From the Taking of Jerusalem by Antiochus Epiphanes to the Death of Herod the Great - Flavius Josephus
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<strong>the</strong>e! Yet was I absent, fa<strong>the</strong>r, on thy affairs, that Sylleus might not treat <strong>the</strong>e<br />
with contempt in thine old age. Rome is a witness <strong>to</strong> my filial affection, and<br />
so is Caesar, <strong>the</strong> ruler <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> habitable earth, who <strong>of</strong>tentimes called me<br />
Philopater. (1) Take here <strong>the</strong> letters he hath sent <strong>the</strong>e, <strong>the</strong>y are more <strong>to</strong> be<br />
believed than <strong>the</strong> calumnies raised here; <strong>the</strong>se letters are my only apology;<br />
<strong>the</strong>se I use as <strong>the</strong> demonstration <strong>of</strong> that natural affection I have <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong>e.<br />
Remember that it was against my own choice that I sailed [<strong>to</strong> Rome], as<br />
knowing <strong>the</strong> latent hatred that was in <strong>the</strong> kingdom against me. It was thou, O<br />
fa<strong>the</strong>r, however unwillingly, who hast been my ruin, <strong>by</strong> forcing me <strong>to</strong> allow<br />
time for calumnies against me, and envy at me. However, I am come hi<strong>the</strong>r,<br />
and am ready <strong>to</strong> hear <strong>the</strong> evidence <strong>the</strong>re is against me. If I be a parricide, I<br />
have passed <strong>by</strong> land and <strong>by</strong> sea, without suffering any misfortune on ei<strong>the</strong>r<br />
<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>m: but this method <strong>of</strong> trial is no advantage <strong>to</strong> me; for it seems, O fa<strong>the</strong>r,<br />
that I am already condemned, both before God and before <strong>the</strong>e; and as I am<br />
already condemned, I beg that thou wilt not believe <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>rs that have been<br />
<strong>to</strong>rtured, but let fire be brought <strong>to</strong> <strong>to</strong>rment me; let <strong>the</strong> racks march through<br />
my bowels; have no regard <strong>to</strong> any lamentations that this polluted body can<br />
make; for if I be a parricide, I ought not <strong>to</strong> die without <strong>to</strong>rture." Thus did<br />
Antipater cry out with lamentation and weeping, and moved all <strong>the</strong> rest, and<br />
Varus in particular, <strong>to</strong> commiserate his case. <strong>Herod</strong> was <strong>the</strong> only person<br />
whose passion was <strong>to</strong>o strong <strong>to</strong> permit him <strong>to</strong> weep, as knowing that <strong>the</strong><br />
testimonies against him were true.<br />
4. And now it was that, at <strong>the</strong> king's command, Nicolaus, when he had<br />
premised a great deal about <strong>the</strong> craftiness <strong>of</strong> Antipater, and had prevented <strong>the</strong><br />
effects <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir commiseration <strong>to</strong> him, afterwards brought in a bitter and large<br />
accusation against him, ascribing all <strong>the</strong> wickedness that had been in <strong>the</strong><br />
kingdom <strong>to</strong> him, and especially <strong>the</strong> murder <strong>of</strong> his brethren; and demonstrated<br />
that <strong>the</strong>y had perished <strong>by</strong> <strong>the</strong> calumnies he had raised against <strong>the</strong>m. He also<br />
said that he had laid designs against <strong>the</strong>m that were still alive, as if <strong>the</strong>y were<br />
laying plots for <strong>the</strong> succession; and (said he) how can it be supposed that he<br />
who prepared poison for his fa<strong>the</strong>r should abstain from mischief as <strong>to</strong> his<br />
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