按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
the law。 His name was Simon。 This man got together an assembly；
while the king was absent at Cesarea； and had the insolence to
accuse him as not living holily； and that he might justly be
excluded out of the temple； since it belonged only to native
Jews。 But the general of Agrippa's army informed him that Simon
had made such a speech to the people。 So the king sent for him；
and as he was sitting in the theater； he bid him sit down by him；
and said to him with a low and gentle voice； 〃What is there done
in this place that is contrary to the law？〃 But he had nothing to
say for himself； but begged his pardon。 So the king was more
easily reconciled to him than one could have imagined； as
esteeming mildness a better quality in a king than anger； and
knowing that moderation is more becoming in great men than
passion。 So he made Simon a small present； and dismissed him。
5。 Now as Agrippa was a great builder in many places； he paid a
peculiar regard to the people of Berytus； for he erected a
theater for them； superior to many others of that sort； both in
Sumptuousness and elegance； as also an amphitheater； built at
vast expenses； and besides these； he built them baths and
porticoes； and spared for no costs in any of his edifices； to
render them both handsome and large。 He also spent a great deal
upon their dedication； and exhibited shows upon them； and brought
thither musicians of all sorts； and such as made the most
delightful music of the greatest variety。 He also showed his
magnificence upon the theater； in his great number of gladiators；
and there it was that he exhibited the several antagonists； in
order to please the spectators； no fewer indeed than seven
hundred men to fight with seven hundred other men （20） and
allotted all the malefactors he had for this exercise； that both
the malefactors might receive their punishment； and that this
operation of war might be a recreation in peace。 And thus were
these criminals all destroyed at once。
CHAPTER 8。
What Other Acts Were Done By Agrippa Until His Death； And After
What Manner He Died。
1。 When Agrippa had finished what I have above related at
Berytus； he removed to Tiberias； a city of Galilee。 Now he was in
great esteem among other kings。 Accordingly there came to him
Antiochus； king of Commalena； Sampsigeratnus； king of Emesa； and
Cotys； who was king of the Lesser Armenia； and Polemo； who was
king of Pontus； as also Herod his brother； who was king of
Chalcis。 All these he treated with agreeable entertainments； and
after an obliging manner； and so as to exhibit the greatness of
his mind； and so as to appear worthy of those respects which the
kings paid to him； by coming thus to see him。 However； while
these kings staid with him； Marcus； the president of Syria； came
thither。 So the king； in order to preserve the respect that was
due to the Romans； went out of the city to meet him； as far as
seven furlongs。 But this proved to be the beginning of a
difference between him and Marcus； for he took with him in his
chariot those other kings as his assessors。 But Marcus had a
suspicion what the meaning could be of so great a friendship of
these kings one with another； and did not think so close an
agreement of so many potentates to be for the interest of the
Romans。 He therefore sent some of his domestics to every one of
them； and enjoined them to go their ways home without further
delay。 This was very ill taken by Agrippa； who after that became
his enemy。 And now he took the high priesthood away from
Matthias； and made Elioneus； the son of Cantheras； high priest in
his stead。
2。 Now when Agrippa had reigned three years over all Judea； he
came to the city Cesarea； which was formerly called Strato's
Tower； and there he exhibited shows in honor of Caesar； upon his
being informed that there was a certain festival celebrated to
make vows for his safety。 At which festival a great multitude was
gotten together of the principal persons； and such as were of
dignity through his province。 On the second day of which shows he
put on a garment made wholly of silver； and of a contexture truly
wonderful； and came into the theater early in the morning； at
which time the silver of his garment being illuminated by the
fresh reflection of the sun's rays upon it； shone out after a
surprising manner； and was so resplendent as to spread a horror
over those that looked intently upon him； and presently his
flatterers cried out； one from one place； and another from
another； （though not for his good；） that he was a god； and they
