found guilty, to put
them to death; but if they appear to have thought of no more than flying
away from him, that he should moderate their punishment.

2. With these directions Herod complied, and came to Berytus, where
Caesar had ordered the court to be assembled, and got the judicature
together. The presidents sat first, as Caesar's letters had appointed,
who were Saturninus and Pedanius, and their lieutenants that were with
them, with whom was the procurator Volumnius also; next to them sat the
king's kinsmen and friends, with Salome also, and Pheroras; after whom
sat the principal men of all Syria, excepting Archelaus; for Herod had a
suspicion of him, because he was Alexander's father-in-law. Yet did not
he produce his sons in open court; and this was done very cunningly,
for he knew well enough that had they but appeared only, they would
certainly have been pitied; and if withal they had been suffered to
speak, Alexander would easily have answered what they were accused of;
but they were in custody at Platane, a village of the Sidontans.

3. So the king got up, and inveighed against his sons, as if they were
present; and as for that part of the accusation that they had plotted
against him, he urged it but faintly, because he was destitute of
proofs; but he insisted before the assessors on the reproaches, and
jests, and injurious carriage, and ten thousand the like offenses
against him, which were heavier than death itself; and when nobody
contradicted him, he moved them to pity his case, as though he had been
condemned himself, now he had gained a bitter victory against his sons.
So he asked every one's sentence, which sentence was first of all given
by Saturninus, and was this: That he condemned the young men, but not
to death; for that it was not fit for him, who had three sons of his
own now present, to give his vote for the destruction of the sons of
another. The two lieutenants also gave the like vote; some others there
were also who followed their example; but Volumnius began to vote on the
more melancholy side, and all those that came after him condemned the
young men to die, some out of flattery, and some out of hatred to Herod;
but none out of indignation at their crimes. And now all Syria and Judea
was in great expectation, and waited for the last act of this tragedy;
yet did nobody, suppose that Herod would be so barbarous as to murder
his children: however, he carried them away to Tyre, and thence sai