frequently reproached Herod's sister and wives with
the ignobility of their descent; and that they were every one chosen by
him for their beauty, but not for their family. Now those wives of his
were not a few; it being of old permitted to the Jews to marry many
wives, [39] and this king delighting in many; all which hated Alexander,
on account of Glaphyra's boasting and reproaches.

3. Nay, Aristobulus had raised a quarrel between himself and Salome, who
was his mother-in-law, besides the anger he had conceived at Glaphyra's
reproaches; for he perpetually upbraided his wife with the meanness
of her family, and complained, that as he had married a woman of a low
family, so had his brother Alexander married one of royal blood. At
this Salome's daughter wept, and told it her with this addition, that
Alexander threatened the mothers of his other brethren, that when he
should come to the crown, he would make them weave with their maidens,
and would make those brothers of his country schoolmasters; and brake
this jest upon them, that they had been very carefully instructed, to
fit them for such an employment. Hereupon Salome could not contain her
anger, but told all to Herod; nor could her testimony be suspected,
since it was against her own son-in-law There was also another calumny
that ran abroad and inflamed the king's mind; for he heard that these
sons of his were perpetually speaking of their mother, and, among their
lamentations for her, did not abstain from cursing him; and that when
he made presents of any of Mariamne's garments to his later wives, these
threatened that in a little time, instead of royal garments, they would
clothe theft in no better than hair-cloth.

4. Now upon these accounts, though Herod was somewhat afraid of the
young men's high spirit, yet did he not despair of reducing them to a
better mind; but before he went to Rome, whither he was now going by
sea, he called them to him, and partly threatened them a little, as a
king; but for the main, he admonished them as a father, and exhorted
them to love their brethren, and told them that he would pardon their
former offenses, if they would amend for the time to come. But they
refuted the calumnies that had been raised of them, and said they
were false, and alleged that their actions were sufficient for their
vindication; and said withal, that he himself ought to shut his ears
against such tales, and not be too easy in believing them, for that
there