le they said both she and themselves
were in a miserable case, they vehemently complained of her pitiable
end, which indeed was truly such, and said that they were themselves in
a pitiable case also, because they were forced to live with those that
had been her murderers, and to be partakers with them.

2. These disorders increased greatly, and the king's absence abroad had
afforded a fit opportunity for that increase; but as soon as Herod
was returned, and had made the forementioned speech to the multitude,
Pheroras and Salome let fill words immediately as if he were in great
danger, and as if the young men openly threatened that they would not
spare him any longer, but revenge their mother's death upon him.
They also added another circumstance, that their hopes were fixed on
Archclaus, the king of Cappadocia, that they should be able by his means
to come to Caesar, and accuse their father. Upon hearing such things,
Herod was immediately disturbed; and indeed was the more astonished,
because the same things were related to him by some others also. He then
called to mind his former calamity, and considered that the disorders
in his family had hindered him from enjoying any comfort from those
that were dearest to him or from his wife whom he loved so well; and
suspecting that his future troubles would soon be heavier and greater
than those that were past, he was in great confusion of mind; for
Divine Providence had in reality conferred upon him a great many outward
advantages for his happiness, even beyond his hopes; but the troubles
he had at home were such as he never expected to have met with, and
rendered him unfortunate; nay, both sorts came upon him to such a degree
as no one could imagine, and made it a doubtful question, whether, upon
the comparison of both, he ought to have exchanged so great a success
of outward good things for so great misfortunes at home, or whether he
ought not to have chosen to avoid the calamities relating to his family,
though he had, for a compensation, never been possessed of the admired
grandeur of a kingdom.

3. As he was thus disturbed and afflicted, in order to depress these
young men, he brought to court another of his sons, that was born to him
when he was a private man; his name was Antipater; yet did he not then
indulge him as he did afterwards, when he was quite overcome by him,
and let him do every thing as he pleased, but rather with a design of
depressing the insolence of t