, they should be clothed in sackcloth, and confined so
closely that they should not see the light of the sun. These stories
were presently carried by Salome to the king, who was troubled to hear
them, and endeavored to make up matters; but these suspicions afflicted
him, and becoming more and more uneasy, he believed every body against
every body. However, upon his rebuking his sons, and hearing the defense
they made for themselves, he was easier for a while, though a little
afterwards much worse accidents came upon him.

4. For Pheroras came to Alexander, the husband of Glaphyra, who was the
daughter of Archelaus, as we have already told you, and said that he
had heard from Salome that Herod has enamored on Glaphyra, and that his
passion for her was incurable. When Alexander heard that, he was all on
fire, from his youth and jealousy; and he interpreted the instances
of Herod's obliging behavior to her, which were very frequent, for the
worse, which came from those suspicions he had on account of that word
which fell from Pheroras; nor could he conceal his grief at the thing,
but informed him what word: Pheroras had said. Upon which Herod was in a
greater disorder than ever; and not bearing such a false calumny, which
was to his shame, was much disturbed at it; and often did he lament the
wickedness of his domestics, and how good he had been to them, and how
ill requitals they had made him. So he sent for Pheroras, and
reproached him, and said, "Thou vilest of all men! art thou come to
that unmeasurable and extravagant degree of ingratitude, as not only to
suppose such things of me, but to speak of them? I now indeed perceive
what thy intentions are. It is not thy only aim to reproach me, when
thou usest such words to my son, but thereby to persuade him to plot
against me, and get me destroyed by poison. And who is there, if he had
not a good genius at his elbow, as hath my son, but would not bear such
a suspicion of his father, but would revenge himself upon him? Dost thou
suppose that thou hast only dropped a word for him to think of, and not
rather hast put a sword into his hand to slay his father? And what dost
thou mean, when thou really hatest both him and his brother, to pretend
kindness to them, only in order to raise a reproach against me, and talk
of such things as no one but such an impious wretch as thou art could
either devise in their mind, or declare in their words? Begone, thou
art such a plague to thy b