, the king's sister Salome, observing that he was more than
ordinarily disturbed, sent in to the king his cup-bearer, who had been
prepared long beforehand for such a design, and bid him tell the king
how Mariamne had persuaded him to give his assistance in preparing a
love potion for him; and if he appeared to be greatly concerned, and to
ask what that love potion was, to tell him that she had the potion, and
that he was desired only to give it him; but that in case he did not
appear to be much concerned at this potion, to let the thing drop; and
that if he did so, no harm should thereby come to him. When she had
given him these instructions, she sent him in at this time to make such
a speech. So he went in, after a composed manner, to gain credit to
what he should say, and yet somewhat hastily, and said that Mariamne
had given him presents, and persuaded him to give him a love potion.
And when this moved the king, he said that this love potion was a
composition that she had given him, whose effects he did not know, which
was the reason of his resolving to give him this information, as the
safest course he could take, both for himself and for the king. When
Herod heard what he said, and was in an ill disposition before, his
indignation grew more violent; and he ordered that eunuch of Mariamne,
who was most faithful to her, to be brought to torture about this
potion, as well knowing it was not possible that any thing small or
great could be done without him. And when the man was under the utmost
agonies, he could say nothing concerning the thing he was tortured
about, but so far he knew, that Mariamne's hatred against him was
occasioned by somewhat that Sohemus had said to her. Now as he was
saying this, Herod cried out aloud, and said that Sohemus, who had been
at all other times most faithful to him, and to his government, would
not have betrayed what injunctions he had given him, unless he had had
a nearer conversation than ordinary with Mariamne. So he gave order that
Sohemus should be seized on and slain immediately; but he allowed his
wife to take her trial; and got together those that were most faithful
to him, and laid an elaborate accusation against her for this love
potion and composition, which had been charged upon her by way of
calumny only. However, he kept no temper in what he said, and was in too
great a passion for judging well about this matter. Accordingly, when
the court was at length satisfied that he