rcus Antonius, imperator, to the magistrates, senate, and people
of Tyre, sendeth greeting. I have sent you my decree, of which I will
that ye take care that it be engraven on the public tables, in Roman
and Greek letters, and that it stand engraven in the most illustrious
places, that it may be read by all. Marcus Antonius, imperator, one of
the triumvirate over the public affairs, made this declaration: Since
Caius Cassius, in this revolt he hath made, hath pillaged that province
which belonged not to him, and was held by garrisons there encamped,
while they were our confederates, and hath spoiled that nation of the
Jews that was in friendship with the Roman people, as in war; and since
we have overcome his madness by arms, we now correct by our decrees and
judicial determinations what he hath laid waste, that those things may
be restored to our confederates. And as for what hath been sold of the
Jewish possessions, whether they be bodies or possessions, let them be
released; the bodies into that state of freedom they were originally
in, and the possessions to their former owners. I also will that he
who shall not comply with this decree of mine shall be punished for his
disobedience; and if such a one be caught, I will take care that the
offenders suffer condign punishment."

6. The same thing did Antony write to the Sidonians, and the
Antiochians, and the Aradians. We have produced these decrees,
therefore, as marks for futurity of the truth of what we have said, that
the Romans had a great concern about our nation.

CHAPTER 13. How Antony Made Herod And Phasaelus Tetrarchs, After They
Had Been Accused To No Purpose; And How The Parthians When They Brought
Antigonus Into Judea Took Hyrcanus And Phasaelus Captives. Herod's
Flight; And What Afflictions Hyrcanus And Phasaelus Endured.

1. When after this Antony came into Syria, Cleopatra met him in Cilicia,
and brought him to fall in love with her. And there came now also a
hundred of the most potent of the Jews to accuse Herod and those about
him, and set the men of the greatest eloquence among them to speak. But
Messala contradicted them, on behalf of the young men, and all this in
the presence of Hyrcanus, who was Herod's father-in-law [24] already.
When Antony had heard both sides at Daphne, he asked Hyrcanus who they
were that governed the nation best. He replied, Herod and his friends.
Hereupon Antony, by reason of the old hospitable friendship he had ma