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dishonorable rank； who yet by birth were the most noble； they
could not bear the dishonor。 And for the women； Glaphyra；
Alexander's wife； the daughter of Archclaus； hated Salome； both
because of her love to her husband； and because Glaphyra seemed
to behave herself somewhat insolently towards Salome's daughter；
who was the wife of Aristobulus； which equality of hers to
herself Glaphyra took very impatiently。
3。 Now； besides this second contention that had fallen among
them； neither did the king's brother Pheroras keep himself out of
trouble； but had a particular foundation for suspicion and
hatred； for he was overcome with the charms of his wife； to such
a degree of madness； that he despised the king's daughter； to
whom he had been betrothed； and wholly bent his mind to the
other； who had been but a servant。 Herod also was grieved by the
dishonor that was done him； because he had bestowed many favors
upon him； and had advanced him to that height of power that he
was almost a partner with him in the kingdom； and saw that he had
not made him a due return for his labors； and esteemed himself
unhappy on that account。 So upon Pheroras's unworthy refusal； he
gave the damsel to Phasaelus's son； but after some time； when he
thought the heat of his brother's affections was over； he blamed
him for his former conduct； and desired him to take his second
daughter； whose name was Cypros。 Ptolemy also advised him to
leave off affronting his brother； and to forsake her whom he had
loved； for that it was a base thing to be so enamored of a
servant； as to deprive himself of the king's good…will to him；
and become an occasion of his trouble； and make himself hated by
him。 Pheroras knew that this advice would be for his own
advantage； particularly because he had been accused before； and
forgiven； so he put his wife away； although he already had a son
by her； and engaged to the king that he would take his second
daughter； and agreed that the thirtieth day after should be the
day of marriage； and sware he would have no further conversation
with her whom he had put away； but when the thirty days were
over； he was such a slave to his affections； that he no longer
performed any thing he had promised； but continued still with his
former wife。 This occasioned Herod to grieve openly； and made him
angry； while the king dropped one word or other against Pheroras
perpetually； and many made the king's anger an opportunity for
raising calumnies against him。 Nor had the king any longer a
single quiet day or hour； but occasions of one fresh quarrel or
another arose among his relations； and those that were dearest to
him； for Salome was of a harsh temper； and ill…natured to
Mariamne's sons； nor would she suffer her own daughter； who was
the wife of Aristobulus； one of those young men； to bear a
good…will to her husband； but persuaded her to tell her if he
said any thing to her in private； and when any misunderstandings
happened； as is common； she raised a great many suspicions out of
it； by which means she learned all their concerns； and made the
damsel ill…natured to the young man。 And in order to gratify her
mother； she often said that the young men used to mention
Mariamne when they were by themselves； and that they hated their
father； and were continually threatening； that if they had once
got the kingdom； they would make Herod's sons by his other wives
country schoolmasters； for that the present education which was
given them； and their diligence in learning； fitted them for such
an employment。 And as for the women； whenever they saw them
adorned with their mother's clothes； they threatened； that
instead of their present gaudy apparel； they should be clothed in
sackcloth； and confined so closely that they should not see the
light of the sun。 These stories were presently carried by Salome
to the king； who was troubled to hear them； and endeavored to
make up matters； but these suspicions afflicted him； and becoming
more and more uneasy； he believed every body against every body。
However； upon his rebuking his sons； and hearing the defense they
made for themselves； he was easier for a while； though a little
afterwards much worse accidents came upon him。
4。 For Pheroras came to Alexander； the husband of Glaphyra； who
was the daughter of Archelaus； as we have already told you； and
said that he had heard from Salome that Herod has enamored on
Glaphyra； and that his passion for her was incurable。 When
Alexander heard that； he was all on fire； from his youth and
jealousy； and he interpreted the instances of Herod's obliging
behavior to her； which were very frequent； for the worse； which
came from those suspicions he had on account of that word which
fell from Pheroras； nor could he conceal his grief at the thing；
but informed him what word： Pheroras had said。 Upon which Herod
was in a greater disorder than ever； and not bearing such a false
calumny； which was to his shame； was much disturbed at it； and
often did he lament the wickedness of his domestics； and how good
he had been to them； and how ill requitals they had made him。 So
he sent for Pheroras； and reproached him； and said； 〃Thou vilest
of all men！ art thou come to that unmeasurable and extravagant
degree of ingratitude； as not only to suppose such things of me；
but to speak of them？ I now indeed perceive what thy intentions
are。 It is not thy only aim to reproach me； when thou usest such
words to my son； but thereby to persuade him to plot against me；
and get me destroyed by poison。 And who is there； if he had not a
good genius at his elbow； as hath my son； but would not bear such
a suspicion of his father； but would revenge himself upon him？
Dost thou suppose that thou hast only dropped a word for him to
think of； and not rather hast put a sword into his hand to slay
his father？ And what dost thou mean； when thou really hatest both
him and his brother； to pretend kindness to them； only in order
to raise a reproach against me； and talk of such things as no one
but such an impious wretch as thou art could either devise in
their mind； or declare in their words？ Begone； thou art such a
plague to thy benefactor and thy brother； and may that evil
conscience of thine go along with thee； while I still overcome my
relations by kindness； and am so far from avenging myself of
them； as they deserve； that I bestow greater benefits upon them
than they are worthy of。〃
5。 Thus did the king speak。 Whereupon Pheroras； who was caught in
the very act of his villainy； said that 〃it was Salome who was
the framer of this plot； and that the words came from her。〃 But
as soon as she heard that； for she was at hand； she cried out；
like one that would be believed； that no such thing ever came out
of her mouth； that they all earnestly endeavored to make the king
hate her； and to make her away； because of the good…will she bore
to Herod； and because she was always foreseeing the dangers that
were coming upon him； and that at present there were more plots
against him than usual； for while she was the only person who
persuaded her brother to put away the wife he now had； and to
take the king's daughter； it was no wonder if she were hated by
him。 As she said this； and often tore her hair； and often beat
her breast； her countenance made her denial to be believed； but
the peverseness of her manners declared at the same time her
dissimulation in these proceedings； but Pheroras was caught
between them； and had nothing plausible to offer in his own
defense； while he confessed that he had said what was charged
upon him； but was not believed when he said he had heard it from
Salome； so the confusion among them was increased； and their
quarrelsome words one to another。 At last the king； out of his
hatred to his brother and sister； sent them both away； and when
he had commended the moderation of his son； and that he had
himself told him of the report； he went in the evening to refresh
himself。 After such a contest as this had fallen out among them；
Salome's reputation suffered greatly； since she was supposed to
have first raised the calumny； and the king's wives were grieved
at her； as knowing she was a very ill…natured woman； and would
sometimes be a friend； and sometimes an enemy； at different
seasons： so they perpetually said one thing or another against
her； and somewhat that now fell out made them the bolder in
speaking against her。
6。 There was one Obodas； king of Arabia； an inactive and slothful
man in his nature； but Sylleus managed most of his affairs for
him。 He was a shrewd man； although he was but young； and was
handsome withal。 This Sylleus； upon some occasion coining to
Herod； and supping with him； saw Salome； and set his heart upon
her； and understanding that she was a widow； he discoursed with
her。 Now because Salome was at this time less in favor with her
brother； she looked upon Sylleus with some passion； and was very
earnest to be married to him； and on the days following there
appeared many； and those very great； indications of their
agreement together。 Now the women carried this news to the king；
and laughed at the indecency of it； whereupon Herod inquired
about it further of Pheroras；