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the sale of the taxes to him。 But when he asked him this
question； Whether he had any sureties that would be bound for the
payment of the money？ he answered very pleasantly； 〃I will give
such security； and those of persons good and responsible； and
which you shall have no reason to distrust。〃 And when he bid him
name them who they were； he replied； 〃I give thee no other
persons； O king； for my sureties； than thyself； and this thy
wife； and you shall be security for both parties。〃 So Ptolemy
laughed at the proposal； and granted him the farming of the taxes
without any sureties。 This procedure was a sore grief to those
that came from the cities into Egypt； who were utterly
disappointed； and they returned every one to their own country
with shame。
5。 But Joseph took with him two thousand foot soldiers from the
king； for he desired he might have some assistance； in order to
force such as were refractory in the cities to pay。 And borrowing
of the king's friends at Alexandria five hundred talents； he made
haste back into Syria。 And when he was at Askelon； and demanded
the taxes of the people of Askelon； they refused to pay any
thing； and affronted him also； upon which he seized upon about
twenty of the principal men； and slew them； and gathered what
they had together； and sent it all to the king； and informed him
what he had done。 Ptolemy admired the prudent conduct of the man；
and commended him for what he had done； and gave him leave to do
as he pleased。 When the Syrians heard of this； they were
astonished； and having before them a sad example in the men of
Askelon that were slain； they opened their gates； and willingly
admitted Joseph； and paid their taxes。 And when the inhabitants
of Scythopolis attempted to affront him； and would not pay him
those taxes which they formerly used to pay； without disputing
about them； he slew also the principal men of that city； and sent
their effects to the king。 By this means he gathered great wealth
together； and made vast gains by this farming of the taxes； and
he made use of what estate he had thus gotten； in order to
support his authority； as thinking it a piece of prudence to keep
what had been the occasion and foundation of his present good
fortune； and this he did by the assistance of what he was already
possessed of； for he privately sent many presents to the king；
and to Cleopatra； and to their friends； and to all that were
powerful about the court； and thereby purchased their good…will
to himself。
6。 This good fortune he enjoyed for twenty…two years； and was
become the father of seven sons by one wife； he had also another
son； whose name was Hyrcanus； by his brother Solymius's daughter；
whom he married on the following occasion。 He once came to
Alexandria with his brother； who had along with him a daughter
already marriageable； in order to give her in wedlock to some of
the Jews of chief dignity there。 He then supped with the king；
and falling in love with an actress that was of great beauty； and
came into the room where they feasted； he told his brother of it；
and entreated him； because a Jew is forbidden by their law to
come near to a foreigner； to conceal his offense； and to be kind
and subservient to him； and to give him an opportunity of
fulfilling his desires。 Upon which his brother willingly
entertained the proposal of serving him； and adorned his own
daughter； and brought her to him by night； and put her into his
bed。 And Joseph； being disordered with drink； knew not who she
was； and so lay with his brother's daughter； and this did he many
times； and loved her exceedingly； and said to his brother； that
he loved this actress so well； that he should run the hazard of
his life ＇if he must part with her＇； and yet probably the king
would not give him leave ＇to take her with him＇。 But his brother
bid him be in no concern about that matter； and told him he might
enjoy her whom he loved without any danger； and might have her
for his wife； and opened the truth of the matter to him； and
assured him that he chose rather to have his own daughter abused；
than to overlook him； and se him come to ＇public＇ disgrace。 So
Joseph commended him for this his brotherly love； and married his
daughter； and by her begat a son； whose name was Hyrcanus； as we
said before。 And when this his youngest son showed； at thirteen
years old； a mind that was both courageous and wise； and was
greatly envied by his brethren； as being of a genius much above
them； and such a one as they might well envy； Joseph had once a
mind to know which of his sons had the best disposition to
virtue； and when he sent them severally to those that had then
the best reputation for instructing youth； the rest of his
children； by reason of their sloth and unwillingness to take
pains； returned to him foolish and unlearned。 After them he sent
out the youngest； Hyrcanus； and gave him three hundred yoke of
oxen； and bid him go two days' journey into the wilderness； and
sow the land there； and yet kept back privately the yokes of the
oxen that coupled them together。 When Hyrcanus came to the place；
and found he had no yokes with him； he contenmed the drivers of
the oxen； who advised him to send some to his father； to bring
them some yokes； but he thinking that he ought not to lose his
time while they should be sent to bring him the yokes； he
invented a kind of stratagem； and what suited an age older than
his own； for he slew ten yoke of the oxen； and distributed their
flesh among the laborers； and cut their hides into several
pieces； and made him yokes； and yoked the oxen together with
them； by which means he sowed as much land as his father had
appointed him to sow； and returned to him。 And when he was come
back； his father was mightily pleased with his sagacity； and
commended the sharpness of his understanding； and his boldness in
what he did。 And he still loved him the more； as if he were his
only genuine son； while his brethren were much troubled at it。
7。 But when one told him that Ptolemy had a son just born； and
that all the principal men of Syria； and the other countries
subject to him； were to keep a festival； on account of the
child's birthday； and went away in haste with great retinues to
Alexandria； he was himself indeed hindered from going by old age；
but he made trial of his sons； whether any of them would be
willing to go to the king。 And when the elder sons excused
themselves from going； and said they were not courtiers good
enough for such conversation； and advised him to send their
brother Hyrcanus； he gladly hearkened to that advice； and called
Hyrcanus； and asked him whether he would go to the king； and
whether it was agreeable to him to go or not。 And upon his
promise that he would go； and his saying that he should not want
much money for his journey； because he would live moderately； and
that ten thousand drachmas would be sufficient； he was pleased
with his son's prudence。 After a little while； the son advised
his father not to send his presents to the king from thence； but
to give him a letter to his steward at Alexandria； that he might
furnish him with money； for purchasing what should be most
excellent and most precious。 So he thinking that the expense of
ten talents would be enough for presents to be made the king； and
commending his son； as giving him good advice； wrote to Arion his
steward； that managed all his money matters at Alexandria； which
money was not less than three thousand talents on his account；
for Joseph sent the money he received in Syria to Alexandria。 And
when the day appointed for the payment of the taxes to the king
came； he wrote to Arion to pay them。 So when the son had asked
his father for a letter to the steward； and had received it； he
made haste to Alexandria。 And when he was gone； his brethren
wrote to all the king's friends； that they should destroy him。
8。 But when he was come to Alexaudria； he delivered his letter to
Arion； who asked him how many talents he would have （hoping he
would ask for no more than ten； or a little more）； he said he
wanted a thousand talents。 At which the steward was angry； and
rebuked him； as one that intended to live extravagantly； and he
let him know how his father had gathered together his estate by
painstaking； and resisting his inclinations； and wished him to
imitate the example of his father： he assured him withal； that he
would give him but ten talents； and that for a present to the
king also。 The son was irritated at this； and threw Arion into
prison。 But when Arion's wife had informed Cleopatra of this；
with her entreaty； that she would rebuke the child for what he
had done； （for Arion was in great esteem with her；） Cleopatra
informed the king of it。 And Ptolemy sent for Hyrcanus； and told
him that he wondered； when he was sent to him by his father； that
he had not yet come into his presence； but had laid the steward
in prison。 And he gave order； therefore； that he should come to
him； and give an account of the reason of what he had done。 And
they report that the answer he made to the king's messenger was
this： That 〃there was a law of his that forbade a child that was
born to taste of the sacrifice； before he ha