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suspicions about him afterwards。
7。 At this time a report went about the city Jerusalem among
Herod's enemies； that Antony had tortured Herod； and put him to
death。 This report； as is natural； disturbed those that were
about the palace； but chiefly the women； upon which Alexandra
endeavored to persuade Joseph to go out of the palace； and fly
away with them to the ensigns of the Roman legion； which then lay
encamped about the city； as a guard to the kingdom； under the
command of Julius； for that by this means； if any disturbance
should happen about the palace； they should be in greater
security； as having the Romans favorable to them； and that
besides； they hoped to obtain the highest authority； if Antony
did but once see Mariamne； by whose means they should recover the
kingdom； and want nothing which was reasonable for them to hope
for； because of their royal extraction。
8。 But as they were in the midst of these deliberations； letters
were brought from Herod about all his affairs； and proved
contrary to the report； and of what they before expected； for
when he was come to Antony； he soon recovered his interest with
him； by the presents he made him； which he had brought with him
from Jerusalem； and he soon induced him； upon discoursing with
him； to leave off his indignation at him； so that Cleopatra's
persuasions had less force than the arguments and presents he
brought to regain his friendship； for Antony said that it was not
good to require an account of a king； as to the affairs of his
government； for at this rate he could be no king at all； but that
those who had given him that authority ought to permit him to
make use of it。 He also said the same things to Cleopatra； that
it would be best for her not busily to meddle with the acts of
the king's government。 Herod wrote an account of these things；
and enlarged upon the other honors which he had received from
Antony； how he sat by him at his hearing causes； and took his
diet with him every day； and that he enjoyed those favors from
him； notwithstanding the reproaches that Cleopatra so severely
laid against him； who having a great desire of his country； and
earnestly entreating Antony that the kingdom might be given to
her； labored with her utmost diligence to have him out of the
way； but that he still found Antony just to him； and had no
longer any apprehensions of hard treatment from him； and that he
was soon upon his return； with a firmer additional assurance of
his favor to him； in his reigning and managing public affairs；
and that there was no longer any hope for Cleopatra's covetous
temper； since Antony had given her Celesyria instead of what she
had desired； by which means he had at once pacified her； and got
clear of the entreaties which she made him to have Judea bestowed
upon her。
9。 When these letters were brought； the women left off their
attempt for flying to the Romans； which they thought of while
Herod was supposed to be dead； yet was not that purpose of theirs
a secret； but when the king had conducted Antony on his way
against the Partnians； he returned to Judea； when both his sister
Salome and his mother informed him of Alexandra's intentions。
Salome also added somewhat further against Joseph； though it was
no more than a calumny； that he had often had criminal
conversation with Mariamne。 The reason of her saying so was this；
that she for a long time bare her ill…will； for when they had
differences with one another； Mariamne took great freedoms； and
reproached the rest for the meanness of their birth。 But Herod；
whose affection to Mariamne was always very warm； was presently
disturbed at this； and could not bear the torments of jealousy；
but was still restrained from doing any rash thing to her by the
love he had for her； yet did his vehement affection and jealousy
together make him ask Mariamne by herself about this matter of
Joseph； but she denied it upon her oath； and said all that an
innocent woman could possibly say in her own defense； so that by
little and little the king was prevailed upon to drop the
suspicion； and left off his anger at her； and being overcome with
his passion for his wife； he made an apology to her for having
seemed to believe what he had heard about her； and returned her a
great many acknowledgments of her modest behavior； and professed
the extraordinary affection and kindness he had for her； till at
last； as is usual between lovers； they both fell into tears； and
embraced one another with a most tender affection。 But as the
king gave more and more assurances of his belief of her fidelity；
and endeavored to draw her to a like confidence in him； Marianme
said； Yet was not that command thou gavest； that if any harm came
to thee from Antony； I； who had been no occasion of it； should
perish with thee； a sign of thy love to me？〃 When these words
were fallen from her； the king was shocked at them； and presently
let her go out of his arms； and cried out； and tore his hair with
his own hands； and said； that 〃now he had an evident
demonstration that Joseph had had criminal conversation with his
wife； for that he would never have uttered what he had told him
alone by himself； unless there had been such a great familiarity
and firm confidence between them。 And while he was in this
passion he had like to have killed his wife； but being still
overborne by his love to her； he restrained this his passion；
though not without a lasting grief and disquietness of mind。
However； he gave order to slay Joseph； without permitting him to
come into his sight； and as for Alexandra； he bound her； and kept
her in custody； as the cause of all this mischief。
CHAPTER 4。
How Cleopatra； When She Had Gotten From Antony Some Parts Of
Judea And Arabia Came Into Judea； And How Herod Gave Her Many
Presents And Conducted Her On Her Way Back To Egypt。
1。 Now at this time the affairs of Syria were in confusion by
Cleopatra's constant persuasions to Antony to make an attempt
upon every body's dominions； for she persuaded him to take those
dominions away from their several princes； and bestow them upon
her； and she had a mighty influence upon him； by reason of his
being enslaved to her by his affections。 She was also by nature
very covetous； and stuck at no wickedness。 She had already
poisoned her brother； because she knew that he was to be king of
Egypt； and this when he was but fifteen years old； and she got
her sister Arsinoe to be slain； by the means of Antony； when she
was a supplicant at Diana's temple at Ephesus； for if there were
but any hopes of getting money； she would violate both temples
and sepulchers。 Nor was there any holy place that was esteemed
the most inviolable； from which she would not fetch the ornaments
it had in it； nor any place so profane； but was to suffer the
most flagitious treatment possible from her； if it could but
contribute somewhat to the covetous humor of this wicked
creature： yet did not all this suffice so extravagant a woman；
who was a slave to her lusts； but she still imagined that she
wanted every thing she could think of； and did her utmost to gain
it； for which reason she hurried Antony on perpetually to deprive
others of their dominions； and give them to her。 And as she went
over Syria with him； she contrived to get it into her possession；
so he slew Lysanias； the son of Ptolemy； accusing him of his
bringing the Parthians upon those countries。 She also petitioned
Antony to give her Judea and Arabia； and； in order thereto；
desired him to take these countries away from their present
governors。 As for Antony； he was so entirely overcome by this
woman； that one would not think her conversation only could do
it； but that he was some way or other bewitched to do whatsoever
she would have him； yet did the grossest parts of her injustice
make him so ashamed； that he would not always hearken to her to
do those flagrant enormities she would have persuaded him to。
That therefore he might not totally deny her； nor； by doing every
thing which she enjoined him； appear openly to be an ill man； he
took some parts of each of those countries away from their former
governors； and gave them to her。 Thus he gave her the cities that
were within the river Eleutherus； as far as Egypt； excepting Tyre
and Sidon； which he knew to have been free cities from their
ancestors； although she pressed him very often to bestow those on
her also。
2。 When Cleopatra had obtained thus much； and had accompanied
Antony in his expedition to Armenia as far as Euphrates； she
returned back； and came to Apamia and Damascus； and passed on to
Judea； where Herod met her； and farmed of her parts of Arabia；
and those revenues that came to her from the region about
Jericho。 This country bears that balsam； which is the most
precious drug that is there； and grows there alone。 The place
bears also palm trees； both many in number； and those excellent
in their kind。 When she was there； and was very often with Herod；
she endeavored to have criminal conversation with the king； nor
did she affect secrecy in the indulgence of such sort of
pleasures； and perhaps she had in some measure a passion of love
to him； or rather； what is most probable；