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of them all promiscuously； for nothing can hinder him that
reigns； if he have children； and their mother be dead； but the
father may have a suspicion upon all his sons； as intending some
treachery to him； but a suspicion is not sufficient to prove such
an impious practice。 Now let any man say； whether we have
actually and insolently attempted any such thing； whereby actions
otherwise incredible use to be made credible？ Can any body prove
that poison hath been prepared？ or prove a conspiracy of our
equals； or the corruption of servants； or letters written against
thee？ though indeed there are none of those things but have
sometimes been pretended by way of calumny； when they were never
done； for a royal family that is at variance with itself is a
terrible thing； and that which thou callest a reward of piety
often becomes； among very wicked men； such a foundation of hope；
as makes them leave no sort of mischief untried。 Nor does any one
lay any wicked practices to our charge； but as to calumnies by
hearsay； how can he put an end to them； who will not hear what we
have to say？ Have we talked with too great freedom？ Yes； but not
against thee； for that would be unjust； but against those that
never conceal any thing that is spoken to them。 Hath either of us
lamented our mother？ Yes； but not because she is dead； but
because she was evil spoken of by those that had no reason so to
do。 Are we desirous of that dominion which we know our father is
possessed of？ For what reason can we do so？ If we already have
royal honors； as we have； should not we labor in vain？ And if we
have them not； yet are not we in hopes of them？ Or supposing that
we had killed thee； could we expect to obtain thy kingdom？ while
neither the earth would let us tread upon it； nor the sea let us
sail upon it； after such an action as that； nay； the religion of
all your subjects； and the piety of the whole nation； would have
prohibited parricides from assuming the government； and from
entering into that most holy temple which was built by thee （4）
But suppose we had made light of other dangers； can any murderer
go off unpunished while Caesar is alive？ We are thy sons； and not
so impious or so thoughtless as that comes to； though perhaps
more unfortunate than is convenient for thee。 But in case thou
neither findest any causes of complaint； nor any treacherous
designs； what sufficient evidence hast thou to make such a
wickedness of ours credible？ Our mother is dead indeed； but then
what befell her might be an instruction to us to caution； and not
an incitement to wickedness。 We are willing to make a larger
apology for ourselves； but actions never done do not admit of
discourse。 Nay； we will make this agreement with thee； and that
before Caesar； the lord of all； who is now a mediator between us；
If thou； O father； canst bring thyself； by the evidence of truth；
to have a mind free from suspicion concerning us let us live；
though even then we shall live in an unhappy way； for to be
accused of great acts of wickedness； though falsely； is a
terrible thing； but if thou hast any fear remaining； continue
thou on in thy pious life； we will give this reason for our own
conduct； our life is not so desirable to us as to desire to have
it； if it tend to the harm of our father who gave it us。〃
4。 When Alexander had thus spoken； Caesar； who did not before
believe so gross a calumny； was still more moved by it； and
looked intently upon Herod； and perceived he was a little
confounded： the persons there present were under an anxiety about
the young men； and the fame that was spread abroad made the king
hated； for the very incredibility of the calumny； and the
commiseration of the flower of youth； the beauty of body； which
were in the young men； pleaded for assistance； and the more so on
this account； that Alexander had made their defense with
dexterity and prudence； nay； they did not themselves any longer
continue in their former countenances； which had been bedewed
with tears； and cast downwards to the ground； but now there arose
in them hope of the best； and the king himself appeared not to
have had foundation enough to build such an accusation upon； he
having no real evidence wherewith to correct them。 Indeed he
wanted some apology for making the accusation； but Caesar； after
some delay； said； that although the young men were thoroughly
innocent of that for which they were calumniated； yet had they
been so far to blame； that they had not demeaned themselves
towards their father so as to prevent that suspicion which was
spread abroad concerning them。 He also exhorted Herod to lay all
such suspicions aside； and to be reconciled to his sons； for that
it was not just to give any credit to such reports concerning his
own children； and that this repentance on both sides might still
heal those breaches that had happened between them； and might
improve that their good…will to one another； whereby those on
both sides； excusing the rashness of their suspicions； might
resolve to bear a greater degree of affection towards each other
than they had before。 After Caesar had given them this
admonition； he beckoned to the young men。 When therefore they
were disposed to fall down to make intercession to their father；
he took them up； and embraced them； as they were in tears； and
took each of them distinctly in his arms； till not one of those
that were present； whether free…man or slave； but was deeply
affected with what they saw。 （5）
5。 Then did they return thanks to Caesar； and went away together；
and with them went Antipater； with an hypocritical pretense that
he rejoiced at this reconciliation。 And in the last days they
were with Caesar； Herod made him a present of three hundred
talents； as he was then exhibiting shows and largesses to the
people of Rome； and Caesar made him a present of half the revenue
of the copper mines in Cyprus； and committed the care of the
other half to him； and honored him with other gifts and incomes；
and as to his own kingdom； he left it in his own power to appoint
which of his sons he pleased for his successor； or to distribute
it in parts to every one； that the dignity might thereby come to
them all。 And when Herod was disposed to make such a settlement
immediately； Caesar said he would not give him leave to deprive
himself； while he was alive； of the power over his kingdom； or
over his sons。
6。 After this； Herod returned to Judea again。 But during his
absence no small part of his dominion about Trachon had revolted；
whom yet the commanders he left there had vanquished； and
compelled to a submission again。 Now as Herod was sailing with
his sons； and was come over against Cilicia； to ＇the island＇
Eleusa； which hath now changed its name for Sebaste； he met with
Archelaus； king of Cappadocia； who received him kindly； as
rejoicing that he was reconciled to his sons； and that the
accusation against Alexander； who had married his daughter； was
at an end。 They also made one another such presents as it became
kings to make； From thence Herod came to Judea and to the temple；
where he made a speech to the people concerning what had been
done in this his journey。 He also discoursed to them about
Caesar's kindness to him； and about as many of the particulars he
had done as he thought it for his advantage other people should
be acquainted with。 At last he turned his speech to the
admonition of his sons； and exhorted those that lived at court；
and the multitude； to concord； and informed them that his sons
were to reign after him； Antipater first； and then Alexander and
Aristobulus； the sons of Mariamne： but he desired that at present
they should all have regard to himself； and esteem him king and
lord of all； since he was not yet hindered by old age； but was in
that period of life when he must be the most skillful in
governing； and that he was not deficient in other arts of
management that might enable him to govern the kingdom well； and
to rule over his children also。 He further told the rulers under
him； and the soldiery； that in case they would look upon him
alone； their life would be led in a peaceable manner； and they
would make one another happy。 And when he had said this； he
dismissed the assembly。 Which speech was acceptable to the
greatest part of the audience； but not so to them all； for the
contention among his sons； and the hopes he had given them；
occasioned thoughts and desires of innovations among them。
CHAPTER 5。
How Herod Celebrated The Games That Were To Return Every Fifth
Year Upon The Building Of Cesarea； And How He Built And Adorned
Many Other Places After A Magnificent Manner； And Did Many Other
Actions Gloriously
1。 About this time it was that Cesarea Sebaste； which he had
built； was finished。 The entire building being accomplished： in
the tenth year； the solemnity of it fell into the twenty…eighth
year of Herod's reign； and into the hundred and ninety…second
olympiad。 There was accordingly a great festival and most
sumptuous preparations made presently； in order to its
dedication； for he had appointed a contention in music； and games
to be performed naked。 He had also gotten ready a great number of
those that fight s