would never be wanting those that would tell lies to their
disadvantage, as long as any would give ear to them.

5. When they had thus soon pacified him, as being their father, they got
clear of the present fear they were in. Yet did they see occasion for
sorrow in some time afterward; for they knew that Salome, as well as
their uncle Pheroras, were their enemies; who were both of them heavy
and severe persons, and especially Pheroras, who was a partner with
Herod in all the affairs of the kingdom, excepting his diadem. He had
also a hundred talents of his own revenue, and enjoyed the advantage
of all the land beyond Jordan, which he had received as a gift from his
brother, who had asked of Caesar to make him a tetrarch, as he was made
accordingly. Herod had also given him a wife out of the royal family,
who was no other than his own wife's sister, and after her death had
solemnly espoused to him his own eldest daughter, with a dowry of three
hundred talents; but Pheroras refused to consummate this royal marriage,
out of his affection to a maidservant of his. Upon which account Herod
was very angry, and gave that daughter in marriage to a brother's son
of his, [Joseph,] who was slain afterward by the Parthians; but in some
time he laid aside his anger against Pheroras, and pardoned him, as one
not able to overcome his foolish passion for the maid-servant.

6. Nay, Pheroras had been accused long before, while the queen
[Mariamne] was alive, as if he were in a plot to poison Herod; and there
came then so great a number of informers, that Herod himself, though he
was an exceeding lover of his brethren, was brought to believe what was
said, and to be afraid of it also. And when he had brought many of those
that were under suspicion to the torture, he came at last to Pheroras's
own friends; none of which did openly confess the crime, but they owned
that he had made preparation to take her whom he loved, and run away to
the Parthians. Costobarus also, the husband of Salome, to whom the king
had given her in marriage, after her former husband had been put to
death for adultery, was instrumental in bringing about this contrivance
and flight of his. Nor did Salome escape all calumny upon herself; for
her brother Pheroras accused her that she had made an agreement to marry
Silleus, the procurator of Obodas, king of Arabia, who was at bitter
enmity with Herod; but when she was convicted of this, and of all that
Pheroras had accuse