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circumvented me in this affair of his father and my brother； by
persuading me to have a murderous intention to him； and procuring
a potion to be subservient thereto； do thou； therefore； go and
fetch my potion； （since my brother appears to have still the same
virtuous disposition towards me which he had formerly； and I do
not expect to live long myself； and that I may not defile my
forefathers by the murder of a brother；） and burn it before my
face：' that accordingly she immediately brought it； and did as
her husband bade her； and that she burnt the greatest part of the
potion； but that a little of it was left； that if the king； after
Pheroras's death； should treat her ill； she might poison herself；
and thereby get clear of her miseries。〃 Upon her saying thus； she
brought out the potion； and the box in which it was； before them
all。 Nay； there was another brother of Antiphilus； and his mother
also； who； by the extremity of pain and torture； confessed the
same things； and owned the box ＇to be that which had been brought
out of Egypt＇。 The high priest's daughter also； who was the
king's wife； was accused to have been conscious of all this； and
had resolved to conceal it； for which reason Herod divorced her；
and blotted her son out of his testament； wherein he had been
mentioned as one that was to reign after him； and he took the
high priesthood away from his father…in…law； Simeon the son of
Boethus； and appointed Matthias the son of Theophilus； who was
born at Jerusalem； to be high priest in his room。
3。 While this was doing； Bathyllus also； Antipater's freed…man；
came from Rome； and； upon the torture； was found to have brought
another potion； to give it into the hands of Antipater's mother；
and of Pheroras； that if the former potion did not operate upon
the king； this at least might carry him off。 There came also
letters from Herod's friends at Rome； by the approbation and at
the suggestion of Antipater； to accuse Archelaus and Philip； as
if they calumniated their father on account of the slaughter of
Alexander and Aristobulus； and as if they commiserated their
deaths； and as if； because they were sent for home； （for their
father had already recalled them；） they concluded they were
themselves also to be destroyed。 These letters had been procured
by great rewards by Antipater's friends； but Antipater himself
wrote to his father about them； and laid the heaviest things to
their charge； yet did he entirely excuse them of any guilt； and
said they were but young men； and so imputed their words to their
youth。 But he said that he had himself been very busy in the
affair relating to Sylleus； and in getting interest among the
great men； and on that account had bought splendid ornaments to
present them withal； which cost him two hundred talents。 Now one
may wonder how it came about； that while so many accusations were
laid against him in Judea during seven months before this time；
he was not made acquainted with any of them。 The causes of which
were； that the roads were exactly guarded； and that men hated
Antipater； for there was nobody who would run any hazard himself
to gain him any advantages。
CHAPTER 5。
Antipater's Navigation From Rome To His Father； And How He Was
Accused By Nicolaus Of Damascus And Condemned To Die By His
Father； And By Quintilius Varus； Who Was Then President Of Syria；
And How He Was Then Bound Till Caesar Should Be Informed Of His
Cause。
1。 Now Herod； upon Antipater's writing to him； that having done
all that he was to do； and this in the manner he was to do it； he
would suddenly come to him； concealed his anger against him； and
wrote back to him； and bid him not delay his journey； lest any
harm should befall himself in his absence。 At the same time also
he made some little complaint about his mother； but promised that
he would lay those complaints aside when he should return。 He
withal expressed his entire affection for him； as fearing lest he
should have some suspicion of him； and defer his journey to him；
and lest； while he lived at Rome； he should lay plots for the
kingdom； and； moreover； do somewhat against himself。 This letter
Antipater met with in Cilicia； but had received an account of
Pheroras's death before at Tarentum。 This last news affected him
deeply； not out of any affection for Pheroras； but because he was
dead without having murdered his father； which he had promised
him to do。 And when he was at Celenderis in Cilicia； he began to
deliberate with himself about his sailing home； as being much
grieved with the ejection of his mother。 Now some of his friends
advised him that he should tarry a while some where； in
expectation of further information。 But others advised him to
sail home without delay； for that if he were once come thither；
he would soon put an end to all accusations； and that nothing
afforded any weight to his accusers at present but his absence。
He was persuaded by these last； and sailed on； and landed at the
haven called Sebastus； which Herod had built at vast expenses in
honor of Caesar； and called Sebastus。 And now was Antipater
evidently in a miserable condition； while nobody came to him nor
saluted him； as they did at his going away； with good wishes of
joyful acclamations； nor was there now any thing to hinder them
from entertaining him； on the contrary； with bitter curses； while
they supposed he was come to receive his punishment for the
murder of his brethren。
2。 Now Quintilius Varus was at this time at Jerusalem； being sent
to succeed Saturninus as president of Syria； and was come as an
assessor to Herod； who had desired his advice in his present
affairs； and as they were sitting together； Antipater came upon
them； without knowing any thing of the matter； so he came into
the palace clothed in purple。 The porters indeed received him in；
but excluded his friends。 And now he was in great disorder； and
presently understood the condition he was in； while； upon his
going to salute his father； he was repulsed by him； who called
him a murderer of his brethren； and a plotter of destruction
against himself； and told him that Varus should be his auditor
and his judge the very next day； so he found that what
misfortunes he now heard of were already upon him； with the
greatness of which he went away in confusion； upon which his
mother and his wife met him； （which wife was the daughter of
Antigonus； who was king of the Jews before Herod；） from whom he
learned all circumstances which concerned him； and then prepared
himself for his trial。
3。 On the next day Varus and the king sat together in judgment；
and both their friends were also called in； as also the king's
relations； with his sister Salome； and as many as could discover
any thing； and such as had been tortured； and besides these； some
slaves of Antipater's mother； who were taken up a little before
Antipater's coming； and brought with them a written letter； the
sum of which was this： That he should not come back； because all
was come to his father's knowledge； and that Caesar was the only
refuge he had left to prevent both his and her delivery into his
father's hands。 Then did Antipater fall down at his father's