demonstration, that Herod was not able to live without her; and
that if he should come to any ill end, he could not endure a separation
from her, even after he was dead. Thus spake Joseph. But the women,
as was natural, did not take this to be an instance of Herod's strong
affection for them, but of his severe usage of them, that they could
not escape destruction, nor a tyrannical death, even when he was dead
himself. And this saying [of Joseph] was a foundation for the women's
severe suspicions about him afterwards.

7. At this time a report went about the city Jerusalem among Herod's
enemies, that Antony had tortured Herod, and put him to death. This
report, as is natural, disturbed those that were about the palace, but
chiefly the women; upon which Alexandra endeavored to persuade Joseph to
go out of the palace, and fly away with them to the ensigns of the
Roman legion, which then lay encamped about the city, as a guard to the
kingdom, under the command of Julius; for that by this means, if any
disturbance should happen about the palace, they should be in greater
security, as having the Romans favorable to them; and that besides,
they hoped to obtain the highest authority, if Antony did but once
see Mariamne, by whose means they should recover the kingdom, and want
nothing which was reasonable for them to hope for, because of their
royal extraction.

8. But as they were in the midst of these deliberations, letters were
brought from Herod about all his affairs, and proved contrary to the
report, and of what they before expected; for when he was come to
Antony, he soon recovered his interest with him, by the presents he made
him, which he had brought with him from Jerusalem; and he soon induced
him, upon discoursing with him, to leave off his indignation at him,
so that Cleopatra's persuasions had less force than the arguments and
presents he brought to regain his friendship; for Antony said that it
was not good to require an account of a king, as to the affairs of his
government, for at this rate he could be no king at all, but that those
who had given him that authority ought to permit him to make use of it.
He also said the same things to Cleopatra, that it would be best for her
not busily to meddle with the acts of the king's government. Herod wrote
an account of these things, and enlarged upon the other honors which he
had received from Antony; how he sat by him at his hearing causes, and
took his diet with him e