ed at it, and
received in this way some consolation.

5. However, no such things could overcome Alexandra's grief; but the
remembrance of this miserable case made her sorrow, both deep and
obstinate. Accordingly, she wrote an account of this treacherous scene
to Cleopatra, and how her son was murdered; but Cleopatra, as she had
formerly been desirous to give her what satisfaction she could, and
commiserating Alexandra's misfortunes, made the case her own, and would
not let Antony be quiet, but excited him to punish the child's murder;
for that it was an unworthy thing that Herod, who had been by him made
king of a kingdom that no way belonged to him, should be guilty of such
horrid crimes against those that were of the royal blood in reality.
Antony was persuaded by these arguments; and when he came to Laodicea,
he sent and commanded Herod to come and make his defense, as to what he
had done to Aristobulus, for that such a treacherous design was not
well done, if he had any hand in it. Herod was now in fear, both of the
accusation, and of Cleopatra's ill-will to him, which was such that she
was ever endeavoring to make Antony hate him. He therefore determined to
obey his summons, for he had no possible way to avoid it. So he left his
uncle Joseph procurator for his government, and for the public affairs,
and gave him a private charge, that if Antony should kill him, he also
should kill Mariamne immediately; for that he had a tender affection for
this his wife, and was afraid of the injury that should be offered him,
if, after his death, she, for her beauty, should be engaged to some
other man: but his intimation was nothing but this at the bottom, that
Antony had fallen in love with her, when he had formerly heard somewhat
of her beauty. So when Herod had given Joseph this charge, and had
indeed no sure hopes of escaping with his life, he went away to Antony.

6. But as Joseph was administering the public affairs of the kingdom,
and for that reason was very frequently with Mariamne, both because his
business required it, and because of the respects he ought to pay to the
queen, he frequently let himself into discourses about Herod's kindness,
and great affection towards her; and when the women, especially
Alexandra, used to turn his discourses into feminine raillery, Joseph
was so over-desirous to demonstrate the kings inclinations, that he
proceeded so far as to mention the charge he had received, and thence
drew his