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always attending to what was said and done； that he might be
furnished with calumnies to please them all。 In short； he behaved
himself so to every body in his conversation； as to appear to be
his particular friend； and he made others believe that his being
any where was for that person's advantage。 So he won upon
Alexander； who was but young； and persuaded him that he might
open his grievances to him with assurance and with nobody else。
So he declared his grief to him； how his father was alienated
from him。 He related to him also the affairs of his mother； and
of Antipater； that he had driven them from their proper dignity；
and had the power over every thing himself； that no part of this
was tolerable； since his father was already come to hate them；
and he added； that he would neither admit them to his table； nor
to his conversation。 Such were the complaints； as was but
natural； of Alexander about the things that troubled him； and
these discourses Eurycles carried to Antipater； and told him he
did not inform him of this on his own account； but that being
overcome by his kindness； the great importance of the thing
obliged him to do it； and he warned him to have a care of
Alexander； for that what he said was spoken with vehemency； and
that； in consequence of what he said； he would certainly kill him
with his own hand。 Whereupon Antipater； thinking him to be his
friend by this advice； gave him presents upon all occasions； and
at length persuaded him to inform Herod of what he had heard。 So
when he related to the king Alexander's ill temper； as discovered
by the words he had heard him speak； he was easily believed by
him； and he thereby brought the king to that pass； turning him
about by his words； and irritating him； till he increased his
hatred to him and made him implacable； which he showed at that
very time； for he immediately gave Eurycles a present of fifty
talents； who； when he had gotten them； went to Archclaus； king of
Cappadocia； and commended Alexander before him； and told him that
he had been many ways of advantage to him； in making a
reconciliation between him and his father。 So he got money from
him also； and went away； before his pernicious practices were
found out； but when Eurycles was returned to Lacedemon； he did
not leave off doing mischief； and so； for his many acts of
injustice； he was banished from his own country。
2。 But as for the king of the Jews； he was not now in the temper
he was in formerly towards Alexander and Aristobulus； when he had
been content with the hearing their calumnies when others told
him of them； but he was now come to that pass as to hate them
himself； and to urge men to speak against them； though they did
not do it of themselves。 He also observed all that was said； and
put questions； and gave ear to every one that would but speak； if
they could but say any thing against them； till at length he
heard that Euaratus of Cos was a conspirator with Alexander；
which thing to Herod was the most agreeable and sweetest news
imaginable。
3。 But still a greater misfortune came upon the young men； while
the calumnies against them were continually increased； and； as a
man may say； one would think it was every one's endeavor to lay
some grievous thing to their charge； which might appear to be for
the king's preservation。 There were two guards of Herod's body；
who were in great esteem for their strength and tallness；
Jucundus and Tyrannus； these men had been cast off by Herod； who
was displeased at them； these now used to ride along with
Alexander； and for their skill in their exercises were in great
esteem with him； and had some gold and other gifts bestowed on
them。 Now the king having an immediate suspicion of those men；
had them tortured； who endured the torture courageously for a
long time； but at last confessed that Alexander would have
persuaded them to kill Herod； when he was in pursuit of the wild
beasts； that it might be said he fell from his horse； and was run
through with his own spear； for that he had once such a
misfortune formerly。 They also showed where there was money
hidden in the stable under ground； and these convicted the king's
chief hunter； that he had given the young men the royal hunting
spears and weapons to Alexander's dependents； at Alexander's
command。
4。 After these； the commander of the garrison of Alexandrium was
caught and tortured； for he was accused to have promised to
receive the young men into his fortress； and to supply them with
that money of the king's which was laid up in that fortress； yet
did not he acknowledge any thing of it himself； but his son came
ill； and said it was so； and delivered up the writing； which； so
far as could be guessed； was in Alexander's hand。 Its contents
were these： 〃When we have finished； by God's help； all that we
have proposed to do； we will come to you； but do your endeavors；
as you have promised； to receive us into your fortress。〃 After
this writing was produced； Herod had no doubt about the
treacherous designs of his sons against him。 But Alexander said
that Diophantus the scribe had imitated his hand； and that the
paper was maliciously drawn up by Antipater； for Diophantus
appeared to be very cunning in such practices； and as he was
afterward convicted of forging other papers； he was put to death
for it。
5。 So the king produced those that had been tortured before the
multitude at Jericho； in order to have them accuse the young men；
which accusers many of the people stoned to death； and when they
were going to kill Alexander and Aristobulus likewise； the king
would not permit them to do so； but restrained the multitude； by
the means of Ptolemy and Pheroras。 However； the young men were
put under a guard； and kept in custody； that nobody might come at
them； and all that they did or said was watched； and the reproach
and fear they were in was little or nothing different from those
of condemned criminals： and one of them； who was Aristobulus； was
so deeply affected； that he brought Salome； who was his aunt； and
his mother…in…law； to lament with him for his calamities； and to
hate him who had suffered things to come to that pass； when he
said to her； 〃Art thou not in danger of destruction also； while
the report goes that thou hadst disclosed beforehand all our
affairs to Syllcus； when thou wast in hopes of being married to
him？〃 But she immediately carried these words to her brother。
Upon this he was out of patience； and gave command to bind him；
and enjoined them both； now they were kept separate one from the
other； to write down the ill things they had done against their
father； and bring the writings to him； So when this was enjoined
them； they wrote this； that they had laid no treacherous designs；
nor made any preparations against their father； but that they had
intended to fly away； and that by the distress they were in；
their lives being now uncertain and tedious to them。
6。 About this time there came an ambassador out of Cappadocia
from Archelaus； whose name was Melas； he was one of the principal
rulers under him。 So Herod； being desirous to show Archelaus's
ill…will to him； called for Alexander； as he was in his bonds；
and asked him again concerning his fight； whether and how they
had resolved to retire Alexander replied； To Archclaus； who had
promised to send them away to Rome； but that they had no wicked
nor mischievous designs against their father； and that nothing of
that nature which their adversaries had charged upon them was
true； and that their desire was； that he might have examined
Tyrannus and Jucundus more strictly； but that they had been
suddenly slain by the means of Antipater； who put his own friends
among the multitude ＇for that purpose＇。
7。 When this was said； Herod commanded that both Alexander and
Melas should be carried to Glaphyra； Archelaus's daughter； and
that she should be asked； whether she did not know somewhat of
Alexander's treacherous designs against Herod？ Now as soon as
they were come to her； and she saw Alexander in bonds； she beat
her head； and in a great consternation gave a deep and moving
groan。 The young man also fell into tears。 This was so miserable
a spectacle to those present； that； for a great while； they were
not able to say or to do any thing； but at length Ptolemy； who
was ordered to bring Alexander； bid him say whether his wife was
conscious of his actions。 He replied； 〃How is it possible that
she； whom I love better than my own soul； and by whom I have had
children； should not know what I do？〃 Upon which she cried out
that she knew of no wicked designs of his； but that yet； if her
accusing herself falsely would tend to his preservation； she
would confess it all。 Alexander replied； 〃There is no such
wickedness as those （who ought the least of all so to do）
suspect； which either I have imagined； or thou knowest of； but
this only； that we had resolved to retire to Archelaus； and from
thence to Rome。〃 Which she also confessed。 Upon which Herod；
supposing that Archelaus's ill…will to him was fully proved； sent
a letter by Olympus and Volumnius； and bid them； as they sailed
by； to touch at Eleusa of Cilicia； and give Archelaus the letter。
An