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THE disorders about Herod's family and children about this time grew
much worse; for it now appeared certain, nor was it unforeseen before-hand,
that fortune threatened the greatest and most insupportable misfortunes
possible to his kingdom. Its progress and augmentation at this time arose
on the occasion following: One Eurycles, a Lacedemonian, (a person of note
there, but a man of a perverse mind, and so cunning in his ways of voluptuousness
and flattery, as to indulge both, and yet seem to indulge neither of them,)
came in his travels to Herod, and made him presents, but so that he received
more presents from him. He also took such proper seasons for insinuating
himself into his friendship, that he became one of the most intimate of
the king's friends. He had his lodging in Antipater's house; but he had
not only access, but free conversation, with Alexander, as pretending to
him that he was in great favor with Archclaus, the king of Cappadocia;
whence he pretended much respect to Glaphyra, and in an occult manner cultivated
a friendship with them all; but always attending to what was said and done,
that he might be furnished with calumnies to please them all. In short,
he behaved himself so to every body in his conversation, as to appear to
be his particular friend, and he made others believe that his being any
where was for that person's advantage. So he won upon Alexander, who was
but young; and persuaded him that he might open his grievances to him with
assurance and with nobody else. So he declared his grief to him, how his
father was alienated from him. He related to him also the affairs of his
mother, and of Antipater; that he had driven them from their proper dignity,
and had the power over every thing himself; that no part of this was tolerable,
since his father was already come to hate them; and he added, that he would
neither admit them to his table, nor to his conversation. Such were the
complaints, as was but natural, of Alexander about the things that troubled
him; and these discourses Eurycles carried to Antipater, and told him he
did not inform him of this on his own account, but that being overcome
by his kindness, the great importance of the thing obliged him to do it;
and he warned him to have a care of Alexander, for that what he said was
spoken with vehemency, and that, in consequence of what he said, he would
certainly kill him with his own hand. Whereupon Antipater, thinking him
to be his friend by this advice, gave him presents upon all occasions,
and at length persuaded him to inform Herod of what he had heard. So when
he related to the king Alexander's ill temper, as discovered by the words
he had heard him speak, he was easily believed by him; and he thereby brought
the king to that pass, turning him about by his words, and irritating him,
till he increased his hatred to him and made him implacable, which he showed
at that very time, for he immediately gave Eurycles a present of fifty
talents; who, when he had gotten them, went to Archclaus, king of Cappadocia,
and commended Alexander before him, and told him that he had been many
ways of advantage to him, in making a reconciliation between him and his
father. So he got money from him also, and went away, before his pernicious
practices were found out; but when Eurycles was returned to Lacedemon,
he did not leave off doing mischief; and so, for his many acts of injustice,
he was banished from his own country.
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