Herod had thus spoken, he fell a weeping, and was not able to
say any more; but at his desire Nicolaus of Damascus, being the king's
friend, and always conversant with him, and acquainted with whatsoever
he did, and with the circumstances of his affairs, proceeded to what
remained, and explained all that concerned the demonstrations and
evidences of the facts. Upon which Antipater, in order to make his
legal defense, turned himself to his father, and enlarged upon the many
indications he had given of his good-will to him; and instanced in the
honors that had been done him, which yet had not been done, had he not
deserved them by his virtuous concern about him; for that he had made
provision for every thing that was fit to be foreseen beforehand, as to
giving him his wisest advice; and whenever there was occasion for the
labor of his own hands, he had not grudged any such pains for him. And
that it was almost impossible that he, who had delivered his father from
so many treacherous contrivances laid against him, should be himself in
a plot against him, and so lose all the reputation he had gained for
his virtue, by his wickedness which succeeded it; and this while he had
nothing to prohibit him, who was already appointed his successor, to
enjoy the royal honor with his father also at present; and that there
was no likelihood that a person who had the one half of that authority
without any danger, and with a good character, should hunt after the
whole with infamy and danger, and this when it was doubtful whether he
could obtain it or not; and when he saw the sad example of his brethren
before him, and was both the informer and the accuser against them, at
a time when they might not otherwise have been discovered; nay, was the
author of the punishment inflicted upon them, when it appeared evidently
that they were guilty of a wicked attempt against their father; and that
even the contentions there were in the king's family were indications
that he had ever managed affairs out of the sincerest affection to
his father. And as to what he had done at Rome, Caesar was a witness
thereto, who yet was no more to be imposed upon than God himself; of
whose opinions his letters sent hither are sufficient evidence; and that
it was not reasonable to prefer the calumnies of such as proposed to
raise disturbances before those letters; the greatest part of which
calumnies had been raised during his absence, which gave scope to his
enemies to