d her of, she obtained her pardon. The king also
pardoned Pheroras himself the crimes he had been accused of.

7. But the storm of the whole family was removed to Alexander, and all
of it rested upon his head. There were three eunuchs who were in the
highest esteem with the king, as was plain by the offices they were in
about him; for one of them was appointed to be his butler, another of
them got his supper ready for him, and the third put him into bed, and
lay down by him. Now Alexander had prevailed with these men, by large
gifts, to let him use them after an obscene manner; which, when it was
told to the king, they were tortured, and found guilty, and presently
confessed the criminal conversation he had with them. They also
discovered the promises by which they were induced so to do, and how
they were deluded by Alexander, who had told them that they ought not to
fix their hopes upon Herod, an old man, and one so shameless as to color
his hair, unless they thought that would make him young again; but that
they ought to fix their attention to him who was to be his successor
in the kingdom, whether he would or not; and who in no long time would
avenge himself on his enemies, and make his friends happy and blessed,
and themselves in the first place; that the men of power did already pay
respects to Alexander privately, and that the captains of the soldiery,
and the officers, did secretly come to him.

8. 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 ba