was between them still accompanied these
brethren when they parted, and the suspicions they had one of the
other grew worse. Alexander and Aristobulus were much grieved that the
privilege of the first-born was confirmed to Antipater; as was Antipater
very angry at his brethren that they were to succeed him. But then this
last being of a disposition that was mutable and politic, he knew how to
hold his tongue, and used a great deal of cunning, and thereby concealed
the hatred he bore to them; while the former, depending on the nobility
of their births, had every thing upon their tongues which was in their
minds. Many also there were who provoked them further, and many of their
[seeming] friends insinuated themselves into their acquaintance, to
spy out what they did. Now every thing that was said by Alexander was
presently brought to Antipater, and from Antipater it was brought to
Herod with additions. Nor could the young man say any thing in the
simplicity of his heart, without giving offense, but what he said was
still turned to calumny against him. And if he had been at any time a
little free in his conversation, great imputations were forged from
the smallest occasions. Antipater also was perpetually setting some to
provoke him to speak, that the lies he raised of him might seem to have
some foundation of truth; and if, among the many stories that were given
out, but one of them could be proved true, that was supposed to imply
the rest to be true also. And as to Antipater's friends, they were all
either naturally so cautious in speaking, or had been so far bribed to
conceal their thoughts, that nothing of these grand secrets got abroad
by their means. Nor should one be mistaken if he called the life of
Antipater a mystery of wickedness; for he either corrupted Alexander's
acquaintance with money, or got into their favor by flatteries; by which
two means he gained all his designs, and brought them to betray their
master, and to steal away, and reveal what he either did or said. Thus
did he act a part very cunningly in all points, and wrought himself a
passage by his calumnies with the greatest shrewdness; while he put on
a face as if he were a kind brother to Alexander and Aristobulus, but
suborned other men to inform of what they did to Herod. And when any
thing was told against Alexander, he would come in, and pretend [to be
of his side], and would begin to contradict what was said; but would
afterward contrive matter