business to resolve to
afford him some alleviation of his great sorrows on this occasion; for
that if they do not refuse him their consent in what he desires, he
shall have a great mourning at his funeral, and such as never had any
king before him; for then the whole nation would mourn from their
very soul, which otherwise would be done in sport and mockery only. He
desired therefore, that as soon as they see he hath given up the ghost,
they shall place soldiers round the hippodrome, while they do not
know that he is dead; and that they shall not declare his death to the
multitude till this is done, but that they shall give orders to have
those that are in custody shot with their darts; and that this slaughter
of them all will cause that he shall not miss to rejoice on a double
account; that as he is dying, they will make him secure that his will
shall be executed in what he charges them to do; and that he shall have
the honor of a memorable mourning at his funeral. So he deplored his
condition, with tears in his eyes, and obtested them by the kindness
due from them, as of his kindred, and by the faith they owed to God, and
begged of them that they would not hinder him of this honorable mourning
at his funeral. So they promised him not to transgress his commands.

6. Now any one may easily discover the temper of this man's mind, which
not only took pleasure in doing what he had done formerly against his
relations, out of the love of life, but by those commands of his which
savored of no humanity; since he took care, when he was departing out of
this life, that the whole nation should be put into mourning, and indeed
made desolate of their dearest kindred, when he gave order that one out
of every family should be slain, although they had done nothing that
was unjust, or that was against him, nor were they accused of any other
crimes; while it is usual for those who have any regard to virtue to
lay aside their hatred at such a time, even with respect to those they
justly esteemed their enemies.

CHAPTER 7. Herod Has Thoughts Of Killing Himself With His Own Hand; And
A Little Afterwards He Orders Antipater To Be Slain.

1. As he was giving these commands to his relations, there came letters
from his ambassadors, who had been sent to Rome unto Caesar, which, when
they were read, their purport was this: That Acme was slain by Caesar,
out of his indignation at what hand, she had in Antipater's wicked
practices; and