his armed men about him; and this
when he was adorned in the finest manner possible; and that, in a great
measure, to pray to God on the behalf of his brother. Now at this very
time it was that these ill men came to the king, and told him in what
a pompous manner the armed men came, and with what insolence Antigonus
marched, and that such his insolence was too great for a private person,
and that accordingly he was come with a great band of men to kill him;
for that he could not endure this bare enjoyment of royal honor, when it
was in his power to take the kingdom himself.

3. Now Aristobulus, by degrees, and unwillingly, gave credit to these
accusations; and accordingly he took care not to discover his suspicion
openly, though he provided to be secure against any accidents; so he
placed the guards of his body in a certain dark subterranean passage;
for he lay sick in a place called formerly the Citadel, though
afterwards its name was changed to Antonia; and he gave orders that if
Antigonus came unarmed, they should let him alone; but if he came to him
in his armor, they should kill him. He also sent some to let him know
beforehand that he should come unarmed. But, upon this occasion, the
queen very cunningly contrived the matter with those that plotted his
ruin, for she persuaded those that were sent to conceal the king's
message; but to tell Antigonus how his brother had heard he had got a
very the suit of armor made with fine martial ornaments, in Galilee;
and because his present sickness hindered him from coming and seeing all
that finery, he very much desired to see him now in his armor; because,
said he, in a little time thou art going away from me.

4. As soon as Antigonus heard this, the good temper of his brother not
allowing him to suspect any harm from him, he came along with his armor
on, to show it to his brother; but when he was going along that dark
passage which was called Strato's Tower, he was slain by the body
guards, and became an eminent instance how calumny destroys all
good-will and natural affection, and how none of our good affections are
strong enough to resist envy perpetually.

5. And truly any one would be surprised at Judas upon this occasion. He
was of the sect of the Essens, and had never failed or deceived men in
his predictions before. Now this man saw Antigonus as he was passing
along by the temple, and cried out to his acquaintance, [they were not a
few who attended upon him as his