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So he went in； after a composed manner； to gain credit to what he
should say； and yet somewhat hastily； and said that Mariamne had
given him presents； and persuaded him to give him a love potion。
And when this moved the king； he said that this love potion was a
composition that she had given him； whose effects he did not
know； which was the reason of his resolving to give him this
information； as the safest course he could take； both for himself
and for the king。 When Herod heard what he said； and was in an
ill disposition before； his indignation grew more violent； and he
ordered that eunuch of Mariamne； who was most faithful to her； to
be brought to torture about this potion； as well knowing it was
not possible that any thing small or great could be done without
him。 And when the man was under the utmost agonies； he could say
nothing concerning the thing he was tortured about； but so far he
knew； that Mariamne's hatred against him was occasioned by
somewhat that Sohemus had said to her。 Now as he was saying this；
Herod cried out aloud； and said that Sohemus； who had been at all
other times most faithful to him； and to his government； would
not have betrayed what injunctions he had given him； unless he
had had a nearer conversation than ordinary with Mariamne。 So he
gave order that Sohemus should be seized on and slain
immediately； but he allowed his wife to take her trial； and got
together those that were most faithful to him； and laid an
elaborate accusation against her for this love potion and
composition； which had been charged upon her by way of calumny
only。 However； he kept no temper in what he said； and was in too
great a passion for judging well about this matter。 Accordingly；
when the court was at length satisfied that he was so resolved；
they passed the sentence of death upon her； but when the sentence
was passed upon her； this temper was suggested by himself； and by
some others of the court； that she should not be thus hastily put
to death； but be laid in prison in one of the fortresses
belonging to the kingdom： but Salome and her party labored hard
to have the woman put to death； and they prevailed with the king
to do so； and advised this out of caution； lest the multitude
should be tumultuous if she were suffered to live； and thus was
Mariamne led to execution。
5。 When Alexandra observed how things went； and that there were
small hopes that she herself should escape the like treatment
from Herod； she changed her behavior to quite the reverse of what
might have been expected from her former boldness； and this after
a very indecent manner； for out of her desire to show how
entirely ignorant she was of the crimes laid against Mariamne；
she leaped out of her place； and reproached her daughter in the
hearing of all the people； and cried out that she had been an ill
woman； and ungrateful to her husband； and that her punishment
came justly upon her for such her insolent behavior； for that she
had not made proper returns to him who had been their common
benefactor。 And when she had for some time acted after this
hypocritical manner； and been so outrageous as to tear her hair；
this indecent and dissembling behavior； as was to be expected；
was greatly condemned by the rest of the spectators； as it was
principally by the poor woman who was to suffer； for at the first
she gave her not a word； nor was discomposed at her peevishness；
and only looked at her； yet did she out of a greatness of soul
discover her concern for her mother's offense； and especially for
her exposing herself in a manner so unbecoming her； but as for
herself； she went to her death with an unshaken firmness of mind；
and without changing the color of her face； and thereby evidently
discovered the nobility of her descent to the spectators； even in
the last moments of her life。
6。 And thus died Mariamne； a woman of an excellent character；
both for chastity and greatness of soul； but she wanted
moderation； and had too much of contention in her nature； yet had
she all that can be said in the beauty of her body； and her
majestic appearance in conversation； and thence arose the
greatest part of the occasions why she did not prove so agreeable
to the king； nor live so pleasantly with him； as she might
otherwise have done； for while she was most indulgently used by
the king； out of his fondness for her； and did not expect that he
could do any hard thing to her； she took too unbounded a liberty。
Moreover； that which most afflicted her was； what he had done to
her relations； and she ventured to speak of all they had suffered
by him； and at last greatly provoked both the king's mother and
sister； till they became enemies to her； and even he himself also
did the same； on whom alone she depended for her expectations of
escaping the last of punishments。
7。 But when she was once dead； the king's affections for her were
kindled in a more outrageous manner than before； whose old
passion for her we have already described； for his love to her
was not of a calm nature； nor such as we usually meet with among
other husbands； for at its commencement it was of an enthusiastic
kind； nor was it by their long cohabitation and free conversation
together brought under his power to manage； but at this time his
love to Mariamne seemed to seize him in such a peculiar manner；
as looked like Divine vengeance upon him for the taking away her
life； for he would frequently call for her； and frequently lament
for her in a most indecent manner。 Moreover； he bethought him of
every thing he could make use of to divert his mind from thinking
of her； and contrived feasts and assemblies for that purpose； but
nothing would suffice； he therefore laid aside the administration
of public affairs； and was so far conquered by his passion； that
he would order his servants to call for Mariamne； as if she were
still alive； and could still hear them。 And when he was in this
way； there arose a pestilential disease； and carried off the
greatest part of the multitude； and of his best and most esteemed
friends； and made all men suspect that this was brought upon them
by the anger of God； for the injustice that had been done to
Mariamne。 This circumstance affected the king still more； till at
length he forced himself to go into desert places； and there；
under pretense of going a hunting； bitterly afflicted himself；
yet had he not borne his grief there many days before he fell
into a most dangerous distemper himself： he had an inflammation
upon him； and a pain in the hinder part of his head； joined with
madness； and for the remedies that were used； they did him no
good at all； but proved contrary to his case； and so at length
brought him to despair。 All the physicians also that were about
him； partly because the medicines they brought for his recovery
could not at all conquer the disease； and partly because his diet
could be no other than what his disease inclined him to； desired
him to eat whatever he had a mind to； and so left the small hopes
they had of his recovery in the power of that diet； and committed
him to fortune。 And thus did his distemper go on； while he was at
Samaria； now called Sebaste。
8。 Now Alexandra abode at this time at Jerusalem； and being
informed what condition Herod was in； she endeavored to get
possession of the fortified places that were about the city；
which were two； the one belonging to the city itself； the other
belonging to the temple； and those that could get them into their
hands had the whole nation under their power； for without the
command of them it was not possible to offer their sacrifices；
and to think of leaving on those sacrifices is to every Jew
plainly impossible； who are still more ready to lose their lives
than to leave off that Divine worship which they have been wont
to pay unto God。 Alexandra； therefore； discoursed with those that
had the keeping of these strong holds； that it was proper for
them to deliver the same to her； and to Herod's sons； lest； upon
his death； any other person should seize upon the government； and
that upon his recovery none could keep them more safely for him
than those of his own family。 These words were not by them at all
taken in good part； and as they had been in former times faithful
＇to Herod＇； they resolved to continue so more than ever； both
because they hated Alexandra； and because they thought it a sort
of impiety to despair of Herod's recovery while he was yet alive；
for they had been his old friends； and one of them； whose name
was Achiabus； was his cousin…german。 They sent messengers
therefore to acquaint him with Alexandra's design； so he made no
longer delay； but gave orders to have her slain； yet was it still
with difficulty； and after he had endured great pain； that he got
clear of his distemper。 He was still sorely afflicted； both in
mind and body； and made very uneasy； and readier than ever upon
all occasions to inflict punishment upon those that fell under
his hand。 He also slew the most intimate of his friends；
Costobarus； and Lysimachus； and Cadias； who was also called
Antipater； as also Dositheus； and that upon the following
occasion。
9。 Costobarus was an Idumean by birth； and one