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[317]
NOW Silas, the general of the king's horse, because he had been faithful
to him under all his misfortunes, and had never refused to be a partaker
with him in any of his dangers, but had oftentimes undergone the most hazardous
dangers for him, was full of assurance, and thought he might expect a sort
of equality with the king, on account of the firmness of the friendship
he had showed to him. Accordingly, he would no where let the king sit as
his superior, and took the like liberty in speaking to him upon all occasions,
till he became troublesome to the king, when they were merry together,
extolling himself beyond measure, and oft putting the king in mind of the
severity of fortune he had undergone, that he might, by way of ostentation,
demonstrate What zeal he had showed in his service; and was continually
harping upon this string, what pains he had taken for him, and much enlarged
still upon that subject. The repetition of this so frequently seemed to
reproach the king, insomuch that he took this ungovernable liberty of talking
very ill at his hands. For the commemoration of times when men have been
under ignominy, is by no means agreeable to them; and he is a very silly
man who is perpetually relating to a person what kindness he had done him.
At last, therefore, Silas had so thoroughly provoked the king's indignation,
that he acted rather out of passion than good consideration, and did not
only turn Silas out of his place, as general of his horse, but sent him
in bonds into his own country. But the edge of his anger wore off by length
of time, and made room for more just reasonings as to his judgment about
this man; and he considered how many labors he had undergone for his sake.
So when Agrippa was solemnizing his birth-day, and he gave festival entertainments
to all his subjects, he sent for Silas on the sudden to be his guest. But
as he was a very frank man, he thought he had now a just handle given him
to be angry; which he could not conceal from those that came for him, but
said to them, "What honor is this the king invites me to, which I
conclude will soon be over? For the king hath not let me keep those original
marks of the good-will I bore him, which I once had from him; but he hath
plundered me, and that unjustly also. Does he think that I can leave off
that liberty of speech, which, upon the consciousness of my deserts, I
shall use more loudly than before, and shall relate how many misfortunes
I have been delivered from; how many labors I have undergone for him, whereby
I procured him deliverance and respect; as a reward for which I have borne
the hardships of bonds and a dark prison? I shall never forget this usage.
Nay, perhaps, my very soul, when it is departed out of the body, will not
forget the glorious actions I did on his account." This was the clamor
he made, and he ordered the messengers to tell it to the king. So he perceived
that Silas was incurable in his folly, and still suffered him to lie in
prison.
Flavius Josephus. The Works of Flavius Josephus. Translated by. William Whiston, A.M. Auburn and Buffalo. John E. Beardsley. 1895.
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(3):
- LSJ, ἀνερεθίζω
- LSJ, ὀνειδ-ισμός
- LSJ, σκότ-ιος
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