osition he was in towards us, that hath been the occasion that even
these Arabians have not been utterly undone, Antony being unwilling to
undertake any thing which might be suspected by us of unkindness: but
when he had a mind to bestow some parts of each of our dominions on
Cleopatra, I also managed that matter so, that by giving him presents
of my own, I might obtain a security to both nations, while I undertook
myself to answer for the money, and gave him two hundred talents, and
became surety for those two hundred more which were imposed upon the
land that was subject to this tribute; and this they have defrauded us
of, although it was not reasonable that Jews should pay tribute to any
man living, or allow part of their land to be taxable; but although that
was to be, yet ought we not to pay tribute for these Arabians, whom we
have ourselves preserved; nor is it fit that they, who have professed
[and that with great integrity and sense of our kindness] that it is
by our means that they keep their principality, should injure us, and
deprive us of what is our due, and this while we have been still not
their enemies, but their friends. And whereas observation of covenants
takes place among the bitterest enemies, but among friends is absolutely
necessary, this is not observed among these men, who think gain to be
the best of all things, let it be by any means whatsoever, and that
injustice is no harm, if they may but get money by it: is it therefore
a question with you, whether the unjust are to be punished or not? when
God himself hath declared his mind that so it ought to be, and hath
commanded that we ever should hate injuries and injustice, which is not
only just, but necessary, in wars between several nations; for these
Arabians have done what both the Greeks and barbarians own to be an
instance of the grossest wickedness, with regard to our ambassadors,
which they have beheaded, while the Greeks declare that such ambassadors
are sacred and inviolable. [9] And for ourselves, we have learned from
God the most excellent of our doctrines, and the most holy part of our
law, by angels or ambassadors; for this name brings God to the knowledge
of mankind, and is sufficient to reconcile enemies one to another. What
wickedness then can be greater than the slaughter of ambassadors, who
come to treat about doing what is right? And when such have been their
actions, how is it possible they can either live securely in common
lif