and the principal of the Galileans. This
man, upon my servant's telling me that a certain horseman of the Jewish
nation was come, was called in at my command, but did not so much as
salute me at all, but held out a letter, and said, "This letter is sent
thee by those that are come from Jerusalem; do thou write an answer to
it quickly; for I am obliged to return to them very soon." Now my guests
could not but wonder at the boldness of the soldier. But I desired him
to sit down and sup with us; but when he refused so to do, I held the
letter in my hands as I received it, and fell a talking with my guests
about other matters. But a few hours afterwards, I got up, and when
I had dismissed the rest to go to their beds, I bid only four of my
intimate friends to stay, and ordered my servant to get some wine
ready. I also opened the letter so, that nobody could perceive it; and
understanding thereby presently the purportu of the writing, I sealed it
up again, and appeared as if I had not yet read it, but only held it in
my hands. I ordered twenty drachmae should be given the soldier for the
charges of his journey; and when he took the money, and said that he
thanked me for it, I perceived that he loved money, and that he was to
be caught chiefly by that means; and I said to him, "If thou wilt but
drink with us, thou shalt have a drachma for every glass thou drinkest."
So he gladly embraced this proposal, and drank a great deal of wine, in
order to get the more money, and was so drunk, that at last he could not
keep the secrets he was intrusted with, but discovered them without my
putting questions to him, viz. That a treacherous design was contrived
against me, and that I was doomed to die by those that sent him. When I
heard this, I wrote back this answer: "Josephus to Jonathan, and those
that are with him, sendeth greeting. Upon the information that you are
come in health into Galilee, I rejoice, and this especially because
I can now resign the care of public affairs here into your hands, and
return into my native country, which is what I have desired to do a
great while; and I confess I ought not only to come to you as far as
Xaloth, but farther, and this without your commands. But I desire you
to excuse me, because I cannot do it now, since I watch the motions of
Placidus, who hath a mind to go up into Galilee; and this I do here at
Chabolo. Do you therefore, on the receipt of this epistle, come hither
to me. Fare you well."