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he had obtained could afford； by which means he more and more
demonstrated to Caesar the firmness of his friendship； and his
readiness to assist him； and what was of the greatest advantage
to him was this； that his liberality came at a seasonable time
also。 And when they returned again out of Egypt； his assistances
were no way inferior to the good offices he had formerly done
them。
CHAPTER 7。
How Herod Slew Sohemus And Mariamne And Afterward Alexandra And
Costobarus； And His Most Intimate Friends； And At Last The Sons
Of Babbas Also。
1。 However； when he came into his kingdom again； he found his
house all in disorder； and his wife Mariamne and her mother
Alexandra very uneasy； for as they supposed （what was easy to be
supposed） that they were not put into that fortress ＇Alexandrium＇
for the security of their persons； but as into a garrison for
their imprisonment； and that they had no power over any thing；
either of others or of their own affairs； they were very uneasy；
and Mariamne supposing that the king's love to her was but
hypocritical； and rather pretended （as advantageous to himself）
than real； she looked upon it as fallacious。 She also was grieved
that he would not allow her any hopes of surviving him； if he
should come to any harm himself。 She also recollected what
commands he had formerly given to Joseph； insomuch that she
endeavored to please her keepers； and especially Sohemus； as well
apprized how all was in his power。 And at the first Sohemus was
faithful to Herod； and neglected none of the things he had given
him in charge； but when the women； by kind words and liberal
presents； had gained his affections over to them； he was by
degrees overcome； and at length discovered to them all the king's
injunctions； and this on that account principally； that he did
not so much as hope he would come back with the same authority he
had before； so that he thought he should both escape any danger
from him； mid supposed that he did hereby much gratify the women；
who were likely not to be overlooked in the settling of the
government； nay； that they would be able to make him abundant
recompense； since they must either reign themselves； or be very
near to him that should reign。 He had a further ground of hope
also； that though Herod should have all the success he could wish
for； and should return again； he could not contradict his wife in
what she desired； for he knew that the king's fondness for his
wife was inexpressible。 These were the motives that drew Sohemus
to discover what injunctions had been given him。 So Mariamne was
greatly displeased to hear that there was no end of the dangers
she was under from Herod； and was greatly uneasy at it； and
wished that he might obtain no favors ＇from Caesar＇； and esteemed
it almost an insupportable task to live with him any longer； and
this she afterward openly declared； without concealing her
resentment。
2。 And now Herod sailed home with joy； at the unexpected good
success he had had； and went first of all； as was proper； to this
his wife； and told her； and her only； the good news； as
preferring her before the rest； on account of his fondness for
her； and the intimacy there had been between them； and saluted
her； but so it happened； that as he told her of the good success
he had had； she was so far from rejoicing at it； that she rather
was sorry for it； nor was she able to conceal her resentments；
but； depending on her dignity； and the nobility of her birth； in
return for his salutations； she gave a groan； and declared
evidently that she rather grieved than rejoiced at his success；
and this till Herod was disturbed at her； as affording him； not
only marks of her suspicion； but evident signs of her
dissatisfaction。 This much troubled him； to see that this
surprising hatred of his wife to him was not concealed； but open；
and he took this so ill； and yet was so unable to bear it； on
account of the fondness he had for her； that he could not
continue long in any one mind； but sometimes was angry at her；
and sometimes reconciled himself to her； but by always changing
one passion for another； he was still in great uncertainty； and
thus was he entangled between hatred and love； and was frequently
disposed to inflict punishment on her for her insolence towards
him； but being deeply in love with her in his soul； he was not
able to get quit of this woman。 In short； as he would gladly have
her punished； so was he afraid lest； ere he were aware； he
should； by putting her to death； bring a heavier punishment upon
himself at the same time。
3。 When Herod's sister and mother perceived that he was in this
temper with regard to Mariamne they thought they had now got an
excellent opportunity to exercise their hatred against her and
provoked Herod to wrath by telling him； such long stories and
calumnies about her； as might at once excite his hatred and his
jealousy。 Now； though he willingly enough heard their words； yet
had not he courage enough to do any thing to her as if he
believed them； but still he became worse and worse disposed to
her； and these ill passions were more and more inflamed on both
sides； while she did not hide her disposition towards him； and he
turned his love to her into wrath against her。 But when he was
just going to put this matter past all remedy； he heard the news
that Caesar was the victor in the war； and that Antony and
Cleopatra were both dead； and that he had conquered Egypt；
whereupon he made haste to go to meet Caesar； and left the
affairs of his family in their present state。 However； Mariamne
recommended Sohemus to him； as he was setting out on his journey；
and professed that she owed him thanks for the care he had taken
of her； and asked of the king for him a place in the government；
upon which an honorable employment was bestowed upon him
accordingly。 Now when Herod was come into Egypt； he was
introduced to Caesar with great freedom； as already a friend of
his； and received very great favors from him； for he made him a
present of those four hundred Galatians who had been Cleopatra's
guards； and restored that country to him again； which； by her
means； had been taken away from him。 He also added to his kingdom
Gadara； Hippos； and Samaria； and； besides those； the maritime
cities； Gaza； and Anthedon； and Joppa； and Strato's Tower。
4。 Upon these new acquisitions； he grew more magnificent； and
conducted Caesar as far as Antioch； but upon his return； as much
as his prosperity was augmented by the foreign additions that had
been made him； so much the greater were the distresses that came
upon him in his own family； and chiefly in the affair of his
wife； wherein he formerly appeared to have been most of all
fortunate； for the affection he had for Mariamne was no way
inferior to the affections of such as are on that account
celebrated in history； and this very justly。 As for her； she was
in other respects a chaste woman； and faithful to him； yet had
she somewhat of a woman rough by nature； and treated her husband
imperiously enough； because she saw he was so fond of her as to
be enslaved to her。 She did not also consider seasonably with
herself that she lived under a monarchy； and that she was at
another's disposal； and accordingly would behave herself after a
saucy manner to him； which yet he usually put off in a jesting
way； and bore with moderation and good temper。 She would also
expose his mother and his sister openly； on account of the
meanness of their birth； and would speak unkindly of them；
insomuch that there was before this a disagreement and
unpardonable hatred among the women； and it was now come to
greater reproaches of one another than formerly； which suspicions
increased； and lasted a whole year after Herod returned from
Caesar。 However； these misfortunes； which had been kept under
some decency for a great while； burst out all at once upon such
an occasion as was now offered； for as the king was one day about
noon lain down on his bed to rest him； he called for Mariamne；
out of the great affection he had always for her。 She came in
accordingly； but would not lie down by him； and when he was very
desirous of her company； she showed her contempt of him； and
added； by way of reproach； that he had caused her father and her
brother to be slain。 （11） And when he took this injury very
unkindly； and was ready to use violence to her； in a precipitate
manner； the king's sister Salome； observing that he was more than
ordinarily disturbed； sent in to the king his cup…bearer； who had
been prepared long beforehand for such a design； and bid him tell
the king how Mariamne had persuaded him to give his assistance in
preparing a love potion for him； and if he appeared to be greatly
concerned； and to ask what that love potion was； to tell him that
she had the potion； and that he was desired only to give it him；
but that in case he did not appear to be much concerned at this
potion； to let the thing drop； and that if he did so； no harm
should thereby come to him。 When she had given him these
instructions； she sent him in at this time to make such a speech。
So he went in； after a composed manner； to gain credit to what he
should say； and yet