had not used the severity which,
either as a father who had been impiously abused, or as a king who had
been assaulted treacherously, he might have done, but made them stand
upon a level with him in judgment: that, however, it was necessary that
all this should not be passed over without punishment, nor himself live
in the greatest fears; nay, that it was not for their own advantage to
see the light of the sun after what they have done, although they should
escape at this time, since they had done the vilest things, and would
certainly suffer the greatest punishments that ever were known among
mankind.

2. These were the accusations which Herod laid with great vehemency
against his sons before Caesar. Now the young men, both while he was
speaking, and chiefly at his concluding, wept, and were in confusion.
Now as to themselves, they knew in their own conscience they were
innocent; but because they were accused by their father, they were
sensible, as the truth was, that it was hard for them to make their
apology, since though they were at liberty to speak their minds freely
as the occasion required, and might with force and earnestness refute
the accusation, yet was it not now decent so to do. There was therefore
a difficulty how they should be able to speak; and tears, and at length
a deep groan, followed, while they were afraid, that if they said
nothing, they should seem to be in this difficulty from a consciousness
of guilt,--nor had they any defense ready, by reason of their youth,
and the disorder they were under; yet was not Caesar unapprized, when he
looked upon them in the confusion they were in, that their delay to make
their defense did not arise from any consciousness of great enormities,
but from their unskilfulness and modesty. They were also commiserated
by those that were there in particular; and they moved their father's
affections in earnest till he had much ado to conceal them.

3. But when they saw there was a kind disposition arisen both in him and
in Caesar, and that every one of the rest did either shed tears, or
at least did all grieve with them, the one of them, whose name was
Alexander, called to his father, and attempted to answer his accusation,
and said, "O father, the benevolence thou hast showed to us is evident,
even in this very judicial procedure, for hadst thou had any pernicious
intentions about us, thou hadst not produced us here before the common
savior of all, for it was in thy po