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the antiquities of the jews-1-第317章

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also sent for the keepers of the garrisons; and for all those
that had the charge of Herod's effects; and declared publicly
that he should require them to give an account of what they had;
and he disposed of the castles in the manner he pleased; but
those who kept them did not neglect what Archelaus had given them
in command; but continued to keep all things in the manner that
had been enjoined them; and their pretense was; that they kept
them all for Caesar;

4。 At the same time also did Antipas; another of Herod's sons;
sail to Rome; in order to gain the government; being buoyed up by
Salome with promises that he should take that government; and
that he was a much honester and fitter man than Archelaus for
that authority; since Herod had; in his former testament; deemed
him the worthiest to be made king; which ought to be esteemed
more valid than his latter testament。 Antipas also brought with
him his mother; and Ptolemy the brother of Nicolaus; one that had
been Herod's most honored friend; and was now zealous for
Antipas; but it was Ireneus the orator; and one who; on account
of his reputation for sagacity; was intrusted with the affairs of
the kingdom; who most of all encouraged him to attempt to gain
the kingdom; by whose means it was; that when some advised him to
yield to Archelaus; as to his elder brother; and who had been
declared king by their father's last will; he would not submit so
to do。 And when he was come to Rome; all his relations revolted
to him; not out of their good…will to him; but out of their
hatred to Archelaus; though indeed they were most of all desirous
of gaining their liberty; and to be put under a Roman governor;
but if there were too great an opposition made to that; they
thought Antipas preferable to Archelaus; and so joined with him;
in order to procure the kingdom for him。 Sabinus also; by
letters; accused Archelaus to Caesar。

5。 Now when Archelaus had sent in his papers to Caesar; wherein
he pleaded his right to。 the kingdom; and his father's testament;
with the accounts of Herod's money; and with Ptolemy; who brought
Herod's seal; he so expected the event; but when Caesar had read
these papers; and Varus's and Sabinus's letters; with the
accounts of the money; and what were the annual incomes of the
kingdom; and understood that Antipas had also sent letters to lay
claim to the kingdom; he summoned his friends together; to know
their opinions; and with them Caius; the son of Agrippa; and of
Julia his daughter; whom he had adopted; and took him; and made
him sit first of all; and desired such as pleased to speak their
minds about the affairs now before them。 Now Antipater; Salome's
son; a very subtle orator; and a bitter enemy to Archelaus; spake
first to this purpose: That it was ridiculous in Archelaus to
plead now to have the kingdom given him; since he had; in
reality; taken already the power over it to himself; before
Caesar had granted it to him; and appealed to those bold actions
of his; in destroying so many at the Jewish festival; and if the
men had acted unjustly; it was but fit the punishing of them
should have been reserved to those that were out of the country;
but had the power to punish them; and not been executed by a man
that; if he pretended to be a king; he did an injury to Caesar;
by usurping that authority before it was determined for him by
Caesar; but if he owned himself to be a private person; his case
was much worse; since he who was putting in for the kingdom could
by no means expect to have that power granted him; of which he
had already deprived Caesar 'by taking it to himself'。 He also
touched sharply upon him; and appealed to his changing the
commanders in the army; and his sitting in the royal throne
beforehand; and his determination of law…suits; all done as if he
were no other than a king。 He appealed also to his concessions to
those that petitioned him on a public account; and indeed doing
such things; than which he could devise no greater if he had been
already settled in the kingdom by Caesar。 He also ascribed to him
the releasing of the prisoners that were in the hippodrome; and
many other things; that either had been certainly done by him; or
were believed to be done; and easily might be believed to have
been done; because they were of such a nature as to be usually
done by young men; and by such as; out of a desire of ruling;
seize upon the government too soon。 He also charged him with his
neglect of the funeral mourning for his father; and with having
merry meetings the very night in which he died; and that it was
thence the multitude took the handle of raising a tumult: and if
Archelaus could thus requite his dead father; who had bestowed
such benefits upon him; and bequeathed such great things to him;
by pretending to shed tears for him in the day time; like an
actor on the stage; but every night making mirth for having
gotten the government; he would appear to be the same Archelaus
with regard to Caesar; if he granted him the kingdom; which he
hath been to his father; since he had then dancing and singing;
as though an enemy of his were fallen; and not as though a man
were carried to his funeral; that was so nearly related; and had
been so great a benefactor to him。 But he said that the greatest
crime of all was this; that he came now before Caesar to obtain
the government by his grant; while he had before acted in all
things as he could have acted if Caesar himself; who ruled all;
had fixed him firmly in the government。 And what he most
aggravated in his pleading was the slaughter of those about the
temple; and the impiety of it; as done at the festival; and how
they were slain like sacrifices themselves; some of whom were
foreigners; and others of their own country; till the temple was
full of dead bodies: and all this was done; not by an alien; but
by one who pretended to the lawful title of a king; that he might
complete the wicked tyranny which his nature prompted him to; and
which is hated by all men。 On which account his father never so
much as dreamed of making him his successor in the kingdom; when
he was of a sound mind; because he knew his disposition; and in
his former and more authentic testament; he appointed his
antagonist Antipas to succeed; but that Archelaus was called by
his father to that dignity when he was in a dying condition; both
of body and mind; while Antipas was called when he was ripest in
his judgment; and of such strength of body as made him capable of
managing his own affairs: and if his father had the like notion
of him formerly that he hath now showed; yet hath he given a
sufficient specimen what a king he is likely to be; when he hath
'in effect' deprived Caesar of that power of disposing of the
kingdom; which he justly hath; and hath not abstained from making
a terrible slaughter of his fellow citizens in the temple; while
lie was but a private person。

6。 So when Antipater had made this speech; and had confirmed what
he had said by producing many witnesses from among Archelaus's
own relations; he made an end of his pleading。 Upon which
Nicolaus arose up to plead for Archelaus; and said; 〃That what
ha
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