostage
for the repayment of the money。 But there came messengers from
Malchus to meet him； by whom he was desired to be gone； for that
the Parthians had laid a charge upon him not to entertain Herod。
This was only a pretense which he made use of； that he might not
be obliged to repay him what he owed him； and this he was further
induced to by the principal men among the Arabians； that they
might cheat him of what sums they had received from ＇his father＇
Antipater； and which he had committed to their fidelity。 He made
answer； that he did not intend to be troublesome to them by his
coning thither； but that he desired only to discourse with them
about certain affairs that were to him of the greatest
importance。
2。 Hereupon he resolved to go away； and did go very prudently the
road to Egypt； and then it was that he lodged in a certain
temple； for he had left a great many of his followers there。 On
the next day he came to Rhinocolura； and there it was that he
heard what was befallen his brother。 Though Malehus soon repented
of what he had done； and came running after Herod； but with no
manner of success； for he was gotten a very great way off； and
made haste into the road to Pelusium； and when the stationary
ships that lay there hindered him from sailing to Alexandria； he
went to their captains； by whose assistance； and that out of much
reverence of and great regard to him； he was conducted into the
city ＇Alexandria＇； and was retained there by Cleopatra； yet was
she not able to prevail with him to stay there； because he was
making haste to Rome； even though the weather was stormy； and he
was informed that the affairs of Italy were very tumultuous； and
in great disorder。
3。 So he set sail from thence to Pamphylia； and falling into a
violent storm； he had much ado to escape to Rhodes； with the loss
of the ship's burden； and there it was that two of his friends；
Sappinas and Ptolemeus； met with him； and as he found that city
very much damaged in the war against Cassius； though he were in
necessity himself； he neglected not to do it a kindness； but did
what he could to recover it to its former state。 He also built
there a three…decked ship； and set sail thence； with his friends；
for Italy； and came to the port of Brundusium； and when he was
come from thence to Rome； he first related to Antony what had
befallen him in Judea； and how Phasaelus his brother was seized
on by the Parthians； and put to death by them； and how Hyrcanus
was detained captive by them； and how they had made Antigonus
king； who had promised them a sum of money； no less than a
thousand talents； with five hundred women； who were to be of the
principal families； and of the Jewish stock； and that he had
carried off the women by night； and that； by undergoing a great
many hardships； he had escaped the hands of his enemies； as also；
that his own relations were in danger of being besieged and
taken； and that he had sailed through a storm； and contemned all
these terrible dangers of it； in order to come； as soon as
possible； to him； who was his hope and only succor at this time。
4。 This account made Antony commiserate the change that had
happened in Herod's condition； （26） and reasoning with himself
that this was a common case among those that are placed in such
great dignities； and that they are liable to the mutations that
come from fortune； he was very ready to give him the assistance
he desired； and this because he called to mind the friendship he
had had with Antipater because Herod offered him money to make
him king； as he had formerly given it him to make him tetrarch；
and chiefly because of his hatred to Antigonus； for he took him
to be a seditious person； and an enemy to the Romans。 Caesar was
also the forwarder to raise Herod's dignity； and to give him his
assistance in what he desired； on account of the toils of war
which he had himself undergone with Antipater his father in
Egypt； and of the hospitality he had treated him withal； and the
kindness he had always showed him； as also to gratify Antony； who
was very zealous for Herod。 So a senate was convocated；