02.06.2019 Views

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

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

Chapter 30<br />

Antipater Had Prepared a Poisonous Draught for<br />

<strong>Herod</strong><br />

1. But now <strong>the</strong> punishment was transferred un<strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> original author,<br />

Antipater, and <strong>to</strong>ok its rise from <strong>the</strong> death <strong>of</strong> Pheroras; for certain <strong>of</strong> his<br />

freed-men came with a sad countenance <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> king, and <strong>to</strong>ld him that his<br />

bro<strong>the</strong>r had been destroyed <strong>by</strong> poison, and that his wife had brought him<br />

somewhat that was prepared after an unusual manner, and that, upon his<br />

eating it, he presently fell in<strong>to</strong> his distemper; that Antipater's mo<strong>the</strong>r and<br />

sister, two days before, brought a woman out <strong>of</strong> Arabia that was skillful in<br />

mixing such drugs, that she might prepare a love potion for Pheroras; and<br />

that instead <strong>of</strong> a love potion, she had given him deadly poison; and that this<br />

was done <strong>by</strong> <strong>the</strong> management <strong>of</strong> Sylleus, who was acquainted with that<br />

woman.<br />

2. The king was deeply affected with so many suspicions, and had <strong>the</strong><br />

maid-servants and some <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> free women also <strong>to</strong>rtured; one <strong>of</strong> which cried<br />

out in her agonies, "May that God that governs <strong>the</strong> earth and <strong>the</strong> heaven<br />

punish this author <strong>of</strong> all <strong>the</strong>se our miseries, Antipater's mo<strong>the</strong>r!" The king<br />

<strong>to</strong>ok a handle from this confession, and proceeded <strong>to</strong> inquire fur<strong>the</strong>r in<strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

truth <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> matter. So this woman discovered <strong>the</strong> friendship <strong>of</strong> Antipater's<br />

mo<strong>the</strong>r <strong>to</strong> Pheroras, and Antipater's women, as also <strong>the</strong>ir secret meetings, and<br />

that Pheroras and Antipater had drunk with <strong>the</strong>m for a whole night <strong>to</strong>ge<strong>the</strong>r<br />

as <strong>the</strong>y returned from <strong>the</strong> king, and would not suffer any body, ei<strong>the</strong>r manservant<br />

or maidservant, <strong>to</strong> be <strong>the</strong>re; while one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> free women discovered<br />

<strong>the</strong> matter.<br />

3. Upon this <strong>Herod</strong> <strong>to</strong>rtured <strong>the</strong> maid-servants every on <strong>by</strong> <strong>the</strong>mselves<br />

separately, who all unanimously agreed in <strong>the</strong> foregoing discoveries, and that<br />

133

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!