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a letter by Olympus and Volumnius； and bid them； as they sailed
by； to touch at Eleusa of Cilicia； and give Archelaus the letter。
And that when they had ex…postulated with him； that he had a hand
in his son's treacherous design against him； they should from
thence sail to Rome； and that； in case they found Nicolaus had
gained any ground； and that Caesar was no longer displeased at
him； he should give him his letters； and the proofs which he had
ready to show against the young men。 As to Archelaus； he made his
defense for himself； that he had promised to receive the young
men； because it was both for their own and their father's
advantage so to do； lest some too severe procedure should be gone
upon in that anger and disorder they were in on occasion of the
present suspicions； but that still he had not promised to send
them to Caesar； and that he had not promised any thing else to
the young men that could show any ill…will to him。
8。 When these ambassadors were come to Rome； they had a fit
opportunity of delivering their letters to Caesar； because they
found him reconciled to Herod； for the circumstances of
Nicolaus's embassage had been as follows： As soon as he was come
to Rome； and was about the court； he did not first of all set
about what he was come for only； but he thought fit also to
accuse Sylleus。 Now the Arabians； even before he came to talk
with them； were quarrelling one with another； and some of them
left Sylleus's party； and joining themselves to Nicolaus；
informed him of all the wicked things that had been done； and
produced to him evident demonstrations of the slaughter of a
great number of Obodas's friends by Sylleus； for when these men
left Sylleus； they had carried off with them those letters
whereby they could convict him。 When Nicolaus saw such an
opportunity afforded him； he made use of it； in order to gain his
own point afterward； and endeavored immediately to make a
reconciliation between Caesar and Herod； for he was fully
satisfied； that if he should desire to make a defense for Herod
directly； he should not be allowed that liberty； but that if he
desired to accuse Sylleus； there would an occasion present itself
of speaking on Herod's behalf。 So when the cause was ready for a
hearing； and the day was appointed； Nicolaus； while Aretas's
ambassadors were present； accused Sylleus； and said that he
imputed to him the destruction of the king ＇Obodas＇； and of many
others of the Arabians； that he had borrowed money for no good
design； and he proved that he had been guilty of adultery； not
only with the Arabian； but Reinan women also。 And。 he added； that
above all the rest he had alienated Caesar from Herod； and that
all that he had said about the actions of Herod were falsities。
When Nicolaus was come to this topic； Caesar stopped him from
going on； and desired him only to speak to this affair of Herod；
and to show that he had not led an army into Arabia； nor slain
two thousand five hundred men there； nor taken prisoners； nor
pillaged the country。 To which Nicolaus made this answer： 〃I
shall principally demonstrate； that either nothing at all； or but
a very little； of those imputations are true； of which thou hast
been informed； for had they been true； thou mightest justly have
been still more angry at Herod。〃 At this strange assertion Caesar
was very attentive； and Nicolaus said that there was a debt due
to Herod of five hundred talents； and a bond； wherein it was
written； that if the time appointed be lapsed； it should be
lawful to make a seizure out of any part of his country。 〃As for
the pretended army；〃 he said； 〃it was no army； but a party sent
out to require the just payment of the money； that this was not
sent immediately； nor so soon as the bond allowed； but that
Sylleus had frequently come before Saturninus and Volumnius； the
presidents of Syria； and that at last he had sworn at Berytus； by
thy fortune； （13） that he would certainly pay the money within
thirty days； and deliver up the fugitives that were under his
dominion。 And that when Sylleus had performed nothing of this；
Herod came again before the presidents； and upon their permission
to make a seizure for his money； he； with difficulty； went out of
his country with a party of soldiers for that purpose。 And this
is all the war which these men so tragically describe； and this
is the affair of the expedition into Arabia。 And how can this be
called a war； when thy presidents permitted it； the covenants
allowed it； and it was not executed till thy name； O Caesar； as
