From the Taking of Jerusalem by Antiochus Epiphanes to the Death of Herod the Great - Flavius Josephus

sweet parts of government as rulers themselves, but that the burden of
administration will rest upon myself whether I will or not. And let every one
consider what age I am of, how I have conducted my life, and what piety I
have exercised; for my age is not so great that men may soon expect the end
of my life; nor have I indulged such a luxurious way of living as cuts men off
when they are young; and we have been so religious towards God, that we
[have reason to hope we] may arrive at a very great age. But for such as
cultivate a friendship with my sons, so as to aim at my destruction, they shall
be punished by me on their account. I am not one who envy my own
children, and therefore forbid men to pay them great respect; but I know that
such [extravagant] respects are the way to make them insolent. And if every
one that comes near them does but revolve this in his mind, that if he prove a
good man, he shall receive a reward from me, but that if he prove seditious,
his ill-intended complaisance shall get him nothing from him to whom it is
shown, I suppose they will all be of my side, that is, of my sons' side; for it
will be for their advantage that I reign, and that I be at concord with them.
But do you, O my good children, reflect upon the holiness of nature itself, by
whose means natural affection is preserved, even among wild beasts; in the
next place, reflect upon Caesar, who hath made this reconciliation among us;
and in the third place, reflect upon me, who entreat you to do what I have
power to command you, - continue brethren. I give you royal garments, and
royal honors; and I pray to God to preserve what I have determined, in case
you be at concord one with another." When the king had thus spoken, and
had saluted every one of his sons after an obliging manner, he dismissed the
multitude; some of which gave their assent to what he had said, and wished it
might take effect accordingly; but for those who wished for a change of
affairs, they pretended they did not so much as hear what he said.
Footnote:
1. That this island Eleusa, afterward called Sebaste, near Cilicia, had in it
the royal palace of this Archclaus, king of Cappadocia, Strabo testifies,
103