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by keeping silent themselves； yet did they kindly receive the
great freedom he took； for the expectation they were in of so
great an affliction； put a force upon them to speak of Tero
whatsoever they pleased。
5。 This man had thrust himself into the king's presence with the
greatest freedom； and desired to speak with him by himself alone；
which the king permitted him to do； where he said this： 〃Since I
am not able； O king； to bear up under so great a concern as I am
under； I have preferred the use of this bold liberty that I now
take； which may be for thy advantage； if thou mind to get any
profit by it； before my own safety。 Whither is thy understanding
gone； and left thy soul empty？ Whither is that extraordinary
sagacity of thine gone whereby thou hast performed so many and
such glorious…actions？ Whence comes this solitude； and desertion
of thy friends and relations？ Of which I cannot but determine
that they are neither thy friends nor relations； while they
overlook such horrid wickedness in thy once happy kingdom。 Dost
not thou perceive what is doing？ Wilt thou slay these two young
men； born of thy queen； who are accomplished with every virtue in
the highest degree； and leave thyself destitute in thy old age；
but exposed to one son； who hath very ill managed the hopes thou
hast given him；' and to relations； whose death thou hast so often
resolved on thyself？ Dost not thou take notice； that the very
silence of the multitude at once sees the crime； and abhors the
fact？ The whole army and the officers have commiseration on the
poor unhappy youths； and hatred to those that are the actors in
this matter。〃 These words the king heard； and for some time with
good temper。 But what can one say？ When Tero plainly touched upon
the bad behavior and perfidiousness of his domestics； he was
moved at it； but Tero went on further； and by degrees used an
unbounded military freedom of speech； nor was he so well
disciplined as to accommodate himself to the time。 So Herod was
greatly disturbed； and seeming to be rather reproached by this
speech； than to be hearing what was for his advantage； while he
learned thereby that both the soldiers abhorred the thing he was
about； and the officers had indignation at it； he gave order that
all whom Tero had named； and Tero himself； should be bound and
kept in prison。
6。 When this was over； one Trypho； who was the king's barber；
took the opportunity； and came and told the king； that Tero would
often have persuaded him； when he trimmed him with a razor； to
cut his throat； for that by this means he should be among the
chief of Alexander's friends； and receive great rewards from him。
When he had said this； the king gave order that Tero； and his
son； and the barber should be tortured； which was done
accordingly； but while Tero bore up himself； his son seeing his
father already in a sad case； and had no hope of deliverance； and
perceiving what would be the consequence of his terrible
sufferings； said； that if the king would free him and his father
from these torments for what he should say； he would tell the
truth。 And when the king had given his word to do so； he said
that there was an agreement made； that Tero should lay violent
hands on the king； because it was easy for him to come when he
was alone； and that if； when he had done the thing； he should
suffer death for it； as was not unlikely； it would be an act of
generosity done in favor of Alexander。 This was what Tero's son
said； and thereby freed his father from the distress he was in；
but uncertain it is whether he had been thus forced to speak what
was true； or whether it were a contrivance of his； in order to
procure his own and his father's deliverance from their miseries。
7。 As for Herod； if he had before any doubt about the slaughter
of his sons； there was now no longer any room left in his soul
for it； but he had banished away whatsoever might afford him the
least suggestion of reasoning better about this matter； so he
already made haste to bring his purpose to a conclusion。 He also
brought out three hundred of the officers that were under an
accusation； as also Tero and his son； and the barber that accused
them before an assembly； and brought an accusation against them
all； whom the multitude stoned with whatsoever came to hand； and
thereby slew them。 Alexander also and Aristobulus were brought to
Sebaste； by their father's command； and there strangled； but
their dead bodies were in the night time carried to Alexandraum；
where their uncle by the mother's side； and the greatest part of
their ancestors； had been deposited。
8。 （15） And now perhaps it may not seem unreasonable to some；
that such an inveterate hatred might increase so much ＇on both
sides＇； as to proceed further； and overcome nature； but it may
justly deserve consideration； whether it be to be laid to the
charge of the young men； that they gave such an occasion to their
father's anger； and led him to do what he did； and by going on
long in the same way put things past remedy； and brought him to
use them so unmercifully； or whether it be to be laid to the
father's charge； that he was so hard…hearted； and so very tender
in the desire of government； and of other things that would tend
to his glory； that tae would take no one into a partnership with
him； that so whatsoever he would have done himself might continue
immovable； or； indeed； whether fortune have not greater power
than all prudent reasonings； whence we are persuaded that human
actions are thereby determined beforehand by an inevitable
necessity； and we call her Fate； because there is nothing which
is not done by her； wherefore I suppose it will be sufficient to
compare this notion with that other； which attribute somewhat to
ourselves； and renders men not unaccountable for the different
conducts of their lives； which notion is no other than the
philosophical determination of our ancient law。 Accordingly； of
the two other causes of this sad event； any body may lay the
blame on the young men； who acted by youthful vanity； and pride
of their royal birth； that they should bear to hear the calumnies
that were raised against their father； while certainly they were
not equitable judges of the actions of his life； but ill…natured
in suspecting； and intemperate in speaking of it； and on both
accounts easily caught by those that observed them； and revealed
them to gain favor； yet cannot their father be thought worthy
excuse； as to that horrid impiety which he was guilty of about
them； while he ventured； without any certain evidence of their
treacherous designs against him； and without any proofs that they
had made preparations for such attempt； to kill his own sons； who
were of very comely bodies； and the great darlings of other men；
and no way deficient in their conduct； whether it were in
hunting； or in warlike exercises； or in speaking upon occasional
topics of discourse； for in all these they were skillful； and
especially Alexander； who was the eldest； for certainly it had
been sufficient； even though he had condemned them； to have kept
them alive in bonds； or to let them live at a distance from his
dominions in banishment