From the Taking of Jerusalem by Antiochus Epiphanes to the Death of Herod the Great - Flavius Josephus
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<strong>the</strong> ornaments which he had given her, which cost a great many talents, and<br />
cast her out <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> palace a second time. He also <strong>to</strong>ok care <strong>of</strong> Pheroras's<br />
women after <strong>the</strong>ir <strong>to</strong>rtures, as being now reconciled <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong>m; but he was in<br />
great consternation himself, and inflamed upon every suspicion, and had<br />
many innocent persons led <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>to</strong>rture, out <strong>of</strong> his fear lest he should leave<br />
any guilty person un<strong>to</strong>rtured.<br />
5. And now it was that he be<strong>to</strong>ok himself <strong>to</strong> examine Antipater <strong>of</strong><br />
Samaria, who was <strong>the</strong> steward <strong>of</strong> [his son] Antipater; and upon <strong>to</strong>rturing him,<br />
he learned that Antipater had sent for a potion <strong>of</strong> deadly poison for him out<br />
<strong>of</strong> Egypt, <strong>by</strong> Antiphilus, a companion <strong>of</strong> his; that Theudio, <strong>the</strong> uncle <strong>of</strong><br />
Antipater, had it from him, and delivered it <strong>to</strong> Pheroras; for that Antipater<br />
had charged him <strong>to</strong> take his fa<strong>the</strong>r <strong>of</strong>f while he was at Rome, and so free him<br />
from <strong>the</strong> suspicion <strong>of</strong> doing it himself: that Pheroras also committed this<br />
potion <strong>to</strong> his wife. Then did <strong>the</strong> king send for her, and bid her bring <strong>to</strong> him<br />
what she had received immediately. So she came out <strong>of</strong> her house as if she<br />
would bring it with her, but threw herself down from <strong>the</strong> <strong>to</strong>p <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> house, in<br />
order <strong>to</strong> prevent any examination and <strong>to</strong>rture from <strong>the</strong> king. However, it<br />
came <strong>to</strong> pass, as it seems <strong>by</strong> <strong>the</strong> providence <strong>of</strong> God, when he intended <strong>to</strong><br />
bring Antipater <strong>to</strong> punishment, that she fell not upon her head, but upon<br />
o<strong>the</strong>r parts <strong>of</strong> her body, and escaped. The king, when she was brought <strong>to</strong><br />
him, <strong>to</strong>ok care <strong>of</strong> her, (for she was at first quite senseless upon her fall,) and<br />
asked her why she had thrown herself down; and gave her his oath, that if<br />
she would speak <strong>the</strong> real truth, he would excuse her from punishment; but<br />
that if she concealed any thing, he would have her body <strong>to</strong>rn <strong>to</strong> pieces <strong>by</strong><br />
<strong>to</strong>rments, and leave no part. <strong>of</strong> it <strong>to</strong> be buried.<br />
6. Upon this <strong>the</strong> woman paused a little, and <strong>the</strong>n said, "Why do I spare <strong>to</strong><br />
speak <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se grand secrets, now Pheroras is dead? that would only tend <strong>to</strong><br />
save Antipater, who is all our destruction. Hear <strong>the</strong>n, O king, and be thou,<br />
and God himself, who cannot be deceived, witnesses <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> truth <strong>of</strong> what I<br />
am going <strong>to</strong> say. When thou didst sit weeping <strong>by</strong> Pheroras as he was dying,<br />
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