well as that of the other gods； had been profaned？ And now I must
speak in order about the captives。 There were robbers that dwelt
in Trachonitis； at first their number was no more than forty； but
they became more afterwards； and they escaped the punishment
Herod would have inflicted on them； by making Arabia their
refuge。 Sylleus received them； and supported them with food； that
they might be mischievous to all mankind； and gave them a country
to inhabit； and himself received the gains they made by robbery；
yet did he promise that he would deliver up these men； and that
by the same oaths and same time that he sware and fixed for
payment of his debt： nor can he by any means show that any other
persons have at this time been taken out of Arabia besides these；
and indeed not all these neither； but only so many as could not
conceal themselves。 And thus does the calumny of the captives；
which hath been so odiously represented； appear to be no better
than a fiction and a lie； made on purpose to provoke thy
indignation； for I venture to affirm that when the forces of the
Arabians came upon us； and one or two of Herod's party fell； he
then only defended himself； and there fell Nacebus their general；
and in all about twenty…five others； and no more； whence Sylleus；
by multiplying every single soldier to a hundred； he reckons the
slain to have been two thousand five hundred。〃
9。 This provoked Caesar more than ever。 So he turned to Sylleus
full of rage； and asked him how many of the Arabians were slain。
Hereupon he hesitated； and said he had been imposed upon。 The
covenants also were read about the money he had borrowed； and the
letters of the presidents of Syria； and the complaints of the
several cities； so many as had been injured by the robbers。 The
conclusion was this； that Sylleus was condemned to die； and that
Caesar was reconciled to Herod； and owned his repentance for what
severe things he had written to him； occasioned by calumny；
insomuch that he told Sylleus； that he had compelled him； by his
lying account of things； to be guilty of ingratitude against a
man that was his friend。 At the last all came to this； Sylleus
was sent away to answer Herod's suit； and to repay the debt that
he owed； and after that to be punished ＇with death＇。 But still
Caesar was offended with Aretas； that he had taken upon himself
the government； without his consent first obtained； for he had
determined to bestow Arabia upon Herod； but that the letters he
had sent hindered him from so doing； for Olympus and Volumnius；
perceiving that Caesar was now become favorable to Herod； thought
fit immediately to deliver him the letters they were commanded by
Herod to give him concerning his sons。 When Caesar had read them；
he thought it would not be proper to add another government to
him； now he was old； and in an ill state with relation to his
sons； so he admitted Aretas's ambassadors； and after he had just
reproved him for his rashness； in not tarrying till he received
the kingdom from him； he accepted of his presents； and confirmed
him in his government。
CHAPTER 11。
HOW HEROD； BY PERMISSION FROM CAESAR ACCUSED HIS SONS BEFORE An
Assembly Of Judges At Berytus ； And What Tero Suffered For Using
A Boundless And Military Liberty Of Speech。 Concerning Also The
Death Of The Young Men And Their Burial At Alexandrium。
1。 So Caesar was now reconciled to Herod； and wrote thus to him：
That he was grieved for him on account of his sons； and that in
case they had been guilty of any profane and insolent crimes
against him； it would behoove him to punish them as parricides；
for which he gave him power accordingly； but if they had only
contrived to fly away； he would have him give them an admonition；
and not proceed to extremity with them。 He also advised him to
get an assembly together； and to appoint some place near Berytus；
（14） which is a city belonging to the Romans； and to take the
presidents of Syria； and Archelaus king of Cappadocia； and as
many more as he thought to be illustrious for their friendship to
him； and the dignities they were in； and determine what should be
done by their approbation。 These were the directions that Caesar
gave him。 Accordingly Herod； when the letter was brought to him；
was immediately very glad of Caesar's reconciliation to him； and
very glad also that he had a complete authority given him over
his sons。 And it strangely came about； that whereas before； in
his adversity； though he had indeed showed himself severe； yet
had he not been very rash nor hasty in procuring the destruction
of his sons； he now； in his prosperity； took advantage of this
change for the