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[492]
These confessions did so terrify Herod, that he durst not immediately
publish them; but he sent spies abroad privately, by night and by day,
who should make a close inquiry after all that was done and said; and when
any were but suspected [of treason], he put them to death, insomuch that
the palace was full of horribly unjust proceedings; for every body forged
calumnies, as they were themselves in a state of enmity or hatred against
others; and many there were who abused the king's bloody passion to the
disadvantage of those with whom they had quarrels, and lies were easily
believed, and punishments were inflicted sooner than the calumnies were
forged. He who had just then been accusing another was accused himself,
and was led away to execution together with him whom he had convicted;
for the danger the king was in of his life made examinations be very short.
He also proceeded to such a degree of bitterness, that he could not look
on any of those that were not accused with a pleasant countenance, but
was in the most barbarous disposition towards his own friends. Accordingly,
he forbade a great many of them to come to court, and to those whom he
had not power to punish actually he spake harshly. But for Antipater, he
insulted Alexander, now he was under his misfortunes, and got a stout company
of his kindred together, and raised all sorts of calumny against him; and
for the king, he was brought to such a degree of terror by those prodigious
slanders and contrivances, that he fancied he saw Alexander coming to him
with a drawn sword in his hand. So he caused him to be seized upon immediately,
and bound, and fell to examining his friends by torture, many of whom died
[under the torture], but would discover nothing, nor say any thing against
their consciences; but some of them, being forced to speak falsely by the
pains they endured, said that Alexander, and his brother Aristobulus, plotted
against him, and waited for an opportunity to kill him as he was hunting,
and then fly away to Rome. These accusations though they were of an incredible
nature, and only framed upon the great distress they were in, were readily
believed by the king, who thought it some comfort to him, after he had
bound his son, that it might appear he had not done it unjustly.
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