From the Taking of Jerusalem by Antiochus Epiphanes to the Death of Herod the Great - Flavius Josephus
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6. Nay, Pheroras had been accused long before, while <strong>the</strong> queen<br />
[Mariamne] was alive, as if he were in a plot <strong>to</strong> poison <strong>Herod</strong>; and <strong>the</strong>re<br />
came <strong>the</strong>n so great a number <strong>of</strong> informers, that <strong>Herod</strong> himself, though he was<br />
an exceeding lover <strong>of</strong> his brethren, was brought <strong>to</strong> believe what was said,<br />
and <strong>to</strong> be afraid <strong>of</strong> it also. And when he had brought many <strong>of</strong> those that were<br />
under suspicion <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>to</strong>rture, he came at last <strong>to</strong> Pheroras's own friends; none<br />
<strong>of</strong> which did openly confess <strong>the</strong> crime, but <strong>the</strong>y owned that he had made<br />
preparation <strong>to</strong> take her whom he loved, and run away <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> Parthians.<br />
Cos<strong>to</strong>barus also, <strong>the</strong> husband <strong>of</strong> Salome, <strong>to</strong> whom <strong>the</strong> king had given her in<br />
marriage, after her former husband had been put <strong>to</strong> death for adultery, was<br />
instrumental in bringing about this contrivance and flight <strong>of</strong> his. Nor did<br />
Salome escape all calumny upon herself; for her bro<strong>the</strong>r Pheroras accused<br />
her that she had made an agreement <strong>to</strong> marry Silleus, <strong>the</strong> procura<strong>to</strong>r <strong>of</strong><br />
Obodas, king <strong>of</strong> Arabia, who was at bitter enmity with <strong>Herod</strong>; but when she<br />
was convicted <strong>of</strong> this, and <strong>of</strong> all that Pheroras had accused her <strong>of</strong>, she<br />
obtained her pardon. The king also pardoned Pheroras himself <strong>the</strong> crimes he<br />
had been accused <strong>of</strong>.<br />
7. But <strong>the</strong> s<strong>to</strong>rm <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> whole family was removed <strong>to</strong> Alexander, and all<br />
<strong>of</strong> it rested upon his head. There were three eunuchs who were in <strong>the</strong> highest<br />
esteem with <strong>the</strong> king, as was plain <strong>by</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>of</strong>fices <strong>the</strong>y were in about him; for<br />
one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>m was appointed <strong>to</strong> be his butler, ano<strong>the</strong>r <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>m got his supper<br />
ready for him, and <strong>the</strong> third put him in<strong>to</strong> bed, and lay down <strong>by</strong> him. Now<br />
Alexander had prevailed with <strong>the</strong>se men, <strong>by</strong> large gifts, <strong>to</strong> let him use <strong>the</strong>m<br />
after an obscene manner; which, when it was <strong>to</strong>ld <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> king, <strong>the</strong>y were<br />
<strong>to</strong>rtured, and found guilty, and presently confessed <strong>the</strong> criminal conversation<br />
he had with <strong>the</strong>m. They also discovered <strong>the</strong> promises <strong>by</strong> which <strong>the</strong>y were<br />
induced so <strong>to</strong> do, and how <strong>the</strong>y were deluded <strong>by</strong> Alexander, who had <strong>to</strong>ld<br />
<strong>the</strong>m that <strong>the</strong>y ought not <strong>to</strong> fix <strong>the</strong>ir hopes upon <strong>Herod</strong>, an old man, and one<br />
so shameless as <strong>to</strong> color his hair, unless <strong>the</strong>y thought that would make him<br />
young again; but that <strong>the</strong>y ought <strong>to</strong> fix <strong>the</strong>ir attention <strong>to</strong> him who was <strong>to</strong> be<br />
his successor in <strong>the</strong> kingdom, whe<strong>the</strong>r he would or not; and who in no long<br />
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