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[367]
When the king had said this, and the young men had not been produced
to make any defense for themselves, the assessors perceived there was no
room for equity and reconciliation, so they confirmed his authority. And
in the first place, Saturninus, a person that had been consul, and one
of great dignity, pronounced his sentence, but with great moderation and
trouble; and said that he condemned Herod's sons, but did not think they
should be put to death. He had sons of his own, and to put one's son to
death is a greater misfortune than any other that could befall him by their
means. After him Saturninus's sons, for he had three sons that followed
him, and were his legates, pronounced the same sentence with their father.
On the contrary, Volumnius's sentence was to inflict death on such as had
been so impiously undutiful to their father; and the greatest part of the
rest said the same, insomuch that the conclusion seemed to be, that the
young men were condemned to die. Immediately after this Herod came away
from thence, and took his sons to Tyre, where Nicolaus met him in his voyage
from Rome; of whom he inquired, after he had related to him what had passed
at Berytus, what his sentiments were about his sons, and what his friends
at Rome thought of that matter. His answer was, "That what they had
determined to do to thee was impious, and that thou oughtest to keep them
in prison; and if thou thinkest any thing further necessary, thou mayst
indeed so punish them, that thou mayst not appear to indulge thy anger
more than to govern thyself by judgment; but if thou inclinest to the milder
side, thou mayst absolve them, lest perhaps thy misfortunes be rendered
incurable; and this is the opinion of the greatest part of thy friends
at Rome also." Whereupon Herod was silent, and in great thoughtfulness,
and bid Nicolaus sail along with him.
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