added； 〃Be thou merciful to us； for although we have hitherto
reverenced thee only as a man； yet shall we henceforth own thee
as superior to mortal nature。〃 Upon this the king did neither
rebuke them； nor reject their impious flattery。 But as he
presently afterward looked up； he saw an owl （21） sitting on a
certain rope over his head； and immediately understood that this
bird was the messenger of ill tidings； as it had once been the
messenger of good tidings to him； and fell into the deepest
sorrow。 A severe pain also arose in his belly； and began in a
most violent manner。 He therefore looked upon his friends； and
said； 〃I； whom you call a god； am commanded presently to depart
this life； while Providence thus reproves the lying words you
just now said to me； and I； who was by you called immortal； am
immediately to be hurried away by death。 But I am bound to accept
of what Providence allots； as it pleases God； for we have by no
means lived ill； but in a splendid and happy manner。〃 When he
said this； his pain was become violent。 Accordingly he was
carried into the palace； and the rumor went abroad every where；
that he would certainly die in a little time。 But the multitude
presently sat in sackcloth； with their wives and children； after
the law of their country； and besought God for the king's
recovery。 All places were also full of mourning and lamentation。
Now the king rested in a high chamber； and as he saw them below
lying prostrate on the ground； he could not himself forbear
weeping。 And when he had been quite worn out by the pain in his
belly for five days； he departed this life； being in the
fifty…fourth year of his age； and in the seventh year of his
reign； for he reigned four years under Caius Caesar； three of
them were over Philip's tetrarchy only； and on the fourth he had
that of Herod added to it； and he reigned； besides those； three
years under the reign of Claudius Caesar； in which time he
reigned over the forementioned countries； and also had Judea
added to them； as well as Samaria and Cesarea。 The revenues that
he received out of them were very great； no less than twelve
millions of drachme。 （22） Yet did he borrow great sums from
others； for he was so very liberal that his expenses exceeded his
incomes； and his generosity was boundless。 （23）
3。 But before the multitude were made acquainted with Agrippa's
being expired； Herod the king of Chalcis； and Helcias the master
of his horse； and the king's friend； sent Aristo； one of the
king's most faithful servants； and slew Silas； who had been their
enemy； as if it had been done by the king's own command。
CHAPTER 9。
What Things Were Done After The Death Of Agrippa； And How
Claudius； On Account Of The Youth And Unskilfulness Of Agrippa；
Junior； Sent Cuspius Fadus To Be Procurator Of Judea； And Of The
Entire Kingdom。
1。 And thus did king Agrippa depart this life。 But he left behind
him a son； Agrippa by name； a youth in the seventeenth year of
his age； and three daughters； one of which； Bernice； was married
to Herod； his father's brother； and was sixteen years old； the
other two； Mariamne and Drusilla； were still virgins； the former
was ten years old； and Drusilla six。 Now these his daughters were
thus espoused by their father； Marlatone to Julius Archclaus
Epiphanes； the son of Antiochus； the son of Chelcias； and
Drusilla to the king of Commagena。 But when it was known that
Agrippa was departed this life； the inhabitants of Cesarea and of
Sebaste forgot the kindnesses he had bestowed on them； and acted
the part of the bitterest enemies； for they cast such reproaches
upon the deceased as are not fit to be spoken of； and so many of
them as were then soldiers； which were a great number； went to
his house； and hastily carried off the statues （24） of this
king's daughters； and all at once carried them into the
brothel…houses； and when they had set them on the tops of those
houses； they abused them to the utmost of their power； and did
such things to them as are too indecent to be related。 They also
laid themselves down in public places； and celebrated general
feastings； with garlands on their heads； and with ointments and
libations to Charon； and drinking to one another for joy that the
king was expired。 Nay； they were not only unmindful of Agrippa；
who had extended his liberality to them in abundance； but of his
grandfather Herod also； who had himself rebuilt their cities； and
had raised them havens and temples at vast expenses。
2。 Now Agrippa； the son of the deceased； was at Rome； and brought
up with Claudius Caesar。 And when Caesar was informed that
Agrippa was dead； and that the inha