usband; for although she
be not a partner in the plot, yet, by being the wife of such a creature,
she is polluted. And I cannot but admire at thy patience, against whom
this plot is laid, if Alexander be still alive; for as I came with what
haste I could from Cappadocia, I expected to find him put to death for
his crimes long ago; but still, in order to make an examination with
thee about my daughter, whom, out of regard to thee and by dignity, I
had espoused to him in marriage; but now we must take counsel about them
both; and if thy paternal affection be so great, that thou canst not
punish thy son, who hath plotted against thee, let us change our right
hands, and let us succeed one to the other in expressing our rage upon
this occasion."

2. When he had made this pompous declaration, he got Herod to remit of
his anger, though he were in disorder, who thereupon gave him the books
which Alexander had composed to be read by him; and as he came to every
head, he considered of it, together with Herod. So Archclaus took hence
the occasion for that stratagem which he made use of, and by degrees
he laid the blame on those men whose names were in these books, and
especially upon Pheroras; and when he saw that the king believed him [to
be in earnest], he said, "We must consider whether the young man be not
himself plotted against by such a number of wicked wretches, and not
thou plotted against by the young man; for I cannot see any occasion for
his falling into so horrid a crime, since he enjoys the advantages of
royalty already, and has the expectation of being one of thy successors;
I mean this, unless there were some persons that persuade him to it, and
such persons as make an ill use of the facility they know there is
to persuade young men; for by such persons, not only young men are
sometimes imposed upon, but old men also, and by them sometimes are the
most illustrious families and kingdoms overturned."

3. Herod assented to what he had said, and, by degrees, abated of
his anger against Alexander, but was more angry at Pheroras; for the
principal subject of the four books was Pheroras; who perceiving that
the king's inclinations changed on a sudden, and that Archelaus's
friendship could do every thing with him, and that he had no honorable
method of preserving himself, he procured his safety by his impudence.
So he left Alexander, and had recourse to Archelaus, who told him that
he did not see how he could get him